The afternoon went on in pleasant talk.  The Indians, among themselves or with those whom they knew from long experience to be good friends, were not taciturn.  Robert told the Mohawks that they were going to Quebec, and Dayohogo expressed curiosity.

“It is the story in our nation, and it is true,” he said, “that generations ago we held the great rock of Stadacona, and that the first Frenchman, Cartier, who came to Canada, found us there, and drove us away with firearms, which we had never seen before, and which we did not know how to meet.  It is said also by our old men that we had a town with palisades around it at Hochelaga (Montreal), but whether it is true or not I do not know.  It may be that it was a town of the Wanedote (Hurons), our enemies.  And yet the Wanedote are of our blood, though far back in the past we split asunder, and now they take the peace belts of the French, while we take those of the English.”

“And the capital of the French, which they call Quebec, and which you call Stadacona, stands on land which really belongs to the Mohawks,” said Robert meaningly.

Dayohogo made no answer, but gloomed into the fire again.  After a while he said that his warriors and he must depart.  They were going toward Ticonderoga, where the French had built the fort, Carillon, within the territory of the Mohawks.  He had been glad to meet Tayoga, the Great Bear, and the new young white chief, Dagaeoga, whose speech was like the flowing of pleasant waters.  It was a favoring wind that had brought them together, because they had enjoyed good talk, and had exchanged wise counsel with one another.  Robert agreed with him in flowery allegory and took from the canoe where it had been stored among their other goods a present for the chief—­envoys seldom traveled through the Indian country without some such article for some such occasion.

It was gajewa, a war club, beautifully carved and polished, made of ironwood about three feet long, and with tufts of brilliant feathers at either end.  Inserted at one end was a deer’s horn, about five inches in length, and as sharp as a razor.  While it was called a war club, it was thus more of a battle ax, and at close range and wielded by a powerful arm it was a deadly weapon.  It had been made at Albany, and in order to render it more attractive three silver bands had been placed about it at equal intervals.

It was at once a weapon and a decoration, and the eyes of Dayohogo glistened as he received it.

“I take the gift, Dagaeoga,” he said, “and I will not forget.”

Then they exchanged salutations, and the Mohawks disappeared silently in the forest.

CHAPTER VI

THE TWO FRENCHMEN

When the three were left alone in the glade the hunter turned to young Lennox.

“You’ve done good work today, Robert,” he said.  “I didn’t know you had in you the makings of an orator and diplomatist.  The governor of New York did better than he knew when he chose you for one of this mission.”