“Waraiyageh will do all that, if he can reach Mount Johnson in time,” said Tayoga, “but Onontio rises before the dawn, and he does not sleep until after midnight.  He sings beautiful songs in the ears of the warriors, and the songs he sings seem to be true.  Already the French and their allies have been victorious everywhere save at Fort Refuge, and they carry the trophies of triumph into Canada.”

“But the time for us to strike a great blow is at hand, Tayoga,” said Robert, who, with Grosvenor had been listening.  “Behold this splendid army!  No such force was ever before sent into the American wilderness.  When we take Fort Duquesne we shall hold the key to the whole Ohio country, and we shall turn it in the lock and fasten it against the Governor General of Canada and all his allies.”

“But the wilderness is mighty,” said Tayoga.  “Even the army of the great English king is small when it enters its depths.”

“On the other hand so is that of the enemy, much smaller than ours,” said Grosvenor.

Soon after Croghan and his Indians left the camp a figure tall, dark and somber, followed by a dozen men wild of appearance and clad in hunter’s garb, emerged from the forest and walked in silence toward General Braddock’s tent.  The regular soldiers stared at them in astonishment, but their dark leader took no notice.  Robert uttered an exclamation of surprise and pleasure.

“Black Rifle!” he said.

“And who is Black Rifle?” asked Grosvenor.

“A great hunter and scout and a friend of mine.  I’m glad he’s here.  The general can find many uses for Black Rifle and his men.”

He ran forward and greeted Black Rifle, who smiled one of his rare smiles at sight of the youth.  Willet and Tayoga gave him the same warm welcome.

“What news, Black Rifle?” asked Robert.

“The French and Indians gather at Fort Duquesne to meet you.  They are not in great force, but the wilderness will help them and the best of the French leaders are there.”

“Have you heard anything of St. Luc?” asked Robert.

“We met a Seneca runner who had seen him.  The Senecas are not at war with the French, and the man talked with him a little, but the Frenchman didn’t tell him anything.  We think he was on the way to Fort Duquesne to join the other French leaders there.”

“Have you heard the names of any of these Frenchmen?”

“Besides St. Luc there’s Beaujeu, Dumas, Ligneris and Contrecoeur who commands.  French regulars and Canadian troops are in the fort, and the heathen are pouring in from the west and north.”

“Those are brave and skillful men,” said Willet, as he listened to the names of the French leaders who would oppose them.  “But ’twas good of you, Black Rifle, to come with these lads of yours to help us.”

After the men had enjoyed food and a little rest, they were taken into the great tent, where the general sat, Willet having procured the interview, and accompanying them.  Robert waited near with Grosvenor and Tayoga, knowing how useful Black Rifle and his men could be to a wilderness expedition, and hoping that they would be thrown together in future service.