nd that the God of the
white man and the Manitou of the red man taking pity on their
simplicity and innocence have protected them?"

"I like to think what you say is true, Mr. Willet."

"It's true. Be not afraid that it isn't. Now, I think we'd better stop
here, and let Robert and Tayoga go ahead, spy 'em out and make
signals. It would be just like 'em to blaze away at us the moment they
saw the bushes move with our coming."

Captain Colden was glad to take his advice, and the white youth and
the red went forward silently through the forest, hearing the sound of
cheerful voices, as they drew near to the campfire which was a large
one blazing brightly. They also heard the sound of horses moving and
they knew that the detachment had taken no harm. Tayoga parted the
bushes and peered forth.

"Look!" he said. "Surely they are watched over by Manitou!"

About twenty men, or rather boys, for all of them were very young,
were standing or lying about a fire. A tall, very ruddy youth in the
uniform of a colonial lieutenant was speaking to them.

"Didn't I tell you, lads," he said, "there wasn't an Indian nearer
than Fort Duquesne, and that's a long way from here! We've come a
great distance and not a foe has appeared anywhere. It may be that the
French vanish when they hear this valiant Quaker troop is coming, but
it's my own personal opinion they'll stay pretty well back in the west
with their red allies."

The youth, although he called himself so, did not look much like a
Quaker to Robert. He had a frank face and merry eyes, and manner and
voice indicated a tendency to gayety. Judging from his words he had no
cares and Indians and ambush were far from his thoughts. Proof of this
was the absence of sentinels. The men, scattered about the fire, were
eating their suppers and the horses, forty in number, were grazing in
an open space. It all looked like a great picnic, and the effect was
heightened by the youth of the soldiers.

"As the Great Bear truly said," whispered Tayoga, "Manitou has watched
over them. The forest does not hold easier game for the taking, and
had Tandakora known that they were here he would have come seeking
revenge for his loss in the attack upon Captain Colden's troop."

"You're right as usual, Tayoga, and now we'd better hail them. But
don't you come forward just yet. They don't know the difference
between Indians and likely your welcome would be a bullet."

"I will wait," said Tayoga.

"I t