When the sun rose they stopped and Tayoga went back to see if the Indian host was yet coming.

He returned in an hour saying there was no indication of pursuit, and Robert exulted.
"We've come away, and yet we are still there!" he exclaimed.
"What do you mean ?" asked Willet.
"We abandoned our position, but we left the great illusion there for the warriors.

They think we're still before 'em and so long as that illusion lasts it will hold 'em.

So you see, Dave, an illusion is often fully as good as reality." "It may be for a little while, but it doesn't last as long.

Within another hour Tandakora and De Courcelles will surely find out that we've gone, and then, raging mad, they'll come on our trail." "And we'll meet 'em with a second stand, I suppose ?" "If we can find a good place for defense." One of the men, Oldham, who had been sent ahead, soon returned with news that the train had crossed a deep creek with rather high banks.
"It was a hard ford," he said, "but I followed the trail some distance on the other side, and they seem to have made the passage without any bad accident." "Was the far bank of the creek thick with forest ?" asked Willet.
"Trees and undergrowth are mighty dense there," replied Oldham.
"Then that's the place for our second stand.