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diff --git a/old/dslyr12.txt b/old/dslyr12.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..02abc60 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/dslyr12.txt @@ -0,0 +1,21865 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Deerslayer, by James Fenimore Cooper +#7 in our series by James Fenimore Cooper + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + + + + + +This etext was produced by Stephen Kerr renkerr@earthlink.net. +Edition 11 was corrected by Martin Robb (MartinRobb@ieee.org). + + + +The Deerslayer + +by James Fenimore Cooper + + + + +Chapter I. + + + "There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, + There is a rapture on the lonely shore. + There is society where none intrudes, + By the deep sea, and music in its roar: + I love not man the less, but nature more, + From these our interviews, in which I steal + From all I may be, or have been before, + To mingle with the universe, and feel + What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal" + + Childe Harold. + +On the human imagination events produce the effects of time. Thus, +he who has travelled far and seen much is apt to fancy that he has +lived long; and the history that most abounds in important incidents +soonest assumes the aspect of antiquity. In no other way can +we account for the venerable air that is already gathering around +American annals. When the mind reverts to the earliest days of +colonial history, the period seems remote and obscure, the thousand +changes that thicken along the links of recollections, throwing +back the origin of the nation to a day so distant as seemingly to +reach the mists of time; and yet four lives of ordinary duration +would suffice to transmit, from mouth to mouth, in the form of +tradition, all that civilized man has achieved within the limits +of the republic. Although New York alone possesses a population +materially exceeding that of either of the four smallest kingdoms +of Europe, or materially exceeding that of the entire Swiss +Confederation, it is little more than two centuries since the Dutch +commenced their settlement, rescuing the region from the savage +state. Thus, what seems venerable by an accumulation of changes +is reduced to familiarity when we come seriously to consider it +solely in connection with time. + +This glance into the perspective of the past will prepare the reader +to look at the pictures we are about to sketch, with less surprise +than he might otherwise feel; and a few additional explanations may +carry him back in imagination to the precise condition of society +that we desire to delineate. It is matter of history that the +settlements on the eastern shores of the Hudson, such as Claverack, +Kinderhook, and even Poughkeepsie, were not regarded as safe from +Indian incursions a century since; and there is still standing on +the banks of the same river, and within musket-shot of the wharves +of Albany, a residence of a younger branch of the Van Rensselaers, +that has loopholes constructed for defence against the same crafty +enemy, although it dates from a period scarcely so distant. Other +similar memorials of the infancy of the country are to be found, +scattered through what is now deemed the very centre of American +civilization, affording the plainest proofs that all we possess of +security from invasion and hostile violence is the growth of but +little more than the time that is frequently fulfilled by a single +human life. + +The incidents of this tale occurred between the years 1740 and 1745, +when the settled portions of the colony of New York were confined +to the four Atlantic counties, a narrow belt of country on each +side of the Hudson, extending from its mouth to the falls near its +head, and to a few advanced "neighborhoods" on the Mohawk and the +Schoharie. Broad belts of the virgin wilderness not only reached the +shores of the first river, but they even crossed it, stretching away +into New England, and affording forest covers to the noiseless moccasin +of the native warrior, as he trod the secret and bloody war-path. +A bird's-eye view of the whole region east of the Mississippi +must then have offered one vast expanse of woods, relieved by a +comparatively narrow fringe of cultivation along the sea, dotted +by the glittering surfaces of lakes, and intersected by the waving +lines of river. In such a vast picture of solemn solitude, the +district of country we design to paint sinks into insignificance, +though we feel encouraged to proceed by the conviction that, with +slight and immaterial distinctions, he who succeeds in giving an +accurate idea of any portion of this wild region must necessarily +convey a tolerably correct notion of the whole. + +Whatever may be the changes produced by man, the eternal round of +the seasons is unbroken. Summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, +return in their stated order with a sublime precision, affording +to man one of the noblest of all the occasions he enjoys of proving +the high powers of his far-reaching mind, in compassing the laws +that control their exact uniformity, and in calculating their +never-ending revolutions. + +Centuries of summer suns had warmed the tops of the same noble oaks +and pines, sending their heats even to the tenacious roots, when +voices were heard calling to each other, in the depths of a forest, +of which the leafy surface lay bathed in the brilliant light of a +cloudless day in June, while the trunks of the trees rose in gloomy +grandeur in the shades beneath. The calls were in different tones, +evidently proceeding from two men who had lost their way, and +were searching in different directions for their path. At length +a shout proclaimed success, and presently a man of gigantic mould +broke out of the tangled labyrinth of a small swamp, emerging into +an opening that appeared to have been formed partly by the ravages +of the wind, and partly by those of fire. This little area, which +afforded a good view of the sky, although it was pretty well filled +with dead trees, lay on the side of one of the high hills, or low +mountains, into which nearly the whole surface of the adjacent +country was broken. + +"Here is room to breathe in!" exclaimed the liberated forester, +as soon as he found himself under a clear sky, shaking his huge +frame like a mastiff that has just escaped from a snowbank. "Hurrah! +Deerslayer; here is daylight, at last, and yonder is the lake." + +These words were scarcely uttered when the second forester dashed +aside the bushes of the swamp, and appeared in the area. After +making a hurried adjustment of his arms and disordered dress, he +joined his companion, who had already begun his disposition for a +halt. + +"Do you know this spot!" demanded the one called Deerslayer," +or do you shout at the sight of the sun?" + +"Both, lad, both; I know the spot, and am not sorry to see +so useful a fri'nd as the sun. Now we have got the p'ints of the +compass in our minds once more, and 't will be our own faults if +we let anything turn them topsy-turvy ag'in, as has just happened. +My name is not Hurry Harry, if this be not the very spot where +the land-hunters camped the last summer, and passed a week. See +I yonder are the dead bushes of their bower, and here is the spring. +Much as I like the sun, boy, I've no occasion for it to tell me it +is noon; this stomach of mine is as good a time-piece as is to be +found in the colony, and it already p'ints to half-past twelve. +So open the wallet, and let us wind up for another six hours' run." + +At this suggestion, both set themselves about making the preparations +necessary for their usual frugal but hearty meal. We will profit +by this pause in the discourse to give the reader some idea of +the appearance of the men, each of whom is destined to enact no +insignificant part in our legend. + +It would not have been easy to find a more noble specimen of +vigorous manhood than was offered in the person of him who called +himself Hurry Harry. His real name was Henry March but the +frontiersmen having caught the practice of giving sobriquets from +the Indians, the appellation of Hurry was far oftener applied to +him than his proper designation, and not unfrequently he was termed +Hurry Skurry, a nickname he had obtained from a dashing, reckless +offhand manner, and a physical restlessness that kept him +so constantly on the move, as to cause him to be known along the +whole line of scattered habitations that lay between the province +and the Canadas. The stature of Hurry Harry exceeded six feet four, +and being unusually well proportioned, his strength fully realized +the idea created by his gigantic frame. The face did no discredit +to the rest of the man, for it was both good-humored and handsome. +His air was free, and though his manner necessarily partook of the +rudeness of a border life, the grandeur that pervaded so noble a +physique prevented it from becoming altogether vulgar. + +Deerslayer, as Hurry called his companion, was a very different +person in appearance, as well as in character. In stature he stood +about six feet in his moccasins, but his frame was comparatively +light and slender, showing muscles, however, that promised unusual +agility, if not unusual strength. His face would have had little +to recommend it except youth, were it not for an expression that +seldom failed to win upon those who had leisure to examine it, and +to yield to the feeling of confidence it created. This expression +was simply that of guileless truth, sustained by an earnestness of +purpose, and a sincerity of feeling, that rendered it remarkable. +At times this air of integrity seemed to be so simple as to awaken +the suspicion of a want of the usual means to discriminate between +artifice and truth; but few came in serious contact with the man, +without losing this distrust in respect for his opinions and motives. + +Both these frontiersmen were still young, Hurry having reached the +age of six or eight and twenty, while Deerslayer was several years +his junior. Their attire needs no particular description, though +it may be well to add that it was composed in no small degree of +dressed deer-skins, and had the usual signs of belonging to those +who pass their time between the skirts of civilized society and the +boundless forests. There was, notwithstanding, some attention to +smartness and the picturesque in the arrangements of Deerslayer's +dress, more particularly in the part connected with his arms and +accoutrements. His rifle was in perfect condition, the handle of +his hunting-knife was neatly carved, his powder-horn was ornamented +with suitable devices lightly cut into the material, and his +shot-pouch was decorated with wampum. + +On the other hand, Hurry Harry, either from constitutional recklessness, +or from a secret consciousness how little his appearance required +artificial aids, wore everything in a careless, slovenly manner, +as if he felt a noble scorn for the trifling accessories of dress +and ornaments. Perhaps the peculiar effect of his fine form and +great stature was increased rather than lessened, by this unstudied +and disdainful air of indifference. + +"Come, Deerslayer, fall to, and prove that you have a Delaware +stomach, as you say you have had a Delaware edication," cried +Hurry, setting the example by opening his mouth to receive a slice +of cold venison steak that would have made an entire meal for +a European peasant; "fall to, lad, and prove your manhood on this +poor devil of a doe with your teeth, as you've already done with +your rifle." + +"Nay, nay, Hurry, there's little manhood in killing a doe, and that +too out of season; though there might be some in bringing down a +painter or a catamount," returned the other, disposing himself to +comply. "The Delawares have given me my name, not so much on account +of a bold heart, as on account of a quick eye, and an actyve foot. +There may not be any cowardyce in overcoming a deer, but sartain +it is, there's no great valor." + +"The Delawares themselves are no heroes," muttered Hurry through +his teeth, the mouth being too full to permit it to be fairly +opened, "or they would never have allowed them loping vagabonds, +the Mingos, to make them women." + +"That matter is not rightly understood--has never been rightly +explained," said Deerslayer earnestly, for he was as zealous a +friend as his companion was dangerous as an enemy; "the Mengwe fill +the woods with their lies, and misconstruct words and treaties. I +have now lived ten years with the Delawares, and know them to be as +manful as any other nation, when the proper time to strike comes." + +"Harkee, Master Deerslayer, since we are on the subject, we may as +well open our minds to each other in a man-to-man way; answer me +one question; you have had so much luck among the game as to have +gotten a title, it would seem, but did you ever hit anything human +or intelligible: did you ever pull trigger on an inimy that was +capable of pulling one upon you?" + +This question produced a singular collision between mortification +and correct feeling, in the bosom of the youth, that was easily +to be traced in the workings of his ingenuous countenance. The +struggle was short, however; uprightness of heart soon getting the +better of false pride and frontier boastfulness. + +"To own the truth, I never did," answered Deerslayer; "seeing that +a fitting occasion never offered. The Delawares have been peaceable +since my sojourn with 'em, and I hold it to be onlawful to take +the life of man, except in open and generous warfare." + +"What! did you never find a fellow thieving among your traps and +skins, and do the law on him with your own hands, by way of saving +the magistrates trouble in the settlements, and the rogue himself +the cost of the suit!" + +"I am no trapper, Hurry," returned the young man proudly: "I live +by the rifle, a we'pon at which I will not turn my back on any +man of my years, atween the Hudson and the St. Lawrence. I never +offer a skin that has not a hole in its head besides them which +natur' made to see with or to breathe through." + +"Ay, ay, this is all very well, in the animal way, though it makes +but a poor figure alongside of scalps and ambushes. Shooting an +Indian from an ambush is acting up to his own principles, and now +we have what you call a lawful war on our hands, the sooner you wipe +that disgrace off your character, the sounder will be your sleep; +if it only come from knowing there is one inimy the less prowling in +the woods. I shall not frequent your society long, friend Natty, +unless you look higher than four-footed beasts to practice your +rifle on." + +"Our journey is nearly ended, you say, Master March, and we can +part to-night, if you see occasion. I have a fri'nd waiting for +me, who will think it no disgrace to consort with a fellow-creatur' +that has never yet slain his kind." + +"I wish I knew what has brought that skulking Delaware into this +part of the country so early in the season," muttered Hurry to +himself, in a way to show equally distrust and a recklessness of +its betrayal. "Where did you say the young chief was to give you +the meeting!" + +"At a small round rock, near the foot of the lake, where they tell +me, the tribes are given to resorting to make their treaties, and +to bury their hatchets. This rock have I often heard the Delawares +mention, though lake and rock are equally strangers to me. The +country is claimed by both Mingos and Mohicans, and is a sort +of common territory to fish and hunt through, in time of peace, +though what it may become in war-time, the Lord only knows!" + +"Common territory" exclaimed Hurry, laughing aloud. "I should like +to know what Floating Tom Hutter would say to that! He claims the +lake as his own property, in vartue of fifteen years' possession, +and will not be likely to give it up to either Mingo or Delaware +without a battle for it!" + +"And what will the colony say to such a quarrel! All this country +must have some owner, the gentry pushing their cravings into the +wilderness, even where they never dare to ventur', in their own +persons, to look at the land they own." + +"That may do in other quarters of the colony, Deerslayer, but +it will not do here. Not a human being, the Lord excepted, owns +a foot of sile in this part of the country. Pen was never put to +paper consarning either hill or valley hereaway, as I've heard +old Tom say time and ag'in, and so he claims the best right to it +of any man breathing; and what Tom claims, he'll be very likely to +maintain." + +"By what I've heard you say, Hurry, this Floating Tom must be +an oncommon mortal; neither Mingo, Delaware, nor pale-face. His +possession, too, has been long, by your tell, and altogether beyond +frontier endurance. What's the man's history and natur'?" + +"Why, as to old Tom's human natur', it is not much like other men's +human natur', but more like a muskrat's human natar', seeing that +he takes more to the ways of that animal than to the ways of any +other fellow-creatur'. Some think he was a free liver on the salt +water, in his youth, and a companion of a sartain Kidd, who was +hanged for piracy, long afore you and I were born or acquainted, +and that he came up into these regions, thinking that the king's +cruisers could never cross the mountains, and that he might enjoy +the plunder peaceably in the woods." + +"Then he was wrong, Hurry; very wrong. A man can enjoy plunder +peaceably nowhere." + +"That's much as his turn of mind may happen to be. I've known +them that never could enjoy it at all, unless it was in the midst +of a jollification, and them again that enjoyed it best in a corner. +Some men have no peace if they don't find plunder, and some if they +do. Human nature' is crooked in these matters. Old Tom seems to +belong to neither set, as he enjoys his, if plunder he has really +got, with his darters, in a very quiet and comfortable way, and +wishes for no more." + +"Ay, he has darters, too; I've heard the Delawares, who've hunted +this a way, tell their histories of these young women. Is there +no mother, Hurry?" + +"There was once, as in reason; but she has now been dead and sunk +these two good years." + +"Anan?" said Deerslayer, looking up at his companion in a little +surprise. + +"Dead and sunk, I say, and I hope that's good English. The old +fellow lowered his wife into the lake, by way of seeing the last +of her, as I can testify, being an eye-witness of the ceremony; +but whether Tom did it to save digging, which is no easy job among +roots, or out of a consait that water washes away sin sooner than +'arth, is more than I can say." + +"Was the poor woman oncommon wicked, that her husband +should take so much pains with her body ?" + +"Not onreasonable; though she had her faults. I consider Judith +Hutter to have been as graceful, and about as likely to make a good +ind as any woman who had lived so long beyond the sound of church +bells; and I conclude old Tom sunk her as much by way of saving +pains, as by way of taking it. There was a little steel in her +temper, it's true, and, as old Hutter is pretty much flint, they +struck out sparks once-and-a-while; but, on the whole, they might +be said to live amicable like. When they did kindle, the listeners +got some such insights into their past lives, as one gets into the +darker parts of the woods, when a stray gleam of sunshine finds +its way down to the roots of the trees. But Judith I shall always +esteem, as it's recommend enough to one woman to be the +mother of such a creatur' as her darter, Judith Hutter!" + +"Ay, Judith was the name the Delawares mentioned, though it was +pronounced after a fashion of their own. From their discourse, I +do not think the girl would much please my fancy." + +"Thy fancy!" exclaimed March, taking fire equally at the indifference +and at the presumption of his companion, "what the devil have you +to do with a fancy, and that, too, consarning one like Judith? You +are but a boy--a sapling, that has scarce got root. Judith has +had men among her suitors, ever since she was fifteen; which is now +near five years; and will not be apt even to cast a look +upon a half-grown creatur' like you!" + +"It is June, and there is not a cloud atween us and the sun, Hurry, +so all this heat is not wanted," answered the other, altogether +undisturbed; "any one may have a fancy, and a squirrel has a right +to make up his mind touching a catamount." + +"Ay, but it might not be wise, always, to let the catamount +know it," growled March. "But you're young and thoughtless, and +I'll overlook your ignorance. Come, Deerslayer," he added, with +a good-natured laugh, after pausing a moment to reflect, "come, +Deerslayer, we are sworn friends, and will not quarrel about a +light-minded, jilting jade, just because she happens to be handsome; +more especially as you have never seen her. Judith is only for a +man whose teeth show the full marks, and it's foolish to be afeard +of a boy. What did the Delawares say of the hussy? for an Indian, +after all, has his notions of woman-kind, as well as a white man." + +"They said she was fair to look on, and pleasant of speech; but +over-given to admirers, and light-minded." + +"They are devils incarnate! After all, what schoolmaster is a +match for an Indian, in looking into natur'! Some people think +they are only good on a trail or the war-path, but I say that they +are philosophers, and understand a man as well as they understand +a beaver, and a woman as well as they understand either. Now +that's Judith's character to a ribbon! To own the truth to you, +Deerslayer, I should have married the gal two years since, if it +had not been for two particular things, one of which was this very +lightmindedness." + +"And what may have been the other?" demanded the hunter, who +continued to eat like one that took very little interest in the +subject. + +"T'other was an insartainty about her having me. The hussy +is handsome, and she knows it. Boy, not a tree that is growing +in these hills is straighter, or waves in the wind with an easier +bend, nor did you ever see the doe that bounded with a more nat'ral +motion. If that was all, every tongue would sound her praises; +but she has such failings that I find it hard to overlook them, +and sometimes I swear I'll never visit the lake again." + +"Which is the reason that you always come back? Nothing is ever +made more sure by swearing about it." + +"Ah, Deerslayer, you are a novelty in these particulars; keeping +as true to education as if you had never left the settlements. +With me the case is different, and I never want to clinch an idee, +that I do not feel a wish to swear about it. If you know'd all that +I know consarning Judith, you'd find a justification for a little +cussing. Now, the officers sometimes stray over to the lake, from +the forts on the Mohawk, to fish and hunt, and then the creatur' +seems beside herself! You can see in the manner which she wears +her finery, and the airs she gives herself with the gallants." + +"That is unseemly in a poor man's darter," returned Deerslayer +gravely, "the officers are all gentry, and can only look on such +as Judith with evil intentions." + +"There's the unsartainty, and the damper! I have my misgivings +about a particular captain, and Jude has no one to blame but her +own folly, if I'm right. On the whole, I wish to look upon her +as modest and becoming, and yet the clouds that drive among these +hills are not more unsartain. Not a dozen white men have ever +laid eyes upon her since she was a child, and yet her airs, +with two or three of these officers, are extinguishers!" + +"I would think no more of such a woman, but turn my mind altogether +to the forest; that will not deceive you, being ordered and ruled +by a hand that never wavers." + +"If you know'd Judith, you would see how much easier it is to say +this than it would be to do it. Could I bring my mind to be easy +about the officers, I would carry the gal off to the Mohawk by +force, make her marry me in spite of her whiffling, and leave old +Tom to the care of Hetty, his other child, who, if she be not as +handsome or as quick-witted as her sister, is much the most dutiful." + +"Is there another bird in the same nest!" asked Deerslayer, +raising his eyes with a species of half-awakened curiosity, "the +Delawares spoke to me only of one." + +That's nat'ral enough, when Judith Hutter and Hetty Hutter are in +question. Hetty is only comely, while her sister, I tell thee, +boy, is such another as is not to be found atween this and the sea: +Judith is as full of wit, and talk, and cunning, as an old Indian +orator, while poor Hetty is at the best but 'compass meant us.'" + +"Anan?" inquired, again, the Deerslayer. + +"Why, what the officers call 'compass meant us,' which I understand +to signify that she means always to go in the right direction, but +sometimes does not know how. 'Compass'for the p'int, and 'meant +us' for the intention. No, poor Hetty is what I call on the verge +of ignorance, and sometimes she stumbles on one side of the line, +and sometimes on t'other." + +"Them are beings that the Lord has in his special care," said +Deerslayer, solemnly; "for he looks carefully to all who fall short +of their proper share of reason. The red-skins honor and respect +them who are so gifted, knowing that the Evil Spirit delights more +to dwell in an artful body, than in one that has no cunning to work +upon." + +"I'll answer for it, then, that he will not remain long with poor +Hetty; for the child is just 'compass meant us,' as I have told you. +Old Tom has a feeling for the gal, and so has Judith, quick-witted +and glorious as she is herself; else would I not answer for her +being altogether safe among the sort of men that sometimes meet on +the lake shore." + +"I thought this water an unknown and little-frequented sheet," +observed the Deerslayer, evidently uneasy at the idea of being too +near the world. + +"It's all that, lad, the eyes of twenty white men never having +been laid on it; still, twenty true-bred frontiersmen -- hunters +and trappers, and scouts, and the like, -- can do a deal of mischief +if they try. 'T would be an awful thing to me, Deerslayer, did I +find Judith married, after an absence of six months!" + +"Have you the gal's faith, to encourage you to hope otherwise?" + +"Not at all. I know not how it is: I'm good-looking, boy, -- that +much I can see in any spring on which the sun shines, -- and yet +I could not get the hussy to a promise, or even a cordial willing +smile, though she will laugh by the hour. If she has dared to marry +in my absence, she'd be like to know the pleasures of widowhood +afore she is twenty!" + +"You would not harm the man she has chosen, Hurry, simply because +she found him more to her liking than yourself!" + +Why not! If an enemy crosses my path, will I not beat him out of +it! Look at me! am I a man like to let any sneaking, crawling, +skin-trader get the better of me in a matter that touches me +as near as the kindness of Judith Hutter! Besides, when we live +beyond law, we must be our own judges and executioners. And if +a man should be found dead in the woods, who is there to say who +slew him, even admitting that the colony took the matter in hand +and made a stir about it?" + +"If that man should be Judith Hutter's husband, after what has +passed, I might tell enough, at least, to put the colony on the +trail." + +"You!--half-grown, venison-hunting bantling! You dare to think of +informing against Hurry Harry in so much as a matter touching +a mink or a woodchuck!" + +"I would dare to speak truth, Hurry, consarning you or any man that +ever lived." + +March looked at his companion, for a moment, in silent amazement; +then seizing him by the throat with both hands, he shook his comparatively +slight frame with a violence that menaced the dislocation of some +of the bones. Nor was this done jocularly, for anger flashed +from the giant's eyes, and there were certain signs that seemed to +threaten much more earnestness than the occasion would appear to +call for. Whatever might be the real intention of March, and it is +probable there was none settled in his mind, it is certain that he +was unusually aroused; and most men who found themselves throttled +by one of a mould so gigantic, in such a mood, and in a solitude +so deep and helpless, would have felt intimidated, and tempted +to yield even the right. Not so, however, with Deerslayer. His +countenance remained unmoved; his hand did not shake, and his answer +was given in a voice that did not resort to the artifice of louder +tones, even by way of proving its owner's resolution. + +"You may shake, Hurry, until you bring down the mountain," he said +quietly, "but nothing beside truth will you shake from me. It is +probable that Judith Hutter has no husband to slay, and you may +never have a chance to waylay one, else would I tell her of your +threat, in the first conversation I held with the gal." + +March released his grip, and sat regarding the other in silent +astonishment. + +"I thought we had been friends," he at length added; "but you've +got the last secret of mine that will ever enter your ears." + +"I want none, if they are to be like this. I know we live in the +woods, Hurry, and are thought to be beyond human laws,--and perhaps +we are so, in fact, whatever it may be in right,--but there is a +law and a law-maker, that rule across the whole continent. He that +flies in the face of either need not call me a friend." + +"Damme, Deerslayer, if I do not believe you are at heart a Moravian, +and no fair-minded, plain-dealing hunter, as you've pretended to be!" + +"Fair-minded or not, Hurry, you will find me as plaindealing in +deeds as I am in words. But this giving way to sudden anger is +foolish, and proves how little you have sojourned with the red man. +Judith Hutter no doubt is still single, and you spoke but as the +tongue ran, and not as the heart felt. There's my hand, and we +will say and think no more about it." + +Hurry seemed more surprised than ever; then he burst forth in a +loud, good-natured laugh, which brought tears to his eyes. After +this he accepted the offered hand, and the parties became friends. + +"'T would have been foolish to quarrel about an idee," March cried, +as he resumed his meal, "and more like lawyers in the towns than +like sensible men in the woods. They tell me, Deerslayer, much +ill-blood grows out of idees among the people in the lower counties, +and that they sometimes get to extremities upon them." + +"That do they,-that do they; and about other matters that might +better be left to take care of themselves. I have heard the Moravians +say that there are lands in which men quarrel even consarning their +religion; and if they can get their tempers up on such a subject, +Hurry, the Lord have Marcy on 'em. Howsoever, there is no occasion +for our following their example, and more especially about a husband +that this Judith Hutter may never see, or never wish to see. For +my part, I feel more cur'osity about the feeble-witted sister than +about your beauty. There's something that comes close to a man's +feelin's, when he meets with a fellow-creatur' that has all the +outward show of an accountable mortal, and who fails of being what +he seems, only through a lack of reason. This is bad enough in +a man, but when it comes to a woman, and she a young, and maybe +a winning creatur' it touches all the pitiful thoughts his natur' +has. God knows, Hurry, that such poor things be defenceless enough +with all their wits about 'em; but it's a cruel fortun' when that +great protector and guide fails 'em." + +"Hark, Deerslayer,--you know what the hunters, and trappers, and +peltry-men in general be; and their best friends will not deny that +they are headstrong and given to having their own way, without much +bethinking 'em of other people's rights or feelin's,--and yet I +don't think the man is to be found, in all this region, who would +harm Hetty Hutter, if he could; no, not even a red-skin." + +"Therein, fri'nd Hurry, you do the Delawares, at least, and all +their allied tribes, only justice, for a red-skin looks upon a +being thus struck by God's power as especially under his care. I +rejoice to hear what you say, however, I rejoice to hear it; but +as the sun is beginning to turn towards the afternoon's sky, had +we not better strike the trail again, and make forward, that we +may get an opportunity of seeing these wonderful sisters?" + +Harry March giving a cheerful assent, the remnants of the meal were +soon collected; then the travelers shouldered their packs, resumed +their arms, and, quitting the little area of light, they again +plunged into the deep shadows of the forest. + + + +Chapter II. + + "Thou'rt passing from the lake's green side, + And the hunter's hearth away; + For the time of flowers, for the summer's pride, + Daughter! thou canst not stay." + + Mrs. Hemans, "Edith. A Tale of the Woods" II. 191-94 + + + +Our two adventurers had not far to go. Hurry knew the direction, +as soon as he had found the open spot and the spring, and he now +led on with the confident step of a man assured of his object. +The forest was dark, as a matter of course, but it was no longer +obstructed by underbrush, and the footing was firm and dry. After +proceeding near a mile, March stopped, and began to cast about him +with an inquiring look, examining the different objects with care, +and occasionally turning his eyes on the trunks of the fallen trees, +with which the ground was well sprinkled, as is usually the case +in an American wood, especially in those parts of the country where +timber has not yet become valuable. + +"This must be the place, Deerslayer," March at length observed; +"here is a beech by the side of a hemlock, with three pines at +hand, and yonder is a white birch with a broken top; and yet I see +no rock, nor any of the branches bent down, as I told you would be +the case." + +"Broken branches are onskilful landmarks, as the least exper'enced +know that branches don't often break of themselves," returned +the other; "and they also lead to suspicion and discoveries. The +Delawares never trust to broken branches, unless it is in friendly +times, and on an open trail. As for the beeches, and pines, and +hemlocks, why, they are to be seen on all sides of us, not only by +twos and threes, but by forties, and fifties, and hundreds." + +"Very true, Deerslayer, but you never calculate on position. Here +is a beech and a hemlock--" + +"Yes, and there is another beech and a hemlock, as loving as two +brothers, or, for that matter, more loving than some brothers; and +yonder are others, for neither tree is a rarity in these woods. +I fear me, Hurry, you are better at trapping beaver and shooting +bears, than at leading on a blindish sort of a trail. Ha! there's +what you wish to find, a'ter all!" + +"Now, Deerslayer, this is one of your Delaware pretensions, for +hang me if I see anything but these trees, which do seem to start +up around us in a most onaccountable and perplexing manner." + +"Look this a way, Hurry--here, in a line with the black oak-don't +you see the crooked sapling that is hooked up in the branches of +the bass-wood, near it? Now, that sapling was once snow-ridden, +and got the bend by its weight; but it never straightened itself, +and fastened itself in among the bass-wood branches in the way you +see. The hand of man did that act of kindness for it." + +"That hand was mine!" exclaimed Hurry; "I found the slender +young thing bent to the airth, like an unfortunate creatur' borne +down by misfortune, and stuck it up where you see it. After all, +Deerslayer, I must allow, you're getting to have an oncommon good +eye for the woods!" + +"'Tis improving, Hurry-- 'tis improving I will acknowledge; but +'tis only a child's eye, compared to some I know. There's Tamenund, +now, though a man so old that few remember when he was in his +prime, Tamenund lets nothing escape his look, which is more like +the scent of a hound than the sight of an eye. Then Uncas, the +father of Chingachgook, and the lawful chief of the Mohicans, is +another that it is almost hopeless to pass unseen. I'm improving, +I will allow-- I'm improving, but far from being perfect, as yet." + +"And who is this Chingachgook, of whom you talk so much, Deerslayer!" +asked Hurry, as he moved off in the direction of the righted +sapling; "a loping red-skin, at the best, I make no question." + +"Not so, Hurry, but the best of loping red-skins, as you call 'em. +If he had his rights, he would be a great chief; but, as it is, +he is only a brave and just-minded Delaware; respected, and even +obeyed in some things,'tis true, but of a fallen race, and belonging +to a fallen people. Ah! Harry March, 'twould warm the heart within +you to sit in their lodges of a winter's night, and listen to the +traditions of the ancient greatness and power of the Mohicans!" + +"Harkee, fri'nd Nathaniel," said Hurry, stopping short to face his +companion, in order that his words might carry greater weight with +them, "if a man believed all that other people choose to say in +their own favor, he might get an oversized opinion of them, and +an undersized opinion of himself. These red-skins are notable +boasters, and I set down more than half of their traditions as pure +talk." + +"There is truth in what you say, Hurry, I'll not deny it, for I've +seen it, and believe it. They do boast, but then that is a gift +from natur'; and it's sinful to withstand nat'ral gifts. See; this +is the spot you come to find!" This remark cut short the discourse, +and both the men now gave all their attention to the object +immediately before them. Deerslayer pointed out to his companion +the trunk of a huge linden, or bass-wood, as it is termed in the +language of the country, which had filled its time, and fallen by +its own weight. This tree, like so many millions of its brethren, +lay where it had fallen, and was mouldering under the slow but +certain influence of the seasons. The decay, however, had attacked +its centre, even while it stood erect in the pride of vegetation, +bellowing out its heart, as disease sometimes destroys the vitals +of animal life, even while a fair exterior is presented to the +observer. As the trunk lay stretched for near a hundred feet along +the earth, the quick eye of the hunter detected this peculiarity, +and from this and other circumstances, he knew it to be the tree +of which March was in search. + +"Ay, here we have what we want," cried Hurry, looking in at the +larger end of the linden; "everything is as snug as if it had been +left in an old woman's cupboard. Come, lend me a hand, Deerslayer, +and we'll be afloat in half an hour." + +At this call the hunter joined his companion, and the two went to +work deliberately and regularly, like men accustomed to the sort +of thing in which they were employed. In the first place, Hurry +removed some pieces of bark that lay before the large opening in +the tree, and which the other declared to be disposed in a way that +would have been more likely to attract attention than to conceal +the cover, had any straggler passed that way. The two then drew out +a bark canoe, containing its seats, paddles, and other appliances, +even to fishing-lines and rods. This vessel was by no means +small; but such was its comparative lightness, and so gigantic was +the strength of Hurry, that the latter shouldered it with seeming +ease, declining all assistance, even in the act of raising it to +the awkward position in which he was obliged to hold it. + +"Lead ahead, Deerslayer," said March, "and open the bushes; the +rest I can do for myself." + +The other obeyed, and the men left the spot, Deerslayer clearing +the way for his companion, and inclining to the right or to the +left, as the latter directed. In about ten minutes they both broke +suddenly into the brilliant light of the sun, on a low gravelly +point, that was washed by water on quite half its outline. + +An exclamation of surprise broke from the lips of Deerslayer, an +exclamation that was low and guardedly made, however, for his habits +were much more thoughtful and regulated than those of the reckless +Hurry, when on reaching the margin of the lake, he beheld the view +that unexpectedly met his gaze. It was, in truth, sufficiently +striking to merit a brief description. On a level with the point +lay a broad sheet of water, so placid and limpid that it resembled +a bed of the pure mountain atmosphere, compressed into a setting +of hills and woods. Its length was about three leagues, while its +breadth was irregular, expanding to half a league, or even more, +opposite to the point, and contracting to less than half that distance, +more to the southward. Of course, its margin was irregular, being +indented by bays, and broken by many projecting, low points. At its +northern, or nearest end, it was bounded by an isolated mountain, +lower land falling off east and west, gracefully relieving the sweep +of the outline. Still the character of the country was mountainous; +high hills, or low mountains, rising abruptly from the water, on +quite nine tenths of its circuit. The exceptions, indeed, only +served a little to vary the scene; and even beyond the parts of the +shore that were comparatively low, the background was high, though +more distant. + +But the most striking peculiarities of this scene were its solemn +solitude and sweet repose. On all sides, wherever the eye turned, +nothing met it but the mirror-like surface of the lake, the placid +view of heaven, and the dense setting of woods. So rich and fleecy +were the outlines of the forest, that scarce an opening could be +seen, the whole visible earth, from the rounded mountain-top to +the water's edge, presenting one unvaried hue of unbroken verdure. +As if vegetation were not satisfied with a triumph so complete, +the trees overhung the lake itself, shooting out towards the light; +and there were miles along its eastern shore, where a boat might +have pulled beneath the branches of dark Rembrandt-looking hemlocks, +"quivering aspens," and melancholy pines. In a word, the hand +of man had never yet defaced or deformed any part of this native +scene, which lay bathed in the sunlight, a glorious picture of +affluent forest grandeur, softened by the balminess of June, and +relieved by the beautiful variety afforded by the presence of so +broad an expanse of water. + +"This is grand! -- 'tis solemn!- 'tis an edication of itself, +to look upon!" exclaimed Deerslayer, as he stood leaning on his +rifle, and gazing to the right and left, north and south, above +and beneath, in whichever direction his eye could wander; "not a +tree disturbed even by red-skin hand, as I can discover, but everything +left in the ordering of the Lord, to live and die according to his +own designs and laws! Hurry, your Judith ought to be a moral and +well disposed young woman, if she has passed half the time you +mention in the centre of a spot so favored." + +"That's naked truth; and yet the gal has the vagaries. All her time +has not been passed here, howsoever, old Tom having the custom, +afore I know'd him, of going to spend the winters in the neighborhood +of the settlers, or under the guns of the forts. No, no, Jude has +caught more than is for her good from the settlers, and especially +from the gallantifying officers." + +"If she has--if she has, Hurry, this is a school to set her mind +right ag'in. But what is this I see off here, abreast of us, that +seems too small for an island, and too large for a boat, though it +stands in the midst of the water! + +"Why, that is what these galantine gentry from the forts call +Muskrat Castle; and old Tom himself will grin at the name, though +it bears so hard on his own natur' and character. 'Tis the stationary +house, there being two; this, which never moves, and the other, +that floats, being sometimes in one part of the lake and sometimes +in another. The last goes by the name of the ark, though what may +be the meaning of the word is more than I can tell you." + +"It must come from the missionaries, Hurry, whom I have heard +speak and read of such a thing. They say that the 'arth was once +covered with water, and that Noah, with his children, was saved from +drowning by building a vessel called an ark, in which he embarked +in season. Some of the Delawares believe this tradition, and some +deny it; but it behooves you and me, as white men born, to put +our faith in its truth. Do you see anything of this ark?" + +"'Tis down south, no doubt, or anchored in some of the bays. But +the canoe is ready, and fifteen minutes will carry two such paddles +as your'n and mine to the castle." + +At this suggestion, Deerslayer helped his companion to place the +different articles in the canoe, which was already afloat. This +was no sooner done than the two frontiermen embarked, and by a +vigorous push sent the light bark some eight or ten rods from the +shore. Hurry now took the seat in the stern, while Deerslayer +placed himself forward, and by leisurely but steady strokes of +the paddles, the canoe glided across the placid sheet, towards the +extraordinary-looking structure that the former had styled Muskrat +Castle. Several times the men ceased paddling, and looked about them +at the scene, as new glimpses opened from behind points, enabling +them to see farther down the lake, or to get broader views of +the wooded mountains. The only changes, however, were in the new +forms of the hills, the varying curvature of the bays, and the +wider reaches of the valley south; the whole earth apparently being +clothed in a gala-dress of leaves. + +"This is a sight to warm the heart!" exclaimed Deerslayer, when +they had thus stopped for the fourth or fifth time; "the lake seems +made to let us get an insight into the noble forests; and land and +water alike stand in the beauty of God's providence! Do you say, +Hurry, that there is no man who calls himself lawful owner of all +these glories?" + +"None but the King, lad. He may pretend to some right of that +natur', but he is so far away that his claim will never trouble +old Tom Hutter, who has got possession, and is like to keep it as +long as his life lasts. Tom is no squatter, not being on land; I +call him a floater." + +"I invy that man! I know it's wrong, and I strive ag'in the feelin', +but I invy that man! Don't think, Hurry, that I'm consorting any +plan to put myself in his moccasins, for such a thought doesn't +harbor in my mind; but I can't help a little invy! 'Tis a nat'ral +feelin', and the best of us are but nat'ral, a'ter all, and give +way to such feelin's at times." + +"You've only to marry Hetty to inherit half the estate," cried Hurry, +laughing; "the gal is comely; nay, if it wasn't for her sister's +beauty she would be even handsome; and then her wits are so small +that you may easily convart her into one of your own way of thinking, +in all things. Do you take Hetty off the old fellow's hands, and +I'll engage he'll give you an interest in every deer you can knock +over within five miles of his lake." + +"Does game abound!" suddenly demanded the other, who paid but little +attention to March's raillery. + +"It has the country to itself. Scarce a trigger is pulled on it; +and as for the trappers, this is not a region they greatly frequent. +I ought not to be so much here myself, but Jude pulls one way, while +the beaver pulls another. More than a hundred Spanish dollars has +that creatur' cost me the last two seasons, and yet I could not +forego the wish to look upon her face once more." + +"Do the redmen often visit this lake, Hurry?" continued Deerslayer, +pursuing his own train of thought. + +"Why, they come and go; sometimes in parties, and sometimes singly. +The country seems to belong to no native tribe in particular; and +so it has fallen into the hands of the Hutter tribe. The old man +tells me that some sharp ones have been wheedling the Mohawks for +an Indian deed, in order to get a title out of the colony; but +nothing has come of it, seeing that no one heavy enough for such +a trade has yet meddled with the matter. The hunters have a good +life-lease still of this wilderness." + +"So much the better, so much the better, Hurry. If I was King +of England, the man that felled one of these trees without good +occasion for the timber, should be banished to a desarted and forlorn +region, in which no fourfooted animal ever trod. Right glad am I +that Chingachgook app'inted our meeting on this lake, for hitherto +eye of mine never looked on such a glorious spectacle." + +"That's because you've kept so much among the Delawares, in whose country +there are no lakes. Now, farther north and farther west these +bits of water abound; and you're young, and may yet live to see +'em. But though there be other lakes, Deerslayer, there's no other +Judith Hutter!" + +At this remark his companion smiled, and then he dropped his paddle +into the water, as if in consideration of a lover's haste. Both +now pulled vigorously until they got within a hundred yards of +the "castle," as Hurry familiarly called the house of Hutter, when +they again ceased paddling; the admirer of Judith restraining his +impatience the more readily, as he perceived that the building was +untenanted, at the moment. This new pause was to enable Deerslayer +to survey the singular edifice, which was of a construction so +novel as to merit a particular description. + +Muskrat Castle, as the house had been facetiously named by some +waggish officer, stood in the open lake, at a distance of fully a +quarter of a mile from the nearest shore. On every other side the +water extended much farther, the precise position being distant +about two miles from the northern end of the sheet, and near, if +not quite, a mile from its eastern shore. As there was not the +smallest appearance of any island, but the house stood on piles, +with the water flowing beneath it, and Deerslayer had already +discovered that the lake was of a great depth, he was fain to ask +an explanation of this singular circumstance. Hurry solved the +difficulty by telling him that on this spot alone, a long, narrow +shoal, which extended for a few hundred yards in a north and south +direction, rose within six or eight feet of the surface of the lake, +and that Hutter had driven piles into it, and placed his habitation +on them, for the purpose of security. + +"The old fellow was burnt out three times, atween the Indians and +the hunters; and in one affray with the red-skins he lost his only +son, since which time he has taken to the water for safety. No +one can attack him here, without coming in a boat, and the plunder +and scalps would scarce be worth the trouble of digging out canoes. +Then it's by no means sartain which would whip in such a scrimmage, +for old Tom is well supplied with arms and ammunition, and the +castle, as you may see, is a tight breastwork ag'in light shot." + +Deerslayer had some theoretical knowledge of frontier warfare, +though he had never yet been called on to raise his hand in anger +against a fellow-creature. He saw that Hurry did not overrate +the strength of this position in a military point of view, since +it would not be easy to attack it without exposing the assailants +to the fire of the besieged. A good deal of art had also been +manifested in the disposition of the timber of which the building +was constructed and which afforded a protection much greater than +was usual to the ordinary log-cabins of the frontier. The sides +and ends were composed of the trunks of large pines, cut about nine +feet long, and placed upright, instead of being laid horizontally, +as was the practice of the country. These logs were squared on +three sides, and had large tenons on each end. Massive sills were +secured on the heads of the piles, with suitable grooves dug out +of their upper surfaces, which had been squared for the purpose, +and the lower tenons of the upright pieces were placed in these +grooves, giving them secure fastening below. Plates had been laid +on the upper ends of the upright logs, and were kept in their places +by a similar contrivance; the several corners of the structure +being well fastened by scarfing and pinning the sills and plates. +The doors were made of smaller logs, similarly squared, and the +roof was composed of light poles, firmly united, and well covered +with bark. + +The effect of this ingenious arrangement was to give its owner a +house that could be approached only by water, the sides of which +were composed of logs closely wedged together, which were two feet +thick in their thinnest parts, and which could be separated only +by a deliberate and laborious use of human hands, or by the slow +operation of time. The outer surface of the building was rude and +uneven, the logs being of unequal sizes; but the squared surfaces +within gave both the sides and door as uniform an appearance as was +desired, either for use or show. The chimney was not the least +singular portion of the castle, as Hurry made his companion observe, +while he explained the process by which it had been made. The +material was a stiff clay, properly worked, which had been put +together in a mould of sticks, and suffered to harden, a foot or +two at a time, commencing at the bottom. When the entire chimney +had thus been raised, and had been properly bound in with outward +props, a brisk fire was kindled, and kept going until it was burned +to something like a brick-red. This had not been an easy operation, +nor had it succeeded entirely; but by dint of filling the cracks +with fresh clay, a safe fireplace and chimney had been obtained +in the end. This part of the work stood on the log-door, secured +beneath by an extra pile. There were a few other peculiarities +about this dwelling, which will better appear in the course of the +narrative. + +"Old Tom is full of contrivances," added Hurry, "and he set his +heart on the success of his chimney, which threatened more than +once to give out altogether; but perseverance will even overcome +smoke; and now he has a comfortable cabin of it, though it did +promise, at one time, to be a chinky sort of a flue to carry flames +and fire." + +"You seem to know the whole history of the castle, Hurry, chimney +and sides," said Deerslayer, smiling; "is love so overcoming that +it causes a man to study the story of his sweetheart's habitation ?" + +"Partly that, lad, and partly eyesight," returned the good-natured +giant, laughing; "there was a large gang of us in the lake, the +summer the old fellow built, and we helped him along with the job. +I raised no small part of the weight of them uprights with my own +shoulders, and the axes flew, I can inform you, Master Natty, while +we were bee-ing it among the trees ashore. The old devil is no way +stingy about food, and as we had often eat at his hearth, we thought +we would just house him comfortably, afore we went to Albany with +our skins. Yes, many is the meal I've swallowed in Tom Hutter's +cabins; and Hetty, though so weak in the way of wits, has +a wonderful particular way about a frying-pan or a gridiron! + +"While the parties were thus discoursing, the canoe had been +gradually drawing nearer to the "castle," and was now so close as +to require but a single stroke of a paddle to reach the landing. +This was at a floored platform in front of the entrance, that might +have been some twenty feet square. + +"Old Tom calls this sort of a wharf his door-yard," observed Hurry, +as he fastened the canoe, after he and his Companion had left it: +"and the gallants from the forts have named it the castle court +though what a 'court' can have to do here is more than I can tell +you, seeing that there is no law. 'Tis as I supposed; not a soul +within, but the whole family is off on a v'y'ge of discovery!" + +While Hurry was bustling about the "door-yard," examining the +fishing-spears, rods, nets, and other similar appliances of a frontier +cabin, Deerslayer, whose manner was altogether more rebuked and +quiet, entered the building with a curiosity that was not usually +exhibited by one so long trained in Indian habits. The interior +of the "castle" was as faultlessly neat as its exterior was novel. +The entire space, some twenty feet by forty, was subdivided into +several small sleeping-rooms; the apartment into which he first +entered, serving equally for the ordinary uses of its inmates, and +for a kitchen. The furniture was of the strange mixture that it +is not uncommon to find in the remotely situated log-tenements of +the interior. Most of it was rude, and to the last degree rustic; +but there was a clock, with a handsome case of dark wood, in a +corner, and two or three chairs, with a table and bureau, that had +evidently come from some dwelling of more than usual pretension. +The clock was industriously ticking, but its leaden-looking hands +did no discredit to their dull aspect, for they pointed to the +hour of eleven, though the sun plainly showed it was some time past +the turn of the day. There was also a dark, massive chest. The +kitchen utensils were of the simplest kind, and far from numerous, +but every article was in its place, and showed the nicest care in +its condition. + +After Deerslayer had cast a look about him in the outer room, he +raised a wooden latch, and entered a narrow passage that divided +the inner end of the house into two equal parts. Frontier usages +being no way scrupulous, and his curiosity being strongly excited, +the young man now opened a door, and found himself in a bedroom. +A single glance sufficed to show that the apartment belonged to +females. The bed was of the feathers of wild geese, and filled +nearly to overflowing; but it lay in a rude bunk, raised only a foot +from the door. On one side of it were arranged, on pegs, various +dresses, of a quality much superior to what one would expect to +meet in such a place, with ribbons and other similar articles to +correspond. Pretty shoes, with handsome silver buckles, such as +were then worn by females in easy circumstances, were not wanting; +and no less than six fans, of gay colors, were placed half open, +in a way to catch the eye by their conceits and hues. Even the +pillow, on this side of the bed, was covered with finer linen than +its companion, and it was ornamented with a small ruffle. A cap, +coquettishly decorated with ribbons, hung above it, and a pair of +long gloves, such as were rarely used in those days by persons of +the laboring classes, were pinned ostentatiously to it, as if with +an intention to exhibit them there, if they could not be shown on +the owner's arms. + +All this Deerslayer saw, and noted with a degree of minuteness that +would have done credit to the habitual observation of his friends, +the Delawares. Nor did he fail to perceive the distinction that +existed between the appearances on the different sides of the bed, +the head of which stood against the wall. On that opposite to the +one just described, everything was homely and uninviting, except +through its perfect neatness. The few garments that were hanging +from the pegs were of the coarsest materials and of the commonest +forms, while nothing seemed made for show. Of ribbons there was +not one; nor was there either cap or kerchief beyond those which +Hutter's daughters might be fairly entitled to wear. + +It was now several years since Deerslayer had been in a spot +especially devoted to the uses of females of his own color and race. +The sight brought back to his mind a rush of childish recollections; +and he lingered in the room with a tenderness of feeling to which +he had long been a stranger. He bethought him of his mother, whose +homely vestments he remembered to have seen hanging on pegs like +those which he felt must belong to Hetty Hutter; and he bethought +himself of a sister, whose incipient and native taste for finery had +exhibited itself somewhat in the manner of that of Judith, though +necessarily in a less degree. These little resemblances opened a +long hidden vein of sensations; and as he quitted the room, it was +with a saddened mien. He looked no further, but returned slowly +and thoughtfully towards the "door-yard." + +"If Old Tom has taken to a new calling, and has been trying his +hand at the traps," cried Hurry, who had been coolly examining the +borderer's implements; "if that is his humor, and you're disposed +to remain in these parts, we can make an oncommon comfortable season +of it; for, while the old man and I out-knowledge the beaver, you +can fish, and knock down the deer, to keep body and soul together. +I've always give the poorest hunters half a share, but one as actyve +and sartain as yourself might expect a full one." + +"Thank'ee, Hurry; thank'ee, with all my heart--but I do a little +beavering for myself as occasions offer. 'Tis true, the Delawares +call me Deerslayer, but it's not so much because I'm pretty fatal +with the venison as because that while I kill so many bucks and +does, I've never yet taken the life of a fellow-creatur'. They +say their traditions do not tell of another who had shed so much +blood of animals that had not shed the blood of man." + +"I hope they don't account you chicken-hearted, lad! A faint-hearted +man is like a no-tailed beaver." + +"I don't believe, Hurry, that they account me as out-of the-way +timorsome, even though they may not account me as out-of-the-way +brave. But I'm not quarrelsome; and that goes a great way towards +keeping blood off the hands, among the hunters and red-skins; and +then, Harry March, it keeps blood off the conscience, too." + +"Well, for my part I account game, a red-skin, and a Frenchman as +pretty much the same thing; though I'm as onquarrelsome a man, too, +as there is in all the colonies. I despise a quarreller as I do a +cur-dog; but one has no need to be over-scrupulsome when it's the +right time to show the flint." + +"I look upon him as the most of a man who acts nearest the right, +Hurry. But this is a glorious spot, and my eyes never a-weary +looking at it!" + +"Tis your first acquaintance with a lake; and these ideas come over +us all at such times. Lakes have a gentle character, as I say, +being pretty much water and land, and points and bays." + +As this definition by no means met the feelings that were uppermost +in the mind of the young hunter, he made no immediate answer, +but stood gazing at the dark hills and the glassy water in silent +enjoyment. + +"Have the Governor's or the King's people given this lake a name?" +he suddenly asked, as if struck with a new idea. "If they've not +begun to blaze their trees, and set up their compasses, and line off +their maps, it's likely they've not bethought them to disturb +natur' with a name." + +"They've not got to that, yet; and the last time I went in with +skins, one of the King's surveyors was questioning me consarning +all the region hereabouts. He had heard that there was a lake in +this quarter, and had got some general notions about it, such as +that there was water and hills; but how much of either, he know'd +no more than you know of the Mohawk tongue. I didn't open the trap +any wider than was necessary, giving him but poor encouragement in +the way of farms and clearings. In short, I left on his mind some +such opinion of this country, as a man gets of a spring of dirty +water, with a path to it that is so muddy that one mires afore he +sets out. He told me they hadn't got the spot down yet on their +maps, though I conclude that is a mistake, for he showed me his +parchment, and there is a lake down on it, where there is no lake +in fact, and which is about fifty miles from the place where it +ought to be, if they meant it for this. I don't think my account +will encourage him to mark down another, by way of improvement." + +Here Hurry laughed heartily, such tricks being particularly grateful +to a set of men who dreaded the approaches of civilization as a +curtailment of their own lawless empire. The egregious errors that +existed in the maps of the day, all of which were made in Europe, +were, moreover, a standing topic of ridicule among them; for, if +they had not science enough to make any better themselves, they had +sufficient local information to detect the gross blunders contained +in those that existed. Any one who will take the trouble to compare +these unanswerable evidences of the topographical skill of our +fathers a century since, with the more accurate sketches of our +own time, will at once perceive that the men of the woods had a +sufficient justification for all their criticism on this branch of +the skill of the colonial governments, which did not at all hesitate +to place a river or a lake a degree or two out of the way, even +though they lay within a day's march of the inhabited parts of the +country. + +"I'm glad it has no name," resumed Deerslayer, "or at least, no +pale-face name; for their christenings always foretell waste and +destruction. No doubt, howsoever, the red-skins have their modes +of knowing it, and the hunters and trappers, too; they are likely +to call the place by something reasonable and resembling." + +"As for the tribes, each has its tongue, and its own way of calling +things; and they treat this part of the world just as they treat +all others. Among ourselves, we've got to calling the place the +'Glimmerglass,' seeing that its whole basin is so often hinged +with pines, cast upward to its face as if it would throw back the +hills that hang over it." + +"There is an outlet, I know, for all lakes have outlets, and the +rock at which I am to meet Chingachgook stands near an outlet. Has +that no colony-name yet?" + +"In that particular they've got the advantage of us, having one +end, and that the biggest, in their own keeping: they've given it +a name which has found its way up to its source; names nat'rally +working up stream. No doubt, Deerslayer, you've seen the Susquehannah, +down in the Delaware country?" + +"That have I, and hunted along its banks a hundred times." + +"That and this are the same in fact, and, I suppose, the same in +sound. I am glad they've been compelled to keep the redmen's name, +for it would be too hard to rob them of both land and name!" + +Deerslayer made no answer; but he stood leaning on his rifle, +gazing at the view which so much delighted him. The reader is not +to suppose, however, that it was the picturesque alone which so +strongly attracted his attention. The spot was very lovely, of a +truth, and it was then seen in one of its most favorable moments, +the surface of the lake being as smooth as glass and as limpid as +pure air, throwing back the mountains, clothed in dark pines, along +the whole of its eastern boundary, the points thrusting forward +their trees even to nearly horizontal lines, while the bays were +seen glittering through an occasional arch beneath, left by a vault +fretted with branches and leaves. It was the air of deep repose-- +the solitudes, that spoke of scenes and forests untouched by the +hands of man-- the reign of nature, in a word, that gave so much +pure delight to one of his habits and turn of mind. Still, he +felt, though it was unconsciously, like a poet also. If he found a +pleasure in studying this large, and to him unusual opening into +the mysteries and forms of the woods, as one is gratified in getting +broader views of any subject that has long occupied his thoughts, +he was not insensible to the innate loveliness of such a landscape +neither, but felt a portion of that soothing of the spirit which +is a common attendant of a scene so thoroughly pervaded by the holy +cairn of nature. + + + +Chapter III. + + "Come, shall we go and kill us venison? + And yet it irks me, the poor dappled foals,- + Being native burghers of this desert city,- + Should, in their own confines, with forked heads + Have their round haunches gored." + + As You Like It, II.i.21-25 + +Hurry Harry thought more of the beauties of Judith Hutter than of +those of the Glimmerglass and its accompanying scenery. As soon +as he had taken a sufficiently intimate survey of floating Tom's +implements, therefore, he summoned his companion to the canoe, that +they might go down the lake in quest of the family. Previously +to embarking, however, Hurry carefully examined the whole of the +northern end of the water with an indifferent ship's glass, that +formed a part of Hutter's effects. In this scrutiny, no part of +the shore was overlooked; the bays and points in particular being +subjected to a closer inquiry than the rest of the wooded boundary. + +"'Tis as I thought," said Hurry, laying aside the glass, "the old +fellow is drifting about the south end this fine weather, and has +left the castle to defend itself. Well, now we know that he is +not up this-a-way, 'twill be but a small matter to paddle down and +hunt him up in his hiding-place." + +"Does Master Hutter think it necessary to burrow on this lake?" +inquired Deerslayer, as he followed his companion into the canoe; +"to my eye it is such a solitude as one might open his whole soul +in, and fear no one to disarrange his thoughts or his worship." + +"You forget your friends the Mingos, and all the French savages. Is +there a spot on 'arth, Deerslayer, to which them disquiet rogues +don't go? Where is the lake, or even the deer lick, that the +blackguards don't find out, and having found out, don't, sooner or +later, discolour its water with blood." + +"I hear no good character of 'em, sartainly, friend Hurry, though +I've never been called on, yet, to meet them, or any other mortal, +on the warpath. I dare to say that such a lovely spot as this, +would not be likely to be overlooked by such plunderers, for, though +I've not been in the way of quarreling with them tribes myself, +the Delawares give me such an account of 'em that I've pretty much +set 'em down in my own mind, as thorough miscreants." + +"You may do that with a safe conscience, or for that matter, any +other savage you may happen to meet." + +Here Deerslayer protested, and as they went paddling down the lake, +a hot discussion was maintained concerning the respective merits +of the pale-faces and the red-skins. Hurry had all the prejudices +and antipathies of a white hunter, who generally regards the Indian +as a sort of natural competitor, and not unfrequently as a natural +enemy. As a matter of course, he was loud, clamorous, dogmatical and +not very argumentative. Deerslayer, on the other hand, manifested +a very different temper, proving by the moderation of his language, +the fairness of his views, and the simplicity of his distinctions, +that he possessed every disposition to hear reason, a strong, innate +desire to do justice, and an ingenuousness that was singularly +indisposed to have recourse to sophism to maintain an argument; or +to defend a prejudice. Still he was not altogether free from the +influence of the latter feeling. This tyrant of the human mind, +which ruses on it prey through a thousand avenues, almost as soon +as men begin to think and feel, and which seldom relinquishes its +iron sway until they cease to do either, had made some impression +on even the just propensities of this individual, who probably +offered in these particulars, a fair specimen of what absence from +bad example, the want of temptation to go wrong, and native good +feeling can render youth. + +"You will allow, Deerslayer, that a Mingo is more than half devil," +cried Hurry, following up the discussion with an animation that +touched closely on ferocity, "though you want to over-persuade me +that the Delaware tribe is pretty much made up of angels. Now, I +gainsay that proposal, consarning white men, even. All white men +are not faultless, and therefore all Indians can't be faultless. +And so your argument is out at the elbow in the start. But this is +what I call reason. Here's three colors on 'arth: white, black, +and red. White is the highest color, and therefore the best man; +black comes next, and is put to live in the neighborhood of the +white man, as tolerable, and fit to be made use of; and red comes +last, which shows that those that made 'em never expected an Indian +to be accounted as more than half human." + +"God made all three alike, Hurry." + +"Alike! Do you call a nigger like a white man, or me like an +Indian?" + +"You go off at half-cock, and don't hear me out. God made us all, +white, black, and red; and, no doubt, had his own wise intentions +in coloring us differently. Still, he made us, in the main, much +the same in feelin's; though I'll not deny that he gave each race +its gifts. A white man's gifts are Christianized, while a red-skin's +are more for the wilderness. Thus, it would be a great offence +for a white man to scalp the dead; whereas it's a signal vartue +in an Indian. Then ag'in, a white man cannot amboosh women and +children in war, while a red-skin may. 'Tis cruel work, I'll +allow; but for them it's lawful work; while for us, it would be +grievous work." + +"That depends on your inimy. As for scalping, or even skinning a +savage, I look upon them pretty much the same as cutting off the +ears of wolves for the bounty, or stripping a bear of its hide. +And then you're out significantly, as to taking the poll of a +red-skin in hand, seeing that the very colony has offered a bounty +for the job; all the same as it pays for wolves' ears and crows' +heads." + +"Ay, and a bad business it is, Hurry. Even the Indians themselves +cry shame on it, seeing it's ag'in a white man's gifts. I do not +pretend that all that white men do, is properly Christianized, and +according to the lights given them, for then they would be what +they ought to be; which we know they are not; but I will maintain +that tradition, and use, and color, and laws, make such a difference in +races as to amount to gifts. I do not deny that there are tribes +among the Indians that are nat'rally pervarse and wicked, as +there are nations among the whites. Now, I account the Mingos as +belonging to the first, and the Frenchers, in the Canadas, to the +last. In a state of lawful warfare, such as we have lately got +into, it is a duty to keep down all compassionate feelin's, so far +as life goes, ag'in either; but when it comes to scalps, it's a +very different matter." + +"Just hearken to reason, if you please, Deerslayer, and tell me if +the colony can make an onlawful law? Isn't an onlawful law more +ag'in natur' than scalpin' a savage? A law can no more be onlawful, +than truth can be a lie." + +"That sounds reasonable; but it has a most onreasonable bearing, +Hurry. Laws don't all come from the same quarter. God has given +us his'n, and some come from the colony, and others come from the +King and Parliament. When the colony's laws, or even the King's +laws, run ag'in the laws of God, they get to be onlawful, and ought +not to be obeyed. I hold to a white man's respecting white laws, +so long as they do not cross the track of a law comin' from a higher +authority; and for a red man to obey his own red-skin usages, under +the same privilege. But, 't is useless talking, as each man will +think fir himself, and have his say agreeable to his thoughts. Let +us keep a good lookout for your friend Floating Tom, lest we pass +him, as he lies hidden under this bushy shore." + +Deerslayer had not named the borders of the lake amiss. Along +their whole length, the smaller trees overhung the water, with their +branches often dipping in the transparent element The banks were +steep, even from the narrow strand; and, as vegetation invariably +struggles towards the light, the effect was precisely that at which +the lover of the picturesque would have aimed, had the ordering +of this glorious setting of forest been submitted to his control. +The points and bays, too, were sufficiently numerous to render the +outline broken and diversified. As the canoe kept close along the +western side of the lake, with a view, as Hurry had explained to +his companion, of reconnoitering for enemies, before he trusted +himself too openly in sight, the expectations of the two adventurers +were kept constantly on the stretch, as neither could foretell +what the next turning of a point might reveal. Their progress was +swift, the gigantic strength of Hurry enabling him to play with +the light bark as if it had been a feather, while the skill of his +companion almost equalized their usefulness, notwithstanding the +disparity in natural means. + +Each time the canoe passed a point, Hurry turned a look behind +him, expecting to see the "ark" anchored, or beached in the bay. +He was fated to be disappointed, however; and they had got within +a mile of the southern end of the lake, or a distance of quite two +leagues from the "castle," which was now hidden from view by half +a dozen intervening projections of the land, when he suddenly ceased +paddling, as if uncertain in what direction next to steer. + +"It is possible that the old chap has dropped into the river," +said Hurry, after looking carefully along the whole of the eastern +shore, which was about a mile distant, and open to his scrutiny +for more than half its length; "for he has taken to trapping +considerable, of late, and, barring flood-wood, he might drop down +it a mile or so; though he would have a most scratching time in +getting back again!" + +"Where is this outlet?" asked Deerslayer; "I see no opening in the +banks or the trees, that looks as if it would let a river like the +Susquehannah run through it." + +"Ay, Deerslayer, rivers are like human mortals; having small +beginnings, and ending with broad shoulders and wide mouths. You +don't see the outlet, because it passes atween high, steep banks; +and the pines, and hemlocks and bass-woods hang over it, as a roof +hangs over a house. If old Tom is not in the 'Rat's Cove,' he +must have burrowed in the river; we'll look for him first in the +cove, and then we'll cross to the outlet." + +As they proceeded, Hurry explained that there was a shallow bay, +formed by a long, low point, that had got the name of the "Rat's +Cove," from the circumstance of its being a favorite haunt of the +muskrat; and which offered so complete a cover for the "ark," that +its owner was fond of lying in it, whenever he found it convenient. + +"As a man never knows who may be his visitors, in this part of the +country," continued Hurry, "it's a great advantage to get a good +look at 'em afore they come too near. Now it's war, such caution +is more than commonly useful, since a Canada man or a Mingo might +get into his hut afore he invited 'em. But Hutter is a first-rate +look-outer, and can pretty much scent danger, as a hound scents +the deer." + +"I should think the castle so open, that it would be sartain to +draw inimies, if any happened to find the lake; a thing onlikely +enough, I will allow, as it's off the trail of the forts and +settlements." + +"Why, Deerslayer, I've got to believe that a man meets with inimies +easier than he meets with fri'nds. It's skearful to think for +how many causes one gets to be your inimy, and for how few your +fri'nd. Some take up the hatchet because you don't think just as +they think; other some because you run ahead of 'em in the same +idees; and I once know'd a vagabond that quarrelled with a fri'nd +because he didn't think him handsome. Now, you're no monument +in the way of beauty, yourself, Deerslayer, and yet you wouldn't +be so onreasonable as to become my inimy for just saying so." + +"I'm as the Lord made me; and I wish to be accounted no better, nor +any worse. Good looks I may not have; that is to say, to a degree +that the light-minded and vain crave; but I hope I'm not altogether +without some ricommend in the way of good conduct. There's few +nobler looking men to be seen than yourself, Hurry; and I know +that I am not to expect any to turn their eyes on me, when such a +one as you can be gazed on; but I do not know that a hunter is less +expart with the rifle, or less to be relied on for food, because +he doesn't wish to stop at every shining spring he may meet, to +study his own countenance in the water." + +Here Hurry burst into a fit of loud laughter; for while he was too +reckless to care much about his own manifest physical superiority, +he was well aware of it, and, like most men who derive an advantage +from the accidents of birth or nature, he was apt to think complacently +on the subject, whenever it happened to cross his mind. + +"No, no, Deerslayer, you're no beauty, as you will own yourself, +if you'll look over the side of the canoe," he cried; "Jude will +say that to your face, if you start her, for a parter tongue isn't +to be found in any gal's head, in or out of the settlements, if +you provoke her to use it. My advice to you is, never to aggravate +Judith; though you may tell anything to Hetty, and she'll take it +as meek as a lamb. No, Jude will be just as like as not to tell +you her opinion consarning your looks." + +"And if she does, Hurry, she will tell me no more than you have +said already." + +"You're not thick'ning up about a small remark, I hope, Deerslayer, +when no harm is meant. You are not a beauty, as you must know, +and why shouldn't fri'nds tell each other these little trifles? +If you was handsome, or ever like to be, I'd be one of the first +to tell you of it; and that ought to content you. Now, if Jude was +to tell me that I'm as ugly as a sinner, I'd take it as a sort +of obligation, and try not to believe her." + +"It's easy for them that natur' has favored, to jest about such +matters, Hurry, though it is sometimes hard for others. I'll not +deny but I've had my cravings towards good looks; yes, I have; +but then I've always been able to get them down by considering +how many I've known with fair outsides, who have had nothing to +boast of inwardly. I'll not deny, Hurry, that I often wish I'd +been created more comely to the eye, and more like such a one as +yourself in them particulars; but then I get the feelin' under by +remembering how much better off I am, in a great many respects, +than some fellow-mortals. I might have been born lame, and onfit +even for a squirrel-hunt, or blind, which would have made me +a burden on myself as well as on my fri'nds; or without hearing, +which would have totally onqualified me for ever campaigning +or scouting; which I look forward to as part of a man's duty in +troublesome times. Yes, yes; it's not pleasant, I will allow, to +see them that's more comely, and more sought a'ter, and honored +than yourself; but it may all be borne, if a man looks the evil in +the face, and don't mistake his gifts and his obligations." + +Hurry, in the main, was a good-hearted as well as good-natured +fellow; and the self-abasement of his companion completely got the +better of the passing feeling of personal vanity. He regretted +the allusion he had made to the other's appearance, and endeavored +to express as much, though it was done in the uncouth manner that +belonged to the habits and opinions of the frontier. + +"I meant no harm, Deerslayer," he answered, in a deprecating +manner, "and hope you'll forget what I've said. If you're not +downright handsome, you've a sartain look that says, plainer than +any words, that all's right within. Then you set no value by looks, +and will the sooner forgive any little slight to your appearance. +I will not say that Jude will greatly admire you, for that might +raise hopes that would only breed disapp'intment; but there's Hetty, +now, would be just as likely to find satisfaction in looking at +you, as in looking at any other man. Then you're altogether too +grave and considerate-like, to care much about Judith; for, though +the gal is oncommon, she is so general in her admiration, that a +man need not be exalted because she happens to smile. I sometimes +think the hussy loves herself better than she does anything else +breathin'." + +"If she did, Hurry, she'd do no more, I'm afeard, than most queens +on their thrones, and ladies in the towns," answered Deerslayer, +smiling, and turning back towards his companion with every trace +of feeling banished from his honest-looking and frank countenance. +"I never yet know'd even a Delaware of whom you might not say +that much. But here is the end of the long p'int you mentioned, +and the 'Rat's Cove' can't be far off." + +This point, instead of thrusting itself forward, like all the +others, ran in a line with the main shore of the lake, which here +swept within it, in a deep and retired bay, circling round south +again, at the distance of a quarter of a mile, and crossed the +valley, forming the southern termination of the water. In this +bay Hurry felt almost certain of finding the ark, since, anchored +behind the trees that covered the narrow strip of the point, it +might have lain concealed from prying eyes an entire summer. So +complete, indeed, was the cover, in this spot, that a boat hauled +close to the beach, within the point, and near the bottom of the +bay, could by any possibility be seen from only one direction; and +that was from a densely wooded shore within the sweep of the water, +where strangers would be little apt to go. + +"We shall soon see the ark," said Hurry, as the canoe glided round +the extremity of the point, where the water was so deep as actually +to appear black; "he loves to burrow up among the rushes, and we +shall be in his nest in five minutes, although the old fellow may +be off among the traps himself." + +March proved a false prophet. The canoe completely doubled the +point, so as to enable the two travellers to command a view of +the whole cove or bay, for it was more properly the last, and no +object, but those that nature had placed there, became visible. +The placid water swept round in a graceful curve, the rushes bent +gently towards its surface, and the trees overhung it as usual; +but all lay in the soothing and sublime solitude of a wilderness. +The scene was such as a poet or an artist would have delighted in, +but it had no charm for Hurry Harry, who was burning with impatience +to get a sight of his light-minded beauty. + +The motion of the canoe had been attended with little or no noise, +the frontiermen habitually getting accustomed to caution in most +of their movements, and it now lay on the glassy water appearing +to float in air, partaking of the breathing stillness that seemed +to pervade the entire scene. At this instant a dry stick was heard +cracking on the narrow strip of land that concealed the bay from +the open lake. Both the adventurers started, and each extended a +hand towards his rifle, the weapon never being out of reach of the +arm. + +"'Twas too heavy for any light creatur'," whispered Hurry, "and it +sounded like the tread of a man!" + +"Not so- not so," returned Deerslayer; "'t was, as you say, too +heavy for one, but it was too light for the other. Put your paddle +in the water, and send the canoe in, to that log; I'll land and +cut off the creatur's retreat up the p'int, be it a Mingo, or be +it a muskrat." + +As Hurry complied, Deerslayer was soon on the shore, advancing into +the thicket with a moccasined foot, and a caution that prevented +the least noise. In a minute he was in the centre of the narrow +strip of land, and moving slowly down towards its end, the bushes +rendering extreme watchfulness necessary. Just as be reached the +centre of the thicket the dried twigs cracked again, and the noise +was repeated at short intervals, as if some creature having life +walked slowly towards the point. Hurry heard these sounds also, +and pushing the canoe off into the bay, he seized his rifle to +watch the result. A breathless minute succeeded, after which a +noble buck walked out of the thicket, proceeded with a stately step +to the sandy extremity of the point, and began to slake his thirst +from the water of the lake. Hurry hesitated an instant; then raising +his rifle hastily to his shoulder, he took sight and fired. The +effect of this sudden interruption of the solemn stillness of such +a scene was not its least striking peculiarity. The report of the +weapon had the usual sharp, short sound of the rifle: but when a +few moments of silence had succeeded the sudden crack, during which +the noise was floating in air across the water, it reached the +rocks of the opposite mountain, where the vibrations accumulated, +and were rolled from cavity to cavity for miles along the hills, +seeming to awaken the sleeping thunders of the woods. The buck +merely shook his head at the report of the rifle and the whistling +of the bullet, for never before had he come in contact with man; +but the echoes of the hills awakened his distrust, and leaping +forward, with his four legs drawn under his body, he fell at once +into deep water, and began to swim towards the foot of the lake. +Hurry shouted and dashed forward in chase, and for one or two +minutes the water foamed around the pursuer and the pursued. The +former was dashing past the point, when Deerslayer appeared on the +sand and signed to him to return. + +"'Twas inconsiderate to pull a trigger, afore we had reconn'itred +the shore, and made sartain that no inimies harbored near it," +said the latter, as his companion slowly and reluctantly complied. +"This much I have l'arned from the Delawares, in the way of schooling +and traditions, even though I've never yet been on a war-path. And, +moreover, venison can hardly be called in season now, and we do +not want for food. They call me Deerslayer, I'll own, and perhaps +I desarve the name, in the way of understanding the creatur's +habits, as well as for some sartainty in the aim, but they can't +accuse me of killing an animal when there is no occasion for the meat, +or the skin. I may be a slayer, it's true, but I'm no slaughterer." + +"'Twas an awful mistake to miss that buck!" exclaimed Hurry, doffing +his cap and running his fingers through his handsome but matted +curls, as if he would loosen his tangled ideas by the process. +"I've not done so onhandy a thing since I was fifteen." + +"Never lament it, as the creatur's death could have done neither +of us any good, and might have done us harm. Them echoes are more +awful in my ears, than your mistake, Hurry, for they sound like the +voice of natur' calling out ag'in a wasteful and onthinking action." + +"You'll hear plenty of such calls, if you tarry long in this quarter +of the world, lad," returned the other laughing. "The echoes repeat +pretty much all that is said or done on the Glimmerglass, in this +calm summer weather. If a paddle falls you hear of it sometimes, +ag'in and ag'in, as if the hills were mocking your clumsiness, and +a laugh, or a whistle, comes out of them pines, when they're in +the humour to speak, in a way to make you believe they can r'ally +convarse." + +"So much the more reason for being prudent and silent. I do not +think the inimy can have found their way into these hills yet, for +I don't know what they are to gain by it, but all the Delawares +tell me that, as courage is a warrior's first vartue, so is prudence +his second. One such call from the mountains, is enough to let a +whole tribe into the secret of our arrival." + +"If it does no other good, it will warn old Tom to put the pot +over, and let him know visiters are at hand. Come, lad; get into +the canoe, and we will hunt the ark up, while there is yet day." + +Deerslayer complied, and the canoe left the spot. Its head was +turned diagonally across the lake, pointing towards the south-eastern +curvature of the sheet. In that direction, the distance to the +shore, or to the termination of the lake, on the course the two +were now steering, was not quite a mile, and, their progress being +always swift, it was fast lessening under the skilful, but easy +sweeps of the paddles. When about half way across, a slight noise +drew the eyes of the men towards the nearest land, and they saw +that the buck was just emerging from the lake and wading towards +the beach. In a minute, the noble animal shook the water from +his flanks, gazed up ward at the covering of trees, and, bounding +against the bank, plunged into the forest. + +"That creatur' goes off with gratitude in his heart," said Deerslayer, +"for natur' tells him he has escaped a great danger. You ought to +have some of the same feelin's, Hurry, to think your eye wasn't +true, or that your hand was onsteady, when no good could come of +a shot that was intended onmeaningly rather than in reason." + +"I deny the eye and the hand," cried March with some heat. "You've +got a little character, down among the Delawares, there, for quickness +and sartainty, at a deer, but I should like to see you behind one +of them pines, and a full painted Mingo behind another, each with +a cock'd rifle and a striving for the chance! Them's the situations, +Nathaniel, to try the sight and the hand, for they begin with trying +the narves. I never look upon killing a creatur' as an explite; +but killing a savage is. The time will come to try your hand, now +we've got to blows ag'in, and we shall soon know what a ven'son +reputation can do in the field. I deny that either hand or eye +was onsteady; it was all a miscalculation of the buck, which stood +still when he ought to have kept in motion, and so I shot ahead of +him." + +"Have it your own way, Hurry; all I contend for is, that it's +lucky. I dare say I shall not pull upon a human mortal as steadily +or with as light a heart, as I pull upon a deer." + +"Who's talking of mortals, or of human beings at all, Deerslayer? +I put the matter to you on the supposition of an Injin. I dare say +any man would have his feelin's when it got to be life or death, +ag'in another human mortal; but there would be no such scruples in +regard to an Injin; nothing but the chance of his hitting you, or +the chance of your hitting him." + +"I look upon the redmen to be quite as human as we are ourselves, +Hurry. They have their gifts, and their religion, it's true; +but that makes no difference in the end, when each will be judged +according to his deeds, and not according to his skin." + +"That's downright missionary, and will find little favor up in +this part of the country, where the Moravians don't congregate. +Now, skin makes the man. This is reason; else how are people to +judge of each other. The skin is put on, over all, in order when +a creatur', or a mortal, is fairly seen, you may know at once what +to make of him. You know a bear from a hog, by his skin, and a +gray squirrel from a black." + +"True, Hurry," said the other looking back and smiling, "nevertheless, +they are both squirrels." + +"Who denies it? But you'll not say that a red man and a white +man are both Injins?" + +"But I do say they are both men. Men of different races and colors, +and having different gifts and traditions, but, in the main, with +the same natur'. Both have souls; and both will be held accountable +for their deeds in this life." + +Hurry was one of those theorists who believed in the inferiority of +all the human race who were not white. His notions on the subject +were not very clear, nor were his definitions at all well settled; +but his opinions were none the less dogmatical or fierce. His +conscience accused him of sundry lawless acts against the Indians, +and he had found it an exceedingly easy mode of quieting it, +by putting the whole family of redmen, incontinently, without the +category of human rights. Nothing angered him sooner than to deny +his proposition, more especially if the denial were accompanied +by a show of plausible argument; and he did not listen to his +companion's remarks with much composure of either manner or feeling. + +"You're a boy, Deerslayer, misled and misconsaited by Delaware arts, +and missionary ignorance," he exclaimed, with his usual indifference +to the forms of speech, when excited. "You may account yourself +as a red-skin's brother, but I hold'em all to be animals; with +nothing human about 'em but cunning. That they have, I'll allow; +but so has a fox, or even a bear. I'm older than you, and have +lived longer in the woods- or, for that matter, have lived always +there, and am not to be told what an Injin is or what he is not. +If you wish to be considered a savage, you've only to say so, and +I'll name you as such to Judith and the old man, and then we'll +see how you'll like your welcome." + +Here Hurry's imagination did his temper some service, since, by +conjuring up the reception his semi-aquatic acquaintance would be +likely to bestow on one thus introduced, he burst into a hearty fit +of laughter. Deerslayer too well knew the uselessness of attempting +to convince such a being of anything against his prejudices, to +feel a desire to undertake the task; and he was not sorry that the +approach of the canoe to the southeastern curve of the lake gave +a new direction to his ideas. They were now, indeed, quite near +the place that March had pointed out for the position of the outlet, +and both began to look for it with, a curiosity that was increased +by the expectation of the ark. + +It may strike the reader as a little singular, that the place where +a stream of any size passed through banks that had an elevation of +some twenty feet, should be a matter of doubt with men who could +not now have been more than two hundred yards distant from the +precise spot. It will be recollected, however, that the trees and +bushes here, as elsewhere, fairly overhung the water, making such +a fringe to the lake, as to conceal any little variations from its +general outline. + +"I've not been down at this end of the lake these two summers," +said Hurry, standing up in the canoe, the better to look about him. +"Ay, there's the rock, showing its chin above the water, and I +know that the river begins in its neighborhood." + +The men now plied the paddles again, and they were presently within +a few yards of the rock, floating towards it, though their efforts +were suspended. This rock was not large, being merely some five +or six feet high, only half of which elevation rose above the lake. +The incessant washing of the water for centuries had so rounded +its summit, that it resembled a large beehive in shape, its form +being more than usually regular and even. Hurry remarked, as they +floated slowly past, that this rock was well known to all the Indians +in that part of the country, and that they were in the practice of +using it as a mark to designate the place of meeting, when separated +by their hunts and marches. + +"And here is the river, Deerslayer," he continued, "though so shut +in by trees and bushes as to look more like an and-bush, than the +outlet of such a sheet as the Glimmerglass." + +Hurry had not badly described the place, which did truly seem to be +a stream lying in ambush. The high banks might have been a hundred +feet asunder; but, on the western side, a small bit of low land +extended so far forward as to diminish the breadth of the stream +to half that width. + +As the bushes hung in the water beneath, and pines that had the +stature of church-steeples rose in tall columns above, all inclining +towards the light, until their branches intermingled, the eye, at +a little distance, could not easily detect any opening in the shore, +to mark the egress of the water. In the forest above, no traces +of this outlet were to be seen from the lake, the whole presenting +the same connected and seemingly interminable carpet of leaves. +As the canoe slowly advanced, sucked in by the current, it entered +beneath an arch of trees, through which the light from the heavens +struggled by casual openings, faintly relieving the gloom beneath. + +"This is a nat'ral and-bush," half whispered Hurry, as if he felt +that the place was devoted to secrecy and watchfulness; "depend on +it, old Tom has burrowed with the ark somewhere in this quarter. +We will drop down with the current a short distance, and ferret +him out." + +"This seems no place for a vessel of any size," returned the other; +"it appears to me that we shall have hardly room enough for the +canoe." + +Hurry laughed at the suggestion, and, as it soon appeared, with +reason; for the fringe of bushes immediately on the shore of the +lake was no sooner passed, than the adventurers found themselves +in a narrow stream, of a sufficient depth of limpid water, with a +strong current, and a canopy of leaves upheld by arches composed +of the limbs of hoary trees. Bushes lined the shores, as usual, +but they left sufficient space between them to admit the passage +of anything that did not exceed twenty feet in width, and to allow +of a perspective ahead of eight or ten times that distance. + +Neither of our two adventurers used his paddle, except to keep +the light bark in the centre of the current, but both watched each +turning of the stream, of which there were two or three within +the first hundred yards, with jealous vigilance. Turn after turn, +however, was passed, and the canoe had dropped down with the current +some little distance, when Hurry caught a bush, and arrested its +movement so suddenly and silently as to denote some unusual motive +for the act. Deerslayer laid his hand on the stock of his rifle +as soon as he noted this proceeding, but it was quite as much with +a hunter's habit as from any feeling of alarm. + +"There the old fellow is!" whispered Hurry, pointing with a finger, +and laughing heartily, though he carefully avoided making a noise, +"ratting it away, just as I supposed; up to his knees in the mud +and water, looking to the traps and the bait. But for the life +of me I can see nothing of the ark; though I'll bet every skin +I take this season, Jude isn't trusting her pretty little feet in +the neighborhood of that black mud. The gal's more likely to be +braiding her hair by the side of some spring, where she can see +her own good looks, and collect scornful feelings ag'in us men." + +"You over-judge young women- yes, you do, Hurry- who as often +bethink them of their failings as they do of their perfections. I +dare to say this Judith, now, is no such admirer of herself, and +no such scorner of our sex as you seem to think; and that she +is quite as likely to be sarving her father in the house, wherever +that may be, as he is to be sarving her among the traps." + +"It's a pleasure to hear truth from a man's tongue, if it be only +once in a girl's life," cried a pleasant, rich, and yet soft female +voice, so near the canoe as to make both the listeners start. "As +for you, Master Hurry, fair words are so apt to choke you, that I +no longer expect to hear them from your mouth; the last you uttered +sticking in your throat, and coming near to death. But I'm glad +to see you keep better society than formerly, and that they who +know how to esteem and treat women are not ashamed to journey in +your company." + +As this was said, a singularly handsome and youthful female +face was thrust through an opening in the leaves, within reach of +Deerslayer's paddle. Its owner smiled graciously on the young man; +and the frown that she cast on Hurry, though simulated and pettish, +had the effect to render her beauty more striking, by exhibiting the +play of an expressive but capricious countenance; one that seemed +to change from the soft to the severe, the mirthful to the reproving, +with facility and indifference. + +A second look explained the nature of the surprise. Unwittingly, +the men had dropped alongside of the ark, which had been purposely +concealed in bushes cut and arranged for the purpose; and Judith +Hutter had merely pushed aside the leaves that lay before a window, +in order to show her face, and speak to them. + + + +Chapter IV. + + + "And that timid fawn starts not with fear, + When I steal to her secret bower; + And that young May violet to me is dear, + And I visit the silent streamlet near, + To look on the lovely flower." + + Bryant, "An Indian Story," ii.11-15 + +The ark, as the floating habitation of the Hutters was generally +called, was a very simple contrivance. A large flat, or scow, +composed the buoyant part of the vessel; and in its centre, occupying +the whole of its breadth, and about two thirds of its length, stood +a low fabric, resembling the castle in construction, though made +of materials so light as barely to be bullet-proof. As the sides +of the scow were a little higher than usual, and the interior of +the cabin had no more elevation than was necessary for comfort, +this unusual addition had neither a very clumsy nor a very obtrusive +appearance. It was, in short, little more than a modern canal-boat, +though more rudely constructed, of greater breadth than common, and +bearing about it the signs of the wilderness, in its bark-covered +posts and roof. The scow, however, had been put together with some +skill, being comparatively light, for its strength, and sufficiently +manageable. The cabin was divided into two apartments, one of which +served for a parlor, and the sleeping-room of the father, and the +other was appropriated to the uses of the daughters. A very simple +arrangement sufficed for the kitchen, which was in one end of the +scow, and removed from the cabin, standing in the open air; the +ark being altogether a summer habitation. + +The "and-bush," as Hurry in his ignorance of English termed it, is +quite as easily explained. In many parts of the lake and river, +where the banks were steep and high, the smaller trees and larger +bushes, as has been already mentioned, fairly overhung the stream, +their branches not unfrequently dipping into the water. In some +instances they grew out in nearly horizontal lines, for thirty or +forty feet. The water being uniformly deepest near the shores, +where the banks were highest and the nearest to a perpendicular, +Hutter had found no difficulty in letting the ark drop under one +of these covers, where it had been anchored with a view to conceal +its position; security requiring some such precautions, in his +view of the case. Once beneath the trees and bushes, a few stones +fastened to the ends of the branches had caused them to bend +sufficiently to dip into the river; and a few severed bushes, +properly disposed, did the rest. The reader has seen that this +cover was so complete as to deceive two men accustomed to the woods, +and who were actually in search of those it concealed; a circumstance +that will be easily understood by those who are familiar with +the matted and wild luxuriance of a virgin American forest, more +especially in a rich soil. The discovery of the ark produced very +different effects on our two adventurers. + +As soon as the canoe could be got round to the proper opening, Hurry +leaped on board, and in a minute was closely engaged in a gay, and +a sort of recriminating discourse with Judith, apparently forgetful +of the existence of all the rest of the world. Not so with Deerslayer. +He entered the ark with a slow, cautious step, examining every +arrangement of the cover with curious and scrutinizing eyes. It +is true, he cast one admiring glance at Judith, which was extorted +by her brilliant and singular beauty; but even this could detain +him but a single instant from the indulgence of his interest in +Hutter's contrivances. Step by step did he look into the construction +of the singular abode, investigate its fastenings and strength, +ascertain its means of defence, and make every inquiry that would +be likely to occur to one whose thoughts dwelt principally on such +expedients. Nor was the cover neglected. Of this he examined the +whole minutely, his commendation escaping him more than once in +audible comments. Frontier usages admitting of this familiarity, +he passed through the rooms, as he had previously done at the 'Castle', and +opening a door issued into the end of the scow opposite to that +where he had left Hurry and Judith. Here he found the other sister, +employed at some coarse needle-work, seated beneath the leafy canopy +of the cover. + +As Deerslayer's examination was by this time ended, he dropped the +butt of his rifle, and, leaning on the barrel with both hands, he +turned towards the girl with an interest the singular beauty of +her sister had not awakened. He had gathered from Hurry's remarks +that Hetty was considered to have less intellect than ordinarily +falls to the share of human beings, and his education among Indians +had taught him to treat those who were thus afflicted by Providence +with more than common tenderness. Nor was there any thing in Hetty +Hutter's appearance, as so often happens, to weaken the interest +her situation excited. An idiot she could not properly be termed, +her mind being just enough enfeebled to lose most of those traits +that are connected with the more artful qualities, and to retain +its ingenuousness and love of truth. It had often been remarked of +this girl, by the few who had seen her, and who possessed sufficient +knowledge to discriminate, that her perception of the right seemed +almost intuitive, while her aversion to the wrong formed so distinctive +a feature of her mind, as to surround her with an atmosphere of +pure morality; peculiarities that are not infrequent with persons +who are termed feeble-minded; as if God had forbidden the evil spirits +to invade a precinct so defenceless, with the benign purpose of +extending a direct protection to those who had been left without the +usual aids of humanity. Her person, too, was agreeable, having a +strong resemblance to that of her sister's, of which it was a subdued +and humble copy. If it had none of the brilliancy of Judith's, the +calm, quiet, almost holy expression of her meek countenance seldom +failed to win on the observer, and few noted it long that did not +begin to feel a deep and lasting interest in the girl. She had no +colour, in common, nor was her simple mind apt to present images +that caused her cheek to brighten, though she retained a modesty +so innate that it almost raised her to the unsuspecting purity of +a being superior to human infirmities. Guileless, innocent, and +without distrust, equally by nature and from her mode of life, +providence had, nevertheless shielded her from harm, by a halo of +moral light, as it is said 'to temper the wind to the shorn lamb.' + +"You are Hetty Hutter," said Deerslayer, in the way one puts a +question unconsciously to himself, assuming a kindness of tone and +manner that were singularly adapted to win the confidence of her +he addressed. "Hurry Harry has told me of you, and I know you must +be the child?" + +"Yes, I'm Hetty Hutter" returned the girl in a low, sweet voice, +which nature, aided by some education, had preserved from vulgarity +of tone and utterance-"I'm Hetty; Judith Hutter's sister; and Thomas +Hutter's youngest daughter." + +"I know your history, then, for Hurry Harry talks considerable, +and he is free of speech when he can find other people's consarns +to dwell on. You pass most of your life on the lake, Hetty." + +"Certainly. Mother is dead; father is gone a-trapping, and Judith +and I stay at home. What's your name?" + +"That's a question more easily asked than it is answered, young +woman, seeing that I'm so young, and yet have borne more names than +some of the greatest chiefs in all America." + +"But you've got a name- you don't throw away one name, before you +come honestly by another?" + +"I hope not, gal- I hope not. My names have come nat'rally, and I +suppose the one I bear now will be of no great lasting, since the +Delawares seldom settle on a man's ra'al title, until such time as +he has an opportunity of showing his true natur', in the council, +or on the warpath; which has never behappened me; seeing firstly, +because I'm not born a red-skin and have no right to sit in their +councillings, and am much too humble to be called on for opinions +from the great of my own colour; and, secondly, because this is +the first war that has befallen in my time, and no inimy has yet +inroaded far enough into the colony, to be reached by an arm even +longer than mine." + +"Tell me your names," added Hetty, looking up at him artlessly, +"and, maybe, I'll tell you your character." + +"There is some truth in that, I'll not deny, though it often fails. +Men are deceived in other men's characters, and frequently give +'em names they by no means desarve. You can see the truth of this +in the Mingo names, which, in their own tongue, signify the same +things as the Delaware names,- at least, so they tell me, for I know +little of that tribe, unless it be by report,- and no one can say +they are as honest or as upright a nation. I put no great dependence, +therefore, on names." + +"Tell me all your names," repeated the girl, earnestly, for her +mind was too simple to separate things from professions, and she +did attach importance to a name; "I want to know what to think of +you." + +"Well, sartain; I've no objection, and you shall hear them all. +In the first place, then, I'm Christian, and white-born, like +yourself, and my parents had a name that came down from father to +son, as is a part of their gifts. My father was called Bumppo; and +I was named after him, of course, the given name being Nathaniel, +or Natty, as most people saw fit to tarm it." + +"Yes, yes - Natty - and Hetty" interrupted the girl quickly, and +looking up from her work again, with a smile: "you are Natty, and +I'm Hetty-though you are Bumppo, and I'm Hutter. Bumppo isn't +as pretty as Hutter, is it?" + +"Why, that's as people fancy. Bumppo has no lofty sound, I admit; +and yet men have bumped through the world with it. I did not go +by this name, howsoever, very long; for the Delawares soon found +out, or thought they found out, that I was not given to lying, and +they called me, firstly, 'Straight-tongue.'" + +"That's a good name," interrupted Hetty, earnestly, and in a +positive manner; "don't tell me there's no virtue in names!" + +"I do not say that, for perhaps I desarved to be so called, lies +being no favorites with me, as they are with some. After a while +they found out I was quick of foot, and then they called me 'The +Pigeon'; which, you know, has a swift wing, and flies in a straight +line." + +"That was a pretty name!" exclaimed Hetty; "pigeons are pretty +birds!" + +"Most things that God created are pretty in their way, my good gal, +though they get to be deformed by mankind, so as to change their +natur's, as well as their appearance. From carrying messages, and +striking blind trails, I got at last to following the hunters, when +it was thought I was quicker and surer at finding the game than +most lads, and then they called me the 'Lap-ear'; as, they said, +I partook of the sagacity of the hound." + +"That's not so pretty," answered Hetty; "I hope you didn't keep +that name long." + +"Not after I was rich enough to buy a rifle," returned the other, +betraying a little pride through his usually quiet and subdued +manner; "then it was seen I could keep a wigwam in ven'son; and +in time I got the name of 'Deerslayer,' which is that I now bear; +homely as some will think it, who set more value on the scalp of +a fellow-mortal than on the horns of a buck" + +"Well, Deerslayer, I'm not one of them," answered Hetty, simply; +"Judith likes soldiers, and flary coats, and fine feathers; but +they're all naught to me. She says the officers are great, and gay, +and of soft speech; but they make me shudder, for their business +is to kill their fellow-creatures. I like your calling better; +and your last name is a very good one-- better than Natty Bumppo." + +"This is nat'ral in one of your turn of mind, Hetty, and much as I +should have expected. They tell me your sister is handsome--oncommon, +for a mortal; and beauty is apt to seek admiration." + +"Did you never see Judith?" demanded the girl, with quick earnestness; +"if you never have, go at once and look at her. Even Hurry Harry +isn't more pleasant to look at though she is a woman, and he is +a man." + +Deerslayer regarded the girl for a moment with concern. Her +pale-face had flushed a little, and her eye, usually so mild and +serene, brightened as she spoke, in the way to betray the inward +impulses. + +"Ay, Hurry Harry," he muttered to himself, as he walked through +the cabin towards the other end of the boat; "this comes of good +looks, if a light tongue has had no consarn in it. It's easy to +see which way that poor creatur's feelin's are leanin', whatever +may be the case with your Jude's." + +But an interruption was put to the gallantry of Hurry, the coquetry +of his intros, the thoughts of Deerslayer, and the gentle feelings +of Hetty, by the sudden appearance of the canoe of the ark's owner, +in the narrow opening among the bushes that served as a sort of +moat to his position. It would seem that Hutter, or Floating Tom, +as he was familiarly called by all the hunters who knew his habits, +recognized the canoe of Hurry, for he expressed no surprise at +finding him in the scow. On the contrary, his reception was such +as to denote not only gratification, but a pleasure, mingled with +a little disappointment at his not having made his appearance some +days sooner. + +"I looked for you last week," he said, in a half-grumbling, +half-welcoming manner; "and was disappointed uncommonly that you +didn't arrive. There came a runner through, to warn all the trappers +and hunters that the colony and the Canadas were again in trouble; +and I felt lonesome, up in these mountains, with three scalps to +see to, and only one pair of hands to protect them." + +"That's reasonable," returned March; "and 't was feeling like a +parent. No doubt, if I had two such darters as Judith and Hetty, +my exper'ence would tell the same story, though in gin'ral I am +just as well satisfied with having the nearest neighbor fifty miles +off, as when he is within call." + +"Notwithstanding, you didn't choose to come into the wilderness +alone, now you knew that the Canada savages are likely to be +stirring," returned Hutter, giving a sort of distrustful, and at +the same time inquiring glance at Deerslayer. + +"Why should I? They say a bad companion, on a journey, helps to +shorten the path; and this young man I account to be a reasonably +good one. This is Deerslayer, old Tom, a noted hunter among the +Delawares, and Christian-born, and Christian-edicated, too, like +you and me. The lad is not parfect, perhaps, but there's worse +men in the country that he came from, and it's likely he'll find +some that's no better, in this part of the world. Should we have +occasion to defend our traps, and the territory, he'll be useful +in feeding us all; for he's a reg'lar dealer in ven'son." + +"Young man, you are welcome," growled Tom, thrusting a hard, bony +hand towards the youth, as a pledge of his sincerity; "in such +times, a white face is a friend's, and I count on you as a support. +Children sometimes make a stout heart feeble, and these two daughters +of mine give me more concern than all my traps, and skins, and +rights in the country." + +"That's nat'ral!" cried Hurry. "Yes, Deerslayer, you and I don't +know it yet by experience; but, on the whole, I consider that as +nat'ral. If we had darters, it's more than probable we should +have some such feelin's; and I honor the man that owns 'em. As +for Judith, old man, I enlist, at once, as her soldier, and here +is Deerslayer to help you to take care of Hetty." + +"Many thanks to you, Master March," returned the beauty, in a full, +rich voice, and with an accuracy of intonation and utterance that +she shared in common with her sister, and which showed that she +had been better taught than her father's life and appearance would +give reason to expect. "Many thanks to you; but Judith Hutter +has the spirit and the experience that will make her depend more +on herself than on good-looking rovers like you. Should there be +need to face the savages, do you land with my father, instead of +burrowing in the huts, under the show of defending us females and-" + +"Girl-- girl," interrupted the father, "quiet that glib tongue +of thine, and hear the truth. There are savages on the lake shore +already, and no man can say how near to us they may be at this very +moment, or when we may hear more from them!" + +"If this be true, Master Hutter," said Hurry, whose change of +countenance denoted how serious he deemed the information, though +it did not denote any unmanly alarm, "if this be true, your ark is +in a most misfortunate position, for, though the cover did deceive +Deerslayer and myself, it would hardly be overlooked by a full-blooded +Injin, who was out seriously in s'arch of scalps!" + +"I think as you do, Hurry, and wish, with all my heart, we lay +anywhere else, at this moment, than in this narrow, crooked stream, +which has many advantages to hide in, but which is almost fatal to +them that are discovered. The savages are near us, moreover, and +the difficulty is, to get out of the river without being shot down +like deer standing at a lick!" + +"Are you sartain, Master Hutter, that the red-skins you dread are +ra'al Canadas?" asked Deerslayer, in a modest but earnest manner. +"Have you seen any, and can you describe their paint?" + +"I have fallen in with the signs of their being in the neighborhood, +but have seen none of 'em. I was down stream a mile or so, looking +to my traps, when I struck a fresh trail, crossing the corner of a +swamp, and moving northward. The man had not passed an hour; and +I know'd it for an Indian footstep, by the size of the foot, and +the intoe, even before I found a worn moccasin, which its owner +had dropped as useless. For that matter, I found the spot where +he halted to make a new one, which was only a few yards from the +place where he had dropped the old one." + +"That doesn't look much like a red-skin on the war path!" returned +the other, shaking his head. "An exper'enced warrior, at least, +would have burned, or buried, or sunk in the river such signs of +his passage; and your trail is, quite likely, a peaceable trail. +But the moccasin may greatly relieve my mind, if you bethought you +of bringing it off. I've come here to meet a young chief myself; +and his course would be much in the direction you've mentioned. +The trail may have been his'n." + +"Hurry Harry, you're well acquainted with this young man, I hope, +who has meetings with savages in a part of the country where he +has never been before?" demanded Hutter, in a tone and in a manner +that sufficiently indicated the motive of the question; these rude +beings seldom hesitating, on the score of delicacy, to betray their +feelings. "Treachery is an Indian virtue; and the whites, that +live much in their tribes, soon catch their ways and practices." + +"True- true as the Gospel, old Tom; but not personable to Deerslayer, +who's a young man of truth, if he has no other ricommend. I'll +answer for his honesty, whatever I may do for his valor in battle." + +"I should like to know his errand in this strange quarter of the +country." + +"That is soon told, Master Hutter," said the young man, with the +composure of one who kept a clean conscience. "I think, moreover, +you've a right to ask it. The father of two such darters, +who occupies a lake, after your fashion, has just the same right +to inquire into a stranger's business in his neighborhood, as the +colony would have to demand the reason why the Frenchers put more +rijiments than common along the lines. No, no, I'll not deny your +right to know why a stranger comes into your habitation or country, +in times as serious as these." + +"If such is your way of thinking, friend, let me hear your story +without more words." + +"'T is soon told, as I said afore; and shall be honestly told. I'm + a young man, and, as yet, have never been on a war-path; but +no sooner did the news come among the Delawares, that wampum and +a hatchet were about to be sent in to the tribe, than they wished +me to go out among the people of my own color, and get the exact +state of things for 'em. This I did, and, after delivering my +talk to the chiefs, on my return, I met an officer of the crown on +the Schoharie, who had messages to send to some of the fri'ndly +tribes that live farther west. This was thought a good occasion +for Chingachgook, a young chief who has never struck a foe, and +myself; to go on our first war path in company, and an app'intment +was made for us, by an old Delaware, to meet at the rock near the +foot of this lake. I'll not deny that Chingachgook has another +object in view, but it has no consarn with any here, and is his +secret and not mine; therefore I'll say no more about it." + +"'Tis something about a young woman," interrupted Judith hastily, +then laughing at her own impetuosity, and even having the grace +to colour a little, at the manner in which she had betrayed her +readiness to impute such a motive. "If 'tis neither war, nor a +hunt, it must be love." + +"Ay, it comes easy for the young and handsome, who hear so much +of them feelin's, to suppose that they lie at the bottom of most +proceedin's; but, on that head, I say nothin'. Chingachgook is to +meet me at the rock, an hour afore sunset tomorrow evening, after +which we shall go our way together, molesting none but the king's +inimies, who are lawfully our own. Knowing Hurry of old, who +once trapped in our hunting grounds, and falling in with him on the +Schoharie, just as he was on the p'int of starting for his summer +ha'nts, we agreed to journey in company; not so much from fear of +the Mingos, as from good fellowship, and, as he says, to shorten +a long road." + +"And you think the trail I saw may have been that of your friend, +ahead of his time?" said Hutter. + +"That's my idee, which may be wrong, but which may be right. If I +saw the moccasin, howsever, I could tell, in a minute, whether it +is made in the Delaware fashion, or not." + +"Here it is, then," said the quick-witted Judith, who had already +gone to the canoe in quest of it. "Tell us what it says; friend +or enemy. You look honest, and I believe all you say, whatever +father may think." + +"That's the way with you, Jude; forever finding out friends, where +I distrust foes," grumbled Tom: "but, speak out, young man, and +tell us what you think of the moccasin." + +"That's not Delaware made," returned Deerslayer, examining the worn +and rejected covering for the foot with a cautious eye. "I'm too +young on a war-path to be positive, but I should say that moccasin +has a northern look, and comes from beyond the Great Lakes." + +"If such is the case, we ought not to lie here a minute longer +than is necessary," said Hutter, glancing through the leaves of +his cover, as if he already distrusted the presence of an enemy on +the opposite shore of the narrow and sinuous stream. "It wants but +an hour or so of night, and to move in the dark will be impossible, +without making a noise that would betray us. Did you hear the echo +of a piece in the mountains, half-an-hour since?" + +"Yes, old man, and heard the piece itself," answered Hurry, who now +felt the indiscretion of which he had been guilty, "for the last +was fired from my own shoulder." + +"I feared it came from the French Indians; still it may put them +on the look-out, and be a means of discovering us. You did wrong +to fire in war-time, unless there was good occasion. + +"So I begin to think myself, Uncle Tom; and yet, if a man can't +trust himself to let off his rifle in a wilderness that is a thousand +miles square, lest some inimy should hear it, where's the use in +carrying one?" + +Hutter now held a long consultation with his two guests, in which +the parties came to a true understanding of their situation. He +explained the difficulty that would exist in attempting to get +the ark out of so swift and narrow a stream, in the dark, without +making a noise that could not fail to attract Indian ears. Any +strollers in their vicinity would keep near the river or the lake; +but the former had swampy shores in many places, and was both so +crooked and so fringed with bushes, that it was quite possible to +move by daylight without incurring much danger of being seen. More +was to be apprehended, perhaps, from the ear than from the eye, +especially as long as they were in the short, straitened, and +canopied reaches of the stream. + +"I never drop down into this cover, which is handy to my traps, +and safer than the lake from curious eyes, without providing the +means of getting out ag'in," continued this singular being; "and +that is easier done by a pull than a push. My anchor is now lying +above the suction, in the open lake; and here is a line, you see, +to haul us up to it. Without some such help, a single pair of +bands would make heavy work in forcing a scow like this up stream. +I have a sort of a crab, too, that lightens the pull, on occasion. +Jude can use the oar astern as well as myself; and when we fear no +enemy, to get out of the river gives us but little trouble." + +"What should we gain, Master Hutter, by changing the position?" +asked Deerslayer, with a good deal of earnestness; "this is a safe +cover, and a stout defence might be made from the inside of this +cabin. I've never fou't unless in the way of tradition; but it +seems to me we might beat off twenty Mingos, with palisades like +them afore us." + +"Ay, ay; you 've never fought except in traditions, that's plain +enough, young man! Did you ever see as broad a sheet of water as +this above us, before you came in upon it with Hurry?" + +"I can't say that I ever did," Deerslayer answered, modestly. "Youth +is the time to l'arn; and I'm far from wishing to raise my voice +in counsel, afore it is justified by exper'ence." + +"Well, then, I'll teach you the disadvantage of fighting in this +position, and the advantage of taking to the open lake. Here, +you may see, the savages will know where to aim every shot; and it +would be too much to hope that some would not find their way through +the crevices of the logs. Now, on the other hand, we should have +nothing but a forest to aim at. Then we are not safe from fire, +here, the bark of this roof being little better than so much +kindling-wood. The castle, too, might be entered and ransacked in +my absence, and all my possessions overrun and destroyed. Once in +the lake, we can be attacked only in boats or on rafts- shall have +a fair chance with the enemy-and can protect the castle with the +ark. Do you understand this reasoning, youngster?" + +"It sounds well- yes, it has a rational sound; and I'll not gainsay +it." + +"Well, old Tom," cried Hurry, "If we are to move, the sooner we +make a beginning, the sooner we shall know whether we are to have +our scalps for night-caps, or not." + +As this proposition was self-evident, no one denied its justice. +The three men, after a short preliminary explanation, now set +about their preparations to move the ark in earnest. The slight +fastenings were quickly loosened; and, by hauling on the line, the +heavy craft slowly emerged from the cover. It was no sooner free +from the incumbrance of the branches, than it swung into the stream, +sheering quite close to the western shore, by the force of the +current. Not a soul on board heard the rustling of the branches, +as the cabin came against the bushes and trees of the western bank, +without a feeling of uneasiness; for no one knew at what moment, or +in what place, a secret and murderous enemy might unmask himself. +Perhaps the gloomy light that still struggled through the impending +canopy of leaves, or found its way through the narrow, ribbon-like +opening, which seemed to mark, in the air above, the course of +the river that flowed beneath, aided in augmenting the appearance +of the danger; for it was little more than sufficient to render +objects visible, without giving up all their outlines at a glance. +Although the sun had not absolutely set, it had withdrawn its direct +rays from the valley; and the hues of evening were beginning to +gather around objects that stood uncovered, rendering those within +the shadows of the woods still more sombre and gloomy. + +No interruption followed the movement, however, and, as the men +continued to haul on the line, the ark passed steadily ahead, the +great breadth of the scow preventing its sinking into the water, +and from offering much resistance to the progress of the swift +element beneath its bottom. Hutter, too, had adopted a precaution +suggested by experience, which might have done credit to a seaman, +and which completely prevented any of the annoyances and obstacles +which otherwise would have attended the short turns of the river. +As the ark descended, heavy stones, attached to the line, were +dropped in the centre of the stream, forming local anchors, each +of which was kept from dragging by the assistance of those above +it, until the uppermost of all was reached, which got its "backing" +from the anchor, or grapnel, that lay well out in the lake. In +consequence of this expedient, the ark floated clear of the +incumbrances of the shore, against which it would otherwise have +been unavoidably hauled at every turn, producing embarrassments +that Hutter, single-handed, would have found it very difficult to +overcome. Favored by this foresight, and stimulated by the apprehension +of discovery, Floating Tom and his two athletic companions hauled +the ark ahead with quite as much rapidity as comported with the +strength of the line. At every turn in the stream, a stone was +raised from the bottom, when the direction of the scow changed to +one that pointed towards the stone that lay above. In this manner, +with the channel buoyed out for him, as a sailor might term it, +did Hutter move forward, occasionally urging his friends, in a low +and guarded voice, to increase their exertions, and then, as occasions +offered, warning them against efforts that might, at particular +moments, endanger all by too much zeal. In spite of their long +familiarity with the woods, the gloomy character of the shaded river +added to the uneasiness that each felt; and when the ark reached +the first bend in the Susquehannah, and the eye caught a glimpse +of the broader expanse of the lake, all felt a relief, that perhaps +none would have been willing to confess. Here the last stone +was raised from the bottom, and the line led directly towards the +grapnel, which, as Hutter had explained, was dropped above the +suction of the current. + +"Thank God!" ejaculated Hurry, "there is daylight, and we shall +soon have a chance of seeing our inimies, if we are to feel 'em." + +"That is more than you or any man can say," growled Hutter. +"There is no spot so likely to harbor a party as the shore around +the outlet, and the moment we clear these trees and get into +open water, will be the most trying time, since it will leave the +enemy a cover, while it puts us out of one. Judith, girl, do you +and Hetty leave the oar to take care of itself; and go within the +cabin; and be mindful not to show your faces at a window; for they +who will look at them won't stop to praise their beauty. And now, +Hurry, we 'll step into this outer room ourselves, and haul through +the door, where we shall all be safe, from a surprise, at least. +Friend Deerslayer, as the current is lighter, and the line has all +the strain on it that is prudent, do you keep moving from window +to window, taking care not to let your head be seen, if you set +any value on life. No one knows when or where we shall hear from +our neighbors." + +Deerslayer complied, with a sensation that had nothing in common +with fear, but which had all the interest of a perfectly novel and +a most exciting situation. For the first time in his life he was +in the vicinity of enemies, or had good reason to think so; and +that, too, under all the thrilling circumstances of Indian surprises +and Indian artifices. As he took his stand at the window, the ark +was just passing through the narrowest part of the stream, a point +where the water first entered what was properly termed the river, +and where the trees fairly interlocked overhead, causing the +current to rush into an arch of verdure; a feature as appropriate +and peculiar to the country, perhaps, as that of Switzerland, where +the rivers come rushing literally from chambers of ice. + +The ark was in the act of passing the last curve of this leafy +entrance, as Deerslayer, having examined all that could be seen of +the eastern bank of the river, crossed the room to look from the +opposite window, at the western. His arrival at this aperture was +most opportune, for he had no sooner placed his eye at a crack, +than a sight met his gaze that might well have alarmed a sentinel +so young and inexperienced. A sapling overhung the water, in nearly +half a circle, having first grown towards the light, and then been +pressed down into this form by the weight of the snows; a circumstance +of common occurrence in the American woods. On this no less than +six Indians had already appeared, others standing ready to follow +them, as they left room; each evidently bent on running out on the +trunk, and dropping on the roof of the ark as it passed beneath. This +would have been an exploit of no great difficulty, the inclination +of the tree admitting of an easy passage, the adjoining branches +offering ample support for the hands, and the fall being too trifling +to be apprehended. When Deerslayer first saw this party, it was +just unmasking itself, by ascending the part of the tree nearest to +the earth, or that which was much the most difficult to overcome; +and his knowledge of Indian habits told him at once that they were +all in their war-paint, and belonged to a hostile tribe. + +"Pull, Hurry," he cried; "pull for your life, and as you love +Judith Hutter! Pull, man, pull!" + +This call was made to one that the young man knew had the strength +of a giant. It was so earnest and solemn, that both Hutter and +March felt it was not idly given, and they applied all their force +to the line simultaneously, and at a most critical moment. The scow +redoubled its motion, and seemed to glide from under the tree as +if conscious of the danger that was impending overhead. Perceiving +that they were discovered, the Indians uttered the fearful war-whoop, +and running forward on the tree, leaped desperately towards their +fancied prize. There were six on the tree, and each made the +effort. All but their leader fell into the river more or less +distant from the ark, as they came, sooner or later, to the leaping +place. The chief, who had taken the dangerous post in advance, +having an earlier opportunity than the others, struck the scow just +within the stern. The fall proving so much greater than he had +anticipated, he was slightly stunned, and for a moment he remained +half bent and unconscious of his situation. At this instant Judith +rushed from the cabin, her beauty heightened by the excitement that +produced the bold act, which flushed her cheek to crimson, and, +throwing all her strength into the effort, she pushed the intruder +over the edge of the scow, headlong into the river. This decided +feat was no sooner accomplished than the woman resumed her sway; +Judith looked over the stern to ascertain what had become of the +man, and the expression of her eyes softened to concern, next, her +cheek crimsoned between shame and surprise at her own temerity, +and then she laughed in her own merry and sweet manner. All this +occupied less than a minute, when the arm of Deerslayer was thrown +around her waist, and she was dragged swiftly within the protection +of the cabin. This retreat was not effected too soon. Scarcely +were the two in safety, when the forest was filled with yells, and +bullets began to patter against the logs. + +The ark being in swift motion all this while, it was beyond the +danger of pursuit by the time these little events had occurred; +and the savages, as soon as the first burst of their anger had +subsided, ceased firing, with the consciousness that they were +expending their ammunition in vain. When the scow came up over +her grapnel, Hutter tripped the latter in a way not to impede the +motion; and being now beyond the influence of the current, the vessel +continued to drift ahead, until fairly in the open lake, though +still near enough to the land to render exposure to a rifle-bullet +dangerous. Hutter and March got out two small sweeps and, covered +by the cabin, they soon urged the ark far enough from the shore to +leave no inducement to their enemies to make any further attempt +to injure them. + + +Chapter V. + + + "Why, let the strucken deer go weep, + The hart ungalled play, + For some must watch, while some must sleep, + Thus runs the world away." + + Hamlet, III.ii.271-74 + +Another consultation took place in the forward part of the scow, at +which both Judith and Hetty were present. As no danger could now +approach unseen, immediate uneasiness had given place to the concern +which attended the conviction that enemies were in considerable +force on the shores of the lake, and that they might be sure +no practicable means of accomplishing their own destruction would +be neglected. As a matter of course Hutter felt these truths the +deepest, his daughters having an habitual reliance on his resources, +and knowing too little to appreciate fully all the risks they ran; +while his male companions were at liberty to quit him at any moment +they saw fit. His first remark showed that he had an eye to the +latter circumstance, and might have betrayed, to a keen observer, +the apprehension that was just then uppermost. + +"We've a great advantage over the Iroquois, or the enemy, whoever +they are, in being afloat," he said. + +"There's not a canoe on the lake that I don't know where it's +hid; and now yours is here. Hurry, there are but three more on +the land, and they're so snug in hollow logs that I don't believe +the Indians could find them, let them try ever so long." + +"There's no telling that- no one can say that," put in Deerslayer; +"a hound is not more sartain on the scent than a red-skin, when +he expects to get anything by it. Let this party see scalps afore +'em, or plunder, or honor accordin' to their idees of what honor +is, and 't will be a tight log that hides a canoe from their eyes." + +"You're right, Deerslayer," cried Harry March; "you're downright +Gospel in this matter, and I rej'ice that my bunch of bark is safe +enough here, within reach of my arm. I calcilate they'll be at +all the rest of the canoes afore to-morrow night, if they are in +ra'al 'arnest to smoke you out, old Tom, and we may as well overhaul +our paddles for a pull." + +Hutter made no immediate reply. He looked about him in silence +for quite a minute, examining the sky, the lake, and the belt of +forest which inclosed it, as it might be hermetically, like one +consulting their signs. Nor did he find any alarming symptoms. +The boundless woods were sleeping in the deep repose of nature, +the heavens were placid, but still luminous with the light of the +retreating sun, while the lake looked more lovely and calm than +it had before done that day. It was a scene altogether soothing, +and of a character to lull the passions into a species of holy +calm. How far this effect was produced, however, on the party in +the ark, must appear in the progress of our narrative. + +"Judith," called out the father, when he had taken this close but +short survey of the omens, "night is at hand; find our friends +food; a long march gives a sharp appetite." + +"We're not starving, Master Hutter," March observed, "for we filled +up just as we reached the lake, and for one, I prefer the company +of Jude even to her supper. This quiet evening is very agreeable +to sit by her side." + +"Natur' is natur'," objected Hutter, "and must be fed. Judith, +see to the meal, and take your sister to help you. I've a little +discourse to hold with you, friends," he continued, as soon as his +daughters were out of hearing, "and wish the girls away. You see +my situation, and I should like to hear your opinions concerning +what is best to be done. Three times have I been burnt out already, +but that was on the shore; and I've considered myself as pretty +safe ever since I got the castle built, and the ark afloat. My +other accidents, however, happened in peaceable times, being nothing +more than such flurries as a man must meet with, in the woods; but +this matter looks serious, and your ideas would greatly relieve my +mind." + +"It's my notion, old Tom, that you, and your huts, and your traps, +and your whole possessions, hereaway, are in desperate jippardy," +returned the matter-of-fact Hurry, who saw no use in concealment. +"Accordin' to my idees of valie, they're altogether not worth half +as much today as they was yesterday, nor would I give more for 'em, +taking the pay in skins." + +"Then I've children!" continued the father, making the allusion +in a way that it might have puzzled even an indifferent observer +to say was intended as a bait, or as an exclamation of paternal +concern, "daughters, as you know, Hurry, and good girls too, I may +say, though I am their father." + +"A man may say anything, Master Hutter, particularly when pressed +by time and circumstances. You've darters, as you say, and one +of them hasn't her equal on the frontiers for good looks, whatever +she may have for good behavior. As for poor Hetty, she's Hetty +Hutter, and that's as much as one can say about the poor thing. +Give me Jude, if her conduct was only equal to her looks!" + +"I see, Harry March, I can only count on you as a fair-weather +friend; and I suppose that your companion will be of the same way +of thinking," returned the other, with a slight show of pride, +that was not altogether without dignity; "well, I must depend on +Providence, which will not turn a deaf ear, perhaps, to a father's +prayers." + +"If you've understood Hurry, here, to mean that he intends to desart +you," said Deerslayer, with an earnest simplicity that gave double +assurance of its truth, "I think you do him injustice, as I know +you do me, in supposing I would follow him, was he so ontrue-hearted +as to leave a family of his own color in such a strait as this. +I've come on this at take, Master Hutter, to rende'vous a fri'nd, +and I only wish he was here himself, as I make no doubt he will be +at sunset tomorrow, when you'd have another rifle to aid you; an +inexper'enced one, I'll allow, like my own, but one that has proved +true so often ag'in the game, big and little, that I'll answer for +its sarvice ag'in mortals." + +May I depend on you to stand by me and my daughters, then, Deerslayer?" +demanded the old man, with a father's anxiety in his countenance. + +"That may you, Floating Tom, if that's your name; and as a +brother would stand by a sister, a husband his wife, or a suitor +his sweetheart. In this strait you may count on me, through all +advarsities; and I think Hurry does discredit to his natur' and +wishes, if you can't count on him." + +"Not he," cried Judith, thrusting her handsome face out of the +door; "his nature is hurry, as well as his name, and he'll hurry +off, as soon as he thinks his fine figure in danger. Neither 'old +Tom,' nor his 'gals,' will depend much on Master March, now they +know him, but you they will rely on, Deerslayer; for your honest face +and honest heart tell us that what you promise you will perform." + +This was said, as much, perhaps, in affected scorn for Hurry, as +in sincerity. Still, it was not said without feeling. The fine +face of Judith sufficiently proved the latter circumstance; and if +the conscious March fancied that he had never seen in it a stronger +display of contempt- a feeling in which the beauty was apt to +indulge- than while she was looking at him, it certainly seldom +exhibited more of a womanly softness and sensibility, than when +her speaking blue eyes were turned on his travelling companion. + +"Leave us, Judith," Hutter ordered sternly, before either of the +young men could reply; "leave us; and do not return until you come +with the venison and fish. The girl has been spoilt by the flattery +of the officers, who sometimes find their way up here, Master March, +and you'll not think any harm of her silly words." + +"You never said truer syllable, old Tom," retorted Hurry, who smarted +under Judith's observations; "the devil-tongued youngsters of the +garrison have proved her undoing! I scarce know Jude any longer, +and shall soon take to admiring her sister, who is getting to be +much more to my fancy." + +"I'm glad to hear this, Harry, and look upon it as a sign that +you're coming to your right senses. Hetty would make a much safer +and more rational companion than Jude, and would be much the most +likely to listen to your suit, as the officers have, I greatly +fear, unsettled her sister's mind." + +"No man needs a safer wife than Hetty," said Hurry, laughing, +"though I'll not answer for her being of the most rational. But +no matter; Deerslayer has not misconceived me, when he told you +I should be found at my post. I'll not quit you, Uncle Tom, just +now, whatever may be my feelin's and intentions respecting your +eldest darter." + +Hurry had a respectable reputation for prowess among his +associates, and Hutter heard this pledge with a satisfaction that +was not concealed. Even the great personal strength of such an aid +became of moment, in moving the ark, as well as in the species of +hand-to-hand conflicts, that were not unfrequent in the woods; and +no commander who was hard pressed could feel more joy at hearing +of the arrival of reinforcements, than the borderer experienced at +being told this important auxiliary was not about to quit him. A +minute before, Hutter would have been well content to compromise +his danger, by entering into a compact to act only on the defensive; +but no sooner did he feel some security on this point, than the +restlessness of man induced him to think of the means of carrying +the war into the enemy's country. + +"High prices are offered for scalps on both sides." he observed, +with a grim smile, as if he felt the force of the inducement, at +the very time he wished to affect a superiority to earning money +by means that the ordinary feelings of those who aspire to be +civilized men repudiated, even while they were adopted. "It isn't +right, perhaps, to take gold for human blood; and yet, when mankind +is busy in killing one another, there can be no great harm in adding +a little bit of skin to the plunder. What's your sentiments, Hurry, +touching these p'ints?" + +"That you've made a vast mistake, old man, in calling savage blood +human blood, at all. I think no more of a red-skin's scalp than +I do of a pair of wolf's ears; and would just as lief finger money +for the one as for the other. With white people 't is different, +for they've a nat'ral avarsion to being scalped; whereas your Indian +shaves his head in readiness for the knife, and leaves a lock of +hair by way of braggadocio, that one can lay hold of in the bargain." + +"That's manly, however, and I felt from the first that we had only +to get you on our side, to have your heart and hand," returned +Tom, losing all his reserve, as he gained a renewed confidence in +the disposition of his companions. "Something more may turn up from +this inroad of the red-skins than they bargained for. Deerslayer, +I conclude you're of Hurry's way of thinking, and look upon money +'arned in this way as being as likely to pass as money 'arned in +trapping or hunting." + +"I've no such feelin', nor any wish to harbor it, not I," returned +the other. "My gifts are not scalpers' gifts, but such as belong +to my religion and color. I'll stand by you, old man, in the ark +or in the castle, the canoe or the woods, but I'll not unhumanize +my natur' by falling into ways that God intended for another race. +If you and Hurry have got any thoughts that lean towards the colony's +gold, go by yourselves in s'arch of it, and leave the females to +my care. Much as I must differ from you both on all gifts that do +not properly belong to a white man, we shall agree that it is the +duty of the strong to take care of the weak, especially when the +last belong to them that natur' intended man to protect and console +by his gentleness and strength." + +"Hurry Harry, that is a lesson you might learn and practise on to +some advantage," said the sweet, but spirited voice of Judith, from +the cabin; a proof that she had over-heard all that had hitherto +been said. + +"No more of this, Jude," called out the father angrily. "Move +farther off; we are about to talk of matters unfit for a woman to +listen to." + +Hutter did not take any steps, however, to ascertain whether he +was obeyed or not; but dropping his voice a little, he pursued the +discourse. + +"The young man is right, Hurry," he said; "and we can leave +the children in his care. Now, my idea is just this; and I think +you'll agree that it is rational and correct. There's a large party +of these savages on shore and, though I didn't tell it before the +girls, for they're womanish, and apt to be troublesome when anything +like real work is to be done, there's women among 'em. This I +know from moccasin prints; and 't is likely they are hunters, after +all, who have been out so long that they know nothing of the war, +or of the bounties." + +"In which case, old Tom, why was their first salute an attempt to +cut our throats?" + +"We don't know that their design was so bloody. It's natural and +easy for an Indian to fall into ambushes and surprises; and, no +doubt they wished to get on board the ark first, and to make their +conditions afterwards. That a disapp'inted savage should fire at +us, is in rule; and I think nothing of that. Besides, how often +they burned me out, and robbed my traps- ay, and pulled trigger on +me, in the most peaceful times?" + +"The blackguards will do such things, I must allow; and we pay +'em off pretty much in their own c'ine. Women would not be on the +war-path, sartainly; and, so far, there's reason in your idee." + +"Nor would a hunter be in his war-paint," returned Deerslayer. "I +saw the Mingos, and know that they are out on the trail of mortal +men; and not for beaver or deer." + +"There you have it ag'in, old fellow," said Hurry. "In the way of +an eye, now, I'd as soon trust this young man, as trust the oldest +settler in the colony; if he says paint, why paint it was." + +"Then a hunting-party and a war-party have met, for women must have +been with 'em. It's only a few days since the runner went through +with the tidings of the troubles; and it may be that warriors have +come out to call in their women and children, to get an early blow." + +"That would stand the courts, and is just the truth," cried Hurry; +"you've got it now, old Tom, and I should like to hear what you +mean to make out of it." + +"The bounty," returned the other, looking up at his attentive +companion in a cool, sullen manner, in which, however, heartless +cupidity and indifference to the means were far more conspicuous +than any feelings of animosity or revenge. + +"If there's women, there's children; and big and little have scalps; +the colony pays for all alike." + +"More shame to it, that it should do so," interrupted Deerslayer; +"more shame to it, that it don't understand its gifts, and pay +greater attention to the will of God." + +"Hearken to reason, lad, and don't cry out afore you understand a +case," returned the unmoved Hurry; "the savages scalp your fri'nds, +the Delawares, or Mohicans whichever they may be, among the rest; +and why shouldn't we scalp? I will own, it would be ag'in right +for you and me now, to go into the settlements and bring out +scalps, but it's a very different matter as concerns Indians. A +man shouldn't take scalps, if he isn't ready to be scalped, himself, +on fitting occasions. One good turn desarves another, the world +over. That's reason, and I believe it to be good religion." + +"Ay, Master Hurry," again interrupted the rich voice of Judith, +"is it religion to say that one bad turn deserves another?" + +"I'll never reason ag'in you, Judy, for you beat me with beauty, +if you can't with sense. Here's the Canadas paying their Injins +for scalps, and why not we pay-" + +"Our Indians!" exclaimed the girl, laughing with a sort of melancholy +merriment. "Father, father! think no more of this, and listen to +the advice of Deerslayer, who has a conscience; which is more than +I can say or think of Harry March." + +Hutter now rose, and, entering the cabin, he compelled his daughters +to go into the adjoining room, when he secured both the doors, +and returned. Then he and Hurry pursued the subject; but, as the +purport of all that was material in this discourse will appear in +the narrative, it need not be related here in detail. The reader, +however, can have no difficulty in comprehending the morality that +presided over their conference. It was, in truth, that which, in +some form or other, rules most of the acts of men, and in which +the controlling principle is that one wrong will justify another. +Their enemies paid for scalps, and this was sufficient to justify +the colony for retaliating. It is true, the French used the same +argument, a circumstance, as Hurry took occasion to observe in +answer to one of Deerslayer's objections, that proved its truth, +as mortal enemies would not be likely to have recourse to the same +reason unless it were a good one. But neither Hutter nor Hurry +was a man likely to stick at trifles in matters connected with the +right of the aborigines, since it is one of the consequences of +aggression that it hardens the conscience, as the only means of +quieting it. In the most peaceable state of the country, a species +of warfare was carried on between the Indians, especially those of +the Canadas, and men of their caste; and the moment an actual and +recognized warfare existed, it was regarded as the means of lawfully +revenging a thousand wrongs, real and imaginary. Then, again, there +was some truth, and a good deal of expediency, in the principle of +retaliation, of which they both availed themselves, in particular, +to answer the objections of their juster-minded and more scrupulous +companion. + +"You must fight a man with his own we'pons, Deerslayer," cried Hurry, +in his uncouth dialect, and in his dogmatical manner of disposing +of all oral propositions; "if he's f'erce you must be f'ercer; if +he's stout of heart, you must be stouter. This is the way to get +the better of Christian or savage: by keeping up to this trail, +you'll get soonest to the ind of your journey." + +"That's not Moravian doctrine, which teaches that all are to be +judged according to their talents or l'arning; the Injin like an +Injin; and the white man like a white man. Some of their teachers +say, that if you're struck on the cheek, it's a duty to turn the +other side of the face, and take another blow, instead of seeking +revenge, whereby I understand-" + +"That's enough!" shouted Hurry; "that's all I want, to prove a +man's doctrine! How long would it take to kick a man through the +colony- in at one ind and out at the other, on that principle?" + +"Don't mistake me, March," returned the young hunter, with dignity; +"I don't understand by this any more than that it's best to do +this, if possible. Revenge is an Injin gift, and forgiveness a +white man's. That's all. Overlook all you can is what's meant; +and not revenge all you can. As for kicking, Master Hurry," and +Deerslayer's sunburnt cheek flushed as he continued, "into the +colony, or out of the colony, that's neither here nor there, seeing +no one proposes it, and no one would be likely to put up with it. +What I wish to say is, that a red-skin's scalping don't justify a +pale-face's scalping." + +"Do as you're done by, Deerslayer; that's ever the Christian parson's +doctrine." + +"No, Hurry, I've asked the Moravians consarning that; and it's +altogether different. 