“They are many, many hours ahead,” replied the Onondaga.  “They have made good use of the time we have secured for them.”

“Another day and night and they should be safe,” said Willet.  “Tandakora and De Courcelles will scarcely dare follow deep into the fringe of settlements.  What is it, Tayoga?”

The Onondaga had stopped and, kneeling down, he was examining the trail as minutely as he could in the dusk.

“Others have come,” he replied tersely.

“What do you mean by ’others’?” asked Willet.

“Those who belong neither to pursued nor pursuers, a new force, white men, fifteen, perhaps.  They came down from the north, struck this trail, for which they were not looking, and have turned aside from whatever task they were undertaking to see what it means.”

“And so they’re following the fugitive train.  Possibly it’s a band of French.”

“I do not think so, Great Bear.  The French do not roam the forest alone.  The warriors are always with them, and this party is composed wholly of white men.”

“Then they must be ours, perhaps a body of hunters or scouts, and we need ’em.  How long would you say it has been since they passed?”

“Not more than two hours.”

“Then we must overtake ’em.  Do you lead at speed, Tayoga, but on the bare possibility that they’re French, look out for an ambush.”

“The new people, whoever they are,” said Robert, “are trailing the train, we’re trailing them, and the French and Indians are trailing us.  It’s like a chain drawing its links through the forest.”

“But the links are of different metals, Robert,” said Willet.

They talked but little more, because they needed all their breath now for the pursuit, as Tayoga was leading at great speed, the broad trail in the moonlight being almost as plain as day.  It was a pleasure to Robert to watch the Onondaga following like a hound on the scent.  His head was bent forward a little, and now and then when the brightest rays fell across them, Robert could see that his eyes glittered.  He was wholly the Indian, his white culture gone for the moment, following the wilderness trail as his ancestors had done for centuries before him.

“Do the traces of the new group grow warmer?” asked Robert.

“They do,” replied Tayoga.  “We are advancing just twice as fast as they.  We will overtake them before midnight.”

“White men, and only by the barest possibility French,” said Robert.  “So the chances are nine out of ten that they’re our own people.  Now, I wonder what they are and what they’re doing here.”

“Patience, Dagaeoga,” said the young Onondaga.  “We will learn by midnight.  How often have I told you that you must cultivate patience before you are worthy to be an Onondaga?”

“I’ll bear it in mind, O worthy teacher.  Your great age and vast learning compel me to respect your commands.”

The new trail, which was like a narrow current in the broad stream of that left by the flying train, was now rapidly growing warmer.  The speed of the thirty was so great that it became evident to Tayoga that they would overtake the strange band long before midnight.