“It is the blood of Hosahaho, the Onondaga.  You knew him well, one of your swiftest runners, a skillful hunter, a great warrior, one who lived a truthful and upright life before the face of Manitou.  But he is gone.  Three nights ago, Tandakora, the Ojibway, the friend and ally of the French, with a band of his treacherous men, foully murdered him in ambush.  But other Onondagas came, and Tandakora and his band had to flee so fast that he could not regain his tomahawk.  It has been brought to the vale of Onondaga by those who saw Tandakora, but who could not overtake him.  It was given by them to Tayoga, whom all of you know and honor, and he has given it to me as proof of the faith of Onontio.  Tandakora and Onontio are brothers.  What Tandakora does Onontio does also, and the bright blood of Hosahaho, the Onondaga, that stains the tomahawk of Tandakora, the Ojibway, was shed by Onontio as well as Tandakora.  Behold!  Here are the promises of Onontio, written red in the blood of your brother!”

An immense tumult followed, but presently Tododaho, first among the sachems, rose and stilled it with uplifted hands.  Turning his eyes upon Robert, he said: 

“You have spoken well, O Dagaeoga, and you have shown the proof of your words.  Never will the great nations of the Hodenosaunee be the friends of the French.  There is too much blood between us.”

Then, turning to Chevalier de St. Luc and Father Drouillard, he said: 

“Go you back to Quebec and tell Onontio that he cannot come to us with promises in one hand and murder in the other.  Our young men will guard you and see that you are safe, until you pass out of our lands.  Go!  Through me the fifty sachems speak for the great League of the Hodenosaunee.”

The chevalier and the priest, disappointed but dignified, left the vale of Onondaga that night, and St. Luc said to Robert that he bore him no ill will because of his defeat.

Several weeks later, as Robert, Willet, and Tayoga were on their way to Albany, they heard from an Oneida runner that the English colonials from Virginia, under young Washington, and the French had been in battle far to the west.

“The war has begun,” said Willet solemnly, “a war that will shake both continents.”

“And the Hodenosaunee will not help Onontio,” said Tayoga.

“And the French may lose Quebec,” said Robert looking northward to the city of his dreams.