The besiegers seemed lazy, but Robert knew that the watch upon the fort and its approaches was never neglected for an instant.  A fox could not steal through their lines, unseen, and yet he never doubted.  Tayoga would come, and moreover he would come at the time appointed.  Toward the middle of the morning the Indians shot some arrows that fell inside the palisade, and uttered a shout or two of defiance, but nobody was hurt, and nobody was stirred to action.  The demonstration passed unanswered, and, after a while, Wilton called Robert’s attention to the fact that it was only two hours until noon.  Robert did not reply, but he knew that the conditions could not be more unfavorable.  Rain or hail, sleet or snow might cover the passage of a warrior, but the dazzling sunlight that enlarged twigs two hundred yards away into boughs, seemed to make all such efforts vain.  Yet he knew Tayoga, and he still believed.

Soon a stir came in the forest, and they heard a long, droning chant.  A dozen warriors appeared coming out of the north, and they were welcomed with shouts by the others.

“Hurons, I think,” said Willet.  “Yes, I’m sure of it.  They’ve undoubtedly sent away for help, and it’s probable that other bands will come about this time.”  He reckoned right, as in half an hour a detachment of Abenakis came, and they too were received with approving shouts, after which food was given to them and they sat luxuriously before the fires.  Then three runners arrived, one from the north, one from the west, and one from the east, and a great shout of welcome was uttered for each.

“What does it mean?” Wilton asked Robert.

“The runners were sent out by De Courcelles and Tandakora to rally more strength for our siege.  They’ve returned with the news that fresh forces are coming, as the exultant shout from the warriors proves.”

The young Philadelphian’s heart sank.  He knew that it was only a half hour until noon, and noon was the appointed time.  Nor did the heavens give any favoring sign.  The whole mighty vault was a blaze of gold and blue.  Nothing could stir in such a light and remain hidden from the warriors.  Wilton looked at his comrade and he caught a sudden glitter in his eyes.  It was not the look of one who despaired.  Instead it was a flash of triumph, and the young Philadelphian wondered.  Had Robert seen a sign, a sign that had escaped all others?  He searched the forest everywhere with his own eyes, but he could detect nothing unusual.  There were the French, and there were the Indians.  There were the new warriors, and there were the three runners resting by the fires.

The runners rose presently, and the one who had come out of the north talked with Tandakora, the one who had come out of the west stood near the edge of the forest with an Abenaki chief and looked at the fort.  The one who had come out of the east joined De Courcelles himself and they came nearer to the fort than any of the others, although they remained just beyond rifle shot.  Evidently De Courcelles was explaining something to the Indian as once he pointed toward the blockhouse.