English
...”Insuchanight
DidThisbefearfullyo’ertripthedew;
Andsawthelion’sshadowerehimself.”
—MerchantofVenice
Thesuddennessoftheflightofhisguide,andthewildcriesofthepursuers,causedHeywardtoremainfixed,forafewmoments,ininactivesurprise.
Thenrecollectingtheimportanceofsecuringthefugitive,hedashedasidethesurroundingbushes,andpressedeagerlyforwardtolendhisaidinthechase.
Beforehehad,however,proceededahundredyards,hemetthethreeforestersalreadyreturningfromtheirunsuccessfulpursuit.
“Whysosoondisheartened!”heexclaimed;“thescoundrelmustbeconcealedbehindsomeofthesetrees,andmayyetbesecured.Wearenotsafewhilehegoesatlarge.”
“Wouldyousetacloudtochasethewind?”
returnedthedisappointedscout;“Iheardtheimpbrushingoverthedryleaves,likeablacksnake,andblinkingaglimpseofhim,justoverag’inyonbigpine,Ipulledasitmightbeonthescent;but‘twouldn’tdo!
andyetforareasoningaim,ifanybodybutmyselfhadtouchedthetrigger,Ishouldcallitaquicksight;andImaybeaccountedtohaveexperienceinthesematters,andonewhooughttoknow.
Lookatthissumach;itsleavesarered,thougheverybodyknowsthefruitisintheyellowblossominthemonthofJuly!”
”’TisthebloodofLeSubtil!heishurt,andmayyetfall!”
“No,no,”returnedthescout,indecideddisapprobationofthisopinion,“Irubbedthebarkoffalimb,perhaps,butthecreatureleapedthelongerforit.
Ariflebulletactsonarunninganimal,whenitbarkshim,muchthesameasoneofyourspursonahorse;thatis,itquickensmotion,andputslifeintotheflesh,insteadoftakingitaway.
Butwhenitcutstheraggedhole,afteraboundortwo,thereis,commonly,astagnationoffurtherleaping,beitIndianorbeitdeer!”
“Wearefourablebodies,toonewoundedman!”
“Islifegrievoustoyou?”interruptedthescout.
“Yonderreddevilwoulddrawyouwithinswingofthetomahawksofhiscomrades,beforeyouwereheatedinthechase.
Itwasanunthoughtfulactinamanwhohassooftensleptwiththewar–whoopringingintheair,toletoffhispiecewithinsoundofanambushment!Butthenitwasanaturaltemptation!‘twasverynatural!
Come,friends,letusmoveourstation,andinsuchfashion,too,aswillthrowthecunningofaMingoonawrongscent,orourscalpswillbedryinginthewindinfrontofMontcalm’smarquee,ag’inthishourto–morrow.”
Thisappallingdeclaration,whichthescoututteredwiththecoolassuranceofamanwhofullycomprehended,whilehedidnotfeartofacethedanger,servedtoremindHeywardoftheimportanceofthechargewithwhichhehimselfhadbeenintrusted.
Glancinghiseyesaround,withavainefforttopiercethegloomthatwasthickeningbeneaththeleafyarchesoftheforest,hefeltasif,cutofffromhumanaid,hisunresistingcompanionswouldsoonlieattheentiremercyofthosebarbarousenemies,who,likebeastsofprey,onlywaitedtillthegatheringdarknessmightrendertheirblowsmorefatallycertain.
Hisawakenedimagination,deludedbythedeceptivelight,convertedeachwavingbush,orthefragmentofsomefallentree,intohumanforms,andtwentytimeshefanciedhecoulddistinguishthehorridvisagesofhislurkingfoes,peeringfromtheirhidingplaces,inneverceasingwatchfulnessofthemovementsofhisparty.
Lookingupward,hefoundthatthethinfleecyclouds,whicheveninghadpaintedonthebluesky,werealreadylosingtheirfaintesttintsofrose–color,whiletheimbeddedstream,whichglidedpastthespotwherehestood,wastobetracedonlybythedarkboundaryofitswoodedbanks.
“Whatistobedone!”hesaid,feelingtheutterhelplessnessofdoubtinsuchapressingstrait;“desertmenot,forGod’ssake!remaintodefendthoseIescort,andfreelynameyourownreward!”
Hiscompanions,whoconversedapartinthelanguageoftheirtribe,heedednotthissuddenandearnestappeal.
