Tayoga's tone was cool and matter of fact, but his comrades knew that he was in deadly earnest.

At the appointed time he and Tandakora would fight their quarrel out, fight it to the death.
In the last analysis Tayoga was an Indian, strong in Indian customs and beliefs.
"Tandakora will come about an hour before midnight," said the Onondaga, "because it will be very dark then and there will yet be plenty of time for his work.

He will expect to find everybody asleep, save perhaps an English sentinel whom he can easily tomahawk in the darkness.

He does not know that the old Seigneur lies dying, and that they watch by his bed." "In that case," said the hunter with his absolute belief in all that Tayoga said, "we can settle ourselves for quite a wait." They relapsed into silence and Robert began to look at the light that shone from the bedroom of M.de Chatillard, the only light in the house now visible.

He was an old, old man between ninety and a hundred, and Willett was right in saying that he might well pass on before the fate of Quebec was decided.