Why?
Why had he singled him out from the others in the endeavor to make a victim of him?
There must be some motive, much more powerful than that of natural hostility, and he believed now if they were discovered that not Tayoga but he would be the first object of Garay's attack.
But Tandakora and his men passed on, bearing to the right and from the main force.

Robert and Tayoga saw their figures vanish among the bushes and heard the fall of their moccasins a little longer, and then the question of their own course presented itself to them.

Should they go back to Rogers with a warning of the hostile flankers, or should they follow Tandakora and see what he meant?
They decided finally in favor of the latter course, and passing quietly from their covert, began to trail those who were seeking to trail a foe.

The traces led toward the west, and it was not hard to follow them, as Tandakora and his men had taken but little care, evidently not thinking any scouting rangers or Mohawks might be near.
Robert and Tayoga followed carefully for several hundred yards; then they were surprised to see the trail curve sharply about, and go back toward the main force.
"We must have passed them," said Robert, "although we were too far away to see each other." "It would seem so," said the Onondaga.

"Tandakora may have come to the conclusion that no enemy is on his extreme flank, and so has gone back to see if any has appeared nearer the center." "Then we must follow him in his new course." "If we do what we are sent to do we will follow." "Lead on, Tayoga." The Onondaga stooped that the underbrush might hide him, advanced over the trail, and Robert was close behind.