CHAPTER XIII.
READING THE SIGNS On the third day the trail of the Great Bear was well among the ranges and Tayoga calculated that they could not be many hours behind him, but all the evidence, as they saw it, showed conclusively that he was going toward Lake Champlain.
"It seems likely to me," said the Onondaga, "that he left the rangers to seek us, and that Rogers meanwhile would move eastward.

Having learned in some way or other that he could not find us, he will now follow the rangers wherever they may go." "And we will follow him wherever he goes," said Robert.
An hour later the Onondaga uttered an exclamation, and pointed to the trail.

Another man coming from the south had joined Willet.

The traces were quite distinct in the grass, and it was also evident from the character of the footsteps that the stranger was white.
"A wandering hunter or trapper?
A chance meeting ?" said Robert.
Tayoga shook his head.
"Then a ranger who was out on a scout, and the two are going on together to join Rogers ?" "Wrong in both cases," he said.

"I know who joined the Great Bear, as well as if I saw him standing there in the footprints he has made.