Robert shivered in his blanket, not so much from actual cold as from the sinister aspect of the world, and his sensitive imagination, which always pictured both good and bad in vivid colors, foresaw the enormous difficulties that would confront them.  Hunger tore at him, as with the talons of a dragon, and he felt himself growing weak, although his constitution was so strong that the time for a decline in vitality had not yet really come.  He was all for going forth in the storm and seeking game in the slush and cold, ignoring the French and Indian danger.  But he knew the hunter and the Onondaga would not hear to it, and so he waited in silence, hot anger swelling in his heart against the foes who kept him there.  Unable to do anything else, he finally closed his eyes that he might shut from his view the gray and chilly world that was so hostile.

“Is Areskoui turning his face toward us, Tayoga?” he asked after a long wait.

“No, Dagaeoga.  Our unknown sin is not yet expiated.  The day grows blacker, colder and wetter.”

“And I grow hungrier and hungrier.  If we kill deer or bear we must kill three of each at the same time, because I intend to eat one all by myself, and I demand that he be large and fat, too.  I suppose we’ll go out of this place some time or other.”

“Yes, Dagaeoga.”

“Then we’d better make up our minds to do it before it’s too late.  I feel my nerves and tissues decaying already.”

“It’s only your fancy, Dagaeoga.  You can exist a week without food.”

“A week, Tayoga!  I don’t want to exist a week without food!  I absolutely refuse to do so!”

“The choice is not yours, now, O Dagaeoga.  The greatest gift you can have is patience.  The warrior, Daatgadose, of the clan of the Bear, of the nation Onondaga, of the great League of the Hodenosaunee, even as I am, hemmed in by enemies in the forest, and with his powder and bullets gone, lay in hiding ten days without food once passing his lips, and took no lasting hurt from it.  You, O Dagaeoga, will surely do as well, and I can give you many other examples for your emulation.”

“Stop, Tayoga.  Sometimes I’m sorry you speak such precise English.  If you didn’t you couldn’t have so much sport with a bad situation.”

The Onondaga laughed deeply and with unction.  He knew that Robert was not complaining, that he merely talked to fill in the time, and he went on with stories of illustrious warriors and chiefs among his people who had literally defied hunger and thirst and who had lived incredible periods without either food or water.  Willet listened in silence, but with approval.  He knew that any kind of talk would cheer them and strengthen them for the coming test which was bound to be severe.

Feeling that no warriors would be within sight at such a time they built their fire anew and hovered over the flame and the coals, drawing a sort of sustenance from the warmth.  But when the day was nearly gone and there was no change in the sodden skies Robert detected in himself signs of weakness that he knew were not the product of fancy.  Every inch of his healthy young body cried out for food, and, not receiving it, began to rebel and lose vigor.