Thoughtheirdialoguewasmaintainedinlowandcautioussounds,butlittleaboveawhisper,Heyward,whonowapproached,couldeasilydistinguishtheearnesttonesoftheyoungerwarriorfromthemoredeliberatespeechesofhisseniors.
Itwasevidentthattheydebatedontheproprietyofsomemeasure,thatnearlyconcernedthewelfareofthetravelers.
Yieldingtohispowerfulinterestinthesubject,andimpatientofadelaythatseemedfraughtwithsomuchadditionaldanger,Heywarddrewstillnighertotheduskygroup,withanintentionofmakinghisoffersofcompensationmoredefinite,whenthewhiteman,motioningwithhishand,asifheconcededthedisputedpoint,turnedaway,sayinginasortofsoliloquy,andintheEnglishtongue:
“Uncasisright!itwouldnotbetheactofmentoleavesuchharmlessthingstotheirfate,eventhoughitbreaksuptheharboringplaceforever.
Ifyouwouldsavethesetenderblossomsfromthefangsoftheworstofserpents,gentleman,youhaveneithertimetolosenorresolutiontothrowaway!”
“Howcansuchawishbedoubted!HaveInotalreadyoffered—”
“OfferyourprayerstoHimwhocangiveuswisdomtocircumventthecunningofthedevilswhofillthesewoods,”calmlyinterruptedthescout,“butspareyouroffersofmoney,whichneitheryoumaylivetorealize,norItoprofitby.
TheseMohicansandIwilldowhatman’sthoughtscaninvent,tokeepsuchflowers,which,thoughsosweet,werenevermadeforthewilderness,fromharm,andthatwithouthopeofanyotherrecompensebutsuchasGodalwaysgivestouprightdealings.
First,youmustpromisetwothings,bothinyourownnameandforyourfriends,orwithoutservingyouweshallonlyinjureourselves!”
“Namethem.”
“Theoneis,tobestillasthesesleepingwoods,letwhatwillhappenandtheotheris,tokeeptheplacewhereweshalltakeyou,foreverasecretfromallmortalmen.”
“Iwilldomyutmosttoseeboththeseconditionsfulfilled.”
“Thenfollow,forwearelosingmomentsthatareaspreciousastheheart’sbloodtoastrickendeer!”
Heywardcoulddistinguishtheimpatientgestureofthescout,throughtheincreasingshadowsoftheevening,andhemovedinhisfootsteps,swiftly,towardtheplacewherehehadlefttheremainderoftheparty.
Whentheyrejoinedtheexpectingandanxiousfemales,hebrieflyacquaintedthemwiththeconditionsoftheirnewguide,andwiththenecessitythatexistedfortheirhushingeveryapprehensionininstantandseriousexertions.
Althoughhisalarmingcommunicationwasnotreceivedwithoutmuchsecretterrorbythelisteners,hisearnestandimpressivemanner,aidedperhapsbythenatureofthedanger,succeededinbracingtheirnervestoundergosomeunlooked–forandunusualtrial.
Silently,andwithoutamoment’sdelay,theypermittedhimtoassistthemfromtheirsaddles,andwhentheydescendedquicklytothewater’sedge,wherethescouthadcollectedtherestoftheparty,morebytheagencyofexpressivegesturesthanbyanyuseofwords.
“Whattodowiththesedumbcreatures!”mutteredthewhiteman,onwhomthesolecontroloftheirfuturemovementsappearedtodevolve;“itwouldbetimelosttocuttheirthroats,andcastthemintotheriver;andtoleavethemherewouldbetotelltheMingoesthattheyhavenotfartoseektofindtheirowners!”
“Thengivethemtheirbridles,andletthemrangethewoods,”Heywardventuredtosuggest.
“No;itwouldbebettertomisleadtheimps,andmakethembelievetheymustequalahorse’sspeedtorundowntheirchase.
Ay,ay,thatwillblindtheirfireballsofeyes!Chingach—Hist!whatstirsthebush?”
“Thecolt.”
“Thatcolt,atleast,mustdie,”mutteredthescout,graspingatthemaneofthenimblebeast,whicheasilyeludedhishand;“Uncas,yourarrows!”
“Hold!”exclaimedtheproprietorofthecondemnedanimal,aloud,withoutregardtothewhisperingtonesusedbytheothers;“sparethefoalofMiriam!
itisthecomelyoffspringofafaithfuldam,andwouldwillinglyinjurenaught.”
