He turned his face southward and walked swiftly through the thickets.  A rifle cracked and a twig overhead severed by a bullet fell upon his face.  Garay shivered and stood still for a long time.  Courage trickled back, and he resumed his advance, though it was slow.  A second rifle cracked, and a bullet passed so close to his cheek that he felt its wind.  He could not restrain a cry of terror, and turning again he fled northward to St. Luc.

CHAPTER VI

PUPILS OF THE BEAR

When Robert and Tayoga returned to the camp and told Willet what they had done the hunter laughed a little.

“Garay doesn’t want to face St. Luc,” he said, “but he will do it anyhow.  He won’t dare to come back on the trail in face of bullets, and now we’re sure to deliver his letter in ample time.”

“Should we go direct to Albany?” asked Robert.

The hunter cupped his chin in his hand and meditated.

“I’m all for Colonel Johnson,” he replied at last.  “He understands the French and Indians and has more vigor than the authorities at Albany.  It seems likely to me that he will still be at the head of Lake George where we left him, perhaps building the fort of which they were talking before we left there.”

“His wound did not give promise of getting well so very early,” said Robert, “and he would not move while he was in a weakened condition.”

“Then it’s almost sure that he’s at the head of the lake and we’ll turn our course toward that point.  What do you say, Tayoga?”

“Waraiyageh is the man to have the letter, Great Bear.  If it becomes necessary for him to march to the defense of Albany he will do it.”

“Then the three of us are in unanimity and Lake George it is instead of Albany.”

They started in an hour, and changing their course somewhat, began a journey across the maze of mountains toward Andiatarocte, the lake that men now call George, and Robert’s heart throbbed at the thought that he would soon see it again in all its splendor and beauty.  He had passed so much of his life near them that his fortunes seemed to him to be interwoven inseparably with George and Champlain.

They thought they would reach the lake in a few days, but in a wilderness and in war the plans of men often come to naught.  Before the close of the day they came upon traces of a numerous band traveling on the great trail between east and west, and they also found among them footprints that turned out.  These Willet and Tayoga examined with the greatest care and interest and they lingered longest over a pair uncommonly long and slender.

“I think they’re his,” the hunter finally said.

“So do I,” said the Onondaga.

“Those long, slim feet could belong to nobody but the Owl.”

“It can be only the Owl.”

“Now, who under the sun is the Owl?” asked Robert, mystified.