English
“Wellgothyway:thoushaltnotfromthisgrove
TillItormenttheeforthisinjury.”
—MidsummerNight’sDream.
Thewordswerestillinthemouthofthescout,whentheleaderoftheparty,whoseapproachingfootstepshadcaughtthevigilantearoftheIndian,cameopenlyintoview.
Abeatenpath,suchasthosemadebytheperiodicalpassageofthedeer,woundthroughalittleglenatnogreatdistance,andstrucktheriveratthepointwherethewhitemanandhisredcompanionshadpostedthemselves.
Alongthistrackthetravelers,whohadproducedasurprisesounusualinthedepthsoftheforest,advancedslowlytowardthehunter,whowasinfrontofhisassociates,inreadinesstoreceivethem.
“Whocomes?”demandedthescout,throwinghisriflecarelesslyacrosshisleftarm,andkeepingtheforefingerofhisrighthandonthetrigger,thoughheavoidedallappearanceofmenaceintheact.
“Whocomeshither,amongthebeastsanddangersofthewilderness?”
“Believersinreligion,andfriendstothelawandtotheking,”returnedhewhorodeforemost.
“Menwhohavejourneyedsincetherisingsun,intheshadesofthisforest,withoutnourishment,andaresadlytiredoftheirwayfaring.”
“Youare,then,lost,”interruptedthehunter,“andhavefoundhowhelpless‘tisnottoknowwhethertotaketherighthandortheleft?”
“Evenso;suckingbabesarenotmoredependentonthosewhoguidethemthanwewhoareoflargergrowth,andwhomaynowbesaidtopossessthestaturewithouttheknowledgeofmen.
KnowyouthedistancetoapostofthecrowncalledWilliamHenry?”
“Hoot!”shoutedthescout,whodidnotsparehisopenlaughter,thoughinstantlycheckingthedangeroussoundsheindulgedhismerrimentatlessriskofbeingoverheardbyanylurkingenemies.
“Youareasmuchoffthescentasahoundwouldbe,withHoricanatwixthimandthedeer!WilliamHenry,man!
ifyouarefriendstothekingandhavebusinesswiththearmy,yourwaywouldbetofollowtheriverdowntoEdward,andlaythematterbeforeWebb,whotarriesthere,insteadofpushingintothedefiles,anddrivingthissaucyFrenchmanbackacrossChamplain,intohisdenagain.”
Beforethestrangercouldmakeanyreplytothisunexpectedproposition,anotherhorsemandashedthebushesaside,andleapedhischargerintothepathway,infrontofhiscompanion.
“What,then,maybeourdistancefromFortEdward?”demandedanewspeaker;“theplaceyouadviseustoseekweleftthismorning,andourdestinationistheheadofthelake.”
“Thenyoumusthavelostyoureyesightaforelosingyourway,fortheroadacrosstheportageiscuttoagoodtworods,andisasgrandapath,Icalculate,asanythatrunsintoLondon,orevenbeforethepalaceofthekinghimself.”
“Wewillnotdisputeconcerningtheexcellenceofthepassage,”returnedHeyward,smiling;for,asthereaderhasanticipated,itwashe.
“Itisenough,forthepresent,thatwetrustedtoanIndianguidetotakeusbyanearer,thoughblinderpath,andthatwearedeceivedinhisknowledge.
Inplainwords,weknownotwhereweare.”
“AnIndianlostinthewoods!”saidthescout,shakinghisheaddoubtingly;“Whenthesunisscorchingthetreetops,andthewatercoursesarefull;whenthemossoneverybeechheseeswilltellhiminwhatquarterthenorthstarwillshineatnight.
Thewoodsarefullofdeer-pathswhichruntothestreamsandlicks,placeswellknowntoeverybody;norhavethegeesedonetheirflighttotheCanadawatersaltogether!
‘TisstrangethatanIndianshouldbelostatwixtHoricanandthebendintheriver!IsheaMohawk?”
“Notbybirth,thoughadoptedinthattribe;Ithinkhisbirthplacewasfarthernorth,andheisoneofthoseyoucallaHuron.”
