CHAPTER XII

THE SINISTER SIEGE

Dawn came, very clear and beautiful, with the air crisp and cool.  Robert divided the last of the venison between Tayoga and himself, and when he had eaten his portion he was still hungry.  He was quite certain that the Onondaga also craved more, but a stoic like Tayoga would never admit it.  His belief the day before that this was the time for him to go forth and hunt was confirmed.  The game would be out, and so might be the savages, but he must take the chance.

Tayoga had kept his bow and quiver of arrows strapped to his back during their retreat, and now they lay on a shelf in the cave.  Robert looked at them doubtfully and the eyes of the Onondaga followed him.

“Perhaps it would be best,” he said.

“I can’t bend the bow of Ulysses,” said Robert, “but I may be able to send in a useful arrow or two nevertheless.”

“You can try.”

“But I don’t want any shot to go amiss.”

“Strap your rifle on your back, and take the bow and arrows also.  If the arrows fail you, or rather if you should fail the arrows, which always go where they are sent, you can take the rifle, with which you are almost as good as the Great Bear himself.  And if you should encounter hostile warriors prowling through the woods the rifle will be your best defense.”

“I’ll do as you advise, Tayoga, and do you keep a good watch at the entrance.  You’re feeling a lot stronger today, are you not?”

“So much so that I am almost tempted to take the bow and arrows myself, while I leave you on guard.”

“Don’t be too proud and boastful.  Let’s see you walk across the cave.”

Tayoga rose from the bed of leaves, on which he had been sitting, and strode firmly back and forth two or three times.  He was much thinner than he had been a week before, but his eyes were sparkling now and the bronze of his skin was clear and beautiful.  All his nerves and muscles were under complete control.

“You’re a great warrior again, Tayoga, thanks to my protecting care,” said Robert, “but I don’t think you’re yet quite the equal of Tododaho and Hayowentha when they walked the earth, and, for that reason, I shall not let you go out hunting.  Now, take your rifle, which I saved along with you, and sit on that ledge of stone, where you can see everything approaching the cave and not be seen yourself.”

“I obey, O Dagaeoga.  I obey you always when the words you speak are worth being obeyed.  See, I take the seat you direct, and I hold my rifle ready.”

“Very good.  Be prepared to fire on an instant’s notice, but be sure you don’t fire at me when I come striding down the valley bearing on my shoulders a fat young deer that I have just killed.”

“Have no fear, Dagaeoga.  I shall be too glad to see you and the deer to fire.”

With the rifle so adjusted across his back that, if need be, he could disengage it at once, the quiver fastened also and Tayoga’s bow in his hand, Robert made ready.