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 gatheringgloom was in as singular unison with the passions of men. The sun wasset, and the rays of the retiring luminary had ceased to gild the edgesof the few clouds that had sufficient openings to admit the passage ofits fading light. The canopy overhead was heavy and dense, promisinganother night of darkness, but the surface of the lake was scarcelydisturbed by a ripple. There was a little air, though it scarce deservedto 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. Thetwo ransomed prisoners felt humbled and discoloured, but their humilitypartook of the rancour of revenge. They were far more disposed toremember the indignity with which they had been treated during the lastfew hours of their captivity, than to feel grateful for the previousindulgence. Then that keen-sighted monitor, conscience, by remindingthem of the retributive justice of all they had endured, goaded themrather 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 fromvery different causes, while Hetty for the moment was perfectly happy.The Delaware had also lively pictures of felicity in the prospect ofso soon regaining his betrothed. Under such circumstances, and in thismood, 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 onthem hemlock boughs, and I only wonder you didn't growl more. Well, it'sover, and syth's and lamentations won't mend the matter! There's theblackguard Rivenoak, he that brought us off has an oncommon scalp, andI'd give as much for it myself as the Colony. Yes, I feel as rich as thegovernor in these matters now, and will lay down with them doubloon fordoubloon. Judith, darling, did you mourn for me much, when I was in thehands of the Philipsteins?"
The last were a family of German descent on the Mohawk, to whom Hurryhad a great antipathy, and whom he had confounded with the enemies ofJudea.
"Our tears have raised the lake, Hurry March, as you might have seen bythe shore!" returned Judith, with a feigned levity that she was farfrom feeling. "That Hetty and I should have grieved for father was to beexpected; but we fairly rained tears for you."
"We were sorry for poor Hurry, as well as for father, Judith!" put inher 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 lowtone. "Nevertheless, we are glad to see you, Master March, and out ofthe hands of the Philipsteins, too."
"Yes, they're a bad set, and so is the other brood of 'em, down on theriver. It's a wonderment to me how you got us off, Deerslayer; and Iforgive you the interference that prevented my doin' justice on thatvagabond, for this small service. Let us into the secret, that we may doyou 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'inanother captyvement, lest our stock of goods shouldn't hold out."
"A ransom! Old Tom has paid the fiddler, then, for nothing of mine wouldhave bought off the hair, much less the skin. I didn't think men as keenset as them vagabonds would let a fellow up so easy, when they had himfairly at a close hug, and floored. But money is money, and somehow it'sunnat'ral hard to withstand. Indian or white man, 'tis pretty much thesame. 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 hadbeen paid for his release. The old man expressed neither resentment norsurprise at the inroad that had been made on his chest, though hedid manifest some curiosity to know how far the investigation of itscontents had been carried. He also inquired where the key had beenfound. The habitual frankness of Deerslayer prevented any prevarication,and the conference soon terminated by the return of the two to theouter room, or that which served for the double purpose of parlour andkitchen.
"I wonder if it's peace or war, between us and the savages!" exclaimedHurry, just as Deerslayer, who had paused for a single instant, listenedattentively, and was passing through the outer door without stopping."This givin' up captives has a friendly look, and when men have tradedtogether on a fair and honourable footing they ought to part fri'nds,for that occasion at least. Come back, Deerslayer, and let us haveyour judgment, for I'm beginnin' to think more of you, since your latebehaviour, than I used to do."
"There's an answer to your question, Hurry, since you're in such hasteto come ag'in to blows."
As Deerslayer spoke, he threw on the table on which the other wasreclining with one elbow a sort of miniature fagot, composed of a dozensticks bound tightly together with a deer-skin thong. March seized iteagerly, and holding it close to a blazing knot of pine that lay onthe hearth, and which gave out all the light there was in the room,ascertained that the ends of the several sticks had been dipped inblood.
"If this isn't plain English," said the reckless frontier man, "it'splain 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 somedesign to skear them that would have lost their wits long ago, if fearcould drive 'em away."