'Do as you would be done by,' they tell me, +is the true saying, while men practyse the false. They think all +the colonies wrong that offer bounties for scalps, and believe no +blessing will follow the measures. Above all things, they forbid +revenge." + +"That for your Moravians!" cried March, snapping his fingers; "they're +the next thing to Quakers; and if you'd believe all they tell +you, not even a 'rat would be skinned, out of marcy. Who ever +heard of marcy on a muskrat!" + +The disdainful manner of Hurry prevented a reply, and he and the +old man resumed the discussion of their plans in a more quiet and +confidential manner. This confidence lasted until Judith appeared, +bearing the simple but savory supper. March observed, with a little +surprise, that she placed the choicest bits before Deerslayer, +and that in the little nameless attentions it was in her power to +bestow, she quite obviously manifested a desire to let it be seen +that she deemed him the honored guest. Accustomed, however, to +the waywardness and coquetry of the beauty, this discovery gave him +little concern, and he ate with an appetite that was in no degree +disturbed by any moral causes. The easily-digested food of the +forests offering the fewest possible obstacles to the gratification +of this great animal indulgence, Deerslayer, notwithstanding the +hearty meal both had taken in the woods, was in no manner behind +his companion in doing justice to the viands. + +An hour later the scene had greatly changed. The lake was still +placid and glassy, but the gloom of the hour had succeeded to the +soft twilight of a summer evening, and all within the dark setting +of the woods lay in the quiet repose of night. The forests gave +up no song, or cry, or even murmur, but looked down from the hills +on the lovely basin they encircled, in solemn stillness; and the +only sound that was audible was the regular dip of the sweeps, at +which Hurry and Deerslayer lazily pushed, impelling the ark towards +the castle. Hutter had withdrawn to the stern of the scow, in +order to steer, but, finding that the young men kept even strokes, +and held the desired course by their own skill, he permitted the +oar to drag in the water, took a seat on the end of the vessel, and +lighted his pipe. He had not been thus placed many minutes, ere +Hetty came stealthily out of the cabin, or house, as they usually +termed that part of the ark, and placed herself at his feet, on a +little bench that she brought with her. As this movement was by +no means unusual in his feeble-minded child, the old man paid no +other attention to it than to lay his hand kindly on her head, in +an affectionate and approving manner; an act of grace that the girl +received in meek silence. + +After a pause of several minutes, Hetty began to sing. Her voice +was low and tremulous, but it was earnest and solemn. The words +and the tune were of the simplest form, the first being a hymn +that she had been taught by her mother, and the last one of those +natural melodies that find favor with all classes, in every age, +coming from and being addressed to the feelings. Hutter never +listened to this simple strain without finding his heart and manner +softened; facts that his daughter well knew, and by which she had +often profited, through the sort of holy instinct that enlightens +the weak of mind, more especially in their aims toward good. + +Hetty's low, sweet tones had not been raised many moments, when +the dip of the oars ceased, and the holy strain arose singly on the +breathing silence of the wilderness. As if she gathered courage +with the theme, her powers appeared to increase as she proceeded; +and though nothing vulgar or noisy mingled in her melody, its +strength and melancholy tenderness grew on the ear, until the air +was filled with this simple homage of a soul that seemed almost +spotless. That the men forward were not indifferent to this +touching interruption, was proved by their inaction; nor did their +oars again dip until the last of the sweet sounds had actually died +among the remarkable shores, which, at that witching hour, would +waft even the lowest modulations of the human voice more than a mile. +Hutter was much affected; for rude as he was by early habits, and +even ruthless as he had got to be by long exposure to the practices +of the wilderness, his nature was of that fearful mixture of good +and evil that so generally enters into the moral composition of +man. + +"You are sad tonight, child," said the father, whose manner and +language usually assumed some of the gentleness and elevation of +the civilized life he had led in youth, when he thus communed with +this particular child; "we have just escaped from enemies, and +ought rather to rejoice." + +"You can never do it, father!" said Hetty, in a low, remonstrating +manner, taking his hard, knotty hand into both her own; "you have +talked long with Harry March; but neither of you have the heart to +do it!" + +"This is going beyond your means, foolish child; you must have been +naughty enough to have listened, or you could know nothing of our +talk." + +"Why should you and Hurry kill people- especially women and children?" + +"Peace, girl, peace; we are at war, and must do to our enemies as +our enemies would do to us." + +"That's not it, father! I heard Deerslayer say how it was. You +must do to your enemies as you wish your enemies would do to you. +No man wishes his enemies to kill him." + +"We kill our enemies in war, girl, lest they should kill us. One +side or the other must begin; and them that begin first, are most +apt to get the victory. You know nothing about these things, poor +Hetty, and had best say nothing." + +"Judith says it is wrong, father; and Judith has sense though I +have none." + +"Jude understands better than to talk to me of these matters; for +she has sense, as you say, and knows I'll not bear it. Which would +you prefer, Hetty; to have your own scalp taken, and sold to the +French, or that we should kill our enemies, and keep them from +harming us?" + +"That's not it, father! Don't kill them, nor let them kill us. +Sell your skins, and get more, if you can; but don't sell human +blood." + +"Come, come, child; let us talk of matters you understand. Are +you glad to see our old friend, March, back again? You like Hurry, +and must know that one day he may be your brother- if not something +nearer." + +"That can't be, father," returned the girl, after a considerable +pause; "Hurry has had one father, and one mother; and people never +have two." + +"So much for your weak mind, Hetty. When Jude marries, her +husband's father will be her father, and her husband's sister her +sister. If she should marry Hurry, then he will be your brother." + +"Judith will never have Hurry," returned the girl mildly, but +positively; "Judith don't like Hurry." + +"That's more than you can know, Hetty. Harry March is the handsomest, +and the strongest, and the boldest young man that ever visits the +lake; and, as Jude is the greatest beauty, I don't see why they +shouldn't come together. He has as much as promised that he will +enter into this job with me, on condition that I'll consent." + +Hetty began to move her body back and forth, and other-wise to +express mental agitation; but she made no answer for more than a +minute. Her father, accustomed to her manner, and suspecting no +immediate cause of concern, continued to smoke with the apparent +phlegm which would seem to belong to that particular species of +enjoyment. + +"Hurry is handsome, father," said Hetty, with a simple emphasis, +that she might have hesitated about using, had her mind been more +alive to the inferences of others. + +"I told you so, child," muttered old Hutter, without removing the +pipe from between his teeth; "he's the likeliest youth in these +parts; and Jude is the likeliest young woman I've met with since +her poor mother was in her best days." + +"Is it wicked to be ugly, father?'" + +"One might be guilty of worse things- but you're by no means ugly; +though not so comely as Jude." + +"Is Judith any happier for being so handsome?" + +"She may be, child, and she may not be. But talk of other matters +now, for you hardly understand these, poor Hetty. How do you like +our new acquaintance, Deerslayer?" + +"He isn't handsome, father. Hurry is far handsomer than Deerslayer." + +"That's true; but they say he is a noted hunter! His fame had +reached me before I ever saw him; and I did hope he would prove to +be as stout a warrior as he is dexterous with the deer. All men +are not alike, howsever, child; and it takes time, as I know by +experience, to give a man a true wilderness heart." + +"Have I got a wilderness heart, father- and Hurry, is his heart +true wilderness?" + +"You sometimes ask queer questions, Hetty! Your heart is good, +child, and fitter for the settlements than for the woods; while +your reason is fitter for the woods than for the settlements." + +"Why has Judith more reason than I, father?" + +"Heaven help thee, child: this is more than I can answer. God +gives sense, and appearance, and all these things; and he grants +them as he seeth fit. Dost thou wish for more sense?" + +"Not I. The little I have troubles me; for when I think the hardest, +then I feel the unhappiest. I don't believe thinking is good for +me, though I do wish I was as handsome as Judith!" + +"Why so, poor child? Thy sister's beauty may cause her trouble, +as it caused her mother before her. It's no advantage, Hetty, to +be so marked for anything as to become an object of envy, or to be +sought after more than others." + +"Mother was good, if she was handsome," returned the girl, the +tears starting to her eyes, as usually happened when she adverted +to her deceased parent. + +Old Hutter, if not equally affected, was moody and silent at this +allusion to his wife. He continued smoking, without appearing disposed +to make any answer, until his simple-minded daughter repeated her +remark, in a way to show that she felt uneasiness lest he might be +inclined to deny her assertion. Then he knocked the ashes out of +his pipe, and laying his hand in a sort of rough kindness on the +girl's head, he made a reply. + +"Thy mother was too good for this world," he said; "though others +might not think so. Her good looks did not befriend her; and you +have no occasion to mourn that you are not as much like her as +your sister. Think less of beauty, child, and more of your duty, +and you'll be as happy on this lake as you could be in the king's +palace." + +"I know it, father; but Hurry says beauty is everything in a young +woman." + +Hutter made an ejaculation expressive of dissatisfaction, and went +forward, passing through the house in order to do so. Hetty's simple +betrayal of her weakness in behalf of March gave him uneasiness +on a subject concerning which he had never felt before, and he +determined to come to an explanation at once with his visitor; for +directness of speech and decision in conduct were two of the best +qualities of this rude being, in whom the seeds of a better education +seemed to be constantly struggling upwards, to be choked by the +fruits of a life in which his hard struggles for subsistence and +security had steeled his feelings and indurated his nature. When +he reached the forward end of the scow, he manifested an intention +to relieve Deerslayer at the oar, directing the latter to take his +own place aft. By these changes, the old man and Hurry were again +left alone, while the young hunter was transferred to the other +end of the ark. + +Hetty had disappeared when Deerslayer reached his new post, and for +some little time he directed the course of the slow-moving craft by +himself. It was not long, however, before Judith came out of the +cabin, as if disposed to do the honors of the place to a stranger +engaged in the service of her family. The starlight was sufficient +to permit objects to be plainly distinguished when near at hand, +and the bright eyes of the girl had an expression of kindness in +them, when they met those of the youth, that the latter was easily +enabled to discover. Her rich hair shaded her spirited and yet soft +countenance, even at that hour rendering it the more beautiful-as +the rose is loveliest when reposing amid the shadows and contrasts +of its native foliage. Little ceremony is used in the intercourse +of the woods; and Judith had acquired a readiness of address, by +the admiration that she so generally excited, which, if it did not +amount to forwardness, certainly in no degree lent to her charms +the aid of that retiring modesty on which poets love to dwell. + +"I thought I should have killed myself with laughing, Deerslayer," +the beauty abruptly but coquettishly commenced, "when I saw that +Indian dive into the river! He was a good-looking savage, too," +the girl always dwelt on personal beauty as a sort of merit, "and +yet one couldn't stop to consider whether his paint would stand +water!" + +"And I thought they would have killed you with their we'pons, +Judith," returned Deerslayer; "it was an awful risk for a female +to run in the face of a dozen Mingos!" + +"Did that make you come out of the cabin, in spite of their rifles, +too?" asked the girl, with more real interest than she would have +cared to betray, though with an indifference of manner that was +the result of a good deal of practice united to native readiness. + +"Men ar'n't apt to see females in danger, and not come to their +assistance. Even a Mingo knows that." + +This sentiment was uttered with as much simplicity of manner +as of feeling, and Judith rewarded it with a smile so sweet, that +even Deerslayer, who had imbibed a prejudice against the girl in +consequence of Hurry's suspicions of her levity, felt its charm, +notwithstanding half its winning influence was lost in the feeble +light. It at once created a sort of confidence between them, and +the discourse was continued on the part of the hunter, without +the lively consciousness of the character of this coquette of the +wilderness, with which it had certainly commenced. + +"You are a man of deeds, and not of words, I see plainly, Deerslayer," +continued the beauty, taking her seat near the spot where the other +stood, "and I foresee we shall be very good friends. Hurry Harry +has a tongue, and, giant as he is, he talks more than he performs." + +"March is your fri'nd, Judith; and fri'nds should be tender of each +other, when apart." + +"We all know what Hurry's friendship comes to! Let him have his +own way in everything, and he's the best fellow in the colony; but +'head him off,' as you say of the deer, and he is master of everything +near him but himself. Hurry is no favorite of mine, Deerslayer; +and I dare say, if the truth was known, and his conversation about +me repeated, it would be found that he thinks no better of me than +I own I do of him." + +The latter part of this speech was not uttered without uneasiness. +Had the girl's companion been more sophisticated, he might have +observed the averted face, the manner in which the pretty little +foot was agitated, and other signs that, for some unexplained +reason, the opinions of March were not quite as much a matter of +indifference to her as she thought fit to pretend. Whether this +was no more than the ordinary working of female vanity, feeling +keenly even when it affected not to feel at all, or whether it +proceeded from that deeply-seated consciousness of right and wrong +which God himself has implanted in our breasts that we may know good +from evil, will be made more apparent to the reader as we proceed +in the tale. Deerslayer felt embarrassed. He well remembered the +cruel imputations left by March's distrust; and, while he did not +wish to injure his associate's suit by exciting resentment against +him, his tongue was one that literally knew no guile. To answer +without saying more or less than he wished, was consequently a +delicate duty. + +"March has his say of all things in natur', whether of fri'nd +or foe," slowly and cautiously rejoined the hunter. "He's one of +them that speak as they feel while the tongue's a-going, and that's +sometimes different from what they'd speak if they took time to +consider. Give me a Delaware, Judith, for one that reflects and +ruminates on his idees! Inmity has made him thoughtful, and a +loose tongue is no ricommend at their council fires." + +"I dare say March's tongue goes free enough when it gets on the +subject of Judith Hutter and her sister," said the girl, rousing +herself as if in careless disdain. "Young women's good names are +a pleasant matter of discourse with some that wouldn't dare be so +open-mouthed if there was a brother in the way. Master March may +find it pleasant to traduce us, but sooner or later he'll repent. + +"Nay, Judith, this is taking the matter up too much in 'arnest. +Hurry has never whispered a syllable ag'in the good name of Hetty, +to begin with-" + +"I see how it is- I see how it is," impetuously interrupted Judith. +"I am the one he sees fit to scorch with his withering tongue! +Hetty, indeed! Poor Hetty!" she continued, her voice sinking into +low, husky tones, that seemed nearly to stifle her in the utterance; +"she is beyond and above his slanderous malice! Poor Hetty! If +God has created her feeble-minded, the weakness lies altogether on +the side of errors of which she seems to know nothing. The earth +never held a purer being than Hetty Hutter, Deerslayer." + +"I can believe it- yes, I can believe that, Judith, and I hope +'arnestly that the same can be said of her handsome sister." + +There was a soothing sincerity in the voice of Deerslayer, which +touched the girl's feelings; nor did the allusion to her beauty +lessen the effect with one who only knew too well the power of her +personal charms. Nevertheless, the still, small voice of conscience +was not hushed, and it prompted the answer which she made, after +giving herself time to reflect. + +"I dare say Hurry had some of his vile hints about the people of +the garrisons," she added. "He knows they are gentlemen, and can +never forgive any one for being what he feels he can never become +himself." + +"Not in the sense of a king's officer, Judith, sartainly, for March +has no turn thataway; but in the sense of reality, why may not a +beaver-hunter be as respectable as a governor? Since you speak of +it yourself, I'll not deny that he did complain of one as humble +as you being so much in the company of scarlet coats and silken +sashes. But 't was jealousy that brought it out of him, and I +do think he mourned over his own thoughts as a mother would have +mourned over her child." + +Perhaps Deerslayer was not aware of the full meaning that his +earnest language conveyed. It is certain that he did not see the +color that crimsoned the whole of Judith's fine face, nor detect +the uncontrollable distress that immediately after changed its hue +to deadly paleness. A minute or two elapsed in profound stillness, +the splash of the water seeming to occupy all the avenues of sound; +and then Judith arose, and grasped the hand of the hunter, almost +convulsively, with one of her own. + +"Deerslayer," she said, hurriedly, "I'm glad the ice is broke between +us. They say that sudden friendships lead to long enmities, but +I do not believe it will turn out so with us. I know not how it +is-but you are the first man I ever met, who did not seem to wish +to flatter- to wish my ruin- to be an enemy in disguise- never mind; +say nothing to Hurry, and another time we'll talk together again." + +As the girl released her grasp, she vanished in the house, leaving +the astonished young man standing at the steering-oar, as motionless +as one of the pines on the hills. So abstracted, indeed, had his +thoughts become, that he was hailed by Hutter to keep the scow's head +in the right direction, before he remembered his actual situation. + + + +Chapter VI. + + + "So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, + Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair.' + + Paradise lost, I. 125-26. + +Shortly after the disappearance of Judith, a light southerly +air arose, and Hutter set a large square sail, that had once been +the flying top-sail of an Albany sloop, but which having become +threadbare in catching the breezes of Tappan, had been condemned +and sold. He had a light, tough spar of tamarack that he could +raise on occasion, and with a little contrivance, his duck was spread +to the wind in a sufficiently professional manner. The effect on +the ark was such as to supersede the necessity of rowing; and in +about two hours the castle was seen, in the darkness, rising out of +the water, at the distance of a hundred yards. The sail was then +lowered, and by slow degrees the scow drifted up to the building, +and was secured. + +No one had visited the house since Hurry and his companion left +it. The place was found in the quiet of midnight, a sort of type +of the solitude of a wilderness. As an enemy was known to be near, +Hutter directed his daughters to abstain from the use of lights, +luxuries in which they seldom indulged during the warm months, lest +they might prove beacons to direct their foes where they might be +found. + +"In open daylight I shouldn't fear a host of savages behind these +stout logs, and they without any cover to skulk into," added Hutter, +when he had explained to his guests the reasons why he forbade the +use of light; "for I've three or four trusty weapons always loaded, +and Killdeer, in particular, is a piece that never misses. But it's +a different thing at night. A canoe might get upon us unseen, in +the dark; and the savages have so many cunning ways of attacking, +that I look upon it as bad enough to deal with 'em under a bright +sun. I built this dwelling in order to have 'em at arm's length, +in case we should ever get to blows again. Some people think +it's too open and exposed, but I'm for anchoring out here, clear +of underbrush and thickets, as the surest means of making a safe +berth." + +"You was once a sailor, they tell me, old Tom?" said Hurry, in +his abrupt manner, struck by one or two expressions that the other +had just used, "and some people believe you could give us strange +accounts of inimies and shipwrecks, if you'd a mind to come out +with all you know?" + +"There are people in this world, Hurry," returned the other, +evasively, "who live on other men's thoughts; and some such often +find their way into the woods. What I've been, or what I've seen +in youth, is of less matter now than what the savages are. It's of +more account to find out what will happen in the next twenty-four +hours than to talk over what happened twenty-four years since." + +"That's judgment, Deerslayer; yes, that's sound judgment. Here's +Judith and Hetty to take care of, to say nothing of our own top-knots; +and, for my part, I can sleep as well in the dark as I could under +a noonday sun. To me it's no great matter whether there is light +or not, to see to shut my eyes by." + +As Deerslayer seldom thought it necessary to answer his companion's +peculiar vein of humor, and Hutter was evidently indisposed to dwell +longer on the subject, it's discussion ceased with this remark. The +latter had something more on his mind, however, than recollections. +His daughters had no sooner left them, with an expressed intention +of going to bed, than he invited his two companions to follow him +again into the scow. Here the old man opened his project, keeping +back the portion that he had reserved for execution by Hurry and +himself. + +"The great object for people posted like ourselves is to command +the water," he commenced. "So long as there is no other craft on +the lake, a bark canoe is as good as a man of-war, since the castle +will not be easily taken by swimming. Now, there are but five +canoes remaining in these parts, two of which are mine, and one is +Hurry's. These three we have with us here; one being fastened in +the canoe-dock beneath the house, and the other two being alongside +the scow. The other canoes are housed on the shore, in hollow +logs, and the savages, who are such venomous enemies, will leave +no likely place unexamined in the morning, if they 're serious in +s'arch of bounties-" + +"Now, friend Hutter," interrupted Hurry, "the Indian don't live that +can find a canoe that is suitably wintered. I've done something +at this business before now, and Deerslayer here knows that I am +one that can hide a craft in such a way that I can't find it myself." + +"Very true, Hurry," put in the person to whom the appeal had been +made, "but you overlook the sarcumstance that if you couldn't +see the trail of the man who did the job, I could. I'm of Master +Hutter's mind, that it's far wiser to mistrust a savage's ingenuity, +than to build any great expectations on his want of eye-sight. +If these two canoes can be got off to the castle, therefore, the +sooner it's done the better." + +"Will you be of the party that's to do it?" demanded Hutter, in a +way to show that the proposal both surprised and pleased him. + +"Sartain. I'm ready to enlist in any enterprise that's not ag'in +a white man's lawful gifts. Natur' orders us to defend our lives, +and the lives of others, too, when there's occasion and opportunity. +I'll follow you, Floating Tom, into the Mingo camp, on such an +arr'nd, and will strive to do my duty, should we come to blows; +though, never having been tried in battle, I don't like to promise +more than I may be able to perform. We all know our wishes, but +none know their might till put to the proof." + +"That's modest and suitable, lad," exclaimed Hurry. "You've never +yet heard the crack of an angry rifle; and, let me tell you, 'tis +as different from the persuasion of one of your venison speeches, +as the laugh of Judith Hutter, in her best humor, is from the +scolding of a Dutch house keeper on the Mohawk. I don't expect +you'll prove much of a warrior, Deerslayer, though your equal with +the bucks and the does don't exist in all these parts. As for the +ra'al sarvice, however, you'll turn out rather rearward, according +to my consait." + +"We'll see, Hurry, we'll see," returned the other, meekly; so far +as human eye could discover, not at all disturbed by these expressed +doubts concerning his conduct on a point on which men are sensitive, +precisely in the degree that they feel the consciousness of +demerit; "having never been tried, I'll wait to know, before I form +any opinion of myself; and then there'll be sartainty, instead of +bragging. I've heard of them that was valiant afore the fight, +who did little in it; and of them that waited to know their own +tempers, and found that they weren't as bad as some expected, when +put to the proof." + +"At any rate, we know you can use a paddle, young man," said Hutter, +"and that's all we shall ask of you tonight. Let us waste no more +time, but get into the canoe, and do, in place of talking." + +As Hutter led the way, in the execution of his project, the boat +was soon ready, with Hurry and Deerslayer at the paddles. Before +the old man embarked himself, however, he held a conference of +several minutes with Judith, entering the house for that purpose; +then, returning, he took his place in the canoe, which left the +side of the ark at the next instant. + +Had there been a temple reared to God, in that solitary wilderness, +its clock would have told the hour of midnight as the party set +forth on their expedition. The darkness had increased, though +the night was still clear, and the light of the stars sufficed for +all the purposes of the adventurers. Hutter alone knew the places +where the canoes were hid, and he directed the course, while his +two athletic companions raised and dipped their paddles with proper +caution, lest the sound should be carried to the ears of their +enemies, across that sheet of placid water, in the stillness of +deep night. But the bark was too light to require any extraordinary +efforts, and skill supplying the place of strength, in about half +an hour they were approaching the shore, at a point near a league +from the castle. + +"Lay on your paddles, men," said Hutter, in a low voice, "and let +us look about us for a moment. We must now be all eyes and ears, +for these vermin have noses like bloodhounds." + +The shores of the lake were examined closely, in order to discover +any glimmering of light that might have been left in a camp; and the +men strained their eyes, in the obscurity, to see if some thread +of smoke was not still stealing along the mountainside, as it arose +from the dying embers of a fire. Nothing unusual could be traced; +and as the position was at some distance from the outlet, or the +spot where the savages had been met, it was thought safe to land. +The paddles were plied again, and the bows of the canoe ground +upon the gravelly beach with a gentle motion, and a sound barely +audible. Hutter and Hurry immediately landed, the former carrying +his own and his friend's rifle, leaving Deerslayer in charge of +the canoe. The hollow log lay a little distance up the side of +the mountain, and the old man led the way towards it, using so much +caution as to stop at every third or fourth step, to listen if any +tread betrayed the presence of a foe. The same death-like stillness, +however, reigned on the midnight scene, and the desired place was +reached without an occurrence to induce alarm. + +"This is it," whispered Hutter, laying a foot on the trunk of a +fallen linden; "hand me the paddles first, and draw the boat out +with care, for the wretches may have left it for a bait, after +all." + +"Keep my rifle handy, butt towards me, old fellow," answered March. +"If they attack me loaded, I shall want to unload the piece at 'em, +at least. And feel if the pan is full." + +"All's right," muttered the other; "move slow, when you get your +load, and let me lead the way." + +The canoe was drawn out of the log with the utmost care, raised by +Hurry to his shoulder, and the two began to return to the shore, +moving but a step at a time, lest they should tumble down the +steep declivity. The distance was not great, but the descent was +extremely difficult; and, towards the end of their little journey, +Deerslayer was obliged to land and meet them, in order to aid in +lifting the canoe through the bushes. With his assistance the task +was successfully accomplished, and the light craft soon floated +by the side of the other canoe. This was no sooner done, than +all three turned anxiously towards the forest and the mountain, +expecting an enemy to break out of the one, or to come rushing down +the other. Still the silence was unbroken, and they all embarked +with the caution that had been used in coming ashore. + +Hutter now steered broad off towards the centre of the lake. Having +got a sufficient distance from the shore, he cast his prize loose, +knowing that it would drift slowly up the lake before the light +southerly air, and intending to find it on his return. Thus relieved +of his tow, the old man held his way down the lake, steering towards +the very point where Hurry had made his fruitless attempt on the +life of the deer. As the distance from this point to the outlet +was less than a mile, it was like entering an enemy's country; and +redoubled caution became necessary. They reached the extremity +of the point, however, and landed in safety on the little gravelly +beach already mentioned. Unlike the last place at which they had +gone ashore, here was no acclivity to ascend, the mountains looming +up in the darkness quite a quarter of a mile farther west, leaving +a margin of level ground between them and the strand. The point +itself, though long, and covered with tall trees, was nearly flat, +and for some distance only a few yards in width. Hutter and Hurry +landed as before, leaving their companion in charge of the boat. + +In this instance, the dead tree that contained the canoe of which +they had come in quest lay about half-way between the extremity +of the narrow slip of land and the place where it joined the main +shore; and knowing that there was water so near him on his left, +the old man led the way along the eastern side of the belt with +some confidence walking boldly, though still with caution. He had +landed at the point expressly to get a glimpse into the bay and +to make certain that the coast was clear; otherwise he would have +come ashore directly abreast of the hollow tree. There was no +difficulty in finding the latter, from which the canoe was drawn +as before, and instead of carrying it down to the place where +Deerslayer lay, it was launched at the nearest favorable spot. As +soon as it was in the water, Hurry entered it, and paddled round +to the point, whither Hutter also proceeded, following the beach. +As the three men had now in their possession all the boats on the +lake, their confidence was greatly increased, and there was no longer +the same feverish desire to quit the shore, or the same necessity +for extreme caution. Their position on the extremity of the long, +narrow bit of land added to the feeling of security, as it permitted +an enemy to approach in only one direction, that in their front, +and under circumstances that would render discovery, with their +habitual vigilance, almost certain. The three now landed together, +and stood grouped in consultation on the gravelly point. + +"We've fairly tree'd the scamps," said Hurry, chuckling at their +success; "if they wish to visit the castle, let 'em wade or swim! +Old Tom, that idee of your'n, in burrowing out in the lake, was +high proof, and carries a fine bead. There be men who would think +the land safer than the water; but, after all, reason shows it +isn't; the beaver, and rats, and other l'arned creatur's taking to +the last when hard pressed. I call our position now, entrenched, +and set the Canadas at defiance." + +"Let us paddle along this south shore," said Hutter, "and see if +there's no sign of an encampment; but, first, let me have a better +look into the bay, for no one has been far enough round the inner +shore of the point to make suit of that quarter yet." + +As Hutter ceased speaking, all three moved in the direction he had +named. Scarce had they fairly opened the bottom of the bay, when +a general start proved that their eyes had lighted on a common +object at the same instant. It was no more than a dying brand, +giving out its flickering and failing light; but at that hour, and +in that place, it was at once as conspicuous as "a good deed in +a naughty world." There was not a shadow of doubt that this fire +had been kindled at an encampment of the Indians. The situation, +sheltered from observation on all sides but one, and even on that +except for a very short distance, proved that more care had been +taken to conceal the spot than would be used for ordinary purposes, +and Hutter, who knew that a spring was near at hand, as well as +one of the best fishing-stations on the lake, immediately inferred +that this encampment contained the women and children of the party. + +"That's not a warrior's encampment," he growled to Hurry; "and +there's bounty enough sleeping round that fire to make a heavy +division of head-money. Send the lad to the canoes, for there'll +come no good of him in such an onset, and let us take the matter +in hand at once, like men." + +"There's judgment in your notion, old Tom, and I like it to the +backbone. Deerslayer, do you get into the canoe, lad, and paddle +off into the lake with the spare one, and set it adrift, as we +did with the other; after which you can float along shore, as near +as you can get to the head of the bay, keeping outside the point, +howsever, and outside the rushes, too. You can hear us when we +want you; and if there's any delay, I'll call like a loon-yes, +that'll do it- the call of a loon shall be the signal. If you hear +rifles, and feel like sogering, why, you may close in, and see if +you can make the same hand with the savages that you do with the +deer." + +"If my wishes could be followed, this matter would not be undertaken, +Hurry-" + +"Quite true-nobody denies it, boy; but your wishes can't be +followed; and that inds the matter. So just canoe yourself off +into the middle of the lake, and by the time you get back there'll +be movements in that camp!" + +The young man set about complying with great reluctance and a +heavy heart. He knew the prejudices of the frontiermen too well, +however, to attempt a remonstrance. The latter, indeed, under the +circumstances, might prove dangerous, as it would certainly prove +useless. He paddled the canoe, therefore, silently and with the +former caution, to a spot near the centre of the placid sheet of +water, and set the boat just recovered adrift, to float towards the +castle, before the light southerly air. This expedient had been +adopted, in both cases, under the certainty that the drift could +not carry the light barks more than a league or two, before the +return of light, when they might easily be overtaken in order to +prevent any wandering savage from using them, by swimming off and +getting possession, a possible but scarcely a probable event, all +the paddles were retained. + +No sooner had he set the recovered canoe adrift, than Deerslayer +turned the bows of his own towards the point on the shore that had +been indicated by Hurry. So light was the movement of the little +craft, and so steady the sweep of its master's arm, that ten minutes +had not elapsed ere it was again approaching the land, having, in +that brief time, passed over fully half a mile of distance. As +soon as Deerslayer's eye caught a glimpse of the rushes, of which +there were many growing in the water a hundred feet from the +shore, he arrested the motion of the canoe, and anchored his boat +by holding fast to the delicate but tenacious stem of one of the +drooping plants. Here he remained, awaiting, with an intensity of +suspense that can be easily imagined, the result of the hazardous +enterprise. + +It would be difficult to convey to the minds of those who have +never witnessed it, the sublimity that characterizes the silence of +a solitude as deep as that which now reigned over the Glimmerglass. +In the present instance, this sublimity was increased by the gloom +of night, which threw its shadowy and fantastic forms around the +lake, the forest, and the hills. It is not easy, indeed, to conceive +of any place more favorable to heighten these natural impressions, +than that Deerslayer now occupied. The size of the lake brought +all within the reach of human senses, while it displayed so much +of the imposing scene at a single view, giving up, as it might be, +at a glance, a sufficiency to produce the deepest impressions. As +has been said, this was the first lake Deerslayer had ever seen. +Hitherto, his experience had been limited to the courses of rivers +and smaller streams, and never before had he seen so much of +that wilderness, which he so well loved, spread before his gaze. +Accustomed to the forest, however, his mind was capable of portraying +all its hidden mysteries, as he looked upon its leafy surface. This +was also the first time he had been on a trail where human lives +depended on the issue. His ears had often drunk in the traditions +of frontier warfare, but he had never yet been confronted with an +enemy. + +The reader will readily understand, therefore, how intense must have +been the expectation of the young man, as be sat in his solitary +canoe, endeavoring to catch the smallest sound that might denote +the course of things on shore. His training had been perfect, so +far as theory could go, and his self-possession, notwithstanding +the high excitement, that was the fruit of novelty, would have +done credit to a veteran. The visible evidences of the existence +of the camp, or of the fire could not be detected from the spot +where the canoe lay, and he was compelled to depend on the sense of +hearing alone. He did not feel impatient, for the lessons he had +heard taught him the virtue of patience, and, most of all, inculcated +the necessity of wariness in conducting any covert assault on the +Indians. Once he thought he heard the cracking of a dried twig, but +expectation was so intense it might mislead him. In this manner +minute after minute passed, until the whole time since he left +his companions was extended to quite an hour. Deerslayer knew not +whether to rejoice in or to mourn over this cautious delay, for, +if it augured security to his associates, it foretold destruction +to the feeble and innocent. + +It might have been an hour and a half after his companions and he +had parted, when Deerslayer was aroused by a sound that filled him +equally with concern and surprise. The quavering call of a loon +arose from the opposite side of the lake, evidently at no great +distance from its outlet. There was no mistaking the note of +this bird, which is so familiar to all who know the sounds of the +American lakes. Shrill, tremulous, loud, and sufficiently prolonged, +it seems the very cry of warning. It is often raised, also, at +night, an exception to the habits of most of the other feathered +inmates of the wilderness; a circumstance which had induced Hurry +to select it as his own signal. There had been sufficient time, +certainly, for the two adventurers to make their way by land from +the point where they had been left to that whence the call had come, +but it was not probable that they would adopt such a course. Had +the camp been deserted they would have summoned Deerslayer to the +shore, and, did it prove to be peopled, there could be no sufficient +motive for circling it, in order to re-embark at so great a +distance. Should he obey the signal, and be drawn away from the +landing, the lives of those who depended on him might be the forfeit- +and, should he neglect the call, on the supposition that it had been +really made, the consequences might be equally disastrous, though +from a different cause. In this indecision he waited, trusting that +the call, whether feigned or natural, would be speedily renewed. +Nor was he mistaken. A very few minutes elapsed before the same +shrill warning cry was repeated, and from the same part of the +lake. This time, being on the alert, his senses were not deceived. +Although he had often heard admirable imitations of this bird, and +was no mean adept himself in raising its notes, he felt satisfied +that Hurry, to whose efforts in that way he had attended, could +never so completely and closely follow nature. He determined, +therefore, to disregard that cry, and to wait for one less perfect +and nearer at hand. + +Deerslayer had hardly come to this determination, when the profound +stillness of night and solitude was broken by a cry so startling, +as to drive all recollection of the more melancholy call of the +loon from the listener's mind. It was a shriek of agony, that came +either from one of the female sex, or from a boy so young as not yet +to have attained a manly voice. This appeal could not be mistaken. +Heart rending terror- if not writhing agony- was in the sounds, and +the anguish that had awakened them was as sudden as it was fearful. +The young man released his hold of the rush, and dashed his paddle +into the water; to do, he knew not what- to steer, he knew not +whither. A very few moments, however, removed his indecision. The +breaking of branches, the cracking of dried sticks, and the fall +of feet were distinctly audible; the sounds appearing to approach +the water though in a direction that led diagonally towards the +shore, and a little farther north than the spot that Deerslayer +had been ordered to keep near. Following this clue, the young man +urged the canoe ahead, paying but little attention to the manner +in which he might betray its presence. He had reached a part of +the shore, where its immediate bank was tolerably high and quite +steep. Men were evidently threshing through the bushes and trees +on the summit of this bank, following the line of the shore, as if +those who fled sought a favorable place for descending. Just at +this instant five or six rifles flashed, and the opposite hills +gave back, as usual, the sharp reports in prolonged rolling echoes. +One or two shrieks, like those which escape the bravest when suddenly +overcome by unexpected anguish and alarm, followed; and then the +threshing among the bushes was renewed, in a way to show that man +was grappling with man. + +"Slippery devil!" shouted Hurry with the fury of disappointment-"his +skin's greased! I sha'n't grapple! Take that for your cunning!" + +The words were followed by the fall of some heavy object among +the smaller trees that fringed the bank, appearing to Deerslayer +as if his gigantic associate had hurled an enemy from him in this +unceremonious manner. Again the flight and pursuit were renewed, +and then the young man saw a human form break down the hill, and +rush several yards into the water. At this critical moment the +canoe was just near enough to the spot to allow this movement, +which was accompanied by no little noise, to be seen, and feeling +that there he must take in his companion, if anywhere, Deerslayer +urged the canoe forward to the rescue. His paddle had not been +raised twice, when the voice of Hurry was heard filling the air with +imprecations, and he rolled on the narrow beach, literally loaded +down with enemies. While prostrate, and almost smothered with his +foes, the athletic frontierman gave his loon-call, in a manner that +would have excited laughter under circumstances less terrific. The +figure in the water seemed suddenly to repent his own flight, and +rushed to the shore to aid his companion, but was met and immediately +overpowered by half a dozen fresh pursuers, who, just then, came +leaping down the bank. + +"Let up, you painted riptyles- let up!" cried Hurry, too hard pressed +to be particular about the terms he used; "isn't it enough that I +am withed like a saw-log that ye must choke too!" + +This speech satisfied Deerslayer that his friends were prisoners, +and that to land would be to share their fate He was already within +a hundred feet of the shore, when a few timely strokes of the paddle +not only arrested his advance, but forced him off to six or eight +times that distance from his enemies. Luckily for him, all of the +Indians had dropped their rifles in the pursuit, or this retreat +might not have been effected with impunity; though no one had noted +the canoe in the first confusion of the melee. + +"Keep off the land, lad," called out Hutter; "the girls depend +only on you, now; you will want all your caution to escape these +savages. Keep off, and God prosper you, as you aid my children!" + +There was little sympathy in general between Hutter and the young +man, but the bodily and mental anguish with which this appeal was +made served at the moment to conceal from the latter the former's +faults. He saw only the father in his sufferings, and resolved +at once to give a pledge of fidelity to its interests, and to be +faithful to his word. + +"Put your heart at ease, Master Hutter," he called out; "the gals +shall be looked to, as well as the castle. The inimy has got the +shore, 'tis no use to deny, but he hasn't got the water. Providence +has the charge of all, and no one can say what will come of it; +but, if good-will can sarve you and your'n, depend on that much. +My exper'ence is small, but my will is good." + +"Ay, ay, Deerslayer," returned Hurry, in this stentorian voice, +which was losing some of its heartiness, notwithstanding,- "Ay, ay, +Deerslayer. You mean well enough, but what can you do? You're no +great matter in the best of times, and such a person is not likely +to turn out a miracle in the worst. If there's one savage on this +lake shore, there's forty, and that's an army you ar'n't the man to +overcome. The best way, in my judgment, will be to make a straight +course to the castle; get the gals into the canoe, with a few +eatables; then strike off for the corner of the lake where we came +in, and take the best trail for the Mohawk. These devils won't +know where to look for you for some hours, and if they did, and +went off hot in the pursuit, they must turn either the foot or the +head of the lake to get at you. That's my judgment in the matter; +and if old Tom here wishes to make his last will and testament in +a manner favorable to his darters, he'll say the same." + +"'Twill never do, young man," rejoined Hutter. "The enemy has +scouts out at this moment, looking for canoes, and you'll be seen +and taken. Trust to the castle; and above all things, keep clear +of the land. Hold out a week, and parties from the garrisons will +drive the savages off." + +"'Twon't be four-and-twenty hours, old fellow, afore these foxes +will be rafting off to storm your castle," interrupted Hurry, with +more of the heat of argument than might be expected from a man who +was bound and a captive, and about whom nothing could be called free +but his opinions and his tongue. "Your advice has a stout sound, +but it will have a fatal tarmination. If you or I was in the +house, we might hold out a few days, but remember that this lad has +never seen an inimy afore tonight, and is what you yourself called +settlement-conscienced; though for my part, I think the consciences +in the settlements pretty much the same as they are out here in +the woods. These savages are making signs, Deerslayer, for me to +encourage you to come ashore with the canoe; but that I'll never +do, as it's ag'in reason and natur'. As for old Tom and myself, +whether they'll scalp us tonight, keep us for the torture by fire, +or carry us to Canada, is more than any one knows but the devil +that advises them how to act. I've such a big and bushy head that +it's quite likely they'll indivor to get two scalps off it, for the +bounty is a tempting thing, or old Tom and I wouldn't be in this +scrape. Ay- there they go with their signs ag'in, but if I advise +you to land may they eat me as well as roast me. No, no, Deerslayer +-- do you keep off where you are, and after daylight, on no account +come within two hundred yards -" + +This injunction of Hurry's was stopped by a hand being rudely +slapped against his mouth, the certain sign that some one in the +party sufficiently understood English to have at length detected +the drift of his discourse. Immediately after, the whole group +entered the forest, Hutter and Hurry apparently making no resistance +to the movement. Just as the sounds of the cracking bushes were +ceasing, however, the voice of the father was again heard. + +"As you're true to my children, God prosper you, young man!" were +the words that reached Deerslayer's ears; after which he found +himself left to follow the dictates of his own discretion. + +Several minutes elapsed, in death-like stillness, when the party +on the shore had disappeared in the woods. Owing to the distance +-rather more than two hundred yards - and the obscurity, Deerslayer +had been able barely to distinguish the group, and to see it +retiring; but even this dim connection with human forms gave an +animation to the scene that was strongly in contrast to the absolute +solitude that remained. Although the young man leaned forward +to listen, holding his breath and condensing every faculty in the +single sense of hearing, not another sound reached his ears to denote +the vicinity of human beings. It seemed as if a silence that had +never been broken reigned on the spot again; and, for an instant, +even that piercing shriek, which had so lately broken the stillness +of the forest, or the execrations of March, would have been a relief +to the feeling of desertion to which it gave rise. + +This paralysis of mind and body, however, could not last long in +one constituted mentally and physically like Deerslayer. Dropping +his paddle into the water, he turned the head of the canoe, and +proceeded slowly, as one walks who thinks intently, towards the +centre of the lake. When he believed himself to have reached a +point in a line with that where he had set the last canoe adrift, +he changed his direction northward, keeping the light air as nearly +on his back as possible. After paddling a quarter of a mile in +this direction, a dark object became visible on the lake, a little +to the right; and turning on one side for the purpose, he had soon +secured his lost prize to his own boat. Deerslayer now examined +the heavens, the course of the air, and the position of the two +canoes. Finding nothing in either to induce a change of plan, he +lay down, and prepared to catch a few hours' sleep, that the morrow +might find him equal to its exigencies. + +Although the hardy and the tired sleep profoundly, even in scenes +of danger, it was some time before Deerslayer lost his recollection. +His mind dwelt on what had passed, and his half-conscious faculties +kept figuring the events of the night, in a sort of waking +dream. Suddenly he was up and alert, for he fancied he heard the +preconcerted signal of Hurry summoning him to the shore. But all +was still as the grave again. The canoes were slowly drifting +northward, the thoughtful stars were glimmering in their mild glory +over his head, and the forest-bound sheet of water lay embedded +between its mountains, as calm and melancholy as if never troubled +by the winds, or brightened by a noonday sun. Once more the loon +raised his tremulous cry, near the foot of the lake, and the mystery +of the alarm was explained. Deerslayer adjusted his hard pillow, +stretched his form in the bottom of the canoe, and slept. + + + +Chapter VII. + + + "Clear, placid Leman I Thy contrasted lake + With the wild world I dwelt in, is a thing + Which warns me, with its stillness, to forsake + Earth's troubled waters for a purer spring. + This quiet sail is as a noiseless wing + To waft me from distraction; once I loved + Torn ocean's roar, but thy soft murmuring + Sounds sweet as if a sister's voice reproved, + That I with stern delights should e'er have been so moved." + + BYRON. + +Day had fairly dawned before the young man, whom we have left in +the situation described in the last chapter, again opened his eyes. +This was no sooner done, than he started up, and looked about +him with the eagerness of one who suddenly felt the importance of +accurately ascertaining his precise position. His rest had been +deep and undisturbed; and when he awoke, it was with a clearness of +intellect and a readiness of resources that were very much needed +at that particular moment. The sun had not risen, it is true, but +the vault of heaven was rich with the winning softness that "brings +and shuts the day," while the whole air was filled with the carols +of birds, the hymns of the feathered tribe. These sounds first told +Deerslayer the risks he ran. The air, for wind it could scarce be +called, was still light, it is true, but it had increased a little +in the course of the night, and as the canoes were feathers on +the water, they had drifted twice the expected distance; and, what +was still more dangerous, had approached so near the base of the +mountain that here rose precipitously from the eastern shore, as +to render the carols of the birds plainly audible. This was not +the worst. The third canoe had taken the same direction, and was +slowly drifting towards a point where it must inevitably touch, +unless turned aside by a shift of wind, or human hands. In other +respects, nothing presented itself to attract attention, or to +awaken alarm. The castle stood on its shoal, nearly abreast of +the canoes, for the drift had amounted to miles in the course of +the night, and the ark lay fastened to its piles, as both had been +left so many hours before. + +As a matter of course, Deerslayer's attention was first given to +the canoe ahead. It was already quite near the point, and a very +few strokes of the paddle sufficed to tell him that it must touch +before he could possibly overtake it. Just at this moment, too, +the wind inopportunely freshened, rendering the drift of the light +craft much more rapid than certain. Feeling the impossibility of +preventing a contact with the land, the young man wisely determined +not to heat himself with unnecessary exertions; but first looking +to the priming of his piece, he proceeded slowly and warily towards +the point, taking care to make a little circuit, that he might be +exposed on only one side, as he approached. + +The canoe adrift being directed by no such intelligence, pursued +its proper way, and grounded on a small sunken rock, at the distance +of three or four yards from the shore. Just at that moment, Deerslayer +had got abreast of the point, and turned the bows of his own boat +to the land; first casting loose his tow, that his movements might +be unencumbered. The canoe hung an instant to the rock; then it +rose a hair's breadth on an almost imperceptible swell of the water, +swung round, floated clear, and reached the strand. All this the +young man noted, but it neither quickened his pulses, nor hastened +his hand. If any one had been lying in wait for the arrival of +the waif, he must be seen, and the utmost caution in approaching +the shore became indispensable; if no one was in ambush, hurry was +unnecessary. The point being nearly diagonally opposite to the +Indian encampment, he hoped the last, though the former was not +only possible, but probable; for the savages were prompt in adopting +all the expedients of their particular modes of warfare, and quite +likely had many scouts searching the shores for craft to carry +them off to the castle. As a glance at the lake from any height or +projection would expose the smallest object on its surface, there +was little hope that either of the canoes would pass unseen; and +Indian sagacity needed no instruction to tell which way a boat or +a log would drift, when the direction of the wind was known. As +Deerslayer drew nearer and nearer to the land, the stroke of his +paddle grew slower, his eye became more watchful, and his ears +and nostrils almost dilated with the effort to detect any lurking +danger. 'T was a trying moment for a novice, nor was there the +encouragement which even the timid sometimes feel, when conscious +of being observed and commended. He was entirely alone, thrown on +his own resources, and was cheered by no friendly eye, emboldened +by no encouraging voice. Notwithstanding all these circumstances, +the most experienced veteran in forest warfare could not have +behaved better. Equally free from recklessness and hesitation, +his advance was marked by a sort of philosophical prudence that +appeared to render him superior to all motives but those which were +best calculated to effect his purpose. Such was the commencement +of a career in forest exploits, that afterwards rendered this man, +in his way, and under the limits of his habits and opportunities, +as renowned as many a hero whose name has adorned the pages of +works more celebrated than legends simple as ours can ever become. + +When about a hundred yards from the shore, Deerslayer rose in the +canoe, gave three or four vigorous strokes with the paddle, sufficient +of themselves to impel the bark to land, and then quickly laying +aside the instrument of labor, he seized that of war. He was in +the very act of raising the rifle, when a sharp report was followed +by the buzz of a bullet that passed so near his body as to cause +him involuntarily to start. The next instant Deerslayer staggered, +and fell his whole length in the bottom of the canoe. A yell - +it came from a single voice - followed, and an Indian leaped from +the bushes upon the open area of the point, bounding towards the +canoe. This was the moment the young man desired. He rose on the +instant, and levelled his own rifle at his uncovered foe; but his +finger hesitated about pulling the trigger on one whom he held at +such a disadvantage. This little delay, probably, saved the life +of the Indian, who bounded back into the cover as swiftly as he +had broken out of it. In the meantime Deerslayer had been swiftly +approaching the land, and his own canoe reached the point just as +his enemy disappeared. As its movements had not been directed, it +touched the shore a few yards from the other boat; and though the +rifle of his foe had to be loaded, there was not time to secure +his prize, and carry it beyond danger, before he would be exposed +to another shot. Under the circumstances, therefore, he did not +pause an instant, but dashed into the woods and sought a cover. + +On the immediate point there was a small open area, partly in +native grass, and partly beach, but a dense fringe of bushes lined +its upper side. This narrow belt of dwarf vegetation passed, one +issued immediately into the high and gloomy vaults of the forest. +The land was tolerably level for a few hundred feet, and then it +rose precipitously in a mountainside. The trees were tall, large, +and so free from underbrush, that they resembled vast columns, +irregularly scattered, upholding a dome of leaves. Although they +stood tolerably close together, for their ages and size, the eye +could penetrate to considerable distances; and bodies of men, even, +might have engaged beneath their cover, with concert and intelligence. + +Deerslayer knew that his adversary must be employed in reloading, +unless he had fled. The former proved to be the case, for the young +man had no sooner placed himself behind a tree, than he caught a +glimpse of the arm of the Indian, his body being concealed by an +oak, in the very act of forcing the leathered bullet home. Nothing +would have been easier than to spring forward, and decide the +affair by a close assault on his unprepared foe; but every feeling +of Deerslayer revolted at such a step, although his own life had +just been attempted from a cover. He was yet unpracticed in the +ruthless expedients of savage warfare, of which he knew nothing except +by tradition and theory, and it struck him as unfair advantage to +assail an unarmed foe. His color had heightened, his eye frowned, +his lips were compressed, and all his energies were collected and +ready; but, instead of advancing to fire, he dropped his rifle to +the usual position of a sportsman in readiness to catch his aim, +and muttered to himself, unconscious that he was speaking- + +"No, no - that may be red-skin warfare, but it's not a Christian's +gifts. Let the miscreant charge, and then we'll take it out like +men; for the canoe he must not, and shall not have. No, no; let +him have time to load, and God will take care of the right!" + +All this time the Indian had been so intent on his own movements, +that he was even ignorant that his enemy was in the woods. His +only apprehension was, that the canoe would be recovered and carried +away before he might be in readiness to prevent it. He had sought +the cover from habit, but was within a few feet of the fringe +of bushes, and could be at the margin of the forest in readiness +to fire in a moment. The distance between him and his enemy was +about fifty yards, and the trees were so arranged by nature that +the line of sight was not interrupted, except by the particular +trees behind which each party stood. + +His rifle was no sooner loaded, than the savage glanced around him, +and advanced incautiously as regarded the real, but stealthily as +respected the fancied position of his enemy, until he was fairly +exposed. Then Deerslayer stepped from behind its own cover, and +hailed him. + +"This a way, red-skin; this a way, if you're looking for me," he +called out. "I'm young in war, but not so young as to stand on +an open beach to be shot down like an owl, by daylight. It rests +on yourself whether it's peace or war atween us; for my gifts are +white gifts, and I'm not one of them that thinks it valiant to slay +human mortals, singly, in the woods." + +The savage was a good deal startled by this sudden discovery of +the danger he ran. He had a little knowledge of English, however, +and caught the drift of the other's meaning. He was also too well +schooled to betray alarm, but, dropping the butt of his rifle to +the earth, with an air of confidence, he made a gesture of lofty +courtesy. All this was done with the ease and self-possession +of one accustomed to consider no man his superior. In the midst +of this consummate acting, however, the volcano that raged within +caused his eyes to glare, and his nostrils to dilate, like those +of some wild beast that is suddenly prevented from taking the fatal +leap. + +"Two canoes," he said, in the deep guttural tones of his race, +holding up the number of fingers he mentioned, by way of preventing +mistakes; "one for you --one for me." + +"No, no, Mingo, that will never do. You own neither; and neither +shall you have, as long as I can prevent it. I know it's war atween +your people and mine, but that's no reason why human mortals should +slay each other, like savage creatur's that meet in the woods; go +your way, then, and leave me to go mine. The world is large enough +for us both; and when we meet fairly in battle, why, the Lord will +order the fate of each of us." + +"Good!" exclaimed the Indian; "my brother missionary - great talk; +all about Manitou." + +"Not so - not so, warrior. I'm not good enough for the Moravians, +and am too good for most of the other vagabonds that preach about +in the woods. No, no; I'm only a hunter, as yet, though afore the +peace is made, 'tis like enough there'll be occasion to strike a +blow at some of your people. Still, I wish it to be done in fair +fight, and not in a quarrel about the ownership of a miserable +canoe." + +"Good! My brother very young - but he is very wise. Little warrior +- great talker. Chief, sometimes, in council." + +"I don't know this, nor do I say it, Injin," returned Deerslayer, +coloring a little at the ill-concealed sarcasm of the other's +manner; "I look forward to a life in the woods, and I only hope +it may be a peaceable one. All young men must go on the war-path, +when there's occasion, but war isn't needfully massacre. I've +seen enough of the last, this very night, to know that Providence +frowns on it; and I now invite you to go your own way, while I go +mine; and hope that we may part fri'nds." + +"Good! My brother has two scalp - gray hair under 'other. Old +wisdom - young tongue." + +Here the savage advanced with confidence, his hand extended, his +face smiling, and his whole bearing denoting amity and respect. +Deerslayer met his offered friendship in a proper spirit, and they +shook hands cordially, each endeavoring to assure the other of his +sincerity and desire to be at peace. + +"All have his own," said the Indian; "my canoe, mine; your canoe, +your'n. Go look; if your'n, you keep; if mine, I keep." + +"That's just, red-skin; thought you must be wrong in thinking the +canoe your property. Howsever, seein' is believin', and we'll go +down to the shore, where you may look with your own eyes; for it's +likely you'll object to trustin' altogether to mine." + +The Indian uttered his favorite exclamation of "Good!" and then +they walked side by side, towards the shore. There was no apparent +distrust in the manner of either, the Indian moving in advance, +as if he wished to show his companion that he did not fear turning +his back to him. As they reached the open ground, the former +pointed towards Deerslayer's boat, and said emphatically - "No mine +- pale-face canoe. This red man's. No want other man's canoe - +want his own." + +"You're wrong, red-skin, you 're altogether wrong. This canoe was +left in old Hutter's keeping, and is his'n according to law, red +or white, till its owner comes to claim it. Here's the seats and +the stitching of the bark to speak for themselves. No man ever +know'd an Injin to turn off such work." + +"Good! My brother little old - big wisdom. Injin no make him. +White man's work." + +"I'm glad you think so, for holding out to the contrary might have +made ill blood atween us, every one having a right to take possession +of his own. I'll just shove the canoe out of reach of dispute at +once, as the quickest way of settling difficulties." + +While Deerslayer was speaking, he put a foot against the end of +the light boat, and giving a vigorous shove, he sent it out into +the lake a hundred feet or more, where, taking the true current, +it would necessarily float past the point, and be in no further +danger of coming ashore. The savage started at this ready and +decided expedient, and his companion saw that he cast a hurried +and fierce glance at his own canoe, or that which contained the +paddles. The change of manner, however, was but momentary, and +then the Iroquois resumed his air of friendliness, and a smile of +satisfaction. + +"Good!" he repeated, with stronger emphasis than ever. "Young head, +old mind. Know how to settle quarrel. Farewell, brother. He go +to house in water-muskrat house - Injin go to camp; tell chiefs no +find canoe." + +Deerslayer was not sorry to hear this proposal, for he felt anxious +to join the females, and he took the offered hand of the Indian +very willingly. The parting words were friendly, and while the red +man walked calmly towards the wood, with the rifle in the hollow of +his arm, without once looking back in uneasiness or distrust, the +white man moved towards the remaining canoe, carrying his piece in +the same pacific manner, it is true, but keeping his eye fastened +on the movements of the other. This distrust, however, seemed to +be altogether uncalled for, and as if ashamed to have entertained +it, the young man averted his look, and stepped carelessly up to +his boat. Here he began to push the canoe from the shore, and to +make his other preparations for departing. He might have been thus +employed a minute, when, happening to turn his face towards the +land, his quick and certain eye told him, at a glance, the imminent +jeopardy in which his life was placed. The black, ferocious eyes +of the savage were glancing on him, like those of the crouching +tiger, through a small opening in the bushes, and the muzzle of +his rifle seemed already to be opening in a line with his own body. + +Then, indeed, the long practice of Deerslayer, as a hunter did +him good service. Accustomed to fire with the deer on the bound, +and often when the precise position of the animal's body had in a +manner to be guessed at, he used the same expedients here. To cock +and poise his rifle were the acts of a single moment and a single +motion: then aiming almost without sighting, he fired into the +bushes where he knew a body ought to be, in order to sustain the +appalling countenance which alone was visible. There was not time +to raise the piece any higher, or to take a more deliberate aim. So +rapid were his movements that both parties discharged their pieces +at the same instant, the concussions mingling in one report. The +mountains, indeed, gave back but a single echo. Deerslayer dropped +his piece, and stood with head erect, steady as one of the pines +in the calm of a June morning, watching the result; while the +savage gave the yell that has become historical for its appalling +influence, leaped through the bushes, and came bounding across the +open ground, flourishing a tomahawk. Still Deerslayer moved not, +but stood with his unloaded rifle fallen against his shoulders, +while, with a hunter's habits, his hands were mechanically feeling +for the powder-horn and charger. When about forty feet from his +enemy, the savage hurled his keen weapon; but it was with an eye +so vacant, and a hand so unsteady and feeble, that the young man +caught it by the handle as it was flying past him. At that instant +the Indian staggered and fell his whole length on the ground. + +"I know'd it - I know'd it!" exclaimed Deerslayer, who was already +preparing to force a fresh bullet into his rifle; "I know'd it must +come to this, as soon as I had got the range from the creatur's +eyes. A man sights suddenly, and fires quick when his own life's +in danger; yes, I know'd it would come to this. I was about the +hundredth part of a second too quick for him, or it might have +been bad for me! The riptyle's bullet has just grazed my side -but +say what you will for or ag'in 'em, a red-skin is by no means as +sartain with powder and ball as a white man. Their gifts don't +seem to lie that a way. Even Chingachgook, great as he is in other +matters, isn't downright deadly with the rifle." + +By this time the piece was reloaded, and Deerslayer, after tossing +the tomahawk into the canoe, advanced to his victim, and stood +over him, leaning on his rifle, in melancholy attention. It was +the first instance in which he ha seen a man fall in battle - it +was the first fellow-creature against whom he had ever seriously +raised his own hand. The sensations were novel; and regret, with +the freshness of our better feelings, mingled with his triumph. +The Indian was not dead, though shot directly through the body. He +lay on his back motionless, but his eyes, now full of consciousness, +watched each action of his victor - as the fallen bird regards the +fowler - jealous of every movement. The man probably expected the +fatal blow which was to precede the loss of his scalp; or perhaps +he anticipated that this latter act of cruelty would precede his +death. Deerslayer read his thoughts; and he found a melancholy +satisfaction in relieving the apprehensions of the helpless savage. + +"No, no, red-skin," he said; "you've nothing more to fear from me. +I am of a Christian stock, and scalping is not of my gifts. I'll +just make sartain of your rifle, and then come back and do you +what sarvice I can. Though here I can't stay much longer, as the +crack of three rifles will be apt to bring some of your devils down +upon me." + +The close of this was said in a sort of a soliloquy, as the young +man went in quest of the fallen rifle. The piece was found where +its owner had dropped it, and was immediately put into the canoe. +Laying his own rifle at its side, Deerslayer then returned and +stood over the Indian again. + +"All inmity atween you and me's at an ind red-skin," he said; "and +you may set your heart at rest on the score of the scalp, or any +further injury. My gifts are white, as I've told you; and I hope +my conduct will be white also." + +Could looks have conveyed all they meant, it is probable Deerslayer's +innocent vanity on the subject of color would have been rebuked +a little; but he comprehended the gratitude that was expressed in +the eyes of the dying savage, without in the least detecting the +bitter sarcasm that struggled with the better feeling. + +"Water!" ejaculated the thirsty and unfortunate creature; "give +poor Injin water." + +"Ay, water you shall have, if you drink the lake dry. I'll just +carry you down to it that you may take your fill. This is the way, +they tell me, with all wounded people - water is their greatest +comfort and delight." + +So saying, Deerslayer raised the Indian in his arms, and carried +him to the lake. Here he first helped him to take an attitude in +which he could appease his burning thirst; after which he seated +himself on a stone, and took the head of his wounded adversary in +his own lap, and endeavored to soothe his anguish in the best manner +he could. + +"It would be sinful in me to tell you your time hadn't come, +warrior," he commenced, "and therefore I'll not say it. You've +passed the middle age already, and, considerin' the sort of lives +ye lead, your days have been pretty well filled. The principal +thing now, is to look forward to what comes next. Neither red-skin +nor pale-face, on the whole, calculates much on sleepin' forever; +but both expect to live in another world. Each has his gifts, and +will be judged by 'em, and I suppose you've thought these matters +over enough not to stand in need of sarmons when the trial comes. +You'll find your happy hunting-grounds, if you've been a just Injin; +if an onjust, you'll meet your desarts in another way. I've my +own idees about these things; but you're too old and exper'enced +to need any explanations from one as young as I." + +"Good!" ejaculated the Indian, whose voice retained its depth even +as life ebbed away; "young head - old wisdom!" + +"It's sometimes a consolation, when the ind comes, to know that +them we've harmed, or tried to harm, forgive us. I suppose natur' +seeks this relief, by way of getting a pardon on 'arth; as we never +can know whether He pardons, who is all in all, till judgment itself +comes. It's soothing to know that any pardon at such times; and +that, I conclude, is the secret. Now, as for myself, I overlook +altogether your designs ag'in my life; first, because no harm came +of 'em; next, because it's your gifts, and natur', and trainin', and +I ought not to have trusted you at all; and, finally and chiefly, +because I can bear no ill-will to a dying man, whether heathen or +Christian. So put your heart at ease, so far as I'm consarned; you +know best what other matters ought to trouble you, or what ought +to give you satisfaction in so trying a moment." + +It is probable that the Indian had some of the fearful glimpses of +the unknown state of being which God, in mercy, seems at times to +afford to all the human race; but they were necessarily in conformity +with his habits and prejudices Like most of his people, and like +too many of our own, he thought more of dying in a way to gain +applause among those he left than to secure a better state of +existence hereafter. While Deerslayer was speaking, his mind was +a little bewildered, though he felt that the intention was good; +and when he had done, a regret passed over his spirit that none of +his own tribe were present to witness his stoicism, under extreme +bodily suffering, and the firmness with which he met his end. +With the high innate courtesy that so often distinguishes the +Indian warrior before he becomes corrupted by too much intercourse +with the worst class of the white men, he endeavored to express +his thankfulness for the other's good intentions, and to let him +understand that they were appreciated. + +"Good!" he repeated, for this was an English word much used by the +savages, "good! young head; young heart, too. Old heart tough; +no shed tear. Hear Indian when he die, and no want to lie - what +he call him?" + +"Deerslayer is the name I bear now, though the Delawares have said +that when I get back from this war-path, I shall have a more manly +title, provided I can 'arn one." + +"That good name for boy - poor name for warrior. He get better +quick. No fear there," - the savage had strength sufficient, under +the strong excitement he felt, to raise a hand and tap the young +man on his breast, - "eye sartain -finger lightning - aim, death +- great warrior soon. No Deerslayer - Hawkeye -Hawkeye - Hawkeye. +Shake hand." + +Deerslayer - or Hawkeye, as the youth was then first named, for +in after years he bore the appellation throughout all that region +- Deerslayer took the hand of the savage, whose last breath was +drawn in that attitude, gazing in admiration at the countenance of +a stranger, who had shown so much readiness, skill, and firmness, +in a scene that was equally trying and novel. When the reader +remembers it is the highest gratification an Indian can receive to +see his enemy betray weakness, he will be better able to appreciate +the conduct which had extorted so great a concession at such a +moment. + +"His spirit has fled!" said Deerslayer, in a suppressed, melancholy +voice. "Ah's me! Well, to this we must all come, sooner or later; +and he is happiest, let his skin be what color it may, who is best +fitted to meet it. Here lies the body of no doubt a brave warrior, +and the soul is already flying towards its heaven or hell, whether +that be a happy hunting ground, a place scant of game, regions of +glory, according to Moravian doctrine, or flames of fire! So it +happens, too, as regards other matters! Here have old Hutter and +Hurry Harry got themselves into difficulty, if they haven't got +themselves into torment and death, and all for a bounty that luck +offers to me in what many would think a lawful and suitable manner. +But not a farthing of such money shall cross my hand. White I was +born, and white will I die; clinging to color to the last, even +though the King's majesty, his governors, and all his councils, +both at home and in the colonies, forget from what they come, and +where they hope to go, and all for a little advantage in warfare. +No, no, warrior, hand of mine shall never molest your scalp, and +so your soul may rest in peace on the p'int of making a decent +appearance when the body comes to join it, in your own land of +spirits." + +Deerslayer arose as soon as he had spoken. Then he placed the body +of the dead man in a sitting posture, with its back against the +little rock, taking the necessary care to prevent it from falling +or in any way settling into an attitude that might be thought +unseemly by the sensitive, though wild notions of a savage. When +this duty was performed, the young man stood gazing at the grim +countenance of his fallen foe, in a sort of melancholy abstraction. +As was his practice, however, a habit gained by living so much +alone in the forest, he then began again to give utterance to his +thoughts and feelings aloud. + +"I didn't wish your life, red-skin," he said "but you left me no +choice atween killing or being killed. Each party acted according +to his gifts, I suppose, and blame can light on neither. You were +treacherous, according to your natur' in war, and I was a little +oversightful, as I'm apt to be in trusting others. Well, this is +my first battle with a human mortal, though it's not likely to be +the last. I have fou't most of the creatur's of the forest, such as +bears, wolves, painters, and catamounts, but this is the beginning +with the red-skins. If I was Injin born, now, I might tell of +this, or carry in the scalp, and boast of the expl'ite afore the +whole tribe; or, if my inimy had only been even a bear, 'twould have +been nat'ral and proper to let everybody know what had happened; +but I don't well see how I'm to let even Chingachgook into this +secret, so long as it can be done only by boasting with a white +tongue. And why should I wish to boast of it a'ter all? It's +slaying a human, although he was a savage; and how do I know that +he was a just Injin; and that he has not been taken away suddenly +to anything but happy hunting-grounds. When it's onsartain whether +good or evil has been done, the wisest way is not to be boastful - +still, I should like Chingachgook to know that I haven't discredited +the Delawares, or my training!" + +Part of this was uttered aloud, while part was merely muttered +between the speaker's teeth; his more confident opinions enjoying +the first advantage, while his doubts were expressed in the latter +mode. Soliloquy and reflection received a startling interruption, +however, by the sudden appearance of a second Indian on the lake +shore, a few hundred yards from the point. This man, evidently +another scout, who had probably been drawn to the place by +the reports of the rifles, broke out of the forest with so little +caution that Deerslayer caught a view of his person before he was +himself discovered. When the latter event did occur, as was the +case a moment later, the savage gave a loud yell, which was answered +by a dozen voices from different parts of the mountainside. There +was no longer any time for delay; in another minute the boat was +quitting the shore under long and steady sweeps of the paddle. + +As soon as Deerslayer believed himself to be at a safe distance he +ceased his efforts, permitting the little bark to drift, while he +leisurely took a survey of the state of things. The canoe first +sent adrift was floating before the air, quite a quarter of a mile +above him, and a little nearer to the shore than he wished, now +that he knew more of the savages were so near at hand. The canoe +shoved from the point was within a few yards of him, he having +directed his own course towards it on quitting the land. The dead +Indian lay in grim quiet where he had left him, the warrior who had +shown himself from the forest had already vanished, and the woods +themselves were as silent and seemingly deserted as the day they +came fresh from the hands of their great Creator. This profound +stillness, however, lasted but a moment. When time had been given +to the scouts of the enemy to reconnoitre, they burst out of the +thicket upon the naked point, filling the air with yells of fury +at discovering the death of their companion. These cries were +immediately succeeded by shouts of delight when they reached the +body and clustered eagerly around it. Deerslayer was a sufficient +adept in the usages of the natives to understand the reason of the +change. The yell was the customary lamentation at the loss of a +warrior, the shout a sign of rejoicing that the conqueror had not +been able to secure the scalp; the trophy, without which a victory +is never considered complete. The distance at which the canoes +lay probably prevented any attempts to injure the conqueror, the +American Indian, like the panther of his own woods, seldom making +any effort against his foe unless tolerably certain it is under +circumstances that may be expected to prove effective. + +As the young man had no longer any motive to remain near the point, +he prepared to collect his canoes, in order to tow them off to the +castle. That nearest was soon in tow, when he proceeded in quest +of the other, which was all this time floating up the lake. The +eye of Deerslayer was no sooner fastened on this last boat, than it +struck him that it was nearer to the shore than it would have been +had it merely followed the course of the gentle current of air. +He began to suspect the influence of some unseen current in the +water, and he quickened his exertions, in order to regain possession +of it before it could drift into a dangerous proximity to the woods. +On getting nearer, he thought that the canoe had a perceptible motion +through the water, and, as it lay broadside to the air, that this +motion was taking it towards the land. A few vigorous strokes of +the paddle carried him still nearer, when the mystery was explained. +Something was evidently in motion on the off side of the canoe, or +that which was farthest from himself, and closer scrutiny showed +that it was a naked human arm. An Indian was lying in the bottom +of the canoe, and was propelling it slowly but certainly to the +shore, using his hand as a paddle. Deerslayer understood the whole +artifice at a glance. A savage had swum off to the boat while he +was occupied with his enemy on the point, got possession, and was +using these means to urge it to the shore. + +Satisfied that the man in the canoe could have no arms, Deerslayer +did not hesitate to dash close alongside of the retiring boat, +without deeming it necessary to raise his own rifle. As soon as +the wash of the water, which he made in approaching, became audible +to the prostrate savage, the latter sprang to his feet, and uttered +an exclamation that proved how completely he was taken by surprise. + +"If you've enj'yed yourself enough in that canoe, red-skin," +Deerslayer coolly observed, stopping his own career in sufficient +time to prevent an absolute collision between the two boats, - "if +you've enj'yed yourself enough in that canoe, you'll do a prudent +act by taking to the lake ag'in. I'm reasonable in these matters, +and don't crave your blood, though there's them about that would +look upon you more as a due-bill for the bounty than a human mortal. +Take to the lake this minute, afore we get to hot words." + +The savage was one of those who did not understand a word of +English, and he was indebted to the gestures of Deerslayer, and +to the expression of an eye that did not often deceive, for an +imperfect comprehension of his meaning. Perhaps, too, the sight +of the rifle that lay so near the hand of the white man quickened +his decision. At all events, he crouched like a tiger about to +take his leap, uttered a yell, and the next instant his naked body +disappeared in the water. When he rose to take breath, it was at +the distance of several yards from the canoe, and the hasty glance +he threw behind him denoted how much he feared the arrival of a +fatal messenger from the rifle of his foe. But the young man made +no indication of any hostile intention. Deliberately securing the +canoe to the others, he began to paddle from the shore; and by the +time the Indian reached the land, and had shaken himself, like a +spaniel, on quitting the water, his dreaded enemy was already beyond +rifle-shot on his way to the castle. As was so much his practice, +Deerslayer did not fail to soliloquize on what had just occurred, +while steadily pursuing his course towards the point of destination. + +"Well, well," - he commenced, - "'twould have been wrong to kill +a human mortal without an object. Scalps are of no account with +me, and life is sweet, and ought not to be taken marcilessly by +them that have white gifts. The savage was a Mingo, it's true; +and I make no doubt he is, and will be as long as he lives, a ra'al +riptyle and vagabond; but that's no reason I should forget my gifts +and color. No, no, - let him go; if ever we meet ag'in, rifle +in hand, why then 'twill be seen which has the stoutest heart and +the quickest eye. Hawkeye! That's not a bad name for a warrior, +sounding much more manful and valiant than Deerslayer! 'Twouldn't +be a bad title to begin with, and it has been fairly 'arned. If +'t was Chingachgook, now, he might go home and boast of his deeds, +and the chiefs would name him Hawkeye in a minute; but it don't +become white blood to brag, and 't isn't easy to see how the matter +can be known unless I do. Well, well, - everything is in the hands +of Providence; this affair as well as another; I'll trust to that +for getting my desarts in all things." + +Having thus betrayed what might be termed his weak spot, the young +man continued to paddle in silence, making his way diligently, and +as fast as his tows would allow him, towards the castle. By this +time the sun had not only risen, but it had appeared over the eastern +mountains, and was shedding a flood of glorious light on this as +yet unchristened sheet of water. The whole scene was radiant with +beauty; and no one unaccustomed to the ordinary history of the +woods would fancy it had so lately witnessed incidents so ruthless +and barbarous. As he approached the building of old Hutter, Deerslayer +thought, or rather felt that its appearance was in singular harmony +with all the rest of the scene. Although nothing had been consulted +but strength and security, the rude, massive logs, covered with +their rough bark, the projecting roof, and the form, would contribute +to render the building picturesque in almost any situation, while +its actual position added novelty and piquancy to its other points +of interest. + +When Deerslayer drew nearer to the castle, however, objects of +interest presented themselves that at once eclipsed any beauties +that might have distinguished the scenery of the lake, and the site +of the singular edifice. Judith and Hetty stood on the platform +before the door, Hurry's dooryard awaiting his approach with +manifest anxiety; the former, from time to time, taking a survey of +his person and of the canoes through the old ship's spyglass that +has been already mentioned. Never probably did this girl seem more +brilliantly beautiful than at that moment; the flush of anxiety +and alarm increasing her color to its richest tints, while the +softness of her eyes, a charm that even poor Hetty shared with her, +was deepened by intense concern. Such, at least, without pausing +or pretending to analyze motives, or to draw any other very nice +distinction between cause and effect, were the opinions of the young +man as his canoes reached the side of the ark, where he carefully +fastened all three before he put his foot on the platform. + + + +Chapter VIII. + + + "His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles; + His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate; + His tears pure messengers sent from his heart; + His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth." + + Two Gentlemen of Verona, II.vii,75-78 + +Neither of the girls spoke as Deerslayer stood before them alone, +his countenance betraying all the apprehension he felt on account +of two absent members of their party. + +"Father!" Judith at length exclaimed, succeeding in uttering the +word, as it might be by a desperate effort. + +"He's met with misfortune, and there's no use in concealing it," +answered Deerslayer, in his direct and simple minded manner. "He +and Hurry are in Mingo hands, and Heaven only knows what's to be the +tarmination. I've got the canoes safe, and that's a consolation, +since the vagabonds will have to swim for it, or raft off, to come +near this place. At sunset we'll be reinforced by Chingachgook, +if I can manage to get him into a canoe; and then, I think, we two +can answer for the ark and the castle, till some of the officers +in the garrisons hear of this war-path, which sooner or later must +be the case, when we may look for succor from that quarter, if from +no other." + +"The officers!" exclaimed Judith, impatiently, her color deepening, +and her eye expressing a lively but passing emotion. "Who thinks +or speaks of the heartless gallants now? We are sufficient of +ourselves to defend the castle. But what of my father, and of poor +Hurry Harry?" + +"'T is natural you should feel this consarn for your own parent, +Judith, and I suppose it's equally so that you should feel it for +Hurry Harry, too." + +Deerslayer then commenced a succinct but clear narrative of all +that occurred during the night, in no manner concealing what had +befallen his two companions, or his own opinion of what might prove +to be the consequences. The girls listened with profound attention, +but neither betrayed that feminine apprehension and concern which +would have followed such a communication when made to those who were +less accustomed to the hazards and accidents of a frontier life. +To the surprise of Deerslayer, Judith seemed the most distressed, +Hetty listening eagerly, but appearing to brood over the facts +in melancholy silence, rather than betraying any outward signs of +feeling. The former's agitation, the young man did not fail to +attribute to the interest she felt in Hurry, quite as much as to +her filial love, while Hetty's apparent indifference was ascribed +to that mental darkness which, in a measure, obscured her intellect, +and which possibly prevented her from foreseeing all the consequences. +Little was said, however, by either, Judith and her sister busying +themselves in making the preparations for the morning meal, as they +who habitually attend to such matters toil on mechanically even +in the midst of suffering and sorrow. The plain but nutritious +breakfast was taken by all three in sombre silence. The girls +ate little, but Deerslayer gave proof of possessing one material +requisite of a good soldier, that of preserving his appetite in +the midst of the most alarming and embarrassing circumstances. The +meal was nearly ended before a syllable was uttered; then, however, +Judith spoke in the convulsive and hurried manner in which feeling +breaks through restraint, after the latter has become more painful +than even the betrayal of emotion. + +"Father would have relished this fish," she exclaimed; "he says the +salmon of the lakes is almost as good as the salmon of the sea." + +"Your father has been acquainted with the sea, they tell me, Judith," +returned the young man, who could not forbear throwing a glance of +inquiry at the girl; for in common with all who knew Hutter, he had +some curiosity on the subject of his early history. "Hurry Harry +tells me he was once a sailor." + +Judith first looked perplexed; then, influenced by feelings that +were novel to her, in more ways than one, she became suddenly +communicative, and seemingly much interested in the discourse. + +"If Hurry knows anything of father's history, I would he had told +it to me!" she cried. "Sometimes I think, too, he was once a sailor, +and then again I think he was not. If that chest were open, or if +it could speak, it might let us into his whole history. But its +fastenings are too strong to be broken like pack thread." + +Deerslayer turned to the chest in question, and for the first time +examined it closely. Although discolored, and bearing proofs of +having received much ill-treatment, he saw that it was of materials +and workmanship altogether superior to anything of the same sort +he had ever before beheld. The wood was dark, rich, and had once +been highly polished, though the treatment it had received left +little gloss on its surface, and various scratches and indentations +proved the rough collisions that it had encountered with substances +still harder than itself. The corners were firmly bound with +steel, elaborately and richly wrought, while the locks, of which +it had no less than three, and the hinges, were of a fashion and +workmanship that would have attracted attention even in a warehouse +of curious furniture. This chest was quite large; and when Deerslayer +arose, and endeavored to raise an end by its massive handle, he +found that the weight fully corresponded with the external appearance. + +"Did you never see that chest opened, Judith?" the young man +demanded with frontier freedom, for delicacy on such subjects was +little felt among the people on the verge of civilization, in that +age, even if it be today. + +"Never. Father has never opened it in my presence, if he ever +opens it at all. No one here has ever seen its lid raised, unless +it be father; nor do I even know that he has ever seen it." + +"Now you're wrong, Judith," Hetty quietly answered. "Father has +raised the lid, and I've seen him do it." + +A feeling of manliness kept the mouth of Deerslayer shut; for, while +he would not have hesitated about going far beyond what would be +thought the bounds of propriety, in questioning the older sister, +he had just scruples about taking what might be thought an advantage +of the feeble intellect of the younger. Judith, being under no +such restraint, however, turned quickly to the last speaker and +continued the discourse. + +"When and where did you ever see that chest opened, Hetty?" + +"Here, and again and again. Father often opens it when you are +away, though he don't in the least mind my being by, and seeing +all he does, as well as hearing all he says." + +"And what is it that he does, and what does he say?" + +"That I cannot tell you, Judith," returned the other in a low but +resolute voice. "Father's secrets are not my secrets." + +"Secrets! This is stranger still, Deerslayer, that father should +tell them to Hetty, and not tell them to me!" + +"There's a good reason for that, Judith, though you're not to know +it. Father's not here to answer for himself, and I'll say no more +about it." + +Judith and Deerslayer looked surprised, and for a minute the first +seemed pained. But, suddenly recollecting herself, she turned away +from her sister, as if in pity for her weakness and addressed the +young man. + +"You've told but half your story," she said, "breaking off at the +place where you went to sleep in the canoe - or rather where you +rose to listen to the cry of the loon. We heard the call of the +loons, too, and thought their cries might bring a storm, though +we are little used to tempests on this lake at this season of the +year." + +"The winds blow and the tempests howl as God pleases; sometimes at +one season, and sometimes at another," answered Deerslayer; "and +the loons speak accordin' to their natur'. Better would it be if +men were as honest and frank. After I rose to listen to the birds, +finding it could not be Hurry's signal, I lay down and slept. When +the day dawned I was up and stirring, as usual, and then I went in +chase of the two canoes, lest the Mingos should lay hands on 'em." + +"You have not told us all, Deerslayer," said Judith earnestly. "We +heard rifles under the eastern mountain; the echoes were full and +long, and came so soon after the reports, that the pieces must +have been fired on or quite near to the shore. Our ears are used +to these signs, and are not to be deceived." + +"They've done their duty, gal, this time; yes, they've done their +duty. Rifles have been sighted this morning, ay, and triggers pulled, +too, though not as often a they might have been. One warrior has +gone to his happy hunting-grounds, and that's the whole of it. A +man of white blood and white gifts is not to be expected to boast +of his expl'ites and to flourish scalps." + +Judith listened almost breathlessly; and when Deerslayer, in his +quiet, modest manner, seemed disposed to quit the subject, she +rose, and crossing the room, took a seat by his side. The manner +of the girl had nothing forward about it, though it betrayed +the quick instinct of a female's affection, and the sympathizing +kindness of a woman's heart. She even took the hard hand of the +hunter, and pressed it in both her own, unconsciously to herself, +perhaps, while she looked earnestly and even reproachfully into +his sun burnt face. + +"You have been fighting the savages, Deerslayer, singly and by +yourself!" she said. "In your wish to take care of us -- of Hetty +-- of me, perhaps, you've fought the enemy bravely, with no eye +to encourage your deeds, or to witness your fall, had it pleased +Providence to suffer so great a calamity!" + +"I've fou't, Judith; yes, I have fou't the inimy, and that too, for +the first time in my life. These things must be, and they bring +with 'em a mixed feelin' of sorrow and triumph. Human natur' is +a fightin' natur', I suppose, as all nations kill in battle, and +we must be true to our rights and gifts. What has yet been done +is no great matter, but should Chingachgook come to the rock this +evening, as is agreed atween us, and I get him off it onbeknown to +the savages or, if known to them, ag'in their wishes and designs, +then may we all look to something like warfare, afore the Mingos +shall get possession of either the castle, or the ark, or yourselves." + +"Who is this Chingachgook; from what place does he come, and why +does he come here ?" + +"The questions are nat'ral and right, I suppose, though the +youth has a great name, already, in his own part of the country. +Chingachgook is a Mohican by blood, consorting with the Delawares +by usage, as is the case with most of his tribe, which has long +been broken up by the increase of our color. He is of the family +of the great chiefs; Uncas, his father, having been the considerablest +warrior and counsellor of his people. Even old Tamenund honors +Chingachgook, though he is thought to be yet too young to lead +in war; and then the nation is so disparsed and diminished, that +chieftainship among 'em has got to be little more than a name. + +"Well, this war having commenced in 'arnest, the Delaware and I +rendezvous'd an app'intment, to meet this evening at sunset on the +rendezvous-rock at the foot of this very lake, intending to come +out on our first hostile expedition ag'in the Mingos. Why we come +exactly this a way is our own secret; but thoughtful young men on +the war-path, as you may suppose, do nothing without a calculation +and a design." + +"A Delaware can have no unfriendly intentions towards us," said +Judith, after a moment's hesitation, "and we know you to be friendly." + +"Treachery is the last crime I hope to be accused of," returned +Deerslayer, hurt at the gleam of distrust that had shot through +Judith's mind; "and least of all, treachery to my own color." + +"No one suspects you, Deerslayer," the girl impetuously cried. "No +- no -your honest countenance would be sufficient surety for the +truth of a thousand hearts! If all men had as honest tongues, and +no more promised what they did not mean to perform, there would be +less wrong done in the world, and fine feathers and scarlet cloaks +would not be excuses for baseness and deception." + +The girl spoke with strong, nay, even with convulsed feeling, and +her fine eyes, usually so soft and alluring, flashed fire as she +concluded. Deerslayer could not but observe this extraordinary +emotion; but with the tact of a courtier, he avoided not only any +allusion to the circumstance, but succeeded in concealing the effect +of his discovery on himself. Judith gradually grew calm again, +and as she was obviously anxious to appear to advantage in the eyes +of the young man, she was soon able to renew the conversation as +composedly as if nothing had occurred to disturb her. + +"I have no right to look into your secrets, or the secrets of your +friend, Deerslayer," she continued, "and am ready to take all you +say on trust. If we can really get another male ally to join us +at this trying moment, it will aid us much; and I am not without +hope that when the savages find that we are able to keep the lake, +they will offer to give up their prisoners in exchange for skins, +or at least for the keg of powder that we have in the house." + +The young man had the words "scalps" and "bounty" on his lips, but +a reluctance to alarm the feelings of the daughters prevented him +from making the allusion he had intended to the probable fate of +their father. Still, so little was he practised in the arts of +deception, that his expressive countenance was, of itself, understood +by the quick-witted Judith, whose intelligence had been sharpened +by the risks and habits of her life. + +"I understand what you mean," she continued, hurriedly, "and what +you would say, but for the fear of hurting me - us, I mean; for +Hetty loves her father quite as well as I do. But this is not +as we think of Indians. They never scalp an unhurt prisoner, but +would rather take him away alive, unless, indeed, the fierce wish +for torturing should get the mastery of them. I fear nothing for +my father's scalp, and little for his life. Could they steal on +us in the night, we should all probably suffer in this way; but +men taken in open strife are seldom injured; not, at least, until +the time of torture comes." + +"That's tradition, I'll allow, and it's accordin' to practice -but, +Judith, do you know the arr'nd on which your father and Hurry went +ag'in the savages?" + +"I do; and a cruel errand it was! But what will you have? Men +will be men, and some even that flaunt in their gold and silver, +and carry the King's commission in their pockets, are not guiltless +of equal cruelty." Judith's eye again flashed, but by a desperate +struggle she resumed her composure. "I get warm when I think of +all the wrong that men do," she added, affecting to smile, an effort +in which she only succeeded indifferently well. "All this is silly. +What is done is done, and it cannot be mended by complaints. But +the Indians think so little of the shedding of blood, and value +men so much for the boldness of their undertakings, that, did they +know the business on which their prisoners came, they would be more +likely to honor than to injure them for it." + +"For a time, Judith; yes, I allow that, for a time. But when that +feelin' dies away, then will come the love of revenge. We must +indivor, -Chingachgook and I, - we must indivor to see what we can +do to get Hurry and your father free; for the Mingos will no doubt +hover about this lake some days, in order to make the most of their +success." + +"You think this Delaware can be depended on, Deerslayer?" demanded +the girl, thoughtfully. + +"As much as I can myself. You say you do not suspect me, Judith?" + +"You!" taking his hand again, and pressing it between her own, +with a warmth that might have awakened the vanity of one less +simple-minded, and more disposed to dwell on his own good qualities, +"I would as soon suspect a brother! I have known you but a day, +Deerslayer, but it has awakened the confidence of a year. Your name, +however, is not unknown to me; for the gallants of the garrisons +frequently speak of the lessons you have given them in hunting, +and all proclaim your honesty." + +"Do they ever talk of the shooting, gal?" inquired the other +eagerly, after, however, laughing in a silent but heartfelt manner. +"Do they ever talk of the shooting? I want to hear nothing about +my own, for if that isn't sartified to by this time, in all these +parts, there's little use in being skilful and sure; but what do +the officers say of their own - yes, what do they say of their own? +Arms, as they call it, is their trade, and yet there's some among +'em that know very little how to use 'em!" + +"Such I hope will not be the case with your friend Chingachgook, +as you call him - what is the English of his Indian name?" + +"Big Sarpent - so called for his wisdom and cunning, Uncas is his +ra'al name -all his family being called Uncas until they get a +title that has been 'arned by deeds." + +"If he has all this wisdom, we may expect a useful friend in him, +unless his own business in this part of the country should prevent +him from serving us." + +"I see no great harm in telling you his arr'nd, a'ter all, and, as +you may find means to help us, I will let you and Hetty into the +whole matter, trusting that you'll keep the secret as if it was +your own. You must know that Chingachgook is a comely Injin, and +is much looked upon and admired by the young women of his tribe, +both on account of his family, and on account of himself. Now, +there is a chief that has a daughter called Wah-ta-Wah, which is +intarpreted into Hist-oh-Hist, in the English tongue, the rarest gal +among the Delawares, and the one most sought a'ter and craved for +a wife by all the young warriors of the nation. Well, Chingachgook, +among others, took a fancy to Wah-ta-Wah, and Wah-ta-Wah took a +fancy to him." Here Deerslayer paused an instant; for, as he got +thus far in his tale, Hetty Hutter arose, approached, and stood +attentive at his knee, as a child draws near to listen to the +legends of its mother. "Yes, he fancied her, and she fancied him," +resumed Deerslayer, casting a friendly and approving glance at the +innocent and interested girl; "and when that is the case, and all +the elders are agreed, it does not often happen that the young +couple keep apart. Chingachgook couldn't well carry off such a +prize without making inimies among them that wanted her as much as +he did himself. A sartain Briarthorn, as we call him in English, +or Yocommon, as he is tarmed in Injin, took it most to heart, and +we mistrust him of having a hand in all that followed. + +Wah-ta-Wah went with her father and mother, two moons ago, to fish +for salmon on the western streams, where it is agreed by all in +these parts that fish most abounds, and while thus empl'yed the +gal vanished. For several weeks we could get no tidings of her; +but here, ten days since, a runner, that came through the Delaware +country, brought us a message, by which we learn that Wah-ta-Wah +was stolen from her people, we think, but do not know it, by +Briarthorn's sarcumventions,-and that she was now with the inimy, +who had adopted her, and wanted her to marry a young Mingo. The +message said that the party intended to hunt and forage through +this region for a month or two, afore it went back into the Canadas, +and that if we could contrive to get on a scent in this quarter, +something might turn up that would lead to our getting the maiden +off." + +"And how does that concern you, Deerslayer?" demanded Judith, a +little anxiously. + +"It consarns me, as all things that touches a fri'nd consarns a +fri'nd. I'm here as Chingachgook's aid and helper, and if we can +get the young maiden he likes back ag'in, it will give me almost +as much pleasure as if I had got back my own sweetheart." + +"And where, then, is your sweetheart, Deerslayer?" + +"She's in the forest, Judith - hanging from the boughs of the +trees, in a soft rain - in the dew on the open grass - the clouds +that float about in the blue heavens - the birds that sing in the +woods - the sweet springs where I slake my thirst - and in all the +other glorious gifts that come from God's Providence!" + +"You mean that, as yet, you've never loved one of my sex, but love +best your haunts, and your own manner of life." + +"That's it - that's just it. I am white - have a white heart and +can't, in reason, love a red-skinned maiden, who must have a red-skin +heart and feelin's. No, no, I'm sound enough in them partic'lars, +and hope to remain so, at least till this war is over. I find my +time too much taken up with Chingachgook's affair, to wish to have +one of my own on my hands afore that is settled." + + +"The girl that finally wins you, Deerslayer, will at least win an +honest heart, - one without treachery or guile; and that will be +a victory that most of her sex ought to envy." + +As Judith uttered this, her beautiful face had a resentful frown on +it; while a bitter smile lingered around a mouth that no derangement +of the muscles could render anything but handsome. Her companion +observed the change, and though little skilled in the workings of +the female heart, he had sufficient native delicacy to understand +that it might be well to drop the subject. + +As the hour when Chingachgook was expected still remained distant, +Deerslayer had time enough to examine into the state of the defences, +and to make such additional arrangements as were in his power, and +the exigency of the moment seemed to require. The experience and +foresight of Hutter had left little to be done in these particulars; +still, several precautions suggested themselves to the young man, +who may be said to have studied the art of frontier warfare, through +the traditions and legends of the people among whom he had so long +lived. The distance between the castle and the nearest point on the +shore, prevented any apprehension on the subject of rifle-bullets +thrown from the land. The house was within musket-shot in one +sense, it was true, but aim was entirely out of the question, and +even Judith professed a perfect disregard of any danger from that +source. So long, then, as the party remained in possession of the +fortress, they were safe, unless their assailants could find the +means to come off and carry it by fire or storm, or by some of the +devices of Indian cunning and Indian treachery. + +Against the first source of danger Hutter had made ample provision, +and the building itself, the bark roof excepted, was not very +combustible. The floor was scuttled in several places, and buckets +provided with ropes were in daily use, in readiness for any such +emergency. One of the girls could easily extinguish any fire that +might be lighted, provided it had not time to make much headway. +Judith, who appeared to understand all her father's schemes of +defence, and who had the spirit to take no unimportant share in the +execution of them, explained all these details to the young man, +who was thus saved much time and labor in making his investigations. + +Little was to be apprehended during the day. In possession of +the canoes and of the ark, no other vessel was to be found on the +lake. Nevertheless, Deerslayer well knew that a raft was soon made, +and, as dead trees were to be found in abundance near the water, +did the savages seriously contemplate the risks of an assault, it +would not be a very difficult matter to find the necessary means. +The celebrated American axe, a tool that is quite unrivalled in +its way, was then not very extensively known, and the savages were +far from expert in the use of its hatchet-like substitute; still, +they had sufficient practice in crossing streams by this mode to +render it certain they would construct a raft, should they deem +it expedient to expose themselves to the risks of an assault. The +death of their warrior might prove a sufficient incentive, or it +might act as a caution; but Deerslayer thought it more than possible +that the succeeding night would bring matters to a crisis, and +in this precise way. This impression caused him to wish ardently +for the presence and succor of his Mohican friend, and to look +forward to the approach of sunset with an increasing anxiety. + +As the day advanced, the party in the castle matured their plans, +and made their preparations. Judith was active, and seemed to find +a pleasure in consulting and advising with her new acquaintance, +whose indifference to danger, manly devotion to herself and sister, +guilelessness of manner, and truth of feeling, had won rapidly on +both her imagination and her affections. Although the hours appeared +long in some respects to Deerslayer, Judith did not find them so, +and when the sun began to descend towards the pine-clad summits of +the western hills, she felt and expressed her surprise that the day +should so soon be drawing to a close. On the other hand, Hetty was +moody and silent. She was never loquacious, or if she occasionally +became communicative, it was under the influence of some temporary +excitement that served to arouse her unsophisticated mind; but, +for hours at a time, in the course of this all-important day, she +seemed to have absolutely lost the use of her tongue. Nor did +apprehension on account of her father materially affect the manner +of either sister. Neither appeared seriously to dread any evil +greater than captivity, and once or twice, when Hetty did speak, +she intimated the expectation that Hutter would find the means to +liberate himself. Although Judith was less sanguine on this head, +she too betrayed the hope that propositions for a ransom would come, +when the Indians discovered that the castle set their expedients +and artifices at defiance. Deerslayer, however, treated these +passing suggestions as the ill-digested fancies of girls, making +his own arrangements as steadily, and brooding over the future as +seriously, as if they had never fallen from their lips. + +At length the hour arrived when it became necessary to proceed to +the place of rendezvous appointed with the Mohican, or Delaware, +as Chingachgook was more commonly called. As the plan had been +matured by Deerslayer, and fully communicated to his companions, +all three set about its execution, in concert, and intelligently. +Hetty passed into the ark, and fastening two of the canoes together, she +entered one, and paddled up to a sort of gateway in the palisadoes +that surrounded the building, through which she carried both; +securing them beneath the house by chains that were fastened within +the building. These palisadoes were trunks of trees driven firmly +into the mud, and served the double purpose of a small inclosure +that was intended to be used in this very manner, and to keep any +enemy that might approach in boats at arm's length. Canoes thus +docked were, in a measure, hid from sight, and as the gate was +properly barred and fastened, it would not be an easy task to remove +them, even in the event of their being seen. Previously, however, +to closing the gate, Judith also entered within the inclosure with +the third canoe, leaving Deerslayer busy in securing the door and +windows inside the building, over her head. As everything was +massive and strong, and small saplings were used as bars, it would +have been the work of an hour or two to break into the building, +when Deerslayer had ended his task, even allowing the assailants +the use of any tools but the axe, and to be unresisted. This +attention to security arose from Hutter's having been robbed once +or twice by the lawless whites of the frontiers, during some of +his many absences from home. + +As soon as all was fast in the inside of the dwelling, Deerslayer +appeared at a trap, from which he descended into the canoe of +Judith. When this was done, he fastened the door with a massive +staple and stout padlock. Hetty was then received in the canoe, +which was shoved outside of the palisadoes. The next precaution +was to fasten the gate, and the keys were carried into the ark. +The three were now fastened out of the dwelling, which could only +be entered by violence, or by following the course taken by the +young man in quitting it. The glass had been brought outside as a +preliminary step, and Deerslayer next took a careful survey of the +entire shore of the lake, as far as his own position would allow. +Not a living thing was visible, a few birds excepted, and even the +last fluttered about in the shades of the trees, as if unwilling to +encounter the heat of a sultry afternoon. All the nearest points, +in particular, were subjected to severe scrutiny, in order to make +certain that no raft was in preparation; the result everywhere giving +the same picture of calm solitude. A few words will explain the +greatest embarrassment belonging to the situation of our party. Exposed +themselves to the observation of any watchful eyes, the movements +of their enemies were concealed by the drapery of a dense forest. +While the imagination would be very apt to people the latter with +more warriors than it really contained, their own weakness must +be too apparent to all who might chance to cast a glance in their +direction. + +"Nothing is stirring, howsever," exclaimed Deerslayer, as he finally +lowered the glass, and prepared to enter the ark. "If the vagabonds +do harbor mischief in their minds, they are too cunning to let it +be seen; it's true, a raft may be in preparation in the woods, but +it has not yet been brought down to the lake. They can't guess +that we are about to quit the castle, and, if they did, they've no +means of knowing where we intend to go." + +"This is so true, Deerslayer," returned Judith, "that now all +is ready, we may proceed at once, boldly, and without the fear of +being followed; else we shall be behind our time." + +"No, no; the matter needs management; for, though the savages +are in the dark as to Chingachgook and the rock, they've eyes and +legs, and will see in what direction we steer, and will be sartain +to follow us. I shall strive to baffle 'em, howsever, by heading +the scow in all manner of ways, first in one quarter and then in +another, until they get to be a-leg-weary, and tired of tramping +a'ter us." + +So far as it was in his power, Deerslayer was as good as his word. +In less than five minutes after this speech was made, the whole +party was in the ark, and in motion. There was a gentle breeze +from the north, and boldly hoisting the sail, the young man laid +the head of the unwieldy craft in such a direction, as, after making +a liberal but necessary allowance for leeway, would have brought +it ashore a couple of miles down the lake, and on its eastern side. +The sailing of the ark was never very swift, though, floating as +it did on the surface, it was not difficult to get it in motion, or +to urge it along over the water at the rate of some three or four +miles in the hour. The distance between the castle and the rock +was a little more than two leagues. Knowing the punctuality of +an Indian, Deerslayer had made his calculations closely, and had +given himself a little more time than was necessary to reach the +place of rendezvous, with a view to delay or to press his arrival, +as might prove most expedient. When he hoisted the sail, the sun +lay above the western hills, at an elevation that promised rather +more than two hours of day; and a few minutes satisfied him that +the progress of the scow was such as to equal his expectations. + +It was a glorious June afternoon, and never did that solitary sheet +of water seem less like an arena of strife and bloodshed. The light +air scarce descended as low as the bed of the lake, hovering over +it, as if unwilling to disturb its deep tranquillity, or to ruffle +its mirror-like surface. Even the forests appeared to be slumbering +in the sun, and a few piles of fleecy clouds had lain for hours +along the northern horizon like fixtures in the atmosphere, placed +there purely to embellish the scene. A few aquatic fowls occasionally +skimmed along the water, and a single raven was visible, sailing high +above the trees, and keeping a watchful eye on the forest beneath +him, in order to detect anything having life that the mysterious +woods might offer as prey. + +The reader will probably have observed, that, amidst the frankness +and abruptness of manner which marked the frontier habits of Judith, +her language was superior to that used by her male companions, her +own father included. This difference extended as well to pronunciation +as to the choice of words and phrases. Perhaps nothing so soon +betrays the education and association as the modes of speech; +and few accomplishments so much aid the charm of female beauty +as a graceful and even utterance, while nothing so soon produces +the disenchantment that necessarily follows a discrepancy between +appearance and manner, as a mean intonation of voice, or a vulgar +use of words. Judith and her sister were marked exceptions to all +the girls of their class, along that whole frontier; the officers +of the nearest garrison having often flattered the former with the +belief that few ladies of the towns acquitted themselves better +than herself, in this important particular. This was far from +being literally true, but it was sufficiently near the fact to give +birth to the compliment. The girls were indebted to their mother +for this proficiency, having acquired from her, in childhood, +an advantage that no subsequent study or labor can give without +a drawback, if neglected beyond the earlier periods of life. Who +that mother was, or rather had been, no one but Hutter knew. She +had now been dead two summers, and, as was stated by Hurry, she had +been buried in the lake; whether in indulgence of a prejudice, or +from a reluctance to take the trouble to dig her grave, had frequently +been a matter of discussion between the rude beings of that region. +Judith had never visited the spot, but Hetty was present at the +interment, and she often paddled a canoe, about sunset or by the +light of the moon, to the place, and gazed down into the limpid +water, in the hope of being able to catch a glimpse of the form +that she had so tenderly loved from infancy to the sad hour of +their parting. + +"Must we reach the rock exactly at the moment the sun sets?" Judith +demanded of the young man, as they stood near each other, Deerslayer +holding the steering-oar, and she working with a needle at some +ornament of dress, that much exceeded her station in life, and was +altogether a novelty in the woods. "Will a few minutes, sooner or +later, alter the matter? It will be very hazardous to remain long +as near the shore as that rock!" + +"That's it, Judith; that's the very difficulty! The rock's within +p'int blank for a shot-gun, and 'twill never do to hover about it +too close and too long. When you have to deal with an Injin, you +must calculate and manage, for a red natur' dearly likes sarcumvention. +Now you see, Judith, that I do not steer towards the rock at all, +but here to the eastward of it, whereby the savages will be tramping +off in that direction, and get their legs a-wearied, and all for +no advantage." + +"You think, then, they see us, and watch our movements, Deerslayer? +I was in hopes they might have fallen back into the woods, and left +us to ourselves for a few hours." + +"That's altogether a woman's consait. There's no let-up in an +Injin's watchfulness when he's on a war-path, and eyes are on us +at this minute, 'though the lake presarves us. We must draw near +the rock on a calculation, and indivor to get the miscreants on a +false scent. The Mingos have good noses, they tell me; but a white +man's reason ought always to equalize their instinct." + +Judith now entered into a desultory discourse with Deerslayer, in +which the girl betrayed her growing interest in the young man; an +interest that his simplicity of mind and her decision of character, +sustained as it was by the consciousness awakened by the consideration +her personal charms so universally produced, rendered her less +anxious to conceal than might otherwise have been the case. She +was scarcely forward in her manner, though there was sometimes a +freedom in her glances that it required all the aid of her exceeding +beauty to prevent from awakening suspicions unfavorable to her +discretion, if not to her morals. With Deerslayer, however, these +glances were rendered less obnoxious to so unpleasant a construction; +for she seldom looked at him without discovering much of the +sincerity and nature that accompany the purest emotions of woman. +It was a little remarkable that, as his captivity lengthened, +neither of the girls manifested any great concern for her father; +but, as has been said already, their habits gave them confidence, +and they looked forward to his liberation, by means of a ransom, +with a confidence that might, in a great degree, account for their +apparent indifference. Once before, Hutter had been in the hands +of the Iroquois, and a few skins had readily effected his release. +This event, however, unknown to the sisters, had occurred in a +time of peace between England and France, and when the savages were +restrained, instead of being encouraged to commit their excesses, +by the policy of the different colonial governments. + +While Judith was loquacious and caressing in her manner, Hetty +remained thoughtful and silent. Once, indeed, she drew near to +Deerslayer, and questioned him a little closely as to his intentions, +as well as concerning the mode of effecting his purpose; but her +wish to converse went no further. As soon as her simple queries +were answered - and answered they all were, in the fullest and +kindest manner - she withdrew to her scat, and continued to work +on a coarse garment that she was making for her father, sometimes +humming a low melancholy air, and frequently sighing. + +In this manner the time passed away; and when the sun was beginning +to glow behind the fringe of the pines that bounded the western +hill, or about twenty minutes before it actually set, the ark was +nearly as low as the point where Hutter and Hurry had been made +prisoners. By sheering first to one side of the lake, and then to +the other, Deerslayer managed to create an uncertainty as to his +object; and, doubtless, the savages, who were unquestionably watching +his movements, were led to believe that his aim was to communicate +with them, at or near this spot, and would hasten in that direction, +in order to be in readiness to profit by circumstances. This +artifice was well managed; since the sweep of the bay, the curvature +of the lake, and the low marshy land that intervened, would probably +allow the ark to reach the rock before its pursuers, if really +collected near this point, could have time to make the circuit that +would be required to get there by land. With a view to aid this +deception, Deerslayer stood as near the western shore as was at all +prudent; and then causing Judith and Hetty to enter the house, or +cabin, and crouching himself so as to conceal his person by the +frame of the scow, he suddenly threw the head of the latter round, +and began to make the best of his way towards the outlet. Favored +by an increase in the wind, the progress of the ark was such as +to promise the complete success of this plan, though the crab-like +movement of the craft compelled the helmsman to keep its head looking +in a direction very different from that in which it was actually +moving. + + + +Chapter IX. + + + "Yet art thou prodigal of smiles + -Smiles, sweeter than thy frowns are stern: + Earth sends from all her thousand isles, + A shout at thy return. + The glory that comes down from thee + Bathes, in deep joy, the land and sea." + + Bryant, 'The Firmament," 11.19-24 + +It may assist the reader in understanding the events we are about +to record, if he has a rapidly sketched picture of the scene, placed +before his eyes at a single view. It will be remembered that the +lake was an irregularly shaped basin, of an outline that, in the +main, was oval, but with bays and points to relieve its formality +and ornament its shores. The surface of this beautiful sheet of +water was now glittering like a gem, in the last rays of the evening +sun, and the setting of the whole, hills clothed in the richest +forest verdure, was lighted up with a sort of radiant smile, that +is best described in the beautiful lines we have placed at the head +of this chapter. As the banks, with few exceptions, rose abruptly +from the water, even where the mountain did not immediately bound +the view, there was a nearly unbroken fringe of leaves overhanging +the placid lake, the trees starting out of the acclivities, inclining +to the light, until, in many instances they extended their long +limbs and straight trunks some forty or fifty feet beyond the line +of the perpendicular. In these cases we allude only to the giants +of the forest, pines of a hundred or a hundred and fifty feet in +height, for of the smaller growth, very many inclined so far as to +steep their lower branches in the water. In the position in which +the Ark had now got, the castle was concealed from view by the +projection of a point, as indeed was the northern extremity of the +lake itself. A respectable mountain, forest clad, and rounded, +like all the rest, limited the view in that direction, stretching +immediately across the whole of the fair scene, with the exception +of a deep bay that passed the western end, lengthening the basin, +for more than a mile. + +The manner in which the water flowed out of the lake, beneath the +leafy arches of the trees that lined the sides of the stream, has +already been mentioned, and it has also been said that the rock, +which was a favorite place of rendezvous throughout all that region, +and where Deerslayer now expected to meet his friend, stood near this +outlet, and at no great distance from the shore. It was a large, +isolated stone that rested on the bottom of the lake, apparently +left there when the waters tore away the earth from around it, +in forcing for themselves a passage down the river, and which had +obtained its shape from the action of the elements, during the +slow progress of centuries. The height of this rock could scarcely +equal six feet, and, as has been said, its shape was not unlike +that which is usually given to beehives, or to a hay-cock. The +latter, indeed, gives the best idea not only of its form, but of +its dimensions. It stood, and still stands, for we are writing of +real scenes, within fifty feet of the bank, and in water that was +only two feet in depth, though there were seasons in which its +rounded apex, if such a term can properly be used, was covered by +the lake. Many of the trees stretched so far forward, as almost +to blend the rock with the shore, when seen from a little distance, +and one tall pine in particular overhung it in a way to form a +noble and appropriate canopy to a seat that had held many a forest +chieftain, during the long succession of unknown ages, in which +America, and all it contained, had existed apart, in mysterious +solitude, a world by itself; equally without a familiar history, +and without an origin that the annals of man can reach. + +When distant some two or three hundred feet from the shore, +Deerslayer took in his sail. He dropped his grapnel, as soon as he +found the Ark had drifted in a line that was directly to windward +of the rock. The motion of the scow was then checked, when it +was brought head to wind, by the action of the breeze. As soon as +this was done, Deerslayer "paid out line," and suffered the vessel +to "set down" upon the rock, as fast as the light air could force +it to leeward. Floating entirely on the surface, this was soon +effected, and the young man checked the drift when he was told +that the stern of the scow was within fifteen or eighteen feet of +the desired spot. + +In executing this maneuver, Deerslayer had proceeded promptly, +for, while he did not in the least doubt that he was both watched +and followed by the foe, he believed he distracted their movements, +by the apparent uncertainty of his own, and he knew they could have +no means of ascertaining that the rock was his aim, unless indeed +one of their prisoners had betrayed him; a chance so improbable in +itself, as to give him no concern. Notwithstanding the celerity +and decision his movements, he did not, however, venture so near +the shore without taking due precautions to effect a retreat, in +the event of its becoming necessary. He held the line in his hand, +and Judith was stationed at a loop, on the side of the cabin next +the shore, where she could watch the beach and the rock, and give +timely notice of the approach of either friend or foe. Hetty was +also placed on watch, but it was to keep the trees overhead in view, +lest some enemy might ascend one, and, by completely commanding +the interior of the scow render the defence of the hut, or cabin, +useless. + +The sun had disappeared from the lake and valley, when Deerslayer +checked the Ark, in the manner mentioned. Still it wanted a few +minutes to the true sunset, and he knew Indian punctuality too well +to anticipate any unmanly haste in his friend. The great question +was, whether, surrounded by enemies as he was known to be, he +had escaped their toils. The occurrences of the last twenty-four +hours must be a secret to him, and like himself, Chingachgook was +yet young on a path. It was true, he came prepared to encounter +the party that withheld his promised bride, but he had no means +ascertaining the extent of the danger he ran, or the precise +positions occupied by either friends, or foes. In a word, the +trained sagacity, and untiring caution of an Indian were all he +had to rely on, amid the critical risks he unavoidably ran. + +"Is the rock empty, Judith?" inquired Deerslayer, as soon as he +had checked the drift of the Ark, deeming it imprudent to venture +unnecessarily near the shore. "Is any thing to be seen of the +Delaware chief?" + +"Nothing, Deerslayer. Neither rock, shore, trees, nor lake seems +to have ever held a human form." + +'Keep close, Judith - keep close, Hetty - a rifle has a prying eye, +a nimble foot, and a desperate fatal tongue. Keep close then, but +keep up actyve looks, and be on the alart. 