The skies lightened a little as the moon came out, casting a faint whitish tint over trees and bushes, but the brave young captain was yet unable to see any trace of the enemy.
"Do you feel quite sure that we're still besieged ?" he whispered to Willet.
"Yes, Captain," replied the hunter, "and, as I said, patience is the commodity we need most.

It would be fatal for us to force the action, but I don't think we have much longer to wait.

Since they can't induce us to take some rash step they're likely to make a movement soon." "I see the bushes waving again," said Tayoga.

"It is proof that the warriors are approaching.

It would be well for the soldiers to lie flat for a little while." Captain Colden, adhering to his resolution to take the advice of his new friends, crept along the line, telling the men in sharp whispers to hug the earth, a command that they obeyed willingly, as the darkness, the silence and the mysterious nature of the danger had begun to weigh heavily upon their nerves.
Robert saw a bead of flame among the bushes, and heard a sharp report.
A bullet cut a bough over his head, and a leaf drifted down upon his face.