“It looks as if they were seeking food dropped by our foes,” he said.

“Did we not say that Red Coat would learn and learn fast!” exclaimed Tayoga.  “He has in him the spirit of the forester, and, in time, he will make a great trailer.  I have observed the birds, Red Coat, and your conclusion is correct.  Sharp Sword’s force did not pause to cook breakfast or even to eat it at the camp, but they took it as they walked along swiftly, dropping shreds of flesh or grains of hominy or bones picked clean as they walked.  The birds have come to feast on their leavings.  Doubtless, they have eaten all already and are merely hunting for more that does not exist.  It is strange that no prowling wolf has come.  Ah, I see the nose of one now in the thicket!  Sharp Sword and his force cannot be very far ahead, and we shall have to be very cautious how we proceed.”

“I think it likely,” said Willet, “that Tandakora and his band will join him soon.  If he is intending an attack upon us somewhere he will want to mass his full strength for it.”

“Tandakora will join him before he makes his next camp,” said Tayoga, in the most positive manner.  “Great Bear reasons well.  I expect to see the trail of the Ojibway chief, within an hour.”

They went forward slowly, lest they walk into an ambush set by the foe, and, before they had gone two miles, the Onondaga pointed to a new trail coming out of the forest and merging into that of St. Luc.

“Dagaeoga knows who has walked here!” he said.

“Yes,” replied Robert.  “It’s easy to tell where the great feet of Tandakora have passed.  I suppose he leaves bigger footprints than any other man now in the province of New York.  His warriors were with him too when he joined St. Luc.  We were right in supposing that the French leader meditates an attack upon us somewhere.”

“Tandakora talked a while with St. Luc,” said Tayoga, when they had gone a hundred yards farther.  “The big moccasins and the small moccasins stood together beside the trail.  The earth was dampened much by the fog last night and it leaves the impressions.  I think he talked longer with the Ojibway than he did with De Courcelles and Jumonville.  Tandakora is an evil man but perhaps St. Luc feels less dislike for him than he does for the two white men.  The Ojibway is only a savage from the region of the Great Lakes, but the Frenchmen should know that the straight way of life is the right way.  You do not forget, Dagaeoga, how De Courcelles planned with the others that time we were in Quebec, to have you killed by the bully, Boucher!”

“I don’t forget it,” said Robert.  “I can never forget it, nor do I forget how Dave took my place and sent the bully to a land where he can never more do murder.  Much as I hate Tandakora, I don’t blame St. Luc for hating him less than he does De Courcelles and Jumonville.”

“After the talk they went on together to the head of the line,” said Tayoga.  “Now they increase their speed.  The stride of St. Luc lengthens and as it lengthens so must those of all the rest.  We are not now in any danger of running into them, but we may incur it before night.”