English
“ThosestrainsthatoncedidsweetinZionglide;
Hewalesaportionwithjudiciouscare;
And‘LetusworshipGod’,hesays,withsolemnair.”
—Burns
Heywardandhisfemalecompanionswitnessedthismysteriousmovementwithsecretuneasiness;for,thoughtheconductofthewhitemanhadhithertobeenabovereproach,hisrudeequipments,bluntaddress,andstrongantipathies,togetherwiththecharacterofhissilentassociates,wereallcausesforexcitingdistrustinmindsthathadbeensorecentlyalarmedbyIndiantreachery.
Thestrangeralonedisregardedthepassingincidents.
Heseatedhimselfonaprojectionoftherocks,whencehegavenoothersignsofconsciousnessthanbythestrugglesofhisspirit,asmanifestedinfrequentandheavysighs.
Smotheredvoiceswerenextheard,asthoughmencalledtoeachotherinthebowelsoftheearth,whenasuddenlightflasheduponthosewithout,andlaidbarethemuch–prizedsecretoftheplace.
Atthefurtherextremityofanarrow,deepcavernintherock,whoselengthappearedmuchextendedbytheperspectiveandthenatureofthelightbywhichitwasseen,wasseatedthescout,holdingablazingknotofpine.
Thestrongglareofthefirefellfulluponhissturdy,weather–beatencountenanceandforestattire,lendinganairofromanticwildnesstotheaspectofanindividual,who,seenbythesoberlightofday,wouldhaveexhibitedthepeculiaritiesofamanremarkableforthestrangenessofhisdress,theiron–likeinflexibilityofhisframe,andthesingularcompoundofquick,vigilantsagacity,andofexquisitesimplicity,thatbyturnsusurpedthepossessionofhismuscularfeatures.
AtalittledistanceinadvancestoodUncas,hiswholepersonthrownpowerfullyintoview.
Thetravelersanxiouslyregardedtheupright,flexiblefigureoftheyoungMohican,gracefulandunrestrainedintheattitudesandmovementsofnature.
Thoughhispersonwasmorethanusuallyscreenedbyagreenandfringedhunting–shirt,likethatofthewhiteman,therewasnoconcealmenttohisdark,glancing,fearlesseye,aliketerribleandcalm;theboldoutlineofhishigh,haughtyfeatures,pureintheirnativered;ortothedignifiedelevationofhisrecedingforehead,togetherwithallthefinestproportionsofanoblehead,baredtothegenerousscalpingtuft.
ItwasthefirstopportunitypossessedbyDuncanandhiscompanionstoviewthemarkedlineamentsofeitheroftheirIndianattendants,andeachindividualofthepartyfeltrelievedfromaburdenofdoubt,astheproudanddetermined,thoughwildexpressionofthefeaturesoftheyoungwarriorforceditselfontheirnotice.
Theyfeltitmightbeabeingpartiallybenightedinthevaleofignorance,butitcouldnotbeonewhowouldwillinglydevotehisrichnaturalgiftstothepurposesofwantontreachery.
TheingenuousAlicegazedathisfreeairandproudcarriage,asshewouldhavelookeduponsomepreciousrelicoftheGrecianchisel,towhichlifehadbeenimpartedbytheinterventionofamiracle;whileHeyward,thoughaccustomedtoseetheperfectionofformwhichaboundsamongtheuncorruptednatives,openlyexpressedhisadmirationatsuchanunblemishedspecimenofthenoblestproportionsofman.
“Icouldsleepinpeace,”whisperedAlice,inreply,“withsuchafearlessandgenerous–lookingyouthformysentinel.
Surely,Duncan,thosecruelmurders,thoseterrificscenesoftorture,ofwhichwereadandhearsomuch,areneveractedinthepresenceofsuchashe!”
“Thiscertainlyisarareandbrilliantinstanceofthosenaturalqualitiesinwhichthesepeculiarpeoplearesaidtoexcel,”heanswered.
“Iagreewithyou,Alice,inthinkingthatsuchafrontandeyewereformedrathertointimidatethantodeceive;butletusnotpracticeadeceptionuponourselves,byexpectinganyotherexhibitionofwhatweesteemvirtuethanaccordingtothefashionofthesavage.
AsbrightexamplesofgreatqualitiesarebuttoouncommonamongChristians,soaretheysingularandsolitarywiththeIndians;though,forthehonorofourcommonnature,neitherareincapableofproducingthem.
LetusthenhopethatthisMohicanmaynotdisappointourwishes,butprovewhathislooksasserthimtobe,abraveandconstantfriend.”
“NowMajorHeywardspeaksasMajorHeywardshould,”saidCora;“whothatlooksatthiscreatureofnature,rememberstheshadeofhisskin?”
Ashortandapparentlyanembarrassedsilencesucceededthisremark,whichwasinterruptedbythescoutcallingtothem,aloud,toenter.
“Thisfirebeginstoshowtoobrightaflame,”hecontinued,astheycomplied,“andmightlighttheMingoestoourundoing.