“WhenmenstruggleforthesinglelifeGodhasgiventhem,”saidthescout,sternly,“eventheirownkindseemnomorethanthebeastsofthewood.
Ifyouspeakagain,IshallleaveyoutothemercyoftheMaquas!
Drawtoyourarrow’shead,Uncas;wehavenotimeforsecondblows.”
Thelow,mutteringsoundsofhisthreateningvoicewerestillaudible,whenthewoundedfoal,firstrearingonitshinderlegs,plungedforwardtoitsknees.
ItwasmetbyChingachgook,whoseknifepassedacrossitsthroatquickerthanthought,andthenprecipitatingthemotionsofthestrugglingvictim,hedashedintotheriver,downwhosestreamitglidedaway,gaspingaudiblyforbreathwithitsebbinglife.
Thisdeedofapparentcruelty,butofrealnecessity,felluponthespiritsofthetravelerslikeaterrificwarningoftheperilinwhichtheystood,heightenedasitwasbythecalmthoughsteadyresolutionoftheactorsinthescene.
Thesistersshudderedandclungclosertoeachother,whileHeywardinstinctivelylaidhishandononeofthepistolshehadjustdrawnfromtheirholsters,asheplacedhimselfbetweenhischargeandthosedenseshadowsthatseemedtodrawanimpenetrableveilbeforethebosomoftheforest.
TheIndians,however,hesitatednotamoment,buttakingthebridles,theyledthefrightenedandreluctanthorsesintothebedoftheriver.
Atashortdistancefromtheshoretheyturned,andweresoonconcealedbytheprojectionofthebank,underthebrowofwhichtheymoved,inadirectionoppositetothecourseofthewaters.
Inthemeantime,thescoutdrewacanoeofbarkfromitsplaceofconcealmentbeneathsomelowbushes,whosebrancheswerewavingwiththeeddiesofthecurrent,intowhichhesilentlymotionedforthefemalestoenter.
Theycompliedwithouthesitation,thoughmanyafearfulandanxiousglancewasthrownbehindthem,towardthethickeninggloom,whichnowlaylikeadarkbarrieralongthemarginofthestream.
SosoonasCoraandAlicewereseated,thescout,withoutregardingtheelement,directedHeywardtosupportonesideofthefrailvessel,andpostinghimselfattheother,theyboreitupagainstthestream,followedbythedejectedownerofthedeadfoal.
Inthismannertheyproceeded,formanyrods,inasilencethatwasonlyinterruptedbytheripplingofthewater,asitseddiesplayedaroundthem,orthelowdashmadebytheirowncautiousfootsteps.
Heywardyieldedtheguidanceofthecanoeimplicitlytothescout,whoapproachedorrecededfromtheshore,toavoidthefragmentsofrocks,ordeeperpartsoftheriver,withareadinessthatshowedhisknowledgeoftheroutetheyheld.
Occasionallyhewouldstop;andinthemidstofabreathingstillness,thatthedullbutincreasingroarofthewaterfallonlyservedtorendermoreimpressive,hewouldlistenwithpainfulintenseness,tocatchanysoundsthatmightarisefromtheslumberingforest.
Whenassuredthatallwasstill,andunabletodetect,evenbytheaidofhispracticedsenses,anysignofhisapproachingfoes,hewoulddeliberatelyresumehisslowandguardedprogress.
AtlengththeyreachedapointintheriverwheretherovingeyeofHeywardbecamerivetedonaclusterofblackobjects,collectedataspotwherethehighbankthrewadeepershadowthanusualonthedarkwaters.
Hesitatingtoadvance,hepointedouttheplacetotheattentionofhiscompanion.
“Ay,”returnedthecomposedscout,“theIndianshavehidthebeastswiththejudgmentofnatives!Waterleavesnotrail,andanowl’seyeswouldbeblindedbythedarknessofsuchahole.”
Thewholepartywassoonreunited,andanotherconsultationwasheldbetweenthescoutandhisnewcomrades,duringwhich,they,whosefatesdependedonthefaithandingenuityoftheseunknownforesters,hadalittleleisuretoobservetheirsituationmoreminutely.
Theriverwasconfinedbetweenhighandcraggedrocks,oneofwhichimpendedabovethespotwherethecanoerested.
