Robert once more saw the thick, strong figure of the spy outlined against the sky which was now luminous with a brilliant moon and countless clear stars, and the feeling of resentment was very powerful within him.  Garay, without provocation, had attempted his life, and he could not forget it, and, for a moment or two, he felt that if the necessity should come in battle he was willing for a bullet from Tayoga to settle him.  Then he rebuked himself for harboring rancor.

Garay paused, as if he needed another rest, and looked back, though it was only a casual glance, perhaps to measure the distance he had come, and the three, standing among the dense bushes, had no fear that he saw them or even suspected that anyone was on his traces.  After a delay of a minute or so he passed over the crest and Robert, Willet and Tayoga moved on in pursuit.  The Frenchman evidently knew his path, as the chase led for a long time over hills, down valleys and across small streams.  Toward morning he put his fingers to his lips and blew a shrill whistle between them.  Then the three drew swiftly near until they could see him, standing under the boughs of a great oak, obviously in an attitude of waiting.

“It is a signal to someone,” said Robert.

“So it is,” said Willet, “and it means that he and we have come to the end of our journey.  I take it that we have arrived almost at the French and Indian camp, and that he whistles because he fears lest he should be shot by a sentinel through mistake.  The reply should come soon.”

As the hunter spoke they heard a whistle, a faint, clear note far ahead, and then Garay without hesitation resumed his journey.  The three followed, but when they reached the crest of the next ridge they saw a light shining through the forest, a light that grew and finally divided into many lights, disclosing to them with certainty the presence of a camp.  The figure of Garay appeared for a little while outlined against a fire, another figure came forward to meet him, and the two disappeared together.

From the direction of the fires came sounds subdued by the distance, and the aroma of food.

“It is a large camp,” said Tayoga.  “I have counted twelve fires which proves it, and the white men and the red men in it do not go hungry.  They have deer, bear, fish and birds also.  The pleasant odors of them all come to my nostrils, and make me hungry.”

“That’s too much for me,” said Robert.  “I can detect the blended savor, but I know not of what it consists.  Now we go on, I suppose, and find out what this camp holds.”

“We wouldn’t dream of turning back,” said the hunter.  “Did you notice anything familiar, Robert, about the figure that came forward to meet Garay?”

“Now that you speak of it, I did, but I can’t recall the identity of the man.”

“Think again!”

“Ah, now I have him!  It was the French officer, Colonel Auguste de Courcelles, who gave us so much trouble in Canada and elsewhere.”