Robert settled back to the warmth and brightness of the fire, and awaited in peace the sound of a shot telling that Tayoga had found the deer.
He had been so weary, and the blaze was so soothing that he sank into a state, not sleep, but nevertheless full of dreams.

He saw Willet again, and heard him tell the tale how he had reached the lake and the army with Garay's letter.

He saw Colonel Johnson, and the young English officer, Grosvenor, and Colden and Wilton and Carson and all his old friends, and then he heard a crunch on the snow near him.

Had Tayoga come back so soon and without his deer?
He did not raise his drooping eyelids until he heard the crunch again, and then when he opened them he sprang suddenly to his feet, his heart beating fast with alarm.
A half dozen dark figures rushed upon him.

He snatched at his rifle and tried to meet the first of them with a bullet, but the range was too close.