Asthese,again,weresurmountedbytalltrees,whichappearedtototteronthebrowsoftheprecipice,itgavethestreamtheappearanceofrunningthroughadeepandnarrowdell.
Allbeneaththefantasticlimbsandraggedtreetops,whichwere,hereandthere,dimlypaintedagainstthestarryzenith,layalikeinshadowedobscurity.
Behindthem,thecurvatureofthebankssoonboundedtheviewbythesamedarkandwoodedoutline;butinfront,andapparentlyatnogreatdistance,thewaterseemedpiledagainsttheheavens,whenceittumbledintocaverns,outofwhichissuedthosesullensoundsthathadloadedtheeveningatmosphere.
Itseemed,intruth,tobeaspotdevotedtoseclusion,andthesistersimbibedasoothingimpressionofsecurity,astheygazeduponitsromanticthoughnotunappallingbeauties.
Ageneralmovementamongtheirconductors,however,soonrecalledthemfromacontemplationofthewildcharmsthatnighthadassistedtolendtheplacetoapainfulsenseoftheirrealperil.
Thehorseshadbeensecuredtosomescatteringshrubsthatgrewinthefissuresoftherocks,where,standinginthewater,theywerelefttopassthenight.
ThescoutdirectedHeywardandhisdisconsolatefellowtravelerstoseatthemselvesintheforwardendofthecanoe,andtookpossessionoftheotherhimself,aserectandsteadyasifhefloatedinavesselofmuchfirmermaterials.
TheIndianswarilyretracedtheirstepstowardtheplacetheyhadleft,whenthescout,placinghispoleagainstarock,byapowerfulshove,senthisfrailbarkdirectlyintotheturbulentstream.
Formanyminutesthestrugglebetweenthelightbubbleinwhichtheyfloatedandtheswiftcurrentwassevereanddoubtful.
Forbiddentostirevenahand,andalmostafraidtobreath,lesttheyshouldexposethefrailfabrictothefuryofthestream,thepassengerswatchedtheglancingwatersinfeverishsuspense.
Twentytimestheythoughtthewhirlingeddiesweresweepingthemtodestruction,whenthemaster–handoftheirpilotwouldbringthebowsofthecanoetostemtherapid.
Along,avigorous,and,asitappearedtothefemales,adesperateeffort,closedthestruggle.
JustasAliceveiledhereyesinhorror,undertheimpressionthattheywereabouttobesweptwithinthevortexatthefootofthecataract,thecanoefloated,stationary,atthesideofaflatrock,thatlayonalevelwiththewater.
“Wherearewe,andwhatisnexttobedone!”demandedHeyward,perceivingthattheexertionsofthescouthadceased.
“YouareatthefootofGlenn’s,”returnedtheother,speakingaloud,withoutfearofconsequenceswithintheroarofthecataract;“andthenextthingistomakeasteadylanding,lestthecanoeupset,andyoushouldgodownagainthehardroadwehavetraveledfasterthanyoucameup;‘tisahardrifttostem,whentheriverisalittleswelled;andfiveisanunnaturalnumbertokeepdry,inahurry–skurry,withalittlebirchenbarkandgum.
There,goyouallontherock,andIwillbringuptheMohicanswiththevenison.
Amanhadbettersleepwithouthisscalp,thanfamishinthemidstofplenty.”
Hispassengersgladlycompliedwiththesedirections.
Asthelastfoottouchedtherock,thecanoewhirledfromitsstation,whenthetallformofthescoutwasseen,foraninstant,glidingabovethewaters,beforeitdisappearedintheimpenetrabledarknessthatrestedonthebedoftheriver.
Leftbytheirguide,thetravelersremainedafewminutesinhelplessignorance,afraideventomovealongthebrokenrocks,lestafalsestepshouldprecipitatethemdownsomeoneofthemanydeepandroaringcaverns,intowhichthewaterseemedtotumble,oneverysideofthem.
Theirsuspense,however,wassoonrelieved;for,aidedbytheskillofthenatives,thecanoeshotbackintotheeddy,andfloatedagainatthesideofthelowrock,beforetheythoughtthescouthadeventimetorejoinhiscompanions.
“Wearenowfortified,garrisoned,andprovisioned,”criedHeywardcheerfully,“andmaysetMontcalmandhisalliesatdefiance.
How,now,myvigilantsentinel,canseeanythingofthoseyoucalltheIroquois,onthemainland!”
