"Quite a swim even for as good swimmers as we are, when you consider we have to carry our equipment. Why not launch one of those fallen trees that lie near the water's edge and make it carry us?" "A good idea, Robert! A happy thought does come now and then into that young head of yours." "Dagaeoga is wiser than he looks," said the Onondaga. "I wish I could say the same for you, Tayoga," retorted young Lennox. "Oh, you'll both learn," laughed Willet. As in the ancient wood everywhere, there were fallen trees on the island and they rolled a small one about six inches through at the stem into the lake. They chose it because it had not been down long and yet had many living branches, some with young leaves on them. "There is enough foliage left to hide our heads and shoulders," said Willet. "The tree will serve a double purpose. It's our ship and also our refuge." They took off all their clothing and fastened it and the arms, ammunition and knapsacks of food on the tree. Then, they pushed off, with a caution from the hunter that they must not allow their improvised raft to turn in the water, as the wetting of the ammunition could easily prove fatal. With a prayer that fortune which had favored them so much thus far would still prove kind, they struck out. CHAPTER III IN THE CLIFF It was only a half mile to the promised land and Robert expected a quick and easy voyage, as they were powerful swimmers and could push the tree before them without trouble. "When I reach the shore and get well back of the lake," he said to Tayoga, "I mean to lie down in a thicket and sleep forty-eight hours. I am entitled now to a rest that long." "Dagaeoga will sleep when the spirits of earth and air decree it, and not before," replied the Onondaga gravely. "Can you see anything of our foes in the south?" "Not a trace." "Then your eyes are not as good as mine or you do not use them as well, because I see a speck on the water blacker than the surface of the lake, and it is moving." "Where, Tayoga?" "Look toward the eastern shore, where the cliff rises tall and almost straight." "Ah, I see it now. It _is_ a canoe, and it _is_ moving." "So it is, Dagaeoga, and it is coming our way. Did I not tell you that Manitou, no matter how much he favors us, will not help us all the time? Not even the great and pious Tododaho, when he was on earth, expected so much. Now I think that after saving you with the bird and all of us with the empty canoe he means to leave us to our own strength and courage, and see what we will do." "And it will be strange, if after being protected so far by a power greater than our own we can't protect ourselves now," said Willet gravely. "The canoe is coming fast," said Tayoga. "I can see it growing on the water." "So it is, and I infer from its speed that it has at least four paddles in it. There's no doubt they are disappointed in not finding us farther down, and their boat has come back to look for us."