He had already run thirty miles before joining in the combat, and now it was time to rest.
"Come, Tayoga," said the hunter, "we'll go back to the ground our lads have defended so well, and eat, drink and sleep.

The Mohawks will attend to all the work that's left, which isn't much.

We've earned our repose." Captain Colden, slightly wounded in the arm, appeared and Willet gave him the high compliments that he and his soldiers deserved.

He told him it was seldom that men unused to the woods bore themselves so well in an Indian fight, but the young captain modestly disclaimed the chief merit, replying that he and his detachment would surely have been lost, had it not been for Willet and his comrades.
Then they went back to the ground near the cliff, where they had made their great fight, and Willet although the night was warm, wisely had a large fire built.

He knew the psychological and stimulating effect of heat and light upon the lads of the city, who had passed through such a fearful ordeal in the dark and Indian-haunted forest.