But the Onondaga was aware that his were not the only keen ears on the lake, and that, gentle as was the movement of the paddies that he and Robert held, it might be heard.
"The canoe on our right is coming in a little closer to us," he whispered.

"It is a very large canoe, because it holds four paddles.
I can trace the four separate sounds.

They try to soften their strokes lest the hidden messenger whom they want to catch may hear them, but they cannot destroy the sound altogether.

Now, the one on the left is bearing in toward us also.

I think they have made a chain across the lake, and hope to keep anything from passing." "Can you hear those ahead of us ?" "Very slightly, and only now and then, but it is enough to tell us that they are still there.