Deerslayer had approached a window, and cast a glance out of it on thedark aspect of the lake. As if satisfied with what he beheld, he drewnear Hurry, and took the bundle of sticks into his own hand, examiningit 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 hastravelled, Harry March, that it has got here, and you never the wiser asto the means. The savages may have left the scalp on your head, but theymust have taken off the ears; else you'd have heard the stirring of thewater made by the lad as he come off ag'in on his two logs. His ar'n'dwas to throw these sticks at our door, as much as to say, we've struckthe 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 ananswer 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 ared-skin, or to a Christian. The lad lighted a knot, and came off fairlyunder its blaze to give us this warning; and no man here should harmhim, while empl'yed on such an ar'n'd. There's no use in words, for theboy 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 acanoe," answered Hurry, passing towards the door with enormous strides,carrying a rifle in his hands. "The being doesn't live that shall stopme 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 inthe woods!"
Judith trembled like the aspen, she scarce knew why herself, thoughthere was the prospect of a scene of violence; for if Hurry was fierceand overbearing in the consciousness of his vast strength, Deerslayerhad 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 thefirst, that excited her apprehensions. Hurry soon reached the spot wherethe canoe was fastened, but not before Deerslayer had spoken in a quick,earnest voice to the Serpent, in Delaware. The latter had been thefirst, in truth, to hear the sounds of the oars, and he had gone uponthe platform in jealous watchfulness. The light satisfied him that amessage was coming, and when the boy cast his bundle of sticks at hisfeet, it neither moved his anger nor induced surprise. He merely stoodat watch, rifle in hand, to make certain that no treachery lay behindthe defiance. As Deerslayer now called to him, he stepped into thecanoe, and quick as thought removed the paddles. Hurry was furiouswhen he found that he was deprived of the means of proceeding. He firstapproached the Indian with loud menaces, and even Deerslayer stoodaghast at the probable consequences. March shook his sledge-hammer fistsand flourished his arms as he drew near the Indian, and all expected hewould attempt to fell the Delaware to the earth; one of them, at least,was well aware that such an experiment would be followed by immediatebloodshed. 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 noconsequences so terrible. What might have been the result of this seconddemonstration if completed, is unknown, since it was never made.
"Hurry," said a gentle, soothing voice at his elbow, "it's wicked to beso 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 taketheirs."
The influence of mildness on passion is well known. Hetty, too, hadearned a sort of consideration, that had never before been enjoyedby her, through the self-devotion and decision of her recent conduct.Perhaps her established mental imbecility, by removing all distrust ofa wish to control, aided her influence. Let the cause be as questionableas it might, the effect we sufficiently certain. Instead of throttlinghis old fellow-traveler, Hurry turned to the girl and poured out aportion 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 lackof beaver, to get a creatur' into your very trap, then to see it getoff. As much as six first quality skins, in valie, has paddled off onthem clumsy logs, when twenty strokes of a well-turned paddle wouldovertake 'em. I say in valie, for as to the boy in the way of natur', heis 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 throughmy fingers well as your own."
The answer was given quietly, but with a voice as steady as a fearlessnature and the consciousness of rectitude could make it. "I shouldhave been untrue to the right, had I done otherwise," returned theDeerslayer, steadily; "and neither you, nor any other man has authorityto demand that much of me. The lad came on a lawful business, and themeanest red-skin that roams the woods would be ashamed of not respectinghis ar'n'd. But he's now far beyond your reach, Master March, andthere's little use in talking, like a couple of women, of what can nolonger be helped."
