He recognized the immense difficulties of their position.
Indians, if an attack or two of theirs failed, would be likely to go away, but the French, and especially St.Luc, would increase their persistence and hold them to the task.

He returned to the forest, and his attention was drawn once more by Black Rifle.

The man was lying almost flat in the thicket, and evidently he had caught a glimpse of a foe, as he was writhing slowly forward like a great beast of prey, and his eyes once more had the expectant look of one who is going to strike.

Robert considered him.

He knew that the man's whole nature had been poisoned by the great tragedy in his life, and that it gave him a sinister pleasure to inflict blows upon those who had inflicted the great blow upon him.