Truly, Tayoga, this wild pigeon has a most savory taste! When wild pigeon is well cooked and the air of the forest has sharpened your appetite to a knife edge nothing is finer." "But it is no better than the tender steak of young bear," said Tayoga, with all the inflections of a gourmand.

"The people of my nation and of all the Indian nations have always loved bear.

It is tenderer even than venison and it contains more juices.

For the hungry man nothing is superior to the taste or for the building up of sinews and muscles than the steak of fat young bear." Garay writhed again in his bonds, and closed his eyes that he might shut away the vision of the two.

Robert was forced to smile.