'Twould grieve me to +the heart, did any harm befall either of you.' + +"And you Deerslayer-" exclaimed Judith, turning her handsome face +from the loop, to bestow a gracious and grateful look on the young +man - "do you 'keep close', and have a proper care that the savages +do not catch a glimpse of you! A bullet might be as fatal to you +as to one of us; and the blow that you felt, would be felt by us +all." + +"No fear of me, Judith - no fear of me, my good gal. Do not look +this-a-way, although you look so pleasant and comely, but keep your +eyes on the rock, and the shore, and the-" + +Deerslayer was interrupted by a slight exclamation from the girl, +who, in obedience to his hurried gestures, as much as in obedience +to his words, had immediately bent her looks again, in the opposite +direction. + +"What is't? - What is't, Judith?" he hastily demanded - "Is any +thing to be seen?" + +"There is a man on the rock! - An Indian warrior, in his paint +-and armed!" + +"Where does he wear his hawk's feather?" eagerly added Deerslayer, +relaxing his hold of the line, in readiness to drift nearer to +the place of rendezvous. "Is it fast to the war-lock, or does he +carry it above the left ear?" + +"'Tis as you say, above the left ear; he smiles, too, and mutters +the word 'Mohican.'" + +"God be praised, 'tis the Sarpent, at last!" exclaimed the young +man, suffering the line to slip through his hands, until hearing +a light bound, in the other end of the craft, he instantly checked +the rope, and began to haul it in, again, under the assurance that +his object was effected. At that moment the door of the cabin was +opened hastily, and, a warrior, darting through the little room, +stood at Deerslayer's side, simply uttering the exclamation "Hugh!" +At the next instant, Judith and Hetty shrieked, and the air was +filled with the yell of twenty savages, who came leaping through +the branches, down the bank, some actually falling headlong into +the water, in their haste. + +"Pull, Deerslayer," cried Judith, hastily barring the door, in +order to prevent an inroad by the passage through which the Delaware +had just entered; "pull, for life and death - the lake is full of +savages, wading after us!" + +The young men - for Chingachgook immediately came to his friend's +Assistance -needed no second bidding, but they applied themselves +to their task in a way that showed how urgent they deemed the occasion. +The great difficulty was in suddenly overcoming the inertia of so +large a mass, for once in motion, it was easy to cause the scow to +skim the water with all the necessary speed. + +"Pull, Deerslayer, for Heaven's sake!" cried Judith, again at the +loop. "These wretches rush into the water like hounds following +their prey! Ah - the scow moves! and now, the water deepens, +to the arm-pits of the foremost, but they reach forward, and will +seize the Ark!" + +A slight scream, and then a joyous laugh followed from the girl; +the first produced by a desperate effort of their pursuers, and the +last by its failure; the scow, which had now got fairly in motion +gliding ahead into deep water, with a velocity that set the designs +of their enemies at nought. As the two men were prevented by the +position of the cabin from seeing what passed astern, they were +compelled to inquire of the girls into the state of the chase. + +"What now, Judith? - What next? - Do the Mingos still follow, +or are we quit of 'em, for the present," demanded Deerslayer, when +he felt the rope yielding as if the scow was going fast ahead, +and heard the scream and the laugh of the girl, almost in the same +breath. + +"They have vanished! - One - the last - is just burying himself in +the bushes of the bank - There, he has disappeared in the shadows +of the trees! You have got your friend, and we are all safe!" + +The two men now made another great effort, pulled the Ark up swiftly +to the grapnel, tripped it, and when the scow had shot some distance +and lost its way, they let the anchor drop again. Then, for the +first time since their meeting, they ceased their efforts. As the +floating house now lay several hundred feet from the shore, and +offered a complete protection against bullets, there was no longer +any danger or any motive for immediate exertion. + +The manner in which the two friends now recognized each other, was +highly characteristic. Chingachgook, a noble, tall, handsome and +athletic young Indian warrior, first examined his rifle with care, +opening the pan to make sure that the priming was not wet, and, +assured of this important fact, he next cast furtive but observant +glances around him, at the strange habitation and at the two girls. +Still he spoke not, and most of all did he avoid the betrayal of +a womanish curiosity, by asking questions. + +"Judith and Hetty" said Deerslayer, with an untaught, natural +courtesy -"this is the Mohican chief of whom you've heard me +speak; Chingachgook as he is called; which signifies Big Sarpent; +so named for his wisdom and prudence, and cunning, and my 'arliest +and latest fri'nd. I know'd it must be he, by the hawk's feather +over the left ear, most other warriors wearing 'em on the war-lock." + +As Deerslayer ceased speaking, he laughed heartily, excited more +perhaps by the delight of having got his friend safe at his side, +under circumstances so trying, than by any conceit that happened +to cross his fancy, and exhibiting this outbreaking of feeling in +a manner that was a little remarkable, since his merriment was not +accompanied by any noise. Although Chingachgook both understood +and spoke English, he was unwilling to communicate his thoughts in +it, like most Indians, and when he had met Judith's cordial shake +of the hand, and Hetty's milder salute, in the courteous manner +that became a chief, he turned away, apparently to await the moment +when it might suit his friend to enter into an explanation of his +future intentions, and to give a narrative of what had passed since +their separation. The other understood his meaning, and discovered +his own mode of reasoning in the matter, by addressing the girls. + +"This wind will soon die away altogether, now the sun is down," he +said, "and there is no need for rowing ag'in it. In half an hour, +or so, it will either be a flat calm, or the air will come off from +the south shore, when we will begin our journey back ag'in to the +castle; in the meanwhile, the Delaware and I will talk over matters, +and get correct idees of each other's notions consarning the course +we ought to take." + +No one opposed this proposition, and the girls withdrew into the +cabin to prepare the evening meal, while the two young men took +their seats on the head of the scow and began to converse. The +dialogue was in the language of the Delawares. As that dialect, +however, is but little understood, even by the learned; we shall +not only on this, but on all subsequent occasions render such +parts as it may be necessary to give closely, into liberal English; +preserving, as far as possible, the idiom and peculiarities of the +respective speakers, by way of presenting the pictures in the most +graphic forms to the minds of the readers. + +It is unnecessary to enter into the details first related by Deerslayer, +who gave a brief narrative of the facts that are already familiar +to those who have read our pages. In relating these events, +however, it may be well to say that the speaker touched only on the +outlines, more particularly abstaining from saying anything about +his encounter with, and victory over the Iroquois, as well as to +his own exertions in behalf of the two deserted young women. When +Deerslayer ended, the Delaware took up the narrative, in turn, +speaking sententiously and with grave dignity. His account was both +clear and short, nor was it embellished by any incidents that did +not directly concern the history of his departure from the villages +of his people, and his arrival in the valley of the Susquehannah. +On reaching the latter, which was at a point only half a mile south +of the outlet, he had soon struck a trail, which gave him notice +of the probable vicinity of enemies. Being prepared for such an +occurrence, the object of the expedition calling him directly into +the neighborhood of the party of Iroquois that was known to be out, +he considered the discovery as fortunate, rather than the reverse, +and took the usual precautions to turn it to account. First +following the river to its source, and ascertaining the position +of the rock, he met another trail, and had actually been hovering +for hours on the flanks of his enemies, watching equally for an +opportunity to meet his mistress, and to take a scalp; and it may +be questioned which he most ardently desired. He kept near the +lake, and occasionally he ventured to some spot where he could get +a view of what was passing on its surface. The Ark had been seen +and watched, from the moment it hove in sight, though the young +chief was necessarily ignorant that it was to be the instrument of +his effecting the desired junction with his friend. The uncertainty +of its movements, and the fact that it was unquestionably managed +by white men, soon led him to conjecture the truth, however, and +he held himself in readiness to get on board whenever a suitable +occasion might offer. As the sun drew near the horizon he repaired +to the rock, where, on emerging from the forest, he was gratified +in finding the Ark lying, apparently in readiness to receive him. +The manner of his appearance, and of his entrance into the craft +is known. + +Although Chingachgook had been closely watching his enemies for +hours, their sudden and close pursuit as he reached the scow was +as much a matter of surprise to himself, as it had been to his +friend. He could only account for it by the fact of their being +more numerous than he had at first supposed, and by their having out +parties of the existence of which he was ignorant. Their regular, +and permanent encampment, if the word permanent can be applied to +the residence of a party that intended to remain out, in all probability, +but a few weeks, was not far from the spot where Hutter and Hurry +had fallen into their hands, and, as a matter of course, near a +spring. + +"Well, Sarpent," asked Deerslayer, when the other had ended +his brief but spirited narrative, speaking always in the Delaware +tongue, which for the reader's convenience only we render into +the peculiar vernacular of the speaker - "Well, Sarpent, as you've +been scouting around these Mingos, have you anything to tell us of +their captyves, the father of these young women, and of another, +who, I somewhat conclude, is the lovyer of one of 'em." + +"Chingachgook has seen them. An old man, and a young warrior - +the falling hemlock and the tall pine." + +"You're not so much out, Delaware; you're not so much out. Old +Hutter is decaying, of a sartainty, though many solid blocks might +be hewn out of his trunk yet, and, as for Hurry Harry, so far as +height and strength and comeliness go, he may be called the pride +of the human forest. Were the men bound, or in any manner suffering +torture? I ask on account of the young women, who, I dare to say, +would be glad to know." + +"It is not so, Deerslayer. The Mingos are too many to cage their +game. Some watch; some sleep; some scout; some hunt. The pale-faces +are treated like brothers to-day; to-morrow they will lose their +scalps." + +"Yes, that's red natur', and must be submitted to! Judith and +Hetty, here's comforting tidings for you, the Delaware telling +me that neither your father nor Hurry Harry is in suffering, but, +bating the loss of liberty, as well off as we are ourselves. Of +course they are kept in the camp; otherwise they do much as they +please." + +"I rejoice to hear this, Deerslayer," returned Judith, "and now +we are joined by your friend, I make no manner of question that we +shall find an opportunity to ransom the prisoners. If there are +any women in the camp, I have articles of dress that will catch +their eyes, and, should the worst come to the worst, we can open +the great chest, which I think will be found to hold things that +may tempt the chiefs." + +"Judith," said the young man, looking up at her with a smile and +an expression of earnest curiosity, that in spite of the growing +obscurity did not escape the watchful looks of the girl, "can you +find it in your heart, to part with your own finery, to release +prisoners; even though one be your own father, and the other is +your sworn suitor and lovyer?" + +The flush on the face of the girl arose in part from resentment, +but more perhaps from a gentler and a novel feeling, that, with +the capricious waywardness of taste, had been rapidly rendering +her more sensitive to the good opinion of the youth who questioned +her, than to that of any other person. Suppressing the angry +sensation, with instinctive quickness, she answered with a readiness +and truth, that caused her sister to draw near to listen, though +the obtuse intellect of the latter was far from comprehending the +workings of a heart as treacherous, as uncertain, and as impetuous +in its feelings, as that of the spoiled and flattered beauty. + +"Deerslayer," answered Judith, after a moment's pause, "I shall be +honest with you. I confess that the time has been when what you +call finery, was to me the dearest thing on earth; but I begin to +feel differently. Though Hurry Harry is nought to me nor ever can +be, I would give all I own to set him free. If I would do this +for blustering, bullying, talking Hurry, who has nothing but good +looks to recommend him, you may judge what I would do for my own +father." + +"This sounds well, and is according to woman's gifts. Ah's, me! +The same feelin's is to be found among the young women of the +Delawares. I've known 'em, often and often, sacrifice their vanity +to their hearts. Tis as it should be - 'tis as it should be I +suppose, in both colours. Woman was created for the feelin's, and +is pretty much ruled by feelin'." + +"Would the savages let father go, if Judith and I give them all +our best things?" demanded Hetty, in her innocent, mild, manner. + +"Their women might interfere, good Hetty; yes, their women might +interfere with such an ind in view. But, tell me, Sarpent, how +is it as to squaws among the knaves; have they many of their own +women in the camp?" + +The Delaware heard and understood all that passed, though with +Indian gravity and finesse he had sat with averted face, seemingly +inattentive to a discourse in which he had no direct concern. +Thus appealed to, however, he answered his friend in his ordinary +sententious manner. + +"Six -" he said, holding up all the fingers of one hand, and the +thumb of the other, "besides this." The last number denoted his +betrothed, whom, with the poetry and truth of nature, he described +by laying his hand on his own heart. + +"Did you see her, chief - did you get a glimpse of her pleasant +countenance, or come close enough to her ear, to sing in it the +song she loves to hear?" + +"No, Deerslayer - the trees were too many, and leaves covered their +boughs like clouds hiding' the heavens in a storm. But" - and +the young warrior turned his dark face towards his friend, with a +smile on it that illuminated its fierce-looking paint and naturally +stern lineaments with a bright gleam of human feeling, "Chingachgook +heard the laugh of Wah-ta-Wah, and knew it from the laugh of the +women of the Iroquois. It sounded in his ears, like the chirp of +the wren." + +"Ay, trust a lovyer's ear for that, and a Delaware's ear for all +sounds that are ever heard in the woods. I know not why it is so, +Judith, but when young men - and I dares to say it may be all the +same with young women, too - but when they get to have kind feelin's +towards each other, it's wonderful how pleasant the laugh, or +the speech becomes, to the other person. I've seen grim warriors +listening to the chattering and the laughing of young gals, as if +it was church music, such as is heard in the old Dutch church that +stands in the great street of Albany, where I've been, more than +once, with peltry and game." + +"And you, Deerslayer," said Judith quickly, and with more sensibility +than marked her usually light and thoughtless manner, -"have you +never felt how pleasant it is to listen to the laugh of the girl +you love?" + +"Lord bless you gal! - Why I've never lived enough among my own +colour to drop into them sort of feelin's, - no never! I dares +to say, they are nat'ral and right, but to me there's no music so +sweet as the sighing of the wind in the tree tops, and the rippling +of a stream from a full, sparkling, natyve fountain of pure forest +water - unless, indeed," he continued, dropping his head for +an instant in a thoughtful manner - "unless indeed it be the open +mouth of a sartain hound, when I'm on the track of a fat buck. As +for unsartain dogs, I care little for their cries, seein' they are +as likely to speak when the deer is not in sight, as when it is." + +Judith walked slowly and pensively away, nor was there any of her +ordinary calculating coquetry in the light tremulous sigh that, +unconsciously to herself, arose to her lips. On the other hand +Hetty listened with guileless attention, though it struck her simple +mind as singular that the young man should prefer the melody of +the woods, to the songs of girls, or even to the laugh of innocence +and joy. Accustomed, however, to defer in most things to her sister, +she soon followed Judith into the cabin, where she took a seat and +remained pondering intensely over some occurrence, or resolution, +or opinion - which was a secret to all but herself. Left alone, +Deerslayer and his friend resumed their discourse. + +"Has the young pale-face hunter been long on this lake?" demanded +the Delaware, after courteously waiting for the other to speak +first. + +"Only since yesterday noon, Sarpent, though that has been long +enough to see and do much." The gaze that the Indian fastened +on his companion was so keen that it seemed to mock the gathering +darkness of the night. As the other furtively returned his look, +he saw the two black eyes glistening on him, like the balls of the +panther, or those of the penned wolf. He understood the meaning +of this glowing gaze, and answered evasively, as he fancied would +best become the modesty of a white man's gifts. + +"'Tis as you suspect, Sarpent; yes, 'tis somewhat that-a-way. I +have fell in with the inimy, and I suppose it may be said I've +fou't them, too." + +An exclamation of delight and exultation escaped the Indian, and +then laying his hand eagerly on the arm of his friend, he asked if +there were any scalps taken. + +"That I will maintain in the face of all the Delaware tribe, old +Tamenund, and your own father the great Uncas, as well as the rest, +is ag'in white gifts! My scalp is on my head, as you can see, +Sarpent, and that was the only scalp that was in danger, when one +side was altogether Christian and white." + +"Did no warrior fall? - Deerslayer did not get his name by being +slow of sight, or clumsy with the rifle!" + +"In that particular, chief, you're nearer reason, and therefore +nearer being right. I may say one Mingo fell." + +"A chief!" demanded the other with startling vehemence. + +"Nay, that's more than I know, or can say. He was artful, and +treacherous, and stout-hearted, and may well have gained popularity +enough with his people to be named to that rank. The man fou't +well, though his eye was'n't quick enough for one who had had his +schooling in your company, Delaware." + +"My brother and friend struck the body?" + +"That was uncalled for, seeing that the Mingo died in my arms. +The truth may as well be said, at once; he fou't like a man of red +gifts, and I fou't like a man with gifts of my own colour. God +gave me the victory; I coul'n't fly in the face of his Providence +by forgetting my birth and natur'. White he made me, and white I +shall live and die." + +"Good! Deerslayer is a pale-face, and has pale-face hands. A +Delaware will look for the scalp, and hang it on a pole, and sing +a song in his honour, when we go back to our people. The glory +belongs to the tribe; it must not be lost." + +"This is easy talking, but 'twill not be as easy doing. The Mingo's +body is in the hands of his fri'nds and, no doubt, is hid in some +hole where Delaware cunning will never be able to get at the scalp." + +The young man then gave his friend a succinct, but clear account, +of the event of the morning, concealing nothing of any moment, and +yet touching on every thing modestly and with a careful attention +to avoid the Indian habit of boasting. Chingachgook again expressed +his satisfaction at the honour won by his friend, and then both +arose, the hour having arrived when it became prudent to move the +Ark further from the land. + +It was now quite dark, the heavens having become clouded, and +the stars hid. The north wind had ceased - as was usual with the +setting of the sun, and a light air arose from the south. This +change favoring the design of Deerslayer, he lifted his grapnel, +and the scow immediately and quite perceptibly began to drift more +into the lake. The sail was set, when the motion of the craft +increased to a rate not much less than two miles in the hour. As +this superseded the necessity of rowing, an occupation that an Indian +would not be likely to desire, Deerslayer, Chingachgook and Judith +seated themselves in the stern of the scow, where they first governed +its movements by holding the oar. Here they discoursed on their +future movements, and on the means that ought to be used in order +to effect the liberation of their friends. + +In this dialogue Judith held a material part, the Delaware readily +understanding all she said, while his own replies and remarks, +both of which were few and pithy, were occasionally rendered into +English by his friend. Judith rose greatly in the estimation of her +companions, in the half hour that followed. Prompt of resolution +and firm of purpose, her suggestions and expedients partook of +her spirit and sagacity, both of which were of a character to find +favor with men of the frontier. The events that had occurred since +their meeting, as well as her isolated and dependant situation, +induced the girl to feel towards Deerslayer like the friend of +a year instead of an acquaintance of a day, and so completely had +she been won by his guileless truth of character and of feeling, +pure novelties in our sex, as respected her own experience, that +his peculiarities excited her curiosity, and created a confidence +that had never been awakened by any other man. Hitherto she had +been compelled to stand on the defensive in her intercourse with +men, with what success was best known to herself, but here had she +been suddenly thrown into the society and under the protection of +a youth, who evidently as little contemplated evil towards herself +as if he had been her brother. The freshness of his integrity, +the poetry and truth of his feelings, and even the quaintness of +his forms of speech, all had their influence, and aided in awakening +an interest that she found as pure as it was sudden and deep. Hurry's +fine face and manly form had never compensated for his boisterous +and vulgar tone, and her intercourse with the officers had prepared her +to make comparisons under which even his great natural advantages +suffered. But this very intercourse with the officers who occasionally +came upon the lake to fish and hunt, had an effect in producing her +present sentiments towards the young stranger. With them, while +her vanity had been gratified, and her self-love strongly awakened, +she had many causes deeply to regret the acquaintance - if not to +mourn over it, in secret sorrow - for it was impossible for one of +her quick intellect not to perceive how hollow was the association +between superior and inferior, and that she was regarded as the +play thing of an idle hour, rather than as an equal and a friend, +by even the best intentioned and least designing of her scarlet-clad +admirers. Deerslayer, on the other hand, had a window in his breast +through which the light of his honesty was ever shining; and even +his indifference to charms that so rarely failed to produce a +sensation, piqued the pride of the girl, and gave him an interest +that another, seemingly more favored by nature, might have failed +to excite. + +In this manner half an hour passed, during which time the Ark had +been slowly stealing over the water, the darkness thickening around +it; though it was easy to see that the gloom of the forest at the +southern end of the lake was getting to be distant, while the mountains +that lined the sides of the beautiful basin were overshadowing it, +nearly from side to side. There was, indeed, a narrow stripe of +water, in the centre of the lake where the dim light that was still +shed from the heavens, fell upon its surface in a line extending +north and south; and along this faint track, a sort of inverted +milky way, in which the obscurity was not quite as dense as in other +places, the scow held her course, he who steered well knowing that +it led in the direction he wished to go. The reader is not to +suppose, however, that any difficulty could exist as to the course. +This would have been determined by that of the air, had it not +been possible to distinguish the mountains, as well as by the dim +opening to the south, which marked the position of the valley in +that quarter, above the plain of tall trees, by a sort of lessened +obscurity; the difference between the darkness of the forest, and +that of the night, as seen only in the air. The peculiarities at +length caught the attention of Judith and the Deerslayer, and the +conversation ceased, to allow each to gaze at the solemn stillness +and deep repose of nature. + +"'Tis a gloomy night -" observed the girl, after a pause of several +minutes - "I hope we may be able to find the castle." + +"Little fear of our missing that, if we keep this path in the middle +of the lake," returned the young man. "Natur' has made us a road +here, and, dim as it is, there'll be little difficulty following +it." + +"Do you hear nothing, Deerslayer? - It seemed as if the water was +stirring quite near us!" + +"Sartainly something did move the water, oncommon like; must have +been a fish. Them creatur's prey upon each other like men and +animals on the land; one has leaped into the air and fallen hard, +back into his own element. 'Tis of little use Judith, for any to +strive to get out of their elements, since it's natur' to stay in +'em, and natur' will have its way. Ha! That sounds like a paddle, +used with more than common caution!" + +At this moment the Delaware bent forward and pointed significantly +into the boundary of gloom, as if some object had suddenly caught +his eye. Both Deerslayer and Judith followed the direction of his +gesture, and each got a view of a canoe at the same instant. The +glimpse of this startling neighbor was dim, and to eyes less +practised it might have been uncertain, though to those in the Ark +the object was evidently a canoe with a single individual in it; +the latter standing erect and paddling. How many lay concealed +in its bottom, of course could not be known. Flight, by means of +oars, from a bark canoe impelled by vigorous and skilful hands, +was utterly impracticable, and each of the men seized his rifle in +expectation of a conflict. + +"I can easily bring down the paddler," whispered Deerslayer, "but +we'll first hail him, and ask his arrn'd." Then raising his voice, +he continued in a solemn manner - "hold! If ye come nearer, I must +fire, though contrary to my wishes, and then sartain death will +follow. Stop paddling, and answer." + +"Fire, and slay a poor defenseless girl," returned a soft tremulous +female voice. "And God will never forgive you! Go your way, +Deerslayer, and let me go mine." + +"Hetty!" exclaimed the young man and Judith in a breath; and the +former sprang instantly to the spot where he had left the canoe +they had been towing. It was gone, and he understood the whole +affair. As for the fugitive, frightened at the menace she ceased +paddling, and remained dimly visible, resembling a spectral outline +of a human form, standing on the water. At the next moment the +sail was lowered, to prevent the Ark from passing the spot where +the canoe lay. This last expedient, however, was not taken in +time, for the momentum of so heavy a craft, and the impulsion of the +air, soon set her by, bringing Hetty directly to windward, though +still visible, as the change in the positions of the two boats now +placed her in that species of milky way which has been mentioned. + +"What can this mean, Judith?" demanded Deerslayer - "Why has your +sister taken the canoe, and left us?" + +"You know she is feeble-minded, poor girl! - and she has her own +ideas of what ought to be done. She loves her father more than +most children love their parents - and - then -" + +"Then, what, gal? This is a trying moment; one in which truth must +be spoken!" + +Judith felt a generous and womanly regret at betraying her sister, +and she hesitated ere she spoke again. But once more urged by +Deerslayer, and conscious herself of all the risks the whole party +was running by the indiscretion of Hetty, she could refrain no +longer. + +"Then, I fear, poor, weak-minded Hetty has not been altogether able +to see all the vanity, and rudeness and folly, that lie hid behind +the handsome face and fine form of Hurry Harry. She talks of him +in her sleep, and sometimes betrays the inclination in her waking +moments." + +"You think, Judith, that your sister is now bent on some mad scheme +to serve her father and Hurry, which will, in all likelihood, give +them riptyles the Mingos, the mastership of a canoe?" + +"Such, I fear, will turn out to be the fact, Deerslayer. Poor +Hetty has hardly sufficient cunning to outwit a savage." + +All this while the canoe, with the form of Hetty erect in one +end of it, was dimly perceptible, though the greater drift of the +Ark rendered it, at each instant, less and less distinct. It was +evident no time was to be lost, lest it should altogether disappear. +The rifles were now laid aside as useless, the two men seizing the +oars and sweeping the head of the scow round in the direction of +the canoe. Judith, accustomed to the office, flew to the other end +of the Ark, and placed herself at what might be called the helm. +Hetty took the alarm at these preparations, which could not be made +without noise, and started off like a bird that had been suddenly +put up by the approach of unexpected danger. + +As Deerslayer and his companion rowed with the energy of those who +felt the necessity of straining every nerve, and Hetty's strength +was impaired by a nervous desire to escape, the chase would have +quickly terminated in the capture of the fugitive, had not the +girl made several short and unlooked-for deviations in her course. +These turnings gave her time, and they had also the effect of +gradually bringing both canoe and Ark within the deeper gloom, cast +by the shadows from the hills. They also gradually increased the +distance between the fugitive and her pursuers, until Judith called +out to her companions to cease rowing, for she had completely lost +sight of the canoe. + +When this mortifying announcement was made, Hetty was actually so +near as to understand every syllable her sister uttered, though the +latter had used the precaution of speaking as low as circumstances +would allow her to do, and to make herself heard. Hetty stopped +paddling at the same moment, and waited the result with an impatience +that was breathless, equally from her late exertions, and her desire +to land. A dead silence immediately fell on the lake, during which +the three in the Ark were using their senses differently, in order +to detect the position of the canoe. Judith bent forward to listen, +in the hope of catching some sound that might betray the direction +in which her sister was stealing away, while her two companions +brought their eyes as near as possible to a level with the water, +in order to detect any object that might be floating on its surface. +All was vain, however, for neither sound nor sight rewarded their +efforts. All this time Hetty, who had not the cunning to sink +into the canoe, stood erect, a finger pressed on her lips, gazing +in the direction in which the voices had last been heard, resembling +a statue of profound and timid attention. Her ingenuity had barely +sufficed to enable her to seize the canoe and to quit the Ark, in +the noiseless manner related, and then it appeared to be momentarily +exhausted. Even the doublings of the canoe had been as much the +consequence of an uncertain hand and of nervous agitation, as of +any craftiness or calculation. + +The pause continued several minutes, during which Deerslayer and +the Delaware conferred together in the language of the latter. +Then the oars dipped, again, and the Ark moved away, rowing with as +little noise as possible. It steered westward, a little southerly, +or in the direction of the encampment of the enemy. Having reached +a point at no great distance from the shore, and where the obscurity +was intense on account of the proximity of the land, it lay there +near an hour, in waiting for the expected approach of Hetty, who, +it was thought, would make the best of her way to that spot as +soon as she believed herself released from the danger of pursuit. +No success rewarded this little blockade, however, neither appearance +nor sound denoting the passage of the canoe. Disappointed at this +failure, and conscious of the importance of getting possession of +the fortress before it could be seized by the enemy, Deerslayer +now took his way towards the castle, with the apprehension that +all his foresight in securing the canoes would be defeated by this +unguarded and alarming movement on the part of the feeble-minded +Hetty. + + + +Chapter X. + + + "But who in this wild wood + May credit give to either eye, or ear? + From rocky precipice or hollow cave, + 'Midst the confused sound of rustling leaves;, + And creaking boughs, and cries of nightly birds, + Returning seeming answer!" + + Joanna Baihie, Rayner: A Tragedy, II.L3-4, 6-g. + +Fear, as much as calculation, had induced Hetty to cease paddling, +when she found that her pursuers did not know in which direction +to proceed. She remained stationary until the Ark had pulled in +near the encampment, as has been related in the preceding chapter, +when she resumed the paddle and with cautious strokes made the +best of her way towards the western shore. In order to avoid her +pursuers, however, who, she rightly suspected, would soon be rowing +along that shore themselves, the head of the canoe was pointed so +far north as to bring her to land on a point that thrust itself +into the lake, at the distance of near a league from the outlet. +Nor was this altogether the result of a desire to escape, for, +feeble minded as she was, Hetty Hutter had a good deal of that +instinctive caution which so often keeps those whom God has thus +visited from harm. She was perfectly aware of the importance of +keeping the canoes from falling into the hands of the Iroquois, and +long familiarity with the lake had suggested one of the simplest +expedients, by which this great object could be rendered compatible +with her own purpose. + +The point in question was the first projection that offered on that +side of the lake, where a canoe, if set adrift with a southerly +air would float clear of the land, and where it would be no great +violation of probabilities to suppose it might even hit the castle; +the latter lying above it, almost in a direct line with the wind. +Such then was Hetty's intention, and she landed on the extremity +of the gravelly point, beneath an overhanging oak, with the express +intention of shoving the canoe off from the shore, in order that +it might drift up towards her father's insulated abode. She knew, +too, from the logs that occasionally floated about the lake, that +did it miss the castle and its appendages the wind would be likely +to change before the canoe could reach the northern extremity of +the lake, and that Deerslayer might have an opportunity of regaining +it in the morning, when no doubt he would be earnestly sweeping +the surface of the water, and the whole of its wooded shores, with +glass. In all this, too, Hetty was less governed by any chain of +reasoning than by her habits, the latter often supplying the place +of mind, in human beings, as they perform the same for animals of +the inferior classes. + +The girl was quite an hour finding her way to the point, the distance +and the obscurity equally detaining her, but she was no sooner on +the gravelly beach than she prepared to set the canoe adrift, in +the manner mentioned. While in the act of pushing it from her, she +heard low voices that seemed to come among the trees behind her. +Startled at this unexpected danger Hetty was on the point of +springing into the canoe in order to seek safety in flight, when +she thought she recognized the tones of Judith's melodious voice. +Bending forward so as to catch the sounds more directly, they +evidently came from the water, and then she understood that the Ark +was approaching from the south, and so close in with the western +shore, as necessarily to cause it to pass the point within twenty +yards of the spot where she stood. Here, then, was all she could +desire; the canoe was shoved off into the lake, leaving its late +occupant alone on the narrow strand. + +When this act of self-devotion was performed, Hetty did not retire. +The foliage of the overhanging trees and bushes would have almost +concealed her person, had there been light, but in that obscurity it +was utterly impossible to discover any object thus shaded, at the +distance of a few feet. Flight, too, was perfectly easy, as twenty +steps would effectually bury her in the forest. She remained, +therefore, watching with intense anxiety the result of her expedient, +intending to call the attention of the others to the canoe with +her voice, should they appear to pass without observing it. The +Ark approached under its sail, again, Deerslayer standing in its +bow, with Judith near him, and the Delaware at the helm. It would +seem that in the bay below it had got too close to the shore, in +the lingering hope of intercepting Hetty, for, as it came nearer, +the latter distinctly heard the directions that the young man +forward gave to his companion aft, in order to clear the point. + +"Lay her head more off the shore, Delaware," said Deerslayer for +the third time, speaking in English that his fair companion might +understand his words - "Lay her head well off shore. We have got +embayed here, and needs keep the mast clear of the trees. Judith, +there's a canoe!" + +The last words were uttered with great earnestness, and Deerslayer's +hand was on his rifle ere they were fairly out of his mouth. But +the truth flashed on the mind of the quick-witted girl, and she +instantly told her companion that the boat must be that in which +her sister had fled. + +"Keep the scow straight, Delaware; steer as straight as your bullet +flies when sent ag'in a buck; there - I have it." + +The canoe was seized, and immediately secured again to the side of +the Ark. At the next moment the sail was lowered, and the motion +of the Ark arrested by means of the oars. + +"Hetty!" called out Judith, concern, even affection betraying +itself in her tones. "Are you within hearing, sister - for God's +sake answer, and let me hear the sound of your voice, again! Hetty! +- dear Hetty." + +"I'm here, Judith - here on the shore, where it will be useless to +follow me, as I will hide in the woods." + +"Oh! Hetty what is't you do! Remember 'tis drawing near midnight, +and that the woods are filled with savages and wild beasts!" + +"Neither will harm a poor half-witted girl, Judith. God is as +much with me, here, as he would be in the Ark or in the hut. I am +going to help my father, and poor Hurry Harry, who will be tortured +and slain unless some one cares for them." + +"We all care for them, and intend to-morrow to send them a flag of +truce, to buy their ransom. Come back then, sister; trust to us, +who have better heads than you, and who will do all we can for +father." + +"I know your head is better than mine, Judith, for mine is very +weak, to be sure; but I must go to father and poor Hurry. Do you +and Deerslayer keep the castle, sister; leave me in the hands of +God." + + +"God is with us all, Hetty - in the castle, or on the shore -father +as well as ourselves, and it is sinful not to trust to his goodness. +You can do nothing in the dark; will lose your way in the forest, +and perish for want of food." + +"God will not let that happen to a poor child that goes to serve +her father, sister. I must try and find the savages." + +"Come back for this night only; in the morning, we will put you +ashore, and leave you to do as you may think right." + +"You say so, Judith, and you think so; but you would not. Your +heart would soften, and you'd see tomahawks and scalping knives in +the air. Besides, I've got a thing to tell the Indian chief that +will answer all our wishes, and I'm afraid I may forget it, if I +don't tell it to him at once. You'll see that he will let father +go, as soon as he hears it!" + +"Poor Hetty! What can you say to a ferocious savage that will be +likely to change his bloody purpose!" + +"That which will frighten him, and make him let father go -" returned +the simple-minded girl, positively. "You'll see, sister; you'll +see, how soon it will bring him to, like a gentle child!" + +"Will you tell me, Hetty, what you intend to say?" asked Deerslayer. +"I know the savages well, and can form some idee how far fair words +will be likely, or not, to work on their bloody natur's. If it's +not suited to the gifts of a red-skin, 'twill be of no use; for +reason goes by gifts, as well as conduct." + +"Well, then," answered Hetty, dropping her voice to a low, +confidential, tone, for the stillness of the night, and the nearness +of the Ark, permitted her to do this and still to be heard - "Well, +then, Deerslayer, as you seem a good and honest young man I will +tell you. I mean not to say a word to any of the savages until I +get face to face with their head chief, let them plague me with as +many questions as they please I'll answer none of them, unless it +be to tell them to lead me to their wisest man - Then, Deerslayer, +I'll tell him that God will not forgive murder, and thefts; and +that if father and Hurry did go after the scalps of the Iroquois, +he must return good for evil, for so the Bible commands, else he +will go into everlasting punishment. When he hears this, and feels +it to be true, as feel it he must, how long will it be before he +sends father, and Hurry, and me to the shore, opposite the castle, +telling us all three to go our way in peace?" + +The last question was put in a triumphant manner, and then the +simple-minded girl laughed at the impression she never doubted that +her project had made on her auditors. Deerslayer was dumb-founded +at this proof of guileless feebleness of mind, but Judith had +suddenly bethought her of a means of counteracting this wild project, +by acting on the very feelings that had given it birth. Without +adverting to the closing question, or the laugh, therefore, she +hurriedly called to her sister by name, as one suddenly impressed +with the importance of what she had to say. But no answer was +given to the call. + +By the snapping of twigs, and the rustling of leaves, Hetty had +evidently quitted the shore, and was already burying herself in the +forest. To follow would have been fruitless, since the darkness, +as well as the dense cover that the woods everywhere offered, would +have rendered her capture next to impossible, and there was also +the never ceasing danger of falling into the hands of their enemies. +After a short and melancholy discussion, therefore, the sail was +again set, and the Ark pursued its course towards its habitual +moorings, Deerslayer silently felicitating himself on the recovery +of the canoe, and brooding over his plans for the morrow. The +wind rose as the party quitted the point, and in less than an hour +they reached the castle. Here all was found as it had been left, +and the reverse of the ceremonies had to be taken in entering the +building, that had been used on quitting it. Judith occupied a +solitary bed that night bedewing the pillow with her tears, as she +thought of the innocent and hitherto neglected creature, who had +been her companion from childhood, and bitter regrets came over her +mind, from more causes than one, as the weary hours passed away, +making it nearly morning before she lost her recollection in sleep. +Deerslayer and the Delaware took their rest in the Ark, where we +shall leave them enjoying the deep sleep of the honest, the healthful +and fearless, to return to the girl we have last seen in the midst +of the forest. + +When Hetty left the shore, she took her way unhesitatingly into +the woods, with a nervous apprehension of being followed. Luckily, +this course was the best she could have hit on to effect her own +purpose, since it was the only one that led her from the point. The +night was so intensely dark, beneath the branches of the trees, that +her progress was very slow, and the direction she went altogether +a matter of chance, after the first few yards. The formation of +the ground, however, did not permit her to deviate far from the line +in which she desired to proceed. On one hand it was soon bounded +by the acclivity of the hill, while the lake, on the other, served +as a guide. For two hours did this single-hearted and simple-minded +girl toil through the mazes of the forest, sometimes finding herself +on the brow of the bank that bounded the water, and at others +struggling up an ascent that warned her to go no farther in that +direction, since it necessarily ran at right angles to the course +on which she wished to proceed. Her feet often slid from beneath +her, and she got many falls, though none to do her injury; but, by +the end of the period mentioned, she had become so weary as to want +strength to go any farther. Rest was indispensable, and she set +about preparing a bed, with the readiness and coolness of one to +whom the wilderness presented no unnecessary terrors. She knew +that wild beasts roamed through all the adjacent forest, but animals +that preyed on the human species were rare, and of dangerous serpents +there were literally none. These facts had been taught her by her +father, and whatever her feeble mind received at all, it received +so confidingly as to leave her no uneasiness from any doubts, +or scepticism. To her the sublimity of the solitude in which she +was placed, was soothing, rather than appalling, and she gathered +a bed of leaves, with as much indifference to the circumstances that +would have driven the thoughts of sleep entirely from the minds of +most of her sex, as if she had been preparing her place of nightly +rest beneath the paternal roof. As soon as Hetty had collected a +sufficient number of the dried leaves to protect her person from +the damps of the ground, she kneeled beside the humble pile, clasped +her raised hands in an attitude of deep devotion, and in a soft, +low, but audible voice repeated the Lord's Prayer. This was followed +by those simple and devout verses, so familiar to children, in +which she recommended her soul to God, should it be called away to +another state of existence, ere the return of morning. This duty +done, she lay down and disposed herself to sleep. The attire of +the girl, though suited to the season, was sufficiently warm for +all ordinary purposes, but the forest is ever cool, and the nights +of that elevated region of country, have always a freshness about +them, that renders clothing more necessary than is commonly the +case in the summers of a low latitude. This had been foreseen by +Hetty, who had brought with her a coarse heavy mantle, which, when +laid over her body, answered all the useful purposes of a blanket +Thus protected, she dropped asleep in a few minutes, as tranquilly +as if watched over by the guardian care of that mother, who had so +recently been taken from her forever, affording in this particular +a most striking contrast between her own humble couch, and the +sleepless pillow of her sister. + +Hour passed after hour, in a tranquility as undisturbed and a rest +as sweet as if angels, expressly commissioned for that object, +watched around the bed of Hetty Hutter. Not once did her soft eyes +open, until the grey of the dawn came struggling through the tops +of the trees, falling on their lids, and, united to the freshness +of a summer's morning, giving the usual summons to awake. Ordinarily, +Hetty was up ere the rays of the sun tipped the summits of the +mountains, but on this occasion her fatigue had been so great, and +her rest was so profound, that the customary warnings failed of +their effect. The girl murmured in her sleep, threw an arm forward, +smiled as gently as an infant in its cradle, but still slumbered. +In making this unconscious gesture, her hand fell on some object that +was warm, and in the half unconscious state in which she lay, she +connected the circumstance with her habits. At the next moment, +a rude attack was made on her side, as if a rooting animal were +thrusting its snout beneath, with a desire to force her position, +and then, uttering the name of "Judith" she awoke. As the startled +girl arose to a sitting attitude she perceived that some dark object +sprang from her, scattering the leaves and snapping the fallen +twigs in its haste. Opening her eyes, and recovering from the +first confusion and astonishment of her situation, Hetty perceived +a cub, of the common American brown bear, balancing itself on its +hinder legs, and still looking towards her, as if doubtful whether +it would be safe to trust itself near her person again. The first +impulse of Hetty, who had been mistress of several of these cubs, +was to run and seize the little creature as a prize, but a loud +growl warned her of the danger of such a procedure. Recoiling a +few steps, the girl looked hurriedly round, and perceived the dam, +watching her movements with fiery eyes at no great distance. A +hollow tree, that once been the home of bees, having recently +fallen, the mother with two more cubs was feasting on the dainty +food that this accident had placed within her reach; while the +first kept a jealous eye on the situation of its truant and reckless +young. + +It would exceed all the means of human knowledge to presume to +analyze the influences that govern the acts of the lower animals. +On this occasion, the dam, though proverbially fierce when its young +is thought to be in danger, manifested no intention to attack the +girl. It quitted the honey, and advanced to a place within twenty +feet of her, where it raised itself on its hind legs and balanced +its body in a sort of angry, growling discontent, but approached +no nearer. Happily, Hetty did not fly. On the contrary, though +not without terror, she knelt with her face towards the animal, +and with clasped hands and uplifted eyes, repeated the prayer of +the previous night. This act of devotion was not the result of +alarm, but it was a duty she never neglected to perform ere she slept, +and when the return of consciousness awoke her to the business of +the day. As the girl arose from her knees, the bear dropped on +its feet again, and collecting its cubs around her, permitted them +to draw their natural sustenance. Hetty was delighted with this +proof of tenderness in an animal that has but a very indifferent +reputation for the gentler feelings, and as a cub would quit its +mother to frisk and leap about in wantonness, she felt a strong +desire again to catch it up in her arms, and play with it. But +admonished by the growl, she had self-command sufficient not to put +this dangerous project in execution, and recollecting her errand +among the hills, she tore herself away from the group, and proceeded +on her course along the margin of the lake, of which she now caught +glimpses again through the trees. To her surprise, though not to +her alarm, the family of bears arose and followed her steps, keeping +a short distance behind her; apparently watching every movement as +if they had a near interest in all she did. + +In this manner, escorted by the dam and cubs, the girl proceeded +nearly a mile, thrice the distance she had been able to achieve in +the darkness, during the same period of time. She then reached a +brook that had dug a channel for itself into the earth, and went +brawling into the lake, between steep and high banks, covered with +trees. Here Hetty performed her ablutions; then drinking of the +pure mountain water, she went her way, refreshed and lighter of +heart, still attended by her singular companions. Her course now +lay along a broad and nearly level terrace, which stretched from +the top of the bank that bounded the water, to a low acclivity +that rose to a second and irregular platform above. This was at a +part of the valley where the mountains ran obliquely, forming the +commencement of a plain that spread between the hills, southward +of the sheet of water. Hetty knew, by this circumstance, that +she was getting near to the encampment, and had she not, the bears +would have given her warning of the vicinity of human beings. +Snuffing the air, the dam refused to follow any further, though +the girl looked back and invited her to come by childish signs, and +even by direct appeals made in her own sweet voice. It was while +making her way slowly through some bushes, in this manner, with +averted face and eyes riveted on the immovable animals, that the +girl suddenly found her steps arrested by a human hand, that was +laid lightly on her shoulder. + +"Where go? -" said a soft female voice, speaking hurriedly, and +in concern. -"Indian - red man savage - wicked warrior- thataway." + +This unexpected salutation alarmed the girl no more than the presence +of the fierce inhabitants of the woods. It took her a little by +surprise, it is true, but she was in a measure prepared for some +such meeting, and the creature who stopped her was as little likely +to excite terror as any who ever appeared in the guise of an Indian. +It was a girl, not much older than herself, whose smile was sunny +as Judith's in her brightest moments, whose voice was melody itself, +and whose accents and manner had all the rebuked gentleness that +characterizes the sex among a people who habitually treat their +women as the attendants and servitors of the warriors. Beauty among +the women of the aboriginal Americans, before they have become +exposed to the hardships of wives and mothers, is by no means +uncommon. In this particular, the original owners of the country +were not unlike their more civilized successors, nature appearing +to have bestowed that delicacy of mien and outline that forms +so great a charm in the youthful female, but of which they are so +early deprived; and that, too, as much by the habits of domestic +life as from any other cause. + +The girl who had so suddenly arrested the steps of Hetty was dressed +in a calico mantle that effectually protected all the upper part of +her person, while a short petticoat of blue cloth edged with gold +lace, that fell no lower than her knees, leggings of the same, and +moccasins of deer-skin, completed her attire. Her hair fell in +long dark braids down her shoulders and back, and was parted above +a low smooth forehead, in a way to soften the expression of eyes +that were full of archness and natural feeling. Her face was oval, +with delicate features, the teeth were even and white, while the +mouth expressed a melancholy tenderness, as if it wore this peculiar +meaning in intuitive perception of the fate of a being who was doomed +from birth to endure a woman's sufferings, relieved by a woman's +affections. Her voice, as has been already intimated, was soft +as the sighing of the night air, a characteristic of the females +of her race, but which was so conspicuous in herself as to have +produced for her the name of Wah-ta-Wah; which rendered into English +means Hist-oh-Hist. + +In a word, this was the betrothed of Chingachgook, who - having +succeeded in lulling their suspicions, was permitted to wander around +the encampment of her captors. This indulgence was in accordance +with the general policy of the red man, who well knew, moreover, +that her trail could have been easily followed in the event of +flight. It will also be remembered that the Iroquois, or Hurons, +as it would be better to call them, were entirely ignorant of +the proximity of her lover, a fact, indeed, that she did not know +herself. + +It is not easy to say which manifested the most self-possession +at this unexpected meeting; the pale-face, or the red girl. But, +though a little surprised, Wah-ta-Wah was the most willing to +speak, and far the readier in foreseeing consequences, as well as +in devising means to avert them. Her father, during her childhood, +had been much employed as a warrior by the authorities of the +Colony, and dwelling for several years near the forts, she had +caught a knowledge of the English tongue, which she spoke in the +usual, abbreviated manner of an Indian, but fluently, and without +any of the ordinary reluctance of her people. + +"Where go? -" repeated Wah-ta-Wah, returning the smile of Hetty, +in her own gentle, winning, manner - "wicked warrior that-a-way - +good warrior, far off." + +"What's your name?" asked Hetty, with the simplicity of a child. + +"Wah-ta-Wah. I no Mingo - good Delaware - Yengeese friend. Mingo +cruel, and love scalp, for blood - Delaware love him, for honor. +Come here, where no eyes." + +Wah-ta-Wah now led her companion towards the lake, descending the +bank so as to place its overhanging trees and bushes between them +and any probable observers. Nor did she stop until they were both +seated, side by side, on a fallen log, one end of which actually +lay buried in the water. + +"Why you come for?" the young Indian eagerly inquired - "Where you +come for?" Hetty told her tale in her own simple and truth-loving +manner. She explained the situation of her father, and stated her +desire to serve him, and if possible to procure his release. + +"Why your father come to Mingo camp in night?" asked the Indian +girl, with a directness, which if not borrowed from the other, +partook largely of its sincerity. "He know it war-time, and he no +boy - he no want beard - no want to be told Iroquois carry tomahawk, +and knife, and rifle. Why he come night time, seize me by hair, +and try to scalp Delaware girl?" + +"You!" said Hetty, almost sickening with horror - "Did he seize +you - did he try to scalp you?" + +"Why no? Delaware scalp sell for much as Mingo scalp. Governor +no tell difference. Wicked t'ing for pale-face to scalp. No his +gifts, as the good Deerslayer always tell me." + +"And do you know the Deerslayer?" said Hetty, coloring with delight +and surprise; forgetting her regrets, at the moment, in the influence +of this new feeling. "I know him, too. He is now in the Ark, +with Judith and a Delaware who is called the Big Serpent. A bold +and handsome warrior is this Serpent, too!" + +Spite of the rich deep colour that nature had bestowed on the +Indian beauty, the tell-tale blood deepened on her cheeks, until +the blush gave new animation and intelligence to her jet-black eyes. +Raising a finger in an attitude of warning, she dropped her voice, +already so soft and sweet, nearly to a whisper, as she continued +the discourse. + +"Chingachgook!" returned the Delaware girl, sighing out the harsh +name, in sounds so softly guttural, as to cause it to reach the +ear in melody - "His father, Uncas - great chief of the Mahicanni +- next to old Tamenund! - More as warrior, not so much gray hair, +and less at Council Fire. You know Serpent?" + +"He joined us last evening, and was in the Ark with me, for two +or three hours before I left it. I'm afraid, Hist -" Hetty could +not pronounce the Indian name of her new friend, but having heard +Deerslayer give her this familiar appellation, she used it without +any of the ceremony of civilized life - "I'm afraid Hist, he has +come after scalps, as well as my poor father and Hurry Harry." + +"Why he shouldn't - ha? Chingachgook red warrior - very red -scalp +make his honor - Be sure he take him." + +"Then," said Hetty, earnestly, "he will be as wicked as any other. +God will not pardon in a red man, what he will not pardon in a +white man. + +"No true -" returned the Delaware girl, with a warmth that nearly +amounted to passion. "No true, I tell you! The Manitou smile +and pleased when he see young warrior come back from the war path, +with two, ten, hundred scalp on a pole! Chingachgook father take +scalp - grandfather take scalp - all old chief take scalp, and +Chingachgook take as many scalp as he can carry, himself" + +"Then, Hist, his sleep of nights must be terrible to think of. No +one can be cruel, and hope to be forgiven." + +"No cruel - plenty forgiven -" returned Wah-ta-Wah, stamping her +little foot on the stony strand, and shaking her head in a way to +show how completely feminine feeling, in one of its aspects, had +gotten the better of feminine feeling in another. "I tell you, +Serpent brave; he go home, this time, with four, - yes - two scalp." + +"And is that his errand, here? - Did he really come all this +distance, across mountain, and valley, rivers and lakes, to torment +his fellow creatures, and do so wicked a thing?" + +This question at once appeased the growing ire of the half-offended +Indian beauty. It completely got the better of the prejudices +of education, and turned all her thoughts to a gentler and more +feminine channel. At first, she looked around her, suspiciously, +as if distrusting eavesdroppers; then she gazed wistfully into the +face of her attentive companion; after which this exhibition of +girlish coquetry and womanly feeling, terminated by her covering +her face with both her hands, and laughing in a strain that might +well be termed the melody of the woods. Dread of discovery, however, +soon put a stop to this naive exhibition of feeling, and removing +her hands, this creature of impulses gazed again wistfully into +the face of her companion, as if inquiring how far she might trust +a stranger with her secret. Although Hetty had no claims to her +sister's extraordinary beauty, many thought her countenance the most +winning of the two. It expressed all the undisguised sincerity of +her character, and it was totally free from any of the unpleasant +physical accompaniments that so frequently attend mental imbecility. +It is true that one accustomed to closer observations than common, +might have detected the proofs of her feebleness of intellect +in the language of her sometimes vacant eyes, but they were signs +that attracted sympathy by their total want of guile, rather than +by any other feeling. The effect on Hist, to use the English and +more familiar translation of the name, was favorable, and yielding +to an impulse of tenderness, she threw her arms around Hetty, and +embraced her with an outpouring emotion, so natural that it was +only equaled by its warmth. + +"You good -" whispered the young Indian - "you good, I know; it so +long since Wah-ta-Wah have a friend - a sister - any body to speak +her heart to! You Hist friend; don't I say trut'?" + +"I never had a friend," answered Hetty returning the warm embrace +with unfeigned earnestness. "I've a sister, but no friend. Judith +loves me, and I love Judith; but that's natural, and as we are +taught in the Bible - but I should like to have a friend! I'll +be your friend, with all my heart, for I like your voice and your +smile, and your way of thinking in every thing, except about the +scalps -" + +"No t'ink more of him - no say more of scalp -" interrupted Hist, +soothingly -"You pale-face, I red-skin; we bring up different fashion. +Deerslayer and Chingachgook great friend, and no the same colour, +Hist and - what your name, pretty pale-face?" + +"I am called Hetty, though when they spell the name in the bible, +they always spell it Esther." + +"What that make? - no good, no harm. No need to spell name at +all -Moravian try to make Wah-ta-Wah spell, but no won't let him. +No good for Delaware girl to know too much- know more than warrior +some time; that great shame. My name Wah-ta-Wah that say Hist in +your tongue; you call him, Hist - I call him, Hetty." + +These preliminaries settled to their mutual satisfaction, the two +girls began to discourse of their several hopes and projects. Hetty +made her new friend more fully acquainted with her intentions in +behalf of her father, and, to one in the least addicted to prying +into the affairs, Hist would have betrayed her own feelings and +expectations in connection with the young warrior of her own tribe. +Enough was revealed on both sides, however, to let each party get +a tolerable insight into the views of the other, though enough +still remained in mental reservation, to give rise to the following +questions and answers, with which the interview in effect closed. +As the quickest witted, Hist was the first with her interrogatories. +Folding an arm about the waist of Hetty, she bent her head so as +to look up playfully into the face of the other, and, laughing, as +if her meaning were to be extracted from her looks, she spoke more +plainly. + +"Hetty got broder, as well as fader? -" she said - "Why no talk +of broder, as well as fader?" + +"I have no brother, Hist. I had one once, they say, but he is dead +many a year, and lies buried in the lake, by the side of my mother." + +"No got broder - got a young warrior - Love him, almost as much as +fader, eh? Very handsome, and brave-looking; fit to be chief, if +he good as he seem to be." + +"It's wicked to love any man as well as I love my father, and so I +strive not to do it, Hist," returned the conscientious Hetty, who +knew not how to conceal an emotion, by an approach to an untruth +as venial as an evasion, though powerfully tempted by female shame +to err, "though I sometimes think wickedness will get the better +of me, if Hurry comes so often to the lake. I must tell you the +truth, dear Hist, because you ask me, but I should fall down and +die in the woods, if he knew it!" + +"Why he no ask you, himself? - Brave looking - why not bold +speaking? Young warrior ought to ask young girl, no make young +girl speak first. Mingo girls too shame for that." + +This was said indignantly, and with the generous warmth a young female +of spirit would be apt to feel, at what she deemed an invasion of +her sex's most valued privilege. It had little influence on the +simple-minded, but also just-minded Hetty, who, though inherently +feminine in all her impulses, was much more alive to the workings +of her own heart, than to any of the usages with which convention +has protected the sensitiveness of her sex. + +"Ask me what?' the startled girl demanded, with a suddenness that +proved how completely her fears had been aroused. 'Ask me, if I +like him as well as I do my own father! Oh! I hope he will never +put such a question to me, for I should have to answer, and that +would kill me!" + +"No - no - no kill, quite - almost," returned the other, laughing +in spite of herself. "Make blush come - make shame come too; but +he no stay great while; then feel happier than ever. Young warrior +must tell young girl he want to make wife, else never can live in +his wigwam." + +"Hurry don't want to marry me - nobody will ever want to marry me, +Hist." + +"How you can know? P'raps every body want to marry you, and +by-and-bye, tongue say what heart feel. Why nobody want to marry +you?" + +"I am not full witted, they say. Father often tells me this; and +so does Judith, sometimes, when she is vexed; but I shouldn't so +much mind them, as I did mother. She said so once and then she +cried as if her heart would break; and, so, I know I'm not full +witted." + +Hist gazed at the gentle, simple girl, for quite a minute without +speaking, and then the truth appeared to flash all at once on the +mind of the young Indian maid. Pity, reverence and tenderness +seemed struggling together in her breast, and then rising suddenly, +she indicated a wish to her companion that she would accompany +her to the camp, which was situated at no great distance. This +unexpected change from the precautions that Hist had previously +manifested a desire to use, in order to prevent being seen, to an +open exposure of the person of her friend, arose from the perfect +conviction that no Indian would harm a being whom the Great Spirit +had disarmed, by depriving it of its strongest defence, reason. +In this respect, nearly all unsophisticated nations resemble each +other, appearing to offer spontaneously, by a feeling creditable to +human nature, that protection by their own forbearance, which has +been withheld by the inscrutable wisdom of Providence. Wah-ta-Wah, +indeed, knew that in many tribes the mentally imbecile and the +mad were held in a species of religious reverence, receiving from +these untutored inhabitants of the forest respect and honors, +instead of the contumely and neglect that it is their fortune to +meet with among the more pretending and sophisticated. + +Hetty accompanied her new friend without apprehension or reluctance. +It was her wish to reach the camp, and, sustained by her motives, she +felt no more concern for the consequences than did her companion +herself, now the latter was apprised of the character of the +protection that the pale-face maiden carried with her. Still, as +they proceeded slowly along a shore that was tangled with overhanging +bushes, Hetty continued the discourse, assuming the office of +interrogating which the other had instantly dropped, as soon as +she ascertained the character of the mind to which her questions +had been addressed. + +"But you are not half-witted," said Hetty, "and there's no reason +why the Serpent should not marry you." + +"Hist prisoner, and Mingo got big ear. No speak of Chingachgook +when they by. Promise Hist that, good Hetty." + +"I know - I know -" returned Hetty, half-whispering, in her eagerness +to let the other see she understood the necessity of caution. "I +know - Deerslayer and the Serpent mean to get you away from the +Iroquois, and you wish me not to tell the secret." + +"How you know?" said Hist, hastily, vexed at the moment that the +other was not even more feeble minded than was actually the case. +"How you know? Better not talk of any but fader and Hurry - Mingo +understand dat; he no understand t'udder. Promise you no talk +about what you no understand." + +"But I do understand this, Hist, and so I must talk about it. +Deerslayer as good as told father all about it, in my presence, +and as nobody told me not to listen, I overheard it all, as I did +Hurry and father's discourse about the scalps." + +"Very bad for pale-faces to talk about scalps, and very bad for +young woman to hear! Now you love Hist, I know, Hetty, and so, +among Injins, when love hardest never talk most." + +"That's not the way among white people, who talk most about them +they love best. I suppose it's because I'm only half-witted that I +don't see the reason why it should be so different among red people." + +"That what Deerslayer call gift. One gift to talk; t'udder gift +to hold tongue. Hold tongue your gift, among Mingos. If Sarpent +want to see Hist, so Hetty want to see Hurry. Good girl never tell +secret of friend." + +Hetty understood this appeal, and she promised the Delaware girl +not to make any allusion to the presence of Chingachgook, or to +the motive of his visit to the lake. + +"Maybe he get off Hurry and fader, as well as Hist, if let him have +his way," whispered Wah-ta-Wah to her companion, in a confiding +flattering way, just as they got near enough to the encampment to +hear the voices of several of their own sex, who were apparently +occupied in the usual toils of women of their class. "Tink of dat, +Hetty, and put two, twenty finger on mouth. No get friend free +without Sarpent do it." + +A better expedient could not have been adopted, to secure the silence +and discretion of Hetty, than that which was now presented to her +mind. As the liberation of her father and the young frontier man +was the great object of her adventure, she felt the connection +between it and the services of the Delaware, and with an innocent +laugh, she nodded her head, and in the same suppressed manner, +promised a due attention to the wishes of her friend. Thus assured, +Hist tarried no longer, but immediately and openly led the way into +the encampment of her captors. + + + +Chapter XI. + + + "The great King of Kings + Hath in the table of his law commanded, + That thou shalt do no murder. + Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand, + To hurl upon their heads that break his law." + + Richard III, I.iv.i95-97 199-200. + +That the party to which Hist compulsorily belonged was not one +that was regularly on the war path, was evident by the presence of +females. It was a small fragment of a tribe that had been hunting +and fishing within the English limits, where it was found by the +commencement of hostilities, and, after passing the winter and +spring by living on what was strictly the property of its enemies, +it chose to strike a hostile blow before it finally retired. There +was also deep Indian sagacity in the manoeuvre which had led them +so far into the territory of their foes. When the runner arrived +who announced the breaking out of hostilities between the English +and French - a struggle that was certain to carry with it all the +tribes that dwelt within the influence of the respective belligerents +- this particular party of the Iroquois were posted on the shores +of the Oneida, a lake that lies some fifty miles nearer to their +own frontier than that which is the scene of our tale. + +To have fled in a direct line for the Canadas would have exposed them +to the dangers of a direct pursuit, and the chiefs had determined +to adopt the expedient of penetrating deeper into a region that +had now become dangerous, in the hope of being able to retire in +the rear of their pursuers, instead of having them on their trail. +The presence of the women had induced the attempt at this ruse, +the strength of these feebler members of the party being unequal +to the effort of escaping from the pursuit of warriors. When the +reader remembers the vast extent of the American wilderness, at +that early day, he will perceive that it was possible for even a +tribe to remain months undiscovered in particular portions of it; +nor was the danger of encountering a foe, the usual precautions +being observed, as great in the woods, as it is on the high seas, +in a time of active warfare. + +The encampment being temporary, it offered to the eye no more than +the rude protection of a bivouac, relieved in some slight degree +by the ingenious expedients which suggested themselves to the +readiness of those who passed their lives amid similar scenes. +One fire, that had been kindled against the roots of a living oak, +sufficed for the whole party; the weather being too mild to require +it for any purpose but cooking. Scattered around this centre +of attraction, were some fifteen or twenty low huts, or perhaps +kennels would be a better word, into which their different owners +crept at night, and which were also intended to meet the exigencies +of a storm. + +These little huts were made of the branches of trees, put together +with some ingenuity, and they were uniformly topped with bark that +had been stripped from fallen trees; of which every virgin forest +possesses hundreds, in all stages of decay. Of furniture they had +next to none. Cooking utensils of the simplest sort were lying near +the fire, a few articles of clothing were to be seen in or around +the huts, rifles, horns, and pouches leaned against the trees, or +were suspended from the lower branches, and the carcasses of two +or three deer were stretched to view on the same natural shambles. + +As the encampment was in the midst of a dense wood, the eye could +not take in its tout ensemble at a glance, but hut after hut +started out of the gloomy picture, as one gazed about him in quest +of objects. There was no centre, unless the fire might be so +considered, no open area where the possessors of this rude village +might congregate, but all was dark, covert and cunning, like its +owners. A few children strayed from hut to hut, giving the spot +a little of the air of domestic life, and the suppressed laugh +and low voices of the women occasionally broke in upon the deep +stillness of the sombre forest. As for the men, they either ate, +slept, or examined their arms. They conversed but little, and then +usually apart, or in groups withdrawn from the females, whilst an +air of untiring, innate watchfulness and apprehension of danger +seemed to be blended even with their slumbers. + +As the two girls came near the encampment, Hetty uttered a slight +exclamation, on catching a view of the person of her father. He +was seated on the ground with his back to a tree, and Hurry stood +near him indolently whittling a twig. Apparently they were as much +at liberty as any others in or about the camp, and one unaccustomed +to Indian usages would have mistaken them for visitors, instead +of supposing them to be captives. Wah-ta-Wah led her new friend +quite near them, and then modestly withdrew, that her own presence +might be no restraint on her feelings. But Hetty was not sufficiently +familiar with caresses or outward demonstrations of fondness, to +indulge in any outbreaking of feeling. She merely approached and +stood at her father's side without speaking, resembling a silent +statue of filial affection. The old man expressed neither alarm +nor surprise at her sudden appearance. In these particulars he +had caught the stoicism of the Indians, well knowing that there was +no more certain mode of securing their respect than by imitating +their self-command. Nor did the savages themselves betray the +least sign of surprise at this sudden appearance of a stranger +among them. In a word, this arrival produced much less visible +sensation, though occurring under circumstances so peculiar, than +would be seen in a village of higher pretensions to civilization +did an ordinary traveler drive up to the door of its principal inn. + +Still a few warriors collected, and it was evident by the manner +in which they glanced at Hetty as they conversed together, that she +was the subject of their discourse, and probable that the reasons +of her unlooked-for appearance were matters of discussion. This +phlegm of manner is characteristic of the North American Indian +- some say of his white successor also - but, in this case much +should be attributed to the peculiar situation in which the party +was placed. The force in the Ark, the presence of Chingachgook +excepted, was well known, no tribe or body of troops was believed +to be near, and vigilant eyes were posted round the entire lake, +watching day and night the slightest movement of those whom it +would not be exaggerated now to term the besieged. + +Hutter was inwardly much moved by the conduct of Hetty, though he +affected so much indifference of manner. He recollected her gentle +appeal to him before he left the Ark, and misfortune rendered +that of weight which might have been forgotten amid the triumph of +success. Then he knew the simple, single-hearted fidelity of his +child, and understood why she had come, and the total disregard of +self that reigned in all her acts. + +"This is not well, Hetty," he said, deprecating the consequences +to the girl herself more than any other evil. "These are fierce +Iroquois, and are as little apt to forget an injury, as a favor." + +"Tell me, father -" returned the girl, looking furtively about her +as if fearful of being overheard, "did God let you do the cruel +errand on which you came? I want much to know this, that I may +speak to the Indians plainly, if he did not." + +"You should not have come hither, Hetty; these brutes will not +understand your nature or your intentions!" + +"How was it, father; neither you nor Hurry seems to have any thing +that looks like scalps." + +"If that will set your mind at peace, child, I can answer you, no. +I had caught the young creatur' who came here with you, but her +screeches soon brought down upon me a troop of the wild cats, that +was too much for any single Christian to withstand. If that will +do you any good, we are as innocent of having taken a scalp, this +time, as I make no doubt we shall also be innocent of receiving +the bounty." + +"Thank God for that, father! Now I can speak boldly to the Iroquois, +and with an easy conscience. I hope Hurry, too, has not been able +to harm any of the Indians?" + +"Why, as to that matter, Hetty," returned the individual in question, +"you've put it pretty much in the natyve character of the religious +truth. Hurry has not been able, and that is the long and short of +it. I've seen many squalls, old fellow, both on land and on the +water, but never did I feel one as lively and as snappish as that +which come down upon us, night afore last, in the shape of an Indian +hurrah-boys! Why, Hetty, you're no great matter at a reason, or +an idee that lies a little deeper than common, but you're human +and have some human notions - now I'll just ask you to look at them +circumstances. Here was old Tom, your father, and myself, bent on +a legal operation, as is to be seen in the words of the law and the +proclamation; thinking no harm; when we were set upon by critturs +that were more like a pack of hungry wolves than mortal savages +even, and there they had us tethered like two sheep, in less time +than it has taken me to tell you the story." + +"You are free now, Hurry," returned Hetty, glancing timidly at the +fine unfettered limbs of the young giant -"You have no cords, or +withes, to pain your arms, or legs, now." + +"Not I, Hetty. Natur' is natur', and freedom is natur', too. My +limbs have a free look, but that's pretty much the amount of it, +sin' I can't use them in the way I should like. Even these trees +have eyes; ay, and tongues too; for was the old man, here, or I, +to start one single rod beyond our gaol limits, sarvice would be +put on the bail afore we could 'gird up our loins' for a race, and, +like as not, four or five rifle bullets would be travelling arter +us, carrying so many invitations to curb our impatience. There +isn't a gaol in the colony as tight as this we are now in; for I've +tried the vartues of two or three on 'em, and I know the mater'als +they are made of, as well as the men that made 'em; takin' down being +the next step in schoolin', to puttin' up, in all such fabrications." + +Lest the reader should get an exaggerated opinion of Hurry's +demerits from this boastful and indiscreet revelation, it may be well +to say that his offences were confined to assaults and batteries, +for several of which he had been imprisoned, when, as he has just +said, he often escaped by demonstrating the flimsiness of the +constructions in which he was confined, by opening for himself +doors in spots where the architects had neglected to place them. +But Hetty had no knowledge of gaols, and little of the nature +of crimes, beyond what her unadulterated and almost instinctive +perceptions of right and wrong taught her, and this sally of the +rude being who had spoken was lost upon her. She understood his +general meaning, however, and answered in reference to that alone. + +"It's so best, Hurry," she said. "It is best father and you should +be quiet and peaceable, 'till I have spoken to the Iroquois, when +all will be well and happy. I don't wish either of you to follow, +but leave me to myself. As soon as all is settled, and you are at +liberty to go back to the castle, I will come and let you know it." + +Hetty spoke with so much simple earnestness, seemed so confident of +success, and wore so high an air of moral feeling and truth, that +both the listeners felt more disposed to attach an importance to her +mediation, than might otherwise have happened. When she manifested +an intention to quit them, therefore, they offered no obstacle, +though they saw she was about to join the group of chiefs who were +consulting apart, seemingly on the manner and motive of her own +sudden appearance. + +When Hist - for so we love best to call her - quitted her companion, +she strayed near one or two of the elder warriors, who had shown +her most kindness in her captivity, the principal man of whom had +even offered to adopt her as his child if she would consent to +become a Huron. In taking this direction, the shrewd girl did so +to invite inquiry. She was too well trained in the habits of her +people to obtrude the opinions of one of her sex and years on men +and warriors, but nature had furnished a tact and ingenuity that +enabled her to attract the attention she desired, without wounding +the pride of those to whom it was her duty to defer and respect. +Even her affected indifference stimulated curiosity, and Hetty had +hardly reached the side of her father, before the Delaware girl +was brought within the circle of the warriors, by a secret but +significant gesture. Here she was questioned as to the person of +her companion, and the motives that had brought her to the camp. +This was all that Hist desired. She explained the manner in which +she had detected the weakness of Hetty's reason, rather exaggerating +than lessening the deficiency in her intellect, and then she +related in general terms the object of the girl in venturing among +her enemies. The effect was all that the speaker expected, her +account investing the person and character of their visitor with a +sacredness and respect that she well knew would prove her protection. +As soon as her own purpose was attained, Hist withdrew to a distance, +where, with female consideration and a sisterly tenderness she set +about the preparation of a meal, to be offered to her new friend +as soon as the latter might be at liberty to partake of it. While +thus occupied, however, the ready girl in no degree relaxed in her +watchfulness, noting every change of countenance among the chiefs, +every movement of Hetty's, and the smallest occurrence that could +be likely to affect her own interests, or that of her new friend. + +As Hetty approached the chiefs they opened their little circle, +with an ease and deference of manner that would have done credit +to men of more courtly origin. A fallen tree lay near, and the +oldest of the warriors made a quiet sign for the girl to be seated +on it, taking his place at her side with the gentleness of a father. +The others arranged themselves around the two with grave dignity, +and then the girl, who had sufficient observation to perceive that +such a course was expected of her, began to reveal the object of +her visit. The moment she opened her mouth to speak, however, the +old chief gave a gentle sign for her to forbear, said a few words +to one of his juniors, and then waited in silent patience until the +latter had summoned Hist to the party. This interruption proceeded +from the chief's having discovered that there existed a necessity +for an interpreter, few of the Hurons present understanding the +English language, and they but imperfectly. + +Wah-ta-Wah was not sorry to be called upon to be present at the +interview, and least of all in the character in which she was now +wanted. She was aware of the hazards she ran in attempting to +deceive one or two of the party, but was none the less resolved to +use every means that offered, and to practice every artifice that +an Indian education could supply, to conceal the facts of the +vicinity of her betrothed, and of the errand on which he had come. +One unpracticed in the expedients and opinions of savage life +would not have suspected the readiness of invention, the wariness +of action, the high resolution, the noble impulses, the deep +self-devotion, and the feminine disregard of self when the affections +were concerned, that lay concealed beneath the demure looks, the +mild eyes, and the sunny smiles of this young Indian beauty. As she +approached them, the grim old warriors regarded her with pleasure, +for they had a secret pride in the hope of engrafting so rare a +scion on the stock of their own nation; adoption being as regularly +practised, and as distinctly recognized among the tribes of America, +as it ever had been among those nations that submit to the sway of +the Civil Law. + +As soon as Hist was seated by the side of Hetty, the old chief +desired her to ask "the fair young pale-face" what had brought her +among the Iroquois, and what they could do to serve her. + +"Tell them, Hist, who I am - Thomas Hutter's youngest daughter; +Thomas Hutter, the oldest of their two prisoners; he who owns the +castle and the Ark, and who has the best right to be thought the +owner of these hills, and that lake, since he has dwelt so long, +and trapped so long, and fished so long, among them - They'll know +whom you mean by Thomas Hutter, if you tell them, that. And then +tell them that I've come here to convince them they ought not to +harm father and Hurry, but let them go in peace, and to treat them +as brethren rather than as enemies. Now tell them all this plainly, +Hist, and fear nothing for yourself or me. God will protect us." + +Wah-ta-Wah did as the other desired, taking care to render the words +of her friend as literally as possible into the Iroquois tongue, a +language she used with a readiness almost equal to that with which +she spoke her own. The chiefs heard this opening explanation +with grave decorum, the two who had a little knowledge of English +intimating their satisfaction with the interpreter by furtive but +significant glances of the eyes. + +"And, now, Hist," continued Hetty, as soon as it was intimated to +her that she might proceed, "and, now, Hist, I wish you to tell +these red men, word for word, what I am about to say. Tell them +first, that father and Hurry came here with an intention to take as +many scalps as they could, for the wicked governor and the province +have offered money for scalps, whether of warriors, or women, men +or children, and the love of gold was too strong for their hearts +to withstand it. Tell them this, dear Hist, just as you have heard +it from me, word for word." + +Wah-ta-Wah hesitated about rendering this speech as literally +as had been desired, but detecting the intelligence of those who +understood English, and apprehending even a greater knowledge than +they actually possessed she found herself compelled to comply. +Contrary to what a civilized man would have expected, the admission +of the motives and of the errands of their prisoners produced no +visible effect on either the countenances or the feelings of the +listeners. They probably considered the act meritorious, and that +which neither of them would have hesitated to perform in his own +person, he would not be apt to censure in another. + +"And, now, Hist," resumed Hetty, as soon as she perceived that her +first speeches were understood by the chiefs, "you can tell them +more. They know that father and Hurry did not succeed, and therefore +they can bear them no grudge for any harm that has been done. If +they had slain their children and wives it would not alter the +matter, and I'm not certain that what I am about to tell them would +not have more weight had there been mischief done. But ask them +first, Hist, if they know there is a God, who reigns over the whole +earth, and is ruler and chief of all who live, let them be red, or +white, or what color they may?" + +Wah-ta-Wah looked a little surprised at this question, for the +idea of the Great Spirit is seldom long absent from the mind of +an Indian girl. She put the question as literally as possible, +however, and received a grave answer in the affirmative. + +"This is right," continued Hetty, "and my duty will now be light. +This Great Spirit, as you call our God, has caused a book to +be written, that we call a Bible, and in this book have been set +down all his commandments, and his holy will and pleasure, and the +rules by which all men are to live, and directions how to govern +the thoughts even, and the wishes, and the will. Here, this is one +of these holy books, and you must tell the chiefs what I am about +to read to them from its sacred pages." + +As Hetty concluded, she reverently unrolled a small English Bible +from its envelope of coarse calico, treating the volume with the +sort of external respect that a Romanist would be apt to show to +a religious relic. As she slowly proceeded in her task the grim +warriors watched each movement with riveted eyes, and when they saw +the little volume appear a slight expression of surprise escaped +one or two of them. But Hetty held it out towards them in triumph, +as if she expected the sight would produce a visible miracle, and +then, without betraying either surprise or mortification at the +Stoicism of the Indian, she turned eagerly to her new friend, in +order to renew the discourse. + +"This is the sacred volume, Hist," she said - "and these words, +and lines, and verses, and chapters, all came from God." + +"Why Great Spirit no send book to Injin, too?" demanded Hist, with +the directness of a mind that was totally unsophisticated. + +"Why?" answered Hetty, a little bewildered by a question so +unexpected. "Why? - Ah! you know the Indians don't know how to +read." + +If Hist was not satisfied with this explanation, she did not deem +the point of sufficient importance to be pressed. Simply bending +her body, in a gentle admission of the truth of what she heard, +she sat patiently awaiting the further arguments of the pale-face +enthusiast. + +"You can tell these chiefs that throughout this book, men are ordered +to forgive their enemies; to treat them as they would brethren; and +never to injure their fellow creatures, more especially on account +of revenge or any evil passions. Do you think you can tell them +this, so that they will understand it, Hist?" + +"Tell him well enough, but he no very easy to understand." Hist +then conveyed the ideas of Hetty, in the best manner she could, to +the attentive Indians, who heard her words with some such surprise as +an American of our own times would be apt to betray at a suggestion +that the great modern but vacillating ruler of things human, public +opinion, might be wrong. One or two of their number, however, +having met with missionaries, said a few words in explanation, and +then the group gave all its attention to the communications that +were to follow. Before Hetty resumed she inquired earnestly of +Hist if the chiefs had understood her, and receiving an evasive +answer, was fain to be satisfied. + +"I will now read to the warriors some of the verses that it is +good for them to know," continued the girl, whose manner grew more +solemn and earnest as she proceeded - "and they will remember that +they are the very words of the Great Spirit. First, then, ye are +commanded to 'love thy neighbor as Thyself.' Tell them that, dear +Hist." + +"Neighbor, for Injin, no mean pale-face," answered the Delaware +girl, with more decision than she had hitherto thought it necessary +to use. "Neighbor mean Iroquois for Iroquois, Mohican for Mohican, +Pale-face for pale face. No need tell chief any thing else." + +"You forget, Hist, these are the words of the Great Spirit, +and the chiefs must obey them as well as others. Here is another +commandment -'Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn +to him the other also.'" + +"What that mean?" demanded Hist, with the quickness of lightning. + +Hetty explained that it was an order not to resent injuries, but +rather to submit to receive fresh wrongs from the offender. + +"And hear this, too, Hist," she added. "'Love your enemies, bless +them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for +them which despitefully use you and persecute you.'" + +By this time Hetty had become excited; her eye gleamed with the +earnestness of her feelings, her cheeks flushed, and her voice, +usually so low and modulated, became stronger and more impressive. +With the Bible she had been early made familiar by her mother, and +she now turned from passage to passage with surprising rapidity, +taking care to cull such verses as taught the sublime lessons of +Christian charity and Christian forgiveness. To translate half +she said, in her pious earnestness, Wah-ta-Wah would have found +impracticable, had she made the effort, but wonder held her tongue +tied, equally with the chiefs, and the young, simple-minded enthusiast +had fairly become exhausted with her own efforts, before the other +opened her mouth, again, to utter a syllable. Then, indeed, the +Delaware girl gave a brief translation of the substance of what had +been both read and said, confining herself to one or two of the more +striking of the verses, those that had struck her own imagination +as the most paradoxical, and which certainly would have been the +most applicable to the case, could the uninstructed minds of the +listeners embrace the great moral truths they conveyed. + +It will be scarcely necessary to tell the reader the effect that +such novel duties would be likely to produce among a group of Indian +warriors, with whom it was a species of religious principle never +to forget a benefit, or to forgive an injury. Fortunately, the +previous explanations of Hist had prepared the minds of the Hurons +for something extravagant, and most of that which to them seemed +inconsistent and paradoxical, was accounted for by the fact that +the speaker possessed a mind that was constituted differently from +those of most of the human race. Still there were one or two old +men who had heard similar doctrines from the missionaries, and these +felt a desire to occupy an idle moment by pursuing a subject that +they found so curious. + +"This is the Good Book of the pale-faces," observed one of these +chiefs, taking the volume from the unresisting hands of Hetty, who +gazed anxiously at his face while he turned the leaves, as if she +expected to witness some visible results from the circumstance. +"This is the law by which my white brethren professes to live?" + +Hist, to whom this question was addressed, if it might be considered +as addressed to any one, in particular, answered simply in the +affirmative; adding that both the French of the Canadas, and the +Yengeese of the British provinces equally admitted its authority, +and affected to revere its principles. + +"Tell my young sister," said the Huron, looking directly at Hist, +"that I will open my mouth and say a few words." + +"The Iroquois chief go to speak - my pale-face friend listen," said +Hist. + +"I rejoice to hear it!" exclaimed Hetty. "God has touched his +heart, and he will now let father and Hurry go." + +"This is the pale-face law," resumed the chief. "It tells him to +do good to them that hurt him, and when his brother asks him for +his rifle to give him the powder horn, too. Such is the pale-face +law?" + +"Not so - not so -" answered Hetty earnestly, when these words had +been interpreted - "There is not a word about rifles in the whole +book, and powder and bullets give offence to the Great Spirit." + +"Why then does the pale-face use them? If he is ordered to give +double to him that asks only for one thing, why does he take double +from the poor Indian who ask for no thing. He comes from beyond +the rising sun, with this book in his hand, and he teaches the red +man to read it, but why does he forget himself all it says? When +the Indian gives, he is never satisfied; and now he offers gold +for the scalps of our women and children, though he calls us beasts +if we take the scalp of a warrior killed in open war. My name is +Rivenoak." + +When Hetty had got this formidable question fairly presented to +her mind in the translation, and Hist did her duty with more than +usual readiness on this occasion, it scarcely need be said that +she was sorely perplexed. Abler heads than that of this poor girl +have frequently been puzzled by questions of a similar drift, and +it is not surprising that with all her own earnestness and sincerity +she did not know what answer to make. + +"What shall I tell them, Hist," she asked imploringly - "I know +that all I have read from the book is true, and yet it wouldn't seem +so, would it, by the conduct of those to whom the book was given?" + +"Give 'em pale-face reason," returned Hist, ironically - "that +always good for one side; though he bad for t'other." + +"No - no - Hist, there can't be two sides to truth - and yet it +does seem strange! I'm certain I have read the verses right, and +no one would be so wicked as to print the word of God wrong. That +can never be, Hist." + +"Well, to poor Injin girl, it seem every thing can be to pale-faces," +returned the other, coolly. "One time 'ey say white, and one time +'ey say black. Why never can be?" + +Hetty was more and more embarrassed, until overcome with the +apprehension that she had failed in her object, and that the lives +of her father and Hurry would be the forfeit of some blunder of +her own, she burst into tears. From that moment the manner of Hist +lost all its irony and cool indifference, and she became the fond +caressing friend again. Throwing her arms around the afflicted +girl, she attempted to soothe her sorrows by the scarcely ever +failing remedy of female sympathy. + +"Stop cry - no cry -" she said, wiping the tears from the face of +Hetty, as she would have performed the same office for a child, +and stopping to press her occasionally to her own warm bosom with +the affection of a sister. "Why you so trouble? You no make he +book, if he be wrong, and you no make he pale-face if he wicked. +There wicked red man, and wicked white man - no colour all good - +no colour all wicked. Chiefs know that well enough." + +Hetty soon recovered from this sudden burst of grief, and then her +mind reverted to the purpose of her visit, with all its single-hearted +earnestness. Perceiving that the grim looking chiefs were still +standing around her in grave attention, she hoped that another +effort to convince them of the right might be successful. "Listen, +Hist," she said, struggling to suppress her sobs, and to speak +distinctly - "Tell the chiefs that it matters not what the wicked +do -right is right - The words of The Great Spirit are the words +of The Great Spirit - and no one can go harmless for doing an evil +act, because another has done it before him. 'Render good for +evil,' says this book, and that is the law for the red man as well +as for the white man." + +"Never hear such law among Delaware, or among Iroquois -" answered +Hist soothingly. "No good to tell chiefs any such laws as dat. +Tell 'em somet'ing they believe." + +Hist was about to proceed, notwithstanding, when a tap on the +shoulder from the finger of the oldest chief caused her to look up. +She then perceived that one of the warriors had left the group, and +was already returning to it with Hutter and Hurry. Understanding +that the two last were to become parties in the inquiry, she became +mute, with the unhesitating obedience of an Indian woman. In a few +seconds the prisoners stood face to face with the principal men of +the captors. + +"Daughter," said the senior chief to the young Delaware, "ask this +grey beard why he came into our camp?" + +The question was put by Hist, in her own imperfect English, but +in a way that was easy to be understood. Hutter was too stern and +obdurate by nature to shrink from the consequences of any of his +acts, and he was also too familiar with the opinions of the savages +not to understand that nothing was to be gained by equivocation or +an unmanly dread of their anger. Without hesitating, therefore, +he avowed the purpose with which he had landed, merely justifying +it by the fact that the government of the province had bid high +for scalps. This frank avowal was received by the Iroquois with +evident satisfaction, not so much, however, on account of the +advantage it gave them in a moral point of view, as by its proving +that they had captured a man worthy of occupying their thoughts and +of becoming a subject of their revenge. Hurry, when interrogated, +confessed the truth, though he would have been more disposed to +concealment than his sterner companion, did the circumstances very +well admit of its adoption. But he had tact enough to discover +that equivocation would be useless, at that moment, and he made +a merit of necessity by imitating a frankness, which, in the case +of Hutter, was the offspring of habits of indifference acting on +a disposition that was always ruthless, and reckless of personal +consequences. + +As soon as the chiefs had received the answers to their questions, +they walked away in silence, like men who deemed the matter +disposed of, all Hetty's dogmas being thrown away on beings trained +in violence from infancy to manhood. Hetty and Hist were now left +alone with Hutter and Hurry, no visible restraint being placed on +the movements of either; though all four, in fact, were vigilantly +and unceasingly watched. As respects the men, care was had to prevent +them from getting possession of any of the rifles that lay scattered +about, their own included; and there all open manifestations of +watchfulness ceased. But they, who were so experienced in Indian +practices, knew too well how great was the distance between appearances +and reality, to become the dupes of this seeming carelessness. +Although both thought incessantly of the means of escape, and this +without concert, each was aware of the uselessness of attempting +any project of the sort that was not deeply laid, and promptly +executed. They had been long enough in the encampment, and were +sufficiently observant to have ascertained that Hist, also, was a +sort of captive, and, presuming on the circumstance, Hutter spoke +in her presence more openly than he might otherwise have thought it +prudent to do; inducing Hurry to be equally unguarded by his example. + +"I'll not blame you, Hetty, for coming on this errand, which +was well meant if not very wisely planned," commenced the father, +seating himself by the side of his daughter and taking her hand; a +sign of affection that this rude being was accustomed to manifest +to this particular child. "But preaching, and the Bible, are not +the means to turn an Indian from his ways. Has Deerslayer sent any +message; or has he any scheme by which he thinks to get us free?" + +"Ay, that's the substance of it!" put in Hurry. "If you can help +us, gal, to half a mile of freedom, or even a good start of a short +quarter, I'll answer for the rest. Perhaps the old man may want +a little more, but for one of my height and years that will meet +all objections." + +Hetty looked distressed, turning her eyes from one to the other, +but she had no answer to give to the question of the reckless Hurry. + +"Father," she said, "neither Deerslayer nor Judith knew of my coming +until I had left the Ark. They are afraid the Iroquois will make +a raft and try to get off to the hut, and think more of defending +that than of coming to aid you." + +"No - no - no -" said Hist hurriedly, though in a low voice, and +with her face bent towards the earth, in order to conceal from +those whom she knew to be watching them the fact of her speaking +at all. "No - no - no - Deerslayer different man. He no t'ink +of defending 'self, with friend in danger. Help one another, and +all get to hut." + +"This sounds well, old Tom," said Hurry, winking and laughing, +though he too used the precaution to speak low - "Give me a ready +witted squaw for a fri'nd, and though I'll not downright defy an +Iroquois, I think I would defy the devil." + +"No talk loud," said Hist. "Some Iroquois got Yengeese tongue, +and all got Yengeese ear." + +"Have we a friend in you, young woman?" enquired Hutter with an +increasing interest in the conference. "If so, you may calculate +on a solid reward, and nothing will be easier than to send you to +your own tribe, if we can once fairly get you off with us to the +castle. Give us the Ark and the canoes, and we can command the +lake, spite of all the savages in the Canadas. Nothing but artillery +could drive us out of the castle, if we can get back to it. + +"S'pose 'ey come ashore to take scalp?" retorted Hist, with cool +irony, at which the girl appeared to be more expert than is common +for her sex. + +"Ay - ay - that was a mistake; but there is little use in lamentations, +and less still, young woman, in flings." + +"Father," said Hetty, "Judith thinks of breaking open the big chest, +in hopes of finding something in that which may buy your freedom +of the savages." + +A dark look came over Hutter at the announcement of this fact, and +he muttered his dissatisfaction in a way to render it intelligible +enough. + +"What for no break open chest?" put in Hist. "Life sweeter than +old chest -scalp sweeter than old chest. If no tell darter to +break him open, Wah-ta-Wah no help him to run away." + +"Ye know not what ye ask - ye are but silly girls, and the wisest +way for ye both is to speak of what ye understand and to speak +of nothing else. I little like this cold neglect of the savages, +Hurry; it's a proof that they think of something serious, and if +we are to do any thing, we must do it soon. Can we count on this +young woman, think you?" + +"Listen -" said Hist quickly, and with an earnestness that proved +how much her feelings were concerned - "Wah-ta-Wah no Iroquois +- All over Delaware - got Delaware heart - Delaware feeling. She +prisoner, too. One prisoner help t'udder prisoner. No good to +talk more, now. Darter stay with fader - Wah-ta-Wah come and see +friend - all look right - Then tell what he do." + +This was said in a low voice, but distinctly, and in a manner to +make an impression. As soon as it was uttered the girl arose and +left the group, walking composedly towards the hut she occupied, +as if she had no further interest in what might pass between the +pale-faces. + + + +Chapter XII. + + + "She speaks much of her father; says she hears, + There's tricks i' the world; and hems, and beats her breast; + Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt, + That carry but half sense; her speech is nothing, + Yet the unshaped use of it doth move + The hearers to collection; + + Hamlet, IV.v.4-9. + +We left the occupants of the castle and the ark, buried in sleep. +Once, or twice, in the course of the night, it is true, Deerslayer +or the Delaware, arose and looked out upon the tranquil lake; when, +finding all safe, each returned to his pallet, and slept like a +man who was not easily deprived of his natural rest. At the first +signs of the dawn the former arose, however, and made his personal +arrangements for the day; though his companion, whose nights had +not been tranquil or without disturbances of late, continued on +his blanket until the sun had fairly risen; Judith, too, was later +than common that morning, for the earlier hours of the night had +brought her little of either refreshment or sleep. But ere the +sun had shown himself over the eastern hills these too were up +and afoot, even the tardy in that region seldom remaining on their +pallets after the appearance of the great luminary. Chingachgook +was in the act of arranging his forest toilet, when Deerslayer +entered the cabin of the Ark and threw him a few coarse but light +summer vestments that belonged to Hutter. + +"Judith hath given me them for your use, chief," said the latter, +as he cast the jacket and trousers at the feet of the Indian, "for +it's ag'in all prudence and caution to be seen in your war dress +and paint. Wash off all them fiery streaks from your cheeks, put +on these garments, and here is a hat, such as it is, that will give +you an awful oncivilized sort of civilization, as the missionaries +call it. Remember that Hist is at hand, and what we do for the +maiden must be done while we are doing for others. I know it's +ag'in your gifts and your natur' to wear clothes, unless they +are cut and carried in a red man's fashion, but make a vartue of +necessity and put these on at once, even if they do rise a little +in your throat." + +Chingachgook, or the Serpent, eyed the vestments with strong disgust; +but he saw the usefulness of the disguise, if not its absolute +necessity. Should the Iroquois discover a red man, in or about +the Castle, it might, indeed, place them more on their guard, and +give their suspicions a direction towards their female captive. +Any thing was better than a failure, as it regarded his betrothed, +and, after turning the different garments round and round, examining +them with a species of grave irony, affecting to draw them on in a +way that defeated itself, and otherwise manifesting the reluctance +of a young savage to confine his limbs in the usual appliances +of civilized life, the chief submitted to the directions of his +companion, and finally stood forth, so far as the eye could detect, +a red man in colour alone. Little was to be apprehended from this +last peculiarity, however, the distance from the shore, and the +want of glasses preventing any very close scrutiny, and Deerslayer, +himself, though of a brighter and fresher tint, had a countenance +that was burnt by the sun to a hue scarcely less red than that of +his Mohican companion. The awkwardness of the Delaware in his new +attire caused his friend to smile more than once that day, but he +carefully abstained from the use of any of those jokes which would +have been bandied among white men on such an occasion, the habits +of a chief, the dignity of a warrior on his first path, and the +gravity of the circumstances in which they were placed uniting to +render so much levity out of season. + +The meeting at the morning meal of the three islanders, if we may +use the term, was silent, grave and thoughtful. Judith showed by +her looks that she had passed an unquiet night, while the two men +had the future before them, with its unseen and unknown events. +A few words of courtesy passed between Deerslayer and the girl, +in the course of the breakfast, but no allusion was made to their +situation. At length Judith, whose heart was full, and whose novel +feelings disposed her to entertain sentiments more gentle and tender +than common, introduced the subject, and this in a way to show how +much of her thoughts it had occupied, in the course of the last +sleepless night. + +"It would be dreadful, Deerslayer," the girl abruptly exclaimed, +"should anything serious befall my father and Hetty! We cannot +remain quietly here and leave them in the hands of the Iroquois, +without bethinking us of some means of serving them." + +"I'm ready, Judith, to sarve them, and all others who are in +trouble, could the way to do it be p'inted out. It's no trifling +matter to fall into red-skin hands, when men set out on an ar'n'd +like that which took Hutter and Hurry ashore; that I know as well +as another, and I wouldn't wish my worst inimy in such a strait, +much less them with whom I've journeyed, and eat, and slept. Have +you any scheme, that you would like to have the Sarpent and me +indivour to carry out?" + +"I know of no other means to release the prisoners, than by bribing +the Iroquois. They are not proof against presents, and we might +offer enough, perhaps, to make them think it better to carry away +what to them will be rich gifts, than to carry away poor prisoners; +if, indeed, they should carry them away at all!" + +"This is well enough, Judith; yes, it's well enough, if the inimy +is to be bought, and we can find articles to make the purchase +with. Your father has a convenient lodge, and it is most cunningly +placed, though it doesn't seem overstock'd with riches that will +be likely to buy his ransom. There's the piece he calls Killdeer, +might count for something, and I understand there's a keg of powder +about, which might be a make-weight, sartain; and yet two able +bodied men are not to be bought off for a trifle - besides - " + +"Besides what?" demanded Judith impatiently, observing that the +other hesitated to proceed, probably from a reluctance to distress +her. + +"Why, Judith, the Frenchers offer bounties as well as our own +side, and the price of two scalps would purchase a keg of powder, +and a rifle; though I'll not say one of the latter altogether as +good as Killdeer, there, which your father va'nts as uncommon, and +unequalled, like. But fair powder, and a pretty sartain rifle; then +the red men are not the expartest in fire arms, and don't always +know the difference atwixt that which is ra'al, and that which is +seeming." + +"This is horrible!" muttered the girl, struck by the homely manner +in which her companion was accustomed to state his facts. "But +you overlook my own clothes, Deerslayer, and they, I think, might +go far with the women of the Iroquois." + +"No doubt they would; no doubt they would, Judith," returned the +other, looking at her keenly, as if he would ascertain whether +she were really capable of making such a sacrifice. "But, are you +sartain, gal, you could find it in your heart to part with your +own finery for such a purpose? Many is the man who has thought he +was valiant till danger stared him in the face; I've known them, +too, that consaited they were kind and ready to give away all they +had to the poor, when they've been listening to other people's hard +heartedness; but whose fists have clench'd as tight as the riven +hickory when it came to downright offerings of their own. Besides, +Judith, you're handsome- uncommon in that way, one might observe +and do no harm to the truth - and they that have beauty, like to +have that which will adorn it. Are you sartain you could find it +in your heart to part with your own finery?" + +The soothing allusion to the personal charms of the girl was well +timed, to counteract the effect produced by the distrust that the +young man expressed of Judith's devotion to her filial duties. +Had another said as much as Deerslayer, the compliment would most +probably have been overlooked in the indignation awakened by the +doubts, but even the unpolished sincerity, that so often made this +simple minded hunter bare his thoughts, had a charm for the girl; +and while she colored, and for an instant her eyes flashed fire, +she could not find it in her heart to be really angry with one whose +very soul seemed truth and manly kindness. Look her reproaches +she did, but conquering the desire to retort, she succeeded in +answering in a mild and friendly manner. + +"You must keep all your favorable opinions for the Delaware girls, +Deerslayer, if you seriously think thus of those of your own +colour," she said, affecting to laugh. "But try me; if you find +that I regret either ribbon or feather, silk or muslin, then may +you think what you please of my heart, and say what you think." + +"That's justice! The rarest thing to find on 'arth is a truly +just man. So says Tamenund, the wisest prophet of the Delawares, +and so all must think that have occasion to see, and talk, and act +among Mankind. I love a just man, Sarpent. His eyes are never +covered with darkness towards his inimies, while they are all +sunshine and brightness towards his fri'nds. He uses the reason +that God has given him, and he uses it with a feelin' of his being +ordered to look at, and to consider things as they are, and not +as he wants them to be. It's easy enough to find men who call +themselves just, but it's wonderful oncommon to find them that are +the very thing, in fact. How often have I seen Indians, gal, who +believed they were lookin' into a matter agreeable to the will of +the Great Spirit, when in truth they were only striving to act up +to their own will and pleasure, and this, half the time, with a +temptation to go wrong that could no more be seen by themselves, +than the stream that runs in the next valley can be seen by us +through yonder mountain', though any looker on might have discovered +it as plainly as we can discover the parch that are swimming around +this hut." + +"Very true, Deerslayer," rejoined Judith, losing every trace of +displeasure in a bright smile - "very true, and I hope to see you +act on this love of justice in all matters in which I am concerned. +Above all, I hope you will judge for yourself, and not believe every +evil story that a prating idler like Hurry Harry may have to tell, +that goes to touch the good name of any young woman, who may not +happen to have the same opinion of his face and person that the +blustering gallant has of himself." + +"Hurry Harry's idees do not pass for gospel with me, Judith; but +even worse than he may have eyes and ears", returned the other +gravely. + +"Enough of this!" exclaimed Judith, with flashing eye and a flush +that mounted to her temples, "and more of my father and his ransom. +'Tis as you say, Deerslayer; the Indians will not be likely to +give up their prisoners without a heavier bribe than my clothes +can offer, and father's rifle and powder. There is the chest." + +"Ay, there is the chest as you say, Judith, and when the question +gets to be between a secret and a scalp, I should think most men +would prefer keeping the last. Did your father ever give you any +downright commands consarning that chist?" + + +"Never. He has always appeared to think its locks, and its steel +bands, and its strength, its best protection." + +"'Tis a rare chest, and altogether of curious build," returned +Deerslayer, rising and approaching the thing in question, on which +he seated himself, with a view to examine it with greater ease. +"Chingachgook, this is no wood that comes of any forest that you +or I have ever trailed through! 'Tisn't the black walnut, and +yet it's quite as comely, if not more so, did the smoke and the +treatment give it fair play." + +The Delaware drew near, felt of the wood, examined its grain, +endeavored to indent the surface with a nail, and passed his hand +curiously over the steel bands, the heavy padlocks, and the other +novel peculiarities of the massive box. + +"No - nothing like this grows in these regions," resumed Deerslayer. +"I've seen all the oaks, both the maples, the elms, the bass +woods, all the walnuts, the butternuts, and every tree that has a +substance and colour, wrought into some form or other, but never +have I before seen such a wood as this! Judith, the chest itself +would buy your father's freedom, or Iroquois cur'osity isn't as +strong as red-skin cur'osity, in general; especially in the matter +of woods." + +"The purchase might be cheaper made, perhaps, Deerslayer. The +chest is full, and it would be better to part with half than to +part with the whole. Besides, father- I know not why - but father +values that chest highly." + +"He would seem to prize what it holds more than the chest, itself, +judging by the manner in which he treats the outside, and secures +the inside. Here are three locks, Judith; is there no key?" + +"I've never seen one, and yet key there must be, since Hetty told +us she had often seen the chest opened." + +"Keys no more lie in the air, or float on the water, than humans, +gal; if there is a key, there must be a place in which it is kept." + +"That is true, and it might not be difficult to find it, did we +dare to search!" + +"This is for you, Judith; it is altogether for you. The chist +is your'n, or your father's; and Hutter is your father, not mine. +Cur'osity is a woman's, and not a man's failing, and there you +have got all the reasons before you. If the chist has articles +for ransom, it seems to me they would be wisely used in redeeming +their owner's life, or even in saving his scalp; but that is a +matter for your judgment, and not for ourn. When the lawful owner +of a trap, or a buck, or a canoe, isn't present, his next of kin +becomes his riprisentyve by all the laws of the woods. We therefore +leave you to say whether the chist shall, or shall not be opened." + +"I hope you do not believe I can hesitate, when my father's life's +in danger, Deerslayer!" + +"Why, it's pretty much putting a scolding ag'in tears and mourning. +It's not onreasonable to foretell that old Tom may find fault with +what you've done, when he sees himself once more in his hut, here, +but there's nothing unusual in men's falling out with what has been +done for their own good; I dare to say that even the moon would +seem a different thing from what it now does, could we look at it +from the other side." + +"Deerslayer, if we can find the key, I will authorize you to open +the chest, and to take such things from it as you may think will +buy father's ransom." + +"First find the key, gal; we'll talk of the rest a'terwards. +Sarpent, you've eyes like a fly, and a judgment that's seldom out. +Can you help us in calculating where Floating Tom would be apt to +keep the key of a chist that he holds to be as private as this?" + +The Delaware had taken no part in the discourse until he was thus +directly appealed to, when he quitted the chest, which had continued +to attract his attention, and cast about him for the place in which +a key would be likely to be concealed under such circumstances. +As Judith and Deerslayer were not idle the while, the whole three +were soon engaged in an anxious and spirited search. As it was +certain that the desired key was not to be found in any of the common +drawers or closets, of which there were several in the building, +none looked there, but all turned their inquiries to those places +that struck them as ingenious hiding places, and more likely +to be used for such a purpose. In this manner the outer room was +thoroughly but fruitlessly examined, when they entered the sleeping +apartment of Hutter. This part of the rude building was better +furnished than the rest of the structure, containing several +articles that had been especially devoted to the service of the +deceased wife of its owner, but as Judith had all the rest of the +keys, it was soon rummaged without bringing to light the particular +key desired. + +They now entered the bed room of the daughters. Chingachgook was +immediately struck with the contrast between the articles and the +arrangement of that side of the room that might be called Judith's, +and that which more properly belonged to Hetty. A slight exclamation +escaped him, and pointing in each direction he alluded to the fact +in a low voice, speaking to his friend in the Delaware tongue. + +"'Tis as you think, Sarpent," answered Deerslayer, whose remarks +we always translate into English, preserving as much as possible +of the peculiar phraseology and manner of the man, "'Tis just so, +as any one may see, and 'tis all founded in natur'. One sister +loves finery, some say overmuch; while t'other is as meek and lowly +as God ever created goodness and truth. Yet, after all, I dare +say that Judith has her vartues, and Hetty has her failin's." + +"And the 'Feeble-Mind' has seen the chist opened?" inquired +Chingachgook, with curiosity in his glance. + +"Sartain; that much I've heard from her own lips; and, for that +matter, so have you. It seems her father doesn't misgive her +discretion, though he does that of his eldest darter." + +"Then the key is hid only from the Wild Rose?" for so Chingachgook +had begun gallantly to term Judith, in his private discourse with +his friend. + +"That's it! That's just it! One he trusts, and the other he +doesn't. There's red and white in that, Sarpent, all tribes and +nations agreeing in trusting some, and refusing to trust other +some. It depends on character and judgment." + +"Where could a key be put, so little likely to be found by the Wild +Rose, as among coarse clothes?" + +Deerslayer started, and turning to his friend with admiration +expressed in every lineament of his face, he fairly laughed, in +his silent but hearty manner, at the ingenuity and readiness of +the conjecture. + +"Your name's well bestowed, Sarpent - yes, 'tis well bestowed! +Sure enough, where would a lover of finery be so little likely to +s'arch, as among garments as coarse and onseemly as these of poor +Hetty's. I dares to say, Judith's delicate fingers haven't touched +a bit of cloth as rough and oncomely as that petticoat, now, since +she first made acquaintance with the officers! Yet, who knows? +The key may be as likely to be on the same peg, as in any other +place. Take down the garment, Delaware, and let us see if you are +ra'ally a prophet." Chingachgook did as desired, but no key was +found. A coarse pocket, apparently empty, hung on the adjoining +peg, and this was next examined. By this time, the attention of +Judith was called in that direction, and she spoke hurriedly and +like one who wished to save unnecessary trouble. + +"Those are only the clothes of poor Hetty, dear simple girl!" she +said, "Nothing we seek would be likely to be there." + +The words were hardly out of the handsome mouth of the speaker, +when Chingachgook drew the desired key from the pocket. Judith +was too quick of apprehension not to understand the reason a hiding +place so simple and exposed had been used. The blood rushed to her +face, as much with resentment, perhaps, as with shame, and she bit +her lip, though she continued silent. Deerslayer and his friend +now discovered the delicacy of men of native refinement, neither +smiling or even by a glance betraying how completely he understood +the motives and ingenuity of this clever artifice. The former, who +had taken the key from the Indian, led the way into the adjoining +room, and applying it to a lock ascertained that the right instrument +had actually been found. There were three padlocks, each of which +however was easily opened by this single key. Deerslayer removed +them all, loosened the hasps, raised the lid a little to make +certain it was loose, and then he drew back from the chest several +feet, signing to his friend to follow. + +"This is a family chist, Judith," he said, "and 'tis like to hold +family secrets. The Sarpent and I will go into the Ark, and look +to the canoes, and paddles, and oars, while you can examine it by +yourself, and find out whether any thing that will be a make-weight +in a ransom is, or is not, among the articles. When you've +got through give us a call, and we'll all sit in council together +touching the valie of the articles." + +"Stop, Deerslayer," exclaimed the girl, as he was about to withdraw. +"Not a single thing will I touch - I will not even raise the lid +- unless you are present. Father and Hetty have seen fit to keep +the inside of this chest a secret from me, and I am much too proud +to pry into their hidden treasures unless it were for their own +good. But on no account will I open the chest alone. Stay with +me, then; I want witnesses of what I do." + +"I rather think, Sarpent, that the gal is right! Confidence +and reliance beget security, but suspicion is like to make us all +wary. Judith has a right to ask us to be present, and should the +chist hold any of Master Hutter's secrets, they will fall into the +keeping of two as close mouthed young men as are to be found. We +will stay with you, Judith - but first let us take a look at the +lake and the shore, for this chist will not be emptied in a minute." + +The two men now went out on the platform, and Deerslayer swept the +shore with the glass, while the Indian gravely turned his eye on +the water and the woods, in quest of any sign that might betray the +machinations of their enemies. Nothing was visible, and assured +of their temporary security, the three collected around the chest +again, with the avowed object of opening it. + +Judith had held this chest and its unknown contents in a species +of reverence as long as she could remember. Neither her father nor +her mother ever mentioned it in her presence, and there appeared +to be a silent convention that in naming the different objects that +occasionally stood near it, or even lay on its lid, care should be +had to avoid any allusion to the chest itself. Habit had rendered +this so easy, and so much a matter of course, that it was only +quite recently the girl had began even to muse on the singularity +of the circumstance. But there had never been sufficient intimacy +between Hutter and his eldest daughter to invite confidence. At +times he was kind, but in general, with her more especially, he was +stern and morose. Least of all had his authority been exercised +in a way to embolden his child to venture on the liberty she was +about to take, without many misgivings of the consequences, although +the liberty proceeded from a desire to serve himself. Then Judith +was not altogether free from a little superstition on the subject +of this chest, which had stood a sort of tabooed relic before her +eyes from childhood to the present hour. Nevertheless the time +had come when it would seem that this mystery was to be explained, +and that under circumstances, too, which left her very little choice +in the matter. + +Finding that both her companions were watching her movements, in +grave silence, Judith placed a hand on the lid and endeavored to +raise it. Her strength, however, was insufficient, and it appeared +to the girl, who was fully aware that all the fastenings were +removed, that she was resisted in an unhallowed attempt by some +supernatural power. + +"I cannot raise the lid, Deerslayer!" she said - "Had we not better +give up the attempt, and find some other means of releasing the +prisoners?" + +"Not so - Judith; not so, gal. No means are as sartain and easy, +as a good bribe," answered the other. "As for the lid, 'tis held +by nothing but its own weight, which is prodigious for so small a +piece of wood, loaded with iron as it is." + +As Deerslayer spoke, he applied his own strength to the effort, +and succeeded in raising the lid against the timbers of the house, +where he took care to secure it by a sufficient prop. Judith +fairly trembled as she cast her first glance at the interior, and +she felt a temporary relief in discovering that a piece of canvas, +that was carefully tucked in around the edges, effectually concealed +all beneath it. The chest was apparently well stored, however, +the canvas lying within an inch of the lid. + +"Here's a full cargo," said Deerslayer, eyeing the arrangement, +"and we had needs go to work leisurely and at our ease. Sarpent, +bring some stools while I spread this blanket on the floor, and +then we'll begin work orderly and in comfort." + +The Delaware complied, Deerslayer civilly placed a stool for +Judith, took one himself, and commenced the removal of the canvas +covering. This was done deliberately, and in as cautious a manner +as if it were believed that fabrics of a delicate construction lay +hidden beneath. When the canvass was removed, the first articles +that came in view were some of the habiliments of the male sex. They +were of fine materials, and, according to the fashions of the age, +were gay in colours and rich in ornaments. One coat in particular +was of scarlet, and had button holes worked in gold thread. Still +it was not military, but was part of the attire of a civilian +of condition, at a period when social rank was rigidly respected +in dress. Chingachgook could not refrain from an exclamation of +pleasure, as soon as Deerslayer opened this coat and held it up to +view, for, notwithstanding all his trained self-command, the splendor +of the vestment was too much for the philosophy of an Indian. +Deerslayer turned quickly, and he regarded his friend with momentary +displeasure as this burst of weakness escaped him, and then +he soliloquized, as was his practice whenever any strong feeling +suddenly got the ascendancy. + +"'Tis his gift! - yes, 'tis the gift of a red-skin to love finery, +and he is not to be blamed. This is an extr'ornary garment, too, +and extr'ornary things get up extr'ornary feelin's. I think this +will do, Judith, for the Indian heart is hardly to be found in all +America that can withstand colours like these, and glitter like +that. If this coat was ever made for your father, you've come +honestly by the taste for finery, you have." + +"That coat was never made for father," answered the girl, quickly +- "it is much too long, while father is short and square." + +"Cloth was plenty if it was, and glitter cheap," answered Deerslayer, +with his silent, joyous laugh. "Sarpent, this garment was made for +a man of your size, and I should like to see it on your shoulders." + +Chingachgook, nothing loath, submitted to the trial, throwing aside +the coarse and thread bare jacket of Hutter, to deck his person +in a coat that was originally intended for a gentleman. The +transformation was ludicrous, but as men are seldom struck with +incongruities in their own appearance, any more than in their own +conduct, the Delaware studied this change in a common glass, by +which Hutter was in the habit of shaving, with grave interest. At +that moment he thought of Hist, and we owe it to truth, to say, +though it may militate a little against the stern character of a +warrior to avow it, that he wished he could be seen by her in his +present improved aspect. + +"Off with it, Sarpent - off with it," resumed the inflexible Deerslayer. +"Such garments as little become you as they would become me. Your +gifts are for paint, and hawk's feathers, and blankets, and wampum, +and mine are for doublets of skins, tough leggings, and sarviceable +moccasins. I say moccasins, Judith, for though white, living as +I do in the woods it's necessary to take to some of the practyces +of the woods, for comfort's sake and cheapness." + +"I see no reason, Deerslayer, why one man may not wear a scarlet +coat, as well as another," returned the girl. "I wish I could see +you in this handsome garment." + +"See me in a coat fit for a Lord! - Well, Judith, if you wait till +that day, you'll wait until you see me beyond reason and memory. +No - no - gal, my gifts are my gifts, and I'll live and die in 'em, +though I never bring down another deer, or spear another salmon. +What have I done that you should wish to see me in such a flaunting +coat, Judith?" + +"Because I think, Deerslayer, that the false-tongued and false-hearted +young gallants of the garrisons, ought not alone to appear in +fine feathers, but that truth and honesty have their claims to be +honored and exalted." + +"And what exaltification" - the reader will have remarked that +Deerslayer had not very critically studied his dictionary - "and +what exaltification would it be to me, Judith, to be bedizened and +bescarleted like a Mingo chief that has just got his presents up +from Quebec? No - no - I'm well as I am; and if not, I can be no +better. Lay the coat down on the blanket, Sarpent, and let us look +farther into the chist." + +The tempting garment, one surely that was never intended for +Hutter, was laid aside, and the examination proceeded. The male +attire, all of which corresponded with the coat in quality, was +soon exhausted, and then succeeded female. A beautiful dress of +brocade, a little the worse from negligent treatment, followed, and +this time open exclamations of delight escaped the lips of Judith. +Much as the girl had been addicted to dress, and favorable as had +been her opportunities of seeing some little pretension in that way +among the wives of the different commandants, and other ladies of +the forts, never before had she beheld a tissue, or tints, to equal +those that were now so unexpectedly placed before her eyes. Her +rapture was almost childish, nor would she allow the inquiry to +proceed, until she had attired her person in a robe so unsuited to +her habits and her abode. With this end, she withdrew into her own +room, where with hands practised in such offices, she soon got rid +of her own neat gown of linen, and stood forth in the gay tints of +the brocade. The dress happened to fit the fine, full person of +Judith, and certainly it had never adorned a being better qualified +by natural gifts to do credit to its really rich hues and fine +texture. When she returned, both Deerslayer and Chingachgook, who +had passed the brief time of her absence in taking a second look at +the male garments, arose in surprise, each permitting exclamations +of wonder and pleasure to escape him, in a way so unequivocal as to +add new lustre to the eyes of Judith, by flushing her cheeks with +a glow of triumph. Affecting, however, not to notice the impression +she had made, the girl seated herself with the stateliness of a +queen, desiring that the chest might be looked into, further. + +"I don't know a better way to treat with the Mingos, gal," cried +Deerslayer, "than to send you ashore as you be, and to tell 'em +that a queen has arrived among 'em! They'll give up old Hutter, +and Hurry, and Hetty, too, at such a spectacle!" + +"I thought your tongue too honest to flatter, Deerslayer," returned +the girl, gratified at this admiration more than she would have +cared to own. "One of the chief reasons of my respect for you, +was your love for truth." + +"And 'tis truth, and solemn truth, Judith, and nothing else. Never +did eyes of mine gaze on as glorious a lookin' creatur' as you be +yourself, at this very moment! I've seen beauties in my time, too, +both white and red; and them that was renowned and talk'd of, far +and near; but never have I beheld one that could hold any comparison +with what you are at this blessed instant, Judith; never." + +The glance of delight which the girl bestowed on the frank-speaking +hunter in no degree lessened the effect of her charms, and as the +humid eyes blended with it a look of sensibility, perhaps Judith +never appeared more truly lovely, than at what the young man had +called that "blessed instant." He shook his head, held it suspended +a moment over the open chest, like one in doubt, and then proceeded +with the examination. + +Several of the minor articles of female dress came next, all of a +quality to correspond with the gown. These were laid at Judith's +feet, in silence, as if she had a natural claim to their possession. +One or two, such as gloves, and lace, the girl caught up, and +appended to her already rich attire in affected playfulness, but +with the real design of decorating her person as far as circumstances +would allow. When these two remarkable suits, male and female they +might be termed, were removed, another canvas covering separated +the remainder of the articles from the part of the chest which they +had occupied. As soon as Deerslayer perceived this arrangement he +paused, doubtful of the propriety of proceeding any further. + +"Every man has his secrets, I suppose," he said, "and all men have +a right to their enj'yment. We've got low enough in this chist +in my judgment to answer our wants, and it seems to me we should +do well by going no farther; and by letting Master Hutter have to +himself, and his own feelin's, all that's beneath this cover. + +"Do you mean, Deerslayer, to offer these clothes to the Iroquois +as ransom?" demanded Judith, quickly. + +"Sartain. What are we prying into another man's chist for, but to +sarve its owner in the best way we can. This coat, alone, would +be very apt to gain over the head chief of the riptyles, and if his +wife or darter should happen to be out with him, that there gownd +would soften the heart of any woman that is to be found atween +Albany and Montreal. I do not see that we want a larger stock in +trade than them two articles." + +"To you it may seem so, Deerslayer," returned the disappointed girl, +"but of what use could a dress like this be to any Indian woman? +She could not wear it among the branches of the trees, the dirt +and smoke of the wigwam would soon soil it, and how would a pair +of red arms appear, thrust through these short, laced sleeves!" + +"All very true, gal, and you might go on and say it is altogether +out of time, and place and season, in this region at all. What +is it to us how the finery is treated, so long as it answers our +wishes? I do not see that your father can make any use of such +clothes, and it's lucky he has things that are of no valie to +himself, that will bear a high price with others. We can make no +better trade for him, than to offer these duds for his liberty. +We'll throw in the light frivol'ties, and get Hurry off in the +bargain." + +"Then you think, Deerslayer, that Thomas Hutter has no one in his +family - no child - no daughter, to whom this dress may be thought +becoming, and whom you could wish to see in it, once and awhile, +even though it should be at long intervals, and only in playfulness?" + +"I understand you, Judith - yes, I now understand your meaning, and +I think I can say, your wishes. That you are as glorious in that +dress as the sun when it rises or sets in a soft October day, I'm +ready to allow, and that you greatly become it is a good deal more +sartain than that it becomes you. There's gifts in clothes, as +well as in other things. Now I do not think that a warrior on his +first path ought to lay on the same awful paints as a chief that +has had his virtue tried, and knows from exper'ence he will not +disgrace his pretensions. So it is with all of us, red or white. You +are Thomas Hutter's darter, and that gownd was made for the child +of some governor, or a lady of high station, and it was intended to +be worn among fine furniture, and in rich company. In my eyes, +Judith, a modest maiden never looks more becoming than when becomingly +clad, and nothing is suitable that is out of character. Besides, +gal, if there's a creatur' in the colony that can afford to do without +finery, and to trust to her own good looks and sweet countenance, +it's yourself." + +"I'll take off the rubbish this instant, Deerslayer," cried the +girl, springing up to leave the room, "and never do I wish to see +it on any human being, again." + +"So it is with 'em, all, Sarpent," said the other, turning to his +friend and laughing, as soon as the beauty had disappeared. "They +like finery, but they like their natyve charms most of all. I'm +glad the gal has consented to lay aside her furbelows, howsever, +for it's ag'in reason for one of her class to wear em; and then +she is handsome enough, as I call it, to go alone. Hist would show +oncommon likely, too, in such a gownd, Delaware!" + +"Wah-ta-Wah is a red-skin girl, Deerslayer," returned the Indian, +"like the young of the pigeon, she is to be known by her own +feathers. I should pass by without knowing her, were she dressed +in such a skin. It's wisest always to be so clad that our friends +need not ask us for our names. The 'Wild Rose' is very pleasant, +but she is no sweeter for so many colours." + +"That's it! - that's natur', and the true foundation for love and +protection. When a man stoops to pick a wild strawberry, he does +not expect to find a melon; and when he wishes to gather a melon, +he's disapp'inted if it proves to be a squash; though squashes be +often brighter to the eye than melons. That's it, and it means +stick to your gifts, and your gifts will stick to you." + +The two men had now a little discussion together, touching the +propriety of penetrating any farther into the chest of Hutter, when +Judith re-appeared, divested of her robes, and in her own simple +linen frock again. + +"Thank you, Judith," said Deerslayer, taking her kindly by the hand +-"for I know it went a little ag'in the nat'ral cravings of woman, +to lay aside so much finery, as it might be in a lump. But you're +more pleasing to the eye as you stand, you be, than if you had a +crown on your head, and jewels dangling from your hair. The question +now is, whether to lift this covering to see what will be ra'ally +the best bargain we can make for Master Hutter, for we must do as +we think he would be willing to do, did he stand here in our places." + +Judith looked very happy. Accustomed as she was to adulation, the +homely homage of Deerslayer had given her more true satisfaction, +than she had ever yet received from the tongue of man. It was not +the terms in which this admiration had been expressed, for they +were simple enough, that produced so strong an impression; nor +yet their novelty, or their warmth of manner, nor any of those +peculiarities that usually give value to praise; but the unflinching +truth of the speaker, that carried his words so directly to the +heart of the listener. This is one of the great advantages of +plain dealing and frankness. The habitual and wily flatterer may +succeed until his practices recoil on himself, and