They did not abate their own speed, but continued in the path without pause, until nearly noon.  The broad trail led straight on, over hills, across valleys and always through deep forest, cut here and there by clear streams.  The sun came out, and it was warm under the trees.  Grosvenor, unused to such severe exertion of this kind, began to breathe with difficulty.  But Tayoga called a halt in time at the edge of a brook, and all knelt to drink.

“St. Luc’s men were tired and thirsty too, Red Coat,” said the Onondaga.  “All of them drank.  You can see the prints of their knees and feet as they bent over the water.  It is a good brook.  Manitou has filled the wilderness with its like, that man and beast may enjoy them.  We will rest here a while, if Great Bear and Black Rifle say so.”

“We do,” said the two men together.

They remained fully an hour by the little stream.  Robert himself, used as he was to the wilderness, was glad of the rest, and Grosvenor fairly reveled in it, feeling that his nerves and muscles were being created anew.  They also made further inroads on their bear and Grosvenor was glad to see the birds coming for the shreds they dropped.  He had quite a kindly feeling for the little winged creatures.

“I don’t want to think that everything in the woods is an enemy,” he said.

When they resumed the pursuit they found another new trail merging into that of the main force.  It was a mixed band, red and white as the character of the footprints showed, and numbered about twenty men.

“It is clear,” said Tayoga, “that as we supposed, Sharp Sword is planning a heavy stroke.  All the detached forces are coming in, under instructions, to join him.  We know that Montcalm drew back into the north after his great blow at Fort William Henry, and we think he is going to fortify on Champlain or between the two lakes.  Some of our people must be along the shores of Andiatarocte and Sharp Sword does not want them to find out too much about Montcalm.”

“At any rate I think our own enterprise will culminate before night,” said Willet.  “We should overtake them by dusk if we try.”

“Sharp Sword’s men will make a new camp before long,” said Tayoga, “and from that they will launch their attack upon whatever point or force of ours they intend to attack.  They are not going so fast now, and the trail is growing very warm.  Sharp Sword’s stride is shortening and so, of course, is the stride of all the others.  I think he now feels that the need of hurrying is over, and he is likely to become much more deliberate.”

“And the ground is beginning to slope down toward a deep valley,” said Willet.  “Water and wood will be plentiful there, and I think that’s where St. Luc will make his camp to-night.”

“I think so too,” said Tayoga.  “And since the dusk is not far away maybe they have lighted the fire already.  Suppose, Great Bear, we climb the hill on our right and see if our eyes can reach their smoke.”