The Onondaga was quite sure the smoke indicated the presence of a small village and his quest was for clothes.

“Let Dagaeoga rest in peace here in the thicket,” he said, “and when I come back I shall be clad as a man.  Have no fears for me.  I will not enter the village Until after dark.”

He glided away without noise, and Robert, having supreme confidence in him, lay down among the bushes, which were so dense that the keenest eyes could not have seen him ten feet away.  His frame was relaxed so thoroughly after his immense exertions and he felt such utter thankfulness at his escape that he soon fell into a deep slumber rather than sleep, and when he awoke the dark had come, bringing with it Tayoga.

“Lo, Dagaeoga,” said the Onondaga, in a tone of intense satisfaction, “I have done well.  It is not pleasant to me to take the property of others, but in this case what I have seized must have been captured from the English.  No watch was kept in the village, as they had heard of their great victory and the warriors were away.  I secured three splendid blankets, two of green and one of brown.  Since you have a coat, Dagaeoga, you can have one green blanket and I will take the other two, one to wear and the other to sleep in.  I also took away more powder and lead, and as I have my bullet molds we can increase our ammunition when we need it.  I have added, too, a supply of venison to our beef and bread.”

“You’re an accomplished burglar, Tayoga, but I think that in this case your patron saint, Tododaho, will forgive you.  I’m devoutly glad of the blanket.  I feel stiff and sore, after such great exertions, and I find I’ve grown cold with the coming of the dark.”

“It is a relapse,” said Tayoga with some anxiety.  “The strain on mind and body has been too great.  Better wrap yourself in the blanket at once, and lie quiet in the thicket.”

Robert was prompt to take his advice, as his body was hot and his sight was wavering.  He felt that he was going to be ill and he might get it over all the quicker by surrendering to it at once.  He rolled the blanket tightly about himself and lay down on the softest spot he could find.  In the night he became delirious and talked continually of Langlade, St. Luc and Montcalm.  But Tayoga watched by him continually until late, when he hunted through the forest by moonlight for some powerful herbs known to the Indians.  In the morning he beat them and bruised them and cooked them as best he could without utensils, and then dropped the juices into his comrade’s mouth, after which he carefully put out the fire, lest it be seen by savage rovers.

Robert was soon very much better.  He had a profuse perspiration and came out of his unconscious state, but was quite weak.  He was also thoroughly ashamed of himself.

“Nice time for me to be breaking down,” he said, “here in the wilderness near an Indian village, hundreds of miles from any of our friends, save those who are captured.  I make my apologies, Tayoga.”