“The bear is scarcely an animal, Tayoga.  He is almost a human being.  He has as good a sense of humor as we have, and he is more careful about minding his own business, and letting alone that of other people.”

“Dagaeoga is not without wisdom.  We will even learn from the bear.  A hundred miles to the north of us there is a vast rocky region containing many caves, where the bears go in great numbers to sleep the long winters through.  It is not much disturbed, because it is a dangerous country, lying between the Hodenosaunee and the Indian nations to the north, with which we have been at war for centuries.  There we will go.”

“And hole up until our peril passes!  Your plan appeals to me, Tayoga!  I will imitate the bear!  I will even be a bear!”

“We will take the home of one of them before he comes for it himself, and we will do him no injustice, because the wise bear can always find another somewhere else.”

“They’re fine caves, of course!” exclaimed Robert, buoyantly, his imagination, which was such a powerful asset with him, flaming up as usual.  “Dry and clean, with plenty of leaves for beds, and with nice little natural shelves for food, and a pleasant little brook just outside the door.  It will be pleasant to lie in our own cave, the best one of course, and hear the snow and sleet storms whistle by, while we’re warm and comfortable.  If we only had complete assurance that Dave was through with the letter I’d be willing to stay there until spring.”

Tayoga smiled indulgently.

“Dagaeoga is always dreaming,” he said, “but bright dreams hurt nobody.”

When night came, they were many more miles on their way, but it was a very cold darkness that fell upon them and they shivered in their blankets.  Robert made no complaint, but he longed for the caves, of which he was making such splendid pictures.  Shortly before morning, a light snow fell and the dawn was chill and discouraging, so much so that Tayoga risked a fire for the sake of brightness and warmth.

“Langlade’s men will come upon the coals we leave,” he said, “but since we have not shaken them off it will make no difference.  How much food have we left, Dagaeoga?”

“Not more than enough for three days.”

“Then it is for us to find more soon.  It is another risk that we must take.  I wish I had with me now my bow and arrows which I left at the lake, instead of Garay’s rifle.  But Areskoui will provide.”

The day turned much colder, and the streams to which they came were frozen over.  By night, the ice was thick enough to sustain their weight and they traveled on it for a long time, their thick moosehide moccasins keeping their feet warm, and saving them from falling.  Before they returned to the land it began to snow again, and Tayoga rejoiced openly.

“Now a white blanket will lie over the trail we have left on the ice,” he said, “hiding it from the keenest eyes that ever were in a man’s head.”