The two then sat by one of the fires and ate venison, thankful that they had escaped with only slight wounds, and as there was no immediate call for their services they wrapped themselves in their blankets, by and by, and went to sleep.  When Robert awoke, the morning was about half gone and the day was bright and beautiful beyond compare.

Although the hostile forces still confronted each other there was no other evidence of war, and Robert’s first feelings were less for man and more for the magnificence of nature.  He had never seen Andiatarocte, the matchless gem of the mountains, more imposing and beautiful.  Its waters, rippling gently under the wind, stretched far away, silver or gold, as the sunlight fell.  The trees and undergrowth on the islands showed deepest green, and the waving leaves shifted and changed in color with the changing sky.  Far over all was a deep velvet blue arch, tinged along the edges with red or gold.

Keenly sensitive to nature, it was a full minute before young Lennox came back to earth, and the struggles of men.  Then he found Tayoga looking at him curiously.

“It is good!” said the Onondaga, flinging out his hand.  “In the white man’s Bible it is said that Manitou created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, but in the unwritten book of the Hodenosaunee it is said that he created Andiatarocte and Oneadatote, and then reposed a bit, and enjoyed his work before he went on with his task.”

“I can well believe you, Tayoga.  If I had created a lake like George and another like Champlain I should have stopped work, and gloried quite a while over my achievement.  Has the enemy made any movement while we slept?”

“None, so far as our people can tell.  They have brought part of their fleet around to the side of the island facing us.  I count six large boats and twenty canoes there.  I also see five fires, and I have no doubt that many of the warriors are sleeping before them.  Despite losses, his force is still larger than ours, but I do not think St. Luc, brave as he is, would come back to the mainland and risk a battle with us.”

“Then we must get at him somehow, Tayoga.  We must make our blow so heavy that it will check Dieskau for a while and give Colonel Johnson’s army time to march.”

“Even so, Dagaeoga.  Look at the Mountain Wolf.  He has a pair of field glasses and he is studying the island.”

Rogers stood on a knoll, and he was making diligent use of his glasses, excellent for the time.  He took them from his eyes presently, and walked down to Robert and Tayoga.

“Would you care to have a look?” he said to Robert.

“Thank you, I’d like it very much,” replied young Lennox eagerly.