“Do you not tremble, Tayoga?” asked the Ojibway.  “Many an old and seasoned warrior has not been able to endure the fire without a groan.”

“You shall not hear any groan from me,” replied Tayoga, “because I shall not stand among the flames.”

“There is no way to escape them.  Even now the pile is built, and the warrior is ready with flint and steel to make the sparks.”

High, thrillingly sweet, came the voice of the bird in the bushes, and Tayoga suddenly leaped with all his might against the great chest of Tandakora.  Vast as was the strength of the Ojibway he was thrown from his feet by the violent and unexpected impact, and as he fell Tayoga, leaping lightly away, ran like a deer through the bushes.

The warriors in the valley uttered a shout, but the reply was a shattering volley, before which half of them fell.  Tandakora understood at once.  If he had the mind and heart of a savage he had also all the craft and cunning of one whose life was incessantly in danger.  Instead of springing up, he rolled from the crest of the hill, then, rising to a stooping position, darted away at incredible speed through the forest.

Rangers and Mohawks, Robert, Daganoweda, Willet, Black Rifle and Rogers at their head, burst into the glen and the Mohawks began the pursuit of Tandakora’s surviving warriors, who had followed their leader in his flight.  But Robert turned back to meet Tayoga and cut the thongs from his wrists.

“I thank you, Dagaeoga,” said the Onondaga.  “You came in time.”

“Yes, they were making ready.  A half hour more and we should have been too late.  But you knew that we were coming, Tayoga?”

“Yes.  I heard the bird sing thrice, but I knew the bird was in the throat of the Great Bear.  I will say this, though, to you, Dagaeoga, that I have heard many birds sing and sing sweetly, but never any so sweetly as the one that sang thrice in the throat of the Great Bear.”

“It is not hard for me to believe you,” said Robert, smiling, “and I can tell you in turn, Tayoga, that your patron saint, Tododaho, must in very truth have watched over you, because when I heard your warning cry and took to flight, hoping for a chance later on to rescue you, I ran within two hours straight into the camp of the rangers and the Mohawks.  You can easily surmise how glad I was to see them, and how quickly we followed Tandakora.”

“And we’d have attacked sooner,” said Willet, “but we could not get up all our force in time.  We’ve annihilated this band, but I’m sure we did not get Tandakora.  He fled like the wind, and we’ll have to settle accounts with him some other day.”

“It was not possible for Tandakora to fall before your arms today,” said Tayoga.

“Why not?” asked Willet, curiously.

“It is reserved for him to die by my hand, though the time is yet far off.  I know it, because Tododaho whispered it to me more than once today.  Let him go now, but his hour will surely come.”