“Hugh!”exclaimedthetwocompanionsofthescout,whohadcontinueduntilthispartofthedialogue,seatedimmovable,andapparentlyindifferenttowhatpassed,butwhonowsprangtotheirfeetwithanactivityandinterestthathadevidentlygotthebetteroftheirreservebysurprise.
“AHuron!”repeatedthesturdyscout,oncemoreshakinghisheadinopendistrust;“theyareathievishrace,nordoIcarebywhomtheyareadopted;youcannevermakeanythingofthembutskullsandvagabonds.
Sinceyoutrustedyourselftothecareofoneofthatnation,Ionlywonderthatyouhavenotfalleninwithmore.”
“Ofthatthereislittledanger,sinceWilliamHenryissomanymilesinourfront.YouforgetthatIhavetoldyouourguideisnowaMohawk,andthatheserveswithourforcesasafriend.”
“AndItellyouthathewhoisbornaMingowilldieaMingo,”returnedtheotherpositively.“AMohawk!
No,givemeaDelawareoraMohicanforhonesty;andwhentheywillfight,whichtheywon’talldo,havingsufferedtheircunningenemies,theMaquas,tomakethemwomen—butwhentheywillfightatall,looktoaDelaware,oraMohican,forawarrior!”
“Enoughofthis,”saidHeyward,impatiently;“IwishnottoinquireintothecharacterofamanthatIknow,andtowhomyoumustbeastranger.
Youhavenotyetansweredmyquestion;whatisourdistancefromthemainarmyatEdward?”
“Itseemsthatmaydependonwhoisyourguide.Onewouldthinksuchahorseasthatmightgetoveragooddealofgroundatwixtsun-upandsun-down.”
“Iwishnocontentionofidlewordswithyou,friend,”saidHeyward,curbinghisdissatisfiedmanner,andspeakinginamoregentlevoice;“ifyouwilltellmethedistancetoFortEdward,andconductmethither,yourlaborshallnotgowithoutitsreward.”
“Andinsodoing,howknowIthatIdon’tguideanenemyandaspyofMontcalm,totheworksofthearmy?ItisnoteverymanwhocanspeaktheEnglishtonguethatisanhonestsubject.”
“Ifyouservewiththetroops,ofwhomIjudgeyoutobeascout,youshouldknowofsucharegimentofthekingastheSixtieth.”
“TheSixtieth!youcantellmelittleoftheRoyalAmericansthatIdon’tknow,thoughIdowearahunting-shirtinsteadofascarletjacket.”
“Well,then,amongotherthings,youmayknowthenameofitsmajor?”
“Itsmajor!”interruptedthehunter,elevatinghisbodylikeonewhowasproudofhistrust.“IfthereisamaninthecountrywhoknowsMajorEffingham,hestandsbeforeyou.”
“Itisacorpswhichhasmanymajors;thegentlemanyounameisthesenior,butIspeakofthejuniorofthemall;hewhocommandsthecompaniesingarrisonatWilliamHenry.”
“Yes,yes,Ihaveheardthatayounggentlemanofvastriches,fromoneoftheprovincesfarsouth,hasgottheplace.
Heisoveryoung,too,toholdsuchrank,andtobeputabovemenwhoseheadsarebeginningtobleach;andyettheysayheisasoldierinhisknowledge,andagallantgentleman!”
“Whateverhemaybe,orhoweverhemaybequalifiedforhisrank,henowspeakstoyouand,ofcourse,canbenoenemytodread.”
ThescoutregardedHeywardinsurprise,andthenliftinghiscap,heanswered,inatonelessconfidentthanbefore—thoughstillexpressingdoubt.
“Ihaveheardapartywastoleavetheencampmentthismorningforthelakeshore?”
“Youhaveheardthetruth;butIpreferredanearerroute,trustingtotheknowledgeoftheIndianImentioned.”
“Andhedeceivedyou,andthendeserted?”
“Neither,asIbelieve;certainlynotthelatter,forheistobefoundintherear.”
