“Our course took us almost directly into the path of that fellow,” said Willet, “and of course he saw us.  I’m sorry I didn’t get a shot at him.”

“Do not worry, Great Bear,” said Tayoga.  “You will find plenty of use for your bullets.  The band has come.  Hark to the war whoop!”

The long, piercing yell, so full of menace and most sinister in its dying note, swelled through the forest.  Grosvenor, despite his courage and confidence in his comrades, shivered.  He had heard that same yell many a time, when Braddock’s army was cut down in the deep forest by an invisible foe.  He could never forget its import.  But he grasped his rifle firmly, and strove to see the enemy, who, he knew, was approaching.  His four comrades lay in silence, but the muzzle of every weapon was thrust forward.

“It’s fortunate we found this little hollow,” said Willet.  “It will give us shelter for a while.”

“And we’ll need it,” said Black Rifle.  “They know where we are, of course, but they’ll take their time about attacking.”

“Keep your heads down, lads,” said Willet.  “Don’t be too eager to see.  If they’re too far away for us to shoot at we are too far away for them too.”

Five minutes later and a flash came from a thicket on their left.  Willet pulled trigger at the flash and a death cry came back.

“That’s one out of the way,” said Black Rifle calmly, “and they’re mad clean through.  Hear ’em yell!”

The fierce war whoop died in many echoes, and bullets spattered the rocks about them.  The five made no further reply as yet, but the forest battle was now on.

CHAPTER VIII

THE BOAT BUILDERS

Robert and Grosvenor lay, side by side, propped up partly on their elbows, their rifles thrust well forward, and watching toward the north.  They were not able to see anything, save the dark outline of the forest, and a little puff of smoke rising where an Indian had fired.  The wilderness itself was absolutely still but Robert’s vivid imagination as usual peopled it thickly.  Although his eye did not reach any human figure his mind pictured them everywhere, waiting patiently for a chance at his comrades and himself.  He, more than any other of the five, realized the full extent of the danger.  His extraordinary fancy pictured to him every possibility, and so his courage was all the greater, because he had the strength to face them with a tranquil mind.

A flash in the thicket and a bullet struck on a rock near Robert, glanced off and buried itself in a tree beyond them.  He shivered a little.  Fancy pictured the bullet not as missing, but as hitting him.  Then he steadied himself, and was as ready as Willet or Black Rifle for whatever might come.

“I think that shot was fired by a sharpshooter who has crept forward ahead of the others,” whispered the hunter.  “He’s lying behind that low bush to the west.”