“Now I wonder,” said Willet, “if they suspect the advance of this warning force.  St. Luc, of course, knows that we were back there by Champlain, as we gave him the most complete proofs of it that human beings could give.  So does Tandakora, and they may prevail upon Dieskau to throw out a swift band for the purpose of cutting us off.  If so, St. Luc is sure to lead it.  What do you say, Tayoga?”

“I think St. Luc will surely come,” replied the Onondaga youth gravely.  “We have been trailing the army of Dieskau, and tomorrow, after we have passed it, we shall be trailed in our turn.  It does not need the whisper of Tododaho to tell me that St. Luc and Tandakora will lead the trailers, because, as we all know, they are most fitting to lead them.”

“Then there’s no sleep for us tonight,” said Rogers; “we’ll push on and not close our eyes again until we reach Colonel Johnson.”

They traveled many miles before dawn, but with the rising of the sun they knew that they were followed, and perhaps flanked.  The Mohawk scouts brought word of it.  Daganoweda himself found hostile signs in the bushes, a bead or two and a strand of deerskin fringe caught on a bush.

“It’s likely,” said Willet, “that they were even more cautious than we reckoned.  It may be that before Dieskau left his force at Ticonderoga he sent forward St. Luc with a swift band to intercept us and any others who might take a warning to Colonel Johnson.”

“I agree with you,” said Rogers.  “St. Luc started before we did, and, all the time, has been ahead of us.  So we have him in front, Dieskau behind, and it looks as if we’d have to fight our way through to our army.  Oh, the Frenchmen are clever!  Nobody can deny it, and they’re always awake.  What’s your opinion, Daganoweda?”

“We shall have to fight,” replied the Mohawk chieftain, although the prospect caused him no grief.  “The traces that we have found prove Sharp Sword to be already across our path.  We have yet no way to know the strength of his force, but, if a part of us get through, it will be enough.”

Robert heard them talking, and while he was able once more to preserve outward calm, his heart, nevertheless, throbbed hard.  More than any other present, with the possible exception of Tayoga, his imagination pictured what was to come, and before it was fought he saw the battle.  They were to march, too, into an ambush, knowing it was there, but impossible to be avoided, because they must get through in some fashion or other.  They were now approaching Andiatarocte again, and although the need of haste was still great they dropped perforce into a slow walk, and sent ahead more scouts and skirmishers.

Robert and Tayoga went forward on the right, and they caught through the bushes the gleam from the waters of a small stream that ran down to the lake.  Going a little nearer, they saw that the farther bank was high and densely wooded, and then they drew back, knowing that it was a splendid place for an ambush, and believing that St. Luc was probably there.  Tayoga lay almost flat, face downward, and stared intently at the high bank.