So saying, Deerslayer turned away, like one resolved to waste no morewords on the subject, while Hutter pulled Harry by the sleeve, and ledhim into the ark. There they sat long in private conference. In themean 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, theformer could not abstain from canvassing his scheme, and from openinghis heart to the other. Judith, too, yielded to her softer feelings,and listened to the whole of Hetty's artless narrative of what occurredafter 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 dailyat their rich expanse or to wander beneath their dark shades; but theelder sister felt that she would have hesitated about thus venturingalone into an Iroquois camp. Concerning Hist, Hetty was not verycommunicative. She spoke of her kindness and gentleness and of themeeting in the forest; but the secret of Chingachgook was guarded witha shrewdness and fidelity that many a sharper-witted girl might havefailed to display.
At length the several conferences were broken up by the reappearanceof Hutter on the platform. Here he assembled the whole party, andcommunicated as much of his intentions as he deemed expedient. Of thearrangement made by Deerslayer, to abandon the castle during the nightand to take refuge in the ark, he entirely approved. It struck him as ithad the others, as the only effectual means of escaping destruction.Now that the savages had turned their attention to the construction ofrafts, no doubt could exist of their at least making an attempt to carrythe building, and the message of the bloody sticks sufficiently showedtheir confidence in their own success. In short, the old man viewedthe night as critical, and he called on all to get ready as soon aspossible, in order to abandon the dwellings temporarily at least, if notforever.
These communications made, everything proceeded promptly and withintelligence; the castle was secured in the manner already described,the canoes were withdrawn from the dock and fastened to the ark by theside of the other; the few necessaries that had been left in thehouse were transferred to the cabin, the fire was extinguished and allembarked.
The vicinity of the hills, with their drapery of pines, had the effectto render nights that were obscure darker than common on the lake.As usual, however, a belt of comparative light was etched through thecentre of the sheet, while it was within the shadows of the mountainsthat 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 darkas to cover the aperture of the ark. At the distance of an observer onthe shore her movements could not be seen at all, more particularly as abackground of dark hillside filled up the perspective of every view thatwas taken diagonally or directly across the water. The prevailing windon the lakes of that region is west, but owing to the avenues formed bythe mountains it is frequently impossible to tell the true directionof the currents, as they often vary within short distances and briefdifferences of time. This is truer in light fluctuating puffs of airthan in steady breezes; though the squalls of even the latter arefamiliarly known to be uncertain and baffling in all mountainous regionsand narrow waters. On the present occasion, Hutter himself (as he shovedthe ark from her berth at the side of the platform) was at a loss topronounce which way the wind blew. In common, this difficulty was solvedby the clouds, which, floating high above the hill tops, as a matter ofcourse obeyed the currents; but now the whole vault of heaven seemeda mass of gloomy wall. Not an opening of any sort was visible, andChingachgook was already trembling lest the non-appearance of the starmight prevent his betrothed from being punctual to her appointment.Under these circumstances, Hutter hoisted his sail, seemingly with thesole intention of getting away from the castle, as it might be dangerousto remain much longer in its vicinity. The air soon filled the cloth,and when the scow was got under command, and the sail was properlytrimmed, it was found that the direction was southerly, incliningtowards the eastern shore. No better course offering for the purposesof the party, the singular craft was suffered to skim the surface ofthe water in this direction for more than hour, when a change in thecurrents of the air drove them over towards the camp.
Deerslayer watched all the movements of Hutter and Harry with jealousattention. At first, he did not know whether to ascribe the course theyheld 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 hadlittle practice on the water; and let his intentions be what theymight, it was evident, ere two hours had elapsed, that the ark had gotsufficient space to be within a hundred rods of the shore, directlyabreast of the known position of the camp. For a considerable timepreviously to reaching this point, Hurry, who had some knowledge of theAlgonquin language, had been in close conference with the Indian, andthe result was now announced by the latter to Deerslayer, who had been acold, not to say distrusted, looker-on of all that passed.
