"Tayoga, you're certainly a master freebooter.

You couldn't have made a more useful capture." Each, after the invariable custom of hunters and scouts, carried bullet molds, and they were soon at work, melting the lead and casting bullets for their rifles, then pouring the shining pellets in a stream into their pouches.

They continued at the task from day to day until all the lead was turned into bullets and then they began work on another pair of snowshoes, these intended for Robert.
Despite the safety and comfort of their home in the rock, both began to chafe now, and time grew tremendously long.

They had done nearly everything they could do for themselves, and life had become so easy that there was leisure to think and be restless, because they were far away from great affairs.
"When my snowshoes are finished and I perfect myself in the use of them," said Robert, "I favor an attempt to escape on the ice and snow to the south.

We grow rusty, you and I, here, Tayoga.