like other sweets +his aliment cloys by its excess; but he who deals honestly, though +he often necessarily offends, possesses a power of praising that +no quality but sincerity can bestow, since his words go directly +to the heart, finding their support in the understanding. Thus it +was with Deerslayer and Judith. So soon and so deeply did this +simple hunter impress those who knew him with a conviction of +his unbending honesty, that all he uttered in commendation was as +certain to please, as all he uttered in the way of rebuke was as +certain to rankle and excite enmity, where his character had not +awakened a respect and affection, that in another sense rendered +it painful. In after life, when the career of this untutored being +brought him in contact with officers of rank, and others entrusted +with the care of the interests of the state, this same influence +was exerted on a wider field, even generals listening to his +commendations with a glow of pleasure, that it was not always in +the power of their official superiors to awaken. Perhaps Judith +was the first individual of his own colour who fairly submitted to +this natural consequence of truth and fair-dealing on the part of +Deerslayer. She had actually pined for his praise, and she had +now received it, and that in the form which was most agreeable to +her weaknesses and habits of thought. The result will appear in +the course of the narrative. + +"If we knew all that chest holds, Deerslayer," returned the girl, +when she had a little recovered from the immediate effect produced +by his commendations of her personal appearance, "we could better +determine on the course we ought to take." + +"That's not onreasonable, gal, though it's more a pale-face than +a red-skin gift to be prying into other people's secrets." + +"Curiosity is natural, and it is expected that all human beings +should have human failings. Whenever I've been at the garrisons, +I've found that most in and about them had a longing to learn their +neighbor's secrets." + +"Yes, and sometimes to fancy them, when they couldn't find 'em +out! That's the difference atween an Indian gentleman and a white +gentleman. The Sarpent, here, would turn his head aside if he found +himself onknowingly lookin' into another chief's wigwam, whereas +in the settlements while all pretend to be great people, most prove +they've got betters, by the manner in which they talk of their +consarns. I'll be bound, Judith, you wouldn't get the Sarpent, +there, to confess there was another in the tribe so much greater +than himself, as to become the subject of his idees, and to empl'y +his tongue in conversations about his movements, and ways, and +food, and all the other little matters that occupy a man when he's +not empl'y'd in his greater duties. He who does this is but little +better than a blackguard, in the grain, and them that encourages +him is pretty much of the same kidney, let them wear coats as fine +as they may, or of what dye they please." + +"But this is not another man's wigwam; it belongs to my father, +these are his things, and they are wanted in his service." + +"That's true, gal; that's true, and it carries weight with it. +Well, when all is before us we may, indeed, best judge which to +offer for the ransom, and which to withhold." + +Judith was not altogether as disinterested in her feelings as she +affected to be. She remembered that the curiosity of Hetty had +been indulged in connection with this chest, while her own had +been disregarded, and she was not sorry to possess an opportunity +of being placed on a level with her less gifted sister in this one +particular. It appearing to be admitted all round that the enquiry +into the contents of the chest ought to be renewed, Deerslayer +proceeded to remove the second covering of canvass. + +The articles that lay uppermost, when the curtain was again raised +on the secrets of the chest, were a pair of pistols, curiously +inlaid with silver. Their value would have been considerable in +one of the towns, though as weapons in the woods they were a species +of arms seldom employed; never, indeed, unless it might be by some +officer from Europe, who visited the colonies, as many were then +wont to do, so much impressed with the superiority of the usages of +London as to fancy they were not to be laid aside on the frontiers +of America. What occurred on the discovery of these weapons will +appear in the succeeding chapter. + + + +Chapter XIII. + + + "An oaken, broken, elbow-chair; + A caudle-cup without an ear; + A battered, shattered ash bedstead; + A box of deal without a lid; + A pair of tongs, but out of joint; + A back-sword poker, without point; + A dish which might good meat afford once; + An Ovid, and an old + Concordance." + + Thomas Sheridan, "A True and Faithful Inventory of the Goods + belonging to Dr. Swift," ll.i-6, 13-14. + +No sooner did Deerslayer raise the pistols, than he turned to the +Delaware and held them up for his admiration. + +"Child gun," said the Serpent, smiling, while he handled one of +the instruments as if it had been a toy." + +"Not it, Sarpent; not it - 'twas made for a man and would satisfy +a giant, if rightly used. But stop; white men are remarkable for +their carelessness in putting away fire arms, in chists and corners. +Let me look if care has been given to these." + +As Deerslayer spoke, he took the weapon from the hand of his friend +and opened the pan. The last was filled with priming, caked like +a bit of cinder, by time, moisture and compression. An application +of the ramrod showed that both the pistols were charged, although +Judith could testify that they had probably lain for years in the +chest. It is not easy to portray the surprise of the Indian at +this discovery, for he was in the practice of renewing his priming +daily, and of looking to the contents of his piece at other short +intervals. + +"This is white neglect," said Deerslayer, shaking his head, "and +scarce a season goes by that some one in the settlements doesn't +suffer from it. It's extr'ornary too, Judith - yes, it's downright +extr'ornary that the owner shall fire his piece at a deer, or +some other game, or perhaps at an inimy, and twice out of three +times he'll miss; but let him catch an accident with one of these +forgotten charges, and he makes it sartain death to a child, or a +brother, or a fri'nd! Well, we shall do a good turn to the owner +if we fire these pistols for him, and as they're novelties to +you and me, Sarpent, we'll try our hands at a mark. Freshen that +priming, and I'll do the same with this, and then we'll see who +is the best man with a pistol; as for the rifle, that's long been +settled atween us." + +Deerslayer laughed heartily at his own conceit, and, in a minute +or two, they were both standing on the platform, selecting some +object in the Ark for their target. Judith was led by curiosity +to their side. + +"Stand back, gal, stand a little back; these we'pons have been +long loaded," said Deerslayer, "and some accident may happen in +the discharge." "Then you shall not fire them! Give them both to +the Delaware; or it would be better to unload them without firing." + +"That's ag'in usage - and some people say, ag'in manhood; though +I hold to no such silly doctrine. We must fire 'em, Judith; yes, +we must fire 'em; though I foresee that neither will have any great +reason to boast of his skill." + +Judith, in the main, was a girl of great personal spirit, and her +habits prevented her from feeling any of the terror that is apt to +come over her sex at the report of fire arms. She had discharged +many a rifle, and had even been known to kill a deer, under +circumstances that were favorable to the effort. She submitted +therefore, falling a little back by the side of Deerslayer, giving +the Indian the front of the platform to himself. Chingachgook +raised the weapon several times, endeavored to steady it by using +both hands, changed his attitude from one that was awkward to +another still more so, and finally drew the trigger with a sort +of desperate indifference, without having, in reality, secured any +aim at all. The consequence was, that instead of hitting the knot +which had been selected for the mark, he missed the ark altogether; +the bullet skipping along the water like a stone that was thrown +by hand. + +"Well done - Sarpent - well done -" cried Deerslayer laughing, with +his noiseless glee, "you've hit the lake, and that's an expl'ite +for some men! I know'd it, and as much as said it, here, to Judith; +for your short we'pons don't belong to red-skin gifts. You've hit +the lake, and that's better than only hitting the air! Now, stand +back and let us see what white gifts can do with a white we'pon. +A pistol isn't a rifle, but colour is colour." + +The aim of Deerslayer was both quick and steady, and the report +followed almost as soon as the weapon rose. Still the pistol +hung fire, as it is termed, and fragments of it flew in a dozen +directions, some falling on the roof of the castle, others in the +Ark, and one in the water. Judith screamed, and when the two men +turned anxiously towards the girl she was as pale as death, trembling +in every limb. + +"She's wounded - yes, the poor gal's wounded, Sarpent, though one +couldn't foresee it, standing where she did. We'll lead her in +to a seat, and we must do the best for her that our knowledge and +skill can afford." + +Judith allowed herself to be supported to a seat, swallowed a mouthful +of the water that the Delaware offered her in a gourd, and, after +a violent fit of trembling that seemed ready to shake her fine +frame to dissolution, she burst into tears. + +"The pain must be borne, poor Judith - yes, it must be borne," said +Deerslayer, soothingly, "though I am far from wishing you not to +weep; for weeping often lightens galish feelin's. Where can she +be hurt, Sarpent? I see no signs of blood, nor any rent of skin +or garments?" + +"I am uninjured, Deerslayer," stammered the girl through her tears. +"It's fright - nothing more, I do assure you, and, God be praised! +no one, I find, has been harmed by the accident." + +"This is extr'ornary!" exclaimed the unsuspecting and simple minded +hunter - "I thought, Judith, you'd been above settlement weaknesses, +and that you was a gal not to be frightened by the sound of a +bursting we'pon - No - I didn't think you so skeary! Hetty might +well have been startled; but you've too much judgment and reason +to be frightened when the danger's all over. They're pleasant to +the eye, chief, and changeful, but very unsartain in their feelin's!" + +Shame kept Judith silent. There had been no acting in her agitation, +but all had fairly proceeded from sudden and uncontrollable alarm +- an alarm that she found almost as inexplicable to herself, as it +proved to be to her companions. Wiping away the traces of tears, +however, she smiled again, and was soon able to join in the laugh +at her own folly. + +"And you, Deerslayer," she at length succeeded in saying - "are +you, indeed, altogether unhurt? It seems almost miraculous that a +pistol should have burst in your hand, and you escape without the +loss of a limb, if not of life!" + +"Such wonders ar'n't oncommon, at all, among worn out arms. The +first rifle they gave me play'd the same trick, and yet I liv'd +through it, though not as onharmless as I've got out of this affair. +Thomas Hutter is master of one pistol less than he was this morning, +but, as it happened in trying to sarve him, there's no ground of +complaint. Now, draw near, and let us look farther into the inside +of the chist." + +Judith, by this time, had so far gotten the better of her agitation +as to resume her seat, and the examination went on. The next article +that offered was enveloped in cloth, and on opening it, it proved +to be one of the mathematical instruments that were then in use +among seamen, possessing the usual ornaments and fastenings in +brass. Deerslayer and Chingachgook expressed their admiration and +surprise at the appearance of the unknown instrument, which was +bright and glittering, having apparently been well cared for. + +"This goes beyond the surveyors, Judith!" Deerslayer exclaimed, +after turning the instrument several times in his hands. "I've +seen all their tools often, and wicked and heartless enough are +they, for they never come into the forest but to lead the way to +waste and destruction; but none of them have as designing a look +as this! I fear me, after all, that Thomas Hutter has journeyed +into the wilderness with no fair intentions towards its happiness. +Did you ever see any of the cravings of a surveyor about your +father, gal?" + +"He is no surveyor, Deerslayer, nor does he know the use of that +instrument, though he seems to own it. Do you suppose that Thomas +Hutter ever wore that coat? It is as much too large for him, as +this instrument is beyond his learning." + +"That's it - that must be it, Sarpent, and the old fellow, by some +onknown means, has fallen heir to another man's goods! They say +he has been a mariner, and no doubt this chist, and all it holds +- ha! What have we here? -This far out does the brass and black +wood of the tool!" + +Deerslayer had opened a small bag, from which he was taking, one +by one, the pieces of a set of chessmen. They were of ivory, much +larger than common, and exquisitely wrought. Each piece represented +the character or thing after which it is named; the knights +being mounted, the castles stood on elephants, and even the pawns +possessed the heads and busts of men. The set was not complete, and +a few fractures betrayed bad usage; but all that was left had been +carefully put away and preserved. Even Judith expressed wonder, as +these novel objects were placed before her eyes, and Chingachgook +fairly forgot his Indian dignity in admiration and delight. The +latter took up each piece, and examined it with never tiring +satisfaction, pointing out to the girl the more ingenious and +striking portions of the workmanship. But the elephants gave him +the greatest pleasure. The "Hughs!" that he uttered, as he passed +his fingers over their trunks, and ears, and tails, were very +distinct, nor did he fail to note the pawns, which were armed as +archers. This exhibition lasted several minutes, during which time +Judith and the Indian had all the rapture to themselves. Deerslayer +sat silent, thoughtful, and even gloomy, though his eyes followed +each movement of the two principal actors, noting every new peculiarity +about the pieces as they were held up to view. Not an exclamation +of pleasure, nor a word of condemnation passed his lips. At length +his companions observed his silence, and then, for the first time +since the chessmen had been discovered, did he speak. + +"Judith," he asked earnestly, but with a concern that amounted +almost to tenderness of manner, "did your parents ever talk to you +of religion?" + +The girl coloured, and the flashes of crimson that passed over her +beautiful countenance were like the wayward tints of a Neapolitan +sky in November. Deerslayer had given her so strong a taste for +truth, however, that she did not waver in her answer, replying +simply and with sincerity. + +"My mother did often," she said, "my father never. I thought it +made my mother sorrowful to speak of our prayers and duties, but +my father has never opened his mouth on such matters, before or +since her death." + +"That I can believe - that I can believe. He has no God - no +such God as it becomes a man of white skin to worship, or even a +red-skin. Them things are idols!" + +Judith started, and for a moment she seemed seriously hurt. Then +she reflected, and in the end she laughed. "And you think, +Deerslayer, that these ivory toys are my father's Gods? I have +heard of idols, and know what they are." + +"Them are idols!" repeated the other, positively. "Why should your +father keep 'em, if he doesn't worship 'em." + +"Would he keep his gods in a bag, and locked up in a chest? No, +no, Deerslayer; my poor father carries his God with him, wherever +he goes, and that is in his own cravings. These things may really +be idols - I think they are myself, from what I have heard and read +of idolatry, but they have come from some distant country, and like +all the other articles, have fallen into Thomas Hutter's hands when +he was a sailor." + +"I'm glad of it - I am downright glad to hear it, Judith, for I do +not think I could have mustered the resolution to strive to help +a white idolater out of his difficulties! The old man is of my +colour and nation and I wish to sarve him, but as one who denied +all his gifts, in the way of religion, it would have come hard to +do so. That animal seems to give you great satisfaction, Sarpent, +though it's an idolatrous beast at the best." + +"It is an elephant," interrupted Judith. "I've often seen pictures +of such animals, at the garrisons, and mother had a book in which +there was a printed account of the creature. Father burnt that +with all the other books, for he said Mother loved reading too well. +This was not long before mother died, and I've sometimes thought +that the loss hastened her end." + +This was said equally without levity and without any very deep +feeling. It was said without levity, for Judith was saddened by +her recollections, and yet she had been too much accustomed to live +for self, and for the indulgence of her own vanities, to feel her +mother's wrongs very keenly. It required extraordinary circumstances +to awaken a proper sense of her situation, and to stimulate the +better feelings of this beautiful, but misguided girl, and those +circumstances had not yet occurred in her brief existence. + +"Elephant, or no elephant, 'tis an idol," returned the hunter, "and +not fit to remain in Christian keeping." + +"Good for Iroquois!" said Chingachgook, parting with one of the +castles with reluctance, as his friend took it from him to replace +it in the bag -"Elephon buy whole tribe - buy Delaware, almost!" + +"Ay, that it would, as any one who comprehends red-skin natur' must +know," answered Deerslayer, "but the man that passes false money, +Sarpent, is as bad as he who makes it. Did you ever know a just +Injin that wouldn't scorn to sell a 'coon skin for the true marten, +or to pass off a mink for a beaver. I know that a few of these +idols, perhaps one of them elephants, would go far towards buying +Thomas Hutter's liberty, but it goes ag'in conscience to pass such +counterfeit money. Perhaps no Injin tribe, hereaway, is downright +idolators but there's some that come so near it, that white gifts +ought to be particular about encouraging them in their mistake." + +"If idolatry is a gift, Deerslayer, and gifts are what you seem +to think them, idolatry in such people can hardly be a sin," said +Judith with more smartness than discrimination. + +"God grants no such gifts to any of his creatur's, Judith," returned +the hunter, seriously. "He must be adored, under some name or +other, and not creatur's of brass or ivory. It matters not whether +the Father of All is called God, or Manitou, Deity or Great Spirit, +he is none the less our common maker and master; nor does it count +for much whether the souls of the just go to Paradise, or Happy +Hunting Grounds, since He may send each his own way, as suits +his own pleasure and wisdom; but it curdles my blood, when I find +human mortals so bound up in darkness and consait, as to fashion +the 'arth, or wood, or bones, things made by their own hands, into +motionless, senseless effigies, and then fall down afore them, and +worship 'em as a Deity!" + +"After all, Deerslayer, these pieces of ivory may not be idols, +at all. I remember, now, to have seen one of the officers at the +garrison with a set of fox and geese made in some such a design +as these, and here is something hard, wrapped in cloth, that may +belong to your idols." + +Deerslayer took the bundle the girl gave him, and unrolling it, he +found the board within. Like the pieces it was large, rich, and +inlaid with ebony and ivory. Putting the whole in conjunction the +hunter, though not without many misgivings, slowly came over to +Judith's opinion, and finally admitted that the fancied idols must +be merely the curiously carved men of some unknown game. Judith +had the tact to use her victory with great moderation, nor did she +once, even in the most indirect manner, allude to the ludicrous +mistake of her companion. + +This discovery of the uses of the extraordinary-looking little +images settled the affair of the proposed ransom. It was agreed +generally, and all understood the weaknesses and tastes of Indians, +that nothing could be more likely to tempt the cupidity of the +Iroquois than the elephants, in particular. Luckily the whole of +the castles were among the pieces, and these four tower-bearing +animals it was finally determined should be the ransom offered. +The remainder of the men, and, indeed, all the rest of the articles +in the chest, were to be kept out of view, and to be resorted to +only as a last appeal. As soon as these preliminaries were settled, +everything but those intended for the bribe was carefully replaced +in the chest, all the covers were 'tucked in' as they had been found, +and it was quite possible, could Hutter have been put in possession +of the castle again, that he might have passed the remainder of +his days in it without even suspecting the invasion that had been +made on the privacy of the chest. The rent pistol would have been +the most likely to reveal the secret, but this was placed by the +side of its fellow, and all were pressed down as before, some half +a dozen packages in the bottom of the chest not having been opened +at all. When this was done the lid was lowered, the padlocks +replaced, and the key turned. The latter was then replaced in the +pocket from which it had been taken. + +More than an hour was consumed in settling the course proper to +be pursued, and in returning everything to its place. The pauses +to converse were frequent, and Judith, who experienced a lively +pleasure in the open, undisguised admiration with which Deerslayer's +honest eyes gazed at her handsome face, found the means to prolong +the interview, with a dexterity that seems to be innate in female +coquetry. Deerslayer, indeed, appeared to be the first who was +conscious of the time that had been thus wasted, and to call the +attention of his companions to the necessity of doing something +towards putting the plan of ransoming into execution. Chingachgook +had remained in Hutter's bed room, where the elephants were laid, +to feast his eyes with the images of animals so wonderful, and so +novel. Perhaps an instinct told him that his presence would not +be as acceptable to his companions as this holding himself aloof, +for Judith had not much reserve in the manifestations of her +preferences, and the Delaware had not got so far as one betrothed +without acquiring some knowledge of the symptoms of the master +passion. + +"Well, Judith," said Deerslayer, rising, after the interview had +lasted much longer than even he himself suspected, "'tis pleasant +convarsing with you, and settling all these matters, but duty calls +us another way. All this time, Hurry and your father, not to say +Hetty - " The word was cut short in the speaker's mouth, for, at +that critical moment, a light step was heard on the platform, or +'court-yard', a human figure darkened the doorway, and the person +last mentioned stood before him. The low exclamation that escaped +Deerslayer and the slight scream of Judith were hardly uttered, +when an Indian youth, between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, +stood beside her. These two entrances had been made with moccasined +feet, and consequently almost without noise, but, unexpected and +stealthy as they were, they had not the effect to disturb Deerslayer's +self possession. His first measure was to speak rapidly in Delaware +to his friend, cautioning him to keep out of sight, while he stood +on his guard; the second was to step to the door to ascertain +the extent of the danger. No one else, however, had come, and a +simple contrivance, in the shape of a raft, that lay floating at +the side of the Ark, at once explained the means that had been used +in bringing Hetty off. Two dead and dry, and consequently buoyant, +logs of pine were bound together with pins and withes and a little +platform of riven chestnut had been rudely placed on their surfaces. +Here Hetty had been seated, on a billet of wood, while the young +Iroquois had rowed the primitive and slow-moving, but perfectly +safe craft from the shore. + +As soon as Deerslayer had taken a close survey of this raft, and +satisfied himself nothing else was near, he shook his head and +muttered in his soliloquizing way - "This comes of prying into +another man's chist! Had we been watchful, and keen eyed, such a +surprise could never have happened, and, getting this much from a +boy teaches us what we may expect when the old warriors set themselves +fairly about their sarcumventions. It opens the way, howsever, to +a treaty for the ransom, and I will hear what Hetty has to say." + +Judith, as soon as her surprise and alarm had a little abated, +discovered a proper share of affectionate joy at the return of her +sister. She folded her to her bosom, and kissed her, as had been +her wont in the days of their childhood and innocence. Hetty +herself was less affected, for to her there was no surprise, and +her nerves were sustained by the purity and holiness of her purpose. +At her sister's request she took a seat, and entered into an account +of her adventures since they had parted. Her tale commenced just +as Deerslayer returned, and he also became an attentive listener, +while the young Iroquois stood near the door, seemingly as indifferent +to what was passing as one of its posts. + +The narrative of the girl was sufficiently clear, until she reached +the time where we left her in the camp, after the interview with +the chiefs, and, at the moment when Hist quitted her, in the abrupt +manner already related. The sequel of the story may be told in +her own language. + +"When I read the texts to the chiefs, Judith, you could not have +seen that they made any changes on their minds," she said, "but if +seed is planted, it will grow. God planted the seeds of +all these trees - " + +"Ay that did he - that did he -" muttered Deerslayer; "and a goodly +harvest has followed." + +"God planted the seeds of all these trees," continued Hetty, after +a moment's pause, "and you see to what a height and shade they have +grown! So it is with the Bible. You may read a verse this year, +and forget it, and it will come back to you a year hence, when you +least expect to remember it." + +"And did you find any thing of this among the savages, poor Hetty?" + +"Yes, Judith, and sooner and more fully than I had even hoped. I +did not stay long with father and Hurry, but went to get my breakfast +with Hist. As soon as we had done the chiefs came to us, and then +we found the fruits of the seed that had been planted. They said +what I had read from the good book was right - it must be right - +it sounded right; like a sweet bird singing in their ears; and they +told me to come back and say as much to the great warrior who had +slain one of their braves; and to tell it to you, and to say how +happy they should be to come to church here, in the castle, or to +come out in the sun, and hear me read more of the sacred volume - +and to tell you that they wish you would lend them some canoes that +they can bring father and Hurry and their women to the castle, that +we might all sit on the platform there and listen to the singing +of the Pale-face Manitou. There, Judith; did you ever know of +any thing that so plainly shows the power of the Bible, as that!" + +"If it were true 't would be a miracle, indeed, Hetty. But all +this is no more than Indian cunning and Indian treachery, striving +to get the better of us by management, when they find it is not to +be done by force." + +"Do you doubt the Bible, sister, that you judge the savages so +harshly!" + +"I do not doubt the Bible, poor Hetty, but I much doubt an Indian +and an Iroquois. What do you say to this visit, Deerslayer?" + +"First let me talk a little with Hetty," returned the party appealed +to; "Was the raft made a'ter you had got your breakfast, gal, and +did you walk from the camp to the shore opposite to us, here?" + +"Oh! no, Deerslayer. The raft was ready made and in the water +-could that have been by a miracle, Judith?" + +"Yes - yes - an Indian miracle," rejoined the hunter - "They're +expart enough in them sort of miracles. And you found the raft +ready made to your hands, and in the water, and in waiting like +for its cargo?" + +"It was all as you say. The raft was near the camp, and the Indians +put me on it, and had ropes of bark, and they dragged me to the +place opposite to the castle, and then they told that young man to +row me off, here." + +"And the woods are full of the vagabonds, waiting to know what is +to be the upshot of the miracle. We comprehend this affair, now, +Judith, but I'll first get rid of this young Canada blood sucker, +and then we'll settle our own course. Do you and Hetty leave us +together, first bringing me the elephants, which the Sarpent is +admiring, for 'twill never do to let this loping deer be alone a +minute, or he'll borrow a canoe without asking." + +Judith did as desired, first bringing the pieces, and retiring +with her sister into their own room. Deerslayer had acquired some +knowledge of most of the Indian dialects of that region, and he +knew enough of the Iroquois to hold a dialogue in the language. +Beckoning to the lad, therefore, he caused him to take a seat on +the chest, when he placed two of the castles suddenly before him. +Up to that moment, this youthful savage had not expressed a single +intelligible emotion, or fancy. There were many things, in and +about the place, that were novelties to him, but he had maintained +his self-command with philosophical composure. It is true, Deerslayer +had detected his dark eye scanning the defences and the arms, but +the scrutiny had been made with such an air of innocence, in such +a gaping, indolent, boyish manner, that no one but a man who had +himself been taught in a similar school, would have even suspected +his object. The instant, however, the eyes of the savage fell +upon the wrought ivory, and the images of the wonderful, unknown +beasts, surprise and admiration got the mastery of him. The manner +in which the natives of the South Sea Islands first beheld the toys +of civilized life has been often described, but the reader is not +to confound it with the manner of an American Indian, under similar +circumstances. In this particular case, the young Iroquois or +Huron permitted an exclamation of rapture to escape him, and then +he checked himself like one who had been guilty of an indecorum. +After this, his eyes ceased to wander, but became riveted on the +elephants, one of which, after a short hesitation, he even presumed +to handle. Deerslayer did not interrupt him for quite ten minutes, +knowing that the lad was taking such note of the curiosities, as +would enable him to give the most minute and accurate description +of their appearance to his seniors, on his return. When he thought +sufficient time had been allowed to produce the desired effect, +the hunter laid a finger on the naked knee of the youth and drew +his attention to himself. + +"Listen," he said; "I want to talk with my young friend from the +Canadas. Let him forget that wonder for a minute." + +"Where t'other pale brother?" demanded the boy, looking up and letting +the idea that had been most prominent in his mind, previously to +the introduction of the chess men, escape him involuntarily. + +"He sleeps, or if he isn't fairly asleep, he is in the room where +the men do sleep," returned Deerslayer. "How did my young friend +know there was another?" + +"See him from the shore. Iroquois have got long eyes - see beyond +the clouds - see the bottom of the Great Spring!" + +"Well, the Iroquois are welcome. Two pale-faces are prisoners in +the camp of your fathers, boy." + +The lad nodded, treating the circumstance with great apparent +indifference; though a moment after he laughed as if exulting in +the superior address of his own tribe. + +"Can you tell me, boy, what your chiefs intend to do with these +captyves, or haven't they yet made up their minds?" + +The lad looked a moment at the hunter with a little surprise. Then +he coolly put the end of his fore finger on his own head, just +above the left ear, and passed it round his crown with an accuracy +and readiness that showed how well he had been drilled in the +peculiar art of his race. + +"When?" demanded Deerslayer, whose gorge rose at this cool +demonstration of indifference to human life. "And why not take +them to your wigwams?" + +"Road too long, and full of pale-faces. Wigwam full, and scalps +sell high. Small scalp, much gold." + +"Well that explains it - yes, that does explain it. There's no need +of being any plainer. Now you know, lad, that the oldest of your +prisoners is the father of these two young women, and the other +is the suitor of one of them. The gals nat'rally wish to save the +scalps of such fri'nds, and they will give them two ivory creaturs, +as ransom. One for each scalp. Go back and tell this to your +chiefs, and bring me the answer before the sun sets." + +The boy entered zealously into this project, and with a sincerity +that left no doubt of his executing his commission with intelligence +and promptitude. For a moment he forgot his love of honor, and +all his clannish hostility to the British and their Indians, in +his wish to have such a treasure in his tribe, and Deerslayer was +satisfied with the impression he had made. It is true the lad +proposed to carry one of the elephants with him, as a specimen of +the other, but to this his brother negotiator was too sagacious to +consent; well knowing that it might never reach its destination if +confided to such hands. This little difficulty was soon arranged, +and the boy prepared to depart. As he stood on the platform, ready +to step aboard of the raft, he hesitated, and turned short with +a proposal to borrow a canoe, as the means most likely to shorten +the negotiations. Deerslayer quietly refused the request, and, +after lingering a little longer, the boy rowed slowly away from +the castle, taking the direction of a thicket on the shore that +lay less than half a mile distant. Deerslayer seated himself on a +stool and watched the progress of the ambassador, sometimes closely +scanning the whole line of shore, as far as eye could reach, and +then placing an elbow on a knee, he remained a long time with his +chin resting on the hand. + +During the interview between Deerslayer and the lad, a different +scene took place in the adjoining room. Hetty had inquired for +the Delaware, and being told why and where he remained concealed, +she joined him. The reception which Chingachgook gave his visitor +was respectful and gentle. He understood her character, and, no +doubt, his disposition to be kind to such a being was increased +by the hope of learning some tidings of his betrothed. As soon as +the girl entered she took a seat, and invited the Indian to place +himself near her; then she continued silent, as if she thought it +decorous for him to question her, before she consented to speak +on the subject she had on her mind. But, as Chingachgook did not +understand this feeling, he remained respectfully attentive to any +thing she might be pleased to tell him. + +"You are Chingachgook, the Great Serpent of the Delawares, ar'n't +you?" the girl at length commenced, in her own simple way losing +her self-command in the desire to proceed, but anxious first to +make sure of the individual. "Chingachgook," returned the Delaware +with grave dignity. "That say Great Sarpent, in Deerslayer tongue." + +"Well, that is my tongue. Deerslayer, and father, and Judith, and +I, and poor Hurry Harry - do you know Henry March, Great Serpent? +I know you don't, however, or he would have spoken of you, too." + +"Did any tongue name Chingachgook, Drooping-Lily"? for so the +chief had named poor Hetty. "Was his name sung by a little bird +among Iroquois?" + +Hetty did not answer at first, but, with that indescribable +feeling that awakens sympathy and intelligence among the youthful +and unpracticed of her sex, she hung her head, and the blood suffused +her cheek ere she found her tongue. It would have exceeded her +stock of intelligence to explain this embarrassment, but, though +poor Hetty could not reason, on every emergency, she could always +feel. The colour slowly receded from her cheeks, and the girl +looked up archly at the Indian, smiling with the innocence of a +child, mingled with the interest of a woman. + +"My sister, the Drooping Lily, hear such bird!" Chingachgook added, +and this with a gentleness of tone and manner that would have +astonished those who sometimes heard the discordant cries that +often came from the same throat; these transitions from the harsh +and guttural, to the soft and melodious not being infrequent in +ordinary Indian dialogues. "My sister's ears were open -has she +lost her tongue?" + +"You are Chingachgook - you must be; for there is no other red man +here, and she thought Chingachgook would come." + +"Chin-gach-gook," pronouncing the name slowly, and dwelling on each +syllable` "Great Sarpent, Yengeese tongue." + +[It is singular there should be any question concerning the origin +of the well-known sobriquet of "Yankees." Nearly all the old +writers who speak of the Indians first known to the colonists make +them pronounce the word "English" as "Yengeese." Even at this day, +it is a provincialism of New England to say "Anglish" instead of +"Inglish," and there is a close conformity of sound between "Anglish" +and "yengeese," more especially if the latter word, as was probably +the case, be pronounced short. The transition from "Yengeese," +thus pronounced, to "Yankees" is quite easy. If the former is +pronounced "Yangis," it is almost identical with "Yankees," and +Indian words have seldom been spelt as they are pronounced. Thus +the scene of this tale is spelt "Otsego," and is properly pronounced +"Otsago." The liquids of the Indians would easily convert "En" +into "Yen."] + +"Chin-gach-gook," repeated Hetty, in the same deliberate manner. +"Yes, so Hist called it, and you must be the chief." + +"Wah-ta-Wah," added the Delaware. + +"Wah-ta-Wah, or Hist-oh-Hist. I think Hist prettier than Wah, and +so I call her Hist." + +"Wah very sweet in Delaware ears!" + +"You make it sound differently from me. But, never mind, I did +hear the bird you speak of sing, Great Serpent." + +"Will my sister say words of song? What she sing most - how she +look - often she laugh?" + +"She sang Chin-gach-gook oftener than any thing else; and she laughed +heartily, when I told how the Iroquois waded into the water after +us, and couldn't catch us. I hope these logs haven't ears, Serpent!" + +"No fear logs; fear sister next room. No fear Iroquois; Deerslayer +stuff his eyes and ears with strange beast." + +"I understand you, Serpent, and I understood Hist. Sometimes I +think I'm not half as feeble minded as they say I am. Now, do you +look up at the roof, and I'll tell you all. But you frighten me, +you look so eager when I speak of Hist." + +The Indian controlled his looks, and affected to comply with the +simple request of the girl. + +"Hist told me to say, in a very low voice, that you mustn't trust +the Iroquois in anything. They are more artful than any Indians +she knows. Then she says that there is a large bright star that +comes over the hill, about an hour after dark" - Hist had pointed +out the planet Jupiter, without knowing it - "and just as that +star comes in sight, she will be on the point, where I landed last +night, and that you must come for her, in a canoe." + +"Good - Chingachgook understand well enough, now; but he understand +better if my sister sing him ag'in." + +Hetty repeated her words, more fully explaining what star was +meant, and mentioning the part of the point where he was to venture +ashore. She now proceeded in her own unsophisticated way to relate +her intercourse with the Indian maid, and to repeat several of her +expressions and opinions that gave great delight to the heart of +her betrothed. She particularly renewed her injunctions to be on +their guard against treachery, a warning that was scarcely needed, +however, as addressed to men as wary as those to whom it was sent. +She also explained with sufficient clearness, for on all such +subjects the mind of the girl seldom failed her, the present state +of the enemy, and the movements they had made since morning. Hist +had been on the raft with her until it quitted the shore, and was +now somewhere in the woods, opposite to the castle, and did not +intend to return to the camp until night approached; when she hoped +to be able to slip away from her companions, as they followed the +shore on their way home, and conceal herself on the point. No one +appeared to suspect the presence of Chingachgook, though it was +necessarily known that an Indian had entered the Ark the previous +night, and it was suspected that he had since appeared in and about +the castle in the dress of a pale-face. Still some little doubt +existed on the latter point, for, as this was the season when +white men might be expected to arrive, there was some fear that +the garrison of the castle was increasing by these ordinary means. +All this had Hist communicated to Hetty while the Indians were +dragging them along shore, the distance, which exceeded six miles, +affording abundance of time. + +"Hist don't know, herself, whether they suspect her or not, or +whether they suspect you, but she hopes neither is the case. And +now, Serpent, since I have told you so much from your betrothed," +continued Hetty, unconsciously taking one of the Indian's hands, +and playing with the fingers, as a child is often seen to play +with those of a parent, "you must let me tell you something from +myself. When you marry Hist, you must be kind to her, and smile on +her, as you do now on me, and not look cross as some of the chiefs +do at their squaws. Will you promise this?" + +"Alway good to Wah! - too tender to twist hard; else she break." + +"Yes, and smile, too; you don't know how much a girl craves smiles +from them she loves. Father scarce smiled on me once, while I was +with him - and, Hurry -Yes - Hurry talked loud and laughed, but I +don't think he smiled once either. You know the difference between +a smile and a laugh?" + +"Laugh, best. Hear Wah laugh, think bird sing!" + +"I know that; her laugh is pleasant, but you must smile. And then, +Serpent, you mustn't make her carry burthens and hoe corn, as so +many Indians do; but treat her more as the pale-faces treat their +wives." + +"Wah-ta-Wah no pale-face - got red-skin; red heart, red feelin's. +All red; no pale-face. Must carry papoose." + +"Every woman is willing to carry her child," said Hetty smiling, +"and there is no harm in that. But you must love Hist, and be +gentle, and good to her; for she is gentle and good herself." + +Chingachgook gravely bowed, and then he seemed to think this part +of the subject might be dismissed. Before there was time for Hetty +to resume her communications, the voice of Deerslayer was heard +calling on his friend, in the outer room. At this summons the +Serpent arose to obey, and Hetty joined her sister. + + + +Chapter XIV. + + + "'A stranger animal,' cries one, + 'Sure never liv'd beneath the sun; + A lizard's body lean and long, + A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, + Its foot, with triple claw disjoined; + And what a length of tail behind!'" + + James Merrick, "The Chameleon," 11.21-26. + +The first act of the Delaware, on rejoining his friend, was to +proceed gravely to disencumber himself of his civilized attire, and +to stand forth an Indian warrior again. The protest of Deerslayer +was met by his communicating the fact that the presence of an +Indian in the hut was known to the Iroquois, and that maintaining +the disguise would be more likely to direct suspicions to his real +object, than if he came out openly as a member of a hostile tribe. +When the latter understood the truth, and was told that he had been +deceived in supposing the chief had succeeded in entering the Ark +undiscovered, he cheerfully consented to the change, since further +attempt at concealment was useless. A gentler feeling than the +one avowed, however, lay at the bottom of the Indian's desire to +appear as a son of the forest. He had been told that Hist was on +the opposite shore, and nature so far triumphed over all distinctions +of habit, and tribes and people, as to reduce this young savage +warrior to the level of a feeling which would have been found in +the most refined inhabitant of a town, under similar circumstances. +There was a mild satisfaction in believing that she he loved could +see him, and as he walked out on the platform in his scanty, native +attire, an Apollo of the wilderness, a hundred of the tender fancies +that fleet through lovers' brains beset his imagination and softened +his heart. All this was lost on Deerslayer, who was no great adept +in the mysteries of Cupid, but whose mind was far more occupied +with the concerns that forced themselves on his attention, than with +any of the truant fancies of love. He soon recalled his companion, +therefore, to a sense of their actual condition, by summoning him +to a sort of council of war, in which they were to settle their +future course. In the dialogue that followed, the parties mutually +made each other acquainted with what had passed in their several +interviews. Chingachgook was told the history of the treaty about +the ransom, and Deerslayer heard the whole of Hetty's communications. +The latter listened with generous interest to his friend's hopes, +and promised cheerfully all the assistance he could lend. + +"Tis our main ar'n'd, Sarpent, as you know, this battling for the +castle and old Hutter's darters, coming in as a sort of accident. +Yes - yes - I'll be actyve in helping little Hist, who's not only +one of the best and handsomest maidens of the tribe, but the very +best and handsomest. I've always encouraged you, chief, in that +liking, and it's proper, too, that a great and ancient race like +your'n shouldn't come to an end. If a woman of red skin and red +gifts could get to be near enough to me to wish her for a wife, +I'd s'arch for just such another, but that can never be; no, that +can never be. I'm glad Hetty has met with Hist, howsever, for +though the first is a little short of wit and understanding, the +last has enough for both. Yes, Sarpent," laughing heartily - "put +'em together, and two smarter gals isn't to be found in all York +Colony!" + +"I will go to the Iroquois camp," returned the Delaware, gravely. +"No one knows Chingachgook but Wah, and a treaty for lives and +scalps should be made by a chief. Give me the strange beasts, and +let me take a canoe." + +Deerslayer dropped his head and played with the end of a fish-pole +in the water, as he sat dangling his legs over the edge of the +platform, like a man who was lost in thought by the sudden occurrence +of a novel idea. Instead of directly answering the proposal of +his friend, he began to soliloquize, a circumstance however that +in no manner rendered his words more true, as he was remarkable +for saying what he thought, whether the remarks were addressed to +himself, or to any one else. + +"Yes - yes -" he said - "this must be what they call love! I've +heard say that it sometimes upsets reason altogether, leaving a +young man as helpless, as to calculation and caution, as a brute +beast. To think that the Sarpent should be so lost to reason, and +cunning, and wisdom! We must sartainly manage to get Hist off, +and have 'em married as soon as we get back to the tribe, or this +war will be of no more use to the chief, than a hunt a little +oncommon extr'ornary. Yes - Yes - he'll never be the man he was, +till this matter is off his mind, and he comes to his senses like +all the rest of mankind. Sarpent, you can't be in airnest, and +therefore I shall say but little to your offer. But you're a chief, +and will soon be sent out on the war path at head of the parties, +and I'll just ask if you'd think of putting your forces into the +inimy's hands, afore the battle is fou't?" + +"Wah!" ejaculated the Indian. + +"Ay - Wah - I know well enough it's Wah, and altogether Wah -Ra'ally, +Sarpent, I'm consarned and mortified about you! I never heard so +weak an idee come from a chief, and he, too, one that's already +got a name for being wise, young and inexper'enced as he is. Canoe +you sha'n't have, so long as the v'ice of fri'ndship and warning +can count for any thing." + +"My pale-face friend is right. A cloud came over the face of +Chingachgook, and weakness got into his mind, while his eyes were +dim. My brother has a good memory for good deeds, and a weak memory +for bad. He will forget." + +"Yes, that's easy enough. Say no more about it chief, but if another +of them clouds blow near you, do your endivours to get out of its +way. Clouds are bad enough in the weather, but when they come to +the reason, it gets to be serious. Now, sit down by me here, and +let us calculate our movements a little, for we shall soon either +have a truce and a peace, or we shall come to an actyve and bloody +war. You see the vagabonds can make logs sarve their turn, as +well as the best raftsmen on the rivers, and it would be no great +expl'ite for them to invade us in a body. I've been thinking of +the wisdom of putting all old Tom's stores into the Ark, of barring +and locking up the Castle, and of taking to the Ark, altogether. +That is moveable, and by keeping the sail up, and shifting places, +we might worry through a great many nights, without them Canada +wolves finding a way into our sheep fold!" + +Chingachgook listened to this plan with approbation. Did the +negotiation fail, there was now little hope that the night would +pass without an assault, and the enemy had sagacity enough to +understand that in carrying the castle they would probably become +masters of all it contained, the offered ransom included, and still +retain the advantages they had hitherto gained. Some precaution +of the sort appeared to be absolutely necessary, for now the +numbers of the Iroquois were known, a night attack could scarcely +be successfully met. It would be impossible to prevent the enemy +from getting possession of the canoes and the Ark, and the latter +itself would be a hold in which the assailants would be as effectually +protected against bullets as were those in the building. For a +few minutes, both the men thought of sinking the Ark in the shallow +water, of bringing the canoes into the house, and of depending +altogether on the castle for protection. But reflection satisfied +them that, in the end, this expedient would fail. It was so easy +to collect logs on the shore, and to construct a raft of almost any +size, that it was certain the Iroquois, now they had turned their +attention to such means, would resort to them seriously, so long +as there was the certainty of success by perseverance. After +deliberating maturely, and placing all the considerations fairly +before them, the two young beginners in the art of forest warfare +settled down into the opinion that the Ark offered the only available +means of security. This decision was no sooner come to, than it +was communicated to Judith. The girl had no serious objection to +make, and all four set about the measures necessary to carrying +the plan into execution. + +The reader will readily understand that Floating Tom's worldly goods +were of no great amount. A couple of beds, some wearing apparel, +the arms and ammunition, a few cooking utensils, with the mysterious +and but half examined chest formed the principal items. These were +all soon removed, the Ark having been hauled on the eastern side +of the building, so that the transfer could be made without being +seen from the shore. It was thought unnecessary to disturb the +heavier and coarser articles of furniture, as they were not required +in the Ark, and were of but little value in themselves. As great +caution was necessary in removing the different objects, most of +which were passed out of a window with a view to conceal what was +going on, it required two or three hours before all could be effected. +By the expiration of that time, the raft made its appearance, moving +from the shore. Deerslayer immediately had recourse to the glass, +by the aid of which he perceived that two warriors were on it, +though they appeared to be unarmed. The progress of the raft was +slow, a circumstance that formed one of the great advantages that +would be possessed by the scow, in any future collision between +them, the movements of the latter being comparatively swift and +light. As there was time to make the dispositions for the reception +of the two dangerous visitors, everything was prepared for them, +long before they had got near enough to be hailed. The Serpent and +the girls retired into the building, where the former stood near +the door, well provided with rifles, while Judith watched the +proceedings without through a loop. As for Deerslayer, he had +brought a stool to the edge of the platform, at the point towards +which the raft was advancing, and taken his seat with his rifle +leaning carelessly between his legs. + +As the raft drew nearer, every means possessed by the party in the +castle was resorted to, in order to ascertain if their visitors had +any firearms. Neither Deerslayer nor Chingachgook could discover +any, but Judith, unwilling to trust to simple eyesight, thrust the +glass through the loop, and directed it towards the hemlock boughs +that lay between the two logs of the raft, forming a sort of +flooring, as well as a seat for the use of the rowers. When the +heavy moving craft was within fifty feet of him, Deerslayer hailed +the Hurons, directing them to cease rowing, it not being his intention +to permit them to land. Compliance, of course, was necessary, and +the two grim-looking warriors instantly quitted their seats, though +the raft continued slowly to approach, until it had driven in much +nearer to the platform. + +"Are ye chiefs?" demanded Deerslayer with dignity - "Are ye chiefs? +-Or have the Mingos sent me warriors without names, on such +an ar'n'd? If so, the sooner ye go back, the sooner them will be +likely to come that a warrior can talk with." + +"Hugh!" exclaimed the elder of the two on the raft, rolling his +glowing eyes over the different objects that were visible in and +about the Castle, with a keenness that showed how little escaped +him. "My brother is very proud, but Rivenoak (we use the literal +translation of the term, writing as we do in English) is a name to +make a Delaware turn pale." + +"That's true, or it's a lie, Rivenoak, as it may be; but I am not +likely to turn pale, seeing that I was born pale. What's your +ar'n'd, and why do you come among light bark canoes, on logs that +are not even dug out?" + +"The Iroquois are not ducks, to walk on water! Let the pale-faces +give them a canoe, and they'll come in a canoe." + +"That's more rational, than likely to come to pass. We have but +four canoes, and being four persons that's only one for each of +us. We thank you for the offer, howsever, though we ask leave not +to accept it. You are welcome, Iroquois, on your logs." + +"Thanks - My young pale-face warrior - he has got a name - how do +the chiefs call him?" + +Deerslayer hesitated a moment, and a gleam of pride and human +weakness came over him. He smiled, muttered between his teeth, and +then looking up proudly, he said - "Mingo, like all who are young +and actyve, I've been known by different names, at different times. +One of your warriors whose spirit started for the Happy Grounds of +your people, as lately as yesterday morning, thought I desarved to +be known by the name of Hawkeye, and this because my sight happened +to be quicker than his own, when it got to be life or death atween +us." + +Chingachgook, who was attentively listening to all that passed, +heard and understood this proof of passing weakness in his friend, +and on a future occasion he questioned him more closely concerning +the transaction on the point, where Deerslayer had first taken +human life. When he had got the whole truth, he did not fail +to communicate it to the tribe, from which time the young hunter +was universally known among the Delawares by an appellation so +honorably earned. As this, however, was a period posterior to all +the incidents of this tale, we shall continue to call the young +hunter by the name under which he has been first introduced to +the reader. Nor was the Iroquois less struck with the vaunt of +the white man. He knew of the death of his comrade, and had no +difficulty in understanding the allusion, the intercourse between +the conqueror and his victim on that occasion having been seen by +several savages on the shore of the lake, who had been stationed +at different points just within the margin of bushes to watch the +drifting canoes, and who had not time to reach the scene of action, +ere the victor had retired. The effect on this rude being of the +forest was an exclamation of surprise; then such a smile of courtesy, +and wave of the hand, succeeded, as would have done credit to Asiatic +diplomacy. The two Iroquois spoke to each other in low tones, and +both drew near the end of the raft that was closest to the platform. + +"My brother, Hawkeye, has sent a message to the Hurons," resumed +Rivenoak, "and it has made their hearts very glad. They hear he has +images of beasts with two tails! Will he show them to his friends?" + +"Inimies would be truer," returned Deerslayer, "but sound isn't +sense, and does little harm. Here is One of the images; I toss it +to you under faith of treaties. If it's not returned, the rifle +will settle the p'int atween us." + +The Iroquois seemed to acquiesce in the conditions, and Deerslayer +arose and prepared to toss one of the elephants to the raft, both +parties using all the precaution that was necessary to prevent its +loss. As practice renders men expert in such things, the little +piece of ivory was soon successfully transferred from one hand to +the other, and then followed another scene on the raft, in which +astonishment and delight got the mastery of Indian stoicism. +These two grim old warriors manifested even more feeling, as they +examined the curiously wrought chessman, than had been betrayed +by the boy; for, in the case of the latter, recent schooling had +interposed its influence; while the men, like all who are sustained +by well established characters, were not ashamed to let some of +their emotions be discovered. For a few minutes they apparently +lost the consciousness of their situation, in the intense scrutiny +they bestowed on a material so fine, work so highly wrought, and +an animal so extraordinary. The lip of the moose is, perhaps, the +nearest approach to the trunk of the elephant that is to be found +in the American forest, but this resemblance was far from being +sufficiently striking to bring the new creature within the range +of their habits and ideas, and the more they studied the image, +the greater was their astonishment. Nor did these children of +the forest mistake the structure on the back of the elephant for a +part of the animal. They were familiar with horses and oxen, and +had seen towers in the Canadas, and found nothing surprising in +creatures of burthen. Still, by a very natural association, they +supposed the carving meant to represent that the animal they saw was +of a strength sufficient to carry a fort on its back; a circumstance +that in no degree lessened their wonder. + +"Has my pale-face brother any more such beasts?" at last the senior +of the Iroquois asked, in a sort of petitioning manner. + +"There's more where them came from, Mingo," was the answer; "one +is enough, howsever, to buy off fifty scalps." + +"One of my prisoners is a great warrior - tall as a pine - strong +as the moose -active as a deer - fierce as the panther! Some day +he'll be a great chief, and lead the army of King George!" + +"Tut-tut Mingo; Hurry Harry is Hurry Harry, and you'll never make +more than a corporal of him, if you do that. He's tall enough, of +a sartainty; but that's of no use, as he only hits his head ag'in +the branches as he goes through the forest. He's strong too, but +a strong body isn't a strong head, and the king's generals are +not chosen for their sinews; he's swift, if you will, but a rifle +bullet is swifter; and as for f'erceness, it's no great ricommend +to a soldier; they that think they feel the stoutest often givin' +out at the pinch. No, no, you'll niver make Hurry's scalp pass for +more than a good head of curly hair, and a rattle pate beneath it!" + +"My old prisoner very wise - king of the lake - great warrior, wise +counsellor!" + +"Well, there's them that might gainsay all this, too, Mingo. A +very wise man wouldn't be apt to be taken in so foolish a manner as +befell Master Hutter, and if he gives good counsel, he must have +listened to very bad in that affair. There's only one king of +this lake, and he's a long way off, and isn't likely ever to see +it. Floating Tom is some such king of this region, as the wolf +that prowls through the woods is king of the forest. A beast with +two tails is well worth two such scalps!" + +"But my brother has another beast? - He will give two" - holding +up as many fingers, "for old father?" + +"Floating Tom is no father of mine, but he'll fare none the worse +for that. As for giving two beasts for his scalp, and each beast +with two tails, it is quite beyond reason. Think yourself well +off, Mingo, if you make a much worse trade." + +By this time the self-command of Rivenoak had got the better of his +wonder, and he began to fall back on his usual habits of cunning, +in order to drive the best bargain he could. It would be useless +to relate more than the substance of the desultory dialogue that +followed, in which the Indian manifested no little management, +in endeavoring to recover the ground lost under the influence of +surprise. He even affected to doubt whether any original for the +image of the beast existed, and asserted that the oldest Indian +had never heard a tradition of any such animal. Little did either +of them imagine at the time that long ere a century elapsed, the +progress of civilization would bring even much more extraordinary +and rare animals into that region, as curiosities to be gazed +at by the curious, and that the particular beast, about which the +disputants contended, would be seen laving its sides and swimming +in the very sheet of water, on which they had met. + +[The Otsego is a favorite place for the caravan keepers to let +their elephants bathe. The writer has seen two at a time, since +the publication of this book, swimming about in company.] + +As is not uncommon on such occasions, one of the parties got +a little warm in the course of the discussion, for Deerslayer met +all the arguments and prevarication of his subtle opponent with his +own cool directness of manner, and unmoved love of truth. What an +elephant was he knew little better than the savage, but he perfectly +understood that the carved pieces of ivory must have some such +value in the eyes of an Iroquois as a bag of gold or a package of +beaver skins would in those of a trader. Under the circumstances, +therefore, he felt it to be prudent not to concede too much at first, +since there existed a nearly unconquerable obstacle to making the +transfers, even after the contracting parties had actually agreed +upon the terms. Keeping this difficulty in view, he held the extra +chessmen in reserve, as a means of smoothing any difficulty in the +moment of need. + +At length the savage pretended that further negotiation was useless, +since he could not be so unjust to his tribe as to part with the +honor and emoluments of two excellent, full grown male scalps for +a consideration so trifling as a toy like that he had seen, and he +prepared to take his departure. Both parties now felt as men are +wont to feel, when a bargain that each is anxious to conclude is on +the eve of being broken off, in consequence of too much pertinacity +in the way of management. The effect of the disappointment was +very different, however, on the respective individuals. Deerslayer +was mortified, and filled with regret, for he not only felt for +the prisoners, but he also felt deeply for the two girls. The +conclusion of the treaty, therefore, left him melancholy and full +of regret. With the savage, his defeat produced the desire of +revenge. In a moment of excitement, he had loudly announced his +intention to say no more, and he felt equally enraged with himself +and with his cool opponent, that he had permitted a pale face to +manifest more indifference and self-command than an Indian chief. +When he began to urge his raft away from the platform his countenance +lowered and his eye glowed, even while he affected a smile of +amity and a gesture of courtesy at parting. + +It took some little time to overcome the inertia of the logs, and +while this was being done by the silent Indian, Rivenoak stalked +over the hemlock boughs that lay between the logs in sullen ferocity, +eyeing keenly the while the hut, the platform and the person of his +late disputant. Once he spoke in low, quick tones to his companion, +and he stirred the boughs with his feet like an animal that is +restive. At that moment the watchfulness of Deerslayer had a little +abated, for he sat musing on the means of renewing the negotiation +without giving too much advantage to the other side. It was perhaps +fortunate for him that the keen and bright eyes of Judith were as +vigilant as ever. At the instant when the young man was least on +his guard, and his enemy was the most on the alert, she called out +in a warning voice to the former, most opportunely giving the alarm. + +"Be on your guard, Deerslayer," the girl cried - "I see rifles with +the glass, beneath the hemlock brush, and the Iroquois is loosening +them with his feet!" + +It would seem that the enemy had carried their artifices so far as +to Employ an agent who understood English. The previous dialogue +had taken place in his own language, but it was evident by the sudden +manner in which his feet ceased their treacherous occupation, and +in which the countenance of Rivenoak changed from sullen ferocity +to a smile of courtesy, that the call of the girl was understood. +Signing to his companion to cease his efforts to set the logs in +motion, he advanced to the end of the raft which was nearest to +the platform, and spoke. + +"Why should Rivenoak and his brother leave any cloud between them," +he said. "They are both wise, both brave, and both generous; they +ought to part friends. One beast shall be the price of one prisoner." + +"And, Mingo," answered the other, delighted to renew the negotiations +on almost any terms, and determined to clinch the bargain if possible +by a little extra liberality, "you'll see that a pale-face knows +how to pay a full price, when he trades with an open heart, and an +open hand. Keep the beast that you had forgotten to give back to +me, as you was about to start, and which I forgot to ask for, on +account of consarn at parting in anger. Show it to your chiefs. +When you bring us our fri'nds, two more shall be added to it, +and," hesitating a moment in distrust of the expediency of so great +a concession; then, deciding in its favor - "and, if we see them +afore the sun sets, we may find a fourth to make up an even number." + +This settled the matter. Every gleam of discontent vanished from +the dark countenance of the Iroquois, and he smiled as graciously, +if not as sweetly, as Judith Hutter, herself. The piece already in +his possession was again examined, and an ejaculation of pleasure +showed how much he was pleased with this unexpected termination of +the affair. In point of fact, both he and Deerslayer had momentarily +forgotten what had become of the subject of their discussion, in +the warmth of their feelings, but such had not been the case with +Rivenoak's companion. This man retained the piece, and had fully +made up his mind, were it claimed under such circumstances as to +render its return necessary, to drop it in the lake, trusting to +his being able to find it again at some future day. This desperate +expedient, however, was no longer necessary, and after repeating +the terms of agreement, and professing to understand them, the two +Indians finally took their departure, moving slowly towards the +shore. + +"Can any faith be put in such wretches?" asked Judith, when she and +Hetty had come out on the platform, and were standing at the side +of Deerslayer, watching the dull movement of the logs. "Will they +not rather keep the toy they have, and send us off some bloody proofs +of their getting the better of us in cunning, by way of boasting? +I've heard of acts as bad as this." + +"No doubt, Judith; no manner of doubt, if it wasn't for Indian +natur'. But I'm no judge of a red-skin, if that two tail'd beast +doesn't set the whole tribe in some such stir as a stick raises in +a beehive! Now, there's the Sarpent; a man with narves like flint, +and no more cur'osity in every day consarns than is befitting +prudence; why he was so overcome with the sight of the creatur', +carved as it is in bone, that I felt ashamed for him! That's just +their gifts, howsever, and one can't well quarrel with a man for +his gifts, when they are lawful. Chingachgook will soon get over +his weakness and remember that he's a chief, and that he comes of +a great stock, and has a renowned name to support and uphold; but +as for yonder scamps, there'll be no peace among 'em until they +think they've got possession of every thing of the natur' of that +bit of carved bone that's to be found among Thomas Hutter's stores!" + +"They only know of the elephants, and can have no hopes about the +other things." + +"That's true, Judith; still, covetousness is a craving feelin'! +They'll say, if the pale-faces have these cur'ous beasts with two +tails, who knows but they've got some with three, or for that matter +with four! That's what the schoolmasters call nat'ral arithmetic, +and 'twill be sartain to beset the feelin's of savages. They'll +never be easy, till the truth is known." + +"Do you think, Deerslayer," inquired Hetty, in her simple and +innocent manner, "that the Iroquois won't let father and Hurry go? +I read to them several of the very best verses in the whole Bible, +and you see what they have done, already." + +The hunter, as he always did, listened kindly and even affectionately +to Hetty's remarks; then he mused a moment in silence. There was +something like a flush on his cheek as he answered, after quite a +minute had passed. + +"I don't know whether a white man ought to be ashamed, or not, to +own he can't read, but such is my case, Judith. You are skilful, +I find, in all such matters, while I have only studied the hand of +God as it is seen in the hills and the valleys, the mountain-tops, +the streams, the forests and the springs. Much l'arning may be got +in this way, as well as out of books; and, yet, I sometimes think +it is a white man's gift to read! When I hear from the mouths of +the Moravians the words of which Hetty speaks, they raise a longing +in my mind, and I then think I will know how to read 'em myself; +but the game in summer, and the traditions, and lessons in war, +and other matters, have always kept me behind hand." + +"Shall I teach you, Deerslayer?" asked Hetty, earnestly. "I'm +weak-minded, they say, but I can read as well as Judith. It might +save your life to know how to read the Bible to the savages, and +it will certainly save your soul; for mother told me that, again +and again!" + +"Thankee, Hetty - yes, thankee, with all my heart. These are like +to be too stirring times for much idleness, but after it's peace, +and I come to see you ag'in on this lake, then I'll give myself +up to it, as if 'twas pleasure and profit in a single business. +Perhaps I ought to be ashamed, Judith, that 'tis so; but truth is +truth. As for these Iroquois, 'tisn't very likely they'll forget +a beast with two tails, on account of a varse or two from the Bible. +I rather expect they'll give up the prisoners, and trust to some +sarcumvenion or other to get 'em back ag'in, with us and all in the +castle and the Ark in the bargain. Howsever, we must humour the +vagabonds, first to get your father and Hurry out of their hands, +and next to keep the peace atween us, until such time as the Sarpent +there can make out to get off his betrothed wife. If there's any +sudden outbreakin' of anger and ferocity, the Indians will send +off all their women and children to the camp at once, whereas, by +keeping 'em calm and trustful we may manage to meet Hist at the +spot she has mentioned. Rather than have the bargain fall through, +now, I'd throw in half a dozen of them effigy bow-and-arrow men, +such as we've in plenty in the chist." + +Judith cheerfully assented, for she would have resigned even the +flowered brocade, rather than not redeem her father and please +Deerslayer. The prospects of success were now so encouraging as to +raise the spirits of all in the castle, though a due watchfulness +of the movements of the enemy was maintained. Hour passed after +hour, notwithstanding, and the sun had once more begun to fall +towards the summits of the western hills, and yet no signs were +seen of the return of the raft. By dint of sweeping the shore with +the glass, Deerslayer at length discovered a place in the dense +and dark woods where, he entertained no doubt, the Iroquois were +assembled in considerable numbers. It was near the thicket whence +the raft had issued, and a little rill that trickled into the +lake announced the vicinity of a spring. Here, then, the savages +were probably holding their consultation, and the decision was to +be made that went to settle the question of life or death for the +prisoners. There was one ground for hope in spite of the delay, +however, that Deerslayer did not fail to place before his anxious +companions. It was far more probable that the Indians had left their +prisoners in the camp, than that they had encumbered themselves by +causing them to follow through the woods a party that was out on +a merely temporary excursion. If such was the fact, it required +considerable time to send a messenger the necessary distance, and +to bring the two white men to the spot where they were to embark. +Encouraged by these reflections, a new stock of patience was +gathered, and the declension of the sun was viewed with less alarm. + +The result justified Deerslayer's conjecture. Not long before the +sun had finally disappeared, the two logs were seen coming out of +the thicket, again, and as it drew near, Judith announced that her +father and Hurry, both of them pinioned, lay on the bushes in the +centre. As before, the two Indians were rowing. The latter seemed +to be conscious that the lateness of the hour demanded unusual +exertions, and contrary to the habits of their people, who are +ever averse to toil, they labored hard at the rude substitutes for +oars. In consequence of this diligence, the raft occupied its old +station in about half the time that had been taken in the previous +visits. + +Even after the conditions were so well understood, and matters had +proceeded so far, the actual transfer of the prisoners was not a +duty to be executed without difficulty. The Iroquois were compelled +to place great reliance on the good faith of their foes, though it +was reluctantly given; and was yielded to necessity rather than to +confidence. As soon as Hutter and Hurry should be released, the +party in the castle numbered two to one, as opposed to those on the +raft, and escape by flight was out of the question, as the former +had three bark canoes, to say nothing of the defences of the house +and the Ark. All this was understood by both parties, and it is +probable the arrangement never could have been completed, had not +the honest countenance and manner of Deerslayer wrought their usual +effect on Rivenoak. + +"My brother knows I put faith in him," said the latter, as he +advanced with Hutter, whose legs had been released to enable the +old man to ascend to the platform. "One scalp - one more beast." + +"Stop, Mingo," interrupted the hunter, "keep your prisoner a moment. +I have to go and seek the means of payment." + +This excuse, however, though true in part, was principally a fetch. +Deerslayer left the platform, and entering the house, he directed +Judith to collect all the arms and to conceal them in her own room. +He then spoke earnestly to the Delaware, who stood on guard as +before, near the entrance of the building, put the three remaining +castles in his pocket, and returned. + +"You are welcome back to your old abode, Master Hutter," said +Deerslayer, as he helped the other up on the platform, slyly passing +into the hand of Rivenoak, at the same time, another of the castles. +"You'll find your darters right glad to see you, and here's Hetty +come herself to say as much in her own behalf." + +Here the hunter stopped speaking and broke out into a hearty fit of +his silent and peculiar laughter. Hurry's legs were just released, +and he had been placed on his feet. So tightly had the ligatures +been drawn, that the use of his limbs was not immediately recovered, +and the young giant presented, in good sooth, a very helpless +and a somewhat ludicrous picture. It was this unusual spectacle, +particularly the bewildered countenance, that excited the merriment +of Deerslayer. + +"You look like a girdled pine in a clearin', Hurry Harry, that +is rocking in a gale," said Deerslayer, checking his unseasonable +mirth, more from delicacy to the others than from any respect to +the liberated captive. "I'm glad, howsever, to see that you haven't +had your hair dressed by any of the Iroquois barbers, in your late +visit to their camp." + +"Harkee, Deerslayer," returned the other a little fiercely, "it +will be prudent for you to deal less in mirth and more in friendship +on this occasion. Act like a Christian, for once, and not like a +laughing gal in a country school when the master's back is turned, +and just tell me whether there's any feet, or not, at the end of +these legs of mine. I think I can see them, but as for feelin' +they might as well be down on the banks of the Mohawk, as be where +they seem to be." + +"You've come off whole, Hurry, and that's not a little," answered +the other, secretly passing to the Indian the remainder of the +stipulated ransom, and making an earnest sign at the same moment +for him to commence his retreat. "You've come off whole, feet and +all, and are only a little numb from a tight fit of the withes. +Natur'll soon set the blood in motion, and then you may begin to +dance, to celebrate what I call a most wonderful and onexpected +deliverance from a den of wolves." + +Deerslayer released the arms of his friends, as each landed, and the +two were now stamping and limping about on the platform, growling +and uttering denunciations as they endeavored to help the returning +circulation. They had been tethered too long, however, to regain +the use of their limbs in a moment, and the Indians being quite as +diligent on their return as on their advance, the raft was fully +a hundred yards from the castle when Hurry, turning accidentally +in that direction, discovered how fast it was getting beyond the +reach of his vengeance. By this time he could move with tolerable +facility, though still numb and awkward. Without considering his +own situation, however, he seized the rifle that leaned against +the shoulder of Deerslayer, and attempted to cock and present it. +The young hunter was too quick for him. Seizing the piece he +wrenched it from the hands of the giant, not, however, until it +had gone off in the struggle, when pointed directly upward. It is +probable that Deerslayer could have prevailed in such a contest, +on account of the condition of Hurry's limbs, but the instant the +gun went off, the latter yielded, and stumped towards the house, +raising his legs at each step quite a foot from the ground, from +an uncertainty of the actual position of his feet. But he had been +anticipated by Judith. The whole stock of Hutter's arms, which had +been left in the building as a resource in the event of a sudden +outbreaking of hostilities, had been removed, and were already +secreted, agreeably to Deerslayer's directions. In consequence +of this precaution, no means offered by which March could put his +designs in execution. + +Disappointed in his vengeance, Hurry seated himself, and like +Hutter, for half an hour, he was too much occupied in endeavoring +to restore the circulation, and in regaining the use of his limbs, +to indulge in any other reflections. By the end of this time the +raft had disappeared, and night was beginning to throw her shadows once +more over the whole sylvan scene. Before darkness had completely +set in, and while the girls were preparing the evening meal, +Deerslayer related to Hutter an outline of events that had taken +place, and gave him a history of the means he had adopted for the +security of his children and property. + + + +Chapter XV. + + + "As long as Edwarde rules thys lande, + Ne quiet you wylle ye know; + Your sonnes and husbandes shall be slayne, + And brookes with bloode shall 'flowe.' + + 'You leave youre geode and lawfulle kynge, + Whenne ynne adversity; + Like me, untoe the true cause stycke, + And for the true cause dye." + + Chatterton. + +The calm of evening was again in singular contrast, while its +gathering gloom was in as singular unison with the passions of men. +The sun was set, and the rays of the retiring luminary had ceased +to gild the edges of the few clouds that had sufficient openings +to admit the passage of its fading light. The canopy overhead +was heavy and dense, promising another night of darkness, but the +surface of the lake was scarcely disturbed by a ripple. There was +a little air, though it scarce deserved to be termed wind. Still, +being damp and heavy, it had a certain force. The party in the +castle were as gloomy and silent as the scene. The two ransomed +prisoners felt humbled and discoloured, but their humility partook +of the rancour of revenge. They were far more disposed to remember +the indignity with which they had been treated during the last few +hours of their captivity, than to feel grateful for the previous +indulgence. Then that keen-sighted monitor, conscience, by reminding +them of the retributive justice of all they had endured, goaded +them rather to turn the tables on their enemies than to accuse +themselves. As for the others, they were thoughtful equally from +regret and joy. Deerslayer and Judith felt most of the former +sensation, though from very different causes, while Hetty for the +moment was perfectly happy. The Delaware had also lively pictures +of felicity in the prospect of so soon regaining his betrothed. +Under such circumstances, and in this mood, all were taking the +evening meal. + +"Old Tom!" cried Hurry, bursting into a fit of boisterous laughter, +"you look'd amazin'ly like a tethered bear, as you was stretched +on them hemlock boughs, and I only wonder you didn't growl more. +Well, it's over, and syth's and lamentations won't mend the matter! +There's the blackguard Rivenoak, he that brought us off has an +oncommon scalp, and I'd give as much for it myself as the Colony. +Yes, I feel as rich as the governor in these matters now, and will +lay down with them doubloon for doubloon. Judith, darling, did +you mourn for me much, when I was in the hands of the Philipsteins?" + +The last were a family of German descent on the Mohawk, to whom +Hurry had a great antipathy, and whom he had confounded with the +enemies of Judea. + +"Our tears have raised the lake, Hurry March, as you might have +seen by the shore!" returned Judith, with a feigned levity that +she was far from feeling. "That Hetty and I should have grieved +for father was to be expected; but we fairly rained tears for you." + +"We were sorry for poor Hurry, as well as for father, Judith!" put +in her innocent and unconscious sister. + +"True, girl, true; but we feel sorrow for everybody that's in +trouble, you know," returned the other in a quick, admonitory manner +and a low tone. "Nevertheless, we are glad to see you, Master +March, and out of the hands of the Philipsteins, too." + +"Yes, they're a bad set, and so is the other brood of 'em, down on +the river. It's a wonderment to me how you got us off, Deerslayer; +and I forgive you the interference that prevented my doin' justice +on that vagabond, for this small service. Let us into the secret, +that we may do you the same good turn, at need. Was it by lying, +or by coaxing?" + +"By neither, Hurry, but by buying. We paid a ransom for you both, +and that, too, at a price so high you had well be on your guard +ag'in another captyvement, lest our stock of goods shouldn't hold +out." + +"A ransom! Old Tom has paid the fiddler, then, for nothing of +mine would have bought off the hair, much less the skin. I didn't +think men as keen set as them vagabonds would let a fellow up so +easy, when they had him fairly at a close hug, and floored. But +money is money, and somehow it's unnat'ral hard to withstand. +Indian or white man, 'tis pretty much the same. It must be owned, +Judith, there's a considerable of human natur' in mankind ginirally, +arter all!" + +Hutter now rose, and signing to Deerslayer, he led him to an inner +room, where, in answer to his questions, he first learned the price +that had been paid for his release. The old man expressed neither +resentment nor surprise at the inroad that had been made on his +chest, though he did manifest some curiosity to know how far the +investigation of its contents had been carried. He also inquired +where the key had been found. The habitual frankness of Deerslayer +prevented any prevarication, and the conference soon terminated by +the return of the two to the outer room, or that which served for +the double purpose of parlour and kitchen. + +"I wonder if it's peace or war, between us and the savages!" +exclaimed Hurry, just as Deerslayer, who had paused for a single +instant, listened attentively, and was passing through the outer +door without stopping. "This givin' up captives has a friendly +look, and when men have traded together on a fair and honourable +footing they ought to part fri'nds, for that occasion at least. Come +back, Deerslayer, and let us have your judgment, for I'm beginnin' +to think more of you, since your late behaviour, than I used to +do." + +"There's an answer to your question, Hurry, since you're in such +haste to come ag'in to blows." + +As Deerslayer spoke, he threw on the table on which the other was +reclining with one elbow a sort of miniature fagot, composed of a +dozen sticks bound tightly together with a deer-skin thong. March +seized it eagerly, and holding it close to a blazing knot of pine +that lay on the hearth, and which gave out all the light there was +in the room, ascertained that the ends of the several sticks had +been dipped in blood. + +"If this isn't plain English," said the reckless frontier man, +"it's plain Indian! Here's what they call a dicliration of war, +down at York, Judith. How did you come by this defiance, Deerslayer?" + +"Fairly enough. It lay not a minut' since, in what you call Floatin' +Tom's door-yard." + +"How came it there?" + +"It never fell from the clouds, Judith, as little toads sometimes +do, and then it don't rain." + +"You must prove where it come from, Deerslayer, or we shall suspect +some design to skear them that would have lost their wits long ago, +if fear could drive 'em away." + +Deerslayer had approached a window, and cast a glance out of it on +the dark aspect of the lake. As if satisfied with what he beheld, +he drew near Hurry, and took the bundle of sticks into his own +hand, examining it attentively. + +"Yes, this is an Indian declaration of war, sure enough," he said, +"and it's a proof how little you're suited to be on the path it +has travelled, Harry March, that it has got here, and you never +the wiser as to the means. The savages may have left the scalp on +your head, but they must have taken Off the ears; else you'd have +heard the stirring of the water made by the lad as he come off +ag'in on his two logs. His ar'n'd was to throw these sticks at +our door, as much as to say, we've struck the war-post since the +trade, and the next thing will be to strike you." + +"The prowling wolves! But hand me that rifle, Judith, and I'll +send an answer back to the vagabonds through their messenger." + +"Not while I stand by, Master March," coolly put in Deerslayer, +motioning for the other to forbear. "Faith is faith, whether given +to a red-skin, or to a Christian. The lad lighted a knot, and came +off fairly under its blaze to give us this warning; and no man +here should harm him, while empl'yed on such an ar'n'd. There's no +use in words, for the boy is too cunning to leave the knot burning, +now his business is done, and the night is already too dark for a +rifle to have any sartainty." + +"That may be true enough, as to a gun, but there's virtue still in +a canoe," answered Hurry, passing towards the door with enormous +strides, carrying a rifle in his hands. "The being doesn't live +that shall stop me from following and bringing back that riptyle's +scalp. The more on 'em that you crush in the egg, the fewer there'll +be to dart at you in the woods!" + +Judith trembled like the aspen, she scarce knew why herself, though +there was the prospect of a scene of violence; for if Hurry was +fierce and overbearing in the consciousness of his vast strength, +Deerslayer had about him the calm determination that promises +greater perseverance, and a resolution more likely to effect its +object. It was the stern, resolute eye of the latter, rather than +the noisy vehemence of the first, that excited her apprehensions. +Hurry soon reached the spot where the canoe was fastened, but +not before Deerslayer had spoken in a quick, earnest voice to the +Serpent, in Delaware. The latter had been the first, in truth, to +hear the sounds of the oars, and he had gone upon the platform in +jealous watchfulness. The light Satisfied him that a message was +coming, and when the boy cast his bundle of sticks at his feet, it +neither moved his anger nor induced surprise. He merely stood at +watch, rifle in hand, to make certain that no treachery lay behind +the defiance. As Deerslayer now called to him, he stepped into the +canoe, and quick as thought removed the paddles. Hurry was furious +when he found that he was deprived of the means of proceeding. He +first approached the Indian with loud menaces, and even Deerslayer +stood aghast at the probable consequences. March shook his +sledge-hammer fists and flourished his arms as he drew near the +Indian, and all expected he would attempt to fell the Delaware +to the earth; one of them, at least, was well aware that such +an experiment would be followed by immediate bloodshed. But even +Hurry was awed by the stern composure of the chief, and he, too, +knew that such a man was not to be outraged with impunity; he +therefore turned to vent his rage on Deerslayer, where he foresaw +no consequences so terrible. What might have been the result of +this second demonstration if completed, is unknown, since it was +never made. + +"Hurry," said a gentle, soothing voice at his elbow, "it's wicked +to be so angry, and God will not overlook it. The Iroquois treated +you well, and they didn't take your scalp, though you and father +wanted to take theirs." + +The influence of mildness on passion is well known. Hetty, too, +had earned a sort of consideration, that had never before been +enjoyed by her, through the self-devotion and decision of her recent +conduct. Perhaps her established mental imbecility, by removing +all distrust of a wish to control, aided her influence. Let the +cause be as questionable as it might, the effect we sufficiently +certain. Instead of throttling his old fellow-traveler, Hurry +turned to the girl and poured out a portion of his discontent, if +none of his anger, in her attentive ears. + +"Tis too bad, Hetty!" he exclaimed; "as bad as a county gaol or +a lack of beaver, to get a creatur' into your very trap, then to +see it get off. As much as six first quality skins, in valie, has +paddled off on them clumsy logs, when twenty strokes of a well-turned +paddle would overtake 'em. I say in valie, for as to the boy in +the way of natur', he is only a boy, and is worth neither more nor +less than one. Deerslayer, you've been ontrue to your fri'nds in +letting such a chance slip through my fingers well as your own." + +The answer was given quietly, but with a voice as steady as a +fearless nature and the consciousness of rectitude could make it. +"I should have been untrue to the right, had I done otherwise," +returned the Deerslayer, steadily; "and neither you, nor any other +man has authority to demand that much of me. The lad came on +a lawful business, and the meanest red-skin that roams the woods +would be ashamed of not respecting his ar'n'd. But he's now far +beyond your reach, Master March, and there's little use in talking, +like a couple of women, of what can no longer be helped." + +So saying, Deerslayer turned away, like one resolved to waste no more +words on the subject, while Hutter pulled Harry by the sleeve, and +led him into the ark. There they sat long in private conference. +In the mean time, the Indian and his friend had their secret +consultation; for, though it wanted some three or four hours to the +rising of the star, the former could not abstain from canvassing +his scheme, and from opening his heart to the other. Judith, +too, yielded to her softer feelings, and listened to the whole of +Hetty's artless narrative of what occurred after she landed. The +woods had few terrors for either of these girls, educated as they +had been, and accustomed as they were to look out daily at their +rich expanse or to wander beneath their dark shades; but the elder +sister felt that she would have hesitated about thus venturing +alone into an Iroquois camp. Concerning Hist, Hetty was not very +communicative. She spoke of her kindness and gentleness and of the +meeting in the forest; but the secret of Chingachgook was guarded +with a shrewdness and fidelity that many a sharper-witted girl +might have failed to display. + +At length the several conferences were broken up by the reappearance +of Hutter on the platform. Here he assembled the whole party, and +communicated as much of his intentions as he deemed expedient. Of +the arrangement made by Deerslayer, to abandon the castle during +the night and to take refuge in the ark, he entirely approved. +It struck him as it had the others, as the only effectual means +of escaping destruction. Now that the savages had turned their +attention to the construction of rafts, no doubt could exist of +their at least making an attempt to carry the building, and the +message of the bloody sticks sufficiently showed their confidence +in their own success. In short, the old man viewed the night as +critical, and he called on all to get ready as soon as possible, in +order to abandon the dwellings temporarily at least, if not forever. + +These communications made, everything proceeded promptly and with +intelligence; the castle was secured in the manner already described, +the canoes were withdrawn from the dock and fastened to the ark by +the side of the other; the few necessaries that had been left in +the house were transferred to the cabin, the fire was extinguished +and all embarked. + +The vicinity of the hills, with their drapery of pines, had the +effect to render nights that were obscure darker than common on the +lake. As usual, however, a belt of comparative light was etched +through the centre of the sheet, while it was within the shadows +of the mountains that the gloom rested most heavily on the water. +The island, or castle, stood in this belt of comparative light, but +still the night was so dark as to cover the aperture of the ark. +At the distance of an observer on the shore her movements could not +be seen at all, more particularly as a background of dark hillside +filled up the perspective of every view that was taken diagonally +or directly across the water. The prevailing wind on the lakes +of that region is west, but owing to the avenues formed by the +mountains it is frequently impossible to tell the true direction of +the currents, as they often vary within short distances and brief +differences of time. This is truer in light fluctuating puffs of +air than in steady breezes; though the squalls of even the latter +are familiarly known to be uncertain and baffling in all mountainous +regions and narrow waters. On the present occasion, Hutter himself +(as he shoved the ark from her berth at the side of the platform) +was at a loss to pronounce which way the wind blew. In common, +this difficulty was solved by the clouds, which, floating high +above the hill tops, as a matter of course obeyed the currents; but +now the whole vault of heaven seemed a mass of gloomy wall. Not +an opening of any sort was visible, and Chingachgook we already +trembling lest the non-appearance of the star might prevent his +betrothed from being punctual to her appointment. Under these +circumstances, Hutter hoisted his sail, seemingly with the sole +intention of getting away from the castle, as it might be dangerous +to remain much longer in its vicinity. The air soon filled the +cloth, and when the scow was got under command, and the sail was +properly trimmed, it was found that the direction was southerly, +inclining towards the eastern shore. No better course offering +for the purposes of the party, the singular craft was suffered to +skim the surface of the water in this direction for more than hour, +when a change in the currents of the air drove them over towards +the camp. + +Deerslayer watched all the movements of Hutter and Harry with +jealous attention. At first, he did not know whether to ascribe +the course they held to accident or to design; but he now began to +suspect the latter. Familiar as Hutter was with the lake, it was +easy to deceive one who had little practice on the water; and let +his intentions be what they might, it was evident, ere two hours +had elapsed, that the ark had got sufficient space to be within a +hundred rods of the shore, directly abreast of the known position +of the camp. For a considerable time previously to reaching this +point, Hurry, who had some knowledge of the Algonquin language, +had been in close conference with the Indian, and the result was +now announced by the latter to Deerslayer, who had been a cold, +not to say distrusted, looker-on of all that passed. + +"My old father, and my young brother, the Big Pine," - for so +the Delaware had named March - "want to see Huron scalps at their +belts," said Chingachgook to his friend. "There is room for some +on the girdle of the Sarpent, and his people will look for them when +he goes back to his village. Their eyes must not be left long in +a fog, but they must see what they look for. I know that my brother +has a white hand; he will not strike even the dead. He will wait +for us; when we come back, he will not hide his face from shame +for his friend. The great Serpent of the Mohicans must be worthy +to go on the war-path with Hawkeye." + +"Ay, ay, Sarpent, I see how it is; that name's to stick, and in +time I shall get to be known by it instead of Deerslayer; well, if +such honours will come, the humblest of us all must be willing to +abide by 'em. As for your looking for scalps, it belongs to your +gifts, and I see no harm in it. Be marciful, Sarpent, howsever; +be marciful, I beseech of you. It surely can do no harm to a +red-skin's honour to show a little marcy. As for the old man, the +father of two young women, who might ripen better feelin's in his +heart, and Harry March, here, who, pine as he is, might better bear +the fruit of a more Christianized tree, as for them two, I leave +them in the hands of the white man's God. Wasn't it for the bloody +sticks, no man should go ag'in the Mingos this night, seein' that +it would dishonor our faith and characters; but them that crave +blood can't complain if blood is shed at their call. Still, Sarpent, +you can be marciful. Don't begin your career with the wails of +women and the cries of children. Bear yourself so that Hist will +smile, and not weep, when she meets you. Go, then; and the Manitou +presarve you!" + +"My brother will stay here with the scow. Wah will soon be standing +on the shore waiting, and Chingachgook must hasten." + +The Indian then joined his two co-adventurers, and first lowering +the sail, they all three entered the canoe, and left the side of +the ark. Neither Hutter nor March spoke to Deerslayer concerning +their object, or the probable length of their absence. All this +had been confided to the Indian, who had acquitted himself of the +trust with characteristic brevity. As soon as the canoe was out of +sight, and that occurred ere the paddles had given a dozen strokes, +Deerslayer made the best dispositions he could to keep the ark as +nearly stationary as possible; and then he sat down in the end of +the scow, to chew the cud of his own bitter reflections. It was +not long, however, before he was joined by Judith, who sought every +occasion to be near him, managing her attack on his affections +with the address that was suggested by native coquetry, aided by +no little practice, but which received much of its most dangerous +power from the touch of feeling that threw around her manner, voice, +accents, thoughts, and acts, the indescribable witchery of natural +tenderness. Leaving the young hunter exposed to these dangerous +assailants, it has become our more immediate business to follow +the party in the canoe to the shore. + +The controlling influence that led Hutter and Hurry to repeat their +experiment against the camp was precisely that which had induced +the first attempt, a little heightened, perhaps, by the desire +of revenge. But neither of these two rude beings, so ruthless in +all things that touched the rights and interests of the red man, +thought possessing veins of human feeling on other matters, was much +actuated by any other desire than a heartless longing for profit. +Hurry had felt angered at his sufferings, when first liberated, it +is true, but that emotion soon disappeared in the habitual love +of gold, which he sought with the reckless avidity of a needy +spendthrift, rather than with the ceaseless longings of a miser. +In short, the motive that urged them both so soon to go against +the Hurons, was an habitual contempt of their enemy, acting on +the unceasing cupidity of prodigality. The additional chances of +success, however, had their place in the formation of the second +enterprise. It was known that a large portion of the warriors +-perhaps all - were encamped for the night abreast of the castle, +and it was hoped that the scalps of helpless victims would be +the consequence. To confess the truth, Hutter in particular - he +who had just left two daughters behind him - expected to find few +besides women and children in the camp. The fact had been but +slightly alluded to in his communications with Hurry, and with +Chingachgook it had been kept entirely out of view. If the Indian +thought of it at all, it was known only to himself. + +Hutter steered the canoe; Hurry had manfully taken his post in the +bows, and Chingachgook stood in the centre. We say stood, for all +three were so skilled in the management of that species of frail +bark, as to be able to keep erect positions in the midst of the +darkness. The approach to the shore was made with great caution, +and the landing effected in safety. The three now prepared their +arms, and began their tiger-like approach upon the camp. The Indian +was on the lead, his two companions treading in his footsteps with +a stealthy cautiousness of manner that rendered their progress almost +literally noiseless. Occasionally a dried twig snapped under the +heavy weight of the gigantic Hurry, or the blundering clumsiness +of the old man; but, had the Indian walked on air, his step could +not have seemed lighter. The great object was first to discover +the position of the fire, which was known to be the centre of the +whole encampment. At length the keen eye of Chingachgook caught a +glimpse of this important guide. It was glimmering at a distance +among the trunks of trees. There was no blaze, but merely a single +smouldering brand, as suited the hour; the savages usually retiring +and rising with the revolutions of the sun. + +As soon as a view was obtained of this beacon, the progress of the +adventurers became swifter and more certain. In a few minutes they +got to the edge of the circle of little huts. Here they stopped to +survey their ground, and to concert their movements. The darkness +was so deep as to render it difficult to distinguish anything but +the glowing brand, the trunks of the nearest trees, and the endless +canopy of leaves that veiled the clouded heaven. It was ascertained, +however, that a hut was quite near, and Chingachgook attempted to +reconnnoitre its interior. The manner in which the Indian approached +the place that was supposed to contain enemies, resembled the wily +advances of the cat on the bird. As he drew near, he stooped to +his hands and knees, for the entrance was so low as to require this +attitude, even as a convenience. Before trusting his head inside, +however, he listened long to catch the breathing of sleepers. No +sound was audible, and this human Serpent thrust his head in at +the door, or opening, as another serpent would have peered in on +the nest. Nothing rewarded the hazardous experiment; for, after +feeling cautiously with a hand, the place was found to be empty. + +The Delaware proceeded in the same guarded manner to one or two more +of the huts, finding all in the same situation. He then returned +to his companions, and informed them that the Hurons had deserted +their camp. A little further inquiry corroborated this fact, and +it only remained to return to the canoe. The different manner +in which the adventurers bore the disappointment is worthy of a +passing remark. The chief, who had landed solely with the hope of +acquiring renown, stood stationary, leaning against a tree, waiting +the pleasure of his companions. He was mortified, and a little +surprised, it is true; but he bore all with dignity, falling back +for support on the sweeter expectations that still lay in reserve +for that evening. It was true, he could not now hope to meet his +mistress with the proofs of his daring and skill on his person, but +he might still hope to meet her; and the warrior, who was zealous +in the search, might always hope to be honored. On the other hand, +Hutter and Hurry, who had been chiefly instigated by the basest of +all human motives, the thirst of gain, could scarce control their +feelings. They went prowling among the huts, as if they expected +to find some forgotten child or careless sleeper; and again and +again did they vent their spite on the insensible huts, several of +which were actually torn to pieces, and scattered about the place. +Nay, they even quarrelled with each other, and fierce reproaches +passed between them. It is possible some serious consequences might +have occurred, had not the Delaware interfered to remind them of +the danger of being so unguarded, and of the necessity of returning +to the ark. This checked the dispute, and in a few minutes they +were paddling sullenly back to the spot where they hoped to find +that vessel. + +It has been said that Judith took her place at the side of Deerslayer, +soon after the adventurers departed. For a short time the girl +was silent, and the hunter was ignorant which of the sisters had +approached him, but he soon recognized the rich, full-spirited +voice of the elder, as her feelings escaped in words. + +"This is a terrible life for women, Deerslayer!" she exclaimed. +"Would to Heaven I could see an end of it!" + +"The life is well enough, Judith," was the answer, "being pretty +much as it is used or abused. What would you wish to see in its +place?" + +"I should be a thousand times happier to live nearer to civilized +beings - where there are farms and churches, and houses built as +it might be by Christian hands; and where my sleep at night would +be sweet and tranquil! A dwelling near on of the forts would be +far better than this dreary place where we live!" + +"Nay, Judith, I can't agree too lightly in the truth of all this. +If forts are good to keep off inimies, they sometimes hold inimies +of their own. I don't think 'twould be for your good, or the good +of Hetty, to live near one; and if I must say what I think, I'm +afeard you are a little too near as it is." Deerslayer went on, +in his own steady, earnest manner, for the darkness concealed the +tints that colored the cheeks of the girl almost to the brightness +of crimson, while her own great efforts suppressed the sounds of +the breathing that nearly choked her. "As for farms, they have +their uses, and there's them that like to pass their lives on 'em; +but what comfort can a man look for in a clearin', that he can't find +in double quantities in the forest? If air, and room, and light, +are a little craved, the windrows and the streams will furnish +'em, or here are the lakes for such as have bigger longings in that +way; but where are you to find your shades, and laughing springs, +and leaping brooks, and vinerable trees, a thousand years old, +in a clearin'? You don't find them, but you find their disabled +trunks, marking the 'arth like headstones in a graveyard. It +seems to me that the people who live in such places must be always +thinkin' of their own inds, and of universal decay; and that, too, +not of the decay that is brought about by time and natur', but the +decay that follows waste and violence. Then as to churches, they +are good, I suppose, else wouldn't good men uphold 'em. But they +are not altogether necessary. They call 'em the temples of the +Lord; but, Judith, the whole 'arth is a temple of the Lord to such +as have the right mind. Neither forts nor churches make people +happier of themselves. Moreover, all is contradiction in the +settlements, while all is concord in the woods. Forts and churches +almost always go together, and yet they're downright contradictions; +churches being for peace, and forts for war. No, no - give me +the strong places of the wilderness, which is the trees, and the +churches, too, which are arbors raised by the hand of natur'." + +"Woman is not made for scenes like these, Deerslayer, scenes of +which we shall have no end, as long as this war lasts." + +"If you mean women of white colour, I rather think you're not far +from the truth, gal; but as for the females of the redmen, such +visitations are quite in character. Nothing would make Hist, now, +the bargained wife of yonder Delaware, happier than to know that +he is at this moment prowling around his nat'ral inimies, striving +after a scalp." + +"Surely, surely, Deerslayer, she cannot be a woman, and not feel +concern when she thinks the man she loves is in danger!" + +"She doesn't think of the danger, Judith, but of the honor; and +when the heart is desperately set on such feelin's, why, there is +little room to crowd in fear. Hist is a kind, gentle, laughing, +pleasant creatur', but she loves honor, as well as any Delaware +gal I ever know'd. She's to meet the Sarpent an hour hence, on the +p'int where Hetty landed, and no doubt she has her anxiety about +it, like any other woman; but she'd be all the happier did she know +that her lover was at this moment waylaying a Mingo for his scalp." + +"If you really believe this, Deerslayer, no wonder you lay so +much stress on gifts. Certain am I, that no white girl could feel +anything but misery while she believed her betrothed in danger of +his life! Nor do I suppose even you, unmoved and calm as you ever +seem to be, could be at peace if you believed your Hist in danger." + +"That's a different matter - 'tis altogether a different matter, +Judith. Woman is too weak and gentle to be intended to run such +risks, and man must feel for her. Yes, I rather think that's as +much red natur' as it's white. But I have no Hist, nor am I like +to have; for I hold it wrong to mix colours, any way except in +friendship and sarvices." + +"In that you are and feel as a white man should! As for Hurry +Harry, I do think it would be all the same to him whether his wife +were a squaw or a governor's daughter, provided she was a little +comely, and could help to keep his craving stomach full." + +"You do March injustice, Judith; yes, you do. The poor fellow dotes +on you, and when a man has ra'ally set his heart on such a creatur' +it isn't a Mingo, or even a Delaware gal, that'll be likely to +unsettle his mind. You may laugh at such men as Hurry and I, for +we're rough and unteached in the ways of books and other knowledge; +but we've our good p'ints, as well as our bad ones. An honest +heart is not to be despised, gal, even though it be not varsed in +all the niceties that please the female fancy." + +"You, Deerslayer! And do you - can you, for an instant, suppose +I place you by the side of Harry March? No, no, I am not so far +gone in dullness as that. No one - man or woman - could think of +naming your honest heart, manly nature, and simple truth, with the +boisterous selfishness, greedy avarice, and overbearing ferocity of +Harry March. The very best that can be said of him, is to be found +in his name of Hurry Skurry, which, if it means no great harm, +means no great good. Even my father, following his feelings with +the other, as he is doing at this moment, well knows the difference +between you. This I know, for he said as much to me, in plain +language." + +Judith was a girl of quick sensibilities and of impetuous feelings; +and, being under few of the restraints that curtail the manifestations +of maiden emotions among those who are educated in the habits of +civilized life, she sometimes betrayed the latter with a feeling +that was so purely natural as to place it as far above the wiles of +coquetry as it was superior to its heartlessness. She had now even +taken one of the hard hands of the hunter and pressed it between +both her own, with a warmth and earnestness that proved how sincere +was her language. It was perhaps fortunate that she was checked by +the very excess of her feelings, since the same power might have +urged her on to avow all that her father had said - the old man +not having been satisfied with making a comparison favorable to +Deerslayer, as between the hunter and Hurry, but having actually, +in his blunt rough way, briefly advised his daughter to cast off the +latter entirely, and to think of the former as a husband. Judith +would not willingly have said this to any other man, but there +was so much confidence awakened by the guileless simplicity of +Deerslayer, that one of her nature found it a constant temptation +to overstep the bounds of habit. She went no further, however, +immediately relinquishing the hand, and falling back on a reserve +that was more suited to her sex, and, indeed, to her natural modesty. + +"Thankee, Judith, thankee with all my heart," returned the hunter, whose +humility prevented him from placing any flattering interpretation +on either the conduct or the language of the girl. "Thankee as much +as if it was all true. Harry's sightly - yes, he's as sightly as +the tallest pine of the mountains, and the Sarpent has named him +accordingly; however, some fancy good looks, and some fancy good +conduct, only. Hurry has one advantage, and it depends on himself +whether he'll have t'other or - Hark! That's your father's voice, +gal, and he speaks like a man who's riled at something." + +"God save us from any more of these horrible scenes!" exclaimed +Judith, bending her face to her knees, and endeavoring to exclude +the discordant sounds, by applying her hands to her ears. "I +sometimes wish I had no father!" + +This was bitterly said, and the repinings which extorted the words +were bitterly felt. It is impossible to say what might next have +escaped her had not a gentle, low voice spoken at her elbow. + +"Judith, I ought to have read a chapter to father and Hurry!" said +the innocent but terrified speaker, "and that would have kept them +from going again on such an errand. Do you call to them, Deerslayer, +and tell them I want them, and that it will be good for them both +if they'll return and hearken to my words." + +"Ah's me! Poor Hetty, you little know the cravin's for gold and +revenge, if you believe they are so easily turned aside from their +longin's! But this is an uncommon business in more ways than one, +Judith. I hear your father and Hurry growling like bears, and yet +no noise comes from the mouth of the young chief. There's an ind +of secrecy, and yet his whoop, which ought to ring in the mountains, +accordin' to rule in such sarcumstances, is silent!" + +"Justice may have alighted on him, and his death have saved the +lives of the innocent." + +"Not it - not it - the Sarpent is not the one to suffer if that's +to be the law. Sartainly there has been no onset, and 'tis +most likely that the camp's deserted, and the men are comin' back +disapp'inted. That accounts for the growls of Hurry and the silence +of the Sarpent." + +Just at this instant a fall of a paddle was heard in the canoe, +for vexation made March reckless. Deerslayer felt convinced that +his conjecture was true. The sail being down, the ark had not +drifted far; and ere many minutes he heard Chingachgook, in a low, +quiet tone, directing Hutter how to steer in order to reach it. +In less time than it takes to tell the fact, the canoe touched the +scow, and the adventurers entered the latter. Neither Hutter nor +Hurry spoke of what had occurred. But the Delaware, in passing +his friend, merely uttered the words "fire's out," which, if not +literally true, sufficiently explained the truth to his listener. + +It was now a question as to the course to be steered. A short +surly conference was held, when Hutter decided that the wisest way +would be to keep in motion as the means most likely to defeat any +attempt at a surprise - announcing his own and March's intention +to requite themselves for the loss of sleep during their captivity, +by lying down. As the air still baffled and continued light, it was +finally determined to sail before it, let it come in what direction +it might, so long as it did not blow the ark upon the strand. This +point settled, the released prisoners helped to hoist the sail, and +they threw themselves upon two of the pallets, leaving Deerslayer +and his friend to look after the movements of the craft. As neither +of the latter was disposed to sleep, on account of the appointment +with Hist, this arrangement was acceptable to all parties. That +Judith and Hetty remained up also, in no manner impaired the +agreeable features of this change. + +For some time the scow rather drifted than sailed along the western +shore, following a light southerly current of the air. The progress +was slow - not exceeding a couple of miles in the hour - but the +two men perceived that it was not only carrying them towards the +point they desired to reach, but at a rate that was quite as fast +as the hour yet rendered necessary. But little more was said the +while even by the girls; and that little had more reference to the +rescue of Hist than to any other subject. The Indian was calm to +the eye, but as minute after minute passed, his feelings became +more and more excited, until they reached a state that might have +satisfied the demands of even the most exacting mistress. Deerslayer +kept the craft as much in the bays as was prudent, for the double +purpose of sailing within the shadows of the woods, and of detecting +any signs of an encampment they might pass on the shore. In this +manner they doubled one low point, and were already in the bay that +was terminated north by the goal at which they aimed. The latter +was still a quarter of a mile distant, when Chingachgook came +silently to the side of his friend and pointed to a place directly +ahead. A small fire was glimmering just within the verge of +the bushes that lined the shore on the southern side of the point +-leaving no doubt that the Indians had suddenly removed their camp +to the very place, or at least the very projection of land where +Hist had given them the rendezvous! + + + +Chapter XVI + + + "I hear thee babbling to the vale + Of sunshine and of flowers, + But unto me thou bring'st a tale + Of visionary hours." + + Wordsworth. + +One discovery mentioned at the close of the preceding chapter +was of great moment in the eyes of Deerslayer and his friend. In +the first place, there was the danger, almost the certainty, that +Hutter and Hurry would make a fresh attempt on this camp, should +they awake and ascertain its position. Then there was the increased +risk of landing to bring off Hist; and there were the general +uncertainty and additional hazards that must follow from the +circumstance that their enemies had begun to change their positions. +As the Delaware was aware that the hour was near when he ought to +repair to the rendezvous, he no longer thought of trophies torn +from his foes, and one of the first things arranged between him and +his associate was to permit the two others to sleep on, lest they +should disturb the execution of their plans by substituting some +of their own. The ark moved slowly, and it would have taken fully +a quarter of an hour to reach the point, at the rate at which +they were going, thus affording time for a little forethought. +The Indians, in the wish to conceal their fire from those who +were thought to be still in the castle, had placed it so near the +southern side of the point as to render it extremely difficult to +shut it in by the bushes, though Deerslayer varied the direction +of the scow both to the right and to the left, in the hope of being +able to effect that object. + +"There's one advantage, Judith, in finding that fire so near the +water," he said, while executing these little manoeuvres, "since it +shows the Mingos believe we are in the hut, and our coming on 'em +from this quarter will be an unlooked for event. But it's lucky +Harry March and your father are asleep, else we should have 'em +prowling after scalps ag'in. Ha! there - the bushes are beginning +to shut in the fire - and now it can't be seen at all!" + +Deerslayer waited a little to make certain that he had at last +gained the desired position, when he gave the signal agreed on, +and Chingachgook let go the grapnel and lowered the sail. + +The situation in which the ark now lay had its advantages and its +disadvantages. The fire had been hid by sheering towards the shore, +and the latter was nearer, perhaps, than was desirable. Still, +the water was known to be very deep further off in the lake, and +anchoring in deep water, under the circumstances in which the party +was placed, was to be avoided, if possible. It was also believed +no raft could be within miles; and though the trees in the darkness +appeared almost to overhang the scow, it would not be easy to get +off to her without using a boat. The intense darkness that prevailed +so close in with the forest, too, served as an effectual screen, +and so long as care was had not to make a noise, there was little +or no danger of being detected. All these things Deerslayer pointed +out to Judith, instructing her as to the course she was to follow +in the event of an alarm; for it was thought to the last degree +inexpedient to arouse the sleepers, unless it might be in the +greatest emergency. + +"And now, Judith, as we understand one another, it is time the +Sarpent and I had taken to the canoe," the hunter concluded. "The +star has not risen yet, it's true, but it soon must, though none +of us are likely to be any the wiser for it tonight, on account +of the clouds. Howsever, Hist has a ready mind, and she's one of +them that doesn't always need to have a thing afore her, to see it. +I'll warrant you she'll not be either two minutes or two feet out +of the way, unless them jealous vagabonds, the Mingos, have taken +the alarm, and put her as a stool-pigeon to catch us, or have hid +her away, in order to prepare her mind for a Huron instead of a +Mohican husband." + +"Deerslayer," interrupted the girl, earnestly; "this is a most +dangerous service; why do you go on it, at all?" + +"Anan! - Why you know, gal, we go to bring off Hist, the Sarpent's +betrothed - the maid he means to marry, as soon as we get back to +the tribe." + +"That is all right for the Indian - but you do not mean to marry +Hist - you are not betrothed, and why should two risk their lives +and liberties, to do that which one can just as well perform?" + +"Ah - now I understand you, Judith - yes, now I begin to take the +idee. You think as Hist is the Sarpent's betrothed, as they call +it, and not mine, it's altogether his affair; and as one man can +paddle a canoe he ought to be left to go after his gal alone! But +you forget this is our ar'n'd here on the lake, and it would not +tell well to forget an ar'n'd just as the pinch came. Then, if +love does count for so much with some people, particularly with +young women, fri'ndship counts for something, too, with other +some. I dares to say, the Delaware can paddle a canoe by himself, +and can bring off Hist by himself, and perhaps he would like that +quite as well, as to have me with him; but he couldn't sarcumvent +sarcumventions, or stir up an ambushment, or fight with the savages, +and get his sweetheart at the same time, as well by himself as if +he had a fri'nd with him to depend on, even if that fri'nd is no +better than myself. No - no - Judith, you wouldn't desert one that +counted on you, at such a moment, and you can't, in reason, expect +me to do it." + +"I fear - I believe you are right, Deerslayer, and yet I wish you +were not to go! Promise me one thing, at least, and that is, not +to trust yourself among the savages, or to do anything more than +to save the girl. That will be enough for once, and with that you +ought to be satisfied." + +"Lord bless you! gal; one would think it was Hetty that's talking, +and not the quick-witted and wonderful Judith Hutter! But fright +makes the wise silly, and the strong weak. Yes, I've seen proofs +of that, time and ag'in! Well, it's kind and softhearted in you, +Judith, to feel this consarn for a fellow creatur', and I shall +always say that you are kind and of true feelings, let them that +envy your good looks tell as many idle stories of you as they may." + +"Deerslayer!" hastily said the girl, interrupting him, though nearly +choked by her own emotions; "do you believe all you hear about a +poor, motherless girl? Is the foul tongue of Hurry Harry to blast +my life?" + +"Not it, Judith - not it. I've told Hurry it wasn't manful to +backbite them he couldn't win by fair means; and that even an Indian +is always tender, touching a young woman's good name." + +"If I had a brother, he wouldn't dare to do it!" exclaimed Judith, +with eyes flashing fire. "But, finding me without any protector but +an old man, whose ears are getting to be as dull as his feelings, +he has his way as he pleases!" + +"Not exactly that, Judith; no, not exactly that, neither! No +man, brother or stranger, would stand by and see as fair a gal as +yourself hunted down, without saying a word in her behalf. Hurry's +in 'arnest in wanting to make you his wife, and the little he does +let out ag'in you, comes more from jealousy, like, than from any +thing else. Smile on him when he awakes, and squeeze his hand +only half as hard as you squeezed mine a bit ago, and my life on +it, the poor fellow will forget every thing but your comeliness. +Hot words don't always come from the heart, but oftener from the +stomach than anywhere else. Try him, Judith, when he awakes, and +see the virtue of a smile." + +Deerslayer laughed, in his own manner, as he concluded, and then he +intimated to the patient-looking, but really impatient Chingachgook, +his readiness to proceed. As the young man entered the canoe, the +girl stood immovable as stone, lost in the musings that the language +and manner of the other were likely to produce. The simplicity +of the hunter had completely put her at fault; for, in her narrow +sphere, Judith was an expert manager of the other sex; though in +the present instance she was far more actuated by impulses, in all +she had said and done, than by calculation. We shall not deny that +some of Judith's reflections were bitter, though the sequel of the +tale must be referred to, in order to explain how merited, or how +keen were her sufferings. + +Chingachgook and his pale-face friend set forth on their hazardous +and delicate enterprise, with a coolness and method that would have +done credit to men who were on their twentieth, instead of being +on their first, war-path. As suited his relation to the pretty +fugitive, in whose service they were engaged, the Indian took his +place in the head of the canoe; while Deerslayer guided its movements +in the stern. By this arrangement, the former would be the first +to land, and of course, the first to meet his mistress. The latter +had taken his post without comment, but in secret influenced by the +reflection that one who had so much at stake as the Indian, might +not possibly guide the canoe with the same steadiness and intelligence, +as another who had more command of his feelings. From the instant +they left the side of the ark, the movements of the two adventurers +were like the manoeuvres of highly-drilled soldiers, who, for the +first time were called on to meet the enemy in the field. As yet, +Chingachgook had never fired a shot in anger, and the debut of +his companion in warfare is known to the reader. It is true, the +Indian had been hanging about his enemy's camp for a few hours, on +his first arrival, and he had even once entered it, as related in +the last chapter, but no consequences had followed either experiment. +Now, it was certain that an important result was to be effected, +or a mortifying failure was to ensue. The rescue, or the continued +captivity of Hist, depended on the enterprise. In a word, it was +virtually the maiden expedition of these two ambitious young forest +soldiers; and while one of them set forth impelled by sentiments +that usually carry men so far, both had all their feelings of pride +and manhood enlisted in their success. + +Instead of steering in a direct line to the point, then distant +from the ark less than a quarter of a mile, Deerslayer laid the +head of his canoe diagonally towards the centre of the lake, with +a view to obtain a position from which he might approach the shore, +having his enemies in his front only. The spot where Hetty had +landed, and where Hist had promised to meet them, moreover, was on +the upper side of the projection rather than on the lower; and to +reach it would have required the two adventurers to double nearly +the whole point, close in with the shore, had not this preliminary +step been taken. So well was the necessity for this measure +understood, that Chingachgook quietly paddled on, although it was +adopted without consulting him, and apparently was taking him in +a direction nearly opposite to that one might think he most wished +to go. A few minutes sufficed, however, to carry the canoe the +necessary distance, when both the young men ceased paddling as it +were by instinctive consent, and the boat became stationary. The +darkness increased rather than diminished, but it was still +possible, from the place where the adventurers lay, to distinguish +the outlines of the mountains. In vain did the Delaware turn +his head eastward, to catch a glimpse of the promised star; for, +notwithstanding the clouds broke a little near the horizon in +that quarter of the heavens, the curtain continued so far drawn as +effectually to conceal all behind it. In front, as was known by +the formation of land above and behind it, lay the point, at the +distance of about a thousand feet. No signs of the castle could +be seen, nor could any movement in that quarter of the lake reach +the ear. The latter circumstance might have been equally owing to +the distance, which was several miles, or to the fact that nothing +was in motion. As for the ark, though scarcely farther from the +canoe than the point, it lay so completely buried in the shadows +of the shore, that it would not have been visible even had there +been many degrees more of light than actually existed. + +The adventurers now held a conference in low voices, consulting +together as to the probable time. Deerslayer thought it wanted +yet some minutes to the rising of the star, while the impatience +of the chief caused him to fancy the night further advanced, and +to believe that his betrothed was already waiting his appearance on +the shore. As might have been expected, the opinion of the latter +prevailed, and his friend disposed himself to steer for the place +of rendezvous. The utmost skill and precaution now became necessary in +the management of the canoe. The paddles were lifted and returned +to the water in a noiseless manner; and when within a hundred +yards of the beach, Chingachgook took in his, altogether laying +his hand on his rifle in its stead. As they got still more within +the belt of darkness that girded the woods, it was seen that they +were steering too far north, and the course was altered accordingly. +The canoe now seemed to move by instinct, so cautious and deliberate +were all its motions. Still it continued to advance, until its +bows grated on the gravel of the beach, at the precise spot where +Hetty had landed, and whence her voice had issued, the previous +night, as the ark was passing. There was, as usual, a narrow +strand, but bushes fringed the woods, and in most places overhung +the water. + +Chingachgook stepped upon the beach, and cautiously examined it for +some distance on each side of the canoe. In order to do this, he +was often obliged to wade to his knees in the lake, but no Hist +rewarded his search. When he returned, he found his friend also on +the shore. They next conferred in whispers, the Indian apprehending +that they must have mistaken the place of rendezvous. But Deerslayer +thought it was probable they had mistaken the hour. While he was +yet speaking, he grasped the arm of the Delaware, caused him to +turn his head in the direction of the lake, and pointed towards the +summits of the eastern mountains. The clouds had broken a little, +apparently behind rather than above the hills, and the evening +star was glittering among the branches of a pine. This was every +way a flattering omen, and the young men leaned on their rifles, +listening intently for the sound of approaching footsteps. Voices +they often heard, and mingled with them were the suppressed cries +of children, and the low but sweet laugh of Indian women. As the +native Americans are habitually cautious, and seldom break out in +loud conversation, the adventurers knew by these facts that they +must be very near the encampment. It was easy to perceive that +there was a fire within the woods, by the manner in which some of +the upper branches of the trees were illuminated, but it was not +possible, where they stood, to ascertain exactly how near it was to +themselves. Once or twice, it seemed as if stragglers from around +the fire were approaching the place of rendezvous; but these +sounds were either altogether illusion, or those who had drawn near +returned again without coming to the shore. A quarter of an hour +was passed in this state of intense expectation and anxiety, when +Deerslayer proposed that they should circle the point in the canoe; +and by getting a position close in, where the camp could be seen, +reconnoitre the Indians, and thus enable themselves to form some +plausible conjectures for the non-appearance of Hist. The Delaware, +however, resolutely refused to quit the spot, reasonably enough +offering as a reason the disappointment of the girl, should she +arrive in his absence. Deerslayer felt for his friend's concern, +and offered to make the circuit of the point by himself, leaving +the latter concealed in the bushes to await the occurrence of any +fortunate event that might favour his views. With this understanding, +then, the parties separated. + +As soon as Deerslayer was at his post again, in the stern of the +canoe, he left the shore with the same precautions, and in the +same noiseless manner, as he had approached it. On this occasion +he did not go far from the land, the bushes affording a sufficient +cover, by keeping as close in as possible. Indeed, it would not +have been easy to devise any means more favourable to reconnoitering +round an Indian camp, than those afforded by the actual state +of things. The formation of the point permitted the place to be +circled on three of its sides, and the progress of the boat was +so noiseless as to remove any apprehensions from an alarm through +sound. The most practised and guarded foot might stir a bunch of +leaves, or snap a dried stick in the dark, but a bark canoe could +be made to float over the surface of smooth water, almost with the +instinctive readiness, and certainly with the noiseless movements +of an aquatic bird. + +Deerslayer had got nearly in a line between the camp and the ark +before he caught a glimpse of the fire. This came upon him suddenly, +and a little unexpectedly, at first causing an alarm, lest he had +incautiously ventured within the circle of light it cast. But +perceiving at a second glance that he was certainly safe from +detection, so long as the Indians kept near the centre of the +illumination, he brought the canoe to a state of rest in the most +favourable position he could find, and commenced his observations. + +We have written much, but in vain, concerning this extraordinary +being, if the reader requires now to be told, that, untutored as +he was in the learning of the world, and simple as he ever showed +himself to be in all matters touching the subtleties of conventional +taste, he was a man of strong, native, poetical feeling. He loved +the woods for their freshness, their sublime solitudes, their +vastness, and the impress that they everywhere bore of the divine +hand of their creator. He seldom moved through them, without +pausing to dwell on some peculiar beauty that gave him pleasure, +though seldom attempting to investigate the causes; and never did +a day pass without his communing in spirit, and this, too, without +the aid of forms or language, with the infinite source of all he +saw, felt, and beheld. Thus constituted, in a moral sense, and of +a steadiness that no danger could appall, or any crisis disturb, +it is not surprising that the hunter felt a pleasure at looking +on the scene he now beheld, that momentarily caused him to forget +the object of his visit. This will more fully appear when we +describe it. + +The canoe lay in front of a natural vista, not only through the +bushes that lined the shore, but of the trees also, that afforded +a clear view of the camp. It was by means of this same opening +that the light had been first seen from the ark. In consequence +of their recent change of ground, the Indians had not yet retired +to their huts, but had been delayed by their preparations, which +included lodging as well as food. A large fire had been made, +as much to answer the purpose of torches as for the use of their +simple cookery; and at this precise moment it was blazing high and +bright, having recently received a large supply of dried brush. +the effect was to illuminate the arches of the forest, and to +render the whole area occupied by the camp as light as if hundreds +of tapers were burning. Most of the toil had ceased, and even the +hungriest child had satisfied its appetite. In a word, the time +was that moment of relaxation and general indolence which is apt to +succeed a hearty meal, and when the labours of the day have ended. +The hunters and the fishermen had been totally successful; and +food, that one great requisite of savage life, being abundant, +every other care appeared to have subsided in the sense of enjoyment +dependent on this all-important fact. + +Deerslayer saw at a glance that many of the warriors were absent. +His acquaintance Rivenoak, however, was present, being seated in +the foreground of a picture that Salvator Rosa would have delighted +to draw, his swarthy features illuminated as much by pleasure as +by the torchlike flame, while he showed another of the tribe one of +the elephants that had caused so much sensation among his people. +A boy was looking over his shoulder, in dull curiosity, completing +the group. More in the background eight or ten warriors lay half +recumbent on the ground, or sat with their backs reclining against +trees, so many types of indolent repose. Their arms were near +them all, sometimes leaning against the same trees as themselves, +or were lying across their bodies in careless preparation. But +the group that most attracted the attention of Deerslayer was that +composed of the women and children. A1l the females appeared to +be collected together, and, almost as a matter of course, their +young were near them. The former laughed and chatted in their +rebuked and quiet manner, though one who knew the habits of the +people might have detected that everything was not going on in its +usual train. Most of the young women seemed to be light-hearted +enough; but one old hag was seated apart with a watchful soured +aspect, which the hunter at once knew betokened that some duty of +an unpleasant character had been assigned her by the chiefs. What +that duty was, he had no means of knowing; but he felt satisfied it +must be in some measure connected with her own sex, the aged among +the women generally being chosen for such offices and no other. + +As a matter of course, Deerslayer looked eagerly and anxiously +for the form of Hist. She was nowhere visible though the light +penetrated to considerable distances in all directions around the +fire. Once or twice he started, as he thought he recognized her +laugh; but his ears were deceived by the soft melody that is so +common to the Indian female voice. At length the old woman spoke +loud and angrily, and then he caught a glimpse of one or two dark +figures in the background of trees, which turned as if obedient +to the rebuke, and walked more within the circle of the light. A +young warrior's form first came fairly into view; then followed +two youthful females, one of whom proved to be the Delaware girl. +Deerslayer now comprehended it all. Hist was watched, possibly +by her young companion, certainly by the old woman. The youth was +probably some suitor of either her or her companion; but even his +discretion was distrusted under the influence of his admiration. +The known vicinity of those who might be supposed to be her friends, +and the arrival of a strange red man on the lake had induced +more than the usual care, and the girl had not been able to slip +away from those who watched her in order to keep her appointment. +Deerslayer traced her uneasiness by her attempting once or twice +to look up through the branches of the trees, as if endeavouring +to get glimpses of the star she had herself named as the sign for +meeting. All was vain, however, and after strolling about the camp +a little longer, in affected indifference, the two girls quitted +their male escort, and took seats among their own sex. As soon +as this was done, the old sentinel changed her place to one more +agreeable to herself, a certain proof that she had hitherto been +exclusively on watch. + +Deerslayer now felt greatly at a loss how to proceed. He well +knew that Chingachgook could never be persuaded to return to the +ark without making some desperate effort for the recovery of his +mistress, and his own generous feelings well disposed him to aid in +such an undertaking. He thought he saw the signs of an intention +among the females to retire for the night; and should he remain, +and the fire continue to give out its light, he might discover the +particular hut or arbour under which Hist reposed; a circumstance +that would be of infinite use in their future proceedings. Should he +remain, however, much longer where he was, there was great danger +that the impatience of his friend would drive him into some act +of imprudence. At each instant, indeed, he expected to see the +swarthy form of the Delaware appearing in the background, like the +tiger prowling around the fold. Taking all things into consideration, +therefore, he came to the conclusion it would be better to rejoin +his friend, and endeavour to temper his impetuosity by some of his +own coolness and discretion. It required but a minute or two to +put this plan in execution, the canoe returning to the strand some +ten or fifteen minutes after it had left it. + +Contrary to his expectations, perhaps, Deerslayer found the Indian +at his post, from which he had not stirred, fearful that his betrothed +might arrive during his absence. A conference followed, in which +Chingachgook was made acquainted with the state of things in the +camp. When Hist named the point as the place of meeting, it was +with the expectation of making her escape from the old position, +and of repairing to a spot that she expected to find without any +occupants; but the sudden change of localities had disconcerted +all her plans. A much greater degree of vigilance than had been +previously required was now necessary; and the circumstance that +an aged woman was on watch also denoted some special grounds of +alarm. All these considerations, and many more that will readily +suggest themselves to the reader, were briefly discussed before +the young men came to any decision. The occasion, however, being +one that required acts instead of words, the course to be pursued +was soon chosen. + +Disposing of the canoe in such a manner that Hist must see it, +should she come to the place of meeting previously to their return, +the young men looked to their arms and prepared to enter the wood. +The whole projection into the lake contained about two acres of +land; and the part that formed the point, and on which the camp was +placed, did not compose a surface of more than half that size. It +was principally covered with oaks, which, as is usual in the American +forests, grew to a great height without throwing out a branch, and +then arched in a dense and rich foliage. Beneath, except the fringe +of thick bushes along the shore, there was very little underbrush; +though, in consequence of their shape, the trees were closer +together than is common in regions where the axe has been freely +used, resembling tall, straight, rustic columns, upholding the +usual canopy of leaves. The surface of the land was tolerably even, +but it had a small rise near its centre, which divided it into a +northern and southern half. On the latter, the Hurons had built +their fire, profiting by the formation to conceal it from their +enemies, who, it will be remembered, were supposed to be in the +castle, which bore northerly. A brook also came brawling down the +sides of the adjacent hills, and found its way into the lake on the +southern side of the point. It had cut for itself a deep passage +through some of the higher portions of the ground, and, in later +days, when this spot has become subjected to the uses of civilization, +by its windings and shaded banks, it has become no mean accessory +in contributing to the beauty of the place. This brook lay west +of the encampment, and its waters found their way into the great +reservoir of that region on the same side, and quite near to +the spot chosen for the fire. All these peculiarities, so far as +circumstances allowed, had been noted by Deerslayer, and explained +to his friend. + +The reader will understand that the little rise in the ground, +that lay behind the Indian encampment, greatly favoured the secret +advance of the two adventurers. It prevented the light of the fire +diffusing itself on the ground directly in the rear, although the +land fell away towards the water, so as to leave what might be +termed