“Ishouldliketolookatthecreature;ifitisatrueIroquoisIcantellhimbyhisknavishlook,andbyhispaint,”saidthescout;steppingpastthechargerofHeyward,andenteringthepathbehindthemareofthesingingmaster,whosefoalhadtakenadvantageofthehalttoexactthematernalcontribution.
Aftershovingasidethebushes,andproceedingafewpaces,heencounteredthefemales,whoawaitedtheresultoftheconferencewithanxiety,andnotentirelywithoutapprehension.
Behindthese,therunnerleanedagainstatree,wherehestoodthecloseexaminationofthescoutwithanairunmoved,thoughwithalooksodarkandsavage,thatitmightinitselfexcitefear.
Satisfiedwithhisscrutiny,thehuntersoonlefthim.
Asherepassedthefemales,hepausedamomenttogazeupontheirbeauty,answeringtothesmileandnodofAlicewithalookofopenpleasure.
Thencehewenttothesideofthemotherlyanimal,andspendingaminuteinafruitlessinquiryintothecharacterofherrider,heshookhisheadandreturnedtoHeyward.
“AMingoisaMingo,andGodhavingmadehimso,neithertheMohawksnoranyothertribecanalterhim,”hesaid,whenhehadregainedhisformerposition.
“Ifwewerealone,andyouwouldleavethatnoblehorseatthemercyofthewolvesto-night,IcouldshowyouthewaytoEdwardmyself,withinanhour,foritliesonlyaboutanhour’sjourneyhence;butwithsuchladiesinyourcompany‘tisimpossible!”
“Andwhy?Theyarefatigued,buttheyarequiteequaltoarideofafewmoremiles.”
”’Tisanaturalimpossibility!”repeatedthescout;“Iwouldn’twalkamileinthesewoodsafternightgetsintothem,incompanywiththatrunner,forthebestrifleinthecolonies.
TheyarefullofoutlyingIroquois,andyourmongrelMohawkknowswheretofindthemtoowelltobemycompanion.”
“Thinkyouso?”saidHeyward,leaningforwardinthesaddle,anddroppinghisvoicenearlytoawhisper;“IconfessIhavenotbeenwithoutmyownsuspicions,thoughIhaveendeavoredtoconcealthem,andaffectedaconfidenceIhavenotalwaysfelt,onaccountofmycompanions.
ItwasbecauseIsuspectedhimthatIwouldfollownolonger;makinghim,asyousee,followme.”
“IknewhewasoneofthecheatsassoonasIlaideyesonhim!”
returnedthescout,placingafingeronhisnose,insignofcaution.
“Thethiefisleaningagainstthefootofthesugarsapling,thatyoucanseeoverthembushes;hisrightlegisinalinewiththebarkofthetree,and,”tappinghisrifle,“IcantakehimfromwhereIstand,betweentheangleandtheknee,withasingleshot,puttinganendtohistrampingthroughthewoods,foratleastamonthtocome.
IfIshouldgobacktohim,thecunningvarmintwouldsuspectsomething,andbedodgingthroughthetreeslikeafrighteneddeer.”
“Itwillnotdo.Hemaybeinnocent,andIdisliketheact.Though,ifIfeltconfidentofhistreachery—”
”’TisasafethingtocalculateontheknaveryofanIroquois,”saidthescout,throwinghisrifleforward,byasortofinstinctivemovement.
“Hold!”interruptedHeyward,“itwillnotdo—wemustthinkofsomeotherscheme—andyet,Ihavemuchreasontobelievetherascalhasdeceivedme.”
Thehunter,whohadalreadyabandonedhisintentionofmaimingtherunner,musedamoment,andthenmadeagesture,whichinstantlybroughthistworedcompanionstohisside.
TheyspoketogetherearnestlyintheDelawarelanguage,thoughinanundertone;andbythegesturesofthewhiteman,whichwerefrequentlydirectedtowardsthetopofthesapling,itwasevidenthepointedoutthesituationoftheirhiddenenemy.
Hiscompanionswerenotlongincomprehendinghiswishes,andlayingasidetheirfirearms,theyparted,takingoppositesidesofthepath,andburyingthemselvesinthethicket,withsuchcautiousmovements,thattheirstepswereinaudible.