"My old fat
her, and my young brother, the Big Pine,"--for so theDelaware had named March--"want to see Huron scalps at their belts,"said Chingachgook to his friend. "There is room for some on the girdleof the Sarpent, and his people will look for them when he goes back tohis village. Their eyes must not be left long in a fog, but they mustsee what they look for. I know that my brother has a white hand; he willnot strike even the dead. He will wait for us; when we come back, hewill not hide his face from shame for his friend. The great Serpent ofthe 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 Ishall get to be known by it instead of Deerslayer; well, if such honourswill come, the humblest of us all must be willing to abide by 'em. Asfor your looking for scalps, it belongs to your gifts, and I see no harmin it. Be marciful, Sarpent, howsever; be marciful, I beseech of you. Itsurely can do no harm to a red-skin's honour to show a little marcy. Asfor the old man, the father of two young women, who might ripen betterfeelin's in his heart, and Harry March, here, who, pine as he is, mightbetter bear the fruit of a more Christianized tree, as for them two, Ileave them in the hands of the white man's God. Wasn't it for the bloodysticks, no man should go ag'in the Mingos this night, seein' that itwould dishonor our faith and characters; but them that crave blood can'tcomplain if blood is shed at their call. Still, Sarpent, you can bemarciful. Don't begin your career with the wails of women and the criesof children. Bear yourself so that Hist will smile, and not weep, whenshe meets you. Go, then; and the Manitou presarve you!"
"My brother will stay here with the scow. Wah will soon be standing onthe shore waiting, and Chingachgook must hasten."
The Indian then joined his two co-adventurers, and first lowering thesail, they all three entered the canoe, and left the side of the ark.Neither Hutter nor March spoke to Deerslayer concerning their object, orthe probable length of their absence. All this had been confided tothe Indian, who had acquitted himself of the trust with characteristicbrevity. As soon as the canoe was out of sight, and that occurredere the paddles had given a dozen strokes, Deerslayer made the bestdispositions 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 ownbitter reflections. It was not long, however, before he was joined byJudith, who sought every occasion to be near him, managing her attack onhis affections with the address that was suggested by native coquetry,aided by no little practice, but which received much of its mostdangerous power from the touch of feeling that threw around her manner,voice, accents, thoughts, and acts, the indescribable witchery ofnatural tenderness. Leaving the young hunter exposed to these dangerousassailants, it has become our more immediate business to follow theparty in the canoe to the shore.
The controlling influence that led Hutter and Hurry to repeat theirexperiment against the camp was precisely that which had induced thefirst attempt, a little heightened, perhaps, by the desire of revenge.But neither of these two rude beings, so ruthless in all things thattouched the rights and interests of the red man, thought possessingveins of human feeling on other matters, was much actuated by any otherdesire than a heartless longing for profit. Hurry had felt angered athis sufferings, when first liberated, it is true, but that emotionsoon disappeared in the habitual love of gold, which he sought with thereckless avidity of a needy spendthrift, rather than with the ceaselesslongings of a miser. In short, the motive that urged them both so soonto go against the Hurons, was an habitual contempt of their enemy,acting on the unceasing cupidity of prodigality. The additional chancesof success, however, had their place in the formation of the secondenterprise. It was known that a large portion of the warriors--perhapsall--were encamped for the night abreast of the castle, and it was hopedthat the scalps of helpless victims would be the consequence. To confessthe truth, Hutter in particular--he who had just left two daughtersbehind him--expected to find few besides women and children in the camp.The fact had been but slightly alluded to in his communications withHurry, and with Chingachgook it had been kept entirely out of view. Ifthe 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 wereso skilled in the management of that species of frail bark, as to beable to keep erect positions in the midst of the darkness. The approachto the shore was made with great caution, and the landing effected insafety. The three now prepared their arms, and began their tiger-likeapproach upon the camp. The Indian was on the lead, his two companionstreading in his footsteps with a stealthy cautiousness of manner thatrendered their progress almost literally noiseless. Occasionally adried twig snapped under the heavy weight of the gigantic Hurry, or theblundering clumsiness of the old man; but, had the Indian walked on air,his step could not have seemed lighter. The great object was first todiscover the position of the fire, which was known to be the centre ofthe whole encampment. At length the keen eye of Chingachgook caught aglimpse of this important guide. It was glimmering at a distance amongthe trunks of trees. There was no blaze, but merely a single smoulderingbrand, as suited the hour; the savages usually retiring and rising withthe revolutions of the sun.