the left, or eastern flank of the position unprotected by +this covering. We have said unprotected, though that is not properly +the word, since the knoll behind the huts and the fire offered a +cover for those who were now stealthily approaching, rather than +any protection to the Indians. Deerslayer did not break through +the fringe of bushes immediately abreast of the canoe, which might +have brought him too suddenly within the influence of the light, +since the hillock did not extend to the water; but he followed the +beach northerly until he had got nearly on the opposite side of +the tongue of land, which brought him under the shelter of the low +acclivity, and consequently more in the shadow. + +As soon as the friends emerged from the bushes, they stopped to +reconnoitre. The fire was still blazing behind the little ridge, +casting its light upward into the tops of the trees, producing an +effect that was more pleasing than advantageous. Still the glare +had its uses; for, while the background was in obscurity, the +foreground was in strong light; exposing the savages and concealing +their foes. Profiting by the latter circumstance, the young men +advanced cautiously towards the ridge, Deerslayer in front, for he +insisted on this arrangement, lest the Delaware should be led by +his feelings into some indiscretion. It required but a moment to +reach the foot of the little ascent, and then commenced the most +critical part of the enterprise. Moving with exceeding caution, +and trailing his rifle, both to keep its barrel out of view, and +in readiness for service, the hunter put foot before foot, until +he had got sufficiently high to overlook the summit, his own head +being alone brought into the light. Chingachgook was at his side +and both paused to take another close examination of the camp. In +order, however, to protect themselves against any straggler in the +rear, they placed their bodies against the trunk of an oak, standing +on the side next the fire. + +The view that Deerslayer now obtained of the camp was exactly the +reverse of that he had perceived from the water. The dim figures +which he had formerly discovered must have been on the summit of the +ridge, a few feet in advance of the spot where he was now posted. +The fire was still blazing brightly, and around it were seated on +logs thirteen warriors, which accounted for all whom he had seen +from the canoe. They were conversing, with much earnestness among +themselves, the image of the elephant passing from hand to hand. +The first burst of savage wonder had abated, and the question now +under discussion was the probable existence, the history and the +habits of so extraordinary an animal. We have not leisure to record +the opinions of these rude men on a subject so consonant to their +lives and experience; but little is hazarded in saying that they +were quite as plausible, and far more ingenious, than half the +conjectures that precede the demonstrations of science. However +much they may have been at fault as to their conclusions and +inferences, it is certain that they discussed the questions with a +zealous and most undivided attention. For the time being all else +was forgotten, and our adventurers could not have approached at a +more fortunate instant. + +The females were collected near each other, much as Deerslayer +had last seen them, nearly in a line between the place where he +now stood and the fire. The distance from the oak against which +the young men leaned and the warriors was about thirty yards; the +women may have been half that number of yards nigher. The latter, +indeed, were so near as to make the utmost circumspection, as to +motion and noise, indispensable. Although they conversed in their +low, soft voices it was possible, in the profound stillness of the +woods, even to catch passages of the discourse; and the light-hearted +laugh that escaped the girls might occasionally have reached the +canoe. Deerslayer felt the tremolo that passed through the frame +of his friend when the latter first caught the sweet sounds that +issued from the plump, pretty lips of Hist. He even laid a hand +on the shoulder of the Indian, as a sort of admonition to command +himself. As the conversation grew more earnest, each leaned forward +to listen. + +"The Hurons have more curious beasts than that," said one of the +girls, contemptuously, for, like the men, they conversed of the +elephant and his qualities. "The Delawares will think this creature +wonderful, but tomorrow no Huron tongue will talk of it. Our young +men will find him if the animals dare to come near our wigwams!" + +This was, in fact, addressed to Wah-ta-Wah, though she who spoke +uttered her words with an assumed diffidence and humility that +prevented her looking at the other. + +"The Delawares are so far from letting such creatures come into +their country," returned Hist, "that no one has even seen their +images there! Their young men would frighten away the images as +well as the beasts." + +"The Delaware young men! - the nation is women - even the deer +walk when they hear their hunters coming! Who has ever heard the +name of a young Delaware warrior?" + +This was said in good-humour, and with a laugh; but it was also +said bitingly. That Hist so felt it, was apparent by the spirit +betrayed in her answer. + +"Who has ever heard the name of a young Delaware?" she repeated +earnestly. "Tamenund, himself, though now as old as the pines on +the hill, or as the eagles in the air, was once young; his name +was heard from the great salt lake to the sweet waters of the west. +What is the family of Uncas? Where is another as great, though the +pale-faces have ploughed up its grates, and trodden on its bones? +Do the eagles fly as high, is the deer as swift or the panther as +brave? Is there no young warrior of that race? Let the Huron maidens +open their eyes wider, and they may see one called Chingachgook, +who is as stately as a young ash, and as tough as the hickory." + +As the girl used her figurative language and told her companions +to "open their eyes, and they would see" the Delaware, Deerslayer +thrust his fingers into the sides of his friend, and indulged in a +fit of his hearty, benevolent laughter. The other smiled; but the +language of the speaker was too flattering, and the tones of her +voice too sweet for him to be led away by any accidental coincidence, +however ludicrous. The speech of Hist produced a retort, and the +dispute, though conducted in good-humour, and without any of the +coarse violence of tone and gesture that often impairs the charms +of the sex in what is called civilized life, grew warm and slightly +clamorous. In the midst of this scene, the Delaware caused his +friend to stoop, so as completely to conceal himself, and then he +made a noise so closely resembling the little chirrup of the smallest +species of the American squirrel, that Deerslayer himself, though +he had heard the imitation a hundred times, actually thought it +came from one of the little animals skipping about over his head. +The sound is so familiar in the woods, that none of the Hurons paid +it the least attention. Hist, however, instantly ceased talking, +and sat motionless. Still she had sufficient self-command to +abstain from turning her head. She had heard the signal by which +her lover so often called her from the wigwam to the stolen interview, +and it came over her senses and her heart, as the serenade affects +the maiden in the land of song. + +From that moment, Chingachgook felt certain that his presence was +known. This was effecting much, and he could now hope for a bolder +line of conduct on the part of his mistress than she might dare to +adopt under an uncertainty of his situation. It left no doubt of +her endeavouring to aid him in his effort to release her. Deerslayer +arose as soon as the signal was given, and though he had never +held that sweet communion which is known only to lovers, he was +not slow to detect the great change that had come over the manner +of the girl. She still affected to dispute, though it was no longer +with spirit and ingenuity, but what she said was uttered more as +a lure to draw her antagonists on to an easy conquest, than with +any hopes of succeeding herself. Once or twice, it is true, her +native readiness suggested a retort, or an argument that raised a +laugh, and gave her a momentary advantage; but these little sallies, +the offspring of mother-wit, served the better to conceal her real +feelings, and to give to the triumph of the other party a more +natural air than it might have possessed without them. At length +the disputants became wearied, and they rose in a body as if about +to separate. It was now that Hist, for the first time, ventured +to turn her face in the direction whence the signal had come. In +doing this, her movements were natural, but guarded, and she stretched +her arm and yawned, as if overcome with a desire to sleep. The +chirrup was again heard, and the girl felt satisfied as to the +position of her lover, though the strong light in which she herself +was placed, and the comparative darkness in which the adventurers +stood, prevented her from seeing their heads, the only portions +of their forms that appeared above the ridge at all. The tree +against which they were posted had a dark shadow cast upon it by +the intervention of an enormous pine that grew between it and the +fire, a circumstance which alone would have rendered objects within +its cloud invisible at any distance. This Deerslayer well knew, +and it was one of the reasons why he had selected this particular +tree. + +The moment was near when it became necessary for Hist to act. She +was to sleep in a small hut, or bower, that had been built near where +she stood, and her companion was the aged hag already mentioned. +Once within the hut, with this sleepless old woman stretched across +the entrance, as was her nightly practice, the hope of escape was +nearly destroyed, and she might at any moment be summoned to her +bed. Luckily, at this instant one of the warriors called to the +old woman by name, and bade her bring him water to drink. There +was a delicious spring on the northern side of the point, and the +hag took a gourd from a branch and, summoning Hist to her side, +she moved towards the summit of the ridge, intending to descend +and cross the point to the natural fountain. All this was seen +and understood by the adventurers, and they fell back into the +obscurity, concealing their persons by trees, until the two females +had passed them. In walking, Hist was held tightly by the hand. +As she moved by the tree that hid Chingachgook and his friend the +former felt for his tomahawk, with the intention to bury it in the +brain of the woman. But the other saw the hazard of such a measure, +since a single scream might bring all the warriors upon them, and +he was averse to the act on considerations of humanity. His hand, +therefore, prevented the blow. Still as the two moved past, the +chirrup was repeated, and the Huron woman stopped and faced the +tree whence the sounds seemed to proceed, standing, at the moment, +within six feet of her enemies. She expressed her surprise that a +squirrel should be in motion at so late an hour, and said it boded +evil. Hist answered that she had heard the same squirrel three +times within the last twenty minutes, and that she supposed it was +waiting to obtain some of the crumbs left from the late supper. +This explanation appeared satisfactory, and they moved towards the +spring, the men following stealthily and closely. The gourd was +filled, and the old woman was hurrying back, her hand still grasping +the wrist of the girl, when she was suddenly seized so violently by +the throat as to cause her to release her captive, and to prevent +her making any other sound than a sort of gurgling, suffocating +noise. The Serpent passed his arm round the waist of his mistress +and dashed through the bushes with her, on the north side of the +point. Here he immediately turned along the beach and ran towards +the canoe. A more direct course could have been taken, but it +might have led to a discovery of the place of embarking. + +Deerslayer kept playing on the throat of the old woman like the +keys of an organ, occasionally allowing her to breathe, and then +compressing his fingers again nearly to strangling. The brief +intervals for breath, however, were well improved, and the hag +succeeded in letting out a screech or two that served to alarm the +camp. The tramp of the warriors, as they sprang from the fire, +was plainly audible, and at the next moment three or four of them +appeared on the top of the ridge, drawn against the background of +light, resembling the dim shadows of the phantasmagoria. It was +now quite time for the hunter to retreat. Tripping up the heels +of his captive, and giving her throat a parting squeeze, quite as +much in resentment at her indomitable efforts to sound the alarm +as from any policy, he left her on her back, and moved towards the +bushes, his rifle at a poise, and his head over his shoulders, like +a lion at bay. + + + +Chapter XVII. + + + There, ye wise saints, behold your light, your star, + Ye would be dupes and victims and ye are. + Is it enough? or, must I, while a thrill + Lives in your sapient bosoms, cheat you still?" + + Thomas Moore, Lalla Rookh, "The Veiled Prophet of Khorassan" + +The fire, the canoe, and the spring, near which Deerslayer commenced +his retreat, would have stood in the angles of a triangle of tolerably +equal sides. The distance from the fire to the boat was a little +less than the distance from the fire to the spring, while the +distance from the spring to the boat was about equal to that between +the two points first named. This, however, was in straight lines, +a means of escape to which the fugitives could not resort. They +were obliged to have recourse to a detour in order to get the cover +of the bushes, and to follow the curvature of the beach. Under +these disadvantages, then, the hunter commenced his retreat, +disadvantages that he felt to be so much the greater from his +knowledge of the habits of all Indians, who rarely fail in cases +of sudden alarms, more especially when in the midst of cover, +immediately to throw out flankers, with a view to meet their foes +at all points, and if possible to turn their rear. That some such +course was now adopted he believed from the tramp of feet, which +not only came up the ascent, as related, but were also heard, under +the first impulse, diverging not only towards the hill in the rear, +but towards the extremity of the point, in a direction opposite +to that he was about to take himself. Promptitude, consequently +became a matter of the last importance, as the parties might meet +on the strand, before the fugitive could reach the canoe. + +Notwithstanding the pressing nature of the emergency, Deerslayer +hesitated a single instant, ere he plunged into the bushes that lined +the shore. His feelings had been awakened by the whole scene, and +a sternness of purpose had come over him, to which he was ordinarily +a stranger. Four dark figures loomed on the ridge, drawn against +the brightness of the fire, and an enemy might have been sacrificed +at a glance. The Indians had paused to gaze into the gloom, in +search of the screeching hag, and with many a man less given to +reflection than the hunter, the death of one of them would have +been certain. Luckily he was more prudent. Although the rifle +dropped a little towards the foremost of his pursuers, he did not +aim or fire, but disappeared in the cover. To gain the beach, and +to follow it round to the place where Chingachgook was already in +the canoe, with Hist, anxiously waiting his appearance, occupied but +a moment. Laying his rifle in the bottom of the canoe, Deerslayer +stooped to give the latter a vigorous shove from the shore, when a +powerful Indian leaped through the bushes, alighting like a panther +on his back. Everything was now suspended by a hair; a false step +ruining all. With a generosity that would have rendered a Roman +illustrious throughout all time, but which, in the career of one +so simple and humble, would have been forever lost to the world but +for this unpretending legend, Deerslayer threw all his force into +a desperate effort, shoved the canoe off with a power that sent it +a hundred feet from the shore, as it might be in an instant, and +fell forward into the lake, himself, face downward; his assailant +necessarily following him. + +Although the water was deep within a few yards of the beach, it +was not more than breast high, as close in as the spot where the +two combatants fell. Still this was quite sufficient to destroy +one who had sunk, under the great disadvantages in which Deerslayer +was placed. His hands were free, however, and the savage was +compelled to relinquish his hug, to keep his own face above the +surface. For half a minute there was a desperate struggle, like +the floundering of an alligator that has just seized some powerful +prey, and then both stood erect, grasping each other's arms, in +order to prevent the use of the deadly knife in the darkness. What +might have been the issue of this severe personal struggle cannot +be known, for half a dozen savages came leaping into the water to +the aid of their friend, and Deerslayer yielded himself a prisoner, +with a dignity that was as remarkable as his self-devotion. + +To quit the lake and lead their new captive to the fire occupied +the Indians but another minute. So much engaged were they all +with the struggle and its consequences, that the canoe was unseen, +though it still lay so near the shore as to render every syllable +that was uttered perfectly intelligible to the Delaware and his +betrothed; and the whole party left the spot, some continuing the +pursuit after Hist, along the beach, though most proceeded to the +light. Here Deerslayer's antagonist so far recovered his breath and +his recollection, for he had been throttled nearly to strangulation, +as to relate the manner in which the girl had got off. It was +now too late to assail the other fugitives, for no sooner was his +friend led into the bushes than the Delaware placed his paddle into +the water, and the light canoe glided noiselessly away, holding its +course towards the centre of the lake until safe from shot, after +which it sought the Ark. When Deerslayer reached the fire, he found +himself surrounded by no less than eight grim savages, among whom +was his old acquaintance Rivenoak. As soon as the latter caught a +glimpse of the captive's countenance, he spoke apart to his companions, +and a low but general exclamation of pleasure and surprise escaped +them. They knew that the conqueror of their late friend, he who +had fallen on the opposite side of the lake, was in their hands, +and subject to their mercy, or vengeance. There was no little +admiration mingled in the ferocious looks that were thrown on the +prisoner; an admiration that was as much excited by his present +composure, as by his past deeds. This scene may be said to +have been the commencement of the great and terrible reputation +that Deerslayer, or Hawkeye, as he was afterwards called, enjoyed +among all the tribes of New York and Canada; a reputation that was +certainly more limited in its territorial and numerical extent, +than those which are possessed in civilized life, but which was +compensated for what it wanted in these particulars, perhaps, by +its greater justice, and the total absence of mystification and +management. + +The arms of Deerslayer were not pinioned, and he was left the +free use of his hands, his knife having been first removed. The +only precaution that was taken to secure his person was untiring +watchfulness, and a strong rope of bark that passed from ankle to +ankle, not so much to prevent his walking, as to place an obstacle +in the way of his attempting to escape by any sudden leap. Even +this extra provision against flight was not made until the captive +had been brought to the light, and his character ascertained. It +was, in fact, a compliment to his prowess, and he felt proud of +the distinction. That he might be bound when the warriors slept he +thought probable, but to be bound in the moment of capture showed +that he was already, and thus early, attaining a name. While the +young Indians were fastening the rope, he wondered if Chingachgook +would have been treated in the same manner, had he too fallen +into the hands of the enemy. Nor did the reputation of the young +pale-face rest altogether on his success in the previous combat, or +in his discriminating and cool manner of managing the late negotiation, +for it had received a great accession by the occurrences of the +night. Ignorant of the movements of the Ark, and of the accident +that had brought their fire into view, the Iroquois attributed the +discovery of their new camp to the vigilance of so shrewd a foe. +The manner in which he ventured upon the point, the abstraction or +escape of Hist, and most of all the self-devotion of the prisoner, +united to the readiness with which he had sent the canoe adrift, +were so many important links in the chain of facts, on which his +growing fame was founded. Many of these circumstances had been +seen, some had been explained, and all were understood. + +While this admiration and these honors were so unreservedly bestowed +on Deerslayer, he did not escape some of the penalties of his +situation. He was permitted to seat himself on the end of a log, +near the fire, in order to dry his clothes, his late adversary +standing opposite, now holding articles of his own scanty vestments +to the heat, and now feeling his throat, on which the marks of his +enemy's fingers were still quite visible. The rest of the warriors +consulted together, near at hand, all those who had been out having +returned to report that no signs of any other prowlers near the +camp were to be found. In this state of things, the old woman, +whose name was Shebear, in plain English, approached Deerslayer, +with her fists clenched and her eyes flashing fire. Hitherto, she +had been occupied with screaming, an employment at which she had +played her part with no small degree of success, but having succeeded +in effectually alarming all within reach of a pair of lungs that had +been strengthened by long practice, she next turned her attention to +the injuries her own person had sustained in the struggle. These +were in no manner material, though they were of a nature to arouse +all the fury of a woman who had long ceased to attract by means +of the gentler qualities, and who was much disposed to revenge the +hardships she had so long endured, as the neglected wife and mother +of savages, on all who came within her power. If Deerslayer had not +permanently injured her, he had temporarily caused her to suffer, +and she was not a person to overlook a wrong of this nature, on +account of its motive. + +"Skunk of the pale-faces," commenced this exasperated and semi-poetic +fury, shaking her fist under the nose of the impassable hunter, "you +are not even a woman. Your friends the Delawares are only women, +and you are their sheep. Your own people will not own you, and no +tribe of redmen would have you in their wigwams; you skulk among +petticoated warriors. You slay our brave friend who has left us? +- No- his great soul scorned to fight you, and left his body rather +than have the shame of slaying you! But the blood that you spilt +when the spirit was not looking on, has not sunk into the ground. +It must be buried in your groans. What music do I hear? Those +are not the wailings of a red man! - no red warrior groans so much +like a hog. They come from a pale-face throat - a Yengeese bosom, +and sound as pleasant as girls singing - Dog - skunk - woodchuck +-mink - hedgehog - pig - toad - spider -yengee -" + +Here the old woman, having expended her breath and exhausted +her epithets, was fain to pause a moment, though both her fists +were shaken in the prisoner's face, and the whole of her wrinkled +countenance was filled with fierce resentment. Deerslayer looked +upon these impotent attempts to arouse him as indifferently as +a gentleman in our own state of society regards the vituperative +terms of a blackguard: the one party feeling that the tongue of an +old woman could never injure a warrior, and the other knowing that +mendacity and vulgarity can only permanently affect those who resort +to their use; but he was spared any further attack at present, by +the interposition of Rivenoak, who shoved aside the hag, bidding +her quit the spot, and prepared to take his seat at the side of his +prisoner. The old woman withdrew, but the hunter well understood +that he was to be the subject of all her means of annoyance, if +not of positive injury, so long as he remained in the power of his +enemies, for nothing rankles so deeply as the consciousness that +an attempt to irritate has been met by contempt, a feeling that +is usually the most passive of any that is harbored in the human +breast. Rivenoak quietly took the seat we have mentioned, and, +after a short pause, he commenced a dialogue, which we translate +as usual, for the benefit of those readers who have not studied +the North American languages. + +"My pale-face friend is very welcome," said the Indian, with a +familiar nod, and a smile so covert that it required all Deerslayer's +vigilance to detect, and not a little of his philosophy to detect +unmoved; "he is welcome. The Hurons keep a hot fire to dry the +white man's clothes by." + +"I thank you, Huron - or Mingo, as I most like to call you," +returned the other, "I thank you for the welcome, and I thank you +for the fire. Each is good in its way, and the last is very good, +when one has been in a spring as cold as the Glimmerglass. Even +Huron warmth may be pleasant, at such a time, to a man with a +Delaware heart." + +"The pale-face - but my brother has a name? So great a warrior +would not have lived without a name?" + +"Mingo," said the hunter, a little of the weakness of human nature +exhibiting itself in the glance of his eye, and the colour on his +cheek - "Mingo, your brave called me Hawkeye, I suppose on account +of a quick and sartain aim, when he was lying with his head in my +lap, afore his spirit started for the Happy Hunting Grounds." + +"'Tis a good name! The hawk is sure of his blow. Hawkeye is not +a woman; why does he live with the Delawares?" + +"I understand you, Mingo, but we look on all that as a sarcumvention +of some of your subtle devils, and deny the charge. Providence +placed me among the Delawares young, and, 'bating what Christian +usages demand of my colour and gifts, I hope to live and die in +their tribe. Still I do not mean to throw away altogether my natyve +rights, and shall strive to do a pale-face's duty, in red-skin +society." + +"Good; a Huron is a red-skin, as well as a Delaware. Hawkeye is +more of a Huron than of a woman." + +"I suppose you know, Mingo, your own meaning; if you don't I make +no question 'tis well known to Satan. But if you wish to get +any thing out of me, speak plainer, for bargains can not be made +blindfolded, or tongue tied." + +"Good; Hawkeye has not a forked tongue, and he likes to say what he +thinks. He is an acquaintance of the Muskrat," this was the name +by which all the Indians designated Hutter - "and has lived in +his wigwam. But he is not a friend. He wants no scalps, like a +miserable Indian, but fights like a stout-hearted pale-face. The +Muskrat is neither white, nor red. Neither a beast nor a fish. +He is a water snake; sometimes in the spring and sometimes on the +land. He looks for scalps, like an outcast. Hawkeye can go back +and tell him how he has outwitted the Hurons, how he has escaped, +and when his eyes are in a fog, when he can't see as far as from +his cabin to the shore, then Hawkeye can open the door for the +Hurons. And how will the plunder be divided? Why, Hawkeye, will +carry away the most, and the Hurons will take what he may choose +to leave behind him. The scalps can go to Canada, for a pale-face +has no satisfaction in them." + +"Well, well, Rivenoak - for so I hear 'em tarm you - This is plain +English, enough, though spoken in Iroquois. I understand all you +mean, now, and must say it out-devils even Mingo deviltry! No +doubt, 'twould be easy enough to go back and tell the Muskrat that +I had got away from you, and gain some credit, too, by the expl'ite." + +"Good. That is what I want the pale-face to do." + +"Yes - yes - That's plain enough. I know what you want me to do, +without more words. When inside the house, and eating the Muskrat's +bread, and laughing and talking with his pretty darters, I might +put his eyes into so thick a fog, that he couldn't even see the +door, much less the land." + +"Good! Hawkeye should have been born a Huron! His blood is not +more than half white!" + +"There you're out, Huron; yes, there you're as much out, as if you +mistook a wolf for a catamount. I'm white in blood, heart, natur' +and gifts, though a little red-skin in feelin's and habits. But +when old Hutter's eyes are well befogged, and his pretty darters +perhaps in a deep sleep, and Hurry Harry, the Great Pine as you +Indians tarm him, is dreaming of any thing but mischief, and all +suppose Hawkeye is acting as a faithful sentinel, all I have to +do is set a torch somewhere in sight for a signal, open the door, +and let in the Hurons, to knock 'em all on the head." + +"Surely my brother is mistaken. He cannot be white! He is worthy +to be a great chief among the Hurons!" + +"That is true enough, I dares to say, if he could do all this. +Now, harkee, Huron, and for once hear a few honest words from the +mouth of a plain man. I am Christian born, and them that come +of such a stock, and that listen to the words that were spoken to +their fathers and will be spoken to their children, until 'arth and +all it holds perishes, can never lend themselves to such wickedness. +Sarcumventions in war, may be, and are, lawful; but sarcumventions, +and deceit, and treachery among fri'inds are fit only for the +pale-face devils. I know that there are white men enough to give +you this wrong idee of our natur', but such be ontrue to their +blood and gifts, and ought to be, if they are not, outcasts and +vagabonds. No upright pale-face could do what you wish, and to +be as plain with you as I wish to be, in my judgment no upright +Delaware either. With a Mingo it may be different." + +The Huron listened to this rebuke with obvious disgust, but he had +his ends in view, and was too wily to lose all chance of effecting +them by a precipitate avowal of resentment. Affecting to smile, +he seemed to listen eagerly, and he then pondered on what he had +heard. + +"Does Hawkeye love the Muskrat?" he abruptly demanded; "Or does he +love his daughters?" + +"Neither, Mingo. Old Tom is not a man to gain my love, and, as +for the darters, they are comely enough to gain the liking of any +young man, but there's reason ag'in any very great love for either. +Hetty is a good soul, but natur' has laid a heavy hand on her mind, +poor thing." + +"And the Wild Rose!" exclaimed the Huron - for the fame of Judith's +beauty had spread among those who could travel the wilderness, as +well as the highway by means of old eagles' nests, rocks, and riven +trees known to them by report and tradition, as well as among the +white borderers, "And the Wild Rose; is she not sweet enough to be +put in the bosom of my brother?" + +Deerslayer had far too much of the innate gentleman to insinuate +aught against the fair fame of one who, by nature and position +was so helpless, and as he did not choose to utter an untruth, he +preferred being silent. The Huron mistook the motive, and supposed +that disappointed affection lay at the bottom of his reserve. +Still bent on corrupting or bribing his captive, in order to obtain +possession of the treasures with which his imagination filled the +Castle, he persevered in his attack. + +"Hawkeye is talking with a friend," he continued. "He knows that +Rivenoak is a man of his word, for they have traded together, and +trade opens the soul. My friend has come here on account of a +little string held by a girl, that can pull the whole body of the +sternest warrior?" + +"You are nearer the truth, now, Huron, than you've been afore, +since we began to talk. This is true. But one end of that string +was not fast to my heart, nor did the Wild Rose hold the other." + +"This is wonderful! Does my brother love in his head, and not in +his heart? And can the Feeble Mind pull so hard against so stout +a warrior?" + +"There it is ag'in; sometimes right, and sometimes wrong! The +string you mean is fast to the heart of a great Delaware; one of +Mohican stock in fact, living among the Delawares since the disparsion +of his own people, and of the family of Uncas - Chingachgook by +name, or Great Sarpent. He has come here, led by the string, and +I've followed, or rather come afore, for I got here first, pulled +by nothing stronger than fri'ndship; which is strong enough for such +as are not niggardly of their feelin's, and are willing to live a +little for their fellow creatur's, as well as for themselves." + +"But a string has two ends - one is fast to the mind of a Mohican; +and the other?" + +"Why the other was here close to the fire, half an hour since. +Wah-ta-Wah held it in her hand, if she didn't hold it to her heart." + +"I understand what you mean, my brother," returned the Indian gravely, +for the first time catching a direct clue to the adventures of the +evening. "The Great Serpent, being strongest, pulled the hardest, +and Hist was forced to leave us." + +"I don't think there was much pulling about it," answered the other, +laughing, always in his silent manner, with as much heartiness as +if he were not a captive, and in danger of torture or death -"I +don't think there was much pulling about it; no I don't. Lord +help you, Huron! He likes the gal, and the gal likes him, and +it surpassed Huron sarcumventions to keep two young people apart, +where there was so strong a feelin' to bring 'em together." + +"And Hawkeye and Chingachgook came into our camp on this errand, +only?" + +"That's a question that'll answer itself, Mingo! Yes, if a question +could talk it would answer itself, to your parfect satisfaction. For +what else should we come? And yet, it isn't exactly so, neither; +for we didn't come into your camp at all, but only as far as that +pine, there, that you see on the other side of the ridge, where we +stood watching your movements, and conduct, as long as we liked. +When we were ready, the Sarpent gave his signal, and then all went +just as it should, down to the moment when yonder vagabond leaped +upon my back. Sartain; we come for that, and for no other purpose, +and we got what we come for; there's no use in pretending otherwise. +Hist is off with a man who's the next thing to her husband, and +come what will to me, that's one good thing detarmined." + +"What sign, or signal, told the young maiden that her lover was +nigh?" asked the Huron with more curiosity than it was usual for +him to betray. + +Deerslayer laughed again, and seem'd to enjoy the success of the +exploit, with as much glee as if he had not been its victim. + +"Your squirrels are great gadabouts, Mingo," he cried still laughing +-"yes, they're sartainly great gadabouts! When other folk's squirrels +are at home and asleep, yourn keep in motion among the trees, and +chirrup and sing, in a way that even a Delaware gal can understand +their musick! Well, there's four legged squirrels, and there's two +legged squirrels, and give me the last, when there's a good tight +string atween two hearts. If one brings 'em together, t'other +tells when to pull hardest!" + +The Huron looked vexed, though he succeeded in suppressing any +violent exhibition of resentment. He now quitted his prisoner and, +joining the rest of the warriors, he communicated the substance of +what he had learned. As in his own case, admiration was mingled +with anger at the boldness and success of their enemies. Three or +four of them ascended the little acclivity and gazed at the tree +where it was understood the adventurers had posted themselves, and +one even descended to it, and examined for foot prints around its +roots, in order to make sure that the statement was true. The +result confirmed the story of the captive, and they all returned +to the fire with increased wonder and respect. The messenger who +had arrived with some communication from the party above, while the +two adventurers were watching the camp, was now despatched with +some answer, and doubtless bore with him the intelligence of all +that had happened. + +Down to this moment, the young Indian who had been seen walking in +company with Hist and another female had made no advances to any +communication with Deerslayer. He had held himself aloof from his +friends, even, passing near the bevy of younger women, who were +clustering together, apart as usual, and conversed in low tones +on the subject of the escape of their late companion. Perhaps it +would be true to say that these last were pleased as well as vexed +at what had just occurred. Their female sympathies were with the +lovers, while their pride was bound up in the success of their own +tribe. It is possible, too, that the superior personal advantages +of Hist rendered her dangerous to some of the younger part of the +group, and they were not sorry to find she was no longer in the +way of their own ascendency. On the whole, however, the better +feeling was most prevalent, for neither the wild condition in +which they lived, the clannish prejudices of tribes, nor their hard +fortunes as Indian women, could entirely conquer the inextinguishable +leaning of their sex to the affections. One of the girls even +laughed at the disconsolate look of the swain who might fancy +himself deserted, a circumstance that seemed suddenly to arouse +his energies, and induce him to move towards the log, on which the +prisoner was still seated, drying his clothes. + +"This is Catamount!" said the Indian, striking his hand boastfully +on his naked breast, as he uttered the words in a manner to show +how much weight he expected them to carry. + +"This is Hawkeye," quietly returned Deerslayer, adopting the name +by which he knew he would be known in future, among all the tribes +of the Iroquois. "My sight is keen; is my brother's leap long?" + +"From here to the Delaware villages. Hawkeye has stolen my wife; +he must bring her back, or his scalp will hang on a pole, and dry +in my wigwam." + +"Hawkeye has stolen nothing, Huron. He doesn't come of a thieving +breed, nor has he thieving gifts. Your wife, as you call Wah-ta-Wah, +will never be the wife of any red-skin of the Canadas; her mind is +in the cabin of a Delaware, and her body has gone to find it. The +catamount is actyve I know, but its legs can't keep pace with a +woman's wishes." + +"The Serpent of the Delawares is a dog - he is a poor bull trout +that keeps in the water; he is afraid to stand on the hard earth, +like a brave Indian!" + +"Well, well, Huron, that's pretty impudent, considering it's not +an hour since the Sarpent stood within a hundred feet of you, and +would have tried the toughness of your skin with a rifle bullet, +when I pointed you out to him, hadn't I laid the weight of +a little judgment on his hand. You may take in timorsome gals in +the settlements, with your catamount whine, but the ears of a man +can tell truth from ontruth." + +"Hist laughs at him! She sees he is lame, and a poor hunter, and +he has never been on a war path. She will take a man for a husband, +and not a fish." + +"How do you know that, Catamount? how do you know that?" returned +Deerslayer laughing. "She has gone into the lake, you see, and +maybe she prefars a trout to a mongrel cat. As for war paths, +neither the Sarpent nor I have much exper'ence, we are ready to +own, but if you don't call this one, you must tarm it, what the +gals in the settlements tarm it, the high road to matrimony. Take +my advice, Catamount, and s'arch for a wife among the Huron women; +you'll never get one with a willing mind from among the Delawares." + +Catamount's hand felt for his tomahawk, and when the fingers reached +the handle they worked convulsively, as if their owner hesitated +between policy and resentment. At this critical moment Rivenoak +approached, and by a gesture of authority, induced the young man +to retire, assuming his former position, himself, on the log at the +side of Deerslayer. Here he continued silent for a little time, +maintaining the grave reserve of an Indian chief. + +"Hawkeye is right," the Iroquois at length began; "his sight is +so strong that he can see truth in a dark night, and our eyes have +been blinded. He is an owl, darkness hiding nothing from him. He +ought not to strike his friends. He is right." + +"I'm glad you think so, Mingo," returned the other, "for a traitor, +in my judgment, is worse than a coward. I care as little for the +Muskrat, as one pale-face ought to care for another, but I care too +much for him to ambush him in the way you wished. In short, according +to my idees, any sarcumventions, except open-war sarcumventions, +are ag'in both law, and what we whites call 'gospel', too." + +"My pale-face brother is right; he is no Indian, to forget his +Manitou and his colour. The Hurons know that they have a great +warrior for their prisoner, and they will treat him as one. If he +is to be tortured, his torments shall be such as no common man can +bear; if he is to be treated as a friend, it will be the friendship +of chiefs." + +As the Huron uttered this extraordinary assurance of consideration, +his eye furtively glanced at the countenance of his listener, in +order to discover how he stood the compliment, though his gravity +and apparent sincerity would have prevented any man but one practised +in artifices, from detecting his motives. Deerslayer belonged +to the class of the unsuspicious, and acquainted with the Indian +notions of what constitutes respect, in matters connected with the +treatment of captives, he felt his blood chill at the announcement, +even while he maintained an aspect so steeled that his quick sighted +enemy could discover in it no signs of weakness. + +"God has put me in your hands, Huron," the captive at length answered, +"and I suppose you will act your will on me. I shall not boast of +what I can do, under torment, for I've never been tried, and no man +can say till he has been; but I'll do my endivours not to disgrace +the people among whom I got my training. Howsever, I wish you +now to bear witness that I'm altogether of white blood, and, in a +nat'ral way of white gifts too; so, should I be overcome and forget +myself, I hope you'll lay the fault where it properly belongs, and +in no manner put it on the Delawares, or their allies and friends +the Mohicans. We're all created with more or less weakness, and +I'm afeard it's a pale-face's to give in under great bodily torment, +when a red-skin will sing his songs, and boast of his deeds in the +very teeth of his foes." + +"We shall see. Hawkeye has a good countenance, and he is tough +-but why should he be tormented, when the Hurons love him? He is +not born their enemy, and the death of one warrior will not cast +a cloud between them forever." + +"So much the better, Huron; so much the better. Still I don't wish +to owe any thing to a mistake about each other's meaning. It is so +much the better that you bear no malice for the loss of a warrior +who fell in war, and yet it is ontrue that there is no inmity - lawful +inmity I mean - atween us. So far as I have red-skin feelin's at +all, I've Delaware feelin's, and I leave you to judge for yourself +how far they are likely to be fri'ndly to the Mingos -" + +Deerslayer ceased, for a sort of spectre stood before him, that +put a stop to his words, and, indeed, caused him for a moment to +doubt the fidelity of his boasted vision. Hetty Hutter was standing +at the side of the fire as quietly as if she belonged to the tribe. + +As the hunter and the Indian sat watching the emotions that were +betrayed in each other's countenance, the girl had approached +unnoticed, doubtless ascending from the beach on the southern side +of the point, or that next to the spot where the Ark had anchored, +and had advanced to the fire with the fearlessness that belonged to +her simplicity, and which was certainly justified by the treatment +formerly received from the Indians. As soon as Rivenoak perceived +the girl, she was recognised, and calling to two or three of the +younger warriors, the chief sent them out to reconnoitre, lest her +appearance should be the forerunner of another attack. He then +motioned to Hetty to draw near. + +"I hope your visit is a sign that the Sarpent and Hist are in +safety, Hetty," said Deerslayer, as soon as the girl had complied +with the Huron's request. "I don't think you'd come ashore ag'in, +on the arr'nd that brought you here afore." + +"Judith told me to come this time, Deerslayer," Hetty replied, "she +paddled me ashore herself, in a canoe, as soon as the Serpent had +shown her Hist and told his story. How handsome Hist is tonight, +Deerslayer, and how much happier she looks than when she was with +the Hurons!" + +"That's natur' gal; yes, that may be set down as human natur'. +She's with her betrothed, and no longer fears a Mingo husband. In +my judgment Judith, herself, would lose most of her beauty if she +thought she was to bestow it all on a Mingo! Content is a great +fortifier of good looks, and I'll warrant you, Hist is contented +enough, now she is out of the hands of these miscreants, and with +her chosen warrior! Did you say that Judith told you to come ashore +- why should your sister do that?" + +"She bid me come to see you, and to try and persuade the savages +to take more elephants to let you off, but I've brought the Bible +with me - that will do more than all the elephants in father's +chest!" + +"And your father, good little Hetty - and Hurry; did they know of +your arr'nd?" + +"Not they. Both are asleep, and Judith and the Serpent thought it +best they should not be woke, lest they might want to come again +after scalps, when Hist had told them how few warriors, and how +many women and children there were in the camp. Judith would give +me no peace, till I had come ashore to see what had happened to +you." + +"Well, that's remarkable as consarns Judith! Whey should she feel +so much unsartainty about me? - Ah - - I see how it is, now; yes, +I see into the whole matter, now. You must understand, Hetty, +that your sister is oneasy lest Harry March should wake, and come +blundering here into the hands of the inimy ag'in, under some +idee that, being a travelling comrade, he ought to help me in this +matter! Hurry is a blunderer, I will allow, but I don't think he'd +risk as much for my sake, as he would for his own." + +"Judith don't care for Hurry, though Hurry cares for her," replied +Hetty innocently, but quite positively. + +"I've heard you say as much as that afore; yes, I've heard that +from you, afore, gal, and yet it isn't true. One don't live in a +tribe, not to see something of the way in which liking works in a +woman's heart. Though no way given to marrying myself, I've been +a looker on among the Delawares, and this is a matter in which +pale-face and red-skin gifts are all as one as the same. When the +feelin' begins, the young woman is thoughtful, and has no eyes or +ears onless for the warrior that has taken her fancy; then follows +melancholy and sighing, and such sort of actions; after which, +especially if matters don't come to plain discourse, she often flies +round to back biting and fault finding, blaming the youth for the +very things she likes best in him. Some young creatur's are forward +in this way of showing their love, and I'm of opinion Judith is +one of 'em. Now, I've heard her as much as deny that Hurry was +good-looking, and the young woman who could do that, must be far +gone indeed!" + +"The young woman who liked Hurry would own that he is handsome. I +think Hurry very handsome, Deerslayer, and I'm sure everybody must +think so, that has eyes. Judith don't like Harry March, and that's +the reason she finds fault with him." + +"Well - well - my good little Hetty, have it your own way. If we +should talk from now till winter, each would think as at present, +and there's no use in words. I must believe that Judith is much +wrapped up in Hurry, and that, sooner or later, she'll have him; +and this, too, all the more from the manner in which she abuses +him; and I dare to say, you think just the contrary. But mind what +I now tell you, gal, and pretend not to know it," continued this +being, who was so obtuse on a point on which men are usually quick +enough to make discoveries, and so acute in matters that would baffle +the observation of much the greater portion of mankind, "I see how +it is, with them vagabonds. Rivenoak has left us, you see, and is +talking yonder with his young men, and though too far to be heard, +I can see what he is telling them. Their orders is to watch your +movements, and to find where the canoe is to meet you, to take you +back to the Ark, and then to seize all and what they can. I'm sorry +Judith sent you, for I suppose she wants you to go back ag'in." + +"All that's settled, Deerslayer," returned the girl, in a low, +confidential and meaning manner, "and you may trust me to outwit +the best Indian of them all. I know I am feeble minded, but I've +got some sense, and you'll see how I'll use it in getting back, +when my errand is done!" + +"Ahs! me, poor girl; I'm afeard all that's easier said than done. +They're a venomous set of riptyles and their p'ison's none the +milder, for the loss of Hist. Well, I'm glad the Sarpent was the +one to get off with the gal, for now there'll be two happy at least, +whereas had he fallen into the hands of the Mingos, there'd been +two miserable, and another far from feelin' as a man likes to feel." + +"Now you put me in mind of a part of my errand that I had almost +forgotten, Deerslayer. Judith told me to ask you what you thought +the Hurons would do with you, if you couldn't be bought off, and +what she had best do to serve you. Yes, this was the most important +part of the errand - what she had best do, in order to serve you?" + +"That's as you think, Hetty; but it's no matter. Young women are +apt to lay most stress on what most touches their feelin's; but +no matter; have it your own way, so you be but careful not to let +the vagabonds get the mastery of a canoe. When you get back to the +Ark, tell 'em to keep close, and to keep moving too, most especially +at night. Many hours can't go by without the troops on the river +hearing of this party, and then your fri'nds may look for relief. +'Tis but a day's march from the nearest garrison, and true soldiers +will never lie idle with the foe in their neighborhood. This is my +advice, and you may say to your father and Hurry that scalp-hunting +will be a poor business now, as the Mingos are up and awake, and +nothing can save 'em, 'till the troops come, except keeping a good +belt of water atween 'em and the savages." + +"What shall I tell Judith about you, Deerslayer; I know she will +send me back again, if I don't bring her the truth about you." + +"Then tell her the truth. I see no reason Judith Hutter shouldn't +hear the truth about me, as well as a lie. I'm a captyve in Indian +hands, and Providence only knows what will come of it! Harkee, +Hetty," dropping his voice and speaking still more confidentially, +"you are a little weak minded, it must be allowed, but you know +something of Injins. Here I am in their hands, after having slain +one of their stoutest warriors, and they've been endivouring to +work upon me through fear of consequences, to betray your father, +and all in the Ark. I understand the blackguards as well as +if they'd told it all out plainly, with their tongues. They hold +up avarice afore me, on one side, and fear on t'other, and think +honesty will give way atween 'em both. But let your father and Hurry +know, 'tis all useless; as for the Sarpent, he knows it already." + +"But what shall I tell Judith? She will certainly send me back, +if I don't satisfy her mind." + +"Well, tell Judith the same. No doubt the savages will try the +torments, to make me give in, and to revenge the loss of their +warrior, but I must hold out ag'in nat'ral weakness in the best manner +I can. You may tell Judith to feel no consarn on my account-it +will come hard I know, seeing that a white man's gifts don't run to +boasting and singing under torment, for he generally feels smallest +when he suffers most - but you may tell her not to have any consarn. +I think I shall make out to stand it, and she may rely on this, +let me give in, as much as I may, and prove completely that I am +white, by wailings, and howlings, and even tears, yet I'll never fall +so far as to betray my fri'nds. When it gets to burning holes in +the flesh, with heated ramrods, and to hacking the body, and tearing +the hair out by the roots, natur' may get the upperhand, so far +as groans, and complaints are consarned, but there the triumph of +the vagabonds will ind; nothing short of God's abandoning him to +the devils can make an honest man ontrue to his colour and duty." + +Hetty listened with great attention, and her mild but speaking +countenance manifested a strong sympathy in the anticipated agony +of the supposititious sufferer. At first she seemed at a loss +how to act; then, taking a hand of Deerslayer's she affectionately +recommended to him to borrow her Bible, and to read it while the +savages were inflicting their torments. When the other honestly +admitted that it exceeded his power to read, she even volunteered +to remain with him, and to perform this holy office in person. The +offer was gently declined, and Rivenoak being about to join them, +Deerslayer requested the girl to leave him, first enjoining her again +to tell those in the Ark to have full confidence in his fidelity. +Hetty now walked away, and approached the group of females with +as much confidence and self-possession as if she were a native of +the tribe. On the other hand the Huron resumed his seat by the +side of his prisoner, the one continuing to ask questions with all +the wily ingenuity of a practised Indian counsellor, and the other +baffling him by the very means that are known to be the most +efficacious in defeating the finesse of the more pretending diplomacy +of civilization, or by confining his answers to the truth, and the +truth only. + + + +Chapter XVIII + + + "Thus died she; never more on her + Shall sorrow light, or shame. She was not made + Through years or moons the inner weight to bear, + Which colder hearts endure till they are laid + By age in earth; her days and pleasure were + Brief but delightful - such as had not stayed + Long with her destiny; but she sleeps well + By the sea-shore whereon she loved to dwell." + + Byron. Don Juan, IV, lxxi. + +The young men who had been sent out to reconnoitre, on the sudden +appearance of Hetty, soon returned to report their want of success +in making any discovery. One of them had even been along the +beach as far as the spot opposite to the ark, but the darkness +had completely concealed that vessel from his notice. Others had +examined in different directions, and everywhere the stillness of +night was added to the silence and solitude of the woods. + +It was consequently believed that the girl had come alone, as on +her former visit, and on some similar errand. The Iroquois were +ignorant that the ark had left the castle, and there were movements +projected, if not in the course of actual execution, by this time, +which also greatly added to the sense of security. A watch was +set, therefore, and all but the sentinels disposed themselves to +sleep. Sufficient care was had to the safe keeping of the captive, +without inflicting on him any unnecessary suffering; and, as for +Hetty, she was permitted to find a place among the Indian girls in +the best manner she could. She did not find the friendly offices +of Hist, though her character not only bestowed impunity from +pain and captivity, but it procured for her a consideration and +an attention that placed her, on the score of comfort, quite on a +level with the wild but gentle beings around her. She was supplied +with a skin, and made her own bed on a pile of boughs a little +apart from the huts. Here she was soon in a profound sleep, like +all around her. + +There were now thirteen men in the party, and three kept watch at +a time. One remained in shadow, not far from the fire, however. +His duty was to guard the captive, to take care that the fire +neither blazed up so as to illuminate the spot, nor yet became +wholly extinguished, and to keep an eye generally on the state of +the camp. Another passed from one beach to the other, crossing +the base of the point, while the third kept moving slowly around +the strand on its outer extremity, to prevent a repetition of the +surprise that had already taken place that night. This arrangement +was far from being usual among savages, who ordinarily rely more on +the secrecy of their movements, than or vigilance of this nature; +but it had been called for by the peculiarity of the circumstances +in which the Hurons were now placed. Their position was known to +their foes, and it could not easily be changed at an hour which +demanded rest. Perhaps, too, they placed most of their confidence +on the knowledge of what they believed to be passing higher up +the lake, and which, it was thought, would fully occupy the whole +of the pale-faces who were at liberty, with their solitary Indian +ally. It was also probable Rivenoak was aware that, in holding +his captive, he had in his own hands the most dangerous of all his +enemies. + +The precision with which those accustomed to watchfulness, or +lives of disturbed rest, sleep, is not the least of the phenomena +of our mysterious being. The head is no sooner on the pillow +than consciousness is lost; and yet, at a necessary hour, the mind +appears to arouse the body, as promptly as if it had stood sentinel +the while over it. There can be no doubt that they who are thus +roused awake by the influence of thought over matter, though the +mode in which this influence is exercised must remain hidden from +our curiosity until it shall be explained, should that hour ever +arrive, by the entire enlightenment of the soul on the subject of +all human mysteries. Thus it was with Hetty Hutter. Feeble as +the immaterial portion of her existence was thought to be, it was +sufficiently active to cause her to open her eyes at midnight. At +that hour she awoke, and leaving her bed of skin and boughs she +walked innocently and openly to the embers of the fire, stirring the +latter, as the coolness of the night and the woods, in connection +with an exceedingly unsophisticated bed, had a little chilled her. +As the flame shot up, it lighted the swarthy countenance of the +Huron on watch, whose dark eyes glistened under its light like +the balls of the panther that is pursued to his den with burning +brands. But Hetty felt no fear, and she approached the spot where +the Indian stood. Her movements were so natural, and so perfectly +devoid of any of the stealthiness of cunning or deception, that he +imagined she had merely arisen on account of the coolness of the +night, a common occurrence in a bivouac, and the one of all others, +perhaps, the least likely to excite suspicion. Hetty spoke to him, +but he understood no English. She then gazed near a minute at the +sleeping captive, and moved slowly away in a sad and melancholy +manner. The girl took no pains to conceal her movements. Any +ingenious expedient of this nature quite likely exceeded her +powers; still her step was habitually light, and scarcely audible. +As she took the direction of the extremity of the point, or the +place where she had landed in the first adventure, and where Hist +had embarked, the sentinel saw her light form gradually disappear +in the gloom without uneasiness or changing his own position. He +knew that others were on the look-out, and he did not believe that +one who had twice come into the camp voluntarily, and had already +left it openly, would take refuge in flight. In short, the conduct +of the girl excited no more attention that that of any person of +feeble intellect would excite in civilized society, while her person +met with more consideration and respect. + +Hetty certainly had no very distinct notions of the localities, +but she found her way to the beach, which she reached on the same +side of the point as that on which the camp had been made. By +following the margin of the water, taking a northern direction, +she soon encountered the Indian who paced the strand as sentinel. +This was a young warrior, and when he heard her light tread coming +along the gravel he approached swiftly, though with anything but +menace in his manner. The darkness was so intense that it was not +easy to discover forms within the shadows of the woods at the distance +of twenty feet, and quite impossible to distinguish persons until +near enough to touch them. The young Huron manifested disappointment +when he found whom he had met; for, truth to say, he was expecting +his favourite, who had promised to relieve the ennui of a midnight +watch with her presence. This man was also ignorant of English, +but he was at no loss to understand why the girl should be up at +that hour. Such things were usual in an Indian village and camp, +where sleep is as irregular as the meals. Then poor Hetty's known +imbecility, as in most things connected with the savages, stood +her friend on this occasion. Vexed at his disappointment, and +impatient of the presence of one he thought an intruder, the young +warrior signed for the girl to move forward, holding the direction +of the beach. Hetty complied; but as she walked away she spoke +aloud in English in her usual soft tones, which the stillness of +the night made audible at some little distance. + +"If you took me for a Huron girl, warrior," she said, "I don't +wonder you are so little pleased. I am Hetty Hutter, Thomas Hutter's +daughter, and have never met any man at night, for mother always +said it was wrong, and modest young women should never do it; modest +young women of the pale-faces, I mean; for customs are different +in different parts of the world, I know. No, no; I'm Hetty Hutter, +and wouldn't meet even Hurry Harry, though he should fall down on +his knees and ask me! Mother said it was wrong." + +By the time Hetty had said this, she reached the place where the +canoes had come ashore, and, owing to the curvature of the land and +the bushes, would have been completely hid from the sight of the +sentinel, had it been broad day. But another footstep had caught +the lover's ear, and he was already nearly beyond the sound of the +girl's silvery voice. Still Hetty, bent only on her own thoughts +and purposes, continued to speak, though the gentleness of her tones +prevented the sounds from penetrating far into the woods. On the +water they were more widely diffused. + +"Here I am, Judith," she added, "and there is no one near me. The +Huron on watch has gone to meet his sweetheart, who is an Indian +girl you know, and never had a Christian mother to tell her how +wrong it is to meet a man at night." + +Hetty's voice was hushed by a "Hist!" that came from the water, +and then she caught a dim view of the canoe, which approached +noiselessly, and soon grated on the shingle with its bow. The +moment the weight of Hetty was felt in the light craft the canoe +withdrew, stern foremost, as if possessed of life and volition, +until it was a hundred yards from the shore. Then it turned and, +making a wide sweep, as much to prolong the passage as to get +beyond the sound of voices, it held its way towards the ark. For +several minutes nothing was uttered; but, believing herself to be +in a favourable position to confer with her sister, Judith, who +alone sat in the stern, managing the canoe with a skill little short +of that of a man, began a discourse which she had been burning to +commence ever since they had quitted the point. + +"Here we are safe, Hetty," she said, "and may talk without the +fear of being overheard. You must speak low, however, for sounds +are heard far on the water in a still night. I was so close to +the point some of the time while you were on it, that I have heard +the voices of the warriors, and I heard your shoes on the gravel +of the beach, even before you spoke." + +"I don't believe, Judith, the Hurons know I have left them." + +"Quite likely they do not, for a lover makes a poor sentry, unless +it be to watch for his sweetheart! But tell me, Hetty, did you +see and speak with Deerslayer?" + +"Oh, yes - there he was seated near the fire, with his legs tied, +though they left his arms free, to move them as he pleased." + +"Well, what did he tell you, child? Speak quick; I am dying to +know what message he sent me." + +"What did he tell me? why, what do you think, Judith; he told me +that he couldn't read! Only think of that! a white man, and not +know how to read his Bible even! He never could have had a mother, +sister!" + +"Never mind that, Hetty. All men can't read; though mother knew so +much and taught us so much, father knows very little about books, +and he can barely read the Bible you know." + +"Oh! I never thought fathers could read much, but mothers ought +all to read, else how can they teach their children? Depend on +it, Judith, Deerslayer could never have had a mother, else he would +know how to read." + +"Did you tell him I sent you ashore, Hetty, and how much concern +I feel for his misfortune?" asked the other, impatiently. + +"I believe I did, Judith; but you know I am feeble-minded, and +I may have forgotten. I did tell him you brought me ashore. And +he told me a great deal that I was to say to you, which I remember +well, for it made my blood run cold to hear him. He told me to +say that his friends - I suppose you are one of them, sister?" + +"How can you torment me thus, Hetty! Certainly, I am one of the +truest friends he has on earth." + +"Torment you! yes, now I remember all about it. I am glad you +used that word, Judith, for it brings it all back to my mind. Well, +he said he might be tormented by the savages, but he would try to +bear it as becomes a Christian white man, and that no one need be +afeard - why does Deerslayer call it afeard, when mother always +taught us to say afraid?" + +"Never mind, dear Hetty, never mind that, now," cried the other, +almost gasping for breath. "Did Deerslayer really tell you that he +thought the savages would put him to the torture? Recollect now, +well, Hetty, for this is a most awful and serious thing." + +"Yes he did; and I remember it by your speaking about my tormenting +you. Oh! I felt very sorry for him, and Deerslayer took all so +quietly and without noise! Deerslayer is not as handsome as Hurry +Harry, Judith, but he is more quiet." + +"He's worth a million Hurrys! yes, he's worth all the young men +who ever came upon the lake put together," said Judith, with an +energy and positiveness that caused her sister to wonder. "He is +true. There is no lie about Deerslayer. You, Hetty, may not know +what a merit it is in a man to have truth, but when you get - no +- I hope you will never know it. Why should one like you be ever +made to learn the hard lesson to distrust and hate!" + +Judith bowed her face, dark as it was, and unseen as she must have +been by any eye but that of Omniscience, between her hands, and +groaned. This sudden paroxysm of feeling, however, lasted but for +a moment, and she continued more calmly, still speaking frankly to +her sister, whose intelligence, and whose discretion in any thing +that related to herself, she did not in the least distrust. Her +voice, however, was low and husky, instead of having its former +clearness and animation. + +"It is a hard thing to fear truth, Hetty," she said, "and yet do I +more dread Deerslayer's truth, than any enemy! One cannot tamper +with such truth - so much honesty - such obstinate uprightness! +But we are not altogether unequal, sister - Deerslayer and I? He +is not altogether my superior?" + +It was not usual for Judith so far to demean herself as to appeal +to Hetty's judgment. Nor did she often address her by the title of +sister, a distinction that is commonly given by the junior to the +senior, even where there is perfect equality in all other respects. +As trifling departures from habitual deportment oftener strike +the imagination than more important changes, Hetty perceived the +circumstances, and wondered at them in her own simple way. Her +ambition was a little quickened, and the answer was as much out of +the usual course of things as the question; the poor girl attempting +to refine beyond her strength. + +"Superior, Judith!" she repeated with pride. "In what can Deerslayer +be your superior? Are you not mother's child - and does he know +how to read - and wasn't mother before any woman in all this part +of the world? I should think, so far from supposing himself your +superior, he would hardly believe himself mine. You are handsome, +and he is ugly -" + +"No, not ugly, Hetty," interrupted Judith. "Only plain. But his +honest face has a look in it that is far better than beauty. In +my eyes, Deerslayer is handsomer than Hurry Harry." + +"Judith Hutter! you frighten me. Hurry is the handsomest mortal +in the world - even handsomer than you are yourself; because a +man's good looks, you know, are always better than a woman's good +looks." + +This little innocent touch of natural taste did not please the +elder sister at the moment, and she did not scruple to betray it. +"Hetty, you now speak foolishly, and had better say no more on +this subject," she answered. "Hurry is not the handsomest mortal +in the world, by many; and there are officers in the garrisons - " +Judith stammered at the words - "there are officers in the garrisons, +near us, far comelier than he. But why do you think me the equal +of Deerslayer - speak of that, for I do not like to hear you show +so much admiration of a man like Hurry Harry, who has neither +feelings, manners, nor conscience. You are too good for him, and +he ought to be told it, at once." + +"I! Judith, how you forget! Why I am not beautiful, and am +feeble-minded." + +"You are good, Hetty, and that is more than can be said of Harry +March. He may have a face, and a body, but he has no heart. But +enough of this, for the present. Tell me what raises me to an +equality with Deerslayer." + +"To think of you asking me this, Judith! He can't read, and you +can. He don't know how to talk, but speaks worse than Hurry even; +- for, sister, Harry doesn't always pronounce his words right! Did +you ever notice that?" + +"Certainly, he is as coarse in speech as in everything else. But +I fear you flatter me, Hetty, when you think I can be justly called +the equal of a man like Deerslayer. It is true, I have been better +taught; in one sense am more comely; and perhaps might look higher; +but then his truth - his truth -makes a fearful difference between +us! Well, I will talk no more of this; and we will bethink us of +the means of getting him out of the hands of the Hurons. We have +father's chest in the ark, Hetty, and might try the temptation of +more elephants; though I fear such baubles will not buy the liberty +of a man like Deerslayer. I am afraid father and Hurry will not be +as willing to ransom Deerslayer, as Deerslayer was to ransom them!" + +"Why not, Judith? Hurry and Deerslayer are friends, and friends +should always help one another." + +"Alas! poor Hetty, you little know mankind! Seeming friends are +often more to be dreaded than open enemies; particularly by females. +But you'll have to land in the morning, and try again what can be +done for Deerslayer. Tortured he shall not be, while Judith Hutter +lives, and can find means to prevent it." + +The conversation now grew desultory, and was drawn out, until the +elder sister had extracted from the younger every fact that the +feeble faculties of the latter permitted her to retain, and to +communicate. When Judith was satisfied - though she could never +be said to be satisfied, whose feelings seemed to be so interwoven +with all that related to the subject, as to have excited a nearly +inappeasable curiosity - but, when Judith could think of no more +questions to ask, without resorting to repetition, the canoe was +paddled towards the scow. The intense darkness of the night, and +the deep shadows which the hills and forest cast upon the water, +rendered it difficult to find the vessel, anchored, as it had +been, as close to the shore as a regard to safety rendered prudent. +Judith was expert in the management of a bark canoe, the lightness +of which demanded skill rather than strength; and she forced her +own little vessel swiftly over the water, the moment she had ended +her conference with Hetty, and had come to the determination to +return. Still no ark was seen. Several times the sisters fancied +they saw it, looming up in the obscurity, like a low black rock; +but on each occasion it was found to be either an optical illusion, +or some swell of the foliage on the shore. After a search that lasted +half an hour, the girls were forced to the unwelcome conviction +that the ark had departed. Most young women would have felt +the awkwardness of their situation, in a physical sense, under +the circumstances in which the sisters were left, more than any +apprehensions of a different nature. Not so with Judith, however; +and even Hetty felt more concern about the motives that might have +influenced her father and Hurry, than any fears for her own safety. + +"It cannot be, Hetty," said Judith, when a thorough search had +satisfied them both that no ark was to be found; "it cannot be that +the Indians have rafted, or swum off and surprised our friends as +they slept?" + +"I don't believe that Hist and Chingachgook would sleep until they +had told each other all they had to say after so long a separation +- do you, sister?" + +"Perhaps not, child. There was much to keep them awake, but one +Indian may have been surprised even when not asleep, especially as +his thoughts may have been on other things. Still we should have +heard a noise; for in a night like this, an oath of Hurry Harry's +would have echoed in the eastern hills like a clap of thunder." + +"Hurry is sinful and thoughtless about his words, Judith," Hetty +meekly and sorrowfully answered. + +"No - no; 'tis impossible the ark could be taken and I not hear +the noise. It is not an hour since I left it, and the whole time +I have been attentive to the smallest sound. And yet, it is not +easy to believe a father would willingly abandon his children!" + +"Perhaps father has thought us in our cabin asleep, Judith, and +has moved away to go home. You know we often move the ark in the +night." + +"This is true, Hetty, and it must be as you suppose. There is a +little more southern air than there was, and they have gone up the +lake -" Judith stopped, for, as the last word was on her tongue, +the scene was suddenly lighted, though only for a single instant, +by a flash. The crack of a rifle succeeded, and then followed the +roll of the echo along the eastern mountains. Almost at the same +moment a piercing female cry rose in the air in a prolonged shriek. +The awful stillness that succeeded was, if possible, more appalling +than the fierce and sudden interruption of the deep silence of +midnight. Resolute as she was both by nature and habit, Judith +scarce breathed, while poor Hetty hid her face and trembled. + +"That was a woman's cry, Hetty," said the former solemnly, 'and it +was a cry of anguish! If the ark has moved from this spot it can +only have gone north with this air, and the gun and shriek came +from the point. Can any thing have befallen Hist?" + +"Let us go and see, Judith; she may want our assistance - for, +besides herself, there are none but men in the ark." + +It was not a moment for hesitation, and ere Judith had ceased +speaking her paddle was in the water. The distance to the point, +in a direct line, was not great, and the impulses under which the +girls worked were too exciting to allow them to waste the precious +moments in useless precautions. They paddled incautiously for them, +but the same excitement kept others from noting their movements. +Presently a glare of light caught the eye of Judith through +an opening in the bushes, and steering by it, she so directed the +canoe as to keep it visible, while she got as near the land as was +either prudent or necessary. + +The scene that was now presented to the observation of the +girls was within the woods, on the side of the declivity so often +mentioned, and in plain view from the boat. Here all in the camp +were collected, some six or eight carrying torches of fat-pine, +which cast a strong but funereal light on all beneath the arches of +the forest. With her back supported against a tree, and sustained +on one side by the young sentinel whose remissness had suffered +Hetty to escape, sat the female whose expected visit had produced +his delinquency. By the glare of the torch that was held near her +face, it was evident that she was in the agonies of death, while +the blood that trickled from her bared bosom betrayed the nature +of the injury she had received. The pungent, peculiar smell +of gunpowder, too, was still quite perceptible in the heavy, damp +night air. There could be no question that she had been shot. +Judith understood it all at a glance. The streak of light had +appeared on the water a short distance from the point, and either the +rifle had been discharged from a canoe hovering near the land, or +it had been fired from the ark in passing. An incautious exclamation, +or laugh, may have produced the assault, for it was barely possible +that the aim had been assisted by any other agent than sound. As +to the effect, that was soon still more apparent, the head of +the victim dropping, and the body sinking in death. Then all the +torches but one were extinguished - a measure of prudence; and +the melancholy train that bore the body to the camp was just to be +distinguished by the glimmering light that remained. Judith sighed +heavily and shuddered, as her paddle again dipped, and the canoe +moved cautiously around the point. A sight had afflicted her senses, +and now haunted her imagination, that was still harder to be borne, +than even the untimely fate and passing agony of the deceased girl. + +She had seen, under the strong glare of all the torches, the erect +form of Deerslayer, standing with commiseration, and as she thought, +with shame depicted on his countenance, near the dying female. He +betrayed neither fear nor backwardness himself; but it was apparent +by the glances cast at him by the warriors, that fierce passions +were struggling in their bosoms. All this seemed to be unheeded +by the captive, but it remained impressed on the memory of Judith +throughout the night. No canoe was met hovering near the point. +A stillness and darkness, as complete as if the silence of the +forest had never been disturbed, or the sun had never shone on that +retired region, now reigned on the point, and on the gloomy water, +the slumbering woods, and even the murky sky. No more could be +done, therefore, than to seek a place of safety; and this was only +to be found in the centre of the lake. Paddling in silence to that +spot, the canoe was suffered to drift northerly, while the girls +sought such repose as their situation and feelings would permit. + + + +Chapter XIX + + + "Stand to your arms, and guard the door- all's lost + Unless that fearful bell be silenced soon. + The officer hath miss'd his path, or purpose, + Or met some unforeseen and hideous obstacle. + Anselmo, with thy company proceed + Straight to the tower; the rest remain with me." + + Byron, Marino Faliero, lV.ii.23o-35. + +The conjecture of Judith Hutter, concerning the manner in which +the Indian girl had met her death, was accurate in the main. After +sleeping several hours, her father and March awoke. This occurred +a few minutes after she had left the Ark to go in quest of her +sister, and when of course Chingachgook and his betrothed were +on board. From the Delaware the old man learned the position +of the camp, and the recent events, as well as the absence of his +daughters. The latter gave him no concern, for he relied greatly +on the sagacity of the elder, and the known impunity with which the +younger passed among the savages. Long familiarity with danger, +too, had blunted his sensibilities. Nor did he seem much to regret +the captivity of Deerslayer, for, while he knew how material his +aid might be in a defence, the difference in their views on the +morality of the woods, had not left much sympathy between them. He +would have rejoiced to know the position of the camp before it had +been alarmed by the escape of Hist, but it would be too hazardous +now to venture to land, and he reluctantly relinquished for the +night the ruthless designs that cupidity and revenge had excited +him to entertain. In this mood Hutter took a seat in the head of +the scow, where he was quickly joined by Hurry, leaving the Serpent +and Hist in quiet possession of the other extremity of the vessel. + +"Deerslayer has shown himself a boy, in going among the savages at +this hour, and letting himself fall into their hands like a deer +that tumbles into a pit," growled the old man, perceiving as usual +the mote in his neighbor's eyes, while he overlooked the beam in +his own; "if he is left to pay for his stupidity with his own flesh, +he can blame no one but himself." + +"That's the way of the world, old Tom," returned Hurry. "Every man +must meet his own debts, and answer for his own sins. I'm amazed, +howsever, that a lad as skilful and watchful as Deerslayer should +have been caught in such a trap! Didn't he know any better than +to go prowling about a Huron camp at midnight, with no place to +retreat to but a lake? or did he think himself a buck, that by +taking to the water could throw off the scent and swim himself out +of difficulty? I had a better opinion of the boy's judgment, I'll +own; but we must overlook a little ignorance in a raw hand. I say, +Master Hutter, do you happen to know what has become of the gals +- I see no signs of Judith, or Hetty, though I've been through the +Ark, and looked into all its living creatur's." + +Hutter briefly explained the manner in which his daughters had +taken to the canoe, as it had been related by the Delaware, as well +as the return of Judith after landing her sister, and her second +departure. + +"This comes of a smooth tongue, Floating Tom," exclaimed Hurry, +grating his teeth in pure resentment - "This comes of a smooth +tongue, and a silly gal's inclinations, and you had best look into +the matter! You and I were both prisoners - " Hurry could recall that +circumstance now - "you and I were both prisoners and yet Judith +never stirred an inch to do us any sarvice! She is bewitched with +this lank-looking Deerslayer, and he, and she, and you, and all +of us, had best look to it. I am not a man to put up with such +a wrong quietly, and I say, all the parties had best look to it! +Let's up kedge, old fellow, and move nearer to this p'int, and see +how matters are getting on. + +Hutter had no objections to this movement, and the Ark was got +under way in the usual manner; care being taken to make no noise. +The wind was passing northward, and the sail soon swept the scow so +far up the lake as to render the dark outlines of the trees that +clothed the point dimly visible. Floating Tom steered, and he +sailed along as near the land as the depth of the water and the +overhanging branches would allow. It was impossible to distinguish +anything that stood within the shadows of the shore, but the forms +of the sail and of the hut were discerned by the young sentinel on +the beach, who has already been mentioned. In the moment of sudden +surprise, a deep Indian exclamation escaped him. In that spirit +of recklessness and ferocity that formed the essence of Hurry's +character, this man dropped his rifle and fired. The ball was +sped by accident, or by that overruling providence which decides +the fates of all, and the girl fell. Then followed the scene with +the torches, which has just been described. + +At the precise moment when Hurry committed this act of unthinking +cruelty, the canoe of Judith was within a hundred feet of the spot +from which the Ark had so lately moved. Her own course has been +described, and it has now become our office to follow that of her +father and his companions. The shriek announced the effects of +the random shot of March, and it also proclaimed that the victim +was a woman. Hurry himself was startled at these unlooked for +consequences, and for a moment he was sorely disturbed by conflicting +sensations. At first he laughed, in reckless and rude-minded +exultation; and then conscience, that monitor planted in our breasts +by God, and which receives its more general growth from the training +bestowed in the tillage of childhood, shot a pang to his heart. +For a minute, the mind of this creature equally of civilization and +of barbarism, was a sort of chaos as to feeling, not knowing what +to think of its own act; and then the obstinacy and pride of one of +his habits, interposed to assert their usual ascendency. He struck +the butt of his rifle on the bottom of the scow, with a species of +defiance, and began to whistle a low air with an affectation of +indifference. All this time the Ark was in motion, and it was already +opening the bay above the point, and was consequently quitting the +land. + +Hurry's companions did not view his conduct with the same indulgence +as that with which he appeared disposed to regard it himself. Hutter +growled out his dissatisfaction, for the act led to no advantage, +while it threatened to render the warfare more vindictive than +ever, and none censure motiveless departures from the right more +severely than the mercenary and unprincipled. Still he commanded +himself, the captivity of Deerslayer rendering the arm of the offender +of double consequence to him at that moment. Chingachgook arose, +and for a single instant the ancient animosity of tribes was +forgotten, in a feeling of colour; but he recollected himself in +season to prevent any of the fierce consequences that, for a passing +moment, he certainly meditated. Not so with Hist. Rushing through +the hut, or cabin, the girl stood at the side of Hurry, almost +as soon as his rifle touched the bottom of the scow, and with +a fearlessness that did credit to her heart, she poured out her +reproaches with the generous warmth of a woman. + +"What for you shoot?" she said. "What Huron gal do, dat you kill +him? What you t'ink Manitou say? What you t'ink Manitou feel? +What Iroquois do? No get honour- no get camp - no get prisoner -no +get battle - no get scalp - no get not'ing at all! Blood come +after blood! How you feel, your wife killed? Who pity you, when +tear come for moder, or sister? You big as great pine - Huron +gal little slender birch - why you fall on her and crush her? You +t'ink Huron forget it? No; red-skin never forget! Never forget +friend; never forget enemy. Red man Manitou in dat. Why you so +wicked, great pale-face?" + +Hurry had never been so daunted as by this close and warm attack +of the Indian girl. It is true that she had a powerful ally in +his conscience, and while she spoke earnestly, it was in tones so +feminine as to deprive him of any pretext for unmanly anger. The +softness of her voice added to the weight of her remonstrance, by +lending to the latter an air of purity and truth. Like most vulgar +minded men, he had only regarded the Indians through the medium +of their coarser and fiercer characteristics. It had never struck +him that the affections are human, that even high principles - +modified by habits and prejudices, but not the less elevated within +their circle - can exist in the savage state, and that the warrior +who is most ruthless in the field, can submit to the softest and +gentlest influences in the moments of domestic quiet. In a word, +it was the habit of his mind to regard all Indians as being only a +slight degree removed from the wild beasts that roamed the woods, +and to feel disposed to treat them accordingly, whenever interest +or caprice supplied a motive or an impulse. Still, though daunted +by these reproaches, the handsome barbarian could hardly be said +to be penitent. He was too much rebuked by conscience to suffer +an outbreak of temper to escape him, and perhaps he felt that he +had already committed an act that might justly bring his manhood +in question. Instead of resenting, or answering the simple but +natural appeal of Hist, he walked away, like one who disdained +entering into a controversy with a woman. + +In the mean while the Ark swept onward, and by the time the scene +with the torches was enacting beneath the trees, it had reached the +open lake, Floating Tom causing it to sheer further from the land +with a sort of instinctive dread of retaliation. An hour now +passed in gloomy silence, no one appearing disposed to break it. +Hist had retired to her pallet, and Chingachgook lay sleeping in the +forward part of the scow. Hutter and Hurry alone remained awake, +the former at the steering oar, while the latter brooded over his own +conduct, with the stubbornness of one little given to a confession +of his errors, and the secret goadings of the worm that never dies. +This was at the moment when Judith and Hetty reached the centre of +the lake, and had lain down to endeavor to sleep in their drifting +canoe. + +The night was calm, though so much obscured by clouds. The season +was not one of storms, and those which did occur in the month of +June, on that embedded water, though frequently violent were always +of short continuance. Nevertheless, there was the usual current +of heavy, damp night air, which, passing over the summits of the +trees, scarcely appeared to descend as low as the surface of the +glassy lake, but kept moving a short distance above it, saturated with +the humidity that constantly arose from the woods, and apparently +never proceeding far in any one direction. The currents were +influenced by the formation of the hills, as a matter of course, a +circumstance that rendered even fresh breezes baffling, and which +reduced the feebler efforts of the night air to be a sort of capricious +and fickle sighings of the woods. Several times the head of the +Ark pointed east, and once it was actually turned towards the south, +again; but, on the whole, it worked its way north; Hutter making +always a fair wind, if wind it could be called, his principal motive +appearing to keep in motion, in order to defeat any treacherous +design of his enemies. He now felt some little concern about his +daughters, and perhaps as much about the canoe; but, on the whole, +this uncertainty did not much disturb him, as he had the reliance +already mentioned on the intelligence of Judith. + +It was the season of the shortest nights, and it was not long +before the deep obscurity which precedes the day began to yield to +the returning light. If any earthly scene could be presented to +the senses of man that might soothe his passions and temper his +ferocity, it was that which grew upon the eyes of Hutter and Hurry +as the hours advanced, changing night to morning. There were the +usual soft tints of the sky, in which neither the gloom of darkness +nor the brilliancy of the sun prevails, and under which objects +appear more unearthly, and we might add holy, than at any other +portion of the twenty four hours. The beautiful and soothing calm +of eventide has been extolled by a thousand poets, and yet it does +not bring with it the far-reaching and sublime thoughts of the half +hour that precedes the rising of a summer sun. In the one case the +panorama is gradually hid from the sight, while in the other its +objects start out from the unfolding picture, first dim and misty; +then marked in, in solemn background; next seen in the witchery of +an increasing, a thing as different as possible from the decreasing +twilight, and finally mellow, distinct and luminous, as the rays +of the great centre of light diffuse themselves in the atmosphere. +The hymns of birds, too, have no moral counterpart in the retreat +to the roost, or the flight to the nest, and these invariably accompany +the advent of the day, until the appearance of the sun itself - + +"Bathes in deep joy, the land and sea." + +All this, however, Hutter and Hurry witnessed without experiencing +any of that calm delight which the spectacle is wont to bring, when +the thoughts are just and the aspirations pure. They not only +witnessed it, but they witnessed it under circumstances that had a +tendency to increase its power, and to heighten its charms. Only +one solitary object became visible in the returning light that had +received its form or uses from human taste or human desires, which +as often deform as beautify a landscape. This was the castle, +all the rest being native, and fresh from the hand of God. That +singular residence, too, was in keeping with the natural objects +of the view, starting out from the gloom, quaint, picturesque and +ornamental. Nevertheless the whole was lost on the observers, who +knew no feeling of poetry, had lost their sense of natural devotion +in lives of obdurate and narrow selfishness, and had little other +sympathy with nature, than that which originated with her lowest +wants. + +As soon as the light was sufficiently strong to allow of a distinct +view of the lake, and more particularly of its shores, Hutter turned +the head of the Ark directly towards the castle, with the avowed +intention of taking possession, for the day at least, as the place +most favorable for meeting his daughters and for carrying on his +operations against the Indians. By this time, Chingachgook was +up, and Hist was heard stirring among the furniture of the kitchen. +The place for which they steered was distant only a mile, and the air +was sufficiently favorable to permit it to be reached by means of +the sail. At this moment, too, to render the appearances generally +auspicious, the canoe of Judith was seen floating northward in the +broadest part of the lake; having actually passed the scow in the +darkness, in obedience to no other power than that of the elements. +Hutter got his glass, and took a long and anxious survey, +to ascertain if his daughters were in the light craft or not, and +a slight exclamation like that of joy escaped him, as he caught a +glimpse of what he rightly conceived to be a part of Judith's dress +above the top of the canoe. At the next instant the girl arose +and was seen gazing about her, like one assuring herself of her +situation. A minute later, Hetty was seen on her knees in the +other end of the canoe, repeating the prayers that had been taught +her in childhood by a misguided but repentant mother. As Hutter +laid down the glass, still drawn to its focus, the Serpent raised +it to his eye and turned it towards the canoe. It was the first +time he had ever used such an instrument, and Hist understood by +his "Hugh!," the expression of his face, and his entire mien, that +something wonderful had excited his admiration. It is well known +that the American Indians, more particularly those of superior +characters and stations, singularly maintain their self-possession +and stoicism, in the midst of the flood of marvels that present +themselves in their occasional visits to the abodes of civilization, +and Chingachgook had imbibed enough of this impassibility to suppress +any very undignified manifestation of surprise. With Hist, however, +no such law was binding, and when her lover managed to bring the +glass in a line with the canoe, and her eye was applied to the +smaller end, the girl started back in alarm; then she clapped her +hands with delight, and a laugh, the usual attendant of untutored +admiration, followed. A few minutes sufficed to enable this quick +witted girl to manage the instrument for herself, and she directed +it at every prominent object that struck her fancy. Finding +a rest in one of the windows, she and the Delaware first surveyed +the lake; then the shores, the hills, and, finally, the castle +attracted their attention. After a long steady gaze at the latter, +Hist took away her eye, and spoke to her lover in a low, earnest +manner. Chingachgook immediately placed his eye to the glass, and +his look even exceeded that of his betrothed in length and intensity. +Again they spoke together, confidentially, appearing to compare +opinions, after which the glass was laid aside, and the young +warrior quitted the cabin to join Hutter and Hurry. + +The Ark was slowly but steadily advancing, and the castle was +materially within half a mile, when Chingachgook joined the two +white men in the stern of the scow. His manner was calm, but it +was evident to the others, who were familiar with the habits of the +Indians, that he had something to communicate. Hurry was generally +prompt to speak and, according to custom, he took the lead on this +occasion. + +"Out with it, red-skin," he cried, in his usual rough manner. "Have +you discovered a chipmunk in a tree, or is there a salmon-trout +swimming under the bottom of the scow? You find what a pale-face +can do in the way of eyes, now, Sarpent, and mustn't wonder that +they can see the land of the Indians from afar off." + +"No good to go to Castle," put in Chingachgook with emphasis, +the moment the other gave him an opportunity of speaking. "Huron +there." + +"The devil he is! - If this should turn out to be true, Floating +Tom, a pretty trap were we about to pull down on our heads! Huron, +there! -Well, this may be so; but no signs can I see of any thing, +near or about the old hut, but logs, water, and bark - bating two +or three windows, and one door." + +Hutter called for the glass, and took a careful survey of the spot, +before he ventured an opinion, at all; then he somewhat cavalierly +expressed his dissent from that given by the Indian. + +"You've got this glass wrong end foremost, Delaware," continued +Hurry. "Neither the old man nor I can see any trail in the lake." + +"No trail - water make no trail," said Hist, eagerly. "Stop +boat - no go too near. Huron there!" + +"Ay, that's it! - Stick to the same tale, and more people +will believe you. I hope, Sarpent, you and your gal will agree +in telling the same story arter marriage, as well as you do now. +'Huron, there!'-Whereabouts is he to be seen - in the padlock, or the +chains, or the logs. There isn't a gaol in the colony that has +a more lock up look about it, than old Tom's chiente, and +I know something about gaols from exper'ence." + +"No see moccasin," said Hist, impatiently "why no look - and see +him." + +"Give me the glass, Harry," interrupted Hutter, "and lower the sail. +It is seldom that an Indian woman meddles, and when she does, there +is generally a cause for it. There is, truly, a moccasin floating +against one of the piles, and it may or may not be a sign that +the castle hasn't escaped visitors in our absence. Moccasins are +no rarities, however, for I wear 'em myself; and Deerslayer wears +'em, and you wear 'em, March, and, for that matter so does Hetty, +quite as often as she wears shoes, though I never yet saw Judith +trust her pretty foot in a moccasin." + +Hurry had lowered the sail, and by this time the Ark was within two +hundred yards of the castle, setting in, nearer and nearer, each +moment, but at a rate too slow to excite any uneasiness. Each now +took the glass in turn, and the castle, and every thing near it, +was subjected to a scrutiny still more rigid than ever. There the +moccasin lay, beyond a question, floating so lightly, and preserving +its form so well, that it was scarcely wet. It had caught by +a piece of the rough bark of one of the piles, on the exterior of +the water-palisade that formed the dock already mentioned, which +circumstance alone prevented it from drifting away before the air. +There were many modes, however, of accounting for the presence +of the moccasin, without supposing it to have been dropped by an +enemy. It might have fallen from the platform, even while Hutter +was in possession of the place, and drifted to the spot where it was +now seen, remaining unnoticed until detected by the acute vision +of Hist. It might have drifted from a distance, up or down the +lake, and accidentally become attached to the pile, or palisade. +It might have been thrown from a window, and alighted in that +particular place; or it might certainly have fallen from a scout, +or an assailant, during the past night, who was obliged to abandon +it to the lake, in the deep obscurity which then prevailed. + +All these conjectures passed from Hutter to Hurry, the former +appearing disposed to regard the omen as a little sinister, while +the latter treated it with his usual reckless disdain. As for the +Indian, he was of opinion that the moccasin should be viewed as +one would regard a trail in the woods, which might, or might not, +equally, prove to be threatening. Hist, however, had something +available to propose. She declared her readiness to take a canoe, +to proceed to the palisade and bring away the moccasin, when its +ornaments would show whether it came from the Canadas or not. Both +the white men were disposed to accept this offer, but the Delaware +interfered to prevent the risk. If such a service was to be undertaken, +it best became a warrior to expose himself in its execution, and +he gave his refusal to let his betrothed proceed, much in the quiet +but brief manner in which an Indian husband issues his commands. + +"Well then, Delaware, go yourself if you're so tender of your +squaw," put in the unceremonious Hurry. "That moccasin must be +had, or Floating Tom will keep off, here, at arm's length, till +the hearth cools in his cabin. It's but a little deerskin, a'ter +all, and cut this-a-way or that-a-way, it's not a skear-crow +to frighten true hunters from their game. What say you, Sarpent, +shall you or I canoe it?" + +"Let red man go. - Better eyes than pale-face - know Huron trick +better, too." + +"That I'll gainsay, to the hour of my death! A white man's eyes, +and a white man's nose, and for that matter his sight and ears are +all better than an Injin's when fairly tried. Time and ag'in have +I put that to the proof, and what is proved is sartain. Still I +suppose the poorest vagabond going, whether Delaware or Huron, can +find his way to yonder hut and back ag'in, and so, Sarpent, use +your paddle and welcome." + +Chingachgook was already in the canoe, and he dipped the implement +the other named into the water, just as Hurry's limber tongue ceased. +Wah-ta-Wah saw the departure of her warrior on this occasion with +the submissive silence of an Indian girl, but with most of the +misgivings and apprehensions of her sex. Throughout the whole of +the past night, and down to the moment, when they used the glass +together in the hut, Chingachgook had manifested as much manly +tenderness towards his betrothed as one of the most refined sentiment +could have shown under similar circumstances, but now every sign of +weakness was lost in an appearance of stern resolution. Although +Hist timidly endeavored to catch his eye as the canoe left the side +of the Ark, the pride of a warrior would not permit him to meet +her fond and anxious looks. The canoe departed and not a wandering +glance rewarded her solicitude. + +Nor were the Delaware's care and gravity misplaced, under the +impressions with which he proceeded on this enterprise. If the +enemy had really gained possession of the building he was obliged +to put himself under the very muzzles of their rifles, as it were, +and this too without the protection of any of that cover which forms +so essential an ally in Indian warfare. It is scarcely possible +to conceive of a service more dangerous, and had the Serpent been +fortified by the experience of ten more years, or had his friend +the Deerslayer been present, it would never have been attempted; +the advantages in no degree compensating for the risk. But the +pride of an Indian chief was acted on by the rivalry of colour, +and it is not unlikely that the presence of the very creature from +whom his ideas of manhood prevented his receiving a single glance, +overflowing as he was with the love she so well merited, had no +small influence on his determination. + +Chingachgook paddled steadily towards the palisades, keeping his eyes +on the different loops of the building. Each instant he expected +to see the muzzle of a rifle protruded, or to hear its sharp crack; +but he succeeded in reaching the piles in safety. Here he was, +in a measure, protected, having the heads of the palisades between +him and the hut, and the chances of any attempt on his life while +thus covered, were greatly diminished. The canoe had reached the +piles with its head inclining northward, and at a short distance +from the moccasin. Instead of turning to pick up the latter, the +Delaware slowly made the circuit of the whole building, deliberately +examining every object that should betray the presence of enemies, +or the commission of violence. Not a single sign could he discover, +however, to confirm the suspicions that had been awakened. The +stillness of desertion pervaded the building; not a fastening was +displaced, not a window had been broken. The door looked as secure +as at the hour when it was closed by Hutter, and even the gate +of the dock had all the customary fastenings. In short, the most +wary and jealous eye could detect no other evidence of the visit +of enemies, than that which was connected with the appearance of +the floating moccasin. + +The Delaware was now greatly at a loss how to proceed. At one +moment, as he came round in front of the castle, he was on the point +of stepping up on the platform and of applying his eye to one of +the loops, with a view of taking a direct personal inspection of +the state of things within; but he hesitated. Though of little +experience in such matters, himself, he had heard so much of Indian +artifices through traditions, had listened with such breathless +interest to the narration of the escapes of the elder warriors, +and, in short, was so well schooled in the theory of his calling, +that it was almost as impossible for him to make any gross blunder +on such an occasion, as it was for a well grounded scholar, who had +commenced correctly, to fail in solving his problem in mathematics. +Relinquishing the momentary intention to land, the chief slowly +pursued his course round the palisades. As he approached the +moccasin, having now nearly completed the circuit of the building, +he threw the ominous article into the canoe, by a dexterous and +almost imperceptible movement of his paddle. He was now ready to +depart, but retreat was even more dangerous than the approach, as +the eye could no longer be riveted on the loops. If there was really +any one in the castle, the motive of the Delaware in reconnoitering +must be understood, and it was the wisest way, however perilous it +might be, to retire with an air of confidence, as if all distrust +were terminated by the examination. Such, accordingly, was the +course adopted by the Indian, who paddled deliberately away, taking +the direction of the Ark, suffering no nervous impulse to quicken +the motions of his arms, or to induce him to turn even a furtive +glance behind him. + +No tender wife, reared in the refinements of the highest +civilization, ever met a husband on his return from the field with +more of sensibility in her countenance than Hist discovered, as +she saw the Great Serpent of the Delawares step, unharmed, into the +Ark. Still she repressed her emotion, though the joy that sparkled +in her dark eyes, and the smile that lighted her pretty mouth, +spoke a language that her betrothed could understand. + +"Well, Sarpent," cried Hurry, always the first to speak, "what news +from the muskrats? Did they shew their teeth, as you surrounded +their dwelling?" + +"I no like him," sententiously returned the Delaware. "Too still. +So still, can see silence!" + +"That's downright Injin - as if any thing could make less noise +than nothing! If you've no better reason than this to give, old +Tom had better hoist his sail, and go and get his breakfast under +his own roof. What has become of the moccasin?" + +"Here," returned Chingachgook, holding up his prize for the general +inspection. The moccasin was examined, and Hist confidently +pronounced it to be Huron, by the manner in which the porcupine's +quills were arranged on its front. Hutter and the Delaware, too, +were decidedly of the same opinion. Admitting all this, however, +it did not necessarily follow that its owners were in the castle. +The moccasin might have drifted from a distance, or it might have +fallen from the foot of some scout, who had quitted the place when +his errand was accomplished. In short it explained nothing, while +it awakened so much distrust. + +Under the circumstances, Hutter and Hurry were not men to be long +deterred from proceeding by proofs as slight as that of the moccasin. +They hoisted the sail again, and the Ark was soon in motion, +heading towards the castle. The wind or air continued light, and +the movement was sufficiently slow to allow of a deliberate survey +of the building, as the scow approached. The same death-like silence +reigned, and it was difficult to fancy that any thing possessing +animal life could be in or around the place. Unlike the Serpent, +whose imagination had acted through his traditions until he was +ready to perceive an artificial, in a natural stillness, the others +saw nothing to apprehend in a tranquility that, in truth, merely +denoted the repose of inanimate objects. The accessories of the +scene, too, were soothing and calm, rather than exciting. The day +had not yet advanced so far as to bring the sun above the horizon, but +the heavens, the atmosphere, and the woods and lake were all seen +under that softened light which immediately precedes his appearance, +and which perhaps is the most witching period of the four and twenty +hours. It is the moment when every thing is distinct, even the +atmosphere seeming to possess a liquid lucidity, the hues appearing +gray and softened, with the outlines of objects defined, and +the perspective just as moral truths that are presented in their +simplicity, without the meretricious aids of ornament or glitter. +In a word, it is the moment when the senses seem to recover their +powers, in the simplest and most accurate forms, like the mind +emerging from the obscurity of doubts into the tranquility and peace +of demonstration. Most of the influence that such a scene is apt +to produce on those who are properly constituted in a moral sense, +was lost on Hutter and Hurry; but both the Delawares, though too +much accustomed to witness the loveliness of morning-tide to stop +to analyze their feelings, were equally sensible of the beauties +of the hour, though it was probably in a way unknown to themselves. +It disposed the young warrior to peace, and never had he felt less +longings for the glory of the combat, than when he joined Hist +in the cabin, the instant the scow rubbed against the side of the +platform. From the indulgence of such gentle emotions, however, +he was aroused by a rude summons from Hurry, who called on him to +come forth and help to take in the sail, and to secure the Ark. + +Chingachgook obeyed, and by the time he had reached the head of +the scow, Hurry was on the platform, stamping his feet, like one +glad to touch what, by comparison, might be called terra firma, +and proclaiming his indifference to the whole Huron tribe in his +customary noisy, dogmatical manner. Hutter had hauled a canoe up +to the head of the scow, and was already about to undo the fastenings +of the gate, in order to enter within the 'dock.' March had no other +motive in landing than a senseless bravado, and having shaken the +door in a manner to put its solidity to the proof, he joined Hutter +in the canoe and began to aid him in opening the gate. The reader +will remember that this mode of entrance was rendered necessary by +the manner in which the owner of this singular residence habitually +secured it, whenever it was left empty; more particularly at +moments when danger was apprehended. Hutter had placed a line in +the Delaware's hand, on entering the canoe, intimating that the +other was to fasten the Ark to the platform and to lower the sail. +Instead of following these directions, however, Chingachgook left +the sail standing, and throwing the bight of the rope over the +head of a pile, he permitted the Ark to drift round until it lay +against the defences, in a position where it could be entered only +by means of a boat, or by passing along the summits of the palisades; +the latter being an exploit that required some command of the feet, +and which was not to be attempted in the face of a resolute enemy. + +In consequence of this change in the position of the scow, which +was effected before Hutter had succeeded in opening the gate +of his dock, the Ark and the Castle lay, as sailors would express +it, yard-arm and yard-arm, kept asunder some ten or twelve feet by +means of the piles. As the scow pressed close against the latter, +their tops formed a species of breast work that rose to the height +of a man's head, covering in a certain degree the parts of the scow +that were not protected by the cabin. The Delaware surveyed this +arrangement with great satisfaction and, as the canoe of Hutter +passed through the gate into the dock, he thought that he might defend +his position against any garrison in the castle, for a sufficient +time, could he but have had the helping arm of his friend Deerslayer. +As it was, he felt comparatively secure, and no longer suffered +the keen apprehensions he had lately experienced in behalf of Hist. + +A single shove sent the canoe from the gate to the trap beneath +the castle. Here Hutter found all fast, neither padlock nor chain +nor bar having been molested. The key was produced, the locks +removed, the chain loosened, and the trap pushed upward. Hurry +now thrust his head in at the opening; the arms followed, and the +colossal legs rose without any apparent effort. At the next instant, +his heavy foot was heard stamping in the passage above; that which +separated the chambers of the father and daughters, and into which +the trap opened. He then gave a shout of triumph. + +"Come on, old Tom," the reckless woodsman called out from within the +building - "here's your tenement, safe and sound; ay, and as empty +as a nut that has passed half an hour in the paws of a squirrel! +The Delaware brags of being able to see silence; let him come here, +and he may feel it, in the bargain." + +"Any silence where you are, Hurry Harry," returned Hutter, thrusting +his head in at the hole as he uttered the last word, which instantly +caused his voice to sound smothered to those without - "Any silence +where you are, ought to be both seen and felt, for it's unlike any +other silence." + +"Come, come, old fellow; hoist yourself up, and we'll open doors +and windows and let in the fresh air to brighten up matters. Few +words in troublesome times, make men the best fri'nds. Your darter +Judith is what I call a misbehaving young woman, and the hold of +the whole family on me is so much weakened by her late conduct, +that it wouldn't take a speech as long as the ten commandments to +send me off to the river, leaving you and your traps, your Ark and +your children, your man servants and your maid servants, your oxen +and your asses, to fight this battle with the Iroquois by yourselves. +Open that window, Floating Tom, and I'll blunder through and do +the same job to the front door." + +A moment of silence succeeded, and a noise like that produced by +the fall of a heavy body followed. A deep execration from Hurry +succeeded, and then the whole interior of the building seemed alive. +The noises that now so suddenly, and we may add so unexpectedly +even to the Delaware, broke the stillness within, could not be +mistaken. They resembled those that would be produced by a struggle +between tigers in a cage. Once or twice the Indian yell was given, +but it seemed smothered, and as if it proceeded from exhausted or +compressed throats, and, in a single instance, a deep and another +shockingly revolting execration came from the throat of Hurry. It +appeared as if bodies were constantly thrown upon the floor with +violence, as often rising to renew the struggle. Chingachgook +felt greatly at a loss what to do. He had all the arms in the Ark, +Hutter and Hurry having proceeded without their rifles, but there +was no means of using them, or of passing them to the hands of their +owners. The combatants were literally caged, rendering it almost +as impossible under the circumstances to get out, as to get into +the building. Then there was Hist to embarrass his movements, and +to cripple his efforts. With a view to relieve himself from this +disadvantage, he told the girl to take the remaining canoe and to +join Hutter's daughters, who were incautiously but deliberately +approaching, in order to save herself, and to warn the others of +their danger. But the girl positively and firmly refused to comply. +At that moment no human power, short of an exercise of superior +physical force, could have induced her to quit the Ark. The exigency +of the moment did not admit of delay, and the Delaware seeing no +possibility of serving his friends, cut the line and by a strong +shove forced the scow some twenty feet clear of the piles. Here +he took the sweeps and succeeded in getting a short distance +to windward, if any direction could be thus termed in so light an +air, but neither the time, nor his skill at the oars, allowed the +distance to be great. When he ceased rowing, the Ark might have +been a hundred yards from the platform, and half that distance +to the southward of it, the sail being lowered. Judith and Hetty +had now discovered that something was wrong, and were stationary +a thousand feet farther north. + +All this while the furious struggle continued within the house. +In scenes like these, events thicken in less time than they can +be related. From the moment when the first fall was heard within +the building to that when the Delaware ceased his awkward attempts +to row, it might have been three or four minutes, but it had evidently +served to weaken the combatants. The oaths and execrations of +Hurry were no longer heard, and even the struggles had lost some +of their force and fury. Nevertheless they still continued with +unabated perseverance. At this instant the door flew open, and +the fight was transferred to the platform, the light and the open +air. A Huron had undone the fastenings of the door, and three or +four of his tribe rushed after him upon the narrow space, as if glad +to escape from some terrible scene within. The body of another +followed, pitched headlong through the door with terrific violence. +Then March appeared, raging like a lion at bay, and for an instant +freed from his numerous enemies. Hutter was already a captive and +bound. There was now a pause in the struggle, which resembled a +lull in a tempest. The necessity of breathing was common to all, +and the combatants stood watching each other, like mastiffs that +have been driven from their holds, and are waiting for a favorable +opportunity of renewing them. We shall profit by this pause to +relate the manner in which the Indians had obtained possession of +the castle, and this the more willingly because it may be necessary +to explain to the reader why a conflict which had been so close +and fierce, should have also been so comparatively bloodless. + +Rivenoak and his companion, particularly the latter who had appeared +to be a subordinate and occupied solely with his raft, had made +the closest observations in their visits to the castle. Even the +boy had brought away minute and valuable information. By these +means the Hurons obtained a general idea of the manner in which +the place was constructed and secured, as well as of details that +enabled them to act intelligently in the dark. Notwithstanding +the care that Hutter had taken to drop the Ark on the east side of +the building when he was in the act of transferring the furniture +from the former to the latter, he had been watched in a way to +render the precaution useless. Scouts were on the look-out on the +eastern as well as on the western shore of the lake, and the whole +proceeding had been noted. As soon as it was dark, rafts like that +already described approached from both shores to reconnoitre, and +the Ark had passed within fifty feet of one of them without its +being discovered; the men it held lying at their length on the +logs, so as to blend themselves and their slow moving machine with +the water. When these two sets of adventurers drew near the castle +they encountered each other, and after communicating their respective +observations, they unhesitatingly approached the building. As had +been expected, it was found empty. The rafts were immediately sent +for a reinforcement to the shore, and two of the savages remained +to profit by their situation. These men succeeded in getting on +the roof, and by removing some of the bark, in entering what might +be termed the garret. Here they were found by their companions. +Hatchets now opened a hole through the squared logs of the upper +floor, through which no less than eight of the most athletic of +the Indians dropped into the rooms beneath. Here they were left, +well supplied with arms and provisions, either to stand a siege, or +to make a sortie, as the case might require. The night was passed +in sleep, as is usual with Indians in a state of inactivity. The +returning day brought them a view of the approach of the Ark +through the loops, the only manner in which light and air were now +admitted, the windows being closed most effectually with plank, +rudely fashioned to fit. As soon as it was ascertained that the two +white men were about to enter by the trap, the chief who directed +the proceedings of the Hurons took his measures accordingly. He +removed all the arms from his own people, even to the knives, in +distrust of savage ferocity when awakened by personal injuries, and +he hid them where they could not be found without a search. Ropes +of bark were then prepared, and taking their stations in the three +different rooms, they all waited for the signal to fall upon their +intended captives. As soon as the party had entered the building, +men without replaced the bark of the roof, removed every sign of +their visit, with care, and then departed for the shore. It was +one of these who had dropped his moccasin, which he had not been +able to find again in the dark. Had the death of the girl been +known, it is probable nothing could have saved the lives of Hurry +and Hutter, but that event occurred after the ambush was laid, and +at a distance of several miles from the encampment near the castle. +Such were the means that had been employed to produce the state of +things we shall continue to describe. + + + +Chapter XX + + + "Now all is done that man can do, + And all is done in vain! + My love! my native land, adieu + For I must cross the main, My dear, + For I must cross the main." + + Robert Burns, "It was a' for our Rightfu' King," II. 7-12. + +The last chapter we left the combatants breathing in their narrow +lists. Accustomed to the rude sports of wrestling and jumping, +then so common in America, more especially on the frontiers, Hurry +possessed an advantage, in addition to his prodigious strength, +that had rendered the struggle less unequal than it might otherwise +appear to be. This alone had enabled him to hold out so long, +against so many enemies, for the Indian is by no means remarkable +for his skill, or force, in athletic exercises. As yet, no one +had been seriously hurt, though several of the savages had received +severe falls, and he, in particular, who had been thrown bodily +upon the platform, might be said to be temporarily hors de combat. +Some of the rest were limping, and March himself had not entirely +escaped from bruises, though want of breath was the principal loss +that both sides wished to repair. + +Under circumstances like those in which the parties were placed, a +truce, let it come from what cause it might, could not well be of +long continuance. The arena was too confined, and the distrust +of treachery too great, to admit of this. Contrary to what might +be expected in his situation, Hurry was the first to recommence +hostilities. Whether this proceeded from policy, an idea that he +might gain some advantage by making a sudden and unexpected assault, +or was the fruit of irritation and his undying hatred of an Indian, +it is impossible to say. His onset was furious, however, and at +first it carried all before it. He seized the nearest Huron by the +waist, raised him entirely from the platform, and hurled him into +the water, as if he had been a child. In half a minute, two more +were at his side, one of whom received a grave injury by the friend +who had just preceded him. But four enemies remained, and, in a +hand to hand conflict, in which no arms were used but those which +nature had furnished, Hurry believed himself fully able to cope +with that number of red-skins. + +"Hurrah! Old Tom," he shouted - "The rascals are taking to the +lake, and I'll soon have 'em all swimming!" As these words were +uttered a violent kick in the face sent back the injured Indian, +who had caught at the edge of the platform, and was endeavoring +to raise himself to its level, helplessly and hopelessly into the +water. When the affray was over, his dark body was seen, through +the limpid element of the Glimmerglass, lying, with outstretched +arms, extended on the bottom of the shoal on which the Castle stood, +clinging to the sands and weeds, as if life were to be retained by +this frenzied grasp of death. A blow sent into the pit of another's +stomach doubled him up like a worm that had been trodden on, and +but two able bodied foes remained to be dealt with. One of these, +however, was not only the largest and strongest of the Hurons, but +he was also the most experienced of their warriors present, and that +one whose sinews were the best strung in fights, and by marches on +the warpath. This man fully appreciated the gigantic strength of +his opponent, and had carefully husbanded his own. He was also +equipped in the best manner for such a conflict, standing in nothing +but his breech-cloth, the model of a naked and beautiful statue of +agility and strength. To grasp him required additional dexterity +and unusual force. Still Hurry did not hesitate, but the kick that +had actually destroyed one fellow creature was no sooner given, than +he closed in with this formidable antagonist, endeavoring to force +him into the water, also. The struggle that succeeded was truly +frightful. So fierce did it immediately become, and so quick and +changeful were the evolutions of the athletes, that the remaining +savage had no chance for interfering, had he possessed the desire; +but wonder and apprehension held him spell bound. He was an +inexperienced youth, and his blood curdled as he witnessed the fell +strife of human passions, exhibited too, in an unaccustomed form. + +Hurry first attempted to throw his antagonist. With this view he +seized him by the throat, and an arm, and tripped with the quickness +and force of an American borderer. The effect was frustrated by +the agile movements of the Huron, who had clothes to grasp by, and +whose feet avoided the attempt with a nimbleness equal to that with +which it was made. Then followed a sort of melee, if such a term +can be applied to a struggle between two in which no efforts were +strictly visible, the limbs and bodies of the combatants assuming +so many attitudes and contortions as to defeat observation. This +confused but fierce rally lasted less than a minute, however; when, +Hurry, furious at having his strength baffled by the agility and +nakedness of his foe, made a desperate effort, which sent the Huron +from him, hurling his body violently against the logs of the hut. +The concussion was so great as momentarily to confuse the latter's +faculties. The pain, too, extorted a deep groan; an unusual +concession to agony to escape a red man in the heat of battle. +Still he rushed forward again to meet his enemy, conscious that +his safety rested on it's resolution. Hurry now seized the other +by the waist, raised him bodily from the platform, and fell with +his own great weight on the form beneath. This additional shock +so stunned the sufferer, that his gigantic white opponent now had +him completely at his mercy. Passing his hands around the throat +of his victim, he compressed them with the strength of a vice, fairly +doubling the head of the Huron over the edge of the platform, until +the chin was uppermost, with the infernal strength he expended. +An instant sufficed to show the consequences. The eyes of the +sufferer seemed to start forward, his tongue protruded, and his +nostrils dilated nearly to splitting. At this instant a rope of +bark, having an eye, was passed dexterously within the two arms of +Hurry, the end threaded the eye, forming a noose, and his elbows +were drawn together behind his back, with a power that all his +gigantic strength could not resist. Reluctantly, even under such +circumstances, did the exasperated borderer see his hands drawn +from their deadly grasp, for all the evil passions were then in the +ascendant. Almost at the same instant a similar fastening secured +his ankles, and his body was rolled to the centre of the platform +as helplessly, and as cavalierly, as if it were a log of wood. +His rescued antagonist, however, did not rise, for while he began +again to breathe, his head still hung helplessly over the edge of +the logs, and it was thought at first that his neck was dislocated. +He recovered gradually only, and it was hours before he could walk. +Some fancied that neither his body, nor his mind, ever totally +recovered from this near approach to death. + +Hurry owed his defeat and capture to the intensity with which +he had concentrated all his powers on his fallen foe. While thus +occupied, the two Indians he had hurled into the water mounted to +the heads of the piles, along which they passed, and joined their +companion on the platform. The latter had so far rallied his +faculties as to have gotten the ropes, which were in readiness for +use as the others appeared, and they were applied in the manner +related, as Hurry lay pressing his enemy down with his whole weight, +intent only on the horrible office of strangling him. Thus were +the tables turned, in a single moment; he who had been so near +achieving a victory that would have been renowned for ages, by means +of traditions, throughout all that region, lying helpless, bound +and a captive. So fearful had been the efforts of the pale-face, +and so prodigious the strength he exhibited, that even as he lay +tethered like a sheep before them, they regarded him with respect, +and not without dread. The helpless body of their stoutest warrior +was still stretched on the platform, and, as they cast their eyes +towards the lake, in quest of the comrade that had been hurled +into it so unceremoniously, and of whom they had lost sight in the +confusion of the fray, they perceived his lifeless form clinging +to the grass on the bottom, as already described. These several +circumstances contributed to render the victory of the Hurons almost +as astounding to themselves as a defeat. + +Chingachgook and his betrothed witnessed the whole of this struggle +from the Ark. When the three Hurons were about to pass the cords +around the arms of the prostrate Hurry the Delaware sought his +rifle, but, before he could use it the white man was bound and +the mischief was done. He might still bring down an enemy, but to +obtain the scalp was impossible, and the young chief, who would so +freely risk his own life to obtain such a trophy, hesitated about +taking that of a foe without such an object in view. A glance +at Hist, and the recollection of what might follow, checked any +transient wish for revenge. The reader has been told that Chingachgook +could scarcely be said to know how to manage the oars of the Ark at +all, however expert he might be in the use of the paddle. Perhaps +there is no manual labor at which men are so bungling and awkward, as +in their first attempts to pull oar, even the experienced mariner, +or boat man, breaking down in his efforts to figure with the +celebrated rullock of the gondolier. In short it is, temporarily, +an impracticable thing for a new beginner to succeed with a single +oar, but in this case it was necessary to handle two at the same +time, and those of great size. Sweeps, or large oars, however, +are sooner rendered of use by the raw hand than lighter implements, +and this was the reason that the Delaware had succeeded in moving the +Ark as well as he did in a first trial. That trial, notwithstanding, +sufficed to produce distrust, and he was fully aware of the critical +situation in which Hist and himself were now placed, should the +Hurons take to the canoe that was still lying beneath the trap, and +come against them. At the moment he thought of putting Hist into +the canoe in his own possession, and of taking to the eastern +mountain in the hope of reaching the Delaware villages by direct +flight. But many considerations suggested themselves to put a +stop to this indiscreet step. It was almost certain that scouts +watched the lake on both sides, and no canoe could possibly approach +shore without being seen from the hills. Then a trail could not +be concealed from Indian eyes, and the strength of Hist was unequal +to a flight sufficiently sustained to outstrip the pursuit of +trained warriors. This was a part of America in which the Indians +did not know the use of horses, and everything would depend on +the physical energies of the fugitives. Last, but far from being +least, were the thoughts connected with the situation of Deerslayer, +a friend who was not to be deserted in his extremity. + +Hist in some particulars reasoned, and even felt, differently though +she arrived at the same conclusions. Her own anger disturbed her +less than her concern for the two sisters, on whose behalf her +womanly sympathies were now strongly enlisted. The canoe of the +girls, by the time the struggle on the platform had ceased, was +within three hundred yards of the castle, and here Judith ceased +paddling, the evidences of strife first becoming apparent to the +eyes. She and Hetty were standing erect, anxiously endeavoring +to ascertain what had occurred, but unable to satisfy their doubts +from the circumstance that the building, in a great measure, +concealed the scene of action. + +The parties in the Ark, and in the canoe, were indebted to the +ferocity of Hurry's attack for their momentary security. In any +ordinary case, the girls would have been immediately captured, a +measure easy of execution now the savages had a canoe, were it not +for the rude check the audacity of the Hurons had received in the +recent struggle. It required some little time to recover from the +effects of this violent scene, and this so much the more, because +the principal man of the party, in the way of personal prowess +at least, had been so great a sufferer. Still it was of the last +importance that Judith and her sister should seek immediate refuge +in the Ark, where the defences offered a temporary shelter at least, +and the first step was to devise the means of inducing them to do +so. Hist showed herself in the stern of the scow, and made many +gestures and signs, in vain, in order to induce the girls to make +a circuit to avoid the Castle, and to approach the Ark from the +eastward. But these signs were distrusted or misunderstood. It +is probable Judith was not yet sufficiently aware of the real state +of things to put full confidence in either party. Instead of doing +as desired, she rather kept more aloof, paddling slowly back to +the north, or into the broadest part of the lake, where she could +command the widest view, and had the fairest field for flight +before her. At this instant the sun appeared above the pines of +the eastern range of mountains and a light southerly breeze arose, +as was usual enough at that season and hour. Chingachgook lost no +time in hoisting the sail. Whatever might be in reserve for him, +there could be no question that it was every way desirable to get +the Ark at such a distance from the castle as to reduce his enemies +to the necessity of approaching the former in the canoe, which the +chances of war had so inopportunely, for his wishes and security, +thrown into their hands. The appearance of the opening duck seemed +first to arouse the Hurons from their apathy, and by the time +the head of the scow had fallen off before the wind, which it did +unfortunately in the wrong direction, bringing it within a few yards +of the platform, Hist found it necessary to warn her lover of the +importance of covering his person against the rifles of his foes. +This was a danger to be avoided under all circumstances, and so +much the more, because the Delaware found that Hist would not take +to the cover herself so long as he remained exposed. Accordingly, +Chingachgook abandoned the scow to its own movements, forced Hist +into the cabin, the doors of which he immediately secured, and then +he looked about him for the rifles. The situation of the parties +was now so singular as to merit a particular description. The Ark +was within sixty yards of the castle, a little to the southward, +or to windward of it, with its sail full, and the steering oar +abandoned. The latter, fortunately, was loose, so that it produced +no great influence on the crab like movements of the unwieldy craft. +The sail being as sailors term it, flying, or having no braces, +the air forced the yard forward, though both sheets were fast. The +effect was threefold on a boat with a bottom that was perfectly +flat, and which drew merely some three or four inches water. It +pressed the head slowly round to leeward, it forced the whole fabric +bodily in the same direction at the same time, and the water that +unavoidably gathered under the lee gave the scow also a forward +movement. All these changes were exceedingly slow, however, for +the wind was not only light, but it was baffling as usual, and +twice or thrice the sail shook. Once it was absolutely taken aback. + +Had there been any keel to the Ark, it would inevitably have run +foul of the platform, bows on, when it is probable nothing could +have prevented the Hurons from carrying it; more particularly as +the sail would have enabled them to approach under cover. As it +was, the scow wore slowly round, barely clearing that part of the +building. The piles projecting several feet, they were not cleared, +but the head of the slow moving craft caught between two of them, +by one of its square corners, and hung. At this moment the Delaware +was vigilantly watching through a loop for an opportunity to fire, +while the Hurons kept within the building, similarly occupied. +The exhausted warrior reclined against the hut, there having been +no time to remove him, and Hurry lay, almost as helpless as a log, +tethered like a sheep on its way to the slaughter, near the middle +of the platform. Chingachgook could have slain the first, at any +moment, but his scalp would have been safe, and the young chief +disdained to strike a blow that could lead to neither honor nor +advantage. + +"Run out one of the poles, Sarpent, if Sarpent you be," said Hurry, +amid the groans that the tightness of the ligatures was beginning +to extort from him - "run out one of the poles, and shove the head +of the scow off, and you'll drift clear of us - and, when you've +done that good turn for yourself just finish this gagging blackguard +for me." + +The appeal of Hurry, however, had no other effect than to draw the +attention of Hist to his situation. This quick witted creature +comprehended it at a glance. His ankles were bound with several +turns of stout bark rope, and his arms, above the elbows, were +similarly secured behind his back; barely leaving him a little play +of the hands and wrists. Putting her mouth near a loop she said +in a low but distinct voice - "Why you don't roll here, and fall +in scow? Chingachgook shoot Huron, if he chase!" + +"By the Lord, gal, that's a judgematical thought, and it shall be +tried, if the starn of your scow will come a little nearer. Put +a bed at the bottom, for me to fall on." + +This was said at a happy moment, for, tired of waiting, all the +Indians made a rapid discharge of their rifles, almost simultaneously, +injuring no one; though several bullets passed through the loops. +Hist had heard part of Hurry's words, but most of what he said was +lost in the sharp reports of the firearms. She undid the bar of +the door that led to the stern of the scow, but did not dare to +expose her person. All this time, the head of the Ark hung, but +by a gradually decreasing hold as the other end swung slowly round, +nearer and nearer to the platform. Hurry, who now lay with his +face towards the Ark, occasionally writhing and turning over like +one in pain, evolutions he had performed ever since he was secured, +watched every change, and, at last, he saw that the whole vessel +was free, and was beginning to grate slowly along the sides of the +piles. The attempt was desperate, but it seemed to be the only +chance for escaping torture and death, and it suited the reckless +daring of the man's character. Waiting to the last moment, in order +that the stern of the scow might fairly rub against the platform, +he began to writhe again, as if in intolerable suffering, execrating +all Indians in general, and the Hurons in particular, and then he +suddenly and rapidly rolled over and over, taking the direction of +the stern of the scow. Unfortunately, Hurry's shoulders required +more space to revolve in than his feet, and by the time he reached the +edge of the platform his direction had so far changed as to carry +him clear of the Ark altogether, and the rapidity of his revolutions +and the emergency admitting of no delay, he fell into the water. At +this instant, Chingachgook, by an understanding with his betrothed, +drew the fire of the Hurons again, not a man of whom saw the +manner in which one whom they knew to be effectually tethered, +had disappeared. But Hist's feelings were strongly interested in +the success of so bold a scheme, and she watched the movements of +Hurry as the cat watches the mouse. The moment he was in motion +she foresaw the consequences, and this the more readily, as the scow +was now beginning to move with some steadiness, and she bethought +her of the means of saving him. With a sort of instinctive readiness, +she opened the door at the very moment the rifles were ringing in +her ears, and protected by the intervening cabin, she stepped into +the stem of the scow in time to witness the fall of Hurry into the +lake. Her foot was unconsciously placed on the end of one of the +sheets of the sail, which was fastened aft, and catching up all +the spare rope with the awkwardness, but also with the generous +resolution of a woman, she threw it in the direction of the helpless +Hurry. The line fell on the head and body of the sinking man and +he not only succeeded in grasping separate parts of it with his +hands, but he actually got a portion of it between his teeth. Hurry +was an expert swimmer, and tethered as he was he resorted to the +very expedient that philosophy and reflection would have suggested. +He had fallen on his back, and instead of floundering and drowning +himself by desperate efforts to walk on the water, he permitted his +body to sink as low as possible, and was already submerged, with +the exception of his face, when the line reached him. In this +situation he might possibly have remained until rescued by the +Hurons, using his hands as fishes use their fins, had he received +no other succour, but the movement of the Ark soon tightened the +rope, and of course he was dragged gently ahead holding even pace +with the scow. The motion aided in keeping his face above the surface +of the water, and it would have been possible for one accustomed +to endurance to have been towed a mile in this singular but simple +manner. + +It has been said that the Hurons did not observe the sudden +disappearance of Hurry. In his present situation he was not only +hid from view by the platform, but, as the Ark drew slowly ahead, +impelled by a sail that was now filled, he received the same friendly +service from the piles. The Hurons, indeed, were too intent on +endeavoring to slay their Delaware foe, by sending a bullet through +some one of the loops or crevices of the cabin, to bethink them +at all of one whom they fancied so thoroughly tied. Their great +concern was the manner in which the Ark rubbed past the piles, +although its motion was lessened at least one half by the friction, +and they passed into the northern end of the castle in order to +catch opportunities of firing through the loops of that part of +the building. Chingachgook was similarly occupied, and remained +as ignorant as his enemies of the situation of Hurry. As the Ark +grated along the rifles sent their little clouds of smoke from +one cover to the other, but the eyes and movements of the opposing +parties were too quick to permit any injury to be done. At length +one side had the mortification and the other the pleasure of seeing +the scow swing clear of the piles altogether, when it immediately +moved away, with a materially accelerated motion, towards the north. + +Chingachgook now first learned from Hist the critical condition +of Hurry. To have exposed either of their persons in the stern of +the scow would have been certain death, but fortunately the sheet +to which the man clung led forward to the foot of the sail. The +Delaware found means to unloosen it from the cleet aft, and Hist, +who was already forward for that purpose, immediately began to pull +upon the line. At this moment Hurry was towing fifty or sixty feet +astern, with nothing but his face above water. As he was dragged +out clear of the castle and the piles he was first perceived by the +Hurons, who raised a hideous yell and commenced a fire on, what may +very well be termed the floating mass. It was at the same instant +that Hist began to pull upon the line forward - a circumstance that +probably saved Hurry's life, aided by his own self-possession and +border readiness. The first bullet struck the water directly on the +spot where the broad chest of the young giant was visible through +the pure element, and might have pierced his heart had the angle +at which it was fired been less acute. Instead of penetrating the +lake, however, it glanced from its smooth surface, rose, and buried +itself in the logs of the cabin near the spot at which Chingachgook +had shown himself the minute before, while clearing the line from +the cleet. A second, and a third, and a fourth bullet followed, +all meeting with the same resistance of the water, though Hurry +sensibly felt the violence of the blows they struck upon the lake +so immediately above, and so near his breast. Discovering their +mistake, the Hurons now changed their plan, and aimed at the +uncovered face; but by this time Hist was pulling on the line, the +target advanced and the deadly missiles still fell upon the water. +In another moment the body was dragged past the end of the scow +and became concealed. As for the Delaware and Hist, they worked +perfectly covered by the cabin, and in less time than it requires +to tell it, they had hauled the huge frame of Harry to the place +they occupied. Chingachgook stood in readiness with his keen +knife, and bending over the side of the scow he soon severed the +bark that bound the limbs of the borderer. To raise him high enough +to reach the edge of the boat and to aid him in entering were less +easy, as Hurry's arms were still nearly useless, but both were +done in time, when the liberated man staggered forward and fell +exhausted and helpless into the bottom of the scow. Here we shall +leave him to recover his strength and the due circulation of his +blood, while we proceed with the narrative of events that crowd +upon us too fast to admit of any postponement. The moment the +Hurons lost sight of the body of Hurry they gave a common yell of +disappointment, and three of the most active of their number ran +to the trap and entered the canoe. It required some little delay, +however, to embark with their weapons, to find the paddles and, +if we may use a phrase so purely technical, "to get out of dock." +By this time Hurry was in the scow, and the Delaware had his rifles +again in readiness. As the Ark necessarily sailed before the wind, +it had got by this time quite two hundred yards from the castle, +and was sliding away each instant, farther and farther, though with +a motion so easy as scarcely to stir the water. The canoe of the +girls was quite a quarter of a mile distant from the Ark, obviously +keeping aloof, in ignorance of what had occurred, and in apprehension +of the consequences of venturing too near. They had taken the +direction of the eastern shore, endeavoring at the same time to get +to windward of the Ark, and in a manner between the two parties, +as if distrusting which was to be considered a friend, and which +an enemy. The girls, from long habit, used the paddles with great +dexterity, and Judith, in particular, had often sportively gained +races, in trials of speed with the youths that occasionally visited +the lake. + +When the three Hurons emerged from behind the palisades, and found +themselves on the open lake, and under the necessity of advancing +unprotected on the Ark, if they persevered in the original design, +their ardor sensibly cooled. In a bark canoe they were totally +without cover, and Indian discretion was entirely opposed to such +a sacrifice of life as would most probably follow any attempt to +assault an enemy entrenched as effectually as the Delaware. Instead +of following the Ark, therefore, these three warriors inclined +towards the eastern shore, keeping at a safe distance from the +rifles of Chingachgook. But this manoeuvre rendered the position +of the girls exceedingly critical. It threatened to place them if +not between two fires, at least between two dangers, or what they +conceived to be dangers, and instead of permitting the Hurons to +enclose her, in what she fancied a sort of net, Judith immediately +commenced her retreat in a southern direction, at no very great +distance from the shore. She did not dare to land; if such an +expedient were to be resorted to at all, she could only venture on +it in the last extremity. At first the Indians paid little or no +attention to the other canoe, for, fully apprised of its contents, +they deemed its capture of comparatively little moment, while the +Ark, with its imaginary treasures, the persons of the Delaware and +of Hurry, and its means of movement on a large scale, was before +them. But this Ark had its dangers as well as its temptations, and +after wasting near an hour in vacillating evolutions, always at a +safe distance from the rifle, the Hurons seemed suddenly to take +their resolution, and began to display it by giving eager chase to +the girls. + +When this last design was adopted, the circumstances of all parties, +as connected with their relative positions, were materially changed. +The Ark had sailed and drifted quite half a mile, and was nearly +that distance due north of the castle. As soon as the Delaware +perceived that the girls avoided him, unable to manage his unwieldy +craft, and knowing that flight from a bark canoe, in the event of +pursuit, would be a useless expedient if attempted, he had lowered +his sail, in the hope it might induce the sisters to change their +plan and to seek refuge in the scow. This demonstration produced +no other effect than to keep the Ark nearer to the scene of action, +and to enable those in her to become witnesses of the chase. The +canoe of Judith was about a quarter of a mile south of that of +the Hurons, a little nearer to the east shore, and about the same +distance to the southward of the castle as it was from the hostile +canoe, a circumstance which necessarily put the last nearly abreast +of Hutter's fortress. With the several parties thus situated the +chase commenced. + +At the moment when the Hurons so suddenly changed their mode of +attack their canoe was not in the best possible racing trim. There +were but two paddles, and the third man so much extra and useless +cargo. Then the difference in weight between the sisters and the +other two men, more especially in vessels so extremely light, almost +neutralized any difference that might proceed from the greater +strength of the Hurons, and rendered the trial of speed far from +being as unequal as it might seem. Judith did not commence her +exertions until the near approach of the other canoe rendered the +object of the movement certain, and then she exhorted Hetty to aid +her with her utmost skill and strength. + +"Why should we run, Judith?" asked the simple minded girl. "The +Hurons have never harmed me, nor do I think they ever will." + +"That may be true as to you, Hetty, but it will prove very different +with me. Kneel down and say your prayer, and then rise and do your +utmost to help escape. Think of me, dear girl, too, as you pray." + +Judith gave these directions from a mixed feeling; first because +she knew that her sister ever sought the support of her great ally +in trouble, and next because a sensation of feebleness and dependance +suddenly came over her own proud spirit, in that moment of apparent +desertion and trial. The prayer was quickly said, however, and the +canoe was soon in rapid motion. Still, neither party resorted to +their greatest exertions from the outset, both knowing that the +chase was likely to be arduous and long. Like two vessels of war +that are preparing for an encounter, they seemed desirous of first +ascertaining their respective rates of speed, in order that they +might know how to graduate their exertions, previously to the great +effort. A few minutes sufficed to show the Hurons that the girls +were expert, and that it would require all their skill and energies +to overtake them. + +Judith had inclined towards the eastern shore at the commencement +of the chase, with a vague determination of landing and flying +to the woods as a last resort, but as she approached the land, +the certainty that scouts must be watching her movements made her +reluctance to adopt such an expedient unconquerable. Then she was +still fresh, and had sanguine hopes of being able to tire out her +pursuers. With such feelings she gave a sweep with her paddle, +and sheered off from the fringe of dark hemlocks beneath the shades +of which she was so near entering, and held her way again, more +towards the centre of the lake. This seemed the instant favorable +for the Hurons to make their push, as it gave them the entire +breadth of the sheet to do it in; and this too in the widest part, +as soon as they had got between the fugitives and the land. The +canoes now flew, Judith making up for what she wanted in strength +by her great dexterity and self command. For half a mile the +Indians gained no material advantage, but the continuance of so +great exertions for so many minutes sensibly affected all concerned. +Here the Indians resorted to an expedient that enabled them to give +one of their party time to breathe, by shifting their paddles from +hand to hand, and this too without sensibly relaxing their efforts. + +Judith occasionally looked behind her, and she saw this expedient +practised. It caused her immediately to distrust the result, since +her powers of endurance were not likely to hold out against those +of men who had the means of relieving each other. Still she +persevered, allowing no very visible consequences immediately to +follow the change. + +As yet the Indians had not been able to get nearer to the girls +than two hundred yards, though they were what seamen would term +"in their wake"; or in a direct line behind them, passing over the +same track of water. This made the pursuit what is technically +called a "stern chase", which is proverbially a "long chase": the +meaning of which is that, in consequence of the relative positions +of the parties, no change becomes apparent except that which is +a direct gain in the nearest possible approach. "Long" as this +species of chase is admitted to be, however, Judith was enabled to +perceive that the Hurons were sensibly drawing nearer and nearer, +before she had gained the centre of the lake. She was not a girl +to despair, but there was an instant when she thought of yielding, +with the wish of being carried to the camp where she knew the +Deerslayer to be a captive; but the considerations connected with +the means she hoped to be able to employ in order to procure his +release immediately interposed, in order to stimulate her to renewed +exertions. Had there been any one there to note the progress of +the two canoes, he would have seen that of Judith flying swiftly +away from its pursuers, as the girl gave it freshly impelled speed, +while her mind was thus dwelling on her own ardent and generous +schemes. So material, indeed, was the difference in the rate of +going between the two canoes for the next five minutes, that the +Hurons began to be convinced all their powers must be exerted or +they would suffer the disgrace of being baffled by women. Making +a furious effort under the mortification of such a conviction, one +of the strongest of their party broke his paddle at the very moment +when he had taken it from the hand of a comrade to relieve him. +This at once decided the matter, a canoe containing three men and +having but one paddle being utterly unable to overtake fugitives +like the daughters of Thomas Hutter. + +"There, Judith!" exclaimed Hetty, who saw the accident, "I hope +now you will own, that praying is useful! The Hurons have broke +a paddle, and they never can overtake us." + +"I never denied it, poor Hetty, and sometimes wish in bitterness of +spirit that I had prayed more myself, and thought less of my beauty! +As you say, we are now safe and need only go a little south and +take breath." + +This was done; the enemy giving up the pursuit, as suddenly as +a ship that has lost an important spar, the instant the accident +occurred. Instead of following Judith's canoe, which was now lightly +skimming over the water towards the south, the Hurons turned their +bows towards the castle, where they soon arrived and landed. The +girls, fearful that some spare paddles might be found in or about +the buildings, continued on, nor did they stop until so distant +from their enemies as to give them every chance of escape, should +the chase be renewed. It would seem that the savages meditated +no such design, but at the end of an hour their canoe, filled with +men, was seen quitting the castle and steering towards the shore. +The girls were without food, and they now drew nearer to the +buildings and the Ark, having finally made up their minds from its +manoeuvres that the latter contained friends. + +Notwithstanding the seeming desertion of the castle, Judith +approached it with extreme caution. The Ark was now quite a mile +to the northward, but sweeping up towards the buildings, and this, +too, with a regularity of motion that satisfied Judith a white +man was at the oars. When within a hundred yards of the building +the girls began to encircle it, in order to make sure that it was +empty. No canoe was nigh, and this emboldened them to draw nearer +and nearer, until they had gone round the piles and reached the +platform. + +"Do you go into the house, Hetty," said Judith, "and see that the +savages are gone. They will not harm you, and if any of them are +still here you can give me the alarm. I do not think they will +fire on a poor defenceless girl, and I at least may escape, until +I shall be ready to go among them of my own accord." + +Hetty did as desired, Judith retiring a few yards from the platform +the instant her sister landed, in readiness for flight. But the +last was unnecessary, not a minute elapsing before Hetty returned +to communicate that all was safe. + +"I've been in all the rooms, Judith," said the latter earnestly, +"and they are empty, except father's; he is in his own chamber, +sleeping, though not as quietly as we could wish." + +"Has any thing happened to father?" demanded Judith, as her foot +touched the platform; speaking quickly, for her nerves were in a +state to be easily alarmed. + +Hetty seemed concerned, and she looked furtively about her as if +unwilling any one but a child should hear what she had to communicate, +and even that she should learn it abruptly. + +"You know how it is with father sometimes, Judith," she said, "When +overtaken with liquor he doesn't always know what he says or does, +and he seems to be overtaken with liquor now." + +"That is strange! Would the savages have drunk with him, and then +leave him behind? But 'tis a grievous sight to a child, Hetty, +to witness such a failing in a parent, and we will not go near him +'til he wakes." + +A groan from the inner room, however, changed this resolution, +and the girls ventured near a parent whom it was no unusual thing +for them to find in a condition that lowers a man to the level of +brutes. He was seated, reclining in a corner of the narrow room +with his shoulders supported by the angle, and his head fallen +heavily on his chest. Judith moved forward with a sudden impulse, +and removed a canvass cap that was forced so low on his head as to +conceal his face, and indeed all but his shoulders. The instant +this obstacle was taken away, the quivering and raw flesh, the bared +veins and muscles, and all the other disgusting signs of mortality, +as they are revealed by tearing away the skin, showed he had been +scalped, though still living. + + + +Chapter XXI. + + + "Lightly they'll talk of the spirit that's gone, + And o'er his cold ashes upbraid him; + But nothing he'll reck, if they'll let him sleep on, + In the grave where a Briton has laid him." + + Charles Wolfe, "The Burial of Sir John Moore," vi. + +The reader must imagine the horror that daughters would experience, +at unexpectedly beholding the shocking spectacle that was placed +before the eyes of Judith and Esther, as related in the close of +the last chapter. We shall pass over the first emotions, the first +acts of filial piety, and proceed with the narrative by imagining +rather than relating most of the revolting features of the scene. +The mutilated and ragged head was bound up, the unseemly blood was +wiped from the face of the sufferer, the other appliances required +by appearances and care were resorted to, and there was time to +enquire into the more serious circumstances of the case. The facts +were never known until years later in all their details, simple as +they were, but they may as well be related here, as it can be done +in a few words. In the struggle with the Hurons, Hutter had been +stabbed by the knife of the old warrior, who had used the discretion +to remove the arms of every one but himself. Being hard pushed by +his sturdy foe, his knife had settled the matter. This occurred +just as the door was opened, and Hurry burst out upon the platform, +as has been previously related. This was the secret of neither +party's having appeared in the subsequent struggle; Hutter having +been literally disabled, and his conqueror being ashamed to be +seen with the traces of blood about him, after having used so many +injunctions to convince his young warriors of the necessity of +taking their prisoners alive. When the three Hurons returned from +the chase, and it was determined to abandon the castle and join the +party on the land, Hutter was simply scalped to secure the usual +trophy, and was left to die by inches, as has been done in a +thousand similar instances by the ruthless warriors of this part +of the American continent. Had the injury of Hutter been confined +to his head, he might have recovered, however, for it was the +blow of the knife that proved mortal. There are moments of vivid +consciousness, when the stern justice of God stands forth in colours +so prominent as to defy any attempts to veil them from the sight, +however unpleasant they may appear, or however anxious we may be +to avoid recognising it. Such was now the fact with Judith and +Hetty, who both perceived the decrees of a retributive Providence, +in the manner of their father's suffering, as a punishment for his +own recent attempts on the Iroquois. This was seen and felt by +Judith with the keenness of perception and sensibility that were +suited to her character, while the impression made on the simpler +mind of her sister was perhaps less lively, though it might well +have proved more lasting. + +"Oh! Judith," exclaimed the weak minded girl, as soon as their +first care had been bestowed on sufferer. "Father went for scalps, +himself, and now where is his own? The Bible might have foretold +this dreadful punishment!" + +"Hush, Hetty - hush, poor sister - He opens his eyes; he may hear +and understand you. 