“So do I, lad.  The lake is narrow here, and the answer, if there be any, will come from the west shore.  Now we’ll look, all together.  Three pairs of eyes are better than one.”

The two lads ceased paddling, holding the canoe steady, with an occasional stroke, and began to search the western cliffs in methodical fashion, letting the eye travel from the farthest point in the north gradually toward the south, and neglecting no place in the dark expanse.

“There it is!” exclaimed Robert.  “Almost opposite us!  I believe it’s in the very cliff at the point of which I lay!”

“See it, winking and blinking away.”

“Yes, that’s it,” said Robert.  “Now I wonder what those two lights are saying to each other across Lake George?”

“It might be worth one’s while to know, for they’re surely signaling.  It may be about us, or it may be about the army in the south.”

“I didn’t find anything but trouble,” said Robert.  “Now what did you and Tayoga find?”

“Plenty traces of both white men and red,” replied the hunter.  “The forests were full of French and Indians.  I think St. Luc with a powerful force is near the north end of Lake George, and the Marquis de Montcalm will soon be at Ticonderoga to meet us.”

“But we’ll sweep him away when our great army comes up from New York.”

“So we should, lad, but the Marquis is an able general, wily and brave.  He showed his quality at Fort William Henry and we mustn’t underrate him, though I am afraid that’s what we’ll do; besides the forest fights for the defense.”

“It’s not like you to be despondent, Dave,” said Robert.

“I’m not, lad.  I’ve just a feeling that we should be mighty cautious.  Some think the Marquis won’t stand when our big army comes, but I do, and I look for a great battle on the shores of either George or Champlain.”

“And we’ll win it,” said Robert in sanguine tones.

“That rests on the knees of the gods,” said Willet thoughtfully.  “But we’ve got to deal with one thing at a time.  It’s our business now to escape from the people who are making those lights wink at each other, or the battle wherever it’s fought or whoever wins won’t include us because we’ll be off on another star, maybe sitting at the feet of Tayoga’s Tododaho.”

“There’s another light on the west shore toward the south,” said the Onondaga.

“And a fourth on the eastern cliff also toward the south,” added Robert.  “All four of them are winking now.  It seems to be a general conversation.”

“And I wish we could understand their language,” said the hunter earnestly.  “I’m thinking, however, that they’re talking about us.  They must have found out in some manner that we’re on the lake, and they want to take us.”

“Then,” said Robert, “it’s time for Manitou to send a heavy mist that we may escape in it.”

“Manitou can work miracles for those whom he favors,” said Tayoga, “and now and then he sends them, but oftenest he withholds his hand, lest we become spoiled and rely upon him when we should rely upon ourselves.”