As soon as a view was obtained of this beacon, the progress of theadventurers became swifter and more certain. In a few minutes they gotto the edge of the circle of little huts. Here they stopped to surveytheir ground, and to concert their movements. The darkness was so deepas to render it difficult to distinguish anything but the glowing brand,the trunks of the nearest trees, and the endless canopy of leaves thatveiled the clouded heaven. It was ascertained, however, that a hut wasquite near, and Chingachgook attempted to reconnnoitre its interior.The manner in which the Indian approached the place that was supposed tocontain enemies, resembled the wily advances of the cat on the bird. Ashe drew near, he stooped to his hands and knees, for the entrance was solow as to require this attitude, even as a convenience. Before trustinghis head inside, however, he listened long to catch the breathing ofsleepers. No sound was audible, and this human Serpent thrust his headin at the door, or opening, as another serpent would have peered in onthe nest. Nothing rewarded the hazardous experiment; for, after feelingcautiously with a hand, the place was found to be empty.
The Delaware proceeded in the same guarded manner to one or two moreof the huts, finding all in the same situation. He then returned to hiscompanions, and informed them that the Hurons had deserted their camp.A little further inquiry corroborated this fact, and it only remained toreturn to the canoe. The different manner in which the adventurers borethe disappointment is worthy of a passing remark. The chief, who hadlanded solely with the hope of acquiring renown, stood stationary,leaning against a tree, waiting the pleasure of his companions. He wasmortified, and a little surprised, it is true; but he bore all withdignity, falling back for support on the sweeter expectations that stilllay in reserve for that evening. It was true, he could not now hope tomeet 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 inthe search, might always hope to be honored. On the other hand, Hutterand Hurry, who had been chiefly instigated by the basest of all humanmotives, the thirst of gain, could scarce control their feelings. Theywent prowling among the huts, as if they expected to find some forgottenchild or careless sleeper; and again and again did they vent their spiteon the insensible huts, several of which were actually torn to pieces,and scattered about the place. Nay, they even quarrelled with eachother, and fierce reproaches passed between them. It is possiblesome serious consequences might have occurred, had not the Delawareinterfered to remind them of the danger of being so unguarded, and ofthe necessity of returning to the ark. This checked the dispute, and ina few minutes they were paddling sullenly back to the spot where theyhoped 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
wassilent, and the hunter was ignorant which of the sisters had approachedhim, 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. "Wouldto Heaven I could see an end of it!"
"The life is well enough, Judith," was the answer, "being pretty much asit is used or abused. What would you wish to see in its place?"
"I should be a thousand times happier to live nearer to civilizedbeings--where there are farms and churches, and houses built as it mightbe by Christian hands; and where my sleep at night would be sweet andtranquil! A dwelling near one of the forts would be far better than thisdreary place where we live!"
"Nay, Judith, I can't agree too lightly in the truth of all this. Ifforts are good to keep off inimies, they sometimes hold inimies of theirown. I don't think 'twould be for your good, or the good of Hetty, tolive near one; and if I must say what I think, I'm afeard you area little too near as it is." Deerslayer went on, in his own steady,earnest manner, for the darkness concealed the tints that colored thecheeks of the girl almost to the brightness of crimson, while her owngreat efforts suppressed the sounds of the breathing that nearly chokedher. "As for farms, they have their uses, and there's them that liketo pass their lives on 'em; but what comfort can a man look for in aclearin', 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 streamswill furnish 'em, or here are the lakes for such as have bigger longingsin that way; but where are you to find your shades, and laughingsprings, 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 thatthe people who live in such places must be always thinkin' of their owninds, and of universal decay; and that, too, not of the decay that isbrought about by time and natur', but the decay that follows waste andviolence. Then as to churches, they are good, I suppose, else wouldn'tgood 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 ofthe Lord to such as have the right mind. Neither forts nor churchesmake people happier of themselves. Moreover, all is contradiction inthe settlements, while all is concord in the woods. Forts and churchesalmost always go together, and yet they're downright contradictions;churches being for peace, and forts for war. No, no--give me the strongplaces 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 weshall have no end, as long as this war lasts."