Uncas,droptheblanket,andshowtheknavesitsdarkside.
ThisisnotsuchasupperasamajoroftheRoyalAmericanshasarighttoexpect,butI’veknownstoutdetachmentsofthecorpsgladtoeattheirvenisonraw,andwithoutarelish,too.
Here,yousee,wehaveplentyofsalt,andcanmakeaquickbroil.
There’sfreshsassafrasboughsfortheladiestositon,whichmaynotbeasproudastheirmy–hog–guineachairs,butwhichsendsupasweeterflavor,thantheskinofanyhogcando,beitofGuinea,orbeitofanyotherland.
Come,friend,don’tbemournfulforthecolt;‘twasaninnocentthing,andhadnotseenmuchhardship.
Itsdeathwillsavethecreaturemanyasorebackandwearyfoot!”
InvulgarparlancethecondimentsofarepastarecalledbytheAmerican“arelish,”substitutingthethingforitseffect.
Theseprovincialtermsarefrequentlyputinthemouthsofthespeakers,accordingtotheirseveralconditionsinlife.
Mostofthemareoflocaluse,andothersquitepeculiartotheparticularclassofmentowhichthecharacterbelongs.
Inthepresentinstance,thescoutusesthewordwithimmediatereferencetothe“salt,”withwhichhisownpartywassofortunateastobeprovided.
Uncasdidastheotherhaddirected,andwhenthevoiceofHawkeyeceased,theroarofthecataractsoundedliketherumblingofdistantthunder.
“Arewequitesafeinthiscavern?”demandedHeyward.“Istherenodangerofsurprise?Asinglearmedman,atitsentrance,wouldholdusathismercy.”
Aspectral–lookingfigurestalkedfromoutofthedarknessbehindthescout,andseizingablazingbrand,heldittowardthefurtherextremityoftheirplaceofretreat.
Aliceutteredafaintshriek,andevenCorarosetoherfeet,asthisappallingobjectmovedintothelight;butasinglewordfromHeywardcalmedthem,withtheassuranceitwasonlytheirattendant,Chingachgook,who,liftinganotherblanket,discoveredthatthecavernhadtwooutlets.
Then,holdingthebrand,hecrossedadeep,narrowchasmintherockswhichranatrightangleswiththepassagetheywerein,butwhich,unlikethat,wasopentotheheavens,andenteredanothercave,answeringtothedescriptionofthefirst,ineveryessentialparticular.
“SucholdfoxesasChingachgookandmyselfarenotoftencaughtinabarrowwithonehole,”saidHawkeye,laughing;“youcaneasilyseethecunningoftheplace—therockisblacklimestone,whicheverybodyknowsissoft;itmakesnouncomfortablepillow,wherebrushandpinewoodisscarce;well,thefallwasonceafewyardsbelowus,andIdaretosaywas,initstime,asregularandashandsomeasheetofwaterasanyalongtheHudson.
Butoldageisagreatinjurytogoodlooks,asthesesweetyoungladieshaveyettol’arn!Theplaceissadlychanged!
Theserocksarefullofcracks,andinsomeplacestheyaresofterthanatothersome,andthewaterhasworkedoutdeephollowsforitself,untilithasfallenback,ay,somehundredfeet,breakinghereandwearingthere,untilthefallshaveneithershapenorconsistency.”
“Inwhatpartofthemarewe?”askedHeyward.
“Why,wearenighthespotthatProvidencefirstplacedthemat,butwhere,itseems,theyweretoorebellioustostay.
Therockprovedsofteroneachsideofus,andsotheyleftthecenteroftheriverbareanddry,firstworkingoutthesetwolittleholesforustohidein.”
“Wearethenonanisland!”
“Ay!therearethefallsontwosidesofus,andtheriveraboveandbelow.
Ifyouhaddaylight,itwouldbeworththetroubletostepupontheheightofthisrock,andlookattheperversityofthewater.
Itfallsbynoruleatall;sometimesitleaps,sometimesittumbles;thereitskips;hereitshoots;inoneplace‘tiswhiteassnow,andinanother‘tisgreenasgrass;hereabouts,itpitchesintodeephollows,thatrumbleandcrushthe‘arth;andthereaways,itripplesandsingslikeabrook,fashioningwhirlpoolsandgulliesintheoldstone,asif‘twasnoharderthantroddenclay.
Thewholedesignoftheriverseemsdisconcerted.
Firstitrunssmoothly,asifmeaningtogodownthedescentasthingswereordered;thenitanglesaboutandfacestheshores;norarethereplaceswantingwhereitlooksbackward,asifunwillingtoleavethewilderness,tominglewiththesalt.
Ay,lady,thefinecobweb–lookingclothyouwearatyourthroatiscoarse,andlikeafishnet,tolittlespotsIcanshowyou,wheretheriverfabricatesallsortsofimages,asifhavingbrokeloosefromorder,itwouldtryitshandateverything.Andyetwhatdoesitamountto!
Afterthewaterhasbeensufferedsotohaveitswill,foratime,likeaheadstrongman