“Where are we, Dagaeoga?” he asked.
“I’d tell you if I could, but I can’t,” replied Robert, cheerfully, rejoiced at the sight of his comrade’s returning strength.
“You have left the battle behind you?”
“Yes. I can state in general terms that we’re somewhere between Andiatarocte and Oneadatote, which is quite enough for you to know at the present time. I’m the forest doctor, and as this is the first chance I’ve ever had to exert authority over you, I mean to make the most of it.”
Tayoga smiled wanly.
“I see that you have bound up my wound,” he said. “That was well. But since I cannot see the wound itself I do not know what kind of a bullet made it.”
“It wasn’t a bullet at all, Tayoga. It was a cannon ball, though it came out of a wide-mouthed musket, and I’m happy to tell you that it somehow got through your shoulder without touching bone.”
“The bullet is out?”
“Yes, I cut it out with this good old hunting knife of mine.”
Again Tayoga smiled wanly.
“You have done well, Dagaeoga,” he said. “Did I not say to others in your defense that you had intelligence and, in time, might learn? You have saved my life, a poor thing perhaps, but the only life I have, and I thank you.”
Robert laughed, and his laugh was full of heartiness. He saw the old Tayoga coming back.
“You’ll be a new man tomorrow,” he said. “With flesh and blood as healthy as yours a hole through your shoulder that I could put my fist in would soon heal.”
“What does Dagaeoga purpose to do next?”
“You’ll find out in good time. I’m master now, and I don’t intend to tell my plans. If I did you’d be trying to change ’em. While I’m ruler I mean to be ruler.”
“It is a haughty spirit you show. You take advantage of my being wounded.”
“Of course I do. As I said, it’s the only chance I’ve had. Stop that! Don’t try to sit up! You’re not strong enough yet. I’ll carry you awhile.”
Tayoga sank back, and, in a few more minutes, Robert picked him up and went on once more. But he noticed that the Onondaga did not now lie a dead weight upon his shoulder. Instead, there was in him again the vital quality that made him lighter and easier to carry. He knew that Tayoga would revive rapidly, but it would be days before he was fit to take care of himself. He must find not only a place of security, but one of shelter from the fierce midsummer storms that sometimes broke over those mountain slopes. Among the rocks and ravines and dense woods he might discover some such covert. Food was contained in his knapsack and the one still fastened to the back of Tayoga, food enough to last several days, and if the time should be longer his rifle must find more.
The way became rougher, the rocks growing more numerous, the slopes increasing in steepness, and the thickets becoming almost impenetrable.