“Yes, I can make out some movement there,” said Colden.

“They’ve discovered, of course, that we’ve left the fire, and they know also where we are.”

“Do you think they’ll try to rush us?”

“Not at all.  It’s not the Indian way, nor is it the way either of the French, who go with them.  They know your men are raw—­pardon me—­inexperienced troops, and they’ll put a cruel burden upon your patience.  They may wait for hours, and they’ll try in every manner to wear them out, and to provoke them at last into some rash movement.  You’ll have to guard most, Captain Colden, against the temper of your troop.  If you’ll take advice from one who’s a veteran in the woods, you’d better threaten them with death for disobedience of orders.”

“As I said before, I’m grateful to you for any advice or suggestion, Mr. Willet.  This seems a long way from Philadelphia, and I’ll confess I’m not so very much at home here.”

He crawled among his men, and Willet and Robert heard him threatening them in fierce whispers, and their replies that they would be cautious and patient.  It was well that Willet had given the advice, as a full hour passed without any sign from the foe.  Troops even more experienced than the city men might well have concluded it was a false alarm, and that the forest contained nothing more dangerous than a bear.  There was no sound, and Captain Colden himself asked if the warriors had not gone away.

“Not a chance of it,” replied Willet.  “They think they’re certain of a victory, and they would not dream of retiring.”

“And we have more long waiting in the dark to do?”

“I warned you.  There is no other way to fight such enemies.  We must never make the mistake of undervaluing them.”

Captain Colden sighed.  He had a gallant heart, and he and his troop had made a fine parade through the streets of Philadelphia, before he started for the frontier, but he had expected to meet the French in the open, perhaps with a bugle playing, and he would charge at the head of his men, waving the neat small sword, now buckled to his side.  Instead he lay in a black thicket, awaiting the attack of creeping savages.  Nevertheless, he put down his pride for the third time, and resolved to trust the four who had come so opportunely to his aid, and who seemed to be so thoroughly at home in the wilderness.

Another hour dragged its weary length away, and there was no sound of anything stirring in the forest.  The skies lightened a little as the moon came out, casting a faint whitish tint over trees and bushes, but the brave young captain was yet unable to see any trace of the enemy.

“Do you feel quite sure that we’re still besieged?” he whispered to Willet.

“Yes, Captain,” replied the hunter, “and, as I said, patience is the commodity we need most.  It would be fatal for us to force the action, but I don’t think we have much longer to wait.  Since they can’t induce us to take some rash step they’re likely to make a movement soon.”