Don't trouble your mind about me, Tayoga, I won't roam from home." The Onondaga took his weapons, a supply of food, and departed, skimming over the snow with wonderful, flying strokes, while Robert settled down to lonely waiting.

It was a hard duty, but he again found solace in work, and at intervals he contemplated the mouths of the bears' caves, now almost hidden by the snow.

Tayoga's belief was strong upon him, for the time, and he concluded that the warriors who inhabited the bodies of the bears must be having some long and wonderful dreams.

At least, they had plenty of time to dream in, and it was an extraordinary provision of nature that gave them such a tremendous sleep.
Tayoga returned in four days, and Robert, who had more than enough of being alone, welcomed him with hospitable words to a fire and a feast.
"I must first put away my spoils," said the Onondaga, his dark eyes glittering.
"Spoils! What spoils, Tayoga ?" "Powder and lead," he replied, taking a heavy bundle wrapped in deerskin from beneath his bearskin overcoat.

"It weighs a full fifty pounds, and it made my return journey very wearisome.