Many splendid furs were soon drying in the air and were taken later into the cave, while they accumulated dried and jerked game enough to last them until the next spring.
Both worked night and day with such application and intensity that their hands became stiff and sore, and every bone in them ached.
Nevertheless Robert took time now and then to examine the little caves in the other sections of the valley, only to find them still empty.
He thought, for a while, that the presence of Tayoga and himself and their operations with the game might have frightened the bears away, but the feeling that they would come returned and was strong upon him.
As for Tayoga he never doubted.

It had been decreed by Tododaho.
"The animals have souls," he said.

"Often when great warriors die or fall in battle their souls go into the bodies of bear, or deer, or wolf, but oftenest into that of bear.

For that reason the bear, saving only the dog which lives with us, is nearest to man, and now and then, because of the warrior soul in him, he is a man himself, although he walks on four legs--and he does not always walk on four legs, sometimes he stands on two.

Doubt not, Dagaeoga, that when the stormy winter sweeps down the bears will come to their ancient homes, whether or not we be here." The winds grew increasingly chill, coming from the vast lakes beyond the Great Lakes, those that lay in the far Canadian north, and the skies were invariably leaden in hue and gloomy.