Tayoga did not fear death, and he knew that he could withstand torture.

No torture could last forever, and when his soul passed he would merely go to the great shining star on which Tododaho lived, and do to perfection, forever and without satiety, the things that he loved in life here.
But Tayoga did not want to die.

As far as life here was concerned he was merely at the beginning of the chapter.

So many things were begun and nothing was finished.

Nor did he want to die at the hands of Tandakora, and allow his enemy to have a triumph that would always be sweet to the soul of the fierce Ojibway.