Robert’s own faculties became marvelously acute.  He heard behind them the repeated and angry orders of Jumonville, the hurried strokes of many paddles, the splashing of canoes turned quickly about, a hum of excited voices, and then he felt a great swell of confidence.  The roaring in his ears was gone, his nerves became amazingly steady, and every stroke with his paddle was long and finished, a work of art.

Four or five minutes of such toil, and Tayoga rested on his paddle.  Robert imitated him.

“Now we will take our ease and listen,” said the Onondaga.  “The fog is still our friend, and they will think we have turned to one side in it, because that is the natural thing to do.  But you and I, Dagaeoga, will not turn just yet.”

“I can’t hear anything, Tayoga, can you?”

“I cannot, Dagaeoga, but we will not have long to wait.  Now, I catch the light swish of a paddle.  They are feeling about in the fog.  There goes another paddle—­and more.  They come closer, but we still bide here a little.  I hear the voice of Jumonville.  He is very angry.  But why should he be more angry at any other than at himself?  He saw us with his own eyes.  He shouts many sharp orders, and some of them are foolish.  They must be so, because no man could shout orders so fast, and in such a confused way, and have them all good.  He sends more canoes to both right and left to seek us.  You and I can afford to laugh, Dagaeoga.”

Sitting at rest in their canoe they laughed.  With Robert it was not so much a laugh of amusement as a laugh of relief after such tremendous tension.  He felt that they were now sure to escape, and with Tayoga he waited calmly.

CHAPTER XI

THE HAPPY ESCAPE

The spirits of young Lennox rose to the zenith.  Although they were still grazing the edge of peril, he had supreme confidence in Tayoga and also in the fog.  It was a great fog, a thick fog, a kindly fog, and it had made possible their escape and the achievement of their mission.  Having held so long it would hold until they needed it no longer.

“Have they come any nearer, Tayoga?” he asked.

“Jumonville is still giving orders, and sending the canoes somewhat at random.  He is not the leader Sharp Sword would be in an emergency, nor anything like it.  He is having his own boat paddled about uncertainly.  I can hear the paddles of the four men in it.  Now and then he speaks angrily, too.  He is upbraiding those who are not to blame.  How are you feeling now, Dagaeoga?  Has Manitou already filled you with new strength?”

“I’m feeling as well as I ever did in my life.  I’m ready to swing the paddle again.”

“Then we go.  The fog will not wait for us forever.  We must use it while we have it.”