Chapter I<br >he quiet in the vast forest of the Seneca was deceptive.<br >Lurking unseen in the thick tangle of oak and ever-<br >green， maple， elm， and birch were creatures dangerous to<br >man--wildcats， bears， and wolves， with teeth as sharp as a<br >Seneca spear. Underfoot were silent copperheads and the<br >larger snakes that warned their victims by making a<br >sound like a medicine man s rattle. But the most danger-<br >ous predators in the forest were two-legged--Erie war-<br >tiers， the traditional enemies of the Seneca and their<br >brother nations in the proud and powerful Iroquois<br >League. Also， after the recent victory of the English<br >colonists and the Iroquois， stray bands of braves of the<br >Huron and Ottawa， allies of the defeated French， might<br >have made their way south seeking revenge.<br > But Renno was at ease in the wilderness. Relaxed<br >yet ever-vigilant， he was enjoying his first outing since<br >recovering his strength after his heroic march from the<br >French town Quebec， pursued by enemies who had sworn<br >to destroy him.<br > 1<br ><br >