“Now,goyouback,”saidthehunter,speakingagaintoHeyward,“andholdtheimpintalk;theseMohicansherewilltakehimwithoutbreakinghispaint.”
“Nay,”saidHeyward,proudly,“Iwillseizehimmyself.”
“Hist!whatcouldyoudo,mounted,againstanIndianinthebushes!”
“Iwilldismount.”
“And,thinkyou,whenhesawoneofyourfeetoutofthestirrup,hewouldwaitfortheothertobefree?
Whoevercomesintothewoodstodealwiththenatives,mustuseIndianfashions,ifhewouldwishtoprosperinhisundertakings.
Go,then;talkopenlytothemiscreant,andseemtobelievehimthetruestfriendyouhaveon‘arth.”
Heywardpreparedtocomply,thoughwithstrongdisgustatthenatureoftheofficehewascompelledtoexecute.
Eachmoment,however,presseduponhimaconvictionofthecriticalsituationinwhichhehadsufferedhisinvaluabletrusttobeinvolvedthroughhisownconfidence.
Thesunhadalreadydisappeared,andthewoods,suddenlydeprivedofhislight,wereassumingaduskyhue,whichkeenlyremindedhimthatthehourthesavageusuallychoseforhismostbarbarousandremorselessactsofvengeanceorhostility,wasspeedilydrawingnear.
Stimulatedbyapprehension,heleftthescout,whoimmediatelyenteredintoaloudconversationwiththestrangerthathadsounceremoniouslyenlistedhimselfinthepartyoftravelersthatmorning.
InpassinghisgentlercompanionsHeywardutteredafewwordsofencouragement,andwaspleasedtofindthat,thoughfatiguedwiththeexerciseoftheday,theyappearedtoentertainnosuspicionthattheirpresentembarrassmentwasotherthantheresultofaccident.
Givingthemreasontobelievehewasmerelyemployedinaconsultationconcerningthefutureroute,hespurredhischarger,anddrewthereinsagainwhentheanimalhadcarriedhimwithinafewyardsoftheplacewherethesullenrunnerstillstood,leaningagainstthetree.
Thesceneofthistalewasinthe42ddegreeoflatitude,wherethetwilightisneveroflongcontinuation.
“Youmaysee,Magua,”hesaid,endeavoringtoassumeanairoffreedomandconfidence,“thatthenightisclosingaroundus,andyetwearenonearertoWilliamHenrythanwhenwelefttheencampmentofWebbwiththerisingsun.
“Youhavemissedtheway,norhaveIbeenmorefortunate.
But,happily,wehavefalleninwithahunter,hewhomyouheartalkingtothesinger,thatisacquaintedwiththedeerpathsandby-waysofthewoods,andwhopromisestoleadustoaplacewherewemayrestsecurelytillthemorning.”
TheIndianrivetedhisglowingeyesonHeywardasheasked,inhisimperfectEnglish,“Ishealone?”
“Alone!”hesitatinglyansweredHeyward,towhomdeceptionwastoonewtobeassumedwithoutembarrassment.“Oh!notalone,surely,Magua,foryouknowthatwearewithhim.”
“ThenLeRenardSubtilwillgo,”returnedtherunner,coollyraisinghislittlewalletfromtheplacewhereithadlainathisfeet;“andthepalefaceswillseenonebuttheirowncolor.”
“Go!WhomcallyouLeRenard?”
”’TisthenamehisCanadafathershavegiventoMagua,”returnedtherunner,withanairthatmanifestedhisprideatthedistinction.
“NightisthesameasdaytoLeSubtil,whenMunrowaitsforhim.”
“AndwhataccountwillLeRenardgivethechiefofWilliamHenryconcerninghisdaughters?
Willhedaretotellthehot-bloodedScotsmanthathischildrenareleftwithoutaguide,thoughMaguapromisedtobeone?”
“Thoughthegrayheadhasaloudvoice,andalongarm,LeRenardwillnothearhim,norfeelhim,inthewoods.”
“ButwhatwilltheMohawkssay?Theywillmakehimpetticoats,andbidhimstayinthewigwamwiththewomen,forheisnolongertobetrustedwiththebusinessofaman.”