'Tis as you say and think, but 'tis too dreadful +to speak." + +"Water," ejaculated Hutter, as it might be by a desperate effort, +that rendered his voice frightfully deep and strong for one as near +death as he evidently was - "Water - foolish girls - will you let +me die of thirst?" + +Water was brought and administered to the sufferer; the first he +had tasted in hours of physical anguish. It had the double effect +of clearing his throat and of momentarily reviving his sinking +system. His eyes opened with that anxious, distended gaze which +is apt to accompany the passage of a soul surprised by death, and +he seemed disposed to speak. + +"Father," said Judith, inexpressibly pained by his deplorable +situation, and this so much the more from her ignorance of what +remedies ought to be applied - "Father, can we do any thing for +you? Can Hetty and I relieve your pain?" + +"Father!" slowly repeated the old man. "No, Judith; no, Hetty -I'm +no father. She was your mother, but I'm no father. Look in the +chest - Tis all there - give me more water." + +The girls complied, and Judith, whose early recollections extended +farther back than her sister's, and who on every account had more +distinct impressions of the past, felt an uncontrollable impulse of +joy as she heard these words. There had never been much sympathy +between her reputed father and herself, and suspicions of this very +truth had often glanced across her mind, in consequence of dialogues +she had overheard between Hutter and her mother. It might be going +too far to say she had never loved him, but it is not so to add +that she rejoiced it was no longer a duty. With Hetty the feeling +was different. Incapable of making all the distinctions of her +sister, her very nature was full of affection, and she had loved +her reputed parent, though far less tenderly than the real parent, +and it grieved her now to hear him declare he was not naturally +entitled to that love. She felt a double grief, as if his death and +his words together were twice depriving her of parents. Yielding +to her feelings, the poor girl went aside and wept. + +The very opposite emotions of the two girls kept both silent for +a long time. Judith gave water to the sufferer frequently, but +she forbore to urge him with questions, in some measure out of +consideration for his condition, but, if truth must be said, quite +as much lest something he should add in the way of explanation +might disturb her pleasing belief that she was not Thomas Hutter's +child. At length Hetty dried her tears, and came and seated herself +on a stool by the side of the dying man, who had been placed at +his length on the floor, with his head supported by some coarse +vestments that had been left in the house. + +"Father," she said "you will let me call you father, though you say +you are not one - Father, shall I read the Bible to you - mother +always said the Bible was good for people in trouble. She was +often in trouble herself, and then she made me read the Bible to +her - for Judith wasn't as fond of the Bible as I am - and it always +did her good. Many is the time I've known mother begin to listen +with the tears streaming from her eyes, and end with smiles and +gladness. Oh! father, you don't know how much good the Bible can +do, for you've never tried it. Now, I'll read a chapter and it +will soften your heart as it softened the hearts of the Hurons." + +While poor Hetty had so much reverence for, and faith in, the +virtues of the Bible, her intellect was too shallow to enable her +fully to appreciate its beauties, or to fathom its profound and +sometimes mysterious wisdom. That instinctive sense of right which +appeared to shield her from the commission of wrong, and even cast +a mantle of moral loveliness and truth around her character, could +not penetrate abstrusities, or trace the nice affinities between +cause and effect, beyond their more obvious and indisputable +connection, though she seldom failed to see all the latter, and +to defer to all their just consequences. In a word, she was one +of those who feel and act correctly without being able to give a +logical reason for it, even admitting revelation as her authority. +Her selections from the Bible, therefore, were commonly distinguished +by the simplicity of her own mind, and were oftener marked for +containing images of known and palpable things than for any of the +higher cast of moral truths with which the pages of that wonderful +book abound - wonderful, and unequalled, even without referring to +its divine origin, as a work replete with the profoundest philosophy, +expressed in the noblest language. Her mother, with a connection +that will probably strike the reader, had been fond of the book +of Job, and Hetty had, in a great measure, learned to read by the +frequent lessons she had received from the different chapters of +this venerable and sublime poem - now believed to be the oldest +book in the world. On this occasion the poor girl was submissive +to her training, and she turned to that well known part of the +sacred volume, with the readiness with which the practised counsel +would cite his authorities from the stores of legal wisdom. In +selecting the particular chapter, she was influenced by the caption, +and she chose that which stands in our English version as "Job +excuseth his desire of death." This she read steadily, from beginning +to end, in a sweet, low and plaintive voice; hoping devoutly that +the allegorical and abstruse sentences might convey to the heart of +the sufferer the consolation he needed. It is another peculiarity +of the comprehensive wisdom of the Bible that scarce a chapter, +unless it be strictly narration, can be turned to, that does not +contain some searching truth that is applicable to the condition of +every human heart, as well as to the temporal state of its owner, +either through the workings of that heart, or even in a still more +direct form. In this instance, the very opening sentence - "Is +there not an appointed time to man on earth?" was startling, and +as Hetty proceeded, Hutter applied, or fancied he could apply many +aphorisms and figures to his own worldly and mental condition. As +life is ebbing fast, the mind clings eagerly to hope when it is not +absolutely crushed by despair. The solemn words "I have sinned; +what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou +set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself," +struck Hutter more perceptibly than the others, and, though too +obscure for one of his blunted feelings and obtuse mind either to +feel or to comprehend in their fullest extent, they had a directness +of application to his own state that caused him to wince under +them. + +"Don't you feel better now, father?" asked Hetty, closing the +volume. "Mother was always better when she had read the Bible." + +"Water," returned Hutter - "give me water, Judith. I wonder if +my tongue will always be so hot! Hetty, isn't there something in +the Bible about cooling the tongue of a man who was burning in Hell +fire?" + +Judith turned away shocked, but Hetty eagerly sought the passage, +which she read aloud to the conscience stricken victim of his own +avaricious longings. + +"That's it, poor Hetty; yes, that's it. My tongue wants cooling, +now -what will it be hereafter?" + +This appeal silenced even the confiding Hetty, for she had no +answer ready for a confession so fraught with despair. Water, so +long as it could relieve the sufferer, it was in the power of the +sisters to give, and from time to time it was offered to the lips +of the sufferer as he asked for it. Even Judith prayed. As for +Hetty, as soon as she found that her efforts to make her father +listen to her texts were no longer rewarded with success, she knelt +at his side and devoutly repeated the words which the Saviour has +left behind him as a model for human petitions. This she continued +to do, at intervals, as long as it seemed to her that the act could +benefit the dying man. Hutter, however, lingered longer than the +girls had believed possible when they first found him. At times +he spoke intelligibly, though his lips oftener moved in utterance +of sounds that carried no distinct impressions to the mind. Judith +listened intently, and she heard the words - "husband" -"death" +-"pirate" - "law" - "scalps" - and several others of similar import, +though there was no sentence to tell the precise connection in +which they were used. Still they were sufficiently expressive to +be understood by one whose ears had not escaped all the rumours +that had been circulated to her reputed father's discredit, and +whose comprehension was as quick as her faculties were attentive. + +During the whole of the painful hour that succeeded, neither of +the sisters bethought her sufficiently of the Hurons to dread their +return. It seemed as if their desolation and grief placed them +above the danger of such an interruption, and when the sound of +oars was at length heard, even Judith, who alone had any reason to +apprehend the enemy, did not start, but at once understood that the +Ark was near. She went upon the platform fearlessly, for should +it turn out that Hurry was not there, and that the Hurons were +masters of the scow also, escape was impossible. Then she had the +sort of confidence that is inspired by extreme misery. But there +was no cause for any new alarm, Chingachgook, Hist, and Hurry all +standing in the open part of the scow, cautiously examining the +building to make certain of the absence of the enemy. They, too, +had seen the departure of the Hurons, as well as the approach of +the canoe of the girls to the castle, and presuming on the latter +fact, March had swept the scow up to the platform. A word sufficed +to explain that there was nothing to be apprehended, and the Ark +was soon moored in her old berth. + +Judith said not a word concerning the condition of her father, +but Hurry knew her too well not to understand that something was +more than usually wrong. He led the way, though with less of his +confident bold manner than usual, into the house, and penetrating +to the inner room, found Hutter lying on his back with Hetty sitting at +his side, fanning him with pious care. The events of the morning +had sensibly changed the manner of Hurry. Notwithstanding his skill +as a swimmer, and the readiness with which he had adopted the only +expedient that could possibly save him, the helplessness of being +in the water, bound hand and foot, had produced some such effect +on him, as the near approach of punishment is known to produce on +most criminals, leaving a vivid impression of the horrors of death +upon his mind, and this too in connection with a picture of bodily +helplessness; the daring of this man being far more the offspring +of vast physical powers, than of the energy of the will, or even +of natural spirit. Such heroes invariably lose a large portion of +their courage with the failure of their strength, and though Hurry +was now unfettered and as vigorous as ever, events were too recent +to permit the recollection of his late deplorable condition to be +at all weakened. Had he lived a century, the occurrences of the +few momentous minutes during which he was in the lake would have +produced a chastening effect on his character, if not always on +his manner. + +Hurry was not only shocked when he found his late associate in +this desperate situation, but he was greatly surprised. During +the struggle in the building, he had been far too much occupied +himself to learn what had befallen his comrade, and, as no deadly +weapon had been used in his particular case, but every effort had +been made to capture him without injury, he naturally believed +that Hutter had been overcome, while he owed his own escape to his +great bodily strength, and to a fortunate concurrence of extraordinary +circumstances. Death, in the silence and solemnity of a chamber, +was a novelty to him. Though accustomed to scenes of violence, he +had been unused to sit by the bedside and watch the slow beating of +the pulse, as it gradually grew weaker and weaker. Notwithstanding +the change in his feelings, the manners of a life could not be +altogether cast aside in a moment, and the unexpected scene extorted +a characteristic speech from the borderer. + +"How now! old Tom," he said, "have the vagabonds got you at an +advantage, where you're not only down, but are likely to be kept +down! I thought you a captyve it's true, but never supposed you +so hard run as this!" + +Hutter opened his glassy eyes, and stared wildly at the speaker. +A flood of confused recollections rushed on his wavering mind at +the sight of his late comrade. It was evident that he struggled +with his own images, and knew not the real from the unreal. + +"Who are you?" he asked in a husky whisper, his failing strength +refusing to aid him in a louder effort of his voice. + +"Who are you? - You look like the mate of 'The Snow' - he was a +giant, too, and near overcoming us." + +"I'm your mate, Floating Tom, and your comrade, but have nothing to +do with any snow. It's summer now, and Harry March always quits +the hills as soon after the frosts set in, as is convenient." + +"I know you - Hurry Skurry - I'll sell you a scalp! - a sound one, +and of a full grown man - What'll you give?" + +"Poor Tom! That scalp business hasn't turned out at all profitable, +and I've pretty much concluded to give it up; and to follow a less +bloody calling." + +"Have you got any scalp? Mine's gone - How does it feel to have +a scalp? I know how it feels to lose one - fire and flames about +the brain - and a wrenching at the heart - no - no - kill first, +Hurry, and scalp afterwards." + +"What does the old fellow mean, Judith? He talks like one that +is getting tired of the business as well as myself. Why have you +bound up his head? or, have the savages tomahawked him about the +brains?" + +"They have done that for him which you and he, Harry March, would +have so gladly done for them. His skin and hair have been torn +from his head to gain money from the governor of Canada, as you +would have torn theirs from the heads of the Hurons, to gain money +from the Governor of York." + +Judith spoke with a strong effort to appear composed, but it was +neither in her nature, nor in the feeling of the moment to speak +altogether without bitterness. The strength of her emphasis, +indeed, as well as her manner, caused Hetty to look up reproachfully. + +"These are high words to come from Thomas Hutter's darter, as Thomas +Hutter lies dying before her eyes," retorted Hurry. + +"God be praised for that! - whatever reproach it may bring on my +poor mother, I am not Thomas Hutter's daughter." + +"Not Thomas Hutter's darter! - Don't disown the old fellow in his +last moments, Judith, for that's a sin the Lord will never overlook. +If you're not Thomas Hutter's darter, whose darter be you?" + +This question rebuked the rebellious spirit of Judith, for, +in getting rid of a parent whom she felt it was a relief to find +she might own she had never loved, she overlooked the important +circumstance that no substitute was ready to supply his place. + +"I cannot tell you, Harry, who my father was," she answered +more mildly; "I hope he was an honest man, at least." + +"Which is more than you think was the case with old Hutter? +Well, Judith, I'll not deny that hard stories were in circulation +consarning Floating Tom, but who is there that doesn't get a scratch, +when an inimy holds the rake? There's them that say hard things +of me, and even you, beauty as you be, don't always escape." + +This was said with a view to set up a species of community of +character between the parties, and as the politicians are wont to +express it, with ulterior intentions. What might have been the +consequences with one of Judith's known spirit, as well as her +assured antipathy to the speaker, it is not easy to say, for, just +then, Hutter gave unequivocal signs that his last moment was nigh. +Judith and Hetty had stood by the dying bed of their mother, and +neither needed a monitor to warn them of the crisis, and every sign +of resentment vanished from the face of the first. Hutter opened +his eyes, and even tried to feel about him with his hands, a sign +that sight was failing. A minute later, his breathing grew ghastly; +a pause totally without respiration followed; and, then, succeeded +the last, long drawn sigh, on which the spirit is supposed to +quit the body. This sudden termination of the life of one who had +hitherto filled so important a place in the narrow scene on which +he had been an actor, put an end to all discussion. + +The day passed by without further interruption, the Hurons, though +possessed of a canoe, appearing so far satisfied with their success +as to have relinquished all immediate designs on the castle. It +would not have been a safe undertaking, indeed, to approach it +under the rifles of those it was now known to contain, and it is +probable that the truce was more owing to this circumstance than +to any other. In the mean while the preparations were made for the +interment of Hutter. To bury him on the land was impracticable, +and it was Hetty's wish that his body should lie by the side of +that of her mother, in the lake. She had it in her power to quote +one of his speeches, in which he himself had called the lake the +"family burying ground," and luckily this was done without the +knowledge of her sister, who would have opposed the plan, had she +known it, with unconquerable disgust. But Judith had not meddled +with the arrangement, and every necessary disposition was made +without her privity or advice. + +The hour chosen for the rude ceremony was just as the sun was +setting, and a moment and a scene more suited to paying the last +offices to one of calm and pure spirit could not have been chosen. +There are a mystery and a solemn dignity in death, that dispose the +living to regard the remains of even a malefactor with a certain +degree of reverence. All worldly distinctions have ceased; it +is thought that the veil has been removed, and that the character +and destiny of the departed are now as much beyond human opinions, +as they are beyond human ken. In nothing is death more truly a +leveller than in this, since, while it may be impossible absolutely +to confound the great with the low, the worthy with the unworthy, +the mind feels it to be arrogant to assume a right to judge of +those who are believed to be standing at the judgment seat of God. +When Judith was told that all was ready, she went upon the platform, +passive to the request of her sister, and then she first took heed +of the arrangement. The body was in the scow, enveloped in a sheet, +and quite a hundred weight of stones, that had been taken from the +fire place, were enclosed with it, in order that it might sink. +No other preparation seemed to be thought necessary, though Hetty +carried her Bible beneath her arm. + +When all were on board the Ark, the singular habitation of the +man whose body it now bore to its final abode, was set in motion. +Hurry was at the oars. In his powerful hands, indeed, they seemed +little more than a pair of sculls, which were wielded without +effort, and, as he was expert in their use, the Delaware remained +a passive spectator of the proceedings. The progress of the Ark +had something of the stately solemnity of a funeral procession, the +dip of the oars being measured, and the movement slow and steady. +The wash of the water, as the blades rose and fell, kept time with +the efforts of Hurry, and might have been likened to the measured +tread of mourners. Then the tranquil scene was in beautiful +accordance with a rite that ever associates with itself the idea +of God. At that instant, the lake had not even a single ripple on +its glassy surface, and the broad panorama of woods seemed to look +down on the holy tranquillity of the hour and ceremony in melancholy +stillness. Judith was affected to tears, and even Hurry, though he +hardly knew why, was troubled. Hetty preserved the outward signs +of tranquillity, but her inward grief greatly surpassed that of her +sister, since her affectionate heart loved more from habit and long +association, than from the usual connections of sentiment and taste. +She was sustained by religious hope, however, which in her simple +mind usually occupied the space that worldly feelings filled in +that of Judith, and she was not without an expectation of witnessing +some open manifestation of divine power, on an occasion so solemn. +Still she was neither mystical nor exaggerated; her mental imbecility +denying both. Nevertheless her thoughts had generally so much of +the purity of a better world about them that it was easy for her +to forget earth altogether, and to think only of heaven. Hist +was serious, attentive and interested, for she had often seen the +interments of the pale-faces, though never one that promised to +be as peculiar as this; while the Delaware, though grave, and also +observant, in his demeanor was stoical and calm. + +Hetty acted as pilot, directing Hurry how to proceed, to find that +spot in the lake which she was in the habit of terming "mother's +grave." The reader will remember that the castle stood near +the southern extremity of a shoal that extended near half a mile +northerly, and it was at the farthest end of this shallow water +that Floating Tom had seen fit to deposit the remains of his wife +and child. His own were now in the course of being placed at their +side. Hetty had marks on the land by which she usually found the +spot, although the position of the buildings, the general direction +of the shoal, and the beautiful transparency of the water all aided +her, the latter even allowing the bottom to be seen. By these means +the girl was enabled to note their progress, and at the proper time +she approached March, whispering, "Now, Hurry you can stop rowing. +We have passed the stone on the bottom, and mother's grave is near." + +March ceased his efforts, immediately dropping the kedge and taking +the warp in his hand in order to check the scow. The Ark turned +slowly round under this restraint, and when it was quite stationary, +Hetty was seen at its stern, pointing into the water, the tears +streaming from her eyes, in ungovernable natural feeling. Judith +had been present at the interment of her mother, but she had never +visited the spot since. The neglect proceeded from no indifference +to the memory of the deceased; for she had loved her mother, and +bitterly had she found occasion to mourn her loss; but she was +averse to the contemplation of death; and there had been passages +in her own life since the day of that interment which increased +this feeling, and rendered her, if possible, still more reluctant to +approach the spot that contained the remains of one whose severe +lessons of female morality and propriety had been deepened and +rendered doubly impressive by remorse for her own failings. With +Hetty, the case had been very different. To her simple and innocent +mind, the remembrance of her mother brought no other feeling than +one of gentle sorrow; a grief that is so often termed luxurious +even, because it associates with itself the images of excellence and +the purity of a better state of existence. For an entire summer, +she had been in the habit of repairing to the place after night-fall; +and carefully anchoring her canoe so as not to disturb the body, +she would sit and hold fancied conversations with the deceased, +sing sweet hymns to the evening air, and repeat the orisons that +the being who now slumbered below had taught her in infancy. Hetty +had passed her happiest hours in this indirect communion with the +spirit of her mother; the wildness of Indian traditions and Indian +opinions, unconsciously to herself, mingling with the Christian lore +received in childhood. Once she had even been so far influenced +by the former as to have bethought her of performing some of those +physical rites at her mother's grave which the redmen are known to +observe; but the passing feeling had been obscured by the steady, +though mild light of Christianity, which never ceased to burn in her +gentle bosom. Now her emotions were merely the natural outpourings +of a daughter that wept for a mother whose love was indelibly +impressed on the heart, and whose lessons had been too earnestly +taught to be easily forgotten by one who had so little temptation +to err. + +There was no other priest than nature at that wild and singular +funeral rite. March cast his eyes below, and through the transparent +medium of the clear water, which was almost as pure as air, he saw +what Hetty was accustomed to call "mother's grave." It was a low, +straggling mound of earth, fashioned by no spade, out of a corner +of which gleamed a bit of the white cloth that formed the shroud +of the dead. The body had been lowered to the bottom, and Hutter +brought earth from the shore and let it fall upon it, until all was +concealed. In this state the place had remained until the movement +of the waters revealed the solitary sign of the uses of the spot +that has just been mentioned. + +Even the most rude and brawling are chastened by the ceremonies +of a funeral. March felt no desire to indulge his voice in any of +its coarse outbreakings, and was disposed to complete the office +he had undertaken in decent sobriety. Perhaps he reflected on the +retribution that had alighted on his late comrade, and bethought +him of the frightful jeopardy in which his own life had so lately +been placed. He signified to Judith that all was ready, received +her directions to proceed, and, with no other assistant than his +own vast strength, raised the body and bore it to the end of the +scow. Two parts of a rope were passed beneath the legs and shoulders, +as they are placed beneath coffins, and then the corpse was slowly +lowered beneath the surface of the lake. + +"Not there - Harry March - no, not there," said Judith, shuddering +involuntarily; "do not lower it quite so near the spot where mother +lies!" + +"Why not, Judith?" asked Hetty, earnestly. "They lived together +in life, and should lie together in death." + +"No - no - Harry March, further off - further off. Poor Hetty, +you know not what you say. Leave me to order this." + +"I know I am weak-minded, Judith, and that you are clever - but, +surely a husband should be placed near a wife. Mother always said +that this was the way they bury in Christian churchyards." + +This little controversy was conducted earnestly, but in smothered +voices, as if the speakers feared that the dead might overhear +them. Judith could not contend with her sister at such a moment, +but a significant gesture induced March to lower the body at a +little distance from that of his wife; when he withdrew the cords, +and the act was performed. + +"There's an end of Floating Tom!" exclaimed Hurry, bending over the +scow, and gazing through the water at the body. "He was a brave +companion on a scout, and a notable hand with traps. Don't weep, +Judith, don't be overcome, Hetty, for the righteousest of us all +must die; and when the time comes, lamentations and tears can't +bring the dead to life. Your father will be a loss to you, no +doubt; most fathers are a loss, especially to onmarried darters; +but there's a way to cure that evil, and you're both too young and +handsome to live long without finding it out. When it's agreeable to +hear what an honest and onpretending man has to say, Judith, +I should like to talk a little with you, apart." + +Judith had scarce attended to this rude attempt of Hurry's at +consolation, although she necessarily understood its general drift, +and had a tolerably accurate notion of its manner. She was weeping +at the recollection of her mother's early tenderness, and painful +images of long forgotten lessons and neglected precepts were +crowding her mind. The words of Hurry, however, recalled her to +the present time, and abrupt and unseasonable as was their import, +they did not produce those signs of distaste that one might have +expected from the girl's character. On the contrary, she appeared +to be struck with some sudden idea, gazed intently for a moment +at the young man, dried her eyes, and led the way to the other end +of the scow, signifying her wish for him to follow. Here she took +a seat and motioned for March to place himself at her side. The +decision and earnestness with which all this was done a little +intimidated her companion, and Judith found it necessary to open +the subject herself. + +"You wish to speak to me of marriage, Harry March," she said, "and +I have come here, over the grave of my parents, as it might be -no +- no - over the grave of my poor, dear, dear, mother, to hear what +you have to say." + +"This is oncommon, and you have a skearful way with you this evening, +Judith," answered Hurry, more disturbed than he would have cared +to own, "but truth is truth, and it shall come out, let what will +follow. You well know, gal, that I've long thought you the comeliest +young woman my eyes ever beheld, and that I've made no secret +of that fact, either here on the lake, out among the hunters +and trappers, or in the settlements." + +"Yes - yes, I've heard this before, and I suppose it to be true," +answered Judith with a sort of feverish impatience. + +"When a young man holds such language of any particular young woman, +it's reasonable to calculate he sets store by her." + +"True - true, Hurry - all this you've told me, again and again." + +"Well, if it's agreeable, I should think a woman coul'n't hear it +too often. They all tell me this is the way with your sex, that +nothing pleases them more than to repeat over and over, for the +hundredth time, how much you like 'em, unless it be to talk to 'em +of their good looks!" + +"No doubt - we like both, on most occasions, but this is an uncommon +moment, Hurry, and vain words should not be too freely used. I +would rather hear you speak plainly." + +"You shall have your own way, Judith, and I some suspect you always +will. I've often told you that I not only like you better than +any other young woman going, or, for that matter, better than all +the young women going, but you must have obsarved, Judith, that +I've never asked you, in up and down tarms, to marry me." + +"I have observed both," returned the girl, a smile struggling +about her beautiful mouth, in spite of the singular and engrossing +intentness which caused her cheeks to flush and lighted her eyes +with a brilliancy that was almost dazzling - "I have observed both, +and have thought the last remarkable for a man of Harry +March's decision and fearlessness." + +"There's been a reason, gal, and it's one that troubles me even +now-nay, don't flush up so, and look fiery like, for there are +thoughts which will stick long in any man's mind, as there be words +that will stick in his throat - but, then ag'in, there's feelin's +that will get the better of 'em all, and to these feelin's I find +I must submit. You've no longer a father, or a mother, Judith, and +it's morally unpossible that you and Hetty could live here, alone, +allowing it was peace and the Iroquois was quiet; but, as matters +stand, not only would you starve, but you'd both be prisoners, or +scalped, afore a week was out. It's time to think of a change and +a husband, and, if you'll accept of me, all that's past shall be +forgotten, and there's an end on't." + +Judith had difficulty in repressing her impatience until this rude +declaration and offer were made, which she evidently wished to +hear, and which she now listened to with a willingness that might +well have excited hope. She hardly allowed the young man to conclude, +so eager was she to bring him to the point, and so ready to answer. + +"There - Hurry - that's enough," she said, raising a hand as if to +stop him -"I understand you as well as if you were to talk a month. +You prefer me to other girls, and you wish me to become your wife." + +"You put it in better words than I can do, Judith, and I +wish you to fancy them said just as you most like to hear 'em." + +"They're plain enough, Harry, and 'tis fitting they should be so. +This is no place to trifle or deceive in. Now, listen to my answer, +which shall be, in every tittle, as sincere as your offer. There +is a reason, March, why I should never - + +"I suppose I understand you, Judith, but if I'm willing to overlook +that reason, it's no one's consarn but mine - Now, don't brighten +up like the sky at sundown, for no offence is meant, and +none should be taken." + +"I do not brighten up, and will not take offence," said Judith, +struggling to repress her indignation, in a way she had never found +it necessary to exert before. "There is a reason why I should +not, cannot, ever be your wife, Hurry, that you seem to overlook, +and which it is my duty now to tell you, as plainly as you have +asked me to consent to become so. I do not, and I am certain that +I never shall, love you well enough to marry you. No man can wish +for a wife who does not prefer him to all other men, and when I +tell you this frankly, I suppose you yourself will thank me for my +sincerity." + +"Ah! Judith, them flaunting, gay, scarlet-coated officers of the +garrisons have done all this mischief!" + +"Hush, March; do not calumniate a daughter over her mother's grave! +Do not, when I only wish to treat you fairly, give me reason to +call for evil on your head in bitterness of heart! Do not forget +that I am a woman, and that you are a man; and that I have neither +father, nor brother, to revenge your words!" + +"Well, there is something in the last, and I'll say no more. Take +time, Judith, and think better on this." + +"I want no time - my mind has long been made up, and I have +only waited for you to speak plainly, to answer plainly. We now +understand each other, and there is no use in saying any more." + +The impetuous earnestness of the girl awed the young man, for +never before had he seen her so serious and determined. In most, +of their previous interviews she had met his advances with evasion +or sarcasm, but these Hurry had mistaken for female coquetry, and +had supposed might easily be converted into consent. The struggle +had been with himself, about offering, nor had he ever seriously +believed it possible that Judith would refuse to become the wife +of the handsomest man on all that frontier. Now that the refusal +came, and that in terms so decided as to put all cavilling out of +the question; if not absolutely dumbfounded, he was so much mortified +and surprised as to feel no wish to attempt to change her resolution. + +"The Glimmerglass has now no great call for me," he exclaimed after +a minute's silence. "Old Tom is gone, the Hurons are as plenty on +the shore as pigeons in the woods, and altogether it is getting to +be an onsuitable place." + +"Then leave it. You see it is surrounded by dangers, and there is +no reason why you should risk your life for others. Nor do I know +that you can be of any service to us. Go, tonight; we'll never +accuse you of having done any thing forgetful, or unmanly." + +"If I do go, 'twill be with a heavy heart on your account, Judith; +I would rather take you with me." + +"That is not to be spoken of any longer, March; but, I will land +you in one of the canoes, as soon as it is dark and you can strike +a trail for the nearest garrison. When you reach the fort, if +you send a party -" + +Judith smothered the words, for she felt that it was humiliating +to be thus exposing herself to the comments and reflections of one +who was not disposed to view her conduct in connection with all +in those garrisons, with an eye of favor. Hurry, however, caught +the idea, and without perverting it, as the girl dreaded, he answered +to the purpose. + +"I understand what you would say, and why you don't say it." he +replied. "If I get safe to the fort, a party shall start on the +trail of these vagabonds, and I'll come with it, myself, for I +should like to see you and Hetty in a place of safety, before we +part forever." + +"Ah, Harry March, had you always spoken thus, felt thus, my feelings +towards you might have been different!" + +"Is it too late, now, Judith? I'm rough and a woodsman, but we all +change under different treatment from what we have been used to." + +"It is too late, March. I can never feel towards you, or any +other man but one, as you would wish to have me. There, I've said +enough, surely, and you will question me no further. As soon as +it is dark, I or the Delaware will put you on the shore. You will +make the best of your way to the Mohawk, and the nearest garrison, +and send all you can to our assistance. And, Hurry, we are now +friends, and I may trust in you, may I not?" + +"Sartain, Judith; though our fri'ndship would have been all the +warmer, could you look upon me as I look upon you." + +Judith hesitated, and some powerful emotion was struggling within +her. Then, as if determined to look down all weaknesses, and +accomplish her purposes at every hazard, she spoke more plainly. + +"You will find a captain of the name of Warley at the nearest +post," she said, pale as death, and even trembling as she spoke; +"I think it likely he will wish to head the party, but I would +greatly prefer it should be another. If Captain Warley can be kept +back, 't would make me very happy!" + +"That's easier said than done, Judith, for these officers do +pretty much as they please. The Major will order, and captains, +and lieutenants, and ensigns must obey. I know the officer you +mean, a red faced, gay, oh! be joyful sort of a gentleman, who +swallows madeira enough to drown the Mohawk, and yet a pleasant +talker. All the gals in the valley admire him, and they say he +admires all the gals. I don't wonder he is your dislike, Judith, +for he's a very gin'ral lover, if he isn't a gin'ral officer." + +Judith did not answer, though her frame shook, and her colour +changed from pale to crimson, and from crimson back again to the +hue of death. + +"Alas! my poor mother!" she ejaculated mentally instead of uttering +it aloud, "We are over thy grave, but little dost thou know how +much thy lessons have been forgotten; thy care neglected; thy love +defeated!" + +As this goading of the worm that never dies was felt, she arose +and signified to Hurry, that she had no more to communicate. + + + +Chapter XXII. + + + "That point in misery, which makes the oppressed man regardless + of his own life, makes him too Lord of the oppressor's." + + Coleridge, Remorse, V.i.201-04. + +All this time Hetty had remained seated in the head of the scow, +looking sorrowfully into the water which held the body of her mother, +as well as that of the man whom she had been taught to consider her +father. Hist stood near her in gentle quiet, but had no consolation +to offer in words. The habits of her people taught her reserve in +this respect, and the habits of her sex induced her to wait patiently +for a moment when she might manifest some soothing sympathy by +means of acts, rather than of speech. Chingachgook held himself a +little aloof, in grave reserve, looking like a warrior, but feeling +like a man. + +Judith joined her sister with an air of dignity and solemnity it +was not her practice to show, and, though the gleamings of anguish +were still visible on her beautiful face, when she spoke it was +firmly and without tremor. At that instant Hist and the Delaware +withdrew, moving towards Hurry, in the other end of the boat. + +"Sister," said Judith kindly, "I have much to say to you; we will +get into this canoe, and paddle off to a distance from the Ark -The +secrets of two orphans ought not to be heard by every ear." + +"Certainly, Judith, by the ears of their parents? Let Hurry lift +the grapnel and move away with the Ark, and leave us here, near +the graves of father and mother, to say what we may have to say." + +"Father!" repeated Judith slowly, the blood for the first time since +her parting with March mounting to her cheeks - "He was no father +of ours, Hetty! That we had from his own mouth, and in his dying +moments." + +"Are you glad, Judith, to find you had no father! He took care of +us, and fed us, and clothed us, and loved us; a father could have +done no more. I don't understand why he wasn't a father." + +"Never mind, dear child, but let us do as you have said. It may +be well to remain here, and let the Ark move a little away. Do you +prepare the canoe, and I will tell Hurry and the Indians our wishes." + +This was soon and simply done, the Ark moving with measured strokes +of the sweeps a hundred yards from the spot, leaving the girls +floating, seemingly in air, above the place of the dead; so buoyant +was the light vessel that held them, and so limpid the element by +which it was sustained. + +"The death of Thomas Hutter," Judith commenced, after a short +pause had prepared her sister to receive her communications, "has +altered all our prospects, Hetty. If he was not our father, we +are sisters, and must feel alike and live together." + +"How do I know, Judith, that you wouldn't be as glad to find I am +not your sister, as you are in finding that Thomas Hutter, as you +call him, was not your father. I am only half witted, and few people +like to have half witted relations; and then I'm not handsome - at +least, not as handsome as you - and you may wish a handsomer sister." + +"No, no Hetty. You and you only are my sister - my heart, and +my love for you tell me that - and mother was my mother - of that +too am I glad, and proud; for she was a mother to be proud of -but +father was not father!" + +"Hush, Judith! His spirit may be near; it would grieve it to +hear his children talking so, and that, too, over his very grave. +Children should never grieve parents, mother often told me, and +especially when they are dead!" + +"Poor Hetty! They are happily removed beyond all cares on our +account. Nothing that I can do or say will cause mother any sorrow +now -there is some consolation in that, at least! And nothing you +can say or do will make her smile, as she used to smile on your +good conduct when living." + +"You don't know that, Judith. Spirits can see, and mother may +see as well as any spirit. She always told us that God saw all we +did, and that we should do nothing to offend him; and now she has +left us, I strive to do nothing that can displease her. Think how +her spirit would mourn and feel sorrow, Judith, did it see either +of us doing what is not right; and spirits may see, after all; +especially the spirits of parents that feel anxious about their +children." + +"Hetty - Hetty - you know not what you say!" murmured Judith, +almost livid with emotion - "The dead cannot see, and know nothing +of what passes here! But, we will not talk of this any longer. +The bodies of Mother and Thomas Hutter lie together in the lake, +and we will hope that the spirits of both are with God. That we, +the children of one of them, remain on earth is certain; it is now +proper to know what we are to do in future." + +"If we are not Thomas Hutter's children, Judith, no one will dispute +our right to his property. We have the castle and the Ark, and +the canoes, and the woods, and the lakes, the same as when he was +living, and what can prevent us from staying here, and passing our +lives just as we ever have done?" + +"No, no poor sister - this can no longer be. Two girls would not +be safe here, even should these Hurons fail in getting us into their +power. Even father had as much as he could sometimes do, to keep +peace upon the lake, and we should fail altogether. We must quit +this spot, Hetty, and remove into the settlements." + +"I am sorry you think so, Judith," returned Hetty, dropping her +head on her bosom, and looking thoughtfully down at the spot where +the funeral pile of her mother could just be seen. "I am very +sorry to hear it. I would rather stay here, where, if I wasn't +born, I've passed my life. I don't like the settlements - they are +full of wickedness and heart burnings, while God dwells unoffended +in these hills! I love the trees, and the mountains, and the lake, +and the springs; all that his bounty has given us, and it would +grieve me sorely, Judith, to be forced to quit them. You are +handsome, and not at all half-witted, and one day you will marry, +and then you will have a husband, and I a brother to take care of +us, if women can't really take care of themselves in such a place +as this." + +"Ah! if this could be so, Hetty, then, indeed, I could now be +a thousand times happier in these woods, than in the settlements. +Once I did not feel thus, but now I do. Yet where is the man to +turn this beautiful place into such a garden of Eden for us?" + +"Harry March loves you, sister," returned poor Hetty, unconsciously +picking the bark off the canoe as she spoke. "He would be glad +to be your husband, I'm sure, and a stouter and a braver youth is +not to be met with the whole country round." + +"Harry March and I understand each other, and no more need be said +about him. There is one - but no matter. It is all in the hands +of providence, and we must shortly come to some conclusion about +our future manner of living. Remain here - that is, remain here, +alone, we cannot - and perhaps no occasion will ever offer for +remaining in the manner you think of. It is time, too, Hetty, we +should learn all we can concerning our relations and family. It +is not probable we are altogether without relations, and they may +be glad to see us. The old chest is now our property, and we have +a right to look into it, and learn all we can by what it holds. +Mother was so very different from Thomas Hutter, that, now I know +we are not his children, I burn with a desire to know whose children +we can be. There are papers in that chest, I am certain, and those +papers may tell us all about our parents and natural friends." + +"Well, Judith, you know best, for you are cleverer than common, +mother always said, and I am only half-witted. Now father and +mother are dead, I don't much care for any relation but you, and +don't think I could love them I never saw, as well as I ought. If +you don't like to marry Hurry, I don't see who you can choose for +a husband, and then I fear we shall have to quit the lake, after +all." + +"What do you think of Deerslayer, Hetty?" asked Judith, bending +forward like her unsophisticated sister, and endeavoring to +conceal her embarrassment in a similar manner. "Would he not make +a brother-in-law to your liking?" + +"Deerslayer!" repeated the other, looking up in unfeigned surprise. +"Why, Judith, Deerslayer isn't in the least comely, and is altogether +unfit for one like you!" + +"He is not ill-looking, Hetty, and beauty in a man is not of much +matter." + +"Do you think so, Judith? I know that beauty is of no great matter, +in man or woman, in the eyes of God, for mother has often told me +so, when she thought I might have been sorry I was not as handsome +as you, though she needn't have been uneasy on that account, for +I never coveted any thing that is yours, sister - but, tell me so +she did - still, beauty is very pleasant to the eye, in both! I +think, if I were a man, I should pine more for good looks than I do +as a girl. A handsome man is a more pleasing sight than a handsome +woman." + +"Poor child! You scarce know what you say, or what you mean! +Beauty in our sex is something, but in men, it passes for little. +To be sure, a man ought to be tall, but others are tall, as well as +Hurry; and active - and I think I know those that are more active +- and strong; well, he hasn't all the strength in the world - and +brave - I am certain I can name a youth who is braver!" + +"This is strange, Judith! - I didn't think the earth held a handsomer, +or a stronger, or a more active or a braver man than Hurry Harry! +I'm sure I never met his equal in either of these things." + +"Well, well, Hetty - say no more of this. I dislike to hear you +talking in this manner. Tis not suitable to your innocence, and +truth, and warm-hearted sincerity. Let Harry March go. He quits +us tonight, and no regret of mine will follow him, unless it be +that he has staid so long, and to so little purpose." + +"Ah! Judith; that is what I've long feared - and I did so hope he +might be my brother-in-law!" + +"Never mind it now. Let us talk of our poor mother - and of Thomas +Hutter." + +"Speak kindly then, sister, for you can't be quite certain that +spirits don't both hear and see. If father wasn't father, he was +good to us, and gave us food and shelter. We can't put any stones +over their graves, here in the water, to tell people all this, and +so we ought to say it with our tongues." + +"They will care little for that, girl. 'Tis a great consolation +to know, Hetty, that if mother ever did commit any heavy fault when +young, she lived sincerely to repent of it; no doubt her sins were +forgiven her." + +"Tisn't right, Judith, for children to talk of their parents' +sins. We had better talk of our own." + +"Talk of your sins, Hetty! - If there ever was a creature on earth +without sin, it is you! I wish I could say, or think the same of +myself; but we shall see. No one knows what changes affection for +a good husband can make in a woman's heart. I don't think, child, +I have even now the same love for finery I once had." + +"It would be a pity, Judith, if you did think of clothes, over your +parents' graves! We will never quit this spot, if you say so, and +will let Hurry go where he pleases." + +"I am willing enough to consent to the last, but cannot answer for +the first, Hetty. We must live, in future, as becomes respectable +young women, and cannot remain here, to be the talk and jest of all +the rude and foul tongu'd trappers and hunters that may come upon +the lake. Let Hurry go by himself, and then I'll find the means +to see Deerslayer, when the future shall be soon settled. Come, +girl, the sun has set, and the Ark is drifting away from us; let +us paddle up to the scow, and consult with our friends. This night +I shall look into the chest, and to-morrow shall determine what we +are to do. As for the Hurons, now we can use our stores without +fear of Thomas Hutter, they will be easily bought off. Let me get +Deerslayer once out of their hands, and a single hour shall bring +things to an understanding." + +Judith spoke with decision, and she spoke with authority, a habit +she had long practised towards her feeble-minded sister. But, +while thus accustomed to have her way, by the aid of manner and a +readier command of words, Hetty occasionally checked her impetuous +feelings and hasty acts by the aid of those simple moral truths +that were so deeply engrafted in all her own thoughts and feelings; +shining through both with a mild and beautiful lustre that threw +a sort of holy halo around so much of what she both said and did. +On the present occasion, this healthful ascendancy of the girl of +weak intellect, over her of a capacity that, in other situations, +might have become brilliant and admired, was exhibited in the usual +simple and earnest manner. + +"You forget, Judith, what has brought us here," she said reproachfully. +"This is mother's grave, and we have just laid the body of father +by her side. We have done wrong to talk so much of ourselves at +such a spot, and ought now to pray God to forgive us, and ask him +to teach us where we are to go, and what we are to do." + +Judith involuntarily laid aside her paddle, while Hetty dropped on +her knees, and was soon lost in her devout but simple petitions. +Her sister did not pray. This she had long ceased to do directly, +though anguish of spirit frequently wrung from her mental and +hasty appeals to the great source of benevolence, for support, if +not for a change of spirit. Still she never beheld Hetty on her +knees, that a feeling of tender recollection, as well as of profound +regret at the deadness of her own heart, did not come over her. +Thus had she herself done in childhood, and even down to the hour +of her ill fated visits to the garrisons, and she would willingly +have given worlds, at such moments, to be able to exchange her +present sensations for the confiding faith, those pure aspirations, +and the gentle hope that shone through every lineament and movement +of her otherwise, less favored sister. All she could do, however, +was to drop her head to her bosom, and assume in her attitude some +of that devotion in which her stubborn spirit refused to unite. +When Hetty rose from her knees, her countenance had a glow and +serenity that rendered a face that was always agreeable, positively +handsome. Her mind was at peace, and her conscience acquitted her +of a neglect of duty. + +"Now, you may go if you want to, Judith," she said, "for God has +been kind to me, and lifted a burden off my heart. Mother had many +such burdens, she used to tell me, and she always took them off in +this way. Tis the only way, sister, such things can be done. You +may raise a stone, or a log, with your hands; but the heart must be +lightened by prayer. I don't think you pray as often as you used +to do, when younger, Judith!" + +"Never mind - never mind, child," answered the other huskily, +"'tis no matter, now. Mother is gone, and Thomas Hutter is gone, +and the time has come when we must think and act for ourselves." + +As the canoe moved slowly away from the place, under the gentle +impulsion of the elder sister's paddle, the younger sat musing, +as was her wont whenever her mind was perplexed by any idea more +abstract and difficult of comprehension than common. + +"I don't know what you mean by 'future', Judith," she at length, +suddenly observed. "Mother used to call Heaven the future, but +you seem to think it means next week, or tomorrow!" + +"It means both, dear sister - every thing that is yet to come, +whether in this world or another. It is a solemn word, Hetty, and +most so, I fear, to them that think the least about it. Mother's +future is eternity; ours may yet mean what will happen while we +live in this world - Is not that a canoe just passing behind the +castle - here, more in the direction of the point, I mean; it is +hid, now; but certainly I saw a canoe stealing behind the logs!" + +"I've seen it some time," Hetty quietly answered, for the Indians +had few terrors for her, "but I didn't think it right to talk about +such things over mother's grave! The canoe came from the camp, +Judith, and was paddled by a single man. He seemed to be Deerslayer, +and no Iroquois." + +"Deerslayer!" returned the other, with much of her native impetuosity +-"That cannot be! Deerslayer is a prisoner, and I have been +thinking of the means of setting him free. Why did you fancy it +Deerslayer, child?" + +"You can look for yourself, sister, for there comes the canoe in +sight, again, on this side of the hut." + +Sure enough, the light boat had passed the building, and was now +steadily advancing towards the Ark; the persons on board of which +were already collecting in the head of the scow to receive their +visitor. A single glance sufficed to assure Judith that her sister +was right, and that Deerslayer was alone in the canoe. His approach +was so calm and leisurely, however, as to fill her with wonder, since +a man who had effected his escape from enemies by either artifice +or violence, would not be apt to move with the steadiness and +deliberation with which his paddle swept the water. By this time +the day was fairly departing, and objects were already seen dimly +under the shores. In the broad lake, however, the light still +lingered, and around the immediate scene of the present incidents, +which was less shaded than most of the sheet, being in its broadest +part, it cast a glow that bore some faint resemblance to the warm +tints of an Italian or Grecian sunset. The logs of the hut and +Ark had a sort of purple hue, blended with the growing obscurity, +and the bark of the hunter's boat was losing its distinctness in +colours richer, but more mellowed, than those it showed under a +bright sun. As the two canoes approached each other - for Judith and +her sister had plied their paddles so as to intercept the unexpected +visiter ere he reached the Ark - even Deerslayer's sun-burned +countenance wore a brighter aspect than common, under the pleasing +tints that seemed to dance in the atmosphere. Judith fancied that +delight at meeting her had some share in this unusual and agreeable +expression. She was not aware that her own beauty appeared to +more advantage than common, from the same natural cause, nor did +she understand what it would have given her so much pleasure to +know, that the young man actually thought her, as she drew nearer, +the loveliest creature of her sex his eyes had ever dwelt on. + +"Welcome - welcome, Deerslayer!" exclaimed the girl, as the canoes +floated at each other's side; "we have had a melancholy -a frightful +day - but your return is, at least, one misfortune the less! Have +the Hurons become more human, and let you go; or have you escaped +from the wretches, by your own courage and skill?" + +"Neither, Judith - neither one nor t'other. The Mingos are Mingos +still, and will live and die Mingos; it is not likely their natur's +will ever undergo much improvement. Well! They've their gifts, +and we've our'n, Judith, and it doesn't much become either to +speak ill of what the Lord has created; though, if the truth must +be said, I find it a sore trial to think kindly or to talk kindly +of them vagabonds. As for outwitting them, that might have been +done, and it was done, too, atween the Sarpent, yonder, and me, when +we were on the trail of Hist -" here the hunter stopped to laugh +in his own silent fashion - "but it's no easy matter to sarcumvent +the sarcumvented. Even the fa'ans get to know the tricks of the +hunters afore a single season is over, and an Indian whose eyes +have once been opened by a sarcumvention never shuts them ag'in in +precisely the same spot. I've known whites to do that, but never +a red-skin. What they l'arn comes by practice, and not by books, +and of all schoolmasters exper'ence gives lessons that are the +longest remembered." + +"All this is true, Deerslayer, but if you have not escaped from +the savages, how came you here?" + +"That's a nat'ral question, and charmingly put. You are wonderful +handsome this evening, Judith, or Wild Rose, as the Sarpent calls +you, and I may as well say it, since I honestly think it! You +may well call them Mingos, savages too, for savage enough do they +feel, and savage enough will they act, if you once give them an +opportunity. They feel their loss here, in the late skrimmage, to +their hearts' cores, and are ready to revenge it on any creatur' +of English blood that may fall in their way. Nor, for that matter +do I much think they would stand at taking their satisfaction out +of a Dutch man." + +"They have killed father; that ought to satisfy their wicked cravings +for blood," observed Hetty reproachfully. + +"I know it, gal - I know the whole story - partly from what I've +seen from the shore, since they brought me up from the point, and +partly from their threats ag'in myself, and their other discourse. +Well, life is unsartain at the best, and we all depend on the +breath of our nostrils for it, from day to day. If you've lost a +staunch fri'nd, as I make no doubt you have, Providence will raise +up new ones in his stead, and since our acquaintance has begun in +this oncommon manner, I shall take it as a hint that it will be a +part of my duty in futur', should the occasion offer, to see you +don't suffer for want of food in the wigwam. I can't bring the +dead to life, but as to feeding the living, there's few on all +this frontier can outdo me, though I say it in the way of pity and +consolation, like, and in no particular, in the way of boasting." + +"We understand you, Deerslayer," returned Judith, hastily, "and +take all that falls from your lips, as it is meant, in kindness +and friendship. Would to Heaven all men had tongues as true, and +hearts as honest!" + +"In that respect men do differ, of a sartainty, Judith. I've known +them that wasn't to be trusted any farther than you can see them; +and others ag'in whose messages, sent with a small piece of wampum, +perhaps, might just as much be depended on, as if the whole business +was finished afore your face. Yes, Judith, you never said truer +word, than when you said some men might be depended on, and other +some might not." + +"You are an unaccountable being, Deerslayer," returned the girl, +not a little puzzled with the childish simplicity of character +that the hunter so often betrayed - a simplicity so striking that +it frequently appeared to place him nearly on a level with the +fatuity of poor Hetty, though always relieved by the beautiful moral +truth that shone through all that this unfortunate girl both said +and did - "You are a most unaccountable man, and I often do not +know how to understand you. But never mind, just now; you have +forgotten to tell us by what means you are here." + +"I! - Oh! That's not very onaccountable, if I am myself, Judith. +I'm out on furlough." + +"Furlough! - That word has a meaning among the soldiers that +I understand; but I cannot tell what it signifies when used by a +prisoner." + +"It means just the same. You're right enough; the soldiers do +use it, and just in the same way as I use it. A furlough is when +a man has leave to quit a camp or a garrison for a sartain specified +time; at the end of which he is to come back and shoulder his musket, +or submit to his torments, just as he may happen to be a soldier, +or a captyve. Being the last, I must take the chances of a prisoner." + +"Have the Hurons suffered you to quit them in this manner, without +watch or guard." + +"Sartain - I woul'n't have come in any other manner, unless indeed +it had been by a bold rising, or a sarcumvention." + +"What pledge have they that you will ever return?" + +"My word," answered the hunter simply. "Yes, I own I gave 'em that, +and big fools would they have been to let me come without it! Why +in that case, I shouldn't have been obliged to go back and ondergo +any deviltries their fury may invent, but might have shouldered my +rifle, and made the best of my way to the Delaware villages. But, +Lord! Judith, they know'd this, just as well as you and I do, and +would no more let me come away, without a promise to go back, than +they would let the wolves dig up the bones of their fathers!" + +"Is it possible you mean to do this act of extraordinary self-destruction +and recklessness?" + +"Anan!" + +"I ask if it can be possible that you expect to be able to put +yourself again in the power of such ruthless enemies, by keeping +your word." + +Deerslayer looked at his fair questioner for a moment with stern +displeasure. Then the expression of his honest and guileless face +suddenly changed, lighting as by a quick illumination of thought, +after which he laughed in his ordinary manner. + +"I didn't understand you, at first, Judith; no, I didn't! You +believe that Chingachgook and Hurry Harry won't suffer it; but you +don't know mankind thoroughly yet, I see. The Delaware would be +the last man on 'arth to offer any objections to what he knows is a +duty, and, as for March, he doesn't care enough about any creatur' +but himself to spend many words on such a subject. If he did, 'twould +make no great difference howsever; but not he, for he thinks more +of his gains than of even his own word. As for my promises, or +your'n, Judith, or any body else's, they give him no consarn. Don't +be under any oneasiness, therefore, gal; I shall be allowed to go +back according to the furlough; and if difficulties was made, I've +not been brought up, and edicated as one may say, in the woods, +without knowing how to look 'em down." + +Judith made no answer for some little time. All her feelings as +a woman, and as a woman who, for the first time in her life was +beginning to submit to that sentiment which has so much influence +on the happiness or misery of her sex, revolted at the cruel fate +that she fancied Deerslayer was drawing down upon himself, while +the sense of right, which God has implanted in every human breast, +told her to admire an integrity as indomitable and as unpretending +as that which the other so unconsciously displayed. Argument, +she felt, would be useless, nor was she at that moment disposed +to lessen the dignity and high principle that were so striking in +the intentions of the hunter, by any attempt to turn him from his +purpose. That something might yet occur to supersede the necessity +for this self immolation she tried to hope, and then she proceeded +to ascertain the facts in order that her own conduct might be +regulated by her knowledge of circumstances. + +"When is your furlough out, Deerslayer," she asked, after both +canoes were heading towards the Ark, and moving, with scarcely a +perceptible effort of the paddles, through the water. + +"To-morrow noon; not a minute afore; and you may depend on it, +Judith, I shan't quit what I call Christian company, to go and give +myself up to them vagabonds, an instant sooner than is downright +necessary. They begin to fear a visit from the garrisons, and +wouldn't lengthen the time a moment, and it's pretty well understood +atween us that, should I fail in my ar'n'd, the torments are to +take place when the sun begins to fall, that they may strike upon +their home trail as soon as it is dark." + +This was said solemnly, as if the thought of what was believed +to be in reserve duly weighed on the prisoner's mind, and yet so +simply, and without a parade of suffering, as rather to repel than +to invite any open manifestations of sympathy. + +"Are they bent on revenging their losses?" Judith asked faintly, +her own high spirit yielding to the influence of the other's quiet +but dignified integrity of purpose. + +"Downright, if I can judge of Indian inclinations by the symptoms. +They think howsever I don't suspect their designs, I do believe, +but one that has lived so long among men of red-skin gifts, is +no more likely to be misled in Injin feelin's, than a true hunter +is like to lose his trail, or a stanch hound his scent. My own +judgment is greatly ag'in my own escape, for I see the women are +a good deal enraged on behalf of Hist, though I say it, perhaps, +that shouldn't say it, seein' that I had a considerable hand myself +in getting the gal off. Then there was a cruel murder in their +camp last night, and that shot might just as well have been fired +into my breast. Howsever, come what will, the Sarpent and his wife +will be safe, and that is some happiness in any case." + +"Oh! Deerslayer, they will think better of this, since they have +given you until to-morrow noon to make up your mind!" + +"I judge not, Judith; yes, I judge not. An Injin is an Injin, gal, +and it's pretty much hopeless to think of swarving him, when he's +got the scent and follows it with his nose in the air. The Delawares, +now, are a half Christianized tribe - not that I think such sort of +Christians much better than your whole blooded onbelievers - but, +nevertheless, what good half Christianizing can do to a man, some +among 'em have got, and yet revenge clings to their hearts like +the wild creepers here to the tree! Then, I slew one of the best +and boldest of their warriors, they say, and it is too much to expect +that they should captivate the man who did this deed, in the very +same scouting on which it was performed, and they take no account +of the matter. Had a month, or so, gone by, their feelin's would +have been softened down, and we might have met in a more friendly +way, but it is as it is. Judith, this is talking of nothing but +myself, and my own consarns, when you have had trouble enough, and +may want to consult a fri'nd a little about your own matters. Is +the old man laid in the water, where I should think his body would +like to rest?" + +"It is, Deerslayer," answered Judith, almost inaudibly. "That duty +has just been performed. You are right in thinking that I wish +to consult a friend; and that friend is yourself. Hurry Harry is +about to leave us; when he is gone, and we have got a little over +the feelings of this solemn office, I hope you will give me an hour +alone. Hetty and I are at a loss what to do." + +"That's quite nat'ral, coming as things have, suddenly and fearfully. +But here's the Ark, and we'll say more of this when there is a +better opportunity." + + + +Chapter XXIII. + + + "The winde is great upon the highest hilles; + The quiet life is in the dale below; + Who tread on ice shall slide against their willes; + They want not cares, that curious arts should know. + Who lives at ease and can content him so, + Is perfect wise, and sets us all to schoole: + Who hates this lore may well be called a foole." + + Thomas Churchyard, "Shore's Wife," xlvii. + +The meeting between Deerslayer and his friends in the Ark was grave +and anxious. The two Indians, in particular, read in his manner +that he was not a successful fugitive, and a few sententious words +sufficed to let them comprehend the nature of what their friend had +termed his 'furlough.' Chingachgook immediately became thoughtful, +while Hist, as usual, had no better mode of expressing her sympathy +than by those little attentions which mark the affectionate manner +of woman. + +In a few minutes, however, something like a general plan for the +proceedings of the night was adopted, and to the eye of an uninstructed +observer things would be thought to move in their ordinary train. +It was now getting to be dark, and it was decided to sweep the +Ark up to the castle, and secure it in its ordinary berth. This +decision was come to, in some measure on account of the fact +that all the canoes were again in the possession of their proper +owners, but principally, from the security that was created by +the representations of Deerslayer. He had examined the state of +things among the Hurons, and felt satisfied that they meditated no +further hostilities during the night, the loss they had met having +indisposed them to further exertions for the moment. Then, he had +a proposition to make; the object of his visit; and, if this were +accepted, the war would at once terminate between the parties; and +it was improbable that the Hurons would anticipate the failure of +a project on which their chiefs had apparently set their hearts, +by having recourse to violence previously to the return of their +messenger. As soon as the Ark was properly secured, the different +members of the party occupied themselves in their several peculiar +manners, haste in council, or in decision, no more characterizing +the proceedings of these border whites, than it did those of their +red neighbors. The women busied themselves in preparations for +the evening meal, sad and silent, but ever attentive to the first +wants of nature. Hurry set about repairing his moccasins, by the +light of a blazing knot; Chingachgook seated himself in gloomy +thought, while Deerslayer proceeded, in a manner equally free from +affectation and concern, to examine 'Killdeer', the rifle of Hutter +that has been already mentioned, and which subsequently became so +celebrated, in the hands of the individual who was now making a +survey of its merits. The piece was a little longer than usual, +and had evidently been turned out from the work shops of some +manufacturer of a superior order. It had a few silver ornaments, +though, on the whole, it would have been deemed a plain piece +by most frontier men, its great merit consisting in the accuracy +of its bore, the perfection of the details, and the excellence of +the metal. Again and again did the hunter apply the breech to his +shoulder, and glance his eye along the sights, and as often did he +poise his body and raise the weapon slowly, as if about to catch +an aim at a deer, in order to try the weight, and to ascertain its +fitness for quick and accurate firing. All this was done, by the +aid of Hurry's torch, simply, but with an earnestness and abstraction +that would have been found touching by any spectator who happened +to know the real situation of the man. + +"Tis a glorious we'pon, Hurry!" Deerslayer at length exclaimed, +"and it may be thought a pity that it has fallen into the hands +of women. The hunters have told me of its expl'ites, and by all +I have heard, I should set it down as sartain death in exper'enced +hands. Hearken to the tick of this lock-a wolf trap has'n't +a livelier spring; pan and cock speak together, like two singing +masters undertaking a psalm in meetin'. I never did see so true +a bore, Hurry, that's sartain!" + +"Ay, Old Tom used to give the piece a character, though he wasn't +the man to particularize the ra'al natur' of any sort of fire +arms, in practise," returned March, passing the deer's thongs +through the moccasin with the coolness of a cobbler. "He was no +marksman, that we must all allow; but he had his good p'ints, as +well as his bad ones. I have had hopes that Judith might consait +the idee of giving Killdeer to me." + +"There's no saying what young women may do, that's a truth, Hurry, +and I suppose you're as likely to own the rifle as another. Still, +when things are so very near perfection, it's a pity not to reach +it entirely." + +"What do you mean by that? - Would not that piece look as well on +my shoulder, as on any man's?" + +"As for looks, I say nothing. You are both good-looking, and might +make what is called a good-looking couple. But the true p'int is +as to conduct. More deer would fall in one day, by that piece, +in some man's hands, than would fall in a week in your'n, Hurry! +I've seen you try; yes, remember the buck t'other day." + +"That buck was out of season, and who wishes to kill venison out +of season. I was merely trying to frighten the creatur', and I +think you will own that he was pretty well skeared, at any rate." + +"Well, well, have it as you say. But this is a lordly piece, and +would make a steady hand and quick eye the King of the Woods!" + +"Then keep it, Deerslayer, and become King of the Woods," said +Judith, earnestly, who had heard the conversation, and whose eye +was never long averted from the honest countenance of the hunter. +"It can never be in better hands than it is, at this moment, and +there I hope it will remain these fifty years. + +"Judith you can't be in 'arnest!" exclaimed Deerslayer, taken so +much by surprise, as to betray more emotion than it was usual for +him to manifest on ordinary occasions. "Such a gift would be fit +for a ra'al King to make; yes, and for a ra'al King to receive." + +"I never was more in earnest, in my life, Deerslayer, and I am as +much in earnest in the wish as in the gift." + +"Well, gal, well; we'll find time to talk of this ag'in. You mustn't +be down hearted, Hurry, for Judith is a sprightly young woman, +and she has a quick reason; she knows that the credit of her father's +rifle is safer in my hands, than it can possibly be in yourn; and, +therefore, you mustn't be down hearted. In other matters, more +to your liking, too, you'll find she'll give you the preference." + +Hurry growled out his dissatisfaction, but he was too intent on +quitting the lake, and in making his preparations, to waste his +breath on a subject of this nature. Shortly after, the supper +was ready, and it was eaten in silence as is so much the habit of +those who consider the table as merely a place of animal refreshment. +On this occasion, however, sadness and thought contributed their +share to the general desire not to converse, for Deerslayer was so +far an exception to the usages of men of his cast, as not only to +wish to hold discourse on such occasions, but as often to create +a similar desire in his companions. + +The meal ended, and the humble preparations removed, the whole +party assembled on the platform to hear the expected intelligence +from Deerslayer on the subject of his visit. It had been evident +he was in no haste to make his communication, but the feelings of +Judith would no longer admit of delay. Stools were brought from the +Ark and the hut, and the whole six placed themselves in a circle, +near the door, watching each other's countenances, as best they +could, by the scanty means that were furnished by a lovely star-light +night. Along the shores, beneath the mountains, lay the usual body +of gloom, but in the broad lake no shadow was cast, and a thousand +mimic stars were dancing in the limpid element, that was just +stirred enough by the evening air to set them all in motion. + +"Now, Deerslayer," commenced Judith, whose impatience resisted +further restraint-"now, Deerslayer, tell us all the Hurons have to +say, and the reason why they have sent you on parole, to make us +some offer." + +"Furlough, Judith; furlough is the word; and it carries the same +meaning with a captyve at large, as it does with a soldier who has +leave to quit his colors. In both cases the word is passed to come +back, and now I remember to have heard that's the ra'al signification; +'furlough' meaning a 'word' passed for the doing of any thing of the +like. Parole I rather think is Dutch, and has something to do with +the tattoos of the garrisons. But this makes no great difference, +since the vartue of a pledge lies in the idee, and not in the word. +Well, then, if the message must be given, it must; and perhaps +there is no use in putting it off. Hurry will soon be wanting to +set out on his journey to the river, and the stars rise and set, +just as if they cared for neither Injin nor message. Ah's! me; +'Tisn't a pleasant, and I know it's a useless ar'n'd, but it must +be told." + +"Harkee, Deerslayer," put in Hurry, a little authoritatively-"You're +a sensible man in a hunt, and as good a fellow on a march, as a +sixty-miler-a-day could wish to meet with, but you're oncommon slow +about messages; especially them that you think won't be likely to +be well received. When a thing is to be told, why tell it; and +don't hang back like a Yankee lawyer pretending he can't understand +a Dutchman's English, just to get a double fee out of him." + +"I understand you, Hurry, and well are you named to-night, seeing +you've no time to lose. But let us come at once to the p'int, seeing +that's the object of this council- for council it may be called, +though women have seats among us. The simple fact is this. When +the party came back from the castle, the Mingos held a council, and +bitter thoughts were uppermost, as was plain to be seen by their +gloomy faces. No one likes to be beaten, and a red-skin as little +as a pale-face. Well, when they had smoked upon it, and made +their speeches, and their council fire had burnt low, the matter +came out. It seems the elders among 'em consaited I was a man to +be trusted on a furlough-They're wonderful obsarvant, them Mingos; +that their worst mimics must allow - but they consaited I was such +a man; and it isn't often -" added the hunter, with a pleasing +consciousness that his previous life justified this implicit +reliance on his good faith -"it isn't often they consait any thing +so good of a pale-face; but so they did with me, and, therefore, +they didn't hesitate to speak their minds, which is just this: +You see the state of things. The lake, and all on it, they fancy, +lie at their marcy. Thomas Hutter is deceased, and, as for Hurry, +they've got the idee he has been near enough to death to-day, not +to wish to take another look at him this summer. Therefore, they +account all your forces as reduced to Chingachgook and the two young +women, and, while they know the Delaware to be of a high race, and +a born warrior, they know he's now on his first war path. As for +the gals, of course they set them down much as they do women in +gin'ral." + +"You mean that they despise us!" interrupted Judith, with eyes that +flashed so brightly as to be observed by all present. + +"That will be seen in the end. They hold that all on the lake +lies at their marcy, and, therefore, they send by me this belt of +wampum," showing the article in question to the Delaware, as he +spoke, "with these words. 'Tell the Sarpent, they say, that he has +done well for a beginner; he may now strike across the mountains +for his own villages, and no one shall look for his trail. If he +has found a scalp, let him take it with him, for the Huron braves +have hearts, and can feel for a young warrior who doesn't wish to +go home empty-handed. If he is nimble, he is welcome to lead out +a party in pursuit. Hist, howsever, must go back to the Hurons, +for, when she left there in the night, she carried away by mistake, +that which doesn't belong to her" + +"That can't be true!" said Hetty earnestly. "Hist is no such girl, +but one that gives every body his due -" + +How much more she would have said in remonstrance cannot be known, +inasmuch as Hist, partly laughing and partly hiding her face in +shame, passed her own hand across the speaker's mouth in a way to +check the words. + +"You don't understand Mingo messages, poor Hetty -" resumed +Deerslayer, "which seldom mean what lies exactly uppermost. Hist +has brought away with her the inclinations of a young Huron, and +they want her back again, that the poor young man may find them +where he last saw them! The Sarpent they say is too promising +a young warrior not to find as many wives as he wants, but this +one he cannot have. That's their meaning, and nothing else, as I +understand it." + +"They are very obliging and thoughtful, in supposing a young woman +can forget all her own inclinations in order to let this unhappy +youth find his!" said Judith, ironically; though her manner became +more bitter as she proceeded. "I suppose a woman is a woman, +let her colour be white, or red, and your chiefs know little of a +woman's heart, Deerslayer, if they think it can ever forgive when +wronged, or ever forget when it fairly loves." + +"I suppose that's pretty much the truth with some women, Judith, +though I've known them that could do both. The next message is to +you. They say the Muskrat, as they called your father, has dove +to the bottom of the lake; that he will never come up again, and +that his young will soon be in want of wigwams if not of food. +The Huron huts, they think, are better than the huts of York, and +they wish you to come and try them. Your colour is white, they +own, but they think young women who've lived so long in the woods +would lose their way in the clearin's. A great warrior among them +has lately lost his wife, and he would be glad to put the Wild Rose +on her bench at his fireside. As for the Feeble Mind, she will +always be honored and taken care of by red warriors. Your father's +goods they think ought to go to enrich the tribe, but your own +property, which is to include everything of a female natur', will +go like that of all wives, into the wigwam of the husband. Moreover, +they've lost a young maiden by violence, lately, and 'twill take +two pale-faces to fill her seat." + +"And do you bring such a message to me," exclaimed Judith, though +the tone in which the words were uttered had more in it of sorrow +than of anger. "Am I a girl to be an Indian's slave?" + +"If you wish my honest thoughts on this p'int, Judith, I shall +answer that I don't think you'll, willingly, ever become any man's +slave; red-skin or white. You're not to think hard, howsever, of +my bringing the message, as near as I could, in the very words in +which it was given to me. Them was the conditions on which I got +my furlough, and a bargain is a bargain, though it is made with a +vagabond. I've told you what they've said, but I've not yet told +you what I think you ought, one and all, to answer." + +"Ay; let's hear that, Deerslayer," put in Hurry. "My cur'osity is +up on that consideration, and I should like, right well, to hear +your idees of the reasonableness of the reply. For my part, though, +my own mind is pretty much settled on the p'int of my own answer, +which shall be made known as soon as necessary." + +"And so is mine, Hurry, on all the different heads, and on no one +is it more sartainly settled that on your'n. If I was you, I should +say -'Deerslayer, tell them scamps they don't know Harry March! +He is human; and having a white skin, he has also a white natur', +which natur' won't let him desart females of his own race and gifts +in their greatest need. So set me down as one that will refuse +to come into your treaty, though you should smoke a hogshead +of tobacco over it.'" + +March was a little embarrassed at this rebuke, which was uttered +with sufficient warmth of manner, and with a point that left no +doubt of the meaning. Had Judith encouraged him, he would not have +hesitated about remaining to defend her and her sister, but under +the circumstances a feeling of resentment rather urged him to abandon +them. At all events, there was not a sufficiency of chivalry in +Hurry Harry to induce him to hazard the safety of his own person +unless he could see a direct connection between the probable +consequences and his own interests. It is no wonder, therefore, +that his answer partook equally of his intention, and of the reliance +he so boastingly placed on his gigantic strength, which if it +did not always make him outrageous, usually made him impudent, as +respects those with whom he conversed. + +"Fair words make long friendships, Master Deerslayer," he said +a little menacingly. "You're but a stripling, and you know by +exper'ence what you are in the hands of a man. As you're not me, +but only a go between sent by the savages to us Christians, you +may tell your empl'yers that they do know Harry March, which is a +proof of their sense as well as his. He's human enough to follow +human natur', and that tells him to see the folly of one man's +fighting a whole tribe. If females desart him, they must expect +to be desarted by him, whether they're of his own gifts or another +man's gifts. Should Judith see fit to change her mind, she's welcome +to my company to the river, and Hetty with her; but shouldn't she +come to this conclusion, I start as soon as I think the enemy's +scouts are beginning to nestle themselves in among the brush and +leaves for the night." + +"Judith will not change her mind, and she does not ask your company, +Master March," returned the girl with spirit. + +"That p'int's settled, then," resumed Deerslayer, unmoved by the +other's warmth. "Hurry Harry must act for himself, and do that +which will be most likely to suit his own fancy. The course he +means to take will give him an easy race, if it don't give him an +easy conscience. Next comes the question with Hist - what say you +gal? - Will you desart your duty, too, and go back to the Mingos +and take a Huron husband, and all not for the love of the man you're +to marry, but for the love of your own scalp?" + +"Why you talk so to Hist!" demanded the girl half-offended. "You +t'ink a red-skin girl made like captain's lady, to laugh and joke +with any officer that come." + +"What I think, Hist, is neither here nor there in this matter. I +must carry back your answer, and in order to do so it is necessary +that you should send it. A faithful messenger gives his ar'n'd, +word for word." + +Hist no longer hesitated to speak her mind fully. In the excitement +she rose from her bench, and naturally recurring to that language +in which she expressed herself the most readily, she delivered +her thoughts and intentions, beautifully and with dignity, in the +tongue of her own people. + +"Tell the Hurons, Deerslayer," she said, "that they are as ignorant +as moles; they don't know the wolf from the dog. Among my people, +the rose dies on the stem where it budded, the tears of the child +fall on the graves of its parents; the corn grows where the seed +has been planted. The Delaware girls are not messengers to be sent, +like belts of wampum, from tribe to tribe. They are honeysuckles, +that are sweetest in their own woods; their own young men carry them +away in their bosoms, because they are fragrant; they are sweetest +when plucked from their native stems. Even the robin and the martin +come back, year after year, to their old nests; shall a woman be +less true hearted than a bird? Set the pine in the clay and it +will turn yellow; the willow will not flourish on the hill; the +tamarack is healthiest in the swamp; the tribes of the sea love +best to hear the winds that blow over the salt water. As for a +Huron youth, what is he to a maiden of the Lenni Lenape. He may be +fleet, but her eyes do not follow him in the race; they look back +towards the lodges of the Delawares. He may sing a sweet song +for the girls of Canada, but there is no music for Wah, but in the +tongue she has listened to from childhood. Were the Huron born of +the people that once owned the shores of the salt lake, it would +be in vain, unless he were of the family of Uncas. The young pine +will rise to be as high as any of its fathers. Wah-ta-Wah has but +one heart, and it can love but one husband." + +Deerslayer listened to this characteristic message, which was given +with an earnestness suited to the feelings from which it sprung, with +undisguised delight, meeting the ardent eloquence of the girl, as +she concluded, with one of his own heartfelt, silent, and peculiar +fits of laughter. + +"That's worth all the wampum in the woods!" he exclaimed. "You +don't understand it, I suppose, Judith, but if you'll look into your +feelin's, and fancy that an inimy had sent to tell you to give up +the man of your ch'ice, and to take up with another that wasn't the +man of your ch'ice, you'll get the substance of it, I'll warrant! +Give me a woman for ra'al eloquence, if they'll only make up their +minds to speak what they feel. By speakin', I don't mean chatterin', +howsever; for most of them will do that by the hour; but comm' out +with their honest, deepest feelin's in proper words. And now, Judith, +having got the answer of a red-skin girl, it is fit I should get +that of a pale-face, if, indeed, a countenance that is as blooming +as your'n can in any wise so be tarmed. You are well named the +Wild Rose, and so far as colour goes, Hetty ought to be called the +Honeysuckle." + +'Did this language come from one of the garrison gallants, I +should deride it, Deerslayer, but coming from you, I know it can be +depended on," returned Judith, deeply gratified by his unmeditated +and characteristic compliments. "It is too soon, however, to ask +my answer; the Great Serpent has not yet spoken." + +"The Sarpent! Lord; I could carry back his speech without hearing +a word of it! I didn't think of putting the question to him at +all, I will allow; though 'twould be hardly right either, seeing +that truth is truth, and I'm bound to tell these Mingos the fact +and nothing else. So, Chingachgook, let us hear your mind on this +matter-are you inclined to strike across the hills towards your +village, to give up Hist to a Huron, and to tell the chiefs at +home that, if they're actyve and successful, they may possibly get +on the end of the Iroquois trail some two or three days a'ter the +inimy has got off of it?" + +Like his betrothed, the young chief arose, that his answer might +be given with due distinctness and dignity. Hist had spoken with +her hands crossed upon her bosom, as if to suppress the emotions +within, but the warrior stretched an arm before him with a calm +energy that aided in giving emphasis to his expressions. "Wampum +should be sent for wampum," he said; "a message must be answered +by a message. Hear what the Great Serpent of the Delawares has to +say to the pretended wolves from the great lakes, that are howling +through our woods. They are no wolves; they are dogs that have come +to get their tails and ears cropped by the hands of the Delawares. +They are good at stealing young women; bad at keeping them. +Chingachgook takes his own where he finds it; he asks leave of no +cur from the Canadas. If he has a tender feeling in his heart, it +is no business of the Hurons. He tells it to her who most likes +to know it; he will not bellow it in the forest, for the ears of +those that only understand yells of terror. What passes in his +lodge is not for the chiefs of his own people to know; still less +for Mingo rogues -" + +"Call 'em vagabonds, Sarpent -" interrupted Deerslayer, unable to +restrain his delight - "yes, just call 'em up-and-down vagabonds, +which is a word easily intarpreted, and the most hateful of all to +their ears, it's so true. Never fear me; I'll give em your message, +syllable for syllable, sneer for sneer, idee for idee, scorn for +scorn, and they desarve no better at your hands -only call 'em +vagabonds, once or twice, and that will set the sap mounting in +'em, from their lowest roots to the uppermost branches!" + +"Still less for Mingo vagabonds," resumed Chingachgook, quite +willingly complying with his friend's request. "Tell the Huron dogs +to howl louder, if they wish a Delaware to find them in the woods, +where they burrow like foxes, instead of hunting like warriors. +When they had a Delaware maiden in their camp, there was a reason +for hunting them up; now they will be forgotten unless they make a +noise. Chingachgook don't like the trouble of going to his villages +for more warriors; he can strike their run-a-way trail; unless they +hide it under ground, he will follow it to Canada alone. He will +keep Wah-ta-Wah with him to cook his game; they two will be Delawares +enough to scare all the Hurons back to their own country ." + +"That's a grand despatch, as the officers call them things!" +cried Deerslayer; "'twill set all the Huron blood in motion; most +particularily that part where he tells 'em Hist, too, will keep on +their heels 'til they're fairly driven out of the country. Ahs! +me; big words ain't always big deeds, notwithstanding! The Lord +send that we be able to be only one half as good as we promise to +be! And now, Judith, it's your turn to speak, for them miscreants +will expect an answer from each person, poor Hetty, perhaps, +excepted." + +"And why not Hetty, Deerslayer? She often speaks to the purpose; +the Indians may respect her words, for they feel for people in her +condition." + +"That is true, Judith, and quick-thoughted in you. The red-skins +do respect misfortunes of all kinds, and Hetty's in particular. So, +Hetty, if you have any thing to say, I'll carry it to the Hurons +as faithfully as if it was spoken by a schoolmaster, or a missionary." + +The girl hesitated a moment, and then she answered in her own +gentle, soft tones, as earnestly as any who had preceded her. + +"The Hurons can't understand the difference between white people +and themselves," she said, "or they wouldn't ask Judith and me to +go and live in their villages. God has given one country to the +red men and another to us. He meant us to live apart. Then mother +always said that we should never dwell with any but Christians, +if possible, and that is a reason why we can't go. This lake is +ours, and we won't leave it. Father and mother's graves are in it, +and even the worst Indians love to stay near the graves of their +fathers. I will come and see them again, if they wish me to, and +read more out of the Bible to them, but I can't quit father's and +mother's graves." + +"That will do - that will do, Hetty, just as well as if you sent +them a message twice as long," interrupted the hunter. "I'll tell +'em all you've said, and all you mean, and I'll answer for it that +they'll be easily satisfied. Now, Judith, your turn comes next, +and then this part of my ar'n'd will be tarminated for the night." + +Judith manifested a reluctance to give her reply, that had awakened +a little curiosity in the messenger. Judging from her known spirit, +he had never supposed the girl would be less true her feelings +and principles than Hist, or Hetty, and yet there was a visible +wavering of purpose that rendered him slightly uneasy. Even now +when directly required to speak, she seemed to hesitate, nor did +she open her lips until the profound silence told her how anxiously +her words were expected. Then, indeed, she spoke, but it was +doubtingly and with reluctance. + +"Tell me, first - tell us, first, Deerslayer," she commenced, +repeating the words merely to change the emphasis - "what effect +will our answers have on your fate? If you are to be the sacrifice +of our spirit, it would have been better had we all been more +wary as to the language we use. What, then, are likely to be the +consequences to yourself?" + +"Lord, Judith, you might as well ask me which way the wind will +blow next week, or what will be the age of the next deer that will +be shot! I can only say that their faces look a little dark upon +me, but it doesn't thunder every time a black cloud rises, nor does +every puff of wind blow up rain. That's a question, therefore, +much more easily put than answered." + +"So is this message of the Iroquois to me," answered Judith rising, +as if she had determined on her own course for the present. "My +answer shall be given, Deerslayer, after you and I have talked +together alone, when the others have laid themselves down for the +night." + +There was a decision in the manner of the girl that disposed +Deerslayer to comply, and this he did the more readily as the delay +could produce no material consequences one way or the other. The +meeting now broke up, Hurry announcing his resolution to leave +them speedily. During the hour that was suffered to intervene, in +order that the darkness might deepen before the frontierman took +his departure, the different individuals occupied themselves in +their customary modes, the hunter, in particular, passing most of +the time in making further enquiries into the perfection of the +rifle already mentioned. + +The hour of nine soon arrived, however, and then it had been +determined that Hurry should commence his journey. Instead of +making his adieus frankly, and in a generous spirit, the little he +thought it necessary to say was uttered sullenly and in coldness. +Resentment at what he considered Judith's obstinacy was blended +with mortification at the career he had since reaching the lake, +and, as is usual with the vulgar and narrow-minded, he was more +disposed to reproach others with his failures than to censure himself. +Judith gave him her hand, but it was quite as much in gladness as +with regret, while the two Delawares were not sorry to find he was +leaving them. Of the whole party, Hetty alone betrayed any real +feeling. Bashfulness, and the timidity of her sex and character, +kept even her aloof, so that Hurry entered the canoe, where Deerslayer +was already waiting for him, before she ventured near enough to be +observed. Then, indeed, the girl came into the Ark and approached +its end, just as the little bark was turning from it, with a movement +so light and steady as to be almost imperceptible. An impulse of +feeling now overcame her timidity, and Hetty spoke. + +"Goodbye Hurry -" she called out, in her sweet voice - "goodbye, +dear Hurry. Take care of yourself in the woods, and don't stop +once, 'til you reach the garrison. The leaves on the trees are +scarcely plentier than the Hurons round the lake, and they'll not +treat a strong man like you as kindly as they treat me." + +The ascendency which March had obtained over this feebleminded, +but right-thinking, and right-feeling girl, arose from a law of +nature. Her senses had been captivated by his personal advantages, +and her moral communications with him had never been sufficiently +intimate to counteract an effect that must have been otherwise +lessened, even with one whose mind was as obtuse as her own. Hetty's +instinct of right, if such a term can be applied to one who seemed +taught by some kind spirit how to steer her course with unerring +accuracy, between good and evil, would have revolted at Hurry's +character on a thousand points, had there been opportunities to +enlighten her, but while he conversed and trifled with her sister, +at a distance from herself, his perfection of form and feature had +been left to produce their influence on her simple imagination and +naturally tender feelings, without suffering by the alloy of his +opinions and coarseness. It is true she found him rough and rude; +but her father was that, and most of the other men she had seen, +and that which she believed to belong to all of the sex struck +her less unfavorably in Hurry's character than it might otherwise +have done. Still, it was not absolutely love that Hetty felt for +Hurry, nor do we wish so to portray it, but merely that awakening +sensibility and admiration, which, under more propitious circumstances, +and always supposing no untoward revelations of character on the +part of the young man had supervened to prevent it, might soon +have ripened into that engrossing feeling. She felt for him an +incipient tenderness, but scarcely any passion. Perhaps the nearest +approach to the latter that Hetty had manifested was to be seen in +the sensitiveness which had caused her to detect March's predilection +for her sister, for, among Judith's many admirers, this was the +only instance in which the dull mind of the girl had been quickened +into an observation of the circumstances. + +Hurry received so little sympathy at his departure that the gentle +tones of Hetty, as she thus called after him, sounded soothingly. +He checked the canoe, and with one sweep of his powerful arm brought +it back to the side of the Ark. This was more than Hetty, whose +courage had risen with the departure of her hero, expected, and +she now shrunk timidly back at this unexpected return. + +"You're a good gal, Hetty, and I can't quit you without shaking +hands," said March kindly. "Judith, a'ter all, isn't worth as much +as you, though she may be a trifle better looking. As to wits, if +honesty and fair dealing with a young man is a sign of sense in a +young woman, you're worth a dozen Judiths; ay, and for that matter, +most young women of my acquaintance." + +"Don't say any thing against Judith, Harry," returned Hetty +imploringly. "Father's gone, and mother's gone, and nobody's left +but Judith and me, and it isn't right for sisters to speak evil, +or to hear evil of each other. Father's in the lake, and so is +mother, and we should all fear God, for we don't know when we may +be in the lake, too." + +"That sounds reasonable, child, as does most you say. Well, if we +ever meet ag'in, Hetty, you'll find a fri'nd in me, let your sister +do what she may. I was no great fri'nd of your mother I'll allow, +for we didn't think alike on most p'ints, but then your father, Old +Tom, and I, fitted each other as remarkably as a buckskin garment +will fit any reasonable-built man. I've always been unanimous of +opinion that Old Floating Tom Hutter, at the bottom, was a good +fellow, and will maintain that ag'in all inimies for his sake, as +well as for your'n." + +"Goodbye, Hurry," said Hetty, who now wanted to hasten the young +man off, as ardently as she had wished to keep him only the moment +before, though she could give no clearer account of the latter than +of the former feeling; "goodbye, Hurry; take care of yourself in +the woods; don't halt 'til you reach the garrison. I'll read a +chapter in the Bible for you before I go to bed, and think of you +in my prayers." + +This was touching a point on which March had no sympathies, and +without more words, he shook the girl cordially by the hand and +re-entered the canoe. In another minute the two adventurers were a +hundred feet from the Ark, and half a dozen had not elapsed before +they were completely lost to view. Hetty sighed deeply, and rejoined +her sister and Hist. + +For some time Deerslayer and his companion paddled ahead in silence. +It had been determined to land Hurry at the precise point where he +is represented, in the commencement of our tale, as having embarked, +not only as a place little likely to be watched by the Hurons, but +because he was sufficiently familiar with the signs of the woods, +at that spot, to thread his way through them in the dark. Thither, +then, the light craft proceeded, being urged as diligently and +as swiftly as two vigorous and skilful canoemen could force their +little vessel through, or rather over, the water. Less than a quarter +of an hour sufficed for the object, and, at the end of that time, +being within the shadows of the shore, and quite near the point +they sought, each ceased his efforts in order to make their parting +communications out of earshot of any straggler who might happen to +be in the neighborhood. + +"You will do well to persuade the officers at the garrison to lead +out a party ag'in these vagabonds as soon as you git in, Hurry," +Deerslayer commenced; "and you'll do better if you volunteer to guide +it up yourself. You know the paths, and the shape of the lake, +and the natur' of the land, and can do it better than a common, +gin'ralizing scout. Strike at the Huron camp first, and follow +the signs that will then show themselves. A few looks at the hut +and the Ark will satisfy you as to the state of the Delaware and +the women, and, at any rate, there'll be a fine opportunity to +fall on the Mingo trail, and to make a mark on the memories of the +blackguards that they'll be apt to carry with 'em a long time. It +won't be likely to make much difference with me, since that matter +will be detarmined afore tomorrow's sun has set, but it may make +a great change in Judith and Hetty's hopes and prospects!" + +"And as for yourself, Nathaniel," Hurry enquired with more interest +than he was accustomed to betray in the welfare of others - "And, +as for yourself, what do you think is likely to turn up?" + +"The Lord, in his wisdom, only can tell, Henry March! The clouds +look black and threatening, and I keep my mind in a state to meet +the worst. Vengeful feelin's are uppermost in the hearts of the +Mingos, and any little disapp'intment about the plunder, or the +prisoners, or Hist, may make the torments sartain. The Lord, in +his wisdom, can only detarmine my fate, or your'n!" + +"This is a black business, and ought to be put a stop to in some way +or other -" answered Hurry, confounding the distinctions between +right and wrong, as is usual with selfish and vulgar men. "I +heartily wish old Hutter and I had scalped every creatur' in their +camp, the night we first landed with that capital object! Had you +not held back, Deerslayer, it might have been done, and then you +wouldn't have found yourself, at the last moment, in the desperate +condition you mention." + +"'Twould have been better had you said you wished you had never +attempted to do what it little becomes any white man's gifts to +undertake; in which case, not only might we have kept from coming +to blows, but Thomas Hutter would now have been living, and the +hearts of the savages would be less given to vengeance. The death +of that young woman, too, was on-called for, Henry March, and leaves +a heavy load on our names if not on our consciences!" + +This was so apparent, and it seemed so obvious to Hurry himself, +at the moment, that he dashed his paddle into the water, and began +to urge the canoe towards the shore, as if bent only on running away +from his own lively remorse. His companion humoured this feverish +desire for change, and, in a minute or two, the bows of the boat +grated lightly on the shingle of the beach. To land, shoulder his +pack and rifle, and to get ready for his march occupied Hurry but +an instant, and with a growling adieu, he had already commenced +his march, when a sudden twinge of feeling brought him to a dead +stop, and immediately after to the other's side. + +"You cannot mean to give yourself up ag'in to them murdering savages, +Deerslayer!" he said, quite as much in angry remonstrance, as with +generous feeling. "Twould be the act of a madman or a fool!" + +"There's them that thinks it madness to keep their words, and +there's them that don't, Hurry Harry. You may be one of the first, +but I'm one of the last. No red-skin breathing shall have it in +his power to say that a Mingo minds his word more than a man of +white blood and white gifts, in any thing that consarns me. I'm +out on a furlough, and if I've strength and reason, I'll go in on +a furlough afore noon to-morrow!" + +"What's an Injin, or a word passed, or a furlough taken from +creatur's like them, that have neither souls, nor reason!" + +"If they've got neither souls nor reason, you and I have both, +Henry March, and one is accountable for the other. This furlough +is not, as you seem to think, a matter altogether atween me and +the Mingos, seeing it is a solemn bargain made atween me and God. +He who thinks that he can say what he pleases, in his distress, +and that twill all pass for nothing, because 'tis uttered in the +forest, and into red men's ears, knows little of his situation, +and hopes, and wants. The woods are but the ears of the Almighty, +the air is his breath, and the light of the sun is little more than +a glance of his eye. Farewell, Harry; we may not meet ag'in, but +I would wish you never to treat a furlough, or any other solemn +thing that your Christian God has been called on to witness, as a +duty so light that it may be forgotten according to the wants of +the body, or even accordin' to the cravings of the spirit." + +March was now glad again to escape. It was quite impossible that +he could enter into the sentiments that ennobled his companion, and +he broke away from both with an impatience that caused him secretly +to curse the folly that could induce a man to rush, as it were, +on his own destruction. Deerslayer, on the contrary, manifested +no such excitement. Sustained by his principles, inflexible +in the purpose of acting up to them, and superior to any unmanly +apprehension, he regarded all before him as a matter of course, and +no more thought of making any unworthy attempt to avoid it, than +a Mussulman thinks of counteracting the decrees of Providence. He +stood calmly on the shore, listening to the reckless tread with +which Hurry betrayed his progress through the bushes, shook his +head in dissatisfaction at the want of caution, and then stepped +quietly into his canoe. Before he dropped the paddle again into +the water, the young man gazed about him at the scene presented +by the star-lit night. This was the spot where he had first laid +his eyes on the beautiful sheet of water on which he floated. If +it was then glorious in the bright light of a summer's noon-tide, +it was now sad and melancholy under the shadows of night. The +mountains rose around it like black barriers to exclude the outer +world, and the gleams of pale light that rested on the broader +parts of the basin were no bad symbols of the faintness of the hopes +that were so dimly visible in his own future. Sighing heavily, he +pushed the canoe from the land, and took his way back with steady +diligence towards the Ark and the castle. + + + +Chapter XXIV + + + "Thy secret pleasure turns to open shame; + Thy private feasting to a public fast; + Thy smoothing titles to a ragged name; + Thy sugar'd tongue to bitter worm wood taste: + Thy violent vanities can never last." + + Shakespeare, Rape of Lucrece, 11. 