is a noble type. Since I had to come into the
forest I'm glad to meet such fellows as he. Do you think, Lennox, that
he'll get through safely?"

Robert laughed.

"Get through safely?" he repeated. "Why, Tayoga is the fastest runner
among the Indian nations, and they train for speed. He goes like the
wind, he never tires, night and day are the same to him, he's so light
of foot that he could pass through a band of his own comrades and they
would never know he was there, and yet his own ears are so keen that
he can hear the leaves falling a hundred yards away. The path from
here to the vale of Onondaga may be lined on either side with the
French and the hostile tribes, standing as thick as trees in the
forest, but he will flit between them as safely and easily as you and
I would ride along a highroad into Philadelphia. He will arrive at the
vale of Onondaga, unharmed, at the exact minute he intends to arrive,
and he will return, reaching Fort Refuge also on the exact day, and at
the exact hour and minute he has already selected."

The young Quaker surveyed Robert with admiration and then laughed.

"What they tell of you is true," he said. "In truth that was a most
gorgeous and rounded speech you made about your friend. I don't recall
finer and more flowing periods! What vividness! What imagery! I'm
proud to know you, Lennox!"

Robert reddened and then laughed.

"I do grow enthusiastic when I talk about Tayoga," he said, "but
you'll see that what I predict will come to pass. He's probably told
Willet just when he'll be back at Fort Refuge. We'll ask him."

The hunter informed them that Tayoga intended to take exactly ten
days.

"This is Monday," he said. "He'll be here a week from next Thursday at
noon."

"But suppose something happens to detain him," said Wilton, "suppose
the weather is too bad for traveling, or suppose a lot of other things
that can happen easily."

Willet shrugged his shoulders.

"In such a case as this where Tayoga is concerned," he said, "we don't
suppose anything, we go by certainties. Before he left, Tayoga
settled the day and the hour when he would return and it's not now a
problem or a question. He has disposed of the subject."

"I can't quite see it that way," said Wilton tenaciously. "I admit
that Tayoga is a wonderful fellow, but he cannot possibly tell the
exact hour of his return from such a journey as the one he has
undertaken."

"You wait and see," said the hunter in the