“I think, Dagaeoga,” he said, “that so long as we keep close to the earth we may creep a little nearer, and perhaps our eyes, which are good, may be able to pick out the figures of our foes from the leaves and bushes in which they probably lie hidden.”

They dragged themselves forward about fifty yards, taking particular care to make nothing in the thickets bend or wave in a manner for which the wind could not account.  Robert stared a long time, but his eyes separated nothing from the mass of foliage.

“What do you see, Tayoga?” he whispered at last.

“No proof of the enemy yet, Dagaeoga.  At least, no proof of which I am sure.  Ah, but I do now!  There was a flash in the bushes.  It was a ray of sunlight penetrating the leaves and striking upon the polished metal of a gun barrel.”

“It means that at least one Indian or Frenchman is there.  Keep on looking and see if you don’t see something more.”

“I see a red feather.  At this distance you might at first take it for a feather in the wing of a bird, but I know it is a feather in the scalplock of a warrior.”

“And that makes two, at least.  Look harder than ever, Tayoga, and tell me what more you see.”

“Now I catch a glimpse of white cloth with a gleam of silver.  The cloth is on the upper arm, and the silver is on the shoulder of an officer.”

“A uniform and an epaulet.  A French officer, of course.”

“Of course, and I think it is Sharp Sword himself.”

“Look once more, Tayoga, and maybe your eyes can pick out something else from the foliage.”

“I see the back and painted shoulder of a warrior.  It may be those of Tandakora, but I cannot be sure.”

“You needn’t be.  You’ve seen quite enough to prove that the whole force of St. Luc is there in the bushes, awaiting us, and we must tell our leaders at once.”

They crept back to the center, where Willet and Rogers lay, Daganoweda being on the flank, and told them what they had seen.

“It’s good enough proof,” said Rogers.  “St. Luc with his whole force in the bushes means to hold the stream against us and keep us from taking a warning to Johnson, but the hardest way to do a thing isn’t always the one you have to choose.”

“I take it,” said Willet, “that you mean to flank him out of his position.”

“It was what I had in mind.  What do you think, Dave?”

“The only possible method.  Those Mohawks are wonders at such operations, and we’d better detail as many of the rangers as we can spare to join ’em, while a force here in the center makes a demonstration that will hold ’em to their place in the bushes.  I’ll take the picked men and join Daganoweda.”

Rogers laughed.

“It’s like you, Dave,” he said, “to choose the most dangerous part, and leave me here just to make a noise.”

“But the commander usually stays in the center, while his lieutenants lead on the wings.”