890-94. + +Judith was waiting the return of Deerslayer on the platform, with +stifled impatience, when the latter reached the hut. Hist and Hetty +were both in a deep sleep, on the bed usually occupied by the two +daughters of the house, and the Delaware was stretched on the floor +of the adjoining room, his rifle at his side, and a blanket over +him, already dreaming of the events of the last few days. There +was a lamp burning in the Ark, for the family was accustomed to +indulge in this luxury on extraordinary occasions, and possessed +the means, the vessel being of a form and material to render it +probable it had once been an occupant of the chest. + +As soon as the girl got a glimpse of the canoe, she ceased her +hurried walk up and down the platform and stood ready to receive +the young man, whose return she had now been anxiously expecting +for some time. She helped him to fasten the canoe, and by aiding +in the other little similar employments, manifested her desire to +reach a moment of liberty as soon as possible. When this was done, +in answer to an inquiry of his, she informed him of the manner in +which their companions had disposed of themselves. He listened +attentively, for the manner of the girl was so earnest and impressive +as to apprise him that she had something on her mind of more than +common concern. + +"And now, Deerslayer," Judith continued, "you see I have lighted +the lamp, and put it in the cabin of the Ark. That is never done +with us, unless on great occasions, and I consider this night as +the most important of my life. Will you follow me and see what I +have to show you - hear what I have to say." + +The hunter was a little surprised, but, making no objections, both +were soon in the scow, and in the room that contained the light. +Here two stools were placed at the side of the chest, with the lamp +on another, and a table near by to receive the different articles +as they might be brought to view. This arrangement had its rise +in the feverish impatience of the girl, which could brook no delay +that it was in her power to obviate. Even all the padlocks were +removed, and it only remained to raise the heavy lid, again, to +expose all the treasures of this long secreted hoard. + +"I see, in part, what all this means," observed Deerslayer - "yes, +I see through it, in part. But why is not Hetty present? Now Thomas +Hutter is gone, she is one of the owners of these cur'osities, and +ought to see them opened and handled." + +"Hetty sleeps -" answered Judith, huskily. "Happily for her, fine +clothes and riches have no charms. Besides she has this night +given her share of all that the chest may hold to me, that I may +do with it as I please." + +"Is poor Hetty compass enough for that, Judith?" demanded the +just-minded young man. "It's a good rule and a righteous one, never +to take when them that give don't know the valie of their gifts; +and such as God has visited heavily in their wits ought to be +dealt with as carefully as children that haven't yet come to their +understandings." + +Judith was hurt at this rebuke, coming from the person it did, +but she would have felt it far more keenly had not her conscience +fully acquitted her of any unjust intentions towards her feeble-minded +but confiding sister. It was not a moment, however, to betray any +of her usual mountings of the spirit, and she smothered the passing +sensation in the desire to come to the great object she had in +view. + +"Hetty will not be wronged," she mildly answered; "she even knows +not only what I am about to do, Deerslayer, but why I do it. So +take your seat, raise the lid of the chest, and this time we will +go to the bottom. I shall be disappointed if something is not +found to tell us more of the history of Thomas Hutter and my mother." + +"Why Thomas Hutter, Judith, and not your father? The dead ought +to meet with as much reverence as the living!" + +"I have long suspected that Thomas Hutter was not my father, though +I did think he might have been Hetty's, but now we know he was the +father of neither. He acknowledged that much in his dying moments. +I am old enough to remember better things than we have seen on +this lake, though they are so faintly impressed on my memory that +the earlier part of my life seems like a dream." + +"Dreams are but miserable guides when one has to detarmine about +realities, Judith," returned the other admonishingly. "Fancy nothing +and hope nothing on their account, though I've known chiefs that +thought 'em useful." + +"I expect nothing for the future from them, my good friend, but +cannot help remembering what has been. This is idle, however, when +half an hour of examination may tell us all, or even more than I +want to know." + +Deerslayer, who comprehended the girl's impatience, now took his +seat and proceeded once more to bring to light the different articles +that the chest contained. As a matter of course, all that had been +previously examined were found where they had been last deposited, +and they excited much less interest or comment than when formerly +exposed to view. Even Judith laid aside the rich brocade with an +air of indifference, for she had a far higher aim before her than +the indulgence of vanity, and was impatient to come at the still +hidden, or rather unknown, treasures. + +"All these we have seen before," she said, "and will not stop to +open. The bundle under your hand, Deerslayer, is a fresh one; that +we will look into. God send it may contain something to tell poor +Hetty and myself who we really are!" + +"Ay, if some bundles could speak, they might tell wonderful secrets," +returned the young man deliberately undoing the folds of another +piece of course canvass, in order to come at the contents of the +roll that lay on his knees: "though this doesn't seem to be one +of that family, seeing 'tis neither more nor less than a sort of +flag, though of what nation, it passes my l'arnin' to say." + +"That flag must have some meaning to it -" Judith hurriedly interposed. +"Open it wider, Deerslayer, that we may see the colours." + +"Well, I pity the ensign that has to shoulder this cloth, and to +parade it about on the field. Why 'tis large enough, Judith, to +make a dozen of them colours the King's officers set so much store +by. These can be no ensign's colours, but a gin'ral's!" + +"A ship might carry it, Deerslayer, and ships I know do use such +things. Have you never heard any fearful stories about Thomas Hutter's +having once been concerned with the people they call buccaneers?" + +"Buck-ah-near! Not I - not I - I never heard him mentioned as good +at a buck far off, or near by. Hurry Harry did till me something +about its being supposed that he had formerly, in some way or +other, dealings with sartain sea robbers, but, Lord, Judith, it +can't surely give you any satisfaction to make out that ag'in your +mother's own husband, though he isn't your father." + +"Anything will give me satisfaction that tells me who I am, and +helps to explain the dreams of childhood. My mother's husband! +Yes, he must have been that, though why a woman like her, should +have chosen a man like him, is more than mortal reason can explain. +You never saw mother, Deerslayer, and can't feel the vast, vast +difference there was between them!" + +"Such things do happen, howsever; - yes, they do happen; though +why providence lets them come to pass is more than I understand. +I've knew the f'ercest warriors with the gentlest wives of any in +the tribe, and awful scolds fall to the lot of Injins fit to be +missionaries." + +"That was not it, Deerslayer; that was not it. Oh! if it should +prove that -no; I cannot wish she should not have been his wife at +all. That no daughter can wish for her own mother! Go on, now, +and let us see what the square looking bundle holds." + +Deerslayer complied, and he found that it contained a small trunk +of pretty workmanship, but fastened. The next point was to find +a key; but, search proving ineffectual, it was determined to force +the lock. This Deerslayer soon effected by the aid of an iron +instrument, and it was found that the interior was nearly filled +with papers. Many were letters; some fragments of manuscripts, +memorandums, accounts, and other similar documents. The hawk does +not pounce upon the chicken with a more sudden swoop than Judith +sprang forward to seize this mine of hitherto concealed knowledge. +Her education, as the reader will have perceived, was far superior +to her situation in life, and her eye glanced over page after page +of the letters with a readiness that her schooling supplied, and +with an avidity that found its origin in her feelings. At first it +was evident that the girl was gratified; and we may add with reason, +for the letters written by females, in innocence and affection, +were of a character to cause her to feel proud of those with whom +she had every reason to think she was closely connected by the ties +of blood. It does not come within the scope of our plan to give +more of these epistles, however, than a general idea of their +contents, and this will best be done by describing the effect they +produced on the manner, appearance, and feeling of her who was so +eagerly perusing them. + +It has been said, already, that Judith was much gratified with the +letters that first met her eye. They contained the correspondence +of an affectionate and inteffigent mother to an absent daughter, +with such allusions to the answers as served in a great measure +to fill up the vacuum left by the replies. They were not without +admonitions and warnings, however, and Judith felt the blood mounting +to her temples, and a cold shudder succeeding, as she read one in +which the propriety of the daughter's indulging in as much intimacy +as had evidently been described in one of the daughter's own letters, +with an officer "who came from Europe, and who could hardly be +supposed to wish to form an honorable connection in America," was +rather coldly commented on by the mother. What rendered it singular +was the fact that the signatures had been carefully cut from every +one of these letters, and wherever a name occurred in the body of +the epistles it had been erased with so much diligence as to render +it impossible to read it. They had all been enclosed in envelopes, +according to the fashion of the age, and not an address either was +to be found. Still the letters themselves had been religiously +preserved, and Judith thought she could discover traces of tears +remaining on several. She now remembered to have seen the little +trunk in her mother's keeping, previously to her death, and she +supposed it had first been deposited in the chest, along with the +other forgotten or concealed objects, when the letters could no +longer contribute to that parent's grief or happiness. + +Next came another bundle, and these were filled with the protestations +of love, written with passion certainly, but also with that deceit +which men so often think it justifiable to use to the other sex. +Judith had shed tears abundantly over the first packet, but now she +felt a sentiment of indignation and pride better sustaining her. +Her hand shook, however, and cold shivers again passed through her +frame, as she discovered a few points of strong resemblance between +these letters and some it had been her own fate to receive. Once, +indeed, she laid the packet down, bowed her head to her knees, and +seemed nearly convulsed. All this time Deerslayer sat a silent +but attentive observer of every thing that passed. As Judith read +a letter she put it into his hands to hold until she could peruse +the next; but this served in no degree to enlighten her companion, +as he was totally unable to read. Nevertheless he was not entirely +at fault in discovering the passions that were contending in the +bosom of the fair creature by his side, and, as occasional sentences +escaped her in murmurs, he was nearer the truth, in his divinations, +or conjectures, than the girl would have been pleased at discovering. + +Judith had commenced with the earliest letters, luckily for a +ready comprehension of the tale they told, for they were carefully +arranged in chronological order, and to any one who would take the +trouble to peruse them, would have revealed a sad history of gratified +passion, coldness, and finally of aversion. As she obtained the +clue to their import, her impatience would not admit of delay, +and she soon got to glancing her eyes over a page by way of coming +at the truth in the briefest manner possible. By adopting this +expedient, one to which all who are eager to arrive at results +without encumbering themselves with details are so apt to resort, +Judith made a rapid progress in these melancholy revelations of +her mother's failing and punishment. She saw that the period of +her own birth was distinctly referred to, and even learned that the +homely name she bore was given her by the father, of whose person +she retained so faint an impression as to resemble a dream. This +name was not obliterated from the text of the letters, but stood +as if nothing was to be gained by erasing it. Hetty's birth was +mentioned once, and in that instance the name was the mother's, but +ere this period was reached came the signs of coldness, shadowing +forth the desertion that was so soon to follow. It was in this stage +of the correspondence that her mother had recourse to the plan of +copying her own epistles. They were but few, but were eloquent +with the feelings of blighted affection, and contrition. Judith +sobbed over them, until again and again she felt compelled to lay +them aside from sheer physical inability to see; her eyes being +literally obscured with tears. Still she returned to the task, with +increasing interest, and finally succeeded in reaching the end of +the latest communication that had probably ever passed between her +parents. + +All this occupied fully an hour, for near a hundred letters were +glanced at, and some twenty had been closely read. The truth now +shone clear upon the acute mind of Judith, so far as her own birth +and that of Hetty were concerned. She sickened at the conviction, +and for the moment the rest of the world seemed to be cut off from +her, and she had now additional reasons for wishing to pass the +remainder of her life on the lake, where she had already seen so +many bright and so many sorrowing days. + +There yet remained more letters to examine. Judith found these +were a correspondence between her mother and Thomas Hovey. The +originals of both parties were carefully arranged, letter and answer, +side by side; and they told the early history of the connection +between the ill-assorted pair far more plainly than Judith wished +to learn it. Her mother made the advances towards a marriage, to +the surprise, not to say horror of her daughter, and she actually +found a relief when she discovered traces of what struck her as +insanity - or a morbid desperation, bordering on that dire calamity +- in the earlier letters of that ill-fated woman. The answers of +Hovey were coarse and illiterate, though they manifested a sufficient +desire to obtain the hand of a woman of singular personal attractions, +and whose great error he was willing to overlook for the advantage +of possessing one every way so much his superior, and who it also +appeared was not altogether destitute of money. The remainder of +this part of the correspondence was brief, and it was soon confined +to a few communications on business, in which the miserable wife +hastened the absent husband in his preparations to abandon a world +which there was a sufficient reason to think was as dangerous +to one of the parties as it was disagreeable to the other. But a +sincere expression had escaped her mother, by which Judith could +get a clue to the motives that had induced her to marry Hovey, or +Hutter, and this she found was that feeling of resentment which so +often tempts the injured to inflict wrongs on themselves by way of +heaping coals on the heads of those through whom they have suffered. +Judith had enough of the spirit of that mother to comprehend this +sentiment, and for a moment did she see the exceeding folly which +permitted such revengeful feelings to get the ascendancy. + +There what may be called the historical part of the papers ceased. +Among the loose fragments, however, was an old newspaper that +contained a proclamation offering a reward for the apprehension of +certain free-booters by name, among which was that of Thomas Hovey. +The attention of the girl was drawn to the proclamation and to +this particular name by the circumstance that black lines had been +drawn under both, in ink. Nothing else was found among the papers +that could lead to a discovery of either the name or the place of +residence of the wife of Hutter. All the dates, signatures, and +addresses had been cut from the letters, and wherever a word occurred +in the body of the communications that might furnish a clue, it was +scrupulously erased. Thus Judith found all her hopes of ascertaining +who her parents were defeated, and she was obliged to fall back +on her own resources and habits for everything connected with the +future. Her recollection of her mother's manners, conversation, +and sufferings filled up many a gap in the historical facts she had +now discovered, and the truth, in its outlines, stood sufficiently +distinct before her to take away all desire, indeed, to possess +any more details. Throwing herself back in her seat, she simply +desired her companion to finish the examination of the other articles +in the chest, as it might yet contain something of importance. + +"I'll do it, Judith; I'll do it," returned the patient Deerslayer, +"but if there's many more letters to read, we shall see the sun +ag'in afore you've got through with the reading of them! Two good +hours have you been looking at them bits of papers!" + +"They tell me of my parents, Deerslayer, and have settled my plans +for life. A girl may be excused, who reads about her own father +and mother, and that too for the first time in her life! I am +sorry to have kept you waiting." + +"Never mind me, gal; never mind me. It matters little whether I +sleep or watch; but though you be pleasant to look at, and are so +handsome, Judith, it is not altogether agreeable to sit so long to +behold you shedding tears. I know that tears don't kill, and that +some people are better for shedding a few now and then, especially +young women; but I'd rather see you smile any time, Judith, than +see you weep." + +This gallant speech was rewarded with a sweet, though a melancholy +smile; and then the girl again desired her companion to finish the +examination of the chest. The search necessarily continued some +time, during which Judith collected her thoughts and regained her +composure. She took no part in the search, leaving everything to +the young man, looking listlessly herself at the different articles +that came uppermost. Nothing further of much interest or value, +however, was found. A sword or two, such as were then worn by +gentlemen, some buckles of silver, or so richly plated as to appear +silver, and a few handsome articles of female dress, composed the +principal discoveries. It struck both Judith and the Deerslayer, +notwithstanding, that some of these things might be made useful in +effecting a negotiation with the Iroquois, though the latter saw a +difficulty in the way that was not so apparent to the former. The +conversation was first renewed in connection with this point. + +"And now, Deerslayer," said Judith, "we may talk of yourself, and +of the means of getting you out of the hands of the Hurons. Any +part, or all of what you have seen in the chest, will be cheerfully +given by me and Hetty to set you at liberty." + +"Well, that's gin'rous, - yes, 'tis downright free-hearted, and +free-handed, and gin'rous. This is the way with women; when they +take up a fri'ndship, they do nothing by halves, but are as willing +to part with their property as if it had no value in their eyes. +However, while I thank you both, just as much as if the bargain +was made, and Rivenoak, or any of the other vagabonds, was here to +accept and close the treaty, there's two principal reasons why it +can never come to pass, which may be as well told at once, in order +no onlikely expectations may be raised in you, or any onjustifiable +hopes in me." + +"What reason can there be, if Hetty and I are willing to part with +the trifles for your sake, and the savages are willing to receive +them?" + +"That's it, Judith; you've got the idees, but they're a little out +of their places, as if a hound should take the back'ard instead +of the leading scent. That the Mingos will be willing to receive +them things, or any more like 'em you may have to offer is probable +enough, but whether they'll pay valie for 'em is quite another +matter. Ask yourself, Judith, if any one should send you a message +to say that, for such or such a price, you and Hetty might have that +chist and all it holds, whether you'd think it worth your while to +waste many words on the bargain?" + +"But this chest and all it holds, are already ours; there is no +reason why we should purchase what is already our own." + +"Just so the Mingos caculate! They say the chist is theirn, already; +or, as good as theirn, and they'll not thank anybody for the key." + +"I understand you, Deerslayer; surely we are yet in possession +of the lake, and we can keep possession of it until Hurry sends +troops to drive off the enemy. This we may certainly do provided +you will stay with us, instead of going back and giving yourself +up a prisoner, again, as you now seem determined on." + +"That Hurry Harry should talk in thisaway, is nat'ral, and according +to the gifts of the man. He knows no better, and, therefore, he +is little likely to feel or to act any better; but, Judith, I put +it to your heart and conscience - would you, could you think of me +as favorably, as I hope and believe you now do, was I to forget my +furlough and not go back to the camp?" + +"To think more favorably of you than I now do, Deerslayer, would +not be easy; but I might continue to think as favorably - at least +it seems so - I hope I could, for a world wouldn't tempt me to let +you do anything that might change my real opinion of you." + +"Then don't try to entice me to overlook my furlough, gal! A +furlough is a sacred thing among warriors and men that carry their +lives in their hands, as we of the forests do, and what a grievous +disapp'intment would it be to old Tamenund, and to Uncas, the +father of the Sarpent, and to my other fri'nds in the tribe, if +I was so to disgrace myself on my very first war-path. This you +will pairceive, moreover, Judith, is without laying any stress on +nat'ral gifts, and a white man's duties, to say nothing of conscience. +The last is king with me, and I try never to dispute his orders." + +"I believe you are right, Deerslayer," returned the girl, after a +little reflection and in a saddened voice: "a man like you ought +not to act as the selfish and dishonest would be apt to act; you +must, indeed, go back. We will talk no more of this, then. Should +I persuade you to anything for which you would be sorry hereafter, +my own regret would not be less than yours. You shall not have it +to say, Judith - I scarce know by what name to call myself, now!" + +"And why not? Why not, gal? Children take the names of their +parents, nat'rally, and by a sort of gift, like, and why shouldn't +you and Hetty do as others have done afore ye? Hutter was the +old man's name, and Hutter should be the name of his darters; - at +least until you are given away in lawful and holy wedlock." + +"I am Judith, and Judith only," returned the girl positively -"until +the law gives me a right to another name. Never will I use that +of Thomas Hutter again; nor, with my consent, shall Hetty! Hutter +was not even his own name, I find, but had he a thousand rights to +it, it would give none to me. He was not my father, thank heaven; +though I may have no reason to be proud of him that was!" + +"This is strange!" said Deerslayer, looking steadily at the excited +girl, anxious to know more, but unwilling to inquire into matters +that did not properly concern him; "yes, this is very strange and +oncommon! Thomas Hutter wasn't Thomas Hutter, and his darters +weren't his darters! Who, then, could Thomas Hutter be, and who +are his darters?" + +"Did you never hear anything whispered against the former life of +this person, Deerslayer?" demanded Judith "Passing, as I did, for +his child, such reports reached even me." + +"I'll not deny it, Judith; no, I'll not deny it. Sartain things +have been said, as I've told you, but I'm not very credible as to +reports. Young as I am, I've lived long enough to l'arn there's two +sorts of characters in the world - them that is 'arned by deeds, +and them that is 'arned by tongues, and so I prefar to see and +judge for myself, instead of letting every jaw that chooses to wag +become my judgment. Hurry Harry spoke pretty plainly of the whole +family, as we journeyed this-a-way, and he did hint something +consarning Thomas Hutter's having been a free-liver on the water, +in his younger days. By free-liver, I mean that he made free to +live on other men's goods." + +"He told you he was a pirate - there is no need of mincing matters +between friends. Read that, Deerslayer, and you will see that he +told you no more than the truth. This Thomas Hovey was the Thomas +Hutter you knew, as is seen by these letters." + +As Judith spoke, with a flushed cheek and eyes dazzling with +the brilliancy of excitement, she held the newspaper towards her +companion, pointing to the proclamation of a Colonial Governor, +already mentioned. + +"Bless you, Judith!" answered the other laughing, "you might as +well ask me to print that - or, for that matter to write it. My +edication has been altogether in the woods; the only book I read, +or care about reading, is the one which God has opened afore all +his creatur's in the noble forests, broad lakes, rolling rivers, +blue skies, and the winds and tempests, and sunshine, and other +glorious marvels of the land! This book I can read, and I find it +full of wisdom and knowledge." + +"I crave your pardon, Deerslayer," said Judith, earnestly, more +abashed than was her wont, in finding that she had in advertently +made an appeal that might wound her compan ion's pride. "I had +forgotten your manner of life, and least of all did I wish to hurt +your feelings." + +"Hurt my feelin's? Why should it hurt my feelin's to ask me to +read, when I can't read. I'm a hunter - and I may now begin to +say a warrior, and no missionary, and therefore books and papers +are of no account with such as I -No, no -Judith," and here the +young man laughed cordially, "not even for wads, seeing that your +true deerkiller always uses the hide of a fa'a'n, if he's got one, +or some other bit of leather suitably prepared. There's some that +do say, all that stands in print is true, in which case I'll own an +unl'arned man must be somewhat of a loser; nevertheless, it can't +be truer than that which God has printed with his own hand in the +sky, and the woods, and the rivers, and the springs." + +"Well, then, Hutter, or Hovey, was a pirate, and being no father +of mine, I cannot wish to call him one. His name shall no longer +be my name." + +"If you dislike the name of that man, there's the name of your +mother, Judith. Her'n may sarve you just as good a turn." + +"I do not know it. I've look'd through those papers, Deerslayer, +in the hope of finding some hint by which I might discover who my +mother was, but there is no more trace of the past, in that respect, +than the bird leaves in the air." + +"That's both oncommon, and onreasonable. Parents are bound to give +their offspring a name, even though they give 'em nothing else. Now +I come of a humble stock, though we have white gifts and a white +natur', but we are not so poorly off as to have no name. Bumppo +we are called, and I've heard it said --" a touch of human vanity +glowing on his cheek, "that the time has been when the Bumppos had +more standing and note among mankind than they have just now." + +"They never deserved them more, Deerslayer, and the name is a good +one; either Hetty, or myself, would a thousand times rather be +called Hetty Bumppo, or Judith Bumppo, than to be called Hetty or +Judith Hutter." + +"That's a moral impossible," returned the hunter, good humouredly, +"onless one of you should so far demean herself as to marry me." + +Judith could not refrain from smiling, when she found how simply +and naturally the conversation had come round to the very point +at which she had aimed to bring it. Although far from unfeminine +or forward, either in her feelings or her habits, the girl was +goaded by a sense of wrongs not altogether merited, incited by the +hopelessness of a future that seemed to contain no resting place, +and still more influenced by feelings that were as novel to her +as they proved to be active and engrossing. The opening was too +good, therefore, to be neglected, though she came to the subject +with much of the indirectness and perhaps justifiable address of +a woman. + +"I do not think Hetty will ever marry, Deerslayer," she said, "and +if your name is to be borne by either of us, it must be borne by +me." + +"There's been handsome women too, they tell me, among the Bumppos, +Judith, afore now, and should you take up with the name, oncommon +as you be in this particular, them that knows the family won't be +altogether surprised." + +"This is not talking as becomes either of us, Deerslayer, for +whatever is said on such a subject, between man and woman, should +be said seriously and in sincerity of heart. Forgetting the shame +that ought to keep girls silent until spoken to, in most cases, I +will deal with you as frankly as I know one of your generous nature +will most like to be dealt by. Can you - do you think, Deerslayer, +that you could be happy with such a wife as a woman like myself +would make?" + +"A woman like you, Judith! But where's the sense in trifling +about such a thing? A woman like you, that is handsome enough to +be a captain's lady, and fine enough, and so far as I know edicated +enough, would be little apt to think of becoming my wife. I suppose +young gals that feel themselves to be smart, and know themselves +to be handsome, find a sartain satisfaction in passing their jokes +ag'in them that's neither, like a poor Delaware hunter." + +This was said good naturedly, but not without a betrayal of feeling +which showed that something like mortified sensibility was blended +with the reply. Nothing could have occurred more likely to awaken +all Judith's generous regrets, or to aid her in her purpose, by +adding the stimulant of a disinterested desire to atone to her other +impulses, and cloaking all under a guise so winning and natural, as +greatly to lessen the unpleasant feature of a forwardness unbecoming +the sex. + +"You do me injustice if you suppose I have any such thought, or +wish," she answered, earnestly. "Never was I more serious in my +life, or more willing to abide by any agreement that we may make +to-night. I have had many suitors, Deerslayer - nay, scarce +an unmarried trapper or hunter has been in at the Lake these four +years, who has not offered to take me away with him, and +I fear some that were married, too -" + +"Ay, I'll warrant that!" interrupted the other - "I'll warrant all +that! Take 'em as a body, Judith, 'arth don't hold a set of men +more given to theirselves, and less given to God and the law." + +"Not one of them would I - could I listen to; happily for myself +perhaps, has it been that such was the case. There have been +well looking youths among them too, as you may have seen in your +acquaintance, Henry March." + +"Yes, Harry is sightly to the eye, though, to my idees, less so to +the judgment. I thought, at first, you meant to have him, Judith, +I did; but afore he went, it was easy enough to verify that the +same lodge wouldn't be big enough for you both." + +"You have done me justice in that at least, Deerslayer. Hurry is +a man I could never marry, though he were ten times more comely +to the eye, and a hundred times more stout of heart than he really +is." + +"Why not, Judith, why not? I own I'm cur'ous to know why a youth +like Hurry shouldn't find favor with a maiden like you?" + +"Then you shall know, Deerslayer," returned the girl, gladly availing +herself of the opportunity of indirectly extolling the qualities +which had so strongly interested her in her listener; hoping by +these means covertly to approach the subject nearest her heart. +"In the first place, looks in a man are of no importance with a +woman, provided he is manly, and not disfigured, or deformed." + +"There I can't altogether agree with you," returned the other +thoughtfully, for he had a very humble opinion of his own personal +appearance; "I have noticed that the comeliest warriors commonly get +the best-looking maidens of the tribe for wives, and the Sarpent, +yonder, who is sometimes wonderful in his paint, is a gineral +favorite with all the Delaware young women, though he takes to +Hist, himself, as if she was the only beauty on 'arth!" + +"It may be so with Indians; but it is different with white girls. +So long as a young man has a straight and manly frame, that promises +to make him able to protect a woman, and to keep want from the +door, it is all they ask of the figure. Giants like Hurry may do +for grenadiers, but are of little account as lovers. Then as to +the face, an honest look, one that answers for the heart within, +is of more value than any shape or colour, or eyes, or teeth, or +trifles like them. The last may do for girls, but who thinks of +them at all, in a hunter, or a warrior, or a husband? If there +are women so silly, Judith is not among them." + +"Well, this is wonderful! I always thought that handsome liked +handsome, as riches love riches!" + +"It may be so with you men, Deerslayer, but it is not always +so with us women. We like stout-hearted men, but we wish to see +them modest; sure on a hunt, or the war-path, ready to die for the +right, and unwilling to yield to the wrong. Above all we wish for +honesty - tongues that are not used to say what the mind does not +mean, and hearts that feel a little for others, as well as for +themselves. A true-hearted girl could die for such a husband! while +the boaster, and the double-tongued suitor gets to be as hateful +to the sight, as he is to the mind." + +Judith spoke bitterly, and with her usual force, but her listener +was too much struck with the novelty of the sensations he experienced +to advert to her manner. There was something so soothing to the +humility of a man of his temperament, to hear qualities that he +could not but know he possessed himself, thus highly extolled by +the loveliest female he had ever beheld, that, for the moment, his +faculties seemed suspended in a natural and excusable pride. Then +it was that the idea of the possibility of such a creature as Judith +becoming his companion for life first crossed his mind. The image +was so pleasant, and so novel, that he continued completely absorbed +by it for more than a minute, totally regardless of the beautiful +reality that was seated before him, watching the expression of his +upright and truth-telling countenance with a keenness that gave her +a very fair, if not an absolutely accurate clue to his thoughts. +Never before had so pleasing a vision floated before the mind's +eye of the young hunter, but, accustomed most to practical things, +and little addicted to submitting to the power of his imagination, +even while possessed of so much true poetical feeling in connection +with natural objects in particular, he soon recovered his reason, +and smiled at his own weakness, as the fancied picture faded from +his mental sight, and left him the simple, untaught, but highly +moral being he was, seated in the Ark of Thomas Hutter, at midnight, +with the lovely countenance of its late owner's reputed daughter, +beaming on him with anxious scrutiny, by the light of the solitary +lamp. + +"You're wonderful handsome, and enticing, and pleasing to look +on, Judith!" he exclaimed, in his simplicity, as fact resumed its +ascendency over fancy. "Wonderful! I don't remember ever to +have seen so beautiful a gal, even among the Delawares; and I'm not +astonished that Hurry Harry went away soured as well as disapp'inted!" + +"Would you have had me, Deerslayer, become the wife of such a man +as Henry March?" + +"There's that which is in his favor, and there's that which is +ag'in him. To my taste, Hurry wouldn't make the best of husbands, +but I fear that the tastes of most young women, hereaway, wouldn't +be so hard upon him." + +"No - no -Judith without a name would never consent to be called +Judith March! Anything would be better than that." + +"Judith Bumppo wouldn't sound as well, gal; and there's many names +that would fall short of March, in pleasing the ear." + +"Ah! Deerslayer, the pleasantness of the sound, in such cases, +doesn't come through the ear, but through the heart. Everything +is agreeable, when the heart is satisfied. Were Natty Bumppo, +Henry March, and Henry March, Natty Bumppo, I might think the name +of March better than it is; or were he, you, I should fancy the +name of Bumppo horrible!" + +"That's just it - yes, that's the reason of the matter. Now, I'm +nat'rally avarse to sarpents, and I hate even the word, which, +the missionaries tell me, comes from human natur', on account of +a sartain sarpent at the creation of the 'arth, that outwitted the +first woman; yet, ever since Chingachgook has 'arned the title he +bears, why the sound is as pleasant to my ears as the whistle of +the whippoorwill of a calm evening - it is. The feelin's make all +the difference in the world, Judith, in the natur' of sounds; ay, +even in that of looks, too." + +"This is so true, Deerslayer, that I am surprised you should think +it remarkable a girl, who may have some comeliness herself, should +not think it necessary that her husband should have the same +advantage, or what you fancy an advantage. To me, looks in a man +is nothing provided his countenance be as honest as his heart." + +"Yes, honesty is a great advantage, in the long run; and they that +are the most apt to forget it in the beginning, are the most apt +to l'arn it in the ind. Nevertheless, there's more, Judith, that +look to present profit than to the benefit that is to come after +a time. One they think a sartainty, and the other an onsartainty. +I'm glad, howsever, that you look at the thing in its true light, +and not in the way in which so many is apt to deceive themselves." + +"I do thus look at it, Deerslayer," returned the girl with emphasis, +still shrinking with a woman's sensitiveness from a direct offer of +her hand, "and can say, from the bottom of my heart, that I would +rather trust my happiness to a man whose truth and feelings may be +depended on, than to a false-tongued and false-hearted wretch that +had chests of gold, and houses and lands - yes, though he were +even seated on a throne!" + +"These are brave words, Judith; they're downright brave words; +but do you think that the feelin's would keep 'em company, did the +ch'ice actually lie afore you? If a gay gallant in a scarlet coat +stood on one side, with his head smelling like a deer's foot, his +face smooth and blooming as your own, his hands as white and soft +as if God hadn't bestowed 'em that man might live by the sweat of +his brow, and his step as lofty as dancing-teachers and a light +heart could make it; and the other side stood one that has passed +his days in the open air till his forehead is as red as his cheek; +had cut his way through swamps and bushes till his hand was as rugged +as the oaks he slept under; had trodden on the scent of game till +his step was as stealthy as the catamount's, and had no other +pleasant odor about him than such as natur' gives in the free air +and the forest - now, if both these men stood here, as suitors for +your feelin's, which do you think would win your favor?" + +Judith's fine face flushed, for the picture that her companion had +so simply drawn of a gay officer of the garrisons had once been +particularly grateful to her imagination, though experience and +disappointment had not only chilled all her affections, but given +them a backward current, and the passing image had a momentary +influence on her feelings; but the mounting colour was succeeded +by a paleness so deadly, as to make her appear ghastly. + +"As God is my judge," the girl solemnly answered, "did both these +men stand before me, as I may say one of them does, my choice, if +I know my own heart, would be the latter. I have no wish for a +husband who is any way better than myself." + +"This is pleasant to listen to, and might lead a young man in time +to forget his own onworthiness, Judith! Howsever, you hardly think +all that you say. A man like me is too rude and ignorant for one +that has had such a mother to teach her. Vanity is nat'ral, I do +believe, but vanity like that, would surpass reason." + +"Then you do not know of what a woman's heart is capable! Rude +you are not, Deerslayer, nor can one be called ignorant that has +studied what is before his eyes as closely as you have done. When +the affections are concerned, all things appear in their pleasantest +colors, and trifles are overlooked, or are forgotten. When the +heart feels sunshine, nothing is gloomy, even dull looking objects, +seeming gay and bright, and so it would be between you and the +woman who should love you, even though your wife might happen, in +some matters, to possess what the world calls the advantage over +you." + +"Judith, you come of people altogether above mine, in the +world, and onequal matches, like onequal fri'ndships can't often +tarminate kindly. I speak of this matter altogether as a fanciful +thing, since it's not very likely that you, at least, would be apt +to treat it as a matter that can ever come to pass." + +Judith fastened her deep blue eyes on the open, frank countenance +of her companion, as if she would read his soul. Nothing there +betrayed any covert meaning, and she was obliged to admit to herself, +that he regarded the conversation as argumentative, rather than +positive, and that he was still without any active suspicion that +her feelings were seriously involved in the issue. At first, she +felt offended; then she saw the injustice of making the self-abasement +and modesty of the hunter a charge against him, and this novel +difficulty gave a piquancy to the state of affairs that rather +increased her interest in the young man. At that critical instant, +a change of plan flashed on her mind, and with a readiness of +invention that is peculiar to the quick-witted and ingenious, she +adopted a scheme by which she hoped effectually to bind him to her +person. This scheme partook equally of her fertility of invention, +and of the decision and boldness of her character. That the +conversation might not terminate too abruptly, however, or any +suspicion of her design exist, she answered the last remark of +Deerslayer, as earnestly and as truly as if her original intention +remained unaltered. + +"I, certainly, have no reason to boast of parentage, after what I +have seen this night," said the girl, in a saddened voice. "I had +a mother, it is true; but of her name even, I am ignorant - and, +as for my father, it is better, perhaps, that I should never know +who he was, lest I speak too bitterly of him!" + +"Judith," said Deerslayer, taking her hand kindly, and with a manly +sincerity that went directly to the girl's heart, "tis better to +say no more to-night. Sleep on what you've seen and felt; in the +morning things that now look gloomy, may look more che'rful. Above +all, never do anything in bitterness, or because you feel as if you'd +like to take revenge on yourself for other people's backslidings. +All that has been said or done atween us, this night, is your +secret, and shall never be talked of by me, even with the Sarpent, +and you may be sartain if he can't get it out of me no man can. If +your parents have been faulty, let the darter be less so; remember +that you're young, and the youthful may always hope for better +times; that you're more quick-witted than usual, and such gin'rally +get the better of difficulties, and that, as for beauty, you're +oncommon, which is an advantage with all. It is time to get a +little rest, for to-morrow is like to prove a trying day to some +of us." + +Deerslayer arose as he spoke, and Judith had no choice but to comply. +The chest was closed and secured, and they parted in silence, she +to take her place by the side of Hist and Hetty, and he to seek +a blanket on the floor of the cabin he was in. It was not five +minutes ere the young man was in a deep sleep, but the girl continued +awake for a long time. She scarce knew whether to lament, or to +rejoice, at having failed in making herself understood. On the +one hand were her womanly sensibilities spared; on the other was +the disappointment of defeated, or at least of delayed expectations, +and the uncertainty of a future that looked so dark. Then came +the new resolution, and the bold project for the morrow, and when +drowsiness finally shut her eyes, they closed on a scene of success +and happiness, that was pictured by the fancy, under the influence +of a sanguine temperament, and a happy invention. + + + +Chapter XXV + + + "But, mother, now a shade has past, + Athwart my brightest visions here, + A cloud of darkest gloom has wrapt, + The remnant of my brief career! + No song, no echo can I win, + The sparkling fount has died within." + + Margaret Davidson, "To my Mother," 11. 7-12. + +Hist and Hetty arose with the return of light, leaving Judith still +buried in sleep. It took but a minute for the first to complete +her toilet. Her long coal-black hair was soon adjusted in a simple +knot, the calico dress belted tight to her slender waist, and her +little feet concealed in their gaudily ornamented moccasins. When +attired, she left her companion employed in household affairs, and +went herself on the platform to breathe the pure air of the morning. +Here she found Chingachgook studying the shores of the lake, the +mountains and the heavens, with the sagacity of a man of the woods, +and the gravity of an Indian. + +The meeting between the two lovers was simple, but affectionate. +The chief showed a manly kindness, equally removed from boyish +weakness and haste, while the girl betrayed, in her smile and half +averted looks, the bashful tenderness of her sex. Neither spoke, +unless it were with the eyes, though each understood the other as +fully as if a vocabulary of words and protestations had been poured +out. Hist seldom appeared to more advantage than at that moment, +for just from her rest and ablutions, there was a freshness about +her youthful form and face that the toils of the wood do not always +permit to be exhibited, by even the juvenile and pretty. Then +Judith had not only imparted some of her own skill in the toilet, +during their short intercourse, but she had actually bestowed a +few well selected ornaments from her own stores, that contributed +not a little to set off the natural graces of the Indian maid. All +this the lover saw and felt, and for a moment his countenance was +illuminated with a look of pleasure, but it soon grew grave again, +and became saddened and anxious. The stools used the previous +night were still standing on the platform; placing two against the +walls of the hut, he seated himself on one, making a gesture to his +companion to take the other. This done, he continued thoughtful +and silent for quite a minute, maintaining the reflecting dignity +of one born to take his seat at the council-fire, while Hist was +furtively watching the expression of his face, patient and submissive, +as became a woman of her people. Then the young warrior stretched +his arm before him, as if to point out the glories of the scene at +that witching hour, when the whole panorama, as usual, was adorned +by the mellow distinctness of early morning, sweeping with his +hand slowly over lake, hills and heavens. The girl followed the +movement with pleased wonder, smiling as each new beauty met her +gaze. + +"Hugh!" exclaimed the chief, in admiration of a scene so unusual +even to him, for this was the first lake he had ever beheld. "This +is the country of the Manitou! It is too good for Mingos, Hist; +but the curs of that tribe are howling in packs through the woods. +They think that the Delawares are asleep, over the mountains." + +"All but one of them is, Chingachgook. There is one here; and he +is of the blood of Uncas!" + +"What is one warrior against a tribe? The path to our villages is +very long and crooked, and we shall travel it under a cloudy sky. +I am afraid, too, Honeysuckle of the Hills, that we shall travel +it alone!" + +Hist understood the allusion, and it made her sad; though it sounded +sweet to her ears to be compared, by the warrior she so loved, to +the most fragrant and the pleasantest of all the wild flowers of +her native woods. Still she continued silent, as became her when +the allusion was to a grave interest that men could best control, +though it exceeded the power of education to conceal the smile that +gratified feeling brought to her pretty mouth. + +"When the sun is thus," continued the Delaware, pointing to the +zenith, by simply casting upward a hand and finger, by a play of +the wrist, "the great hunter of our tribe will go back to the Hurons +to be treated like a bear, that they roast and skin even on full +stomachs." + +"The Great Spirit may soften their hearts, and not suffer them to +be so bloody minded. I have lived among the Hurons, and know them. +They have hearts, and will not forget their own children, should +they fall into the hands of the Delawares." + +"A wolf is forever howling; a hog will always eat. They have +lost warriors; even their women will call out for vengeance. The +pale-face has the eyes of an eagle, and can see into a Mingo's +heart; he looks for no mercy. There is a cloud over his spirit, +though it is not before his face." + +A long, thoughtful pause succeeded, during which Hist stealthily +took the hand of the chief, as if seeking his support, though she +scarce ventured to raise her eyes to a countenance that was now +literally becoming terrible, under the conflicting passions and +stern resolution that were struggling in the breast of its owner. + +"What will the Son of Uncas do?" the girl at length timidly asked. +"He is a chief, and is already celebrated in council, though so +young; what does his heart tell him is wisest; does the head, too, +speak the same words as the heart?" + +"What does Wah-ta-Wah say, at a moment when my dearest friend is +in such danger. The smallest birds sing the sweetest; it is always +pleasant to hearken to their songs. I wish I could hear the Wren +of the Woods in my difficulty; its note would reach deeper than +the ear." + +Again Hist experienced the profound gratification that the language +of praise can always awaken when uttered by those we love. The +'Honeysuckle of the Hills' was a term often applied to the girl by +the young men of the Delawares, though it never sounded so sweet +in her ears as from the lips of Chingachgook; but the latter alone +had ever styled her the Wren of the Woods. With him, however, it +had got to be a familiar phrase, and it was past expression pleasant +to the listener, since it conveyed to her mind the idea that her +advice and sentiments were as acceptable to her future husband, as +the tones of her voice and modes of conveying them were agreeable; +uniting the two things most prized by an Indian girl, as coming +from her betrothed, admiration for a valued physical advantage, +with respect for her opinion. She pressed the hand she +held between both her own, and answered - + +"Wah-ta-Wah says that neither she nor the Great Serpent could ever +laugh again, or ever sleep without dreaming of the Hurons, should +the Deerslayer die under a Mingo tomahawk, and they do nothing to +save him. She would rather go back, and start on her long path +alone, than let such a dark cloud pass before her happiness." + +"Good! The husband and the wife will have but one heart; they will +see with the same eyes, and feel with the same feelings." + +What further was said need not be related here. That the conversation +was of Deerslayer, and his hopes, has been seen already, but the +decision that was come to will better appear in the course of the +narrative. The youthful pair were yet conversing when the sun +appeared above the tops of the pines, and the light of a brilliant +American day streamed down into the valley, bathing "in deep joy" +the lake, the forests and the mountain sides. Just at this instant +Deerslayer came out of the cabin of the Ark and stepped upon the +platform. His first look was at the cloudless heavens, then his +rapid glance took in the entire panorama of land and water, when +he had leisure for a friendly nod at his friends, and a cheerful +smile for Hist. + +"Well," he said, in his usual, composed manner, and pleasant voice, +"he that sees the sun set in the west, and wakes 'arly enough in +the morning will be sartain to find him coming back ag'in in the +east, like a buck that is hunted round his ha'nt. I dare say, now, +Hist, you've beheld this, time and ag'in, and yet it never entered +into your galish mind to ask the reason?" + +Both Chingachgook and his betrothed looked up at the luminary, with +an air that betokened sudden wonder, and then they gazed at each +other, as if to seek the solution of the difficulty. Familiarity +deadens the sensibilities even as connected with the gravest natural +phenomena, and never before had these simple beings thought of +enquiring into a movement that was of daily occurrence, however +puzzling it might appear on investigation. When the subject was +thus suddenly started, it struck both alike, and at the same instant, +with some such force, as any new and brilliant proposition in the +natural sciences would strike the scholar. Chingachgook alone saw +fit to answer. + +"The pale-faces know everything," he said; "can they tell us why +the sun hides his face, when he goes back, at night." + +"Ay, that is downright red-skin l'arnin'" returned the other, +laughing, through he was not altogether insensible to the pleasure +of proving the superiority of his race by solving the difficulty, +which he set about doing in his own peculiar manner. "Harkee, Sarpent," +he continued more gravely, though too simply for affectation; "this +is easierly explained than an Indian brain may fancy. The sun, +while he seems to keep traveling in the heavens, never budges, but +it is the 'arth that turns round, and any one can understand, if +he is placed on the side of a mill-wheel, for instance, when it's +in motion, that he must some times see the heavens, while he is +at other times under water. There's no great secret in that; but +plain natur'; the difficulty being in setting the 'arth in motion." + +"How does my brother know that the earth turns round?" demanded +the Indian. "Can he see it?" + +"Well, that's been a puzzler, I will own, Delaware, for I've +often tried, but never could fairly make it out. Sometimes I've +consaited that I could; and then ag'in, I've been obliged to own +it an onpossibility. Howsever, turn it does, as all my people say, +and you ought to believe 'em, since they can foretell eclipses, +and other prodigies, that used to fill the tribes with terror, +according to your own traditions of such things." + +"Good. This is true; no red man will deny it. When a wheel turns, +my eyes can see it - they do not see the earth turn." + +"Ay, that's what I call sense obstinacy! Seeing is believing, +they say, and what they can't see, some men won't in the least give +credit to. Neverthless, chief, that isn't quite as good reason +as it mayat first seem. You believe in the Great Spirit, I know, +and yet, I conclude, it would puzzle you to show where you see +him!" + +"Chingachgook can see Him everywhere - everywhere in good things +-the Evil Spirit in bad. Here, in the lake; there, in the forest; +yonder, in the clouds; in Hist, in the Son of Uncas, in Tannemund, +in Deerslayer. The Evil Spirit is in the Mingos. That I see; I +do not see the earth turn round." + +"I don't wonder they call you the Sarpent, Delaware; no, I don't! +There's always a meaning in your words, and there's often a meaning +in your countenance, too! Notwithstanding, your answers doesn't +quite meet my idee. That God is observable in all nat'ral objects +is allowable, but then he is not perceptible in the way I mean. +You know there is a Great Spirit by his works, and the pale-faces +know that the 'arth turns round by its works. This is the reason +of the matter, though how it is to be explained is more than I can +exactly tell you. This I know; all my people consait that fact, +and what all the pale-faces consait, is very likely to be true." + +"When the sun is in the top of that pine to-morrow, where will my +brother Deerslayer be?" + +The hunter started, and he looked intently, though totally without +alarm, at his friend. Then he signed for him to follow, and led +the way into the Ark, where he might pursue the subject unheard by +those whose feelings he feared might get the mastery over their +reason. Here he stopped, and pursued the conversation in a more +confidential tone. + +"'Twas a little onreasonable in you Sarpent," he said, "to bring +up such a subject afore Hist, and when the young women of my own +colour might overhear what was said. Yes, 'twas a little more +onreasonable than most things that you do. No matter; Hist didn't +comprehend, and the other didn't hear. Howsever, the question is +easier put than answered. No mortal can say where he will be when +the sun rises tomorrow. I will ask you the same question, Sarpent, +and should like to hear what answer you can give." + +"Chingachgook will be with his friend Deerslayer - if he be in +the land of spirits, the Great Serpent will crawl at his side; if +beneath yonder sun, its warmth and light shall fall on both." + +"I understand you, Delaware," returned the other, touched with the +simple self-devotion of his friend, "Such language is as plain in +one tongue as in another. It comes from the heart, and goes to the +heart, too. 'Tis well to think so, and it may be well to say so, +for that matter, but it would not be well to do so, Sarpent. You +are no longer alone in life, for though you have the lodges to change, +and other ceremonies to go through, afore Hist becomes your lawful +wife, yet are you as good as married in all that bears on the +feelin's, and joy, and misery. No - no - Hist must not be desarted, +because a cloud is passing atween you and me, a little onexpectedly +and a little darker than we may have looked for." + +"Hist is a daughter of the Mohicans. She knows how to obey her +husband. Where he goes, she will follow. Both will be with the +Great Hunter of the Delawares, when the sun shall be in the pine +to-morrow." + +"The Lord bless and protect you! Chief, this is downright madness. +Can either, or both of you, alter a Mingo natur'? Will your grand +looks, or Hist's tears and beauty, change a wolf into a squirrel, +or make a catamount as innocent as a fa'an? No - Sarpent, you +will think better of this matter, and leave me in the hands of +God. A'ter all, it's by no means sartain that the scamps design +the torments, for they may yet be pitiful, and bethink them of the +wickedness of such a course - though it is but a hopeless expectation +to look forward to a Mingo's turning aside from evil, and letting +marcy get uppermost in his heart. Nevertheless, no one knows to a +sartainty what will happen, and young creatur's, like Hist, a'n't +to be risked on onsartainties. This marrying is altogether a +different undertaking from what some young men fancy. Now, if you +was single, or as good as single, Delaware, I should expect you +to be actyve and stirring about the camp of the vagabonds, from +sunrise to sunset, sarcumventing and contriving, as restless as +a hound off the scent, and doing all manner of things to help me, +and to distract the inimy, but two are oftener feebler than one, +and we must take things as they are, and not as we want 'em to be." + +"Listen, Deerslayer," returned the Indian with an emphasis so +decided as to show how much he was in earnest. "If Chingachgook +was in the hands of the Hurons, what would my pale-face brother do? +Sneak off to the Delaware villages, and say to the chiefs, and old +men, and young warriors - 'see, here is Wah-ta-Wah; she is safe, +but a little tired; and here is the Son of Uncas, not as tired as +the Honeysuckle, being stronger, but just as safe.' Would he do +this?" + +"Well, that's oncommon ingen'ous; it's cunning enough for a Mingo, +himself! The Lord only knows what put it into your head to ask +such a question. What would I do? Why, in the first place, Hist +wouldn't be likely to be in my company at all, for she would stay as +near you as possible, and therefore all that part about her couldn't +be said without talking nonsense. As for her being tired, that +would fall through too, if she didn't go, and no part of your speech +would be likely to come from me; so, you see, Sarpent, reason is +ag'in you, and you may as well give it up, since to hold out ag'in +reason, is no way becoming a chief of your character and repitation." + +"My brother is not himself; he forgets that he is talking to one +who has sat at the Council Fire of his nation," returned the other +kindly. "When men speak, they should say that which does not +go in at one side of the head and out at the other. Their words +shouldn't be feathers, so light that a wind which does not ruffle +the water can blow them away. He has not answered my question; +when a chief puts a question, his friend should not talk of other +things." + +"I understand you, Delaware; I understand well enough what you +mean, and truth won't allow me to say otherwise. Still it's not +as easy to answer as you seem to think, for this plain reason. You +wish me to say what I would do if I had a betrothed as you have, +here, on the lake, and a fri'nd yonder in the Huron camp, in danger +of the torments. That's it, isn't it?" + +The Indian bowed his head silently, and always with unmoved gravity, +though his eye twinkled at the sight of the other's embarrassment. + +"Well, I never had a betrothed - never had the kind of feelin's +toward any young woman that you have towards Hist, though the Lord +knows my feelin's are kind enough towards 'em all! Still my heart, +as they call it in such matters, isn't touched, and therefore I +can't say what I would do. A fri'nd pulls strong, that I know by +exper'ence, Sarpent, but, by all that I've seen and heard consarning +love, I'm led to think that a betrothed pulls stronger." + +"True; but the betrothed of Chingachgook does not pull towards the +lodges of the Delawares; she pulls towards the camp of the Hurons." + +"She's a noble gal, for all her little feet, and hands that an't +bigger than a child's, and a voice that is as pleasant as a mocker's; +she's a noble gal, and like the stock of her sires! Well, what is +it, Sarpent; for I conclude she hasn't changed her mind, and means +to give herself up, and turn Huron wife. What is it you want?" + +"Wah-ta-Wah will never live in the wigwam of an Iroquois," answered +the Delaware drily. "She has little feet, but they can carry her +to the villages of her people; she has small hands, too, but her +mind is large. My brother will see what we can do, when the time +shall come, rather than let him die under Mingo torments." + +"Attempt nothing heedlessly, Delaware," said the other earnestly; +"I suppose you must and will have your way; and, on the whole it's +right you should, for you'd neither be happy, unless something +was undertaken. But attempt nothing heedlessly - I didn't expect +you'd quit the lake, while my matter remained in unsartainty, +but remember, Sarpent, that no torments that Mingo ingenuity can +invent, no ta'ntings and revilings; no burnings and roastings and +nail-tearings, nor any other onhuman contrivances can so soon break +down my spirit, as to find that you and Hist have fallen into the +power of the inimy in striving to do something for my good." + +"The Delawares are prudent. The Deerslayer will not find them +running into a strange camp with their eyes shut." + +Here the dialogue terminated. Hetty announced that the breakfast +was ready, and the whole party was soon seated around the simple +board, in the usual primitive manner of borderers. Judith was the +last to take her seat, pale, silent, and betraying in her countenance +that she had passed a painful, if not a sleepless, night. At this +meal scarce a syllable was exchanged, all the females manifesting +want of appetites, though the two men were unchanged in this +particular. It was early when the party arose, and there still +remained several hours before it would be necessary for the prisoner +to leave his friends. The knowledge of this circumstance, and the +interest all felt in his welfare, induced the whole to assemble on +the platform again, in the desire to be near the expected victim, +to listen to his discourse, and if possible to show their interest +in him by anticipating his wishes. Deerslayer, himself, so +far as human eyes could penetrate, was wholly unmoved, conversing +cheerfully and naturally, though he avoided any direct allusions +to the expected and great event of the day. If any evidence could +be discovered of his thought's reverting to that painful subject at +all, it was in the manner in which he spoke of death and the last +great change. + +"Grieve not, Hetty," he said, for it was while consoling this +simple-minded girl for the loss of her parents that he thus betrayed +his feelings, "since God has app'inted that all must die. Your +parents, or them you fancied your parents, which is the same thing, +have gone afore you; this is only in the order of natur', my good +gal, for the aged go first, and the young follow. But one that had +a mother like your'n, Hetty, can be at no loss to hope the best, +as to how matters will turn out in another world. The Delaware, +here, and Hist, believe in happy hunting grounds, and have idees +befitting their notions and gifts as red-skins, but we who are +of white blood hold altogether to a different doctrine. Still, I +rather conclude our heaven is their land of spirits, and that the +path which leads to it will be travelled by all colours alike. Tis +onpossible for the wicked to enter on it, I will allow, but fri'nds +can scarce be separated, though they are not of the same race on +'arth. Keep up your spirits, poor Hetty, and look forward to the +day when you will meet your mother ag'in, and that without pain, +or sorrowing." + +"I do expect to see mother," returned the truth-telling and simple +girl, "but what will become of father?" + +"That's a non-plusser, Delaware," said the hunter, in the Indian +dialect -"yes, that is a downright non-plusser! The Muskrat was +not a saint on 'arth, and it's fair to guess he'll not be much of +one, hereafter! Howsever, Hetty," dropping into the English by an +easy transition, "howsever, Hetty, we must all hope for the best. +That is wisest, and it is much the easiest to the mind, if one can +only do it. I ricommend to you, trusting to God, and putting down +all misgivings and fainthearted feelin's. It's wonderful, Judith, +how different people have different notions about the futur', some +fancying one change, and some fancying another. I've known white +teachers that have thought all was spirit, hereafter, and them, +ag'in, that believed the body will be transported to another world, +much as the red-skins themselves imagine, and that we shall walk +about in the flesh, and know each other, and talk together, and be +fri'nds there as we've been fri'nds here." + +"Which of these opinions is most pleasing to you, Deerslayer?" +asked the girl, willing to indulge his melancholy mood, and far from +being free from its influence herself. "Would it be disagreeable +to think that you should meet all who are now on this platform in +another world? Or have you known enough of us here, to be glad to +see us no more. + +"The last would make death a bitter portion; yes it would. It's +eight good years since the Sarpent and I began to hunt together, +and the thought that we were never to meet ag'in would be a hard +thought to me. He looks forward to the time when he shall chase a +sort of spirit-deer, in company, on plains where there's no thorns, +or brambles, or marshes, or other hardships to overcome, whereas +I can't fall into all these notions, seeing that they appear to be +ag'in reason. Spirits can't eat, nor have they any use for clothes, +and deer can only rightfully be chased to be slain, or slain, unless +it be for the venison or the hides. Now, I find it hard to suppose +that blessed spirits can be put to chasing game without an object, +tormenting the dumb animals just for the pleasure and agreeableness +of their own amusements. I never yet pulled a trigger on buck or +doe, Judith, unless when food or clothes was wanting." + +"The recollection of which, Deerslayer, must now be a great +consolation to you." + +"It is the thought of such things, my fri'nds, that enables a man +to keep his furlough. It might be done without it, I own; for +the worst red-skins sometimes do their duty in this matter; but it +makes that which might otherwise be hard, easy, if not altogether +to our liking. Nothing truly makes a bolder heart than a light +conscience." + +Judith turned paler than ever, but she struggled for self-command, +and succeeded in obtaining it. The conflict had been severe, +however, and it left her so little disposed to speak that Hetty +pursued the subject. This was done in the simple manner natural +to the girl. + +"It would be cruel to kill the poor deer," she said, "in this +world, or any other, when you don't want their venison, or their +skins. No good white man, and no good red man would do it. But +it's wicked for a Christian to talk about chasing anything in +heaven. Such things are not done before the face of God, and the +missionary that teaches these doctrines can't be a true missionary. +He must be a wolf in sheep's clothing. I suppose you know what a +sheep is, Deerslayer." + +"That I do, gal, and a useful creatur' it is, to such as like cloths +better than skins for winter garments. I understand the natur' of +sheep, though I've had but little to do with 'em, and the natur' +of wolves too, and can take the idee of a wolf in the fleece of a +sheep, though I think it would be like to prove a hot jacket for +such a beast, in the warm months!" + +"And sin and hypocrisy are hot jackets, as they will find who put +them on," returned Hetty, positively, "so the wolf would be no worse +off than the sinner. Spirits don't hunt, nor trap, nor fish, nor +do anything that vain men undertake, since they've none of the +longings of this world to feed. Oh! Mother told me all that, +years ago, and I don't wish to hear it denied." + +"Well, my good Hetty, in that case you'd better not broach your +doctrine to Hist, when she and you are alone, and the young Delaware +maiden is inclined to talk religion. It's her fixed idee, I know, +that the good warriors do nothing but hunt and fish in the other +world, though I don't believe that she fancies any of them are +brought down to trapping, which is no empl'yment for a brave. But +of hunting and fishing, accordin' to her notion, they've their +fill, and that, too, over the most agreeablest hunting grounds, and +among game that is never out of season, and which is just actyve +and instinctyve enough to give a pleasure to death. So I wouldn't +ricommend it to you to start Hist on that idee." + +"Hist can't be so wicked as to believe any such thing," returned +the other, earnestly. "No Indian hunts after he is dead." + +"No wicked Indian, I grant you; no wicked Indian, sartainly. He +is obliged to carry the ammunition, and to look on without sharing +in the sport, and to cook, and to light the fires, and to do every +thing that isn't manful. Now, mind; I don't tell you these are my +idees, but they are Hist's idees, and, therefore, for the sake of +peace the less you say to her ag'in 'em, the better." + +"And what are your ideas of the fate of an Indian, in the other +world?" demanded Judith, who had just found her voice. + +"Ah! gal, any thing but that! I am too Christianized to expect +any thing so fanciful as hunting and fishing after death, nor do +I believe there is one Manitou for the red-skin and another for +a pale-face. You find different colours on 'arth, as any one may +see, but you don't find different natur's. Different gifts, but +only one natur'." + +"In what is a gift different from a nature? Is not nature itself +a gift from God?" + +"Sartain; that's quick-thoughted, and creditable, Judith, though the +main idee is wrong. A natur' is the creatur' itself; its wishes, +wants, idees and feelin's, as all are born in him. This natur' never +can be changed, in the main, though it may undergo some increase, +or lessening. Now, gifts come of sarcumstances. Thus, if you put +a man in a town, he gets town gifts; in a settlement, settlement +gifts; in a forest, gifts of the woods. A soldier has soldierly +gifts, and a missionary preaching gifts. All these increase and +strengthen, until they get to fortify natur', as it might be, and +excuse a thousand acts and idees. Still the creatur' is the same +at the bottom; just as a man who is clad in regimentals is the same +as the man that is clad in skins. The garments make a change to +the eye, and some change in the conduct, perhaps; but none in the +man. Herein lies the apology for gifts; seein' that you expect +different conduct from one in silks and satins, from one in homespun; +though the Lord, who didn't make the dresses, but who made the +creatur's themselves, looks only at his own work. This isn't ra'al +missionary doctrine, but it's as near it as a man of white colour +need be. Ah's! me; little did I think to be talking of such matters, +to-day, but it's one of our weaknesses never to know what will come +to pass. Step into the Ark with me, Judith, for a minute; I wish +to convarse with you." + +Judith complied with a willingness she could scarce conceal. +Following the hunter into the cabin, she took a seat on a stool, +while the young man brought Killdeer, the rifle she had given him, +out of a corner, and placed himself on another, with the weapon +laid upon his knees. After turning the piece round and round, +and examining its lock and its breech with a sort of affectionate +assiduity, he laid it down and proceeded to the subject which had +induced him to desire the interview. + +"I understand you, Judith, to say that you gave me this rifle," +he said. "I agreed to take it, because a young woman can have no +particular use for firearms. The we'pon has a great name, and it +desarves it, and ought of right to be carried by some known and +sure hand, for the best repitation may be lost by careless and +thoughtless handling." + +'Can it be in better hands than those in which it is now, Deerslayer? +Thomas Hutter seldom missed with it; with you it must turn out to +be -" + +"Sartain death!" interrupted the hunter, laughing. "I once know'd +a beaver-man that had a piece he called by that very name, but +'twas all boastfulness, for I've seen Delawares that were as true +with arrows, at a short range. Howsever, I'll not deny my gifts - +for this is a gift, Judith, and not natur' -but, I'll not deny my +gifts, and therefore allow that the rifle couldn't well be in better +hands than it is at present. But, how long will it be likely to +remain there? Atween us, the truth may be said, though I shouldn't +like to have it known to the Sarpent and Hist; but, to you the +truth may be spoken, since your feelin's will not be as likely to +be tormented by it, as those of them that have known me longer and +better. How long am I like to own this rifle or any other? That +is a serious question for our thoughts to rest on, and should that +happen which is so likely to happen, Killdeer would be without an +owner." + +Judith listened with apparent composure, though the conflict within +came near overpowering her. Appreciating the singular character +of her companion, however, she succeeded in appearing calm, though, +had not his attention been drawn exclusively to the rifle, a man +of his keenness of observation could scarce have failed to detect +the agony of mind with which the girl had hearkened to his words. +Her great self-command, notwithstanding, enabled her to pursue the +subject in a way still to deceive him. + +"What would you have me do with the weapon," she asked, "should +that which you seem to expect take place?" + +"That's just what I wanted to speak to you about, Judith; that's +just it. There's Chingachgook, now, though far from being parfect +sartainty, with a rifle - for few red-skins ever get to be that +- though far from being parfect sartainty, he is respectable, and +is coming on. Nevertheless, he is my fri'nd, and all the better +fri'nd, perhaps, because there never can be any hard feelin's atween +us, touchin' our gifts, his'n bein' red, and mine bein' altogether +white. Now, I should like to leave Killdeer to the Sarpent, should +any thing happen to keep me from doing credit and honor to your +precious gift, Judith." + +"Leave it to whom you please, Deerslayer. The rifle is your own, +to do with as you please. Chingachgook shall have it, should you +never return to claim it, if that be your wish." + +"Has Hetty been consulted in this matter? Property goes from the +parent to the children, and not to one child, in partic'lar!" + +"If you place your right on that of the law, Deerslayer, I fear +none of us can claim to be the owner. Thomas Hutter was no more +the father of Esther, than he was the father of Judith. Judith +and Esther we are truly, having no other name!" + +"There may be law in that, but there's no great reason, gal. +Accordin' to the custom of families, the goods are your'n, and +there's no one here to gainsay it. If Hetty would only say that +she is willing, my mind would be quite at ease in the matter. It's +true, Judith, that your sister has neither your beauty, nor your +wit; but we should be the tenderest of the rights and welfare of +the most weak-minded." + +The girl made no answer but placing herself at a window, she summoned +her sister to her side. When the question was put to Hetty, that +simple-minded and affectionate creature cheerfully assented to the +proposal to confer on Deerslayer a full right of ownership to the +much-coveted rifle. The latter now seemed perfectly happy, for +the time being at least, and after again examining and re-examining +his prize, he expressed a determination to put its merits to a +practical test, before he left the spot. No boy could have been +more eager to exhibit the qualities of his trumpet, or his crossbow, +than this simple forester was to prove those of his rifle. Returning +to the platform, he first took the Delaware aside, and informed +him that this celebrated piece was to become his property, in the +event of any thing serious befalling himself. + +"This is a new reason why you should he wary, Sarpent, and not run +into any oncalculated danger," the hunter added, "for, it will be +a victory of itself to a tribe to own such a piece as this! The +Mingos will turn green with envy, and, what is more, they will not +ventur' heedlessly near a village where it is known to be kept. So, +look well to it, Delaware, and remember that you've now to watch +over a thing that has all the valie of a creatur', without its +failin's. Hist may be, and should be precious to you, but Killdeer +will have the love and veneration of your whole people." + +"One rifle like another, Deerslayer," returned the Indian, +in English, the language used by the other, a little hurt at his +friend's lowering his betrothed to the level of a gun. "All kill; +all wood and iron. Wife dear to heart; rifle good to shoot." + +"And what is a man in the woods without something to shoot with? +-a miserable trapper, or a forlorn broom and basket maker, at the +best. Such a man may hoe corn, and keep soul and body together, but +he can never know the savory morsels of venison, or tell a bear's +ham from a hog's. Come, my fri'nd, such another occasion may never +offer ag'in, and I feel a strong craving for a trial with this +celebrated piece. You shall bring out your own rifle, and I will +just sight Killdeer in a careless way, in order that we may know +a few of its secret vartues." + +As this proposition served to relieve the thoughts of the whole party, +by giving them a new direction, while it was likely to produce no +unpleasant results, every one was willing to enter into it; the +girls bringing forth the firearms with an alacrity bordering on +cheerfulness. Hutter's armory was well supplied, possessing several +rifles, all of which were habitually kept loaded in readiness +to meet any sudden demand for their use. On the present occasion +it only remained to freshen the primings, and each piece was in a +state for service. This was soon done, as all assisted in it, the +females being as expert in this part of the system of defence as +their male companions. + +"Now, Sarpent, we'll begin in a humble way, using Old Tom's commoners +first, and coming to your we'pon and Killdeer as the winding up +observations," said Deerslayer, delighted to be again, weapon in +hand, ready to display his skill. "Here's birds in abundance, some +in, and some over the lake, and they keep at just a good range, +hovering round the hut. Speak your mind, Delaware, and p'int out +the creatur' you wish to alarm. Here's a diver nearest in, off +to the eastward, and that's a creatur' that buries itself at the +flash, and will be like enough to try both piece and powder." + +Chingachgook was a man of few words. No sooner was the bird pointed +out to him than he took his aim and fired. The duck dove at the +flash, as had been expected, and the bullet skipped harmlessly +along the surface of the lake, first striking the water within a few +inches of the spot where the bird had so lately swam. Deerslayer +laughed, cordially and naturally, but at the same time he threw +himself into an attitude of preparation and stood keenly watching +the sheet of placid water. Presently a dark spot appeared, and +then the duck arose to breathe, and shook its wings. While in this +act, a bullet passed directly through its breast, actually turning +it over lifeless on its back. At the next moment, Deerslayer stood +with the breech of his rifle on the platform, as tranquil as if +nothing had happened, though laughing in his own peculiar manner. + +"There's no great trial of the pieces in that!" he said, as if anxious +to prevent a false impression of his own merit. "No, that proof's +neither for nor ag'in the rifles, seeing it was all quickness of +hand and eye. I took the bird at a disadvantage, or he might have +got under, again, afore the bullet reached him. But the Sarpent +is too wise to mind such tricks, having long been used to them. +Do you remember the time, chief, when you thought yourself sartain +of the wild-goose, and I took him out of your very eyes, as it might +be with a little smoke! Howsever, such things pass for nothing. +atween fri'nds, and young folk will have their fun, Judith. Ay; +here's just the bird we want, for it's as good for the fire, as it +is for the aim, and nothing should be lost that can be turned to +just account. There, further north, Delaware." + +The latter looked in the required direction, and he soon saw a +large black duck floating in stately repose on the water. At that +distant day, when so few men were present to derange the harmony +of the wilderness, all the smaller lakes with which the interior +of New York so abounds were places of resort for the migratory +aquatic birds, and this sheet like the others had once been much +frequented by all the varieties of the duck, by the goose, the +gull, and the loon. On the appearance of Hutter, the spot was +comparatively deserted for other sheets, more retired and remote, +though some of each species continued to resort thither, as indeed +they do to the present hour. At that instant, a hundred birds were +visible from the castle, sleeping on the water or laying their +feathers in the limpid element, though no other offered so favorable +a mark as that Deerslayer had just pointed out to his friend. +Chingachgook, as usual, spared his words, and proceeded to execution. +This time his aim was more careful than before, and his success +in proportion. The bird had a wing crippled, and fluttered along +the water screaming, materially increasing its distance from its +enemies. + +"That bird must be put out of pain," exclaimed Deerslayer, the +moment the animal endeavored to rise on the wing, "and this is the +rifle and the eye to do it." + +The duck was still floundering along, when the fatal bullet overtook +it, severing the head from the neck as neatly as if it had been +done with an axe. Hist had indulged in a low cry of delight at +the success of the young Indian, but now she affected to frown and +resent the greater skill of his friend. The chief, on the contrary, +uttered the usual exclamation of pleasure, and his smile proved +how much he admired, and how little he envied. + +"Never mind the gal, Sarpent, never mind Hist's feelin's, which +will neither choke, nor drown, slay nor beautify," said Deerslayer, +laughing. "'Tis nat'ral for women to enter into their husband's +victories and defeats, and you are as good as man and wife, so far +as prejudyce and fri'ndship go. Here is a bird over head that will +put the pieces to the proof. I challenge you to an upward aim, +with a flying target. That's a ra'al proof, and one that needs +sartain rifles, as well as sartain eyes." + +The species of eagle that frequents the water, and lives on fish, +was also present, and one was hovering at a considerable height above +the hut, greedily watching for an opportunity to make a swoop; its +hungry young elevating their heads from a nest that was in sight, +in the naked summit of a dead pine. Chingachgook silently turned +a new piece against this bird, and after carefully watching his +time, fired. A wider circuit than common denoted that the messenger +had passed through the air at no great distance from the bird, +though it missed its object. Deerslayer, whose aim was not more +true than it was quick, fired as soon as it was certain his friend +had missed, and the deep swoop that followed left it momentarily +doubtful whether the eagle was hit or not. The marksman himself, +however, proclaimed his own want of success, calling on his friend +to seize another rifle, for he saw signs on the part of the bird +of an intention to quit the spot. + +"I made him wink, Sarpent, I do think his feathers were ruffled, +but no blood has yet been drawn, nor is that old piece fit for so +nice and quick a sight. Quick, Delaware, you've now a better rifle, +and, Judith, bring out Killdeer, for this is the occasion to try +his merits, if he has 'em." + +A general movement followed, each of the competitors got ready, +and the girls stood in eager expectation of the result. The eagle +had made a wide circuit after his low swoop, and fanning his way +upward, once more hovered nearly over the hut, at a distance even +greater than before. Chingachgook gazed at him, and then expressed +his opinion of the impossibility of striking a bird at that great +height, and while he was so nearly perpendicular, as to the range. +But a low murmur from Hist produced a sudden impulse and he fired. +The result showed how well he had calculated, the eagle not even +varying his flight, sailing round and round in his airy circle, +and looking down, as if in contempt, at his foes. + +"Now, Judith," cried Deerslayer, laughing, with glistening and +delighted eyes, "we'll see if Killdeer isn't Killeagle, too! Give +me room Sarpent, and watch the reason of the aim, for by reason +any thing may be l'arned." + +A careful sight followed, and was repeated again and again, the bird +continuing to rise higher and higher. Then followed the flash and +the report. The swift messenger sped upward, and, at the next +instant, the bird turned on its side, and came swooping down, +now struggling with one wing and then with the other, sometimes +whirling in a circuit, next fanning desperately as if conscious of +its injury, until, having described several complete circles around +the spot, it fell heavily into the end of the Ark. On examining +the body, it was found that the bullet had pierced it about half +way between one of its wings and the breast-bone. + + + +Chapter XXVI. + + + "Upon two stony tables, spread before her, + She lean'd her bosom, more than stony hard, + There slept th' impartial judge, and strict restorer + Of wrong, or right, with pain or with reward; + There hung the score of all our debts, the card + Where good, and bad, and life, and death, were painted; + Was never heart of mortal so untainted, + But when the roll was read, with thousand terrors fainted." + + Giles Fletcher, Christ's Victory in Heaven, lxv. + +"We've done an unthoughtful thing, Sarpent - yes, Judith, we've +done an unthoughtful thing in taking life with an object no better +than vanity!" exclaimed Deerslayer, when the Delaware held up the +enormous bird, by its wings, and exhibited the dying eyes riveted +on its enemies with the gaze that the helpless ever fasten on their +destroyers. "Twas more becomin' two boys to gratify their feelin's +in this onthoughtful manner, than two warriors on a warpath, even +though it be their first. Ah's! me; well, as a punishment I'll quit +you at once, and when I find myself alone with them bloody-minded +Mingos, it's more than like I'll have occasion to remember that +life is sweet, even to the beasts of the woods and the fowls of +the air. There, Judith; there's Kildeer; take him back, ag'in, and +keep him for some hand that's more desarving to own such a piece." + +"I know of none as deserving as your own, Deerslayer," answered +the girl in haste; "none but yours shall keep the rifle." + +"If it depended on skill, you might be right enough, gal, but we +should know when to use firearms, as well as how to use 'em. I +haven't l'arnt the first duty yet, it seems; so keep the piece till +I have. The sight of a dyin' and distressed creatur', even though +it be only a bird, brings wholesome thoughts to a man who don't know +how soon his own time may come, and who is pretty sartain that it +will come afore the sun sets; I'd give back all my vain feelin's, +and rej'icin's in hand and eye, if that poor eagle was only on its +nest ag'in, with its young, praisin' the Lord for anything that we +can know about the matter, for health and strength!" + +The listeners were confounded with this proof of sudden repentance +in the hunter, and that too for an indulgence so very common, that +men seldom stop to weigh its consequences, or the physical suffering +it may bring on the unoffending and helpless. The Delaware understood +what was said, though he scarce understood the feelings which had +prompted the words, and by way of disposing of the difficulty, he +drew his keen knife, and severed the head of the sufferer from its +body. + +"What a thing is power!" continued the hunter, "and what a thing +it is to have it, and not to know how to use it. It's no wonder, +Judith, that the great so often fail of their duties, when even +the little and the humble find it so hard to do what's right, and +not to do what's wrong. Then, how one evil act brings others a'ter +it! Now, wasn't it for this furlough of mine, which must soon take +me back to the Mingos, I'd find this creatur's nest, if I travelled +the woods a fortnight - though an eagle's nest is soon found by them +that understands the bird's natur', - but I'd travel a fortnight +rather than not find it, just to put the young, too, out of their +pain." + +"I'm glad to hear you say this, Deerslayer," observed Hetty, "and +God will be more apt to remember your sorrow for what you've done, +than the wickedness itself. I thought how wicked it was to kill +harmless birds, while you were shooting, and meant to tell you so; +but, I don't know how it happened, - I was so curious to see if you +could hit an eagle at so great a height, that I forgot altogether +to speak, 'till the mischief was done." + +"That's it; that's just it, my good Hetty. We can all see our +faults and mistakes when it's too late to help them! Howsever I'm +glad you didn't speak, for I don't think a word or two would have +stopped me, just at that moment, and so the sin stands in its +nakedness, and not aggravated by any unheeded calls to forbear. +Well, well, bitter thoughts are hard to be borne at all times, but +there's times when they're harder than at others." + +Little did Deerslayer know, while thus indulging in feelings that +were natural to the man, and so strictly in accordance with his +own unsophisticated and just principles, that, in the course of the +inscrutable providence, which so uniformly and yet so mysteriously +covers all events with its mantle, the very fault he was disposed +so severely to censure was to be made the means of determining his +own earthly fate. The mode and the moment in which he was to feel +the influence of this interference, it would be premature to relate, +but both will appear in the course of the succeeding chapters. As +for the young man, he now slowly left the Ark, like one sorrowing +for his misdeeds, and seated himself in silence on the platform. By +this time the sun had ascended to some height, and its appearance, +taken in connection with his present feelings, induced him to +prepare to depart. The Delaware got the canoe ready for his friend, +as soon as apprised of his intention, while Hist busied herself +in making the few arrangements that were thought necessary to his +comfort. All this was done without ostentation, but in a way that +left Deerslayer fully acquainted with, and equally disposed to +appreciate, the motive. When all was ready, both returned to the +side of Judith and Hetty, neither of whom had moved from the spot +where the young hunter sat. + +"The best fri'nds must often part," the last began, when he saw +the whole party grouped around him - "yes, fri'ndship can't alter +the ways of Providence, and let our feelin's be as they may, we +must part. I've often thought there's moments when our words dwell +longer on the mind than common, and when advice is remembered, just +because the mouth that gives it isn't likely to give it ag'in. No +one knows what will happen in this world, and therefore it may be +well, when fri'nds separate under a likelihood that the parting may +be long, to say a few words in kindness, as a sort of keepsakes. +If all but one will go into the Ark, I'll talk to each in turn, and +what is more, I'll listen to what you may have to say back ag'in, +for it's a poor counsellor that won't take as well as give." + +As the meaning of the speaker was understood, the two Indians +immediately withdrew as desired, leaving the sisters, however, still +standing at the young man's side. A look of Deerslayer's induced +Judith to explain. + +"You can advise Hetty as you land," she said hastily, "for I intend +that she shall accompany you to the shore." + +"Is this wise, Judith? It's true, that under common sarcumstances +a feeble mind is a great protection among red-skins, but when their +feelin's are up, and they're bent on revenge, it's hard to say what +may come to pass. Besides -" + +"What were you about to say, Deerslayer?" asked Judith, whose +gentleness of voice and manner amounted nearly to tenderness, +though she struggled hard to keep her emotions and apprehensions +in subjection. + +"Why, simply that there are sights and doin's that one even as +little gifted with reason and memory as Hetty here, might better +not witness. So, Judith, you would do well to let me land alone, +and to keep your sister back." + +"Never fear for me, Deerslayer," put in Hetty, who comprehended +enough of the discourse to know its general drift, "I'm feeble +minded, and that they say is an excuse for going anywhere; and +what that won't excuse, will be overlooked on account of the Bible +I always carry. It is wonderful, Judith, how all sorts of men; the +trappers as well as the hunters; red-men as well as white; Mingos +as well as Delawares do reverence and fear the Bible!" + +"I think you have not the least ground to fear any injury, Hetty," +answered the sister, "and therefore I shall insist on your going to +the Huron camp with our friend. Your being there can do no harm, +not even to yourself, and may do great good to Deerslayer." + +"This is not a moment, Judith, to dispute, and so have the matter +your own way," returned the young man. "Get yourself ready, Hetty, +and go into the canoe, for I've a few parting words to say to your +sister, which can do you no good." + +Judith and her companion continued silent, until Hetty had so far +complied as to leave them alone, when Deerslayer took up the subject, +as if it had been interrupted by some ordinary occurrence, and in +a very matter of fact way. + +"Words spoken at parting, and which may be the last we ever hear +from a fri'nd are not soon forgotten," he repeated, "and so Judith, +I intend to speak to you like a brother, seein' I'm not old enough +to be your father. In the first place, I wish to caution you ag'in +your inimies, of which two may be said to ha'nt your very footsteps, +and to beset your ways. The first is oncommon good looks, which is +as dangerous a foe to some young women, as a whole tribe of Mingos +could prove, and which calls for great watchfulness -not to admire +and praise - but to distrust and sarcumvent. Yes, good looks may +be sarcumvented, and fairly outwitted, too. In order to do this +you've only to remember that they melt like the snows, and, when +once gone, they never come back ag'in. The seasons come and go, +Judith, and if we have winter, with storms and frosts, and spring +with chills and leafless trees, we have summer with its sun and +glorious skies, and fall with its fruits, and a garment thrown over +the forest, that no beauty of the town could rummage out of all +the shops in America. 'Arth is in an etarnal round, the goodness +of God bringing back the pleasant when we've had enough of the +onpleasant. But it's not so with good looks. They are lent for +a short time in youth, to be used and not abused, and, as I never +met with a young woman to whom providence has been as bountiful as +it has to you, Judith, in this partic'lar, I warn you, as it might +be with my dyin' breath, to beware of the inimy - fri'nd, or inimy, +as we deal with the gift." + +It was so grateful to Judith to hear these unequivocal admissions +of her personal charms, that much would have been forgiven to the +man who made them, let him be who he might. But, at that moment, +and from a far better feeling, it would not have been easy for +Deerslayer seriously to offend her, and she listened with a patience, +which, had it been foretold only a week earlier, it would have +excited her indignation to hear. + +"I understand your meaning, Deerslayer," returned the girl, with +a meekness and humility that a little surprised her listener, "and +hope to be able to profit by it. But, you have mentioned only one +of the enemies I have to fear; who, or what is the other." + +"The other is givin' way afore your own good sense and judgment, I +find, Judith; yes, he's not as dangerous as I supposed. Howsever, +havin' opened the subject, it will be as well to end it honestly. +The first inimy you have to be watchful of, as I've already told +you, Judith, is oncommon good looks, and the next is an oncommon +knowledge of the sarcumstance. If the first is bad, the last +doesn't, in any way, mend the matter, so far as safety and peace +of mind are consarned." + +How much longer the young man would have gone on in his simple and +unsuspecting, but well intentioned manner, it might not be easy to +say, had he not been interrupted by his listener's bursting into +tears, and giving way to an outbreak of feeling, which was so +much the more violent from the fact that it had been with so much +difficulty suppressed. At first her sobs were so violent and +uncontrollable that Deerslayer was a little appalled, and he was +abundantly repentant from the instant that he discovered how much +greater was the effect produced by his words than he had anticipated. +Even the austere and exacting are usually appeased by the signs of +contrition, but the nature of Deerslayer did not require proofs of +intense feelings so strong in order to bring him down to a level +with the regrets felt by the girl herself. He arose, as if an +adder had stung him, and the accents of the mother that soothes +her child were scarcely more gentle and winning than the tones of +his voice, as he now expressed his contrition at having gone so +far. + +"It was well meant, Judith," he said, "but it was not intended +to hurt your feelin's so much. I have overdone the advice, I +see; yes, I've overdone it, and I crave your pardon for the same. +Fri'ndship's an awful thing! Sometimes it chides us for not having +done enough; and then, ag'in it speaks in strong words for havin' +done too much. Howsever, I acknowledge I've overdone the matter, +and as I've a ra'al and strong regard for you, I rej'ice to say it, +inasmuch as it proves how much better you are, than my own vanity +and consaits had made you out to be." + +Judith now removed her hands from her face, her tears had ceased, +and she unveiled a countenance so winning with the smile which +rendered it even radiant, that the young man gazed at her, for a +moment, with speechless delight. + +"Say no more, Deerslayer," she hastily interposed; "it pains me to +hear you find fault with yourself. I know my own weakness, all the +better, now I see that you have discovered it; the lesson, bitter +as I have found it for a moment, shall not be forgotten. We will +not talk any longer of these things, for I do not feel myself brave +enough for the undertaking, and I should not like the Delaware, or +Hist, or even Hetty, to notice my weakness. Farewell, Deerslayer; +may God bless and protect you as your honest heart deserves blessings +and protection, and as I must think he will." + +Judith had so far regained the superiority that properly belonged +to her better education, high spirit, and surpassing personal +advantages, as to preserve the ascendancy she had thus accidentally +obtained, and effectually prevented any return to the subject that +was as singularly interrupted, as it had been singularly introduced. +The young man permitted her to have every thing her own way, and when +she pressed his hard hand in both her own, he made no resistance, +but submitted to the homage as quietly, and with quite as matter +of course a manner, as a sovereign would have received a similar +tribute from a subject, or the mistress from her suitor. Feeling +had flushed the face and illuminated the whole countenance of the +girl, and her beauty was never more resplendant than when she cast +a parting glance at the youth. That glance was filled with anxiety, +interest and gentle pity. At the next instant, she darted into the +hut and was seen no more, though she spoke to Hist from a window, +to inform her that their friend expected her appearance. + +"You know enough of red-skin natur', and red-skin usages, Wah-ta-Wah, +to see the condition I am in on account of this furlough," commenced +the hunter in Delaware, as soon as the patient and submissive girl +of that people had moved quietly to his side; "you will therefore +best onderstand how onlikely I am ever to talk with you ag'in. I've +but little to say; but that little comes from long livin' among +your people, and from havin' obsarved and noted their usages. The +life of a woman is hard at the best, but I must own, though I'm +not opinionated in favor of my own colour, that it is harder among +the red men than it is among the pale-faces. This is a p'int on +which Christians may well boast, if boasting can be set down for +Christianity in any manner or form, which I rather think it cannot. +Howsever, all women have their trials. Red women have their'n +in what I should call the nat'ral way, while white women take 'em +innoculated like. Bear your burthen, Hist, becomingly, and remember +if it be a little toilsome, how much lighter it is than that of +most Indian women. I know the Sarpent well - what I call cordially +- and he will never be a tyrant to any thing he loves, though he +will expect to be treated himself like a Mohican Chief. There will +be cloudy days in your lodge I suppose, for they happen under all +usages, and among all people, but, by keepin' the windows of the +heart open there will always be room for the sunshine to enter. +You come of a great stock yourself, and so does Chingachgook. It's +not very likely that either will ever forget the sarcumstance and +do any thing to disgrace your forefathers. Nevertheless, likin' +is a tender plant, and never thrives long when watered with tears. +Let the 'arth around your married happiness be moistened by the +dews of kindness." + +"My pale brother is very wise; Wah will keep in her mind all that +his wisdom tells her." + +"That's judicious and womanly, Hist. Care in listening, and +stout-heartedness in holding to good counsel, is a wife's great +protection. And, now, ask the Sarpent to come and speak with me, +for a moment, and carry away with you all my best wishes and prayers. +I shall think of you, Hist, and of your intended husband, let what +may come to pass, and always wish you well, here and hereafter, +whether the last is to be according to Indian idees, or Christian +doctrines." + +Hist shed no tear at parting. She was sustained by the high +resolution of one who had decided on her course, but her dark eyes +were luminous with the feelings that glowed within, and her pretty +countenance beamed with an expression of determination that was in +marked and singular contrast to its ordinary gentleness. It was +but a minute ere the Delaware advanced to the side of his friend +with the light, noiseless tread of an Indian. + +"Come this-a-way, Sarpent, here more out of sight of the women," +commenced the Deerslayer, "for I've several things to say that +mustn't so much as be suspected, much less overheard. You know +too well the natur' of furloughs and Mingos to have any doubts or +misgivin's consarnin' what is like to happen, when I get back to +the camp. On them two p'ints therefore, a few words will go a great +way. In the first place, chief, I wish to say a little about Hist, +and the manner in which you red men treat your wives. I suppose +it's accordin' to the gifts of your people that the women should +work, and the men hunt; but there's such a thing as moderation in +all matters. As for huntin', I see no good reason why any limits +need be set to that, but Hist comes of too good a stock to toil +like a common drudge. One of your means and standin' need never +want for corn, or potatoes, or anything that the fields yield; +therefore, I hope the hoe will never be put into the hands of any +wife of yourn. You know I am not quite a beggar, and all I own, +whether in ammunition, skins, arms, or calicoes, I give to Hist, +should I not come back to claim them by the end of the season. This +will set the maiden up, and will buy labor for her, for a long time +to come. I suppose I needn't tell you to love the young woman, for +that you do already, and whomsoever the man ra'ally loves, he'll +be likely enough to cherish. Nevertheless, it can do no harm to +say that kind words never rankle, while bitter words do. I know +you're a man, Sarpent, that is less apt to talk in his own lodge, +than to speak at the Council Fire; but forgetful moments may +overtake us all, and the practyse of kind doin', and kind talkin', +is a wonderful advantage in keepin' peace in a cabin, as well as +on a hunt." + +"My ears are open," returned the Delaware gravely; "the words of +my brother have entered so far that they never can fall out again. +They are like rings, that have no end, and cannot drop. Let him +speak on; the song of the wren and the voice of a friend never +tire." + +"I will speak a little longer, chief, but you will excuse it for +the sake of old companionship, should I now talk about myself. +If the worst comes to the worst, it's not likely there'll be much +left of me but ashes, so a grave would be useless, and a sort of +vanity. On that score I'm no way partic'lar, though it might be +well enough to take a look at the remains of the pile, and should +any bones, or pieces be found, 'twould be more decent to gather +them together, and bury them, than to let them lie for the wolves +to gnaw at, and howl over. These matters can make no great difference +in the mind, but men of white blood and Christian feelin's have +rather a gift for graves." + +"It shall be done as my brother says," returned the Indian, gravely. +"If his mind is full, let him empty it in the bosom of a friend." + +"I thank you, Sarpent; my mind's easy enough; yes, it's tolerable +easy. Idees will come uppermost that I'm not apt to think about +in common, it's true, but by striving ag'in some, and lettin' other +some out, all will come right in the long run. There's one thing, +howsever, chief, that does seem to me to be onreasonable, and +ag'in natur', though the missionaries say it's true, and bein' of +my religion and colour I feel bound to believe them. They say an +Injin may torment and tortur' the body to his heart's content, and +scalp, and cut, and tear, and burn, and consume all his inventions +and deviltries, until nothin' is left but ashes, and they shall +be scattered to the four winds of heaven, yet when the trumpet of +God shall sound, all will come together ag'in, and the man will +stand forth in his flesh, the same creatur' as to looks, if not as +to feelin's, that he was afore he was harmed!" + +"The missionaries are good men - mean well," returned the Delaware +courteously; "they are not great medicines. They think all they +say, Deerslayer; that is no reason why warriors and orators should +be all ears. When Chingachgook shall see the father of Tamenund +standing in his scalp, and paint, and war lock, then will he believe +the missionaries." + +"Seein' is believin', of a sartainty; ahs! me - and some of us +may see these things sooner than we thought. I comprehind your +meanin' about Tamenund's father, Sarpent, and the idee's a close +idee. Tamenund is now an elderly man, say eighty every day of +it, and his father was scalped, and tormented, and burnt, when the +present prophet was a youngster. Yes, if one could see that come +to pass, there wouldn't be much difficulty in yieldin' faith to all +that the missionaries say. Howsever, I am not ag'in the opinion +now, for you must know, Sarpent, that the great principle of +Christianity is to believe without seeing, and a man should always +act up to his religion and principles, let them be what they may." + +"That is strange for a wise nation!" said the Delaware with emphasis. +"The red man looks hard, that he may see and understand." + +"Yes, that's plauserble, and is agreeable to mortal pride, but +it's not as deep as it seems. If we could understand all we see, +Sarpent, there might be not only sense, but safety, in refusin' to +give faith to any one thing that we might find oncomperhensible; +but when there's so many things about which it may be said we know +nothin' at all, why, there's little use, and no reason, in bein' +difficult touchin' any one in partic'lar. For my part, Delaware, +all my thoughts haven't been on the game, when outlyin' in the +hunts and scoutin's of our youth. Many's the hour I've passed, +pleasantly enough too, in what is tarmed conterplation by my people. +On such occasions the mind is actyve, though the body seems lazy +and listless. An open spot on a mountain side, where a wide look +can be had at the heavens and the 'arth, is a most judicious place +for a man to get a just idee of the power of the Manitou, and of his +own littleness. At such times, there isn't any great disposition +to find fault with little difficulties, in the way of comperhension, +as there are so many big ones to hide them. Believin' comes easy +enough to me at such times, and if the Lord made man first out +of'arth, as they tell me it is written in the Bible; then turns +him into dust at death; I see no great difficulty in the way to +bringin' him back in the body, though ashes be the only substance +left. These things lie beyond our understandin', though they may +and do lie so close to our feelin's. But, of all the doctrines, +Sarpent, that which disturbs me, and disconsarts my mind the most, +is the one which teaches us to think that a pale-face goes to one +heaven, and a red-skin to another; it may separate in death them +which lived much together, and loved each other well, in life!" + +"Do the missionaries teach their white brethren to think it is so?" +demanded the Indian, with serious earnestness. 'The Delawares +believe that good men and brave warriors will hunt together in the +same pleasant woods, let them belong to whatever tribe they may; +that all the unjust Indians and cowards will have to sneak in with +the dogs and the wolves to get venison for their lodges." + +"Tis wonderful how many consaits mankind have consarnin' happiness +and misery, here after!" exclaimed the hunter, borne away by the +power of his own thoughts. 'Some believe in burnin's and flames, +and some think punishment is to eat with the wolves and dogs. Then, +ag'in, some fancy heaven to be only the carryin' out of their own +'arthly longin's, while others fancy it all gold and shinin' lights! +Well, I've an idee of my own, in that matter, which is just this, +Sarpent. Whenever I've done wrong, I've ginirally found 'twas +owin' to some blindness of the mind, which hid the right from view, +and when sight has returned, then has come sorrow and repentance. +Now, I consait that, after death, when the body is laid aside or, +if used at all, is purified and without its longin's, the spirit +sees all things in their ra'al lights and never becomes blind to +truth and justice. Such bein' the case, all that has been done +in life, is beheld as plainly as the sun is seen at noon; the +good brings joy, while the evil brings sorrow. There's nothin' +onreasonable in that, but it's agreeable to every man's exper'ence." + +"I thought the pale-faces believed all men were wicked; who then +could ever find the white man's heaven?" + +"That's ingen'ous, but it falls short of the missionary teachin's. +You'll be Christianized one day, I make no doubt, and then 'twill +all come plain enough. You must know, Sarpent, that there's been +a great deed of salvation done, that, by God's help, enables all +men to find a pardon for their wickednesses, and that is the essence +of the white man's religion. I can't stop to talk this matter over +with you any longer, for Hetty's in the canoe, and the furlough +takes me away, but the time will come I hope when you'll feel these +things; for, after all, they must be felt rather than reasoned +about. Ah's! me; well, Delaware, there's my hand; you know it's +that of a fri'nd, and will shake it as such, though it never has +done you one half the good its owner wishes it had." + +The Indian took the offered hand, and returned its pressure warmly. +Then falling back on his acquired stoicism of manner, which so many +mistake for constitutional indifference, he drew up in reserve, +and prepared to part from his friend with dignity. Deerslayer, +however, was more natural, nor would he have at all cared about +giving way to his feelings, had not the recent conduct and language +of Judith given him some secret, though ill defined apprehensions +of a scene. He was too humble to imagine the truth concerning the +actual feelings of that beautiful girl, while he was too observant +not to have noted the struggle she had maintained with herself, and +which had so often led her to the very verge of discovery. That +something extraordinary was concealed in her breast he thought +obvious enough, and, through a sentiment of manly delicacy that +would have done credit to the highest human refinement, he shrunk +from any exposure of her secret that might subsequently cause regret +to the girl, herself. He therefore determined to depart, now, and +that without any further manifestations of feeling either from him, +or from others. + +"God bless you! Sarpent - God bless you!" cried the hunter, as +the canoe left the side of the platform. "Your Manitou and my God +only know when and where we shall meet ag'in; I shall count it a +great blessing, and a full reward for any little good I may have +done on 'arth, if we shall be permitted to know each other, and +to consort together, hereafter, as we have so long done in these +pleasant woods afore us!" + +Chingachgook waved his hand. Drawing the light blanket he wore +over his head, as a Roman would conceal his grief in his robes, he +slowly withdrew into the Ark, in order to indulge his sorrow and +his musings, alone. Deerslayer did not speak again until the canoe +was half-way to the shore. Then he suddenly ceased paddling, at +an interruption that came from the mild, musical voice of Hetty. + +"Why do you go back to the Hurons, Deerslayer?" demanded the girl. +"They say I am feeble-minded, and such they never harm, but you have +as much sense as Hurry Harry; and more too, Judith thinks, though +I don't see how that can well be." + +"Ah! Hetty, afore we land I must convarse a little with you child, +and that too on matters touching your own welfare, principally. +Stop paddling -or, rather, that the Mingos needn't think we are +plotting and contriving, and so treat us accordingly, just dip your +paddle lightly, and give the canoe a little motion and no more. +That's just the idee and the movement; I see you're ready enough +at an appearance, and might be made useful at a sarcumvention if it +was lawful now to use one - that's just the idee and the movement! +Ah's! me. Desait and a false tongue are evil things, and +altogether onbecoming our colour, Hetty, but it is a pleasure and +a satisfaction to outdo the contrivances of a red-skin in the strife +of lawful warfare. My path has been short, and is like soon to +have an end, but I can see that the wanderings of a warrior aren't +altogether among brambles and difficulties. There's a bright side +to a warpath, as well as to most other things, if we'll only have +the wisdom to see it, and the ginerosity to own it." + +"And why should your warpath, as you call it, come so near to an +end, Deerslayer?" + +"Because, my good girl, my furlough comes so near to an end. They're +likely to have pretty much the same tarmination, as regards time, +one following on the heels of the other, as a matter of course." + +"I don't understand your meaning, Deerslayer -" returned the girl, +looking a little bewildered. "Mother always said people ought to +speak more plainly to me than to most other persons, because I'm +feeble minded. Those that are feeble minded, don't understand as +easily as those that have sense." + +"Well then, Hetty, the simple truth is this. You know that I'm now +a captyve to the Hurons, and captyves can't do, in all things, as +they please -" + +"But how can you be a captive," eagerly interrupted the girl +-"when you are out here on the lake, in father's best canoe, and +the Indians are in the woods with no canoe at all? That can't be +true, Deerslayer!" + +"I wish with all my heart and soul, Hetty, that you was right, and +that I was wrong, instead of your bein' all wrong, and I bein' only +too near the truth. Free as I seem to your eyes, gal, I'm bound +hand and foot in ra'ality." + +"Well it is a great misfortune not to have sense! Now I can't see +or understand that you are a captive, or bound in any manner. If +you are bound, with what are your hands and feet fastened?" + +"With a furlough, gal; that's a thong that binds tighter than any +chain. One may be broken, but the other can't. Ropes and chains +allow of knives, and desait, and contrivances; but a furlough can +be neither cut, slipped nor sarcumvented." + +"What sort of a thing is a furlough, then, if it be stronger than +hemp or iron? I never saw a furlough." + +"I hope you may never feel one, gal; the tie is altogether in the +feelin's, in these matters, and therefore is to be felt and not +seen. You can understand what it is to give a promise, I dare to +say, good little Hetty?" + +"Certainly. A promise is to say you will do a thing, and that binds +you to be as good as your word. Mother always kept her promises +to me, and then she said it would be wicked if I didn't keep my +promises to her, and to every body else." + +"You have had a good mother, in some matters, child, whatever she +may have been in other some. That is a promise, and as you say it +must be kept. Now, I fell into the hands of the Mingos last night, +and they let me come off to see my fri'nds and send messages in to +my own colour, if any such feel consarn on my account, on condition +that I shall be back when the sun is up today, and take whatever +their revenge and hatred can contrive, in the way of torments, in +satisfaction for the life of a warrior that fell by my rifle, as +well as for that of the young woman shot by Hurry, and other +disapp'intments met with on and about this lake. What is called +a promise atween mother and darter, or even atween strangers in +the settlements is called a furlough when given by one soldier to +another, on a warpath. And now I suppose you understand my +situation, Hetty." + +The girl made no answer for some time, but she ceased paddling +altogether, as if the novel idea distracted her mind too much to +admit of other employment. Then she resumed the dialogue earnestly +and with solicitude. + +"Do you think the Hurons will have the heart to do what you say, +Deerslayer?" she asked. "I have found them kind and harmless." + +"That's true enough as consarns one like you, Hetty, but it's a +very different affair when it comes to an open inimy, and he too +the owner of a pretty sartain rifle. I don't say that they bear +me special malice on account of any expl'ites already performed, +for that would be bragging, as it might be, on the varge of the +grave, but it's no vanity to believe that they know one of their +bravest and cunnin'est chiefs fell by my hands. Such bein' the +case, the tribe would reproach them if they failed to send the +spirit of a pale-face to keep the company of the spirit of their +red brother; always supposin' that he can catch it. I look for no +marcy, Hetty, at their hands; and my principal sorrow is that such +a calamity should befall me on my first warpath: that it would come +sooner or later, every soldier counts on and expects." + +"The Hurons shall not harm you, Deerslayer," cried the girl, much +excited -"Tis wicked as well as cruel; I have the Bible, here, to +tell them so. Do you think I would stand by and see you tormented?" + +"I hope not, my good Hetty, I hope not; and, therefore, when the +moment comes, I expect you will move off, and not be a witness of +what you can't help, while it would grieve you. But, I haven't +stopped the paddles to talk of my own afflictions and difficulties, +but to speak a little plainly to you, gal, consarnin' your own +matters." + +"What can you have to say to me, Deerslayer! Since mother died, +few talk to me of such things." + +"So much the worse, poor gal; yes, 'tis so much the worse, for one +of your state of mind needs frequent talking to, in order to escape +the snares and desaits of this wicked world. You haven't forgotten +Hurry Harry, gal, so soon, I calculate?" + +"I! - I forget Henry March!" exclaimed Hetty, starting. "Why +should I forget him, Deerslayer, when he is our friend, and only +left us last night. Then the large bright star that mother loved +so much to gaze at was just over the top of yonder tall pine on the +mountain, as Hurry got into the canoe; and when you landed him on +the point, near the east bay, it wasn't more than the length of +Judith's handsomest ribbon above it." + +"And how can you know how long I was gone, or how far I went to +land Hurry, seein' you were not with us, and the distance was so +great, to say nothing of the night?" + +"Oh! I know when it was, well enough," returned Hetty positively +-"There's more ways than one for counting time and distance. When +the mind is engaged, it is better than any clock. Mine is feeble, +I know, but it goes true enough in all that touches poor Hurry +Harry. Judith will never marry March, Deerslayer." + +"That's the p'int, Hetty; that's the very p'int I want to come to. +I suppose you know that it's nat'ral for young people to have kind +feelin's for one another, more especially when one happens to be a +youth and t'other a maiden. Now, one of your years and mind, gal, +that has neither father nor mother, and who lives in a wilderness +frequented by hunters and trappers, needs be on her guard against +evils she little dreams of." + +"What harm can it be to think well of a fellow creature," returned +Hetty simply, though the conscious blood was stealing to her cheeks +in spite of a spirit so pure that it scarce knew why it prompted +the blush, "the Bible tells us to 'love them who despitefully use' +us, and why shouldn't we like them that do not." + +"Ah! Hetty, the love of the missionaries isn't the sort of likin' +I mean. Answer me one thing, child; do you believe yourself to +have mind enough to become a wife, and a mother?" + +"That's not a proper question to ask a young woman, Deerslayer, +and I'll not answer it," returned the girl, in a reproving manner +- much as a parent rebukes a child for an act of indiscretion. "If +you have any thing to say about Hurry, I'll hear that - but you +must not speak evil of him; he is absent, and 'tis unkind to talk +evil of the absent." + +"Your mother has given you so many good lessons, Hetty, that +my fears for you are not as great as they were. Nevertheless, a +young woman without parents, in your state of mind, and who is not +without beauty, must always be in danger in such a lawless region +as this. I would say nothin' amiss of Hurry, who, in the main, +is not a bad man for one of his callin', but you ought to know one +thing, which it may not be altogether pleasant to tell you, but +which must be said. March has a desperate likin' for your sister +Judith." + +"Well, what of that? Everybody admires Judith, she's so handsome, +and Hurry has told me, again and again, how much he wishes to marry +her. But that will never come to pass, for Judith don't like Hurry. +She likes another, and talks about him in her sleep; though you +need not ask me who he is, for all the gold in King George's crown, +and all the jewels too, wouldn't tempt me to tell you his name. +If sisters can't keep each other's secrets, who can?" + +"Sartainly, I do not wish you to tell me, Hetty, nor would it be +any advantage to a dyin' man to know. What the tongue says when +the mind's asleep, neither head nor heart is answerable for." + +"I wish I knew why Judith talks so much in her sleep, about officers, +and honest hearts, and false tongues, but I suppose she don't like +to tell me, as I'm feeble minded. Isn't it odd, Deerslayer, that +Judith don't like Hurry -he who is the bravest looking youth that +ever comes upon the lake, and is as handsome as she is herself. +Father always said they would be the comeliest couple in the country, +though mother didn't fancy March any more than Judith. There's no +telling what will happen, they say, until things actually come to +pass." + +"Ahs! me - well, poor Hetty, 'tis of no great use to talk to them +that can't understand you, and so I'll say no more about what I did +wish to speak of, though it lay heavy on my mind. Put the paddle +in motion ag'in, gal, and we'll push for the shore, for the sun is +nearly up, and my furlough is almost out." + +The canoe now glided ahead, holding its way towards the point +where Deerslayer well knew that his enemies expected him, and where +he now began to be afraid he might not arrive in season to redeem +his plighted faith. Hetty, perceiving his impatience without very +clearly comprehending its cause, however, seconded his efforts in +a way that soon rendered their timely return no longer a matter of +doubt. Then, and then only, did the young man suffer his exertions +to flag, and Hetty began, again, to prattle in her simple confiding +manner, though nothing farther was uttered that it may be thought +necessary to relate. + + + +Chapter XXVII. + + + "Thou hast been busy, Death, this day, and yet + But half thy work is done! The gates of hell + Are thronged, yet twice ten thousand spirits more + Who from their warm and healthful tenements + Fear no divorce; must, ere the sun go down, + Enter the world of woe!"- + + Southey, Roderick, the Last of the Goths, XXIV, i-6. + +One experienced in the signs of the heavens, would have seen that +the sun wanted but two or three minutes of the zenith, when Deerslayer +landed on the point, where the Hurons were now encamped, nearly +abreast of the castle. This spot was similar to the one already +described, with the exception that the surface of the land +was less broken, and less crowded with trees. Owing to these two +circumstances, it was all the better suited to the purpose for which +it had been selected, the space beneath the branches bearing some +resemblance to a densely wooded lawn. Favoured by its position and +its spring, it had been much resorted to by savages and hunters, +and the natural grasses had succeeded their fires, leaving an +appearance of sward in places, a very unusual accompaniment of the +virgin forest. Nor was the margin of water fringed with bushes, +as on so much of its shore, but the eye penetrated the woods +immediately on reaching the strand, commanding nearly the whole +area of the projection. + +If it was a point of honor with the Indian warrior to redeem his +word, when pledged to return and meet his death at a given hour, +so was it a point of characteristic pride to show no womanish +impatience, but to reappear as nearly as possible at the appointed +moment. It was well not to exceed the grace accorded by the +generosity of the enemy, but it was better to meet it to a minute. +Something of this dramatic effect mingles with most of the graver +usages of the American aborigines, and no doubt, like the prevalence +of a similar feeling among people more sophisticated and refined, +may be referred to a principle of nature. We all love the wonderful, +and when it comes attended by chivalrous self-devotion and a rigid +regard to honor, it presents itself to our admiration in a shape +doubly attractive. As respects Deerslayer, though he took a pride +in showing his white blood, by often deviating from the usages of +the red-men, he frequently dropped into their customs, and oftener +into their feelings, unconsciously to himself, in consequence of +having no other arbiters to appeal to, than their judgments and +tastes. On the present occasion, he would have abstained from +betraying a feverish haste by a too speedy return, since it would +have contained a tacit admission that the time asked for was more +than had been wanted; but, on the other hand, had the idea occurred +to him, he would have quickened his movements a little, in order to +avoid the dramatic appearance of returning at the precise instant +set as the utmost limit of his absence. Still, accident had interfered +to defeat the last intention, for when the young man put his foot +on the point, and advanced with a steady tread towards the group of +chiefs that was seated in grave array on a fallen tree, the oldest +of their number cast his eye upward, at an opening in the trees, +and pointed out to his companions the startling fact that the sun +was just entering a space that was known to mark the zenith. A +common, but low exclamation of surprise and admiration escaped every +mouth, and the grim warriors looked at each other, some with envy +and disappointment, some with astonishment at the precise accuracy +of their victim, and others with a more generous and liberal feeling. +The American Indian always deemed his moral victories the noblest, +prizing the groans and yielding of his victim under torture, more +than the trophy of his scalp; and the trophy itself more than his +life. To slay, and not to bring off the proof of victory, indeed, +was scarcely deemed honorable, even these rude and fierce tenants +of the forest, like their more nurtured brethren of the court and +the camp, having set up for themselves imaginary and arbitrary +points of honor, to supplant the conclusions of the right and the +decisions of reason. + +The Hurons had been divided in their opinions concerning the +probability of their captive's return. Most among them, indeed, had +not expected it possible for a pale-face to come back voluntarily, +and meet the known penalties of an Indian torture; but a few of +the seniors expected better things from one who had already shown +himself so singularly cool, brave and upright. The party had +come to its decision, however, less in the expectation of finding +the pledge redeemed, than in the hope of disgracing the Delawares +by casting into their teeth the delinquency of one bred in their +villages. They would have greatly preferred that Chingachgook +should be their prisoner, and prove the traitor, but the pale-face +scion of the hated stock was no bad substitute for their purposes, +failing in their designs against the ancient stem. With a view to +render their triumph as signal as possible, in the event of the +hour's passing without the reappearance of the hunter, all the +warriors and scouts of the party had been called in, and the whole +band, men, women and children, was now assembled at this single +point, to be a witness of the expected scene. As the castle was +in plain view, and by no means distant, it was easily watched by +daylight, and, it being thought that its inmates were now limited +to Hurry, the Delaware and the two girls, no apprehensions were +felt of their being able to escape unseen. A large raft having a +breast-work of logs had been prepared, and was in actual readiness +to be used against either Ark or castle as occasion might require, so +soon as the fate of Deerslayer was determined, the seniors of the +party having come to the opinion that it was getting to be hazardous +to delay their departure for Canada beyond the coming night. In +short the band waited merely to dispose of this single affair, +ere it brought matters with those in the Castle to a crisis, and +prepared to commence its retreat towards the distant waters of +Ontario. + +It was an imposing scene into which Deerslayer now found himself +advancing. All the older warriors were seated on the trunk of +the fallen tree, waiting his approach with grave decorum. On the +right stood the young men, armed, while left was occupied by the +women and children. In the centre was an open space of considerable +extent, always canopied by trees, but from which the underbrush, +dead wood, and other obstacles had been carefully removed. The +more open area had probably been much used by former parties, for +this was the place where the appearance of a sward was the most +decided. The arches of the woods, even at high noon, cast their +sombre shadows on the spot, which the brilliant rays of the sun +that struggled through the leaves contributed to mellow, and, if +such an expression can be used, to illuminate. It was probably +from a similar scene that the mind of man first got its idea of the +effects of gothic tracery and churchly hues, this temple of nature +producing some such effect, so far as light and shadow were concerned, +as the well-known offspring of human invention. + +As was not unusual among the tribes and wandering bands of the +Aborigines, two chiefs shared, in nearly equal degrees, the principal +and primitive authority that was wielded over these children of +the forest. There were several who might claim the distinction of +being chief men, but the two in question were so much superior to +all the rest in influence, that, when they agreed, no one disputed +their mandates, and when they were divided the band hesitated, like +men who had lost their governing principle of action. It was also +in conformity with practice, perhaps we might add in conformity +with nature, that one of the chiefs was indebted to his mind for +his influence, whereas the other owed his distinction altogether +to qualities that were physical. One was a senior, well known for +eloquence in debate, wisdom in council, and prudence in measures; while +his great competitor, if not his rival, was a brave distinguished +in war, notorious for ferocity, and remarkable, in the way of +intellect, for nothing but the cunning and expedients of the war +path. The first was Rivenoak, who has already been introduced to +the reader, while the last was called le Panth'ere, in the language +of the Canadas, or the Panther, to resort to the vernacular of +the English colonies. The appellation of the fighting chief was +supposed to indicate the qualities of the warrior, agreeably to +a practice of the red man's nomenclature, ferocity, cunning and +treachery being, perhaps, the distinctive features of his character. +The title had been received from the French, and was prized so much +the more from that circumstance, the Indian submitting profoundly +to the greater intelligence of his pale-face allies, in most things +of this nature. How well the sobriquet was merited will be seen +in the sequel. + +Rivenoak and the Panther sat side by side awaiting the approach +of their prisoner, as Deerslayer put his moccasined foot on the +strand, nor did either move, or utter a syllable, until the young +man had advanced into the centre of the area, and proclaimed his +presence with his voice. This was done firmly, though in the simple +manner that marked the character of the individual. + +"Here I am, Mingos," he said, in the dialect of the Delawares, a +language that most present understood; "here I am, and there is the +sun. One is not more true to the laws of natur', than the other +has proved true to his word. I am your prisoner; do with me what +you please. My business with man and 'arth is settled; nothing +remains now but to meet the white man's God, accordin' to a white +man's duties and gifts." + +A murmur of approbation escaped even the women at this address, +and, for an instant there was a strong and pretty general desire +to adopt into the tribe one who owned so brave a spirit. Still +there were dissenters from this wish, among the principal of whom +might be classed the Panther, and his sister, Ie Sumach, so called +from the number of her children, who was the widow of le Loup +Cervier, now known to have fallen by the hand of the captive. +Native ferocity held one in subjection, while the corroding passion +of revenge prevented the other from admitting any gentler feeling +at the moment. Not so with Rivenoak. This chief arose, stretched +his arm before him in a gesture of courtesy, and paid his compliments +with an ease and dignity that a prince might have envied. As, +in that band, his wisdom and eloquence were confessedly without +rivals, he knew that on himself would properly fall the duty of +first replying to the speech of the pale-face. + +"Pale-face, you are honest," said the Huron orator. "My people +are happy in having captured a man, and not a skulking fox. We +now know you; we shall treat you like a brave. If you have slain +one of our warriors, and helped to kill others, you have a life +of your own ready to give away in return. Some of my young men +thought that the blood of a pale-face was too thin; that it would +refuse to run under the Huron knife. You will show them it is not +so; your heart is stout, as well as your body. It is a pleasure to +make such a prisoner; should my warriors say that the death of Ie +Loup Cervier ought not to be forgotten, and that he cannot travel +towards the land of spirits alone, that his enemy must be sent +to overtake him, they will remember that he fell by the hand of a +brave, and send you after him with such signs of our friendship as +shall not make him ashamed to keep your company. I have spoken; +you know what I have said." + +"True enough, Mingo, all true as the gospel," returned the simple +minded hunter, 'you have spoken, and I do know not only what you +have said, but, what is still more important, what you mean. I +dare to say your warrior the Lynx was a stout-hearted brave, and +worthy of your fri'ndship and respect, but I do not feel unworthy +to keep his company, without any passport from your hands. Nevertheless, +here I am, ready to receive judgment from your council, if, indeed, +the matter was not detarmined among you afore I got back." + +"My old men would not sit in council over a pale-face until they +saw him among them," answered Rivenoak, looking around him a little +ironically; "they said it would be like sitting in council over +the winds; they go where they will, and come back as they see fit, +and not otherwise. There was one voice that spoke in your favor, +Deerslayer, but it was alone, like the song of the wren whose mate +has been struck by the hawk." + +"I thank that voice whosever it may have been, Mingo, and will say +it was as true a voice as the rest were lying voices. A furlough +is as binding on a pale-face, if he be honest, as it is on a red-skin, +and was it not so, I would never bring disgrace on the Delawares, +among whom I may be said to have received my edication. But words +are useless, and lead to braggin' feelin's; here I am; act your +will on me." + +Rivenoak made a sign of acquiescence, and then a short conference +was privately held among the chiefs. As soon as the latter ended, +three or four young men fell back from among the armed group, and +disappeared. Then it was signified to the prisoner that he was +at liberty to go at large on the point, until a council was held +concerning his fate. There was more of seeming, than of real +confidence, however, in this apparent liberality, inasmuch as the +young men mentioned already formed a line of sentinels across the +breadth of the point, inland, and escape from any other part was +out of the question. Even the canoe was removed beyond this line of +sentinels, to a spot where it was considered safe from any sudden +attempt. These precautions did not proceed from a failure of +confidence, but from the circumstance that the prisoner had now +complied with all the required conditions of his parole, and it +would have been considered a commendable and honorable exploit to +escape from his foes. So nice, indeed, were the distinctions drawn +by the savages in cases of this nature, that they often gave their +victims a chance to evade the torture, deeming it as creditable +to the captors to overtake, or to outwit a fugitive, when his +exertions were supposed to be quickened by the extreme jeopardy +of his situation, as it was for him to get clear from so much +extraordinary vigilance. + +Nor was Deerslayer unconscious of, or forgetful, of his rights and +of his opportunities. Could he now have seen any probable opening +for an escape, the attempt would not have been delayed a minute. But +the case seem'd desperate. He was aware of the line of sentinels, +and felt the difficulty of breaking through it, unharmed. The lake +offered no advantages, as the canoe would have given his foes the +greatest facilities for overtaking him; else would he have found +it no difficult task to swim as far as the castle. As he walked +about the point, he even examined the spot to ascertain if it +offered no place of concealment, but its openness, its size, and +the hundred watchful glances that were turned towards him, even +while those who made them affected not to see him, prevented any +such expedient from succeeding. The dread and disgrace of failure +had no influence on Deerslayer, who deemed it even a point of honor +to reason and feel like a white man, rather than as an Indian, and +who felt it a sort of duty to do all he could that did not involve +a dereliction from principle, in order to save his life. Still he +hesitated about making the effort, for he also felt that he ought +to see the chance of success before he committed himself. + +In the mean time the business of the camp appeared to proceed in +its regular train. The chiefs consulted apart, admitting no one +but the Sumach to their councils, for she, the widow of the fallen +warrior, had an exclusive right to be heard on such an occasion. +The young men strolled about in indolent listlessness, awaiting the +result with Indian patience, while the females prepared the feast +that was to celebrate the termination of the affair, whether it +proved fortunate or otherwise for our hero. No one betrayed feeling, +and an indifferent observer, beyond the extreme watchfulness of +the sentinels, would have detected no extraordinary movement or +sensation to denote the real state of things. Two or three old +women put their heads together, and it appeared unfavorably to +the prospects of Deerslayer, by their scowling looks, and angry +gestures; but a group of Indian girls were evidently animated by a +different impulse, as was apparent by stolen glances that expressed +pity and regret. In this condition of the camp, an hour soon glided +away. + +Suspense is perhaps the feeling of all others that is most difficult +to be supported. When Deerslayer landed, he fully expected in +the course of a few minutes to undergo the tortures of an Indian +revenge, and he was prepared to meet his fate manfully; but, the +delay proved far more trying than the nearer approach of suffering, +and the intended victim began seriously to meditate some desperate +effort at escape, as it might be from sheer anxiety to terminate +the scene, when he was suddenly summoned, to appear once more in +front of his judges, who had already arranged the band in its former +order, in readiness to receive him. + +"Killer of the Deer," commenced Rivenoak, as soon as his captive +stood before him, "my aged men have listened to wise words; they +are ready to speak. You are a man whose fathers came from beyond +the rising sun; we are children of the setting sun; we turn our faces +towards the Great Sweet Lakes, when we look towards our villages. +It may be a wide country and full of riches towards the morning, +but it is very pleasant towards the evening. We love most to look +in that direction. When we gaze at the east, we feel afraid, canoe +after canoe bringing more and more of your people in the track of +the sun, as if their land was so full as to run over. The red men +are few already; they have need of help. One of our best lodges +has lately been emptied by the death of its master; it will be a +long time before his son can grow big enough to sit in his place. +There is his widow; she will want venison to feed her and her +children, for her sons are yet like the young of the robin, before +they quit the nest. By your hand has this great calamity befallen +her. She has two duties; one to le Loup Cervier, and one to his +children. Scalp for scalp, life for life, blood for blood, is one +law; to feed her young, another. We know you, Killer of the Deer. +You are honest; when you say a thing, it is so. You have but +one tongue, and that is not forked, like a snake's. Your head is +never hid in the grass; all can see it. What you say, that will +you do. You are just. When you have done wrong, it is your wish +to do right, again, as soon as you can. Here, is the Sumach; she +is alone in her wigwam, with children crying around her for food +- yonder is a rifle; it is loaded and ready to be fired. Take the +gun, go forth and shoot a deer; bring the venison and lay it before +the widow of Le Loup Cervier, feed her children; call yourself her +husband. After which, your heart will no longer be Delaware, but +Huron; le Sumach's ears will not hear the cries of her children; +my people will count the proper number of warriors." + +"I fear'd this, Rivenoak," answered Deerslayer, when the other +had ceased speaking -"yes, I did dread that it would come to this. +Howsever, the truth is soon told, and that will put an end to all +expectations on this head. Mingo, I'm white and Christian born; +'t would ill become me to take a wife, under red-skin forms, from +among heathen. That which I wouldn't do, in peaceable times, and +under a bright sun, still less would I do behind clouds, in order +to save my life. I may never marry; most likely Providence in +putting me up here in the woods, has intended I should live single, +and without a lodge of my own; but should such a thing come to pass, +none but a woman of my own colour and gifts shall darken the door +of my wigwam. As for feeding the young of your dead warrior, I +would do that cheerfully, could it be done without discredit; but +it cannot, seeing that I can never live in a Huron village. Your +own young men must find the Sumach in venison, and the next time +she marries, let her take a husband whose legs are not long enough +to overrun territory that don't belong to him. We fou't a fair +battle, and he fell; in this there is nothin' but what a brave +expects, and should be ready to meet. As for getting a Mingo +heart, as well might you expect to see gray hairs on a boy, or the +blackberry growing on the pine. No - no Huron; my gifts are white +so far as wives are consarned; it is Delaware, in all things touchin' +Injins." + +These words were scarcely out of the mouth of Deerslayer, before +a common murmur betrayed the dissatisfaction with which they had +been heard. The aged women, in particular, were loud in their +expressions of disgust, and the gentle Sumach, herself, a woman quite +old enough to be our hero's mother, was not the least pacific in her +denunciations. But all the other manifestations of disappointment +and discontent were thrown into the background, by the fierce resentment +of the Panther. This grim chief had thought it a degradation to +permit his sister to become the wife of a pale-face of the Yengeese +at all, and had only given a reluctant consent to the arrangement +-one by no means unusual among the Indians, however - at the +earnest solicitations of the bereaved widow; and it goaded him to +the quick to find his condescension slighted, the honor he had with +so much regret been persuaded to accord, condemned. The animal +from which he got his name does not glare on his intended prey with +more frightful ferocity than his eyes gleamed on the captive, nor +was his arm backward in seconding the fierce resentment that almost +consumed his breast. + +"Dog of the pale-faces!" he exclaimed in Iroquois, "go yell among +the curs of your own evil hunting grounds!" + +The denunciation was accompanied by an appropriate action. Even +while speaking his arm was lifted, and the tomahawk hurled. Luckily +the loud tones of the speaker had drawn the eye of Deerslayer towards +him, else would that moment have probably closed his career. So +great was the dexterity with which this dangerous weapon was thrown, +and so deadly the intent, that it would have riven the scull of the +prisoner, had he not stretched forth an arm, and caught the handle +in one of its turns, with a readiness quite as remarkable as +the skill with which the missile had been hurled. The projectile +force was so great, notwithstanding, that when Deerslayer's arm +was arrested, his hand was raised above and behind his own head, +and in the very attitude necessary to return the attack. It is not +certain whether the circumstance of finding himself unexpectedly in +this menacing posture and armed tempted the young man to retaliate, +or whether sudden resentment overcame his forbearance and prudence. +His eye kindled, however, and a small red spot appeared on each +cheek, while he cast all his energy into the effort of his arm, +and threw back the weapon at his assailant. The unexpectedness of +this blow contributed to its success, the Panther neither raising +an arm, nor bending his head to avoid it. The keen little axe +struck the victim in a perpendicular line with the nose, directly +between the eyes, literally braining him on the spot. Sallying +forward, as the serpent darts at its enemy even while receiving its +own death wound, this man of powerful frame fell his length into +the open area formed by the circle, quivering in death. A common +rush to his relief left the captive, in a single instant, quite +without the crowd, and, willing to make one desperate effort for +life, he bounded off with the activity of a deer. There was but a +breathless instant, when the whole band, old and young, women and +children, abandoning the lifeless body of the Panther where it lay, +raised the yell of alarm and followed in pursuit. + +Sudden as had been the event which induced Deerslayer to make this +desperate trial of speed, his mind was not wholly unprepared for +the fearful emergency. In the course of the past hour, he had +pondered well on the chances of such an experiment, and had shrewdly +calculated all the details of success and failure. At the first +leap, therefore, his body was completely under the direction of an +intelligence that turned all its efforts to the best account, and +prevented everything like hesitation or indecision at the important +instant of the start. To this alone was he indebted for the first +great advantage, that of getting through the line of sentinels +unharmed. The manner in which this was done, though sufficiently +simple, merits a description. + +Although the shores of the point were not fringed with bushes, +as was the case with most of the others on the lake, it was owing +altogether to the circumstance that the spot had been so much used +by hunters and fishermen. This fringe commenced on what might +be termed the main land, and was as dense as usual, extending in +long lines both north and south. In the latter direction, then, +Deerslayer held his way, and, as the sentinels were a little without +the commencement of this thicket, before the alarm was clearly +communicated to them the fugitive had gained its cover. To run +among the bushes, however, was out of the question, and Deerslayer +held his way, for some forty or fifty yards, in the water, which +was barely knee deep, offering as great an obstacle to the speed +of his pursuers as it did to his own. As soon as a favorable spot +presented, he darted through the line of bushes and issued into the +open woods. Several rifles were discharged at Deerslayer while in +the water, and more followed as he came out into the comparative +exposure of the clear forest. But the direction of his line of +flight, which partially crossed that of the fire, the haste with +which the weapons had been aimed, and the general confusion that +prevailed in the camp prevented any harm from being done. Bullets +whistled past him, and many cut twigs from the branches at his +side, but not one touched even his dress. The delay caused by +these fruitless attempts was of great service to the fugitive, who +had gained more than a hundred yards on even the leading men of +the Hurons, ere something like concert and order had entered into +the chase. To think of following with rifles in hand was out of +the question, and after emptying their pieces in vague hopes of +wounding their captive, the best runners of the Indians threw them +aside, calling out to the women and boys to recover and load them, +again, as soon as possible. + +Deerslayer knew too well the desperate nature of the struggle in +which he was engaged to lose one of the precious moments. He also +knew that his only hope was to run in a straight line, for as soon +as he began to turn, or double, the greater number of his pursuers +would put escape out of the question. He held his way therefore, +in a diagonal direction up the acclivity, which was neither very +high nor very steep in this part of the mountain, but which was +sufficiently toilsome for one contending for life, to render it +painfully oppressive. There, however, he slackened his speed to +recover breath, proceeding even at a quick walk, or a slow trot, +along the more difficult parts of the way. The Hurons were whooping +and leaping behind him, but this he disregarded, well knowing they +must overcome the difficulties he had surmounted ere they could +reach the elevation to which he had attained. The summit of the +first hill was now quite near him, and he saw, by the formation of +the land, that a deep glen intervened before the base of a second +hill could be reached. Walking deliberately to the summit, he +glanced eagerly about him in every direction in quest of a cover. +None offered in the ground, but a fallen tree lay near him, and +desperate circumstances required desperate remedies. This tree lay +in a line parallel to the glen, at the brow of the hill. To leap +on it, and then to force his person as close as possible under its +lower side, took but a moment. Previously to disappearing from his +pursuers, however, Deerslayer stood on the height and gave a cry +of triumph, as if exulting at the sight of the descent that lay +before him. In the next instant he was stretched beneath the tree. + +No sooner was this expedient adopted, than the young man ascertained +how desperate had been his own efforts, by the violence of +the pulsations in his frame. He could hear his heart beat, and +his breathing was like the action of a bellows, in quick motion. +Breath was gained, however, and the heart soon ceased to throb as +if about to break through its confinement. The footsteps of those +who toiled up the opposite side of the acclivity were now audible, +and presently voices and treads announced the arrival of the +pursuers. The foremost shouted as they reached the height; then, +fearful that their enemy would escape under favor of the descent, +each leaped upon the fallen tree and plunged into the ravine, +trusting to get a sight of the pursued ere he reached the bottom. +In this manner, Huron followed Huron until Natty began to hope the +whole had passed. Others succeeded, however, until quite forty +had leaped over the tree, and then he counted them, as the surest +mode of ascertaining how many could be behind. Presently all were +in the bottom of the glen, quite a hundred feet below him, and +some had even ascended part of the opposite hill, when it became +evident an inquiry was making as to the direction he had taken. +This was the critical moment, and one of nerves less steady, or of +a training that had been neglected, would have seized it to rise +and fly. Not so with Deerslayer. He still lay quiet, watching +with jealous vigilance every movement below, and fast regaining +his breath. + +The Hurons now resembled a pack of hounds at fault. Little was +said, but each man ran about, examining the dead leaves as the hound +hunts for the lost scent. The great number of moccasins that had +passed made the examination difficult, though the in-toe of an Indian +was easily to be distinguished from the freer and wider step of a +white man. Believing that no more pursuers remained behind, and +hoping to steal away unseen, Deerslayer suddenly threw himself over +the tree, and fell on the upper side. This achievement appeared +to be effected successfully, and hope beat high in the bosom of +the fugitive. + +Rising to his hands and feet, after a moment lost in listening to +the sounds in the glen, in order to ascertain if he had been seen, +the young man next scrambled to the top of the hill, a distance +of only ten yards, in the expectation of getting its brow between +him and his pursuers, and himself so far under cover. Even this +was effected, and he rose to his feet, walking swiftly but steadily +along the summit, in a direction opposite to that in which he had +first fled. The nature of the calls in the glen, however, soon +made him uneasy, and he sprang upon the summit again, in order to +reconnoitre. No sooner did he reach the height than he was seen, +and the chase renewed. As it was better footing on the level +ground, Deerslayer now avoided the side hill, holding his flight +along the ridge; while the Hurons, judging from the general formation +of the land, saw that the ridge would soon melt into the hollow, +and kept to the latter, as the easiest mode of heading the fugitive. +A few, at the same time, turned south, with a view to prevent his +escaping in that direction, while some crossed his trail towards +the water, in order to prevent his retreat by the lake, running +southerly. + +The situation of Deerslayer was now more critical than it ever had +been. He was virtually surrounded on three sides, having the lake +on the fourth. But he had pondered well on all the chances, and +took his measures with coolness, even while at the top of his speed. +As is generally the case with the vigorous border men, he could +outrun any single Indian among his pursuers, who were principally +formidable to him on account of their numbers, and the advantages +they possessed in position, and he would not have hesitated to +break off in a straight line at any spot, could he have got the +whole band again fairly behind him. But no such chance did, or +indeed could now offer, and when he found that he was descending +towards the glen, by the melting away of the ridge, he turned +short, at right angles to his previous course, and went down the +declivity with tremendous velocity, holding his way towards the +shore. Some of his pursuers came panting up the hill in direct +chase, while most still kept on in the ravine, intending to head +him at its termination. + +Deerslayer had now a different, though a desperate project in view. +Abandoning all thoughts of escape by the woods, he made the best +of his way towards the canoe. He knew where it lay; could it +be reached, he had only to run the gauntlet of a few rifles, and +success would be certain. None of the warriors had kept their +weapons, which would have retarded their speed, and the risk would +come either from the uncertain hands of the women, or from those +of some well grown boy; though most of the latter were already out +in hot pursuit. Everything seemed propitious to the execution of +this plan, and the course being a continued descent, the young man +went over the ground at a rate that promised a speedy termination +to his toil. + +As Deerslayer approached the point, several women and children were +passed, but, though the former endeavoured to cast dried branches +between his legs, the terror inspired by his bold retaliation on +the redoubted Panther was so great, that none dared come near enough +seriously to molest him. He went by all triumphantly and reached +the fringe of bushes. Plunging through these, our hero found +himself once more in the lake, and within fifty feet of the canoe. +Here he ceased to run, for he well understood that his breath was +now all important to him. He even stooped, as he advanced, and +cooled his parched mouth by scooping water up in his hand to drink. +Still the moments pressed, and he soon stood at the side of the +canoe. The first glance told him that the paddles had been removed! +This was a sore disappointment, after all his efforts, and, for +a single moment, he thought of turning, and of facing his foes +by walking with dignity into the centre of the camp again. But +an infernal yell, such as the American savage alone can raise, +proclaimed the quick approach of the nearest of his pursuers, and +the instinct of life triumphed. Preparing himself duly, and giving +a right direction to its bows, he ran off into the water bearing +the canoe before him, threw all his strength and skill into a last +effort, and cast himself forward so as to fall into the bottom +of the light craft without materially impeding its way. Here he +remained on his back, both to regain his breath and to cover his +person from the deadly rifle. The lightness, which was such an +advantage in paddling the canoe, now operated unfavorably. The +material was so like a feather, that the boat had no momentum, else +would the impulse in that smooth and placid sheet have impelled +it to a distance from the shore that would have rendered paddling +with the hands safe. Could such a point once be reached, Deerslayer +thought he might get far enough out to attract the attention of +Chingachgook and Judith, who would not fail to come to his relief +with other canoes, a circumstance that promised everything. As the +young man lay in the bottom of the canoe, he watched its movements +by studying the tops of the trees on the mountainside, and judged +of his distance by the time and the motions. Voices on the shore +were now numerous, and he heard something said about manning the +raft, which, fortunately for the fugitive, lay at a considerable +distance on the other side of the point. + +Perhaps the situation of Deerslayer had not been more critical that +day than it was at this moment. It certainly had not been one half +as tantalizing. He lay perfectly quiet for two or three minutes, +trusting to the single sense of hearing, confident that the noise +in the lake would reach his ears, did any one venture to approach +by swimming. Once or twice he fancied that the element was stirred +by the cautious movement of an arm, and then he perceived it was +the wash of the water on the pebbles of the strand; for, in mimicry +of the ocean, it is seldom that those little lakes are so totally +tranquil as not to possess a slight heaving and setting on their +shores. Suddenly all the voices ceased, and a death like stillness +pervaded the spot: A quietness as profound as if all lay in the +repose of inanimate life. By this time, the canoe had drifted so +far as to render nothing visible to Deerslayer, as he lay on his +back, except the blue void of space, and a few of those brighter +rays that proceed from the effulgence of the sun, marking his +proximity. It was not possible to endure this uncertainty long. +The young man well knew that the profound stillness foreboded evil, +the savages never being so silent as when about to strike a blow; +resembling the stealthy foot of the panther ere he takes his leap. +He took out a knife and was about to cut a hole through the bark, +in order to get a view of the shore, when he paused from a dread +of being seen in the operation, which would direct the enemy where +to aim their bullets. At this instant a rifle was fired, and the +ball pierced both sides of the canoe, within eighteen inches of +the spot where his head lay. This was close work, but our hero +had too lately gone through that which was closer to be appalled. +He lay still half a minute longer, and then he saw the summit of +an oak coming slowly within his narrow horizon. + +Unable to account for this change, Deerslayer could restrain his +impatience no longer. Hitching his body along, with the utmost +caution, he got his eye at the bullet hole, and fortunately commanded +a very tolerable view of the point. The canoe, by one of those +imperceptible impulses that so often decide the fate of men as well +as the course of things, had inclined southerly, and was slowly +drifting down the lake. It was lucky that Deerslayer had given it +a shove sufficiently vigorous to send it past the end of the point, +ere it took this inclination, or it must have gone ashore again. +As it was, it drifted so near it as to bring the tops of two or +three trees within the range of the young man's view, as has been +mentioned, and, indeed, to come in quite as close proximity with +the extremity of the point as was at all safe. The distance could +not much have exceeded a hundred feet, though fortunately a light +current of air from the southwest began to set it slowly off shore. + +Deerslayer now felt the urgent necessity of resorting to some +expedient to get farther from his foes, and if possible to apprise +his friends of his situation. The distance rendered the last +difficult, while the proximity to the point rendered the first +indispensable. As was usual in such craft, a large, round, smooth +stone was in each end of the canoe, for the double purpose of seats +and ballast; one of these was within reach of his feet. This stone +he contrived to get so far between his legs as to reach it with his +hands, and then he managed to roll it to the side of its fellow in +the bows, where the two served to keep the trim of the light boat, +while he worked his own body as far aft as possible. Before quitting +the shore, and as soon as he perceived that the paddles were gone, +Deerslayer had thrown a bit of dead branch into the canoe, and this +was within reach of his arm. Removing the cap he wore, he put it +on the end of this stick, and just let it appear over the edge of +the canoe, as far as possible from his own person. This ruse was +scarcely adopted before the young man had a proof how much he had +underrated the intelligence of his enemies. In contempt of an +artifice so shallow and common place, a bullet was fired directly +through another part of the canoe, which actually raised his skin. +He dropped the cap, and instantly raised it immediately over his +head, as a safeguard. It would seem that this second artifice was +unseen, or what was more probable, the Hurons feeling certain of +recovering their captive, wished to take him alive. + +Deerslayer lay passive a few minutes longer, his eye at the bullet +hole, however, and much did he rejoice at seeing that he was +drifting, gradually, farther and farther from the shore. When he +looked upward, the treetops had disappeared, but he soon found that +the canoe was slowly turning, so as to prevent his getting a view +of anything at his peephole, but of the two extremities of the lake. +He now bethought him of the stick, which was crooked and offered +some facilities for rowing without the necessity of rising. The +experiment succeeded on trial, better even than he had hoped, though +his great embarrassment was to keep the canoe straight. That his +present manoeuvre was seen soon became apparent by the clamor on +the shore, and a bullet entering the stern of the canoe traversed +its length, whistling between the arms of our hero, and passed out +at the head. This satisfied the fugitive that he was getting away +with tolerable speed, and induced him to increase his efforts. +He was making a stronger push than common, when another messenger +from the point broke the stick out-board, and at once deprived him +of his oar. As the sound of voices seemed to grow more and more +distant, however, Deerslayer determined to leave all to the drift, +until he believed himself beyond the reach of bullets. This was +nervous work, but it was the wisest of all the expedients that +offered, and the young man was encouraged to persevere in it by +the circumstance that he felt his face fanned by the air, a proof +that there was a little more wind. + + + +Chapter XXVIII. + + + "Nor widows' tears, nor tender orphans' cries + Can stop th' invader's force; + Nor swelling seas, nor threatening skies, + Prevent the pirate's course: + Their lives to selfish ends decreed + Through blood and rapine they proceed; + No anxious thoughts of ill repute, + Suspend the impetuous and unjust pursuit; + But power and wealth obtain'd, guilty and great, + Their fellow creatures' fears they raise, or urge their hate." + + Congreve, "Pindaric Ode," ii. + +By this time Deerslayer had been twenty minutes in the canoe, and +he began to grow a little impatient for some signs of relief from +his friends. The position of the boat still prevented his seeing +in any direction, unless it were up or down the lake, and, though +he knew that his line of sight must pass within a hundred yards of +the castle, it, in fact, passed that distance to the westward of +the buildings. The profound stillness troubled him also, for he +knew not whether to ascribe it to the increasing space between him +and the Indians, or to some new artifice. At length, wearied with +fruitless watchfulness, the young man turned himself on his back, +closed his eyes, and awaited the result in determined acquiescence. +If the savages could so completely control their thirst for revenge, +he was resolved to be as calm as themselves, and to trust his fate +to the interposition of the currents and air. + +Some additional ten minutes may have passed in this quiescent +manner, on both sides, when Deerslayer thought he heard a slight +noise, like a low rubbing against the bottom of his canoe. He +opened his eyes of course, in expectation of seeing the face or +arm of an Indian rising from the water, and found that a canopy +of leaves was impending directly over his head. Starting to his +feet, the first object that met his eye was Rivenoak, who had so far +aided the slow progress of the boat, as to draw it on the point, +the grating on the strand being the sound that had first given +our hero the alarm. The change in the drift of the canoe had been +altogether owing to the baffling nature of the light currents of +the air, aided by some eddies in the water. + +"Come," said the Huron with a quiet gesture of authority, to order +his prisoner to land, "my young friend has sailed about till he is +tired; he will forget how to run again, unless he uses his legs." + +"You've the best of it, Huron," returned Deerslayer, stepping +steadily from the canoe, and passively following his leader to the +open area of the point; "Providence has helped you in an onexpected +manner. I'm your prisoner ag'in, and I hope you'll allow that I'm +as good at breaking gaol, as I am at keeping furloughs." + +"My young friend is a Moose!" exclaimed the Huron. "His legs are +very long; they have given my young men trouble. But he is not a +fish; he cannot find his way in the lake. We did not shoot him; +fish are taken in nets, and not killed by bullets. When he turns +Moose again he will be treated like a Moose." + +'Ay, have your talk, Rivenoak; make the most of your advantage. +'Tis your right, I suppose, and I know it is your gift. On that +p'int there'll be no words atween us, for all men must and ought to +follow their gifts. Howsever, when your women begin to ta'nt and +abuse me, as I suppose will soon happen, let 'em remember that if +a pale-face struggles for life so long as it's lawful and manful, +he knows how to loosen his hold on it, decently, when he feels that +the time has come. I'm your captyve; work your will on me." + +"My brother has had a long run on the hills, and a pleasant sail +on the water," returned Rivenoak more mildly, smiling, at the same +time, in a way that his listener knew denoted pacific intentions. +'He has seen the woods; he has seen the water. Which does he like +best? Perhaps he has seen enough to change his mind, and make him +hear reason." + +"Speak out, Huron. Something is in your thoughts, and the sooner +it is said, the sooner you'll get my answer." + +"That is straight! There is no turning in the talk of my pale-face +friend, though he is a fox in running. I will speak to him; his +ears are now open wider than before, and his eyes are not shut. The +Sumach is poorer than ever. Once she had a brother and a husband. +She had children, too. The time came and the husband started for +the Happy Hunting Grounds, without saying farewell; he left her +alone with his children. This he could not help, or he would not +have done it; le Loup Cervier was a good husband. It was pleasant +to see the venison, and wild ducks, and geese, and bear's meat, that +hung in his lodge in winter. It is now gone; it will not keep in +warm weather. Who shall bring it back again? Some thought the +brother would not forget his sister, and that, next winter, he would +see that the lodge should not be empty. We thought this; but the +Panther yelled, and followed the husband on the path of death. They +are now trying which shall first reach the Happy Hunting Grounds. +Some think the Lynx can run fastest, and some think the Panther +can jump the farthest. The Sumach thinks both will travel so fast +and so far that neither will ever come back. Who shall feed her +and her young? The man who told her husband and her brother to +quit her lodge, that there might be room for him to come into it. +He is a great hunter, and we know that the woman will never want." + +"Ay, Huron this is soon settled, accordin' to your notions, but it +goes sorely ag'in the grain of a white man's feelin's. I've heard +of men's saving their lives this-a-way, and I've know'd them that +would prefar death to such a sort of captivity. For my part, I do +not seek my end, nor do I seek matrimony." + +"The pale-face will think of this, while my people get ready for +the council. He will be told what will happen. Let him remember +how hard it is to lose a husband and a brother. Go; when we want +him, the name of Deerslayer will be called." + +This conversation had been held with no one near but the speakers. +Of all the band that had so lately thronged the place, Rivenoak +alone was visible. The rest seemed to have totally abandoned the +spot. Even the furniture, clothes, arms, and other property of the +camp had entirely disappeared, and the place bore no other proofs +of the crowd that had so lately occupied it, than the traces of +their fires and resting places, and the trodden earth that still +showed the marks of their feet. So sudden and unexpected a change +caused Deerslayer a good deal of surprise and some uneasiness, +for he had never known it to occur, in the course of his experience +among the Delawares. He suspected, however, and rightly, that +a change of encampment was intended, and that the mystery of the +movement was resorted to in order to work on his apprehensions. + +Rivenoak walked up the vista of trees as soon as he ceased speaking, +leaving Deerslayer by himself. The chief disappeared behind the +covers of the forest, and one unpractised in such scenes might have +believed the prisoner left to the dictates of his own judgment. +But the young man, while he felt a little amazement at the dramatic +aspect of things, knew his enemies too well to fancy himself +at liberty, or a free agent. Still, he was ignorant how far the +Hurons meant to carry their artifices, and he determined to bring +the question, as soon as practicable, to the proof. Affecting an +indifference he was far from feeling, he strolled about the area, +gradually getting nearer and nearer to the spot where he had landed, +when he suddenly quickened his pace, though carefully avoiding all +appearance of flight, and pushing aside the bushes, he stepped upon +the beach. The canoe was gone, nor could he see any traces of it, +after walking to the northern and southern verges of the point, and +examining the shores in both directions. It was evidently removed +beyond his reach and knowledge, and under circumstances to show +that such had been the intention of the savages. + +Deerslayer now better understood his actual situation. He was a +prisoner on the narrow tongue of land, vigilantly watched beyond a +question, and with no other means of escape than that of swimming. +He, again, thought of this last expedient, but the certainty that +the canoe would be sent in chase, and the desperate nature of the +chances of success deterred him from the undertaking. While on +the strand, he came to a spot where the bushes had been cut, and +thrust into a small pile. Removing a few of the upper branches, +he found beneath them the dead body of the Panther. He knew that +it was kept until the savages might find a place to inter it, +where it would be beyond the reach of the scalping knife. He gazed +wistfully towards the castle, but there all seemed to be silent +and desolate, and a feeling of loneliness and desertion came over +him to increase the gloom of the moment. + +"God's will be done!" murmured the young man, as he walked sorrowfully +away from the beach, entering again beneath the arches of the wood. +"God's will be done, on 'arth as it is in heaven! I did hope that +my days would not be numbered so soon, but it matters little a'ter +all. A few more winters, and a few more summers, and 'twould have +been over, accordin' to natur'. Ah's! me, the young and actyve +seldom think death possible, till he grins in their faces, and +tells 'em the hour is come!" + +While this soliloquy was being pronounced, the hunter advanced +into the area, where to his surprise he saw Hetty alone, evidently +awaiting his return. The girl carried the Bible under her arm, +and her face, over which a shadow of gentle melancholy was usually +thrown, now seemed sad and downcast. Moving nearer, Deerslayer +spoke. + +"Poor Hetty," he said, "times have been so troublesome, of late, +that I'd altogether forgotten you; we meet, as it might be to mourn +over what is to happen. I wonder what has become of Chingachgook +and Wah!" + +"Why did you kill the Huron, Deerslayer? -" returned the girl +reproachfully. 