"If you mean women of white colour, I rather think you're not far fromthe truth, gal; but as for the females of the redmen, such visitationsare quite in character. Nothing would make Hist, now, the bargainedwife of yonder Delaware, happier than to know that he is at this momentprowling around his nat'ral inimies, striving after a scalp."
"Surely, surely, Deerslayer, she cannot be a woman, and not feel concernwhen she thinks the man she loves is in danger!"
"She doesn't think of the danger, Judith, but of the honor; and when theheart is desperately set on such feelin's, why, there is little room tocrowd in fear. Hist is a kind, gentle, laughing, pleasant creatur', butshe loves honor, as well as any Delaware gal I ever know'd. She's tomeet the Sarpent an hour hence, on the p'int where Hetty landed, and nodoubt she has her anxiety about it, like any other woman; but she'd beall the happier did she know that her lover was at this moment waylayinga Mingo for his scalp."
"If you really believe this, Deerslayer, no wonder you lay so muchstress on gifts. Certain am I, that no white girl could feel anythingbut misery while she believed her betrothed in danger of his life! Nordo I suppose even you, unmoved and calm as you ever seem to be, could beat 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 manmust feel for her. Yes, I rather think that's as much red natur' as it'swhite. But I have no Hist, nor am I like to have; for I hold it wrong tomix colours, any way except in friendship and sarvices."
"In that you are and feel as a white man should! As for Hurry Harry, Ido think it would be all the same to him whether his wife were a squawor a governor's daughter, provided she was a little comely, and couldhelp to keep his craving stomach full."
"You do March injustice, Judith; yes, you do. The poor fellow doteson you, and when a man has ra'ally set his heart on such a creatur' itisn't a Mingo, or even a Delaware gal, that'll be likely to unsettlehis mind. You may laugh at such men as Hurry and I, for we're rough andunteached in the ways of books and other knowledge; but we've our goodp'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 thefemale fancy."
"You, Deerslayer! And do you--can you, for an instant, suppose I placeyou by the side of Harry March? No, no, I am not so far gone in dullnessas that. No one--man or woman--could think of naming your honest heart,manly nature, and simple truth, with the boisterous selfishness, greedyavarice, and overbearing ferocity of Harry March. The very best that canbe said of him, is to be found in his name of Hurry Skurry, which, if itmeans no great harm, means no great good. Even my father, following hisfeelings with the other, as he is doing at this moment, well knows thedifference between you. This I know, for he said as much to me, in plainlanguage."
Judith was a girl of quick sensibilities and of impetuous feelings; and,being under few of the restraints that curtail the manifestations ofmaiden emotions among those who are educated in the habits of civilizedlife, she sometimes betrayed the latter with a feeling that was sopurely natural as to place it as far above the wiles of coquetry as itwas superior to its heartlessness. She had now even taken one of thehard hands of the hunter and pressed it between both her own, with awarmth and earnestness that proved how sincere was her language. Itwas perhaps fortunate that she was checked by the very excess of herfeelings, since the same power might have urged her on to avow all thather father had said--the old man not having been satisfied with making acomparison favorable to Deerslayer, as between the hunter and Hurry, buthaving actually, in his blunt rough way, briefly advised his daughter tocast off the latter entirely, and to think of the former as a husband.Judith would not willingly have said this to any other man, butthere was so much confidence awakened by the guileless simplicity ofDeerslayer, that one of her nature found it a constant temptation tooverstep the bounds of habit. She went no further, however, immediatelyrelinquishing the hand, and falling back on a reserve that was moresuited to her sex, and, indeed, to her natural modesty.