“LeSubtilknowsthepathtothegreatlakes,andhecanfindthebonesofhisfathers,”wastheansweroftheunmovedrunner.
“Enough,Magua,”saidHeyward;“arewenotfriends?
Whyshouldtherebebitterwordsbetweenus?
Munrohaspromisedyouagiftforyourserviceswhenperformed,andIshallbeyourdebtorforanother.
Restyourwearylimbs,then,andopenyourwallettoeat.
Wehaveafewmomentstospare;letusnotwastethemintalklikewranglingwomen.
Whentheladiesarerefreshedwewillproceed.”
“Thepalefacesmakethemselvesdogstotheirwomen,”mutteredtheIndian,inhisnativelanguage,“andwhentheywanttoeat,theirwarriorsmustlayasidethetomahawktofeedtheirlaziness.”
“Whatsayyou,Renard?”
“LeSubtilsaysitisgood.”
TheIndianthenfastenedhiseyeskeenlyontheopencountenanceofHeyward,butmeetinghisglance,heturnedthemquicklyaway,andseatinghimselfdeliberatelyontheground,hedrewforththeremnantofsomeformerrepast,andbegantoeat,thoughnotwithoutfirstbendinghislooksslowlyandcautiouslyaroundhim.
“Thisiswell,”continuedHeyward;“andLeRenardwillhavestrengthandsighttofindthepathinthemorning”;hepaused,forsoundslikethesnappingofadriedstick,andtherustlingofleaves,rosefromtheadjacentbushes,butrecollectinghimselfinstantly,hecontinued,“wemustbemovingbeforethesunisseen,orMontcalmmaylieinourpath,andshutusoutfromthefortress.”
ThehandofMaguadroppedfromhismouthtohisside,andthoughhiseyeswerefastenedontheground,hisheadwasturnedaside,hisnostrilsexpanded,andhisearsseemedeventostandmoreerectthanusual,givingtohimtheappearanceofastatuethatwasmadetorepresentintenseattention.
Heyward,whowatchedhismovementswithavigilanteye,carelesslyextricatedoneofhisfeetfromthestirrup,whilehepassedahandtowardthebear-skincoveringofhisholsters.
Everyefforttodetectthepointmostregardedbytherunnerwascompletelyfrustratedbythetremulousglancesofhisorgans,whichseemednottorestasingleinstantonanyparticularobject,andwhich,atthesametime,couldbehardlysaidtomove.
Whilehehesitatedhowtoproceed,LeSubtilcautiouslyraisedhimselftohisfeet,thoughwithamotionsoslowandguarded,thatnottheslightestnoisewasproducedbythechange.
Heywardfeltithadnowbecomeincumbentonhimtoact.
Throwinghislegoverthesaddle,hedismounted,withadeterminationtoadvanceandseizehistreacherouscompanion,trustingtheresulttohisownmanhood.
Inorder,however,topreventunnecessaryalarm,hestillpreservedanairofcalmnessandfriendship.
“LeRenardSubtildoesnoteat,”hesaid,usingtheappellationhehadfoundmostflatteringtothevanityoftheIndian.
“Hiscornisnotwellparched,anditseemsdry.
Letmeexamine;perhapssomethingmaybefoundamongmyownprovisionsthatwillhelphisappetite.”
Maguaheldoutthewallettotheprofferoftheother.
Heevensufferedtheirhandstomeet,withoutbetrayingtheleastemotion,orvaryinghisrivetedattitudeofattention.
ButwhenhefeltthefingersofHeywardmovinggentlyalonghisownnakedarm,hestruckupthelimboftheyoungman,and,utteringapiercingcry,hedartedbeneathit,andplunged,atasinglebound,intotheoppositethicket.
AtthenextinstanttheformofChingachgookappearedfromthebushes,lookinglikeaspecterinitspaint,andglidedacrossthepathinswiftpursuit.
NextfollowedtheshoutofUncas,whenthewoodswerelightedbyasuddenflash,thatwasaccompaniedbythesharpreportofthehunter’srifle.
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