'Don't you know your commandments, which say 'Thou +shalt not kill!' They tell me you have now slain the woman's husband +and brother!" + +"It's true, my good Hetty - 'tis gospel truth, and I'll not deny +what has come to pass. But, you must remember, gal, that many +things are lawful in war, which would be onlawful in peace. The +husband was shot in open fight -or, open so far as I was consarned, +while he had a better cover than common - and the brother brought +his end on himself, by casting his tomahawk at an unarmed prisoner. +Did you witness that deed, gal?" + +"I saw it, and was sorry it happened, Deerslayer, for I hoped you +wouldn't have returned blow for blow, but good for evil." + +"Ah, Hetty, that may do among the Missionaries, but 'twould make +an onsartain life in the woods! The Panther craved my blood, and +he was foolish enough to throw arms into my hands, at the very +moment he was striving a'ter it. 'Twould have been ag'in natur' +not to raise a hand in such a trial, and 'twould have done discredit +to my training and gifts. No - no - I'm as willing to give every +man his own as another, and so I hope you'll testify to them that +will be likely to question you as to what you've seen this day." + +"Deerslayer, do you mean to marry Sumach, now she has neither +husband nor brother to feed her?" + +"Are such your idees of matrimony, Hetty! Ought the young to wive +with the old - the pale-face with the red-skin - the Christian with +the heathen? It's ag'in reason and natur', and so you'll see, if +you think of it a moment." + +"I've always heard mother say," returned Hetty, averting her face +more from a feminine instinct than from any consciousness of wrong, +"that people should never marry until they loved each other better +than brothers and sisters, and I suppose that is what you mean. +Sumach is old, and you are young!" + +"Ay and she's red, and I'm white. Beside, Hetty, suppose you was +a wife, now, having married some young man of your own years, and +state, and colour -Hurry Harry, for instance -" Deerslayer selected +this example simply from the circumstance that he was the only +young man known to both - "and that he had fallen on a war path, +would you wish to take to your bosom, for a husband, the man that +slew him?" + +"Oh! no, no, no -" returned the girl shuddering - "That would be +wicked as well as heartless! No Christian girl could, or would do +that! I never shall be the wife of Hurry, I know, but were he my +husband no man should ever be it, again, after his death!" + +"I thought it would get to this, Hetty, when you come to understand +sarcumstances. 'Tis a moral impossibility that I should ever marry +Sumach, and, though Injin weddin's have no priests and not much +religion, a white man who knows his gifts and duties can't profit +by that, and so make his escape at the fitting time. I do think +death would be more nat'ral like, and welcome, than wedlock with +this woman." + +"Don't say it too loud," interrupted Hetty impatiently; "I suppose +she will not like to hear it. I'm sure Hurry would rather marry even +me than suffer torments, though I am feeble minded; and I am sure +it would kill me to think he'd prefer death to being my husband." + +"Ay, gal, you ain't Sumach, but a comely young Christian, with a +good heart, pleasant smile, and kind eye. Hurry might be proud to +get you, and that, too, not in misery and sorrow, but in his best +and happiest days. Howsever, take my advice, and never talk to +Hurry about these things; he's only a borderer, at the best." + +"I wouldn't tell him, for the world!" exclaimed the girl, looking +about her like one affrighted, and blushing, she knew not why. +"Mother always said young women shouldn't be forward, and speak +their minds before they're asked; Oh! I never forget what mother +told me. Tis a pity Hurry is so handsome, Deerslayer; I do think +fewer girls would like him then, and he would sooner know his own +mind." + +"Poor gal, poor gal, it's plain enough how it is, but the Lord will +bear in mind one of your simple heart and kind feelin's! We'll talk +no more of these things; if you had reason, you'd be sorrowful at +having let others so much into your secret. Tell me, Hetty, what +has become of all the Hurons, and why they let you roam about the +p'int as if you, too, was a prisoner?" + +'I'm no prisoner, Deerslayer, but a free girl, and go when and where +I please. Nobody dare hurt me! If they did, God would be angry, +as I can show them in the Bible. No - no - Hetty Hutter is +not afraid; she's in good hands. The Hurons are up yonder in the +woods, and keep a good watch on us both, I'll answer for it, since +all the women and children are on the look-out. Some are burying +the body of the poor girl who was shot, so that the enemy and the +wild beasts can't find it. I told 'em that father and mother lay +in the lake, but I wouldn't let them know in what part of it, +for Judith and I don't want any of their heathenish company in our +burying ground." + +"Ahs! me; Well, it is an awful despatch to be standing here, alive +and angry, and with the feelin's up and ferocious, one hour, and +then to be carried away at the next, and put out of sight of mankind +in a hole in the 'arth! No one knows what will happen to him on +a warpath, that's sartain." + +Here the stirring of leaves and the cracking of dried twigs +interrupted the discourse, and apprised Deerslayer of the approach +of his enemies. The Hurons closed around the spot that had been +prepared for the coming scene, and in the centre of which the intended +victim now stood, in a circle, the armed men being so distributed +among the feebler members of the band, that there was no safe opening +through which the prisoner could break. But the latter no longer +contemplated flight, the recent trial having satisfied him of +his inability to escape when pursued so closely by numbers. On +the contrary, all his energies were aroused in order to meet his +expected fate, with a calmness that should do credit to his colour +and his manhood; one equally removed from recreant alarm, and savage +boasting. + +When Rivenoak re-appeared in the circle, he occupied his old place +at the head of the area. Several of the elder warriors stood near +him, but, now that the brother of Sumach had fallen, there was no +longer any recognised chief present whose influence and authority +offered a dangerous rivalry to his own. Nevertheless, it is well +known that little which could be called monarchical or despotic +entered into the politics of the North American tribes, although the +first colonists, bringing with them to this hemisphere the notions +and opinions of their own countries, often dignified the chief men +of those primitive nations with the titles of kings and princes. +Hereditary influence did certainly exist, but there is much reason +to believe it existed rather as a consequence of hereditary merit +and acquired qualifications, than as a birthright. Rivenoak, +however, had not even this claim, having risen to consideration +purely by the force of talents, sagacity, and, as Bacon expresses +it in relation to all distinguished statesmen, "by a union of great +and mean qualities;" a truth of which the career of the profound +Englishman himself furnishes so apt an illustration. Next to arms, +eloquence offers the great avenue to popular favor, whether it be +in civilized or savage life, and Rivenoak had succeeded, as so many +have succeeded before him, quite as much by rendering fallacies +acceptable to his listeners, as by any profound or learned +expositions of truth, or the accuracy of his logic. Nevertheless, +he had influence; and was far from being altogether without just +claims to its possession. Like most men who reason more than they +feel, the Huron was not addicted to the indulgence of the more +ferocious passions of his people: he had been commonly found on the +side of mercy, in all the scenes of vindictive torture and revenge +that had occurred in his tribe since his own attainment to power. +On the present occasion, he was reluctant to proceed to extremities, +although the provocation was so great. Still it exceeded his +ingenuity to see how that alternative could well be avoided. Sumach +resented her rejection more than she did the deaths of her husband +and brother, and there was little probability that the woman +would pardon a man who had so unequivocally preferred death to her +embraces. Without her forgiveness, there was scarce a hope that the +tribe could be induced to overlook its loss, and even to Rivenoak, +himself, much as he was disposed to pardon, the fate of our hero +now appeared to be almost hopelessly sealed. + +When the whole band was arrayed around the captive, a grave silence, +so much the more threatening from its profound quiet, pervaded +the place. Deerslayer perceived that the women and boys had been +preparing splinters of the fat pine roots, which he well knew were +to be stuck into his flesh, and set in flames, while two or three +of the young men held the thongs of bark with which he was to +be bound. The smoke of a distant lire announced that the burning +brands were in preparation, and several of the elder warriors +passed their fingers over the edges of their tomahawks, as if to +prove their keenness and temper. Even the knives seemed loosened +in their sheathes, impatient for the bloody and merciless work to +begin. + +"Killer of the Deer," recommenced Rivenoak, certainly without any +signs of sympathy or pity in his manner, though with calmness and +dignity, "Killer of the Deer, it is time that my people knew their +minds. The sun is no longer over our heads; tired of waiting on +the Hurons, he has begun to fall near the pines on this side of the +valley. He is travelling fast towards the country of our French +fathers; it is to warn his children that their lodges are empty, +and that they ought to be at home. The roaming wolf has his den, +and he goes to it when he wishes to see his young. The Iroquois +are not poorer than the wolves. They have villages, and wigwams, +and fields of corn; the Good Spirits will be tired of watching +them alone. My people must go back and see to their own business. +There will be joy in the lodges when they hear our whoop from the +forest! It will he a sorrowful whoop; when it is understood, grief +will come after it. There will be one scalp-whoop, but there will +be only one. We have the fur of the Muskrat; his body is among +the fishes. Deerslayer must say whether another scalp shall be on +our pole. Two lodges are empty; a scalp, living or dead, is wanted +at each door." + +"Then take 'em dead, Huron," firmly, but altogether without dramatic +boasting, returned the captive. "My hour is come, I do suppose, +and what must be, must. If you are bent on the tortur', I'll do +my indivours to bear up ag'in it, though no man can say how far +his natur' will stand pain, until he's been tried." + +"The pale-face cur begins to put his tail between his legs!" cried +a young and garrulous savage, who bore the appropriate title of +the Corbeau Rouge; a sobriquet he had gained from the French by +his facility in making unseasonable noises, and an undue tendency +to hear his own voice; "he is no warrior; he has killed the Loup +Cervier when looking behind him not to see the flash of his own +rifle. He grunts like a hog, already; when the Huron women begin +to torment him, he will cry like the young of the catamount. He +is a Delaware woman, dressed in the skin of a Yengeese!" + +"Have your say, young man; have your say," returned Deerslayer, +unmoved; "you know no better, and I can overlook it. Talking may +aggravate women, but can hardly make knives sharper, fire hotter, +or rifles more sartain." + +Rivenoak now interposed, reproving the Red Crow for his premature +interference, and then directing the proper persons to bind the +captive. This expedient was adopted, not from any apprehensions +that he would escape, or from any necessity that was yet apparent +of his being unable to endure the torture with his limbs free, but +from an ingenious design of making him feel his helplessness, and +of gradually sapping his resolution by undermining it, as it might +be, little by little. Deerslayer offered no resistance. He submitted +his arms and legs, freely if not cheerfully, to the ligaments +of bark, which were bound around them by order of the chief, in a +way to produce as little pain as possible. These directions were +secret, and given in the hope that the captive would finally save +himself from any serious bodily suffering by consenting to take the +Sumach for a wife. As soon as the body of Deerslayer was withed in +bark sufficiently to create a lively sense of helplessness, he was +literally carried to a young tree, and bound against it in a way +that effectually prevented him from moving, as well as from falling. +The hands were laid flat against the legs, and thongs were passed +over all, in a way nearly to incorporate the prisoner with the +tree. His cap was then removed, and he was left half-standing, +half-sustained by his bonds, to face the coming scene in the best +manner he could. + +Previously to proceeding to any thing like extremities, it was the +wish of Rivenoak to put his captive's resolution to the proof by +renewing the attempt at a compromise. This could be effected only +in one manner, the acquiescence of the Sumach being indispensably +necessary to a compromise of her right to be revenged. With this +view, then, the woman was next desired to advance, and to look to +her own interests; no agent being considered as efficient as the +principal, herself, in this negotiation. The Indian females, when +girls, are usually mild and submissive, with musical tones, pleasant +voices and merry laughs, but toil and suffering generally deprive +them of most of these advantages by the time they have reached +an age which the Sumach had long before passed. To render their +voices harsh, it would seem to require active, malignant, passions, +though, when excited, their screams can rise to a sufficiently +conspicuous degree of discordancy to assert their claim to possess +this distinctive peculiarity of the sex. The Sumach was not +altogether without feminine attraction, however, and had so recently +been deemed handsome in her tribe, as not to have yet learned the +full influence that time and exposure produce on man, as well as on +woman. By an arrangement of Rivenoak's, some of the women around +her had been employing the time in endeavoring to persuade the +bereaved widow that there was still a hope Deerslayer might be +prevailed on to enter her wigwam, in preference to entering the world +of spirits, and this, too, with a success that previous symptoms +scarcely justified. All this was the result of a resolution on +the part of the chief to leave no proper means unemployed, in order +to get transferred to his own nation the greatest hunter that was +then thought to exist in all that region, as well as a husband for +a woman who he felt would be likely to be troublesome, were any of +her claims to the attention and care of the tribe overlooked. + +In conformity with this scheme, the Sumach had been secretly +advised to advance into the circle, and to make her appeal to the +prisoner's sense of justice, before the band had recourse to the +last experiment. The woman, nothing loth, consented, for there +was some such attraction in becoming the wife of a noted hunter, +among the females of the tribes, as is experienced by the sex, in +more refined life, when they bestow their hands on the affluent. As +the duties of a mother were thought to be paramount to all other +considerations, the widow felt none of that embarrassment, in +preferring her claims, to which even a female fortune hunter among +ourselves might be liable. When she stood forth before the whole +party, therefore, the children that she led by the hands fully +justified all she did. + +"You see me before you, cruel pale-face," the woman commenced; +"your spirit must tell you my errand. I have found you; I cannot +find le Loup Cervier, nor the Panther; I have looked for them in +the lake, in the woods, in the clouds. I cannot say where they +have gone." + +"No man knows, good Sumach, no man knows," interposed the captive. +"When the spirit leaves the body, it passes into a world beyond +our knowledge, and the wisest way, for them that are left behind, +is to hope for the best. No doubt both your warriors have gone +to the Happy Hunting Grounds, and at the proper time you will see +'em ag'in, in their improved state. The wife and sister of braves +must have looked forward to some such tarmination of their 'arthly +careers." + +"Cruel pale-face, what had my warriors done that you should slay +them! They were the best hunters, and the boldest young men of +their tribe; the Great Spirit intended that they should live until +they withered like the branches of the hemlock, and fell of their +own weight-" + +"Nay - nay - good Sumach," interrupted Deerslayer, whose love of +truth was too indomitable to listen to such hyperbole with patience, +even though it came from the torn breast of a widow -"Nay - nay, +good Sumach, this is a little outdoing red-skin privileges. Young +man was neither, any more than you can be called a young woman, and +as to the Great Spirit's intending that they should fall otherwise +than they did, that's a grievous mistake, inasmuch as what the +Great Spirit intends is sartain to come to pass. Then, agin, it's +plain enough neither of your fri'nds did me any harm; I raised my +hand ag'in 'em on account of what they were striving to do, rather +than what they did. This is nat'ral law, 'to do lest you should +be done by.'" + +"It is so. Sumach has but one tongue; she can tell but one story. +The pale face struck the Hurons lest the Hurons should strike him. +The Hurons are a just nation; they will forget it. The chiefs +will shut their eyes and pretend not to have seen it; the young men +will believe the Panther and the Lynx have gone to far off hunts, +and the Sumach will take her children by the hand, and go into the +lodge of the pale-face and say - 'See; these are your children; +they are also mine - feed us, and we will live with you.'" + +"The tarms are onadmissable, woman, and though I feel for your +losses, which must he hard to bear, the tarms cannot be accepted. +As to givin' you ven'son, in case we lived near enough together, +that would be no great expl'ite; but as for becomin' your husband, +and the father of your children, to be honest with you, I feel no +callin' that-a-way." + +"Look at this boy, cruel pale-face; he has no father to teach him +to kill the deer, or to take scalps. See this girl; what young man +will come to look for a wife in a lodge that has no head? There +are more among my people in the Canadas, and the Killer of Deer +will find as many mouths to feed as his heart can wish for." + +"I tell you, woman," exclaimed Deerslayer, whose imagination was +far from seconding the appeal of the widow, and who began to grow +restive under the vivid pictures she was drawing, "all this is nothing +to me. People and kindred must take care of their own fatherless, +leaving them that have no children to their own loneliness. As for +me, I have no offspring, and I want no wife. Now, go away Sumach; +leave me in the hands of your chiefs, for my colour, and gifts, +and natur' itself cry out ag'in the idee of taking you for a wife." + +It is unnecessary to expatiate on the effect of this downright refusal +of the woman's proposals. If there was anything like tenderness +in her bosom -and no woman was probably ever entirely without that +feminine quality - it all disappeared at this plain announcement. +Fury, rage, mortified pride, and a volcano of wrath burst out, at +one explosion, converting her into a sort of maniac, as it might +beat the touch of a magician's wand. Without deigning a reply in +words, she made the arches of the forest ring with screams, and +then flew forward at her victim, seizing him by the hair, which +she appeared resolute to draw out by the roots. It was some time +before her grasp could be loosened. Fortunately for the prisoner +her rage was blind; since his total helplessness left him entirely +at her mercy. Had it been better directed it might have proved +fatal before any relief could have been offered. As it was, she +did succeed in wrenching out two or three handsful of hair, before +the young men could tear her away from her victim. + +The insult that had been offered to the Sumach was deemed an insult +to the whole tribe; not so much, however, on account of any respect +that was felt for the woman, as on account of the honor of the +Huron nation. Sumach, herself, was generally considered to be as +acid as the berry from which she derived her name, and now that +her great supporters, her husband and brother, were both gone, few +cared about concealing their aversion. Nevertheless, it had become +a point of honor to punish the pale-face who disdained a Huron woman, +and more particularly one who coolly preferred death to relieving +the tribe from the support of a widow and her children. The +young men showed an impatience to begin to torture that Rivenoak +understood, and, as his older associates manifested no disposition +to permit any longer delay, he was compelled to give the signal +for the infernal work to proceed. + + + +Chapter XXIX. + + + "The ugly bear now minded not the stake, + Nor how the cruel mastiffs do him tear, + The stag lay still unroused from the brake, + The foamy boar feared not the hunter's spear: + All thing was still in desert, bush, and briar:" + + Thomas Sackville; "The Complaint of Henry Duke of Buckingham," + lxxxi. + +Twas one of the common expedients of the savages, on such occasions, +to put the nerves of their victims to the severest proofs. On the +other hand, it was a matter of Indian pride to betray no yielding +to terror, or pain, but for the prisoner to provoke his enemies +to such acts of violence as would soonest produce death. Many a +warrior had been known to bring his own sufferings to a more speedy +termination, by taunting reproaches and reviling language, when he +found that his physical system was giving way under the agony of +sufferings produced by a hellish ingenuity that might well eclipse +all that has been said of the infernal devices of religious +persecution. This happy expedient of taking refuge from the ferocity +of his foes, in their passions, was denied Deerslayer however, by +his peculiar notions of the duty of a white man, and he had stoutly +made up his mind to endure everything, in preference to disgracing +his colour. + +No sooner did the young men understand that they were at liberty +to commence, than some of the boldest and most forward among them +sprang into the arena, tomahawk in hand. Here they prepared to +throw that dangerous weapon, the object being to strike the tree as +near as possible to the victim's head, without absolutely hitting +him. This was so hazardous an experiment that none but those who +were known to be exceedingly expert with the weapon were allowed +to enter the lists at all, lest an early death might interfere with +the expected entertainment. In the truest hands it was seldom that +the captive escaped injury in these trials, and it often happened +that death followed, even when the blow was not premeditated. In +the particular case of our hero, Rivenoak and the older warriors +were apprehensive that the example of the Panther's fate might +prove a motive with some fiery spirit suddenly to sacrifice his +conqueror, when the temptation of effecting it in precisely the +same manner, and possibly with the identical weapon with which the +warrior had fallen, offered. This circumstance of itself rendered +the ordeal of the tomahawk doubly critical for the Deerslayer. It +would seem, however, that all who now entered what we shall call +the lists, were more disposed to exhibit their own dexterity, than +to resent the deaths of their comrades. Each prepared himself +for the trial with the feelings of rivalry, rather than with the +desire for vengeance, and, for the first few minutes, the prisoner +had little more connection with the result, than grew out of the +interest that necessarily attached itself to a living target. The +young men were eager, instead of being fierce, and Rivenoak thought +he still saw signs of being able to save the life of the captive +when the vanity of the young men had been gratified; always admitting +that it was not sacrificed to the delicate experiments that were +about to be made. The first youth who presented himself for the +trial was called The Raven, having as yet had no opportunity of +obtaining a more warlike sobriquet. He was remarkable for high +pretension, rather than for skill or exploits, and those who knew +his character thought the captive in imminent danger when he took +his stand, and poised the tomahawk. Nevertheless, the young man +was good natured, and no thought was uppermost in his mind other +than the desire to make a better cast than any of his fellows. +Deerslayer got an inkling of this warrior's want of reputation by +the injunctions that he had received from the seniors, who, indeed, +would have objected to his appearing in the arena, at all, but +for an influence derived from his father; an aged warrior of great +merit, who was then in the lodges of the tribe. Still, our hero +maintained an appearance of self-possession. He had made up his +mind that his hour was come, and it would have been a mercy, instead +of a calamity, to fall by the unsteadiness of the first hand that +was raised against him. After a suitable number of flourishes and +gesticulations that promised much more than he could perform, the +Raven let the tomahawk quit his hand. The weapon whirled through +the air with the usual evolutions, cut a chip from the sapling to +which the prisoner was bound within a few inches of his cheek, and +stuck in a large oak that grew several yards behind him. This was +decidedly a bad effort, and a common sneer proclaimed as much, to +the great mortification of the young man. On the other hand, there +was a general but suppressed murmur of admiration at the steadiness +with which the captive stood the trial. The head was the only +part he could move, and this had been purposely left free, that +the tormentors might have the amusement, and the tormented endure +the shame, of his dodging, and otherwise attempting to avoid the +blows. Deerslayer disappointed these hopes by a command of nerve +that rendered his whole body as immovable as the tree to which he +was bound. Nor did he even adopt the natural and usual expedient +of shutting his eyes, the firmest and oldest warrior of the red-men +never having more disdainfully denied himself this advantage under +similar circumstances. + +The Raven had no sooner made his unsuccessful and puerile effort, +than he was succeeded by le Daim-Mose, or the Moose; a middle aged +warrior who was particularly skilful in the use of the tomahawk, +and from whose attempt the spectators confidently looked for +gratification. This man had none of the good nature of the Raven, +but he would gladly have sacrificed the captive to his hatred +of the pale-faces generally, were it not for the greater interest +he felt in his own success as one particularly skilled in the use +of this weapon. He took his stand quietly, but with an air of +confidence, poised his little axe but a single instant, advanced +a foot with a quick motion, and threw. Deerslayer saw the keen +instrument whirling towards him, and believed all was over; still, +he was not touched. The tomahawk had actually bound the head of +the captive to the tree, by carrying before it some of his hair, +having buried itself deep beneath the soft bark. A general yell +expressed the delight of the spectators, and the Moose felt his +heart soften a little towards the prisoner, whose steadiness of +nerve alone enabled him to give this evidence of his consummate +skill. + +Le Daim-Mose was succeeded by the Bounding Boy, or le Garcon qui +Bondi who came leaping into the circle, like a hound or a goat at +play. This was one of those elastic youths whose muscles seemed +always in motion, and who either affected, or who from habit was +actually unable, to move in any other manner than by showing the +antics just mentioned. Nevertheless, he was both brave and skilful, +and had gained the respect of his people by deeds in war, as well +as success in the hunts. A far nobler name would long since have +fallen to his share, had not a French-man of rank inadvertently +given him this sobriquet, which he religiously preserved as coming +from his Great Father who lived beyond the Wide Salt Lake. The +Bounding Boy skipped about in front of the captive, menacing him +with his tomahawk, now on one side and now on another, and then +again in front, in the vain hope of being able to extort some sign +of fear by this parade of danger. At length Deerslayer's patience +became exhausted by all this mummery, and he spoke for the first +time since the trial had actually commenced. + +"Throw away, Huron," he cried, "or your tomahawk will forget its +ar'n'd. Why do you keep loping about like a fa'a'n that's showing +its dam how well it can skip, when you're a warrior grown, yourself, +and a warrior grown defies you and all your silly antiks. Throw, +or the Huron gals will laugh in your face." + +Although not intended to produce such an effect, the last words +aroused the "Bounding" warrior to fury. The same nervous excitability +which rendered him so active in his person, made it difficult to +repress his feelings, and the words were scarcely past the lips +of the speaker than the tomahawk left the hand of the Indian. Nor +was it cast without ill-will, and a fierce determination to slay. +Had the intention been less deadly, the danger might have been +greater. The aim was uncertain, and the weapon glanced near the +cheek of the captive, slightly cutting the shoulder in its evolutions. +This was the first instance in which any other object than that of +terrifying the prisoner, and of displaying skill had been manifested, +and the Bounding Boy was immediately led from the arena, and +was warmly rebuked for his intemperate haste, which had come so +near defeating all the hopes of the band. To this irritable person +succeeded several other young warriors, who not only hurled the +tomahawk, but who cast the knife, a far more dangerous experiment, +with reckless indifference; yet they always manifested a skill that +prevented any injury to the captive. Several times Deerslayer was +grazed, but in no instance did he receive what might be termed a +wound. The unflinching firmness with which he faced his assailants, +more especially in the sort of rally with which this trial terminated, +excited a profound respect in the spectators, and when the chiefs +announced that the prisoner had well withstood the trials of the +knife and the tomahawk, there was not a single individual in the +band who really felt any hostility towards him, with the exception +of Sumach and the Bounding Boy. These two discontented spirits got +together, it is true, feeding each other's ire, but as yet their +malignant feelings were confined very much to themselves, though +there existed the danger that the others, ere long, could not fail +to be excited by their own efforts into that demoniacal state which +usually accompanied all similar scenes among the red men. + +Rivenoak now told his people that the pale-face had proved himself +to be a man. He might live with the Delawares, but he had not been +made woman with that tribe. He wished to know whether it was the +desire of the Hurons to proceed any further. Even the gentlest +of the females, however, had received too much satisfaction in the +late trials to forego their expectations of a gratifying exhibition, +and there was but one voice in the request to proceed. The +politic chief, who had some such desire to receive so celebrated a +hunter into his tribe, as a European Minister has to devise a new +and available means of taxation, sought every plausible means of +arresting the trial in season, for he well knew, if permitted to go +far enough to arouse the more ferocious passions of the tormentors, +it would be as easy to dam the waters of the great lakes of his +own region, as to attempt to arrest them in their bloody career. +He therefore called four or five of the best marksmen to him, and +bid them put the captive to the proof of the rifle, while at the same +time he cautioned them touching the necessity of their maintaining +their own credit, by the closest attention to the manner of exhibiting +their skill. + +When Deerslayer saw the chosen warriors step into the circle, with +their arms prepared for service, he felt some such relief as the +miserable sufferer, who has long endured the agonies of disease, +feels at the certain approach of death. Any trifling variance in +the aim of this formidable weapon would prove fatal; since, the +head being the target, or rather the point it was desired to graze +without injuring, an inch or two of difference in the line of +projection must at once determine the question of life or death. + +In the torture by the rifle there was none of the latitude permitted +that appeared in the case of even Gessler's apple, a hair's breadth +being, in fact, the utmost limits that an expert marksman would +allow himself on an occasion like this. Victims were frequently +shot through the head by too eager or unskilful hands, and it +often occurred that, exasperated by the fortitude and taunts of the +prisoner, death was dealt intentionally in a moment of ungovernable +irritation. All this Deerslayer well knew, for it was in relating +the traditions of such scenes, as well as of the battles and victories +of their people, that the old men beguiled the long winter evenings +in their cabins. He now fully expected the end of his career, +and experienced a sort of melancholy pleasure in the idea that he +was to fall by a weapon as much beloved as the rifle. A slight +interruption, however, took place before the business was allowed +to proceed. + +Hetty Hutter witnessed all that passed, and the scene at first +had pressed upon her feeble mind in a way to paralyze it entirely; +but, by this time she had rallied, and was growing indignant at +the unmerited suffering the Indians were inflicting on her friend. +Though timid, and shy as the young of the deer on so many occasions, +this right-feeling girl was always intrepid in the cause of +humanity; the lessons of her mother, and the impulses of her own +heart - perhaps we might say the promptings of that unseen and +pure spirit that seemed ever to watch over and direct her actions +- uniting to keep down the apprehensions of woman, and to impel her +to be bold and resolute. She now appeared in the circle, gentle, +feminine, even bashful in mien, as usual, but earnest in her words +and countenance, speaking like one who knew herself to be sustained +by the high authority of God. + +"Why do you torment Deerslayer, redmen?" she asked "What has he +done that you trifle with his life; who has given you the right to +be his judges? Suppose one of your knives or tomahawks had hit +him; what Indian among you all could cure the wound you would make. +Besides, in harming Deerslayer, you injure your own friend; when +father and Hurry Harry came after your scalps, he refused to be of +the party, and staid in the canoe by himself. You are tormenting +a good friend, in tormenting this young man!" + +The Hurons listened with grave attention, and one among them, who +understood English, translated what had been said into their native +tongue. As soon as Rivenoak was made acquainted with the purport +of her address he answered it in his own dialect; the interpreter +conveying it to the girl in English. + +"My daughter is very welcome to speak," said the stern old orator, +using gentle intonations and smiling as kindly as if addressing a +child - "The Hurons are glad to hear her voice; they listen to what +she says. The Great Spirit often speaks to men with such tongues. +This time, her eyes have not been open wide enough to see all that +has happened. Deerslayer did not come for our scalps, that is +true; why did he not come? Here they are on our heads; the war +locks are ready to be taken hold of; a bold enemy ought to stretch +out his hand to seize them. The Iroquois are too great a nation +to punish men that take scalps. What they do themselves, they +like to see others do. Let my daughter look around her and count +my warriors. Had I as many hands as four warriors, their fingers +would be fewer than my people, when they came into your hunting +grounds. Now, a whole hand is missing. Where are the fingers? +Two have been cut off by this pale-face; my Hurons wish to see if +he did this by means of a stout heart, or by treachery. Like a +skulking fox, or like a leaping panther." + +"You know yourself, Huron, how one of them fell. I saw it, and +you all saw it, too. 'Twas too bloody to look at; but it was not +Deerslayer's fault. Your warrior sought his life, and he defended +himself. I don't know whether this good book says that it was +right, but all men will do that. Come, if you want to know which +of you can shoot best, give Deerslayer a rifle, and then you will +find how much more expert he is than any of your warriors; yes, +than all of them together!" + +Could one have looked upon such a scene with indifference, he would +have been amused at the gravity with which the savages listened +to the translation of this unusual request. No taunt, no smile +mingled with their surprise, for Hetty had a character and a manner +too saintly to subject her infirmity to the mockings of the rude +and ferocious. On the contrary, she was answered with respectful +attention. + +"My daughter does not always talk like a chief at a Council Fire," +returned Rivenoak, "or she would not have said this. Two of my +warriors have fallen by the blows of our prisoner; their grave is +too small to hold a third. The Hurons do not like to crowd their +dead. If there is another spirit about to set out for the far off +world, it must not be the spirit of a Huron; it must be the spirit +of a pale-face. Go, daughter, and sit by Sumach, who is in grief; +let the Huron warriors show how well they can shoot; let the +pale-face show how little he cares for their bullets." + +Hetty's mind was unequal to a sustained discussion, and accustomed +to defer to the directions of her seniors she did as told, seating +herself passively on a log by the side of the Sumach, and averting +her face from the painful scene that was occurring within the +circle. + +The warriors, as soon as this interruption had ceased, resumed +their places, and again prepared to exhibit their skill. As there +was a double object in view, that of putting the constancy of the +captive to the proof, and that of showing how steady were the hands +of the marksmen under circumstances of excitement, the distance was +small, and, in one sense, safe. But in diminishing the distance +taken by the tormentors, the trial to the nerves of the captive was +essentially increased. The face of Deerslayer, indeed, was just +removed sufficiently from the ends of the guns to escape the effects +of the flash, and his steady eye was enabled to look directly +into their muzzles, as it might be, in anticipation of the fatal +messenger that was to issue from each. The cunning Hurons well +knew this fact, and scarce one levelled his piece without first +causing it to point as near as possible at the forehead of the +prisoner, in the hope that his fortitude would fail him, and that +the band would enjoy the triumph of seeing a victim quail under +their ingenious cruelty. Nevertheless each of the competitors was +still careful not to injure, the disgrace of striking prematurely +being second only to that of failing altogether in attaining the +object. Shot after shot was made; all the bullets coming in close +proximity to the Deerslayer's head, without touching it. Still +no one could detect even the twitching of a muscle on the part of +the captive, or the slightest winking of an eye. This indomitable +resolution, which so much exceeded everything of its kind that any +present had before witnessed, might be referred to three distinct +causes. The first was resignation to his fate, blended with natural +steadiness of deportment; for our hero had calmly made up his mind +that he must die, and preferred this mode to any other; the second +was his great familiarity with this particular weapon, which deprived +it of all the terror that is usually connected with the mere form +of the danger; and the third was this familiarity carried out +in practice, to a degree so nice as to enable the intended victim +to tell, within an inch, the precise spot where each bullet must +strike, for he calculated its range by looking in at the bore of the +piece. So exact was Deerslayer's estimation of the line of fire, +that his pride of feeling finally got the better of his resignation, +and when five or six had discharged their bullets into the tree, +he could not refrain from expressing his contempt at their want of +hand and eye. + +"You may call this shooting, Mingos!" he exclaimed, "but we've squaws +among the Delawares, and I have known Dutch gals on the Mohawk, +that could outdo your greatest indivours. Ondo these arms of mine, +put a rifle into my hands, and I'll pin the thinnest warlock in +your party to any tree you can show me, and this at a hundred yards +- ay, or at two hundred if the objects can be seen, nineteen shots +in twenty; or, for that matter twenty in twenty, if the piece is +creditable and trusty!" + +A low menacing murmur followed this cool taunt. The ire of the +warriors kindled at listening to such a reproach from one who so +far disdained their efforts as to refuse even to wink when a rifle +was discharged as near his face as could be done without burning +it. Rivenoak perceived that the moment was critical, and, still +retaining his hope of adopting so noted a hunter into his tribe, +the politic old chief interposed in time, probably to prevent +an immediate resort to that portion of the torture which must +necessarily have produced death through extreme bodily suffering, +if in no other manner. Moving into the centre of the irritated +group, he addressed them with his usual wily logic and plausible +manner, at once suppressing the fierce movement that had commenced. + +"I see how it is," he said. "We have been like the pale-faces +when they fasten their doors at night, out of fear of the red men. +They use so many bars that the fire comes and burns them before they +can get out. We have bound the Deerslayer too tight: the thongs +keep his limbs from shaking and his eyes from shutting. Loosen +him; let us see what his own body is really made of." + +It is often the case when we are thwarted in a cherished scheme, +that any expedient, however unlikely to succeed, is gladly resorted +to in preference to a total abandonment of the project. So it was +with the Hurons. The proposal of the chief found instant favor, +and several hands were immediately at work, cutting and tearing +the ropes of bark from the body of our hero. In half a minute +Deerslayer stood as free from bonds as when an hour before he had +commenced his flight on the side of the mountain. Some little +time was necessary that he should recover the use of his limbs, +the circulation of the blood having been checked by the tightness +of the ligatures, and this was accorded to him by the politic +Rivenoak, under the pretence that his body would be more likely +to submit to apprehension if its true tone were restored; though +really with a view to give time to the fierce passions which had +been awakened in the bosoms of his young men to subside. This +ruse succeeded, and Deerslayer by rubbing his limbs, stamping his +feet, and moving about, soon regained the circulation, recovering +all his physical powers as effectually as if nothing had occurred +to disturb them. + +It is seldom men think of death in the pride of their health and +strength. So it was with Deerslayer. Having been helplessly bound +and, as he had every reason to suppose, so lately on the very verge +of the other world, to find himself so unexpectedly liberated, in +possession of his strength and with a full command of limb, acted +on him like a sudden restoration to life, reanimating hopes that +he had once absolutely abandoned. From that instant all his plans +changed. In this, he simply obeyed a law of nature; for while we +have wished to represent our hero as being resigned to his fate, +it has been far from our intention to represent him as anxious to +die. From the instant that his buoyancy of feeling revived, his +thoughts were keenly bent on the various projects that presented +themselves as modes of evading the designs of his enemies, and he +again became the quick witted, ingenious and determined woodsman, +alive to all his own powers and resources. The change was so great +that his mind resumed its elasticity, and no longer thinking of +submission, it dwelt only on the devices of the sort of warfare in +which he was engaged. + +As soon as Deerslayer was released, the band divided itself in +a circle around him, in order to hedge him in, and the desire to +break down his spirit grew in them, precisely as they saw proofs +of the difficulty there would be in subduing it. The honor of the +band was now involved in the issue, and even the fair sex lost all +its sympathy with suffering in the desire to save the reputation of +the tribe. The voices of the girls, soft and melodious as nature +had made them, were heard mingling with the menaces of the men, +and the wrongs of Sumach suddenly assumed the character of injuries +inflicted on every Huron female. Yielding to this rising tumult, +the men drew back a little, signifying to the females that they +left the captive, for a time, in their hands, it being a common +practice on such occasions for the women to endeavor to throw the +victim into a rage by their taunts and revilings, and then to turn +him suddenly over to the men in a state of mind that was little +favorable to resisting the agony of bodily suffering. Nor was this +party without the proper instruments for effecting such a purpose. +Sumach had a notoriety as a scold, and one or two crones, +like the She Bear, had come out with the party, most probably as +the conservators of its decency and moral discipline; such things +occurring in savage as well as in civilized life. It is unnecessary +to repeat all that ferocity and ignorance could invent for such a +purpose, the only difference between this outbreaking of feminine +anger, and a similar scene among ourselves, consisting in the +figures of speech and the epithets, the Huron women calling their +prisoner by the names of the lower and least respected animals that +were known to themselves. + +But Deerslayer's mind was too much occupied to permit him to be +disturbed by the abuse of excited hags, and their rage necessarily +increasing with his indifference, as his indifference increased +with their rage, the furies soon rendered themselves impotent by +their own excesses. Perceiving that the attempt was a complete +failure, the warriors interfered to put a stop to this scene, and +this so much the more because preparations were now seriously making +for the commencement of the real tortures, or that which would put +the fortitude of the sufferer to the test of severe bodily pain. A +sudden and unlooked for announcement, that proceeded from one of the +look-outs, a boy ten or twelve years old, however, put a momentary +check to the whole proceedings. As this interruption has a close +connection with the dénouemnent of our story, it shall be given in +a separate chapter. + + + +Chapter XXX. + + + "So deem'st thou - so each mortal deems + Of that which is from that which seems; + But other harvest here + Than that which peasant's scythe demands, + Was gather'd in by sterner hands, + With bayonet, blade, and spear." + + Scott, "The Field of Waterloo," V.i-6. + +It exceeded Deerslayer's power to ascertain what had produced the +sudden pause in the movements of his enemies, until the fact was +revealed in the due course of events. He perceived that much agitation +prevailed among the women in particular, while the warriors rested +on their arms in a sort of dignified expectation. It was plain no +alarm was excited, though it was not equally apparent that a friendly +occurrence produced the delay. Rivenoak was evidently apprised of +all, and by a gesture of his arm he appeared to direct the circle +to remain unbroken, and for each person to await the issue in the +situation he or she then occupied. It required but a minute or +two to bring an explanation of this singular and mysterious pause, +which was soon terminated by the appearance of Judith on the exterior +of the line of bodies, and her ready admission within its circle. + +If Deerslayer was startled by this unexpected arrival, well knowing +that the quick witted girl could claim none of that exemption from +the penalties of captivity that was so cheerfully accorded to her +feebler minded sister, he was equally astonished at the guise in +which she came. All her ordinary forest attire, neat and becoming +as this usually was, had been laid aside for the brocade that +has been already mentioned, and which had once before wrought so +great and magical an effect in her appearance. Nor was this all. +Accustomed to see the ladies of the garrison in the formal, gala +attire of the day, and familiar with the more critical niceties +of these matters, the girl had managed to complete her dress in a +way to leave nothing strikingly defective in its details, or even +to betray an incongruity that would have been detected by one +practised in the mysteries of the toilet. Head, feet, arms, hands, +bust, and drapery, were all in harmony, as female attire was then +deemed attractive and harmonious, and the end she aimed at, that +of imposing on the uninstructed senses of the savages, by causing +them to believe their guest was a woman of rank and importance, +might well have succeeded with those whose habits had taught them +to discriminate between persons. Judith, in addition to her rare +native beauty, had a singular grace of person, and her mother had +imparted enough of her own deportment to prevent any striking or +offensive vulgarity of manner; so that, sooth to say, the gorgeous +dress might have been worse bestowed in nearly every particular. +Had it been displayed in a capital, a thousand might have worn it, +before one could have been found to do more credit to its gay colours, +glossy satins, and rich laces, than the beautiful creature whose +person it now aided to adorn. The effect of such an apparition had +not been miscalculated. The instant Judith found herself within the +circle, she was, in a degree, compensated for the fearful personal +risk she ran, by the unequivocal sensation of surprise and admiration +produced by her appearance. The grim old warriors uttered their +favorite exclamation "hugh!" The younger men were still more +sensibly overcome, and even the women were not backward in letting +open manifestations of pleasure escape them. It was seldom that +these untutored children of the forest had ever seen any white +female above the commonest sort, and, as to dress, never before had +so much splendor shone before their eyes. The gayest uniforms of +both French and English seemed dull compared with the lustre of the +brocade, and while the rare personal beauty of the wearer added to +the effect produced by its hues, the attire did not fail to adorn +that beauty in a way which surpassed even the hopes of its wearer. +Deerslayer himself was astounded, and this quite as much by the +brilliant picture the girl presented, as at the indifference to +consequences with which she had braved the danger of the step she +had taken. Under such circumstances, all waited for the visitor +to explain her object, which to most of the spectators seemed as +inexplicable as her appearance. + +"Which of these warriors is the principal chief?" demanded Judith of +Deerslayer, as soon as she found it was expected that she should +open the communications; "my errand is too important to be delivered +to any of inferior rank. First explain to the Hurons what I say; +then give an answer to the question I have put." + +Deerslayer quietly complied, his auditors greedily listening to the +interpretation of the first words that fell from so extraordinary +a vision. The demand seemed perfectly in character for one who +had every appearance of an exalted rank, herself. Rivenoak gave an +appropriate reply, by presenting himself before his fair visitor in +a way to leave no doubt that he was entitled to all the consideration +he claimed. + +"I can believe this, Huron," resumed Judith, enacting her assumed +part with a steadiness and dignity that did credit to her powers of +imitation, for she strove to impart to her manner the condescending +courtesy she had once observed in the wife of a general officer, +at a similar though a more amicable scene: "I can believe you to +be the principal person of this party; I see in your countenance +the marks of thought and reflection. To you, then, I must make my +communication." + +"Let the Flower of the Woods speak," returned the old chief +courteously, as soon as her address had been translated so that all +might understand it - "If her words are as pleasant as her looks, +they will never quit my ears; I shall hear them long after the winter +of Canada has killed all the flowers, and frozen all the speeches +of summer." + +This admiration was grateful to one constituted like Judith, and +contributed to aid her self-possession, quite as much as it fed +her vanity. Smiling involuntarily, or in spite of her wish to seem +reserved, she proceeded in her plot. + +"Now, Huron," she continued, "listen to my words. Your eyes tell +you that I am no common woman. I will not say I am queen of this +country; she is afar off, in a distant land; but under our gracious +monarchs, there are many degrees of rank; one of these I fill. What +that rank is precisely, it is unnecessary for me to say, since you +would not understand it. For that information you must trust your +eyes. You see what I am; you must feel that in listening to my +words, you listen to one who can be your friend, or your enemy, as +you treat her." + +This was well uttered, with a due attention to manner and a +steadiness of tone that was really surprising, considering all the +circumstances of the case. It was well, though simply rendered +into the Indian dialect too, and it was received with a respect +and gravity that augured favourably for the girl's success. But +Indian thought is not easily traced to its sources. Judith waited +with anxiety to hear the answer, filled with hope even while she +doubted. Rivenoak was a ready speaker, and he answered as promptly +as comported with the notions of Indian decorum; that peculiar +people seeming to think a short delay respectful, inasmuch as it +manifests that the words already heard have been duly weighed. + +"My daughter is handsomer than the wild roses of Ontario; her +voice is pleasant to the ear as the song of the wren," answered +the cautious and wily chief, who of all the band stood alone in not +being fully imposed on by the magnificent and unusual appearance +of Judith; but who distrusted even while he wondered: "the humming +bird is not much larger than the bee; yet, its feathers are as gay +as the tail of the peacock. The Great Spirit sometimes puts very +bright clothes on very little animals. Still He covers the Moose +with coarse hair. These things are beyond the understanding of +poor Indians, who can only comprehend what they see and hear. No +doubt my daughter has a very large wigwam somewhere about the lake; +the Hurons have not found it, on account of their ignorance?" + +"I have told you, chief, that it would be useless to state my rank +and residence, in as much as you would not comprehend them. You +must trust to your eyes for this knowledge; what red man is there +who cannot see? This blanket that I wear is not the blanket of a +common squaw; these ornaments are such as the wives and daughters +of chiefs only appear in. Now, listen and hear why I have come +alone among your people, and hearken to the errand that has brought +me here. The Yengeese have young men, as well as the Hurons; and +plenty of them, too; this you well know." + +"The Yengeese are as plenty as the leaves on the trees! This every +Huron knows, and feels." + +"I understand you, chief. Had I brought a party with me, it might +have caused trouble. My young men and your young men would have +looked angrily at each other; especially had my young men seen that +pale-face bound for the torture. He is a great hunter, and is much +loved by all the garrisons, far and near. There would have been +blows about him, and the trail of the Iroquois back to the Canadas +would have been marked with blood." + +"There is so much blood on it, now," returned the chief, gloomily, +"that it blinds our eyes. My young men see that it is all Huron." + +"No doubt; and more Huron blood would be spilt had I come surrounded +with pale-faces. I have heard of Rivenoak, and have thought it +would be better to send him back in peace to his village, that he +might leave his women and children behind him; if he then wished +to come for our scalps, we would meet him. He loves animals made +of ivory, and little rifles. See; I have brought some with me to +show him. I am his friend. When he has packed up these things +among his goods, he will start for his village, before any of my +young men can overtake him, and then he will show his people in +Canada what riches they can come to seek, now that our great fathers, +across the Salt Lake, have sent each other the war hatchet. I will +lead back with me this great hunter, of whom I have need to keep +my house in venison." + +Judith, who was sufficiently familiar with Indian phraseology, +endeavored to express her ideas in the sententious manner common to +those people, and she succeeded even beyond her own expectations. +Deerslayer did her full justice in the translation, and this so much +the more readily, since the girl carefully abstained from uttering +any direct untruth; a homage she paid to the young man's known aversion +to falsehood, which he deemed a meanness altogether unworthy of a +white man's gifts. The offering of the two remaining elephants, +and of the pistols already mentioned, one of which was all the worse +for the recent accident, produced a lively sensation among the Hurons, +generally, though Rivenoak received it coldly, notwithstanding the +delight with which he had first discovered the probable existence +of a creature with two tails. In a word, this cool and sagacious +savage was not so easily imposed on as his followers, and with a +sentiment of honor that half the civilized world would have deemed +supererogatory, he declined the acceptance of a bribe that he felt +no disposition to earn by a compliance with the donor's wishes. + +"Let my daughter keep her two-tailed hog, to eat when venison +is scarce," he drily answered, "and the little gun, which has two +muzzles. The Hurons will kill deer when they are hungry, and they +have long rifles to fight with. This hunter cannot quit my young +men now; they wish to know if he is as stouthearted as he boasts +himself to be." + +"That I deny, Huron -" interrupted Deerslayer, with warmth - "Yes, +that I downright deny, as ag'in truth and reason. No man has heard +me boast, and no man shall, though ye flay me alive, and then roast +the quivering flesh, with your own infarnal devices and cruelties! +I may be humble, and misfortunate, and your prisoner; but I'm no +boaster, by my very gifts." + +"My young pale-face boasts he is no boaster," returned the crafty +chief: "he must be right. I hear a strange bird singing. It has +very rich feathers. No Huron ever before saw such feathers! They +will be ashamed to go back to their village, and tell their people +that they let their prisoner go on account of the song of this +strange bird and not be able to give the name of the bird. They +do not know how to say whether it is a wren, or a cat bird. This +would be a great disgrace; my young men would not be allowed to +travel in the woods without taking their mothers with them, to tell +them the names of the birds!" + +"You can ask my name of your prisoner," returned the girl. "It is +Judith; and there is a great deal of the history of Judith in the +pale-face's best book, the Bible. If I am a bird of fine feathers, +I have also my name." + +"No," answered the wily Huron, betraying the artifice he had so long +practised, by speaking in English with tolerable accuracy, "I not +ask prisoner. He tired; he want rest. I ask my daughter, with +feeble mind. She speak truth. Come here, daughter; you answer. +Your name, Hetty?" + +"Yes, that's what they call me," returned the girl, "though it's +written Esther in the Bible." + +"He write him in bible, too! All write in bible. No matter- what +her name?" + +"That's Judith, and it's so written in the Bible, though father +sometimes called her Jude. That's my sister Judith. Thomas Hutter's +daughter -Thomas Hutter, whom you called the Muskrat; though he +was no muskrat, but a man like yourselves - he lived in a house on +the water, and that was enough for you." + +A smile of triumph gleamed on the hard wrinkled countenance of the +chief, when he found how completely his appeal to the truth-loving +Hetty had succeeded. As for Judith, herself, the moment her sister +was questioned, she saw that all was lost; for no sign, or even +intreaty could have induced the right feeling girl to utter a +falsehood. To attempt to impose a daughter of the Muskrat on the +savages as a princess, or a great lady, she knew would be idle, +and she saw her bold and ingenious expedient for liberating the +captive fail, through one of the simplest and most natural causes +that could be imagined. She turned her eye on Deerslayer, therefore, +as if imploring him to interfere to save them both. + +"It will not do, Judith," said the young man, in answer to this +appeal, which he understood, though he saw its uselessness; "it +will not do. 'Twas a bold idea, and fit for a general's lady, but +yonder Mingo" Rivenoak had withdrawn to a little distance, and was +out of earshot - "but yonder Mingo is an oncommon man, and not to +be deceived by any unnat'ral sarcumvention. Things must come afore +him in their right order, to draw a cloud afore his eyes! Twas +too much to attempt making him fancy that a queen, or a great lady, +lived in these mountains, and no doubt he thinks the fine clothes +you wear is some of the plunder of your own father - or, at least, +of him who once passed for your father; as quite likely it was, if +all they say is true." + +"At all events, Deerslayer, my presence here will save you for a +time. They will hardly attempt torturing you before my face!" + +"Why not, Judith? Do you think they will treat a woman of the +pale faces more tenderly than they treat their own? It's true that +your sex will most likely save you from the torments, but it will +not save your liberty, and may not save your scalp. I wish you had +not come, my good Judith; it can do no good to me, while it may do +great harm to yourself." + +"I can share your fate," the girl answered with generous enthusiasm. +"They shall not injure you while I stand by, if in my power to +prevent it -besides -" + +"Besides, what, Judith? What means have you to stop Injin cruelties, +or to avart Injin deviltries?" + +"None, perhaps, Deerslayer," answered the girl, with firmness, "but +I can suffer with my friends - die with them if necessary." + +"Ah! Judith - suffer you may; but die you will not, until the +Lord's time shall come. It's little likely that one of your sex +and beauty will meet with a harder fate than to become the wife +of a chief, if, indeed your white inclinations can stoop to match +with an Injin. 'Twould have been better had you staid in the Ark, +or the castle, but what has been done, is done. You was about to +say something, when you stopped at 'besides'?" + +"It might not be safe to mention it here, Deerslayer," the girl +hurriedly answered, moving past him carelessly, that she might speak +in a lower tone; "half an hour is all in all to us. None of your +friends are idle." + +The hunter replied merely by a grateful look. Then he turned +towards his enemies, as if ready again to face their torments. A +short consultation had passed among the elders of the band, and by +this time they also were prepared with their decision. The merciful +purpose of Rivenoak had been much weakened by the artifice of +Judith, which, failing of its real object, was likely to produce +results the very opposite of those she had anticipated. This was +natural; the feeling being aided by the resentment of an Indian who +found how near he had been to becoming the dupe of an inexperienced +girl. By this time, Judith's real character was fully understood, +the wide spread reputation of her beauty contributing to the +exposure. As for the unusual attire, it was confounded with the +profound mystery of the animals with two tails, and for the moment +lost its influence. + +When Rivenoak, therefore, faced the captive again, it was with +an altered countenance. He had abandoned the wish of saving him, +and was no longer disposed to retard the more serious part of the +torture. This change of sentiment was, in effect, communicated to +the young men, who were already eagerly engaged in making their +preparations for the contemplated scene. Fragments of dried wood +were rapidly collected near the sapling, the splinters which it +was intended to thrust into the flesh of the victim, previously to +lighting, were all collected, and the thongs were already produced +that were again to bind him to the tree. All this was done in +profound silence, Judith watching every movement with breathless +expectation, while Deerslayer himself stood seemingly as unmoved as +one of the pines of the hills. When the warriors advanced to bind +him, however, the young man glanced at Judith, as if to enquire +whether resistance or submission were most advisable. By a significant +gesture she counselled the last, and, in a minute, he was once more +fastened to the tree, a helpless object of any insult, or wrong, +that might be offered. So eagerly did every one now act, that +nothing was said. The fire was immediately lighted in the pile, +and the end of all was anxiously expected. + +It was not the intention of the Hurons absolutely to destroy the +life of their victim by means of fire. They designed merely to +put his physical fortitude to the severest proofs it could endure, +short of that extremity. In the end, they fully intended to carry +his scalp with them into their village, but it was their wish +first to break down his resolution, and to reduce him to the level +of a complaining sufferer. With this view, the pile of brush and +branches had been placed at a proper distance, or, one at which +it was thought the heat would soon become intolerable, though it +might not be immediately dangerous. As often happened, however, +on these occasions, this distance had been miscalculated, and the +flames began to wave their forked tongues in a proximity to the face +of the victim, that would have proved fatal, in another instant, +had not Hetty rushed through the crowd, armed with a stick, and +scattered the blazing pile in a dozen directions. More than one +hand was raised to strike this presumptuous intruder to the earth, +but the chiefs prevented the blows, by reminding their irritated +followers of the state of her mind. Hetty, herself, was insensible +to the risk she ran, but, as soon as she had performed this bold +act, she stood looking about her, in frowning resentment, as if to +rebuke the crowd of attentive savages for their cruelty. + +"God bless you, dearest sister, for that brave and ready act!" +murmured Judith, herself unnerved so much as to be incapable of +exertion -"Heaven, itself, has sent you on its holy errand." + +"'Twas well meant, Judith -" rejoined the victim - "'twas excellently +meant, and 'twas timely; though it may prove ontimely in the ind! +What is to come to pass, must come to pass soon, or 'twill quickly +be too late. Had I drawn in one mouthful of that flame in breathing, +the power of man could not save my life, and you see that, this +time, they've so bound my forehead, as not to leave my head the +smallest chance. 'Twas well meant, but it might have been more +marciful to let the flames act their part." + +"Cruel, heartless Hurons!" exclaimed the still indignant Hetty - +"Would you burn a man and a Christian, as you would burn a log of +wood! Do you never read your Bibles? Or do you think God will +forget such things?" + +A gesture from Rivenoak caused the scattered brands to be collected. +Fresh wood was brought, even the women and children busying themselves +eagerly, in the gathering of dried sticks. The flame was just +kindling a second time, when an Indian female pushed through the +circle, advanced to the heap, and with her foot dashed aside the +lighted twigs in time to prevent the conflagration. A yell followed +this second disappointment, but when the offender turned towards +the circle, and presented the countenance of Hist, it was succeeded +by a common exclamation of pleasure and surprise. For a minute, +all thought of pursuing the business in hand was forgotten. Young +and old crowded around the girl, in haste to demand an explanation +of her sudden and unlooked-for return. It was at this critical +instant that Hist spoke to Judith in a low voice, placed some small +object unseen in her hand, and then turned to meet the salutations +of the Huron girls, with whom she was personally a great favorite. +Judith recovered her self possession, and acted promptly. The +small, keen edged knife that Hist had given to the other, was +passed by the latter into the hands of Hetty, as the safest and +least suspected medium of transferring it to Deerslayer. But the +feeble intellect of the last defeated the well-grounded hopes of +all three. Instead of first cutting loose the hands of the victim, +and then concealing the knife in his clothes, in readiness for +action at the most available instant, she went to work herself, +with earnestness and simplicity, to cut the thongs that bound his +head, that he might not again be in danger of inhaling flames. Of +course this deliberate procedure was seen, and the hands of Hetty +were arrested, ere she had more than liberated the upper portion of +the captive's body, not including his arms below the elbows. This +discovery at once pointed distrust towards Hist, and to Judith's +surprise, when questioned on the subject, that spirited girl was +not disposed to deny her agency in what had passed. + +"Why should I not help the Deerslayer?" the girl demanded, in the +tones of a firm minded woman. "He is the brother of a Delaware +chief; my heart is all Delaware. Come forth, miserable Briarthorn, +and wash the Iroquois paint from your face; stand before the Hurons +the crow that you are. You would eat the carrion of your own dead, +rather than starve. Put him face to face with Deerslayer, chiefs +and warriors; I will show you how great a knave you have been +keeping in your tribe." + +This bold language, uttered in their own dialect and with a manner +full of confidence, produced a deep sensation among the Hurons. +Treachery is always liable to distrust, and though the recreant +Briarthorn had endeavoured to serve the enemy well, his exertions +and assiduities had gained for him little more than toleration. His +wish to obtain Hist for a wife had first induced him to betray her, +and his own people, but serious rivals to his first project had +risen up among his new friends, weakening still more their +sympathies with treason. In a word, Briarthorn had been barely +permitted to remain in the Huron encampment, where he was as closely +and as jealously watched as Hist, herself, seldom appearing before +the chiefs, and sedulously keeping out of view of Deerslayer, who, +until this moment, was ignorant even of his presence. Thus summoned, +however, it was impossible to remain in the back ground. "Wash the +Iroquois paint from his face," he did not, for when he stood in the +centre of the circle, he was so disguised in these new colours, that +at first, the hunter did not recognise him. He assumed an air of +defiance, notwithstanding, and haughtily demanded what any could say +against "Briarthorn." + +"Ask yourself that," continued Hist with spirit, though her manner +grew less concentrated, and there was a slight air of abstraction +that became observable to Deerslayer and Judith, if to no others +-"Ask that of your own heart, sneaking woodchuck of the Delawares; +come not here with the face of an innocent man. Go look into the +spring; see the colours of your enemies on your lying skin; then +come back and boast how you run from your tribe and took the blanket +of the French for your covering! Paint yourself as bright as the +humming bird, you will still be black as the crow!" + +Hist had been so uniformly gentle, while living with the Hurons, +that they now listened to her language with surprise. As for the +delinquent, his blood boiled in his veins, and it was well for the +pretty speaker that it was not in his power to execute the revenge +he burned to inflict on her, in spite of his pretended love. + +"Who wishes Briarthorn?" he sternly asked - "If this pale-face is +tired of life, if afraid of Indian torments, speak, Rivenoak; I +will send him after the warriors we have lost." + +"No, chiefs - no, Rivenoak -" eagerly interrupted Hist - "Deerslayer +fears nothing; least of all a crow! Unbind him - cut his withes, +place him face to face with this cawing bird; then let us see which +is tired of life!" + +Hist made a forward movement, as if to take a knife from a young +man, and perform the office she had mentioned in person, but an aged +warrior interposed, at a sign from Rivenoak. This chief watched +all the girl did with distrust, for, even while speaking in her +most boastful language, and in the steadiest manner, there was an +air of uncertainty and expectation about her, that could not escape +so close an observer. She acted well; but two or three of the old +men were equally satisfied that it was merely acting. Her proposal +to release Deerslayer, therefore, was rejected, and the disappointed +Hist found herself driven back from the sapling, at the very moment +she fancied herself about to be successful. At the same time, the +circle, which had got to be crowded and confused, was enlarged, and +brought once more into order. Rivenoak now announced the intention +of the old men again to proceed, the delay having continued long +enough, and leading to no result. + +"Stop Huron - stay chiefs! -" exclaimed Judith, scarce knowing +what she said, or why she interposed, unless to obtain time. "For +God's sake, a single minute longer -" + +The words were cut short, by another and a still more extraordinary +interruption. A young Indian came bounding through the Huron ranks, +leaping into the very centre of the circle, in a way to denote the +utmost confidence, or a temerity bordering on foolhardiness. Five +or six sentinels were still watching the lake at different and +distant points, and it was the first impression of Rivenoak that one +of these had come in, with tidings of import. Still the movements +of the stranger were so rapid, and his war dress, which scarcely +left him more drapery than an antique statue, had so little +distinguishing about it, that, at the first moment, it was impossible +to ascertain whether he were friend or foe. Three leaps carried +this warrior to the side of Deerslayer, whose withes were cut in the +twinkling of an eye, with a quickness and precision that left the +prisoner perfect master of his limbs. Not till this was effected +did the stranger bestow a glance on any other object; then he +turned and showed the astonished Hurons the noble brow, fine person, +and eagle eye, of a young warrior, in the paint and panoply of a +Delaware. He held a rifle in each hand, the butts of both resting +on the earth, while from one dangled its proper pouch and horn. +This was Killdeer which, even as he looked boldly and in defiance +at the crowd around him, he suffered to fall back into the hands +of its proper owner. The presence of two armed men, though it was +in their midst, startled the Hurons. Their rifles were scattered +about against the different trees, and their only weapons were +their knives and tomahawks. Still they had too much self-possession +to betray fear. It was little likely that so small a force would +assail so strong a band, and each man expected some extraordinary +proposition to succeed so decisive a step. The stranger did not +seem disposed to disappoint them; he prepared to speak. + +"Hurons," he said, "this earth is very big. The Great Lakes are +big, too; there is room beyond them for the Iroquois; there is +room for the Delawares on this side. I am Chingachgook the Son +of Uncas; the kinsman of Tamenund. This is my betrothed; that +pale-face is my friend. My heart was heavy, when I missed him; +I followed him to your camp, to see that no harm happened to him. +All the Delaware girls are waiting for Wah; they wonder that she +stays away so long. Come, let us say farewell, and go on our path." + +"Hurons, this is your mortal enemy, the Great Serpent of them you +hate!" cried Briarthorn. "If he escape, blood will be in your +moccasin prints, from this spot to the Canadas. I am all Huron!" +As the last words were uttered, the traitor cast his knife at the +naked breast of the Delaware. A quick movement of the arm, on the +part of Hist, who stood near, turned aside the blow, the dangerous +weapon burying its point in a pine. At the next instant, a similar +weapon glanced from the hand of the Serpent, and quivered in the +recreant's heart. A minute had scarcely elapsed from the moment +in which Chingachgook bounded into the circle, and that in which +Briarthorn fell, like a log, dead in his tracks. The rapidity of +events had prevented the Hurons from acting; but this catastrophe +permitted no farther delay. A common exclamation followed, and +the whole party was in motion. At this instant a sound unusual to +the woods was heard, and every Huron, male and female, paused to +listen, with ears erect and faces filled with expectation. The sound +was regular and heavy, as if the earth were struck with beetles. +Objects became visible among the trees of the background, and a +body of troops was seen advancing with measured tread. They came +upon the charge, the scarlet of the King's livery shining among +the bright green foliage of the forest. + +The scene that followed is not easily described. It was one in which +wild confusion, despair, and frenzied efforts, were so blended as +to destroy the unity and distinctness of the action. A general +yell burst from the enclosed Hurons; it was succeeded by the hearty +cheers of England. Still not a musket or rifle was fired, though +that steady, measured tramp continued, and the bayonet was seen +gleaming in advance of a line that counted nearly sixty men. The +Hurons were taken at a fearful disadvantage. On three sides was +the water, while their formidable and trained foes cut them off +from flight on the fourth. Each warrior rushed for his arms, and +then all on the point, man, woman and child, eagerly sought the +covers. In this scene of confusion and dismay, however, nothing +could surpass the discretion and coolness of Deerslayer. His first +care was to place Judith and Hist behind trees, and he looked for +Hetty; but she had been hurried away in the crowd of Huron women. +This effected, he threw himself on a flank of the retiring Hurons, +who were inclining off towards the southern margin of the point, +in the hope of escaping through the water. Deerslayer watched his +opportunity, and finding two of his recent tormentors in a range, +his rifle first broke the silence of the terrific scene. The bullet +brought down both at one discharge. This drew a general fire from +the Hurons, and the rifle and war cry of the Serpent were heard in +the clamor. Still the trained men returned no answering volley, +the whoop and piece of Hurry alone being heard on their side, +if we except the short, prompt word of authority, and that heavy, +measured and menacing tread. Presently, however, the shrieks, +groans, and denunciations that usually accompany the use of the +bayonet followed. That terrible and deadly weapon was glutted in +vengeance. The scene that succeeded was one of those of which so +many have occurred in our own times, in which neither age nor sex +forms an exemption to the lot of a savage warfare. + + + +Chapter XXXI. + + + "The flower that smiles to-day + To-morrow dies; + All that we wish to stay, + Tempts and then flies: + What is this world's delight? + Lightning that mocks the night, + Brief even as bright." + + Shelley, "Mutability," 11. i-v. + +The picture next presented, by the point of land that the unfortunate +Hurons had selected for their last place of encampment, need +scarcely be laid before the eyes of the reader. Happily for the +more tender-minded and the more timid, the trunks of the trees, +the leaves, and the smoke had concealed much of that which passed, +and night shortly after drew its veil over the lake, and the whole +of that seemingly interminable wilderness; which may be said to +have then stretched, with few and immaterial interruptions, from +the banks of the Hudson to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Our +business carries us into the following day, when light returned +upon the earth, as sunny and as smiling as if nothing extraordinary +had occurred. + +When the sun rose on the following morning, every sign of hostility +and alarm had vanished from the basin of the Glimmerglass. The +frightful event of the preceding evening had left no impression +on the placid sheet, and the untiring hours pursued their course +in the placid order prescribed by the powerful hand that set +them in motion. The birds were again skimming the water, or were +seen poised on the wing, high above the tops of the tallest pines +of the mountains, ready to make their swoops, in obedience to the +irresistable law of their natures. In a word, nothing was changed, +but the air of movement and life that prevailed in and around the +castle. Here, indeed, was an alteration that must have struck +the least observant eye. A sentinel, who wore the light infantry +uniform of a royal regiment, paced the platform with measured tread, +and some twenty more of the same corps lounged about the place, or +were seated in the ark. Their arms were stacked under the eye of +their comrade on post. Two officers stood examining the shore, with +the ship's glass so often mentioned. Their looks were directed to +that fatal point, where scarlet coats were still to be seen gliding +among the trees, and where the magnifying power of the instrument +also showed spades at work, and the sad duty of interment going on. +Several of the common men bore proofs on their persons that their +enemies had not been overcome entirely without resistance, and the +youngest of the two officers on the platform wore an arm in a sling. +His companion, who commanded the party, had been more fortunate. He +it was who used the glass, in making the reconnoissances in which +the two were engaged. + +A sergeant approached to make a report. He addressed the senior +of these officers as Capt. Warley, while the other was alluded +to as Mr., which was equivalent to Ensign Thornton. The former it +will at once be seen was the officer who had been named with so +much feeling in the parting dialogue between Judith and Hurry. He +was, in truth, the very individual with whom the scandal of the +garrisons had most freely connected the name of this beautiful but +indiscreet girl. He was a hard featured, red faced man of about five +and thirty; but of a military carriage, and with an air of fashion +that might easily impose on the imagination of one as ignorant of +the world as Judith. + +"Craig is covering us with benedictions," observed this person +to his young ensign, with an air of indifference, as he shut the +glass and handed it to his servant; "to say the truth, not without +reason; it is certainly more agreeable to be here in attendance on +Miss Judith Hutter, than to be burying Indians on a point of the +lake, however romantic the position, or brilliant the victory. By +the way, Wright - is Davis still living?" + +"He died about ten minutes since, your honor," returned the sergeant +to whom this question was addressed. "I knew how it would be, as +soon as I found the bullet had touched the stomach. I never knew +a man who could hold out long, if he had a hole in his stomach." + +"No; it is rather inconvenient for carrying away any thing very +nourishing," observed Warley, gaping. "This being up two nights +de suite, Arthur, plays the devil with a man's faculties! I'm as +stupid as one of those Dutch parsons on the Mohawk - I hope your +arm is not painful, my dear boy?" + +"It draws a few grimaces from me, sir, as I suppose you see," +answered the youth, laughing at the very moment his countenance was +a little awry with pain. "But it may be borne. I suppose Graham +can spare a few minutes, soon, to look at my hurt." + +"She is a lovely creature, this Judith Hutter, after all, Thornton; +and it shall not be my fault if she is not seen and admired in +the Parks!" resumed Warley, who thought little of his companion's +wound - "your arm, eh! Quite True - Go into the ark, sergeant, and +tell Dr. Graham I desire he would look at Mr. Thornton's injury, +as soon as he has done with the poor fellow with the broken leg. +A lovely creature! and she looked like a queen in that brocade +dress in which we met her. I find all changed here; father and +mother both gone, the sister dying, if not dead, and none of the +family left, but the beauty! This has been a lucky expedition all +round, and promises to terminate better than Indian skirmishes in +general." + +"Am I to suppose, sir, that you are about to desert your colours, in +the great corps of bachelors, and close the campaign with matrimony?" + +"I, Tom Warley, turn Benedict! Faith, my dear boy, you little know +the corps you speak of, if you fancy any such thing. I do suppose +there are women in the colonies that a captain of Light Infantry need +not disdain; but they are not to be found up here, on a mountain +lake; or even down on the Dutch river where we are posted. It +is true, my uncle, the general, once did me the favor to choose a +wife for me in Yorkshire; but she had no beauty - and I would not +marry a princess, unless she were handsome." + +"If handsome, you would marry a beggar?" + +"Ay, these are the notions of an ensign! Love in a cottage - doors +- and windows - the old story, for the hundredth time. The 20th +- don't marry. We are not a marrying corps, my dear boy. There's +the Colonel, Old Sir Edwin ------, now; though a full General he has +never thought of a wife; and when a man gets as high as a Lieutenant +General, without matrimony, he is pretty safe. Then the Lieutenant +Colonel is confirmed, as I tell my cousin the bishop. The Major is +a widower, having tried matrimony for twelve months in his youth, +and we look upon him, now, as one of our most certain men. Out +of ten captains, but one is in the dilemma, and he, poor devil, is +always kept at regimental headquarters, as a sort of memento mori, +to the young men as they join. As for the subalterns, not one has +ever yet had the audacity to speak of introducing a wife into the +regiment. But your arm is troublesome, and we'll go ourselves and +see what has become of Graham." + +The surgeon who had accompanied the party was employed very +differently from what the captain supposed. When the assault was +over, and the dead and wounded were collected, poor Hetty had been +found among the latter. A rifle bullet had passed through her body, +inflicting an injury that was known at a glance to be mortal. How +this wound was received, no one knew; it was probably one of those +casualties that ever accompany scenes like that related in the +previous chapter. + +The Sumach, all the elderly women, and some of the Huron girls, +had fallen by the bayonet, either in the confusion of the melee, +or from the difficulty of distinguishing the sexes when the dress +was so simple. Much the greater portion of the warriors suffered +on the spot. A few had escaped, however, and two or three had been +taken unharmed. As for the wounded, the bayonet saved the surgeon +much trouble. Rivenoak had escaped with life and limb, but was +injured and a prisoner. As Captain Warley and his ensign went into +the Ark they passed him, seated in dignified silence in one end of +the scow, his head and leg bound, but betraying no visible sign of +despondency or despair. That he mourned the loss of his tribe is +certain; still he did it in a manner that best became a warrior +and a chief. + +The two soldiers found their surgeon in the principal room of the +Ark. He was just quitting the pallet of Hetty, with an expression +of sorrowful regret on his hard, pock-marked Scottish features, +that it was not usual to see there. All his assiduity had been +useless, and he was compelled reluctantly to abandon the expectation +of seeing the girl survive many hours. Dr. Graham was accustomed +to death-bed scenes, and ordinarily they produced but little +impression on him. In all that relates to religion, his was one +of those minds which, in consequence of reasoning much on material +things, logically and consecutively, and overlooking the total want +of premises which such a theory must ever possess, through its want +of a primary agent, had become sceptical; leaving a vague opinion +concerning the origin of things, that, with high pretentions to +philosophy, failed in the first of all philosophical principles, a +cause. To him religious dependence appeared a weakness, but when +he found one gentle and young like Hetty, with a mind beneath +the level of her race, sustained at such a moment by these pious +sentiments, and that, too, in a way that many a sturdy warrior and +reputed hero might have looked upon with envy, he found himself +affected by the sight to a degree that he would have been ashamed +to confess. Edinburgh and Aberdeen, then as now, supplied no small +portion of the medical men of the British service, and Dr. Graham, +as indeed his name and countenance equally indicated, was, by birth +a North Briton. + +"Here is an extraordinary exhibition for a forest, and one but +half-gifted with reason," he observed with a decided Scotch accent, +as Warley and the ensign entered; "I just hope, gentlemen, that +when we three shall be called on to quit the 20th, we may be found +as resigned to go on the half pay of another existence, as this +poor demented chiel!" + +"Is there no hope that she can survive the hurt?" demanded Warley, +turning his eyes towards the pallid Judith, on whose cheeks, +however, two large spots of red had settled as soon as he came into +the cabin. + +"No more than there is for Chairlie Stuart! Approach and judge for +yourselves, gentlemen; ye'll see faith exemplified in an exceeding +and wonderful manner. There is a sort of arbitrium between life +and death, in actual conflict in the poor girl's mind, that renders +her an interesting study to a philosopher. Mr. Thornton, I'm at +your service, now; we can just look at the arm in the next room, +while we speculate as much as we please on the operations and +sinuosities of the human mind." + +The surgeon and ensign retired, and Warley had an opportunity of +looking about him more at leisure, and with a better understanding +of the nature and feelings of the group collected in the cabin. +Poor Hetty had been placed on her own simple bed, and was reclining +in a half seated attitude, with the approaches of death on her +countenance, though they were singularly dimmed by the lustre of +an expression in which all the intelligence of her entire being +appeared to be concentrated. Judith and Hist were near her, the +former seated in deep grief; the latter standing, in readiness to +offer any of the gentle attentions of feminine care. Deerslayer +stood at the end of the pallet, leaning on Killdeer, unharmed in +person, all the fine martial ardor that had so lately glowed in +his countenance having given place to the usual look of honesty and +benevolence, qualities of which the expression was now softened by +manly regret and pity. The Serpent was in the background of the +picture, erect, and motionless as a statue; but so observant that +not a look of the eye escaped his own keen glances. Hurry completed +the group, being seated on a stool near the door, like one who felt +himself out of place in such a scene, but who was ashamed to quit +it, unbidden. + +"Who is that in scarlet?" asked Hetty, as soon as the Captain's +uniform caught her eye. "Tell me, Judith, is it the friend of +Hurry?" + +"'Tis the officer who commands the troops that have rescued us all +from the hands of the Hurons," was the low answer of the sister. + +"Am I rescued, too! - I thought they said I was shot, and about +to die. Mother is dead; and so is father; but you are living, +Judith, and so is Hurry. I was afraid Hurry would be killed, when +I heard him shouting among the soldiers." + +"Never mind - never mind, dear Hetty -" interrupted Judith, +sensitively alive to the preservation of her sister's secret, more, +perhaps, at such a moment, than at any other. "Hurry is well, and +Deerslayer is well, and the Delaware is well, too." + +"How came they to shoot a poor girl like me, and let so many men +go unharmed? I didn't know that the Hurons were so wicked, Judith!" + +"'Twas an accident, poor Hetty; a sad accident it has been! No +one would willingly have injured you." + +"I'm glad of that! - I thought it strange; I am feeble minded, +and the redmen have never harmed me before. I should be sorry to +think that they had changed their minds. I am glad too, Judith, +that they haven't hurt Hurry. Deerslayer I don't think God will +suffer any one to harm. It was very fortunate the soldiers came +as they did though, for fire will burn!" + +"It was indeed fortunate, my sister; God's holy name be forever +blessed for the mercy!" + +"I dare say, Judith, you know some of the officers; you used to +know so many!" + +Judith made no reply; she hid her face in her hands and groaned. +Hetty gazed at her in wonder; but naturally supposing her own +situation was the cause of this grief, she kindly offered to console +her sister. + +"Don't mind me, dear Judith," said the affectionate and pure-hearted +creature, "I don't suffer; if I do die, why father and mother are +both dead, and what happens to them may well happen to me. You +know I am of less account than any of the family; therefore few +will think of me after I'm in the lake." + +"No, no, no - poor, dear, dear Hetty!" exclaimed Judith, in an +uncontrollable burst of sorrow, "I, at least, will ever think of +you; and gladly, oh! how gladly would I exchange places with you, +to be the pure, excellent, sinless creature you are!" + +Until now, Captain Warley had stood leaning against the door of the +cabin; when this outbreak of feeling, and perchance of penitence, +however, escaped the beautiful girl, he walked slowly and thoughtfully +away; even passing the ensign, then suffering under the surgeon's +care, without noticing him. + +"I have got my Bible here, Judith," returned her sister in a voice +of triumph. "It's true, I can't read any longer, there's something +the matter with my eyes - you look dim and distant - and so does +Hurry, now I look at him -well, I never could have believed that +Henry March would have so dull a look! What can be the reason, +Judith, that I see so badly, today? I, who mother always said had +the best eyes in the whole family. Yes, that was it: my mind was +feeble - what people call half-witted - but my eyes were so good!" + +Again Judith groaned; this time no feeling of self, no retrospect +of the past caused the pain. It was the pure, heartfelt sorrow +of sisterly love, heightened by a sense of the meek humility and +perfect truth of the being before her. At that moment, she would +gladly have given up her own life to save that of Hetty. As the +last, however, was beyond the reach of human power, she felt there +was nothing left her but sorrow. At this moment Warley returned +to the cabin, drawn by a secret impulse he could not withstand, +though he felt, just then, as if he would gladly abandon the American +continent forever, were it practicable. Instead of pausing at +the door, he now advanced so near the pallet of the sufferer as to +come more plainly within her gaze. Hetty could still distinguish +large objects, and her look soon fastened on him. + +"Are you the officer that came with Hurry?" she asked. "If you +are, we ought all to thank you, for, though I am hurt, the rest +have saved their lives. Did Harry March tell you, where to find +us, and how much need there was for your services?" + +"The news of the party reached us by means of a friendly runner," +returned the Captain, glad to relieve his feelings by this appearance +of a friendly communication, "and I was immediately sent out to cut +it off. It was fortunate, certainly, that we met Hurry Harry, as +you call him, for he acted as a guide, and it was not less fortunate +that we heard a firing, which I now understand was merely a shooting +at the mark, for it not only quickened our march, but called us +to the right side of the lake. The Delaware saw us on the shore, +with the glass it would seem, and he and Hist, as I find his squaw +is named, did us excellent service. It was really altogether a +fortunate concurrence of circumstances, Judith." + +"Talk not to me of any thing fortunate, sir," returned the girl +huskily, again concealing her face. "To me the world is full of +misery. I wish never to hear of marks, or rifles, or soldiers, or +men, again!" + +"Do you know my sister?" asked Hetty, ere the rebuked soldier had +time to rally for an answer. "How came you to know that her name +is Judith? You are right, for that is her name; and I am Hetty; +Thomas Hutter's daughters." + +"For heaven's sake, dearest sister; for my sake, beloved Hetty," +interposed Judith, imploringly, "say no more of this!" + +Hetty looked surprised, but accustomed to comply, she ceased her +awkward and painful interrogations of Warley, bending her eyes +towards the Bible which she still held between her hands, as one +would cling to a casket of precious stones in a shipwreck, or a +conflagration. Her mind now adverted to the future, losing sight, +in a great measure, of the scenes of the past. + +"We shall not long be parted, Judith," she said; "when you die, you +must be brought and be buried in the lake, by the side of mother, +too." + +"Would to God, Hetty, that I lay there at this moment!" + +"No, that cannot be, Judith; people must die before they have any +right to be buried. 'Twould be wicked to bury you, or for you to +bury yourself, while living. Once I thought of burying myself; +God kept me from that sin." + +"You! -You, Hetty Hutter, think of such an act!" exclaimed Judith, +looking up in uncontrollable surprise, for she well knew nothing +passed the lips of her conscientious sister, that was not religiously +true. + +"Yes, I did, Judith, but God has forgotten - no he forgets nothing +- but he has forgiven it," returned the dying girl, with the subdued +manner of a repentant child. "'Twas after mother's death; I felt +I had lost the best friend I had on earth, if not the only friend. +'Tis true, you and father were kind to me, Judith, but I was +so feeble-minded, I knew I should only give you trouble; and then +you were so often ashamed of such a sister and daughter, and 'tis +hard to live in a world where all look upon you as below them. I +thought then, if I could bury myself by the side of mother, I should +be happier in the lake than in the hut." + +"Forgive me - pardon me, dearest Hetty - on my bended knees, I beg +you to pardon me, sweet sister, if any word, or act of mine drove +you to so maddening and cruel a thought!" + +"Get up, Judith - kneel to God; don't kneel to me. Just so I felt +when mother was dying! I remembered everything I had said and +done to vex her, and could have kissed her feet for forgiveness. I +think it must be so with all dying people; though, now I think of +it, I don't remember to have had such feelings on account of father." + +Judith arose, hid her face in her apron, and wept. A long pause +-one of more than two hours - succeeded, during which Warley entered +and left the cabin several times; apparently uneasy when absent, +and yet unable to remain. He issued various orders, which his men +proceeded to execute, and there was an air of movement in the party, +more especially as Mr. Craig, the lieutenant, had got through the +unpleasant duty of burying the dead, and had sent for instructions +from the shore, desiring to know what he was to do with his detachment. +During this interval Hetty slept a little, and Deerslayer and +Chingachgook left the Ark to confer together. But, at the end of +the time mentioned, the Surgeon passed upon the platform, and with +a degree of feeling his comrades had never before observed in one +of his habits, he announced that the patient was rapidly drawing +near her end. On receiving this intelligence the group collected +again, curiosity to witness such a death - or a better feeling - +drawing to the spot men who had so lately been actors in a scene +seemingly of so much greater interest and moment. By this time +Judith had got to be inactive through grief, and Hist alone was +performing the little offices of feminine attention that are so +appropriate to the sick bed. Hetty herself had undergone no other +apparent change than the general failing that indicated the near +approach of dissolution. All that she possessed of mind was as +clear as ever, and, in some respects, her intellect perhaps was +more than usually active. + +"Don't grieve for me so much, Judith," said the gentle sufferer, +after a pause in her remarks; "I shall soon see mother - I think I +see her now; her face is just as sweet and smiling as it used to +be! Perhaps when I'm dead, God will give me all my mind, and I +shall become a more fitting companion for mother than I ever was +before." + +"You will be an angel in heaven, Hetty," sobbed the sister; "no +spirit there will be more worthy of its holy residence!" + +"I don't understand it quite; still, I know it must be all true; +I've read it in the Bible. How dark it's becoming! Can it be +night so soon? I can hardly see you at all - where is Hist?" + +"I here, poor girl-Why you no see me?" + +"I do see you; but I couldn't tell whether 'twas you, or Judith. +I believe I shan't see you much longer, Hist." + +"Sorry for that, poor Hetty. Never mind - pale-face got a heaven +for girl as well as for warrior." + +"Where's the Serpent? Let me speak to him; give me his hand; so; +I feel it. Delaware, you will love and cherish this young Indian +woman - I know how fond she is of you; you must be fond of her. +Don't treat her as some of your people treat their wives; be a real +husband to her. Now, bring Deerslayer near me; give me his hand." + +This request was complied with, and the hunter stood by the side of +the pallet, submitting to the wishes of the girl with the docility +of a child. + +"I feel, Deerslayer," she resumed, "though I couldn't tell why +-but I feel that you and I are not going to part for ever. 'Tis +a strange feeling! I never had it before; I wonder what it comes +from!" + +"'Tis God encouraging you in extremity, Hetty; as such it ought +to be harbored and respected. Yes, we shall meet ag'in, though it +may be a long time first, and in a far distant land." + +"Do you mean to be buried in the lake, too? If so, that may account +for the feeling." + +"'Tis little likely, gal; 'tis little likely; but there's a region +for Christian souls, where there's no lakes, nor woods, they say; +though why there should be none of the last, is more than I can +account for; seeing that pleasantness and peace is the object in +view. My grave will be found in the forest, most likely, but I +hope my spirit will not be far from your'n." + +"So it must be, then. I am too weak-minded to understand these +things, but I feel that you and I will meet again. Sister, where +are you? I can't see, now, anything but darkness. It must be +night, surely!" + +"Oh! Hetty, I am here at your side; these are my arms that are around +you," sobbed Judith. "Speak, dearest; is there anything you wish +to say, or have done, in this awful moment." + +By this time Hetty's sight had entirely failed her. Nevertheless +death approached with less than usual of its horrors, as if in +tenderness to one of her half-endowed faculties. She was pale as +a corpse, but her breathing was easy and unbroken, while her voice, +though lowered almost to a whisper, remained clear and distinct. +When her sister put this question, however, a blush diffused itself +over the features of the dying girl, so faint however as to be nearly +imperceptible; resembling that hue of the rose which is thought +to portray the tint of modesty, rather than the dye of the flower +in its richer bloom. No one but Judith detected this exposure of +feeling, one of the gentle expressions of womanly sensibility, even +in death. On her, however, it was not lost, nor did she conceal +from herself the cause. + +"Hurry is here, dearest Hetty," whispered the sister, with her face +so near the sufferer as to keep the words from other ears. "Shall +I tell him to come and receive your good wishes?" + +A gentle pressure of the hand answered in the affirmative. Then +Hurry was brought to the side of the pallet. It is probable that +this handsome but rude woodsman had never before found himself so +awkwardly placed, though the inclination which Hetty felt for him +(a sort of secret yielding to the instincts of nature, rather than +any unbecoming impulse of an ill-regulated imagination), was too +pure and unobtrusive to have created the slightest suspicion of +the circumstance in his mind. He allowed Judith to put his hard +colossal hand between those of Hetty, and stood waiting the result +in awkward silence. + +"This is Hurry, dearest," whispered Judith, bending over her sister, +ashamed to utter the words so as to be audible to herself. "Speak +to him, and let him go." + +"What shall I say, Judith?" + +"Nay, whatever your own pure spirit teaches, my love. Trust to +that, and you need fear nothing." + +"Good bye, Hurry," murmured the girl, with a gentle pressure of +his hand. "I wish you would try and be more like Deerslayer." + +These words were uttered with difficulty; a faint flush succeeded +them for a single instant. Then the hand was relinquished, and Hetty +turned her face aside, as if done with the world. The mysterious +feeling that bound her to the young man, a sentiment so gentle as +to be almost imperceptible to herself, and which could never have +existed at all, had her reason possessed more command over her +senses, was forever lost in thoughts of a more elevated, though +scarcely of a purer character. + +"Of what are you thinking, my sweet sister?" whispered Judith "Tell +me, that I may aid you at this moment." + +"Mother - I see Mother, now, and bright beings around her in the +lake. Why isn't father there? It's odd that I can see Mother, +when I can't see you! Farewell, Judith." + +The last words were uttered after a pause, and her sister had hung +over her some time, in anxious watchfulness, before she perceived +that the gentle spirit had departed. Thus died Hetty Hutter, one of +those mysterious links between the material and immaterial world, +which, while they appear to be deprived of so much that it is +esteemed and necessary for this state of being, draw so near to, +and offer so beautiful an illustration of the truth, purity, and +simplicity of another. + + + +Chapter XXXII + + + "A baron's chylde to be begylde! + it were a cursed dede: + To be feląwe with an outląwe! + Almighty God forbede! + Yea, better were, the pore squy + re alone to forest yede, + Then ye sholde say another day, + that by my cursed dede + Ye were betrayed: + wherefore, good mayde, + the best rede that I can, + Is, that I to the grene wode go, alone, + a banyshed man." + + Thomas Percy, 'Nutbrowne Mayde,' 11. 265-76 from Reliques of + Ancient English Poetry, Vol. II. + +The day that followed proved to be melancholy, though one of much +activity. The soldiers, who had so lately been employed in interring +their victims, were now called on to bury their own dead. The scene +of the morning had left a saddened feeling on all the gentlemen of +the party, and the rest felt the influence of a similar sensation, +in a variety of ways and from many causes. Hour dragged on after +hour until evening arrived, and then came the last melancholy offices +in honor of poor Hetty Hutter. Her body was laid in the lake, by +the side of that of the mother she had so loved and reverenced, +the surgeon, though actually an unbeliever, so far complying with +the received decencies of life as to read the funeral service +over her grave, as he had previously done over those of the other +Christian slain. It mattered not; that all seeing eye which reads +the heart, could not fail to discriminate between the living and +the dead, and the gentle soul of the unfortunate girl was already +far removed beyond the errors, or deceptions, of any human ritual. +These simple rites, however, were not wholly wanting in suitable +accompaniments. The tears of Judith and Hist were shed freely, +and Deerslayer gazed upon the limpid water, that now flowed over +one whose spirit was even purer than its own mountain springs, +with glistening eyes. Even the Delaware turned aside to conceal +his weakness, while the common men gazed on the ceremony with +wondering eyes and chastened feelings. + +The business of the day closed with this pious office. By order +of the commanding officer, all retired early to rest, for it was +intended to begin the march homeward with the return of light. One +party, indeed, bearing the wounded, the prisoners, and the trophies, +had left the castle in the middle of the day under the guidance +of Hurry, intending to reach the fort by shorter marches. It had +been landed on the point so often mentioned, or that described +in our opening pages, and, when the sun set, was already encamped +on the brow of the long, broken, and ridgy hills, that fell away +towards the valley of the Mohawk. The departure of this detachment +had greatly simplified the duty of the succeeding day, disencumbering +its march of its baggage and wounded, and otherwise leaving him +who had issued the order greater liberty of action. + +Judith held no communications with any but Hist, after the death +of her sister, until she retired for the night. Her sorrow had +been respected, and both the females had been left with the body, +unintruded on, to the last moment. The rattling of the drum broke +the silence of that tranquil water, and the echoes of the tattoo +were heard among the mountains, so soon after the ceremony was over +as to preclude the danger of interruption. That star which had +been the guide of Hist, rose on a scene as silent as if the quiet +of nature had never yet been disturbed by the labors or passions +of man. One solitary sentinel, with his relief, paced the platform +throughout the night, and morning was ushered in, as usual, by the +martial beat of the reveille. + +Military precision succeeded to the desultory proceedings of border +men, and when a hasty and frugal breakfast was taken, the party +began its movement towards the shore with a regularity and order +that prevented noise or confusion. Of all the officers, Warley +alone remained. Craig headed the detachment in advance, Thornton +was with the wounded, and Graham accompanied his patients as a matter +of course. Even the chest of Hutter, with all the more valuable +of his effects, was borne away, leaving nothing behind that was +worth the labor of a removal. Judith was not sorry to see that +the captain respected her feelings, and that he occupied himself +entirely with the duty of his command, leaving her to her own +discretion and feelings. It was understood by all that the place +was to be totally abandoned; but beyond this no explanations were +asked or given. + +The soldiers embarked in the Ark, with the captain at their head. +He had enquired of Judith in what way she chose to proceed, and +understanding her wish to remain with Hist to the last moment, he +neither molested her with requests, nor offended her with advice. +There was but one safe and familiar trail to the Mohawk, and +on that, at the proper hour, he doubted not that they should meet +in amity, if not in renewed intercourse. When all were on board, +the sweeps were manned, and the Ark moved in its sluggish manner +towards the distant point. Deerslayer and Chingachgook now lifted +two of the canoes from the water, and placed them in the castle. +The windows and door were then barred, and the house was left by +means of the trap, in the manner already described. On quitting +the palisades, Hist was seen in the remaining canoe, where the +Delaware immediately joined her, and paddled away, leaving Judith +standing alone on the platform. Owing to this prompt proceeding, +Deerslayer found himself alone with the beautiful and still weeping +mourner. Too simple to suspect anything, the young man swept the +light boat round, and received its mistress in it, when he followed +the course already taken by his friend. The direction to the point +led diagonally past, and at no great distance from, the graves of +the dead. As the canoe glided by, Judith for the first time that +morning spoke to her companion. She said but little; merely uttering +a simple request to stop, for a minute or two, ere she left the +place. + +"I may never see this spot again, Deerslayer," she said, "and it +contains the bodies of my mother and sister! Is it not possible, +think you, that the innocence of one of these beings may answer in +the eyes of God for the salvation of both?" + +"I don't understand it so, Judith, though I'm no missionary, and am +but poorly taught. Each spirit answers for its own backslidings, +though a hearty repentance will satisfy God's laws." + +"Then must my poor poor mother be in heaven! Bitterly, bitterly +has she repented of her sins, and surely her sufferings in this life +ought to count as something against her sufferings in the next!" + +"All this goes beyond me, Judith. I strive to do right, here, +as the surest means of keeping all right, hereafter. Hetty was +oncommon, as all that know'd her must allow, and her soul was as +fit to consart with angels the hour it left its body, as that of +any saint in the Bible!" + +"I do believe you only do her justice! Alas! Alas! that there +should be so great differences between those who were nursed at +the same breast, slept in the same bed, and dwelt under the same +roof! But, no matter - move the canoe, a little farther east, +Deerslayer - the sun so dazzles my eyes that I cannot see the +graves. This is Hetty's, on the right of mother's?" + +"Sartain - you ask'd that of us, and all are glad to do as you +wish, Judith, when you do that which is right." + +The girl gazed at him near a minute, in silent attention; then she +turned her eyes backward, at the castle. "This lake will soon be +entirely deserted," she said, "and this, too, at a moment when it +will be a more secure dwelling place than ever. What has so lately +happened will prevent the Iroquois from venturing again to visit +it for a long time to come." + +"That it will! Yes, that may be set down as sartain. I do not +mean to pass this-a-way, ag'in, so long as the war lasts, for, to +my mind no Huron moccasin will leave its print on the leaves of +this forest, until their traditions have forgotten to tell their +young men of their disgrace and rout." + +"And do you so delight in violence and bloodshed? I had thought +better of you, Deerslayer - believed you one who could find his +happiness in a quiet domestic home, with an attached and loving +wife ready to study your wishes, and healthy and dutiful children +anxious to follow in your footsteps, and to become as honest and +just as yourself." + +"Lord, Judith, what a tongue you're mistress of! Speech and looks +go hand in hand, like, and what one can't do, the other is pretty +sartain to perform! Such a gal, in a month, might spoil the stoutest +warrior in the colony." + +"And am I then so mistaken? Do you really love war, Deerslayer, +better than the hearth, and the affections?" + +"I understand your meaning, gal; yes, I do understand what you +mean, I believe, though I don't think you altogether understand me. +Warrior I may now call myself, I suppose, for I've both fou't and +conquered, which is sufficient for the name; neither will I deny that +I've feelin's for the callin', which is both manful and honorable +when carried on accordin' to nat'ral gifts, but I've no relish +for blood. Youth is youth, howsever, and a Mingo is a Mingo. If +the young men of this region stood by, and suffered the vagabonds +to overrun the land, why, we might as well all turn Frenchers at +once, and give up country and kin. I'm no fire eater, Judith, or +one that likes fightin' for fightin's sake, but I can see no great +difference atween givin' up territory afore a war, out of a dread +of war, and givin' it up a'ter a war, because we can't help it, +onless it be that the last is the most manful and honorable." + +"No woman would ever wish to see her husband or brother stand by +and submit to insult and wrong, Deerslayer, however she might mourn +the necessity of his running into the dangers of battle. But, +you've done enough already, in clearing this region of the Hurons; +since to you is principally owing the credit of our late victory. +Now, listen to me patiently, and answer me with that native +honesty, which it is as pleasant to regard in one of your sex, as +it is unusual to meet with." + +Judith paused, for now that she was on the very point of explaining +herself, native modesty asserted its power, notwithstanding the +encouragement and confidence she derived from the great simplicity +of her companion's character. Her cheeks, which had so lately +been pale, flushed, and her eyes lighted with some of their former +brilliancy. Feeling gave expression to her countenance and softness +to her voice, rendering her who was always beautiful, trebly +seductive and winning. + +"Deerslayer," she said, after a considerable pause, "this is not a +moment for affectation, deception, or a want of frankness of any sort. +Here, over my mother's grave, and over the grave of truth-loving, +truth-telling Hetty, everything like unfair dealing seems to be +out of place. I will, therefore, speak to you without any reserve, +and without any dread of being misunderstood. You are not an +acquaintance of a week, but it appears to me as if I had known you +for years. So much, and so much that is important has taken place, +within that short time, that the sorrows, and dangers, and escapes +of a whole life have been crowded into a few days, and they who have +suffered and acted together in such scenes, ought not to feel like +strangers. I know that what I am about to say might be misunderstood +by most men, but I hope for a generous construction of my course +from you. We are not here, dwelling among the arts and deceptions +of the settlements, but young people who have no occasion to deceive +each other, in any manner or form. I hope I make myself understood?" + +"Sartain, Judith; few convarse better than yourself, and none more +agreeable, like. Your words are as pleasant as your looks." + +"It is the manner in which you have so often praised those looks, +that gives me courage to proceed. Still, Deerslayer, it is not easy +for one of my sex and years to forget all her lessons of infancy, +all her habits, and her natural diffidence, and say openly what +her heart feels!" + +"Why not, Judith? Why shouldn't women as well as men deal fairly +and honestly by their fellow creatur's? I see no reason why you +should not speak as plainly as myself, when there is any thing +ra'ally important to be said." + +This indomitable diffidence, which still prevented the young man +from suspecting the truth, would have completely discouraged the +girl, had not her whole soul, as well as her whole heart, been set +upon making a desperate effort to rescue herself from a future that +she dreaded with a horror as vivid as the distinctness with which +she fancied she foresaw it. This motive, however, raised her +above all common considerations, and she persevered even to her +own surprise, if not to her great confusion. + +"I will - I must deal as plainly with you, as I would with poor, +dear Hetty, were that sweet child living!" she continued, turning +pale instead of blushing, the high resolution by which she was +prompted reversing the effect that such a procedure would ordinarily +produce on one of her sex; "yes, I will smother all other feelings, +in the one that is now uppermost! You love the woods and the life +that we pass, here, in the wilderness, away from the dwellings and +towns of the whites." + +"As I loved my parents, Judith, when they was living! This very +spot would be all creation to me, could this war be fairly over, +once; and the settlers kept at a distance." + +"Why quit it, then? It has no owner - at least none who can claim +a better right than mine, and that I freely give to you. Were it +a kingdom, Deerslayer, I think I should delight to say the same. +Let us then return to it, after we have seen the priest at the +fort, and never quit it again, until God calls us away to that +world where we shall find the spirits of my poor mother and sister." + +A long, thoughtful pause succeeded; Judith here covered her +face with both her hands, after forcing herself to utter so plain +a proposal, and Deerslayer musing equally in sorrow and surprise, +on the meaning of the language he had just heard. At length the +hunter broke the silence, speaking in a tone that was softened to +gentleness by his desire not to offend. + +"You haven't thought well of this, Judith," he said, "no, your +feelin's are awakened by all that has lately happened, and believin' +yourself to be without kindred in the world, you are in too great +haste to find some to fill the places of them that's lost." + +"Were I living in a crowd of friends, Deerslayer, I should still +think as I now think - say as I now say," returned Judith, speaking +with her hands still shading her lovely face. + +"Thank you, gal - thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Howsever, +I am not one to take advantage of a weak moment, when you're forgetful +of your own great advantages, and fancy 'arth and all it holds is +in this little canoe. No - no - Judith, 'twould be onginerous in +me; what you've offered can never come to pass!" + +"It all may be, and that without leaving cause of repentance to +any," answered Judith, with an impetuosity of feeling and manner +that at once unveiled her eyes. "We can cause the soldiers to +leave our goods on the road, till we return, when they can easily +be brought back to the house; the lake will be no more visited by +the enemy, this war at least; all your skins may be readily sold +at the garrison; there you can buy the few necessaries we shall +want, for I wish never to see the spot, again; and Deerslayer," +added the girl smiling with a sweetness and nature that the young +man found it hard to resist, "as a proof how wholly I am and wish +to be yours, - how completely I desire to be nothing but your +wife, the very first fire that we kindle, after our return, shall +be lighted with the brocade dress, and fed by every article I have +that you may think unfit for the woman you wish to live with!" + +"Ah's me! - you're a winning and a lovely creatur', Judith; yes, +you are all that, and no one can deny it and speak truth. These +pictur's are pleasant to the thoughts, but they mightn't prove so +happy as you now think 'em. Forget it all, therefore, and let us +paddle after the Sarpent and Hist, as if nothing had been said on +the subject." + +Judith was deeply mortified, and, what is more, she was profoundly +grieved. Still there was a steadiness and quiet in the manner of +Deerslayer that completely smothered her hopes, and told her that +for once her exceeding beauty had failed to excite the admiration +and homage it was wont to receive. Women are said seldom to +forgive those who slight their advances, but this high spirited and +impetuous girl entertained no shadow of resentment, then or ever, +against the fair dealing and ingenuous hunter. At the moment, +the prevailing feeling was the wish to be certain that there was +no misunderstanding. After another painful pause, therefore, she +brought the matter to an issue by a question too direct to admit +of equivocation. + +"God forbid that we lay up regrets, in after life, through my want +of sincerity now," she said. "I hope we understand each other, at +least. You will not accept me for a wife, Deerslayer?" + +"'Tis better for both that I shouldn't take advantage of your own +forgetfulness, Judith. We can never marry." + +"You do not love me, - cannot find it in your heart, perhaps, to +esteem me, Deerslayer!" + +"Everything in the way of fri'ndship, Judith - everything, even to +sarvices and life itself. Yes, I'd risk as much for you, at this +moment, as I would risk in behalf of Hist, and that is sayin' as +much as I can say of any darter of woman. I do not think I feel +towards either - mind I say either, Judith - as if I wished to +quit father and mother - if father and mother was livin', which, +howsever, neither is - but if both was livin', I do not feel towards +any woman as if I wish'd to quit 'em in order to cleave unto her." + +"This is enough!" answered Judith, in a rebuked and smothered voice. +"I understand all that you mean. Marry you cannot with loving, and +that love you do not feel for me. Make no answer, if I am right, +for I shall understand your silence. That will be painful enough +of itself." + +Deerslayer obeyed her, and he made no reply. For more than a +minute, the girl riveted her bright eyes on him as if to read his +soul, while he was playing with the water like a corrected school +boy. Then Judith, herself, dropped the end of her paddle, and urged +the canoe away from the spot, with a movement as reluctant as the +feelings which controlled it. Deerslayer quietly aided the effort, +however, and they were soon on the trackless line taken by the +Delaware. + +In their way to the point, not another syllable was exchanged between +Deerslayer and his fair companion. As Judith sat in the bow of +the canoe, her back was turned towards him, else it is probable +the expression of her countenance might have induced him to venture +some soothing terms of friendship and regard. Contrary to what +would have been expected, resentment was still absent, though the +colour frequently changed from the deep flush of mortification to +the paleness of disappointment. Sorrow, deep, heart-felt sorrow, +however, was the predominant emotion, and this was betrayed in a +manner not to be mistaken. + +As neither labored hard at the paddle, the ark had already arrived +and the soldiers had disembarked before the canoe of the two loiterers +reached the point. Chingachgook had preceded it, and was already +some distance in the wood, at a spot where the two trails, that to +the garrison and that to the villages of the Delawares, separated. +The soldiers, too, had taken up their line of march, first setting +the Ark adrift again, with a reckless disregard of its fate. All +this Judith saw, but she heeded it not. The glimmerglass had no +longer any charms for her, and when she put her foot on the strand, +she immediately proceeded on the trail of the soldiers without casting +a single glance behind her. Even Hist was passed unnoticed, that +modest young creature shrinking from the averted face of Judith, +as if guilty herself of some wrongdoing. + +"Wait you here, Sarpent," said Deerslayer as he followed in the +footsteps of the dejected beauty, while passing his friend. "I +will just see Judith among her party, and come and j'ine you." + +A hundred yards had hid the couple from those in front, as well as +those in their rear, when Judith turned, and spoke. + +"This will do, Deerslayer," she said sadly. "I understand your +kindness but shall not need it. In a few minutes I shall reach +the soldiers. As you cannot go with me on the journey of life, I +do not wish you to go further on this. But, stop - before we part, +I would ask you a single question. And I require of you, as you +fear God, and reverence the truth, not to deceive me in your answer. +I know you do not love another and I can see but one reason why +you cannot, will not love me. Tell me then, Deerslayer," The girl +paused, the words she was about to utter seeming to choke her. Then +rallying all her resolution, with a face that flushed and paled at +every breath she drew, she continued. + +"Tell me then, Deerslayer, if anything light of me, that Henry +March has said, may not have influenced your feelings?" + +Truth was the Deerslayer's polar star. He ever kept it in view, +and it was nearly impossible for him to avoid uttering it, even +when prudence demanded silence. Judith read his answer in his +countenance, and with a heart nearly broken by the consciousness +of undue erring, she signed to him an adieu, and buried herself +in the woods. For some time Deerslayer was irresolute as to his +course; but, in the end, he retraced his steps, and joined the +Delaware. That night the three camped on the head waters of their +own river, and the succeeding evening they entered the village of +the tribe, Chingachgook and his betrothed in triumph; their companion +honored and admired, but in a sorrow that it required months of +activity to remove. + +The war that then had its rise was stirring and bloody. The Delaware +chief rose among his people, until his name was never mentioned +without eulogiums, while another Uncas, the last of his race, was +added to the long line of warriors who bore that distinguishing +appellation. As for the Deerslayer, under the sobriquet of Hawkeye, +he made his fame spread far and near, until the crack of his rifle +became as terrible to the ears of the Mingos as the thunders of +the Manitou. His services were soon required by the officers of +the crown, and he especially attached himself in the field to one +in particular, with whose after life he had a close and important +connection. + +Fifteen years had passed away, ere it was in the power of the +Deerslayer to revisit the Glimmerglass. A peace had intervened, +and it was on the eve of another and still more important war, +when he and his constant friend, Chingachgook, were hastening to +the forts to join their allies. A stripling accompanied them, for +Hist already slumbered beneath the pines of the Delawares, and the +three survivors had now become inseparable. They reached the lake +just as the sun was setting. Here all was unchanged. The river +still rushed through its bower of trees; the little rock was washing +away, by the slow action of the waves, in the course of centuries, +the mountains stood in their native dress, dark, rich and mysterious, +while the sheet glistened in its solitude, a beautiful gem of the +forest. + +The following morning, the youth discovered one of the canoes +drifted on the shore, in a state of decay. A little labor put it +in a state for service, and they all embarked, with a desire to +examine the place. All the points were passed, and Chingachgook +pointed out to his son the spot where the Hurons had first encamped, +and the point whence he had succeeded in stealing his bride. Here +they even landed, but all traces of the former visit had disappeared. +Next they proceeded to the scene of the battle, and there they +found a few of the signs that linger around such localities. Wild +beasts had disinterred many of the bodies, and human bones were +bleaching in the rains of summer. Uncas regarded all with reverence +and pity, though traditions were already rousing his young mind to +the ambition and sternness of a warrior. + +From the point, the canoe took its way toward the shoal, where the +remains of the castle were still visible, a picturesque ruin. The +storms of winter had long since unroofed the house, and decay had +eaten into the logs. All the fastenings were untouched, but the +seasons rioted in the place, as if in mockery at the attempt to +exclude them. The palisades were rotting, as were the piles, and +it was evident that a few more recurrences of winter, a few more +gales and tempests, would sweep all into the lake, and blot the +building from the face of that magnificent solitude. The graves +could not be found. Either the elements had obliterated their +traces, or time had caused those who looked for them to forget +their position. + +The Ark was discovered stranded on the eastern shore, where it had +long before been driven with the prevalent northwest winds. It +lay on the sandy extremity of a long low point, that is situated +about two miles from the outlet, and which is itself fast disappearing +before the action of the elements. The scow was filled with water, +the cabin unroofed, and the logs were decaying. Some of its coarser +furniture still remained, and the heart of Deerslayer beat quick, +as he found a ribbon of Judith's fluttering from a log. It recalled +all her beauty, and we may add all her failings. Although the girl +had never touched his heart, the Hawkeye, for so we ought now to +call him, still retained a kind and sincere interest in her welfare. +He tore away the ribbon, and knotted it to the stock of Killdeer, +which had been the gift of the girl herself. + +A few miles farther up the lake, another of the canoes was discovered, +and on the point where the party finally landed, were found those +which had been left there upon the shore. That in which the present +navigation was made, and the one discovered on the eastern shore, +had dropped through the decayed floor of the castle, drifted past +the falling palisades, and had been thrown as waifs upon the beach. + +From all these signs, it was probable the lake had not been visited +since the occurrence of the final scene of our tale. Accident or +tradition had rendered it again a spot sacred to nature, the frequent +wars and the feeble population of the colonies still confining the +settlements within narrow boundaries. Chingachgook and his friend +left the spot with melancholy feelings. It had been the region +of their First War Path, and it carried back the minds of both to +scenes of tenderness, as well as to hours of triumph. They held +their way towards the Mohawk in silence, however, to rush into +new adventures, as stirring and as remarkable as those which had +attended their opening careers on this lovely lake. At a later +day they returned to the place, where the Indian found a grave. + +Time and circumstances have drawn an impenetrable mystery around +all else connected with the Hutters. They lived, erred, died, and +are forgotten. None connected have felt sufficient interest in +the disgraced and disgracing to withdraw the veil, and a century is +about to erase even the recollection of their names. The history +of crime is ever revolting, and it is fortunate that few love to +dwell on its incidents. The sins of the family have long since +been arraigned at the judgment seat of God, or are registered for +the terrible settlement of the last great day. + +The same fate attended Judith. When Hawkeye reached the garrison +on the Mohawk he enquired anxiously after that lovely but misguided +creature. None knew her - even her person was no longer remembered. +Other officers had, again and again, succeeded the Warleys and +Craigs and Grahams, though an old sergeant of the garrison, who +had lately come from England, was enabled to tell our hero that Sir +Robert Warley lived on his paternal estates, and that there was a +lady of rare beauty in the Lodge who had great influence over him, +though she did not bear his name. Whether this was Judith relapsed +into her early failing, or some other victim of the soldier's, Hawkeye +never knew, nor would it be pleasant or profitable to inquire. We +live in a world of transgressions and selfishness, and no pictures +that represent us otherwise can be true, though, happily, for +human nature, gleamings of that pure spirit in whose likeness man +has been fashioned are to be seen, relieving its deformities, and +mitigating if not excusing its crimes. + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext The Deerslayer, by James Fenimore Cooper + |