"Thankee, Judith, thankee with all my heart," returned the hunter, whosehumility prevented him from placing any flattering interpretation oneither the conduct or the language of the girl. "Thankee as much as ifit was all true. Harry's sightly--yes, he's as sightly as the tallestpine of the mountains, and the Sarpent has named him accordingly;however, some fancy good looks, and some fancy good conduct, only. Hurryhas one advantage, and it depends on himself whether he'll have t'otheror--Hark! That's your father's voice, gal, and he speaks like a manwho'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 discordantsounds, by applying her hands to her ears. "I sometimes wish I had nofather!"
This was bitterly said, and the repinings which extorted the words werebitterly felt. It is impossible to say what might next have escaped herhad not a gentle, low voice spoken at her elbow.
"Judith, I ought to have read a chapter to father and Hurry!" said theinnocent but terrified speaker, "and that would have kept them fromgoing again on such an errand. Do you call to them, Deerslayer, andtell them I want them, and that it will be good for them both if they'llreturn and hearken to my words."
"Ah's me! Poor He
tty, you little know the cravin's for gold and revenge,if you believe they are so easily turned aside from their longin's! Butthis is an uncommon business in more ways than one, Judith. I hear yourfather and Hurry growling like bears, and yet no noise comes from themouth of the young chief. There's an ind of secrecy, and yet hiswhoop, which ought to ring in the mountains, accordin' to rule in suchsarcumstances, is silent!"
"Justice may have alighted on him, and his death have saved the lives ofthe innocent."
"Not it--not it--the Sarpent is not the one to suffer if that's to bethe law. Sartainly there has been no onset, and 'tis most likely thatthe camp's deserted, and the men are comin' back disapp'inted. Thataccounts 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, forvexation made March reckless. Deerslayer felt convinced that hisconjecture was true. The sail being down, the ark had not driftedfar; 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 ittakes to tell the fact, the canoe touched the scow, and the adventurersentered 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 thetruth to his listener.
It was now a question as to the course to be steered. A short surlyconference was held, when Hutter decided that the wisest way would beto keep in motion as the means most likely to defeat any attempt at asurprise--announcing his own and March's intention to requite themselvesfor the loss of sleep during their captivity, by lying down. As the airstill baffled and continued light, it was finally determined to sailbefore it, let it come in what direction it might, so long as it did notblow the ark upon the strand. This point settled, the released prisonershelped to hoist the sail, and they threw themselves upon two of thepallets, leaving Deerslayer and his friend to look after the movementsof the craft. As neither of the latter was disposed to sleep, on accountof the appointment with Hist, this arrangement was acceptable to allparties. That Judith and Hetty remained up also, in no manner impairedthe agreeable features of this change.
For some time the scow rather drifted than sailed along the westernshore, following a light southerly current of the air. The progresswas slow--not exceeding a couple of miles in the hour--but the two menperceived that it was not only carrying them towards the point theydesired to reach, but at a rate that was quite as fast as the houryet rendered necessary. But little more was said the while even by thegirls; and that little had more reference to the rescue of Hist than toany other subject. The Indian was calm to the eye, but as minute afterminute passed, his feelings became more and more excited, until theyreached a state that might have satisfied the demands of even the mostexacting mistress. Deerslayer kept the craft as much in the bays as wasprudent, for the double purpose of sailing within the shadows of thewoods, and of detecting any signs of an encampment they might pass onthe shore. In this manner they doubled one low point, and were alreadyin the bay that was terminated north by the goal at which they aimed.The latter was still a quarter of a mile distant, when Chingachgookcame silently to the side of his friend and pointed to a place directlyahead. A small fire was glimmering just within the verge of the bushesthat lined the shore on the southern side of the point--leaving no doubtthat the Indians had suddenly removed their camp to the very place,or at least the very projection of land where Hist had given them therendezvous!