“It was a glorious death, Dagaeoga, and it was, perhaps, he who saved our army, and made the victory possible.”

“So it was.  There’s not a doubt of it, but, here, I don’t feel much like taking part in a war.  The great struggle seems to have passed around us for a while, at least.  I appear to myself as a man of peace, occupied wholly with the struggle for existence and with preparations for a hard winter.  I don’t want to harm anything.”

“Perhaps it’s because nothing we know of wants to harm us.  But, Dagaeoga, if the bears come at all they will come quickly, because in a few days winter will be roaring down upon us.”

“Then, Tayoga, we must hurry our labors, and since the mysterious message brought in some manner through the air has told us that Dave has reached the lake, I’m rather anxious for it to rush down.  While it keeps us here it will also hold back the forces of St. Luc.”

“That’s true, Dagaeoga.  It’s a poor snow that doesn’t help somebody.  Now, I will make a bow and arrow to take the place of my great bow and quiver, which await me elsewhere, because we must draw but little upon our powder and bullets.”

The Onondaga had hatchet and knife and he worked with great rapidity and skill, cutting and bending a bow in two or three days, and making a string of strong sinews, after which he fashioned many arrows and tipped them with sharp bone.  Then he contemplated his handiwork with pride.

“Hasty work is never the best of work,” he said, “and these are not as good as those I left behind me, but I know they will serve.  The game here, hunted but little, is not very wary and I can approach near.”

His skill both in construction and use was soon proved, as he slew with his new weapons a great moose, two ordinary deer, and much smaller game, while the traps caught beaver, otter, fox, wolf and other animals, with fine pelts.  Many splendid furs were soon drying in the air and were taken later into the cave, while they accumulated dried and jerked game enough to last them until the next spring.

Both worked night and day with such application and intensity that their hands became stiff and sore, and every bone in them ached.  Nevertheless Robert took time now and then to examine the little caves in the other sections of the valley, only to find them still empty.  He thought, for a while, that the presence of Tayoga and himself and their operations with the game might have frightened the bears away, but the feeling that they would come returned and was strong upon him.  As for Tayoga he never doubted.  It had been decreed by Tododaho.

“The animals have souls,” he said.  “Often when great warriors die or fall in battle their souls go into the bodies of bear, or deer, or wolf, but oftenest into that of bear.  For that reason the bear, saving only the dog which lives with us, is nearest to man, and now and then, because of the warrior soul in him, he is a man himself, although he walks on four legs—­and he does not always walk on four legs, sometimes he stands on two.  Doubt not, Dagaeoga, that when the stormy winter sweeps down the bears will come to their ancient homes, whether or not we be here.”