But even so, we, the screen, may not come into contact with them before the dark." Tayoga's calculation was correct.

The entire day passed while the rear guard retreated slowly, and all the aspects of the forest were peaceful.
They saw no pursuing brown figures and they heard no war cry, nor the call of one band to another.

Yet Robert felt that the night would bring a hostile appearance of some kind or other.

Tandakora and De Courcelles when they came upon the site of the burned fort would not linger long there, but would soon pass on in eager pursuit, hoping to strike a fleeing multitude, disorganized by panic.

But he smiled to himself at the thought that they would strike first against the curtain of fire and steel, that is, the thirty to whom he belonged.
When night came he and Tayoga were still together and Willet was a short distance away.