They were in the canoe as they talked and Tayoga was paddling, the swiftness of the current now making the efforts of only one man necessary. A few minutes later he turned the canoe to the shore and the three got out upon the bank. Robert did not know why, but he was quite sure the reason was good. "Falls below," said Tayoga, as they drew the canoe upon the land. "All the river drops over a cliff. Much white water." They carried the canoe without difficulty through the woods, and when they came to the falls they stopped a little while to look at the descent, and listen to the roar of the tumbling water. "I was here once before, three years ago," said Willet. "Others have been here much later," said the Onondaga. "What do you mean, Tayoga?" "My white brother is not looking. Let him turn his eyes to the left. He will see two wild flowers broken off at the stem, a feather which has not fallen from the plumage of a bird, because the quill is painted, and two traces of footsteps in the earth." "As surely as the sun shines, you're right, Tayoga! Warriors have passed here, though we can't tell how many! But the traces are not more'n a half day old." He picked up the feather and examined it carefully. "That fell from a warrior's scalplock," he said, "but we don't know to what tribe the warrior belonged." "But it's likely to be a hostile trail," said Robert. Tayoga nodded, and then the three considered. It was only a fragment of a trail they had seen, but it told them danger was near. Where they were traveling strangers were enemies until they were proved to be friends, and the proof had to be of the first class, also. They agreed finally to turn aside into the woods with the canoe, and stop until night. Then under cover of the friendly darkness they would resume their journey on the river. They chose the heavily wooded crest of a low hill for the place in which to wait, because they could see some distance from it and remain unseen. They put the canoe down there and Robert and Tayoga sat beside it, while Willet went into the woods to see if any further signs of a passing band could be discovered, returning in an hour with the information that he had discovered more footprints. "All led to the north," he said, "and they're well ahead of us. There's no reason why we can't follow. We're three, used to the wilderness, armed well and able to take care of ourselves. And I take it the night will be dark, which ought to help us." The Onondaga looked up at the skies, which were of a salmon color, and shook his head a little. "What's the matter?" asked Robert. "The night will bring much darkness," he replied, "but it will bring something else with it--wind, rain." "You may be right, Tayoga, but we must be moving, just the same," said Willet.