The Onondaga obeyed without a word, and soon slept as if his will had merely to give an order to his five senses to seek oblivion.  Robert did not think he could find slumber, but closing his eyes in order to rest better, he drifted easily into unconsciousness.  Meanwhile Willet watched, and there was no better sentinel in all the northern wilderness.  The wind was still blowing lightly, and the rustling of the leaves never ceased, but he would have detected instantly any strange note, jarring upon that musical sound.

The hunter looked upon the sleeping lads, the white and the red.  Both had a powerful hold upon his affection.  He felt that he stood to them almost in the relationship of a father, and he was proud, too, of their strength and skill, their courage and intelligence.  Eager as he was to reach Fort Refuge and save the garrison and people there, he was even more eager to save the two youths from harm.

He let them sleep until the gold of the morning sun was gilding the eastern forest, when the three drew further upon their supplies of bread and venison and once more resumed the journey through the pathless woods towards their destination.  There was no interruption that day, and they felt so much emboldened that near sundown Tayoga took his bow and arrows, which he carried as well as his rifle, and stalked and shot a deer, the forest being full of game.  Then they lighted a fire and cooked delicate portions of the spoil in a sheltered hollow.  But they did not eat supper there.  Instead, they took portions of the cooked food and as much as they could conveniently carry of the uncooked, and, wading along the bed of a brook, did not stop until they were three or four miles from the place in which they had built the fire.  Then they sat down and ate in great content.

“We will fare well enough,” said Willet, “if it doesn’t rain.  ’Tis lucky for us that it’s the time of year when but little rain falls.”

“But rain would be as hard upon those who are hunting us as upon us,” said Robert.

“’Tis true, lad, and I’m glad to see you always making the best of everything.  It’s a spirit that wins.”

“And now, Great Bear,” said Tayoga, his eyes twinkling, “you have talked enough.  It is only Dagaeoga who can talk on forever.”

“That’s so about Robert, but what do you mean by saying I’ve talked enough?”

“It is time for you to sleep.  You watched last night while we slept, and now your hour has come.  While you slumber Dagaeoga and I will be sentinels who will see and hear everything.”

“Why the two of you?”

“Because it takes both of us to be the equal of the Great Bear.”

“Come, now, Tayoga, that’s either flattery or irony, but whatever it is I’ll let it pass.  I’ll own that I’m sleepy enough and you two can arrange the rest between you.”