Robert had shut his eyes only for a moment, and now he saw the scrub shaking more violently than ever.  Then he had a fleeting glimpse of brown bodies as all the warriors descended rapidly.  Anyone of the three might have fired with good aim, but they did not raise their rifles.  Since their enemies were retreating they would let them retreat.

“They’re all back in the valley now,” said the hunter after a little while, “and they’ll think a lot before they try the steep ascent a second time.  Now it’s a question of patience, and they hope we’ll become so weak from thirst that we’ll fall into their hands.”

“Tandakora and his warriors would be consumed with anger if they knew of our spring,” said Tayoga.

“They’ll find out about it soon,” said Robert.

“I think not,” said Tayoga.  “I noticed when I was at the fountain that the rivulet ran back into the cliff about a hundred feet below, and one can see the water only from the crest.  If Areskoui has allowed us to be besieged here, he at least has created much in our favor.”

He looked toward the east, where the great red sun was shining, and worshiped silently.  It seemed to Robert that his young comrade stared unwinking for a long time into the eye of the Sun God, though perhaps it was only a few seconds.  But his form expanded and his face was illumined.  Robert knew that the Onondaga’s confidence had become supreme, and he shared in it.

The hunter and Tayoga kept the watch after a while, and young Lennox was free to wander about the crest as he wished.  He examined carefully the three sides they had left unguarded, but was convinced that no warrior, no matter how skillful and tenacious, could climb up there.  Then he wandered back toward the sentinels, and, sitting down under a tree, began to study the distant slopes across the gorge.

He saw the warriors gather by-and-by in a deep recess out of rifle shot, light a fire and begin to cook great quantities of game, as if they meant to stay there and keep the siege until doomsday, if necessary.  He saw the gigantic figure of Tandakora approach the fire, eat voraciously for a while and then go away.  After him came a white man in French uniform.  He thought at first it was St. Luc and his heart beat hard, but he was able to discern presently that it was an officer not much older than himself, in a uniform of white faced with violet and a black, three-cornered hat.  Finally he recognized young De Galissonniere, whom he had met in Quebec, and whom he had seen a few days since in the French camp.

As he looked De Galissonniere left the recess, descended into the valley and then began to climb their slope, a white handkerchief held aloft on the point of his small sword.  Young Lennox immediately joined the two watchers at the brink.

“A flag of truce!  Now what can he want!” he exclaimed.

“We’ll soon see,” replied Willet.  “He’s within good hearing now, and I’ll hail him.”