in tint on the still reaches, and, flashing in the sunlight,
where it rushed over the shallows.

All the time they moved between two lofty, green walls, the forest growing
so densely on either shore that they could not see back into it more than
fifty yards, while the green along its lower edges was dotted with pink and
blue and red, where the delicate wild flowers were blooming. The birds in
the odorous depths of the foliage sang incessantly, and Robert had never
before heard them sing so sweetly.

"I don't think any of our foes can be in ambush along the river," he said.
"It's too peaceful and the birds sing with too much enthusiasm. You
remember how they warned us of danger once by all going away?"

"True, Dagaeoga, and at any time now they may leave. But, like you, I am
willing to take the risk for several hours more. Most of the warriors must
be far south of us unless the rangers are in this region, and a special
force has been sent to meet them."

They came by and by to a long stretch of rippling shallows, and they were
compelled to carry the canoe with its load through the woods and around
them, the task, owing to the density of the forest and thicket and the
weight of their burden, straining their muscles and drawing perspiration
from their faces. But they took consolation from the fact that game was
amazingly plentiful. Deer sprang up everywhere, and twice they caught
glimpses of bears shambling away. Squirrels chattered over their heads and
the little people of the forest rustled all about them.

"It shows that no human being has been through here recently," said Tayoga,
"else the game, big and little, would not have been stirring abroad with so
much confidence."

"Then as soon as we make the portage we can return to the river with the
canoe."

"Dagaeoga grows lazy. Does he not know that to do the hard thing
strengthens both mind and body? Has he forgotten what Mynheer Jacobus
Huysman told us so often in Albany? Now is a splendid opportunity for
Dagaeoga to harden himself a great deal."

"I realize it, Tayoga, but I don't want my mind and body to grow too hard.
When one is all steel one ceases to be receptive. Can you see the river
through the trees there?"

"I catch the glitter of sunlight on the water."

"I hope it looks like deep water."

"It is sufficient to float the canoe and the lazy Dagaeoga can take to his
paddle again."

They put their boat back into the stream, uttering great sighs of