“IcallthemIroquois,becausetomeeverynative,whospeaksaforeigntongue,isaccountedanenemy,thoughhemaypretendtoservetheking!
IfWebbwantsfaithandhonestyinanIndian,lethimbringoutthetribesoftheDelawares,andsendthesegreedyandlyingMohawksandOneidas,withtheirsixnationsofvarlets,whereinnaturetheybelong,amongtheFrench!”
“Weshouldthenexchangeawarlikeforauselessfriend!IhaveheardthattheDelawareshavelaidasidethehatchet,andarecontenttobecalledwomen!”
“Aye,shameontheHollandersandIroquois,whocircumventedthembytheirdeviltries,intosuchatreaty!
ButIhaveknownthemfortwentyyears,andIcallhimliarthatsayscowardlybloodrunsintheveinsofaDelaware.
Youhavedriventheirtribesfromtheseashore,andwouldnowbelievewhattheirenemiessay,thatyoumaysleepatnightuponaneasypillow.
No,no;tome,everyIndianwhospeaksaforeigntongueisanIroquois,whetherthecastleofhistribebeinCanada,orbeinYork.”
TheprincipalvillagesoftheIndiansarestillcalled“castles”bythewhitesofNewYork.“Oneidacastle”isnomorethanascatteredhamlet;butthenameisingeneraluse.
Heyward,perceivingthatthestubbornadherenceofthescouttothecauseofhisfriendstheDelawares,orMohicans,fortheywerebranchesofthesamenumerouspeople,waslikelytoprolongauselessdiscussion,changedthesubject.
“Treatyornotreaty,Iknowfullwellthatyourtwocompanionsarebraveandcautiouswarriors!havetheyheardorseenanythingofourenemies!”
“AnIndianisamortaltobefeltaforeheisseen,”returnedthescout,ascendingtherock,andthrowingthedeercarelesslydown.
“Itrusttoothersignsthansuchascomeinattheeye,whenIamoutlyingonthetrailoftheMingoes.”
“Doyourearstellyouthattheyhavetracedourretreat?”
“Ishouldbesorrytothinktheyhad,thoughthisisaspotthatstoutcouragemightholdforasmartscrimmage.
Iwillnotdeny,however,butthehorsescoweredwhenIpassedthem,asthoughtheyscentedthewolves;andawolfisabeastthatisapttohoveraboutanIndianambushment,cravingtheoffalsofthedeerthesavageskill.”
“Youforgetthebuckatyourfeet!or,maywenotowetheirvisittothedeadcolt?Ha!whatnoiseisthat?”
“PoorMiriam!”murmuredthestranger;“thyfoalwasforeordainedtobecomeapreytoravenousbeasts!”
Then,suddenlyliftinguphisvoice,amidtheeternaldinofthewaters,hesangaloud:“FirstbornofEgypt,smitedidhe,Ofmankind,andofbeastalso:O,Egypt!
wonderssent‘midstthee,OnPharaohandhisservantstoo!”
“Thedeathofthecoltsitsheavyontheheartofitsowner,”saidthescout;“butit’sagoodsigntoseeamanaccountuponhisdumbfriends.
Hehasthereligionofthematter,inbelievingwhatistohappenwillhappen;andwithsuchaconsolation,itwon’tbelongaforehesubmitstotherationalityofkillingafour–footedbeasttosavethelivesofhumanmen.
Itmaybeasyousay,”hecontinued,revertingtothepurportofHeyward’slastremark;“andthegreaterthereasonwhyweshouldcutoursteaks,andletthecarcassdrivedownthestream,orweshallhavethepackhowlingalongthecliffs,begrudgingeverymouthfulweswallow.
Besides,thoughtheDelawaretongueisthesameasabooktotheIroquois,thecunningvarletsarequickenoughatunderstandingthereasonofawolf’showl.”
Thescout,whilemakinghisremarks,wasbusiedincollectingcertainnecessaryimplements;asheconcluded,hemovedsilentlybythegroupoftravelers,accompaniedbytheMohicans,whoseemedtocomprehendhisintentionswithinstinctivereadiness,whenthewholethreedisappearedinsuccession,seemingtovanishagainstthedarkfaceofaperpendicularrockthatrosetotheheightofafewyards,withinasmanyfeetofthewater’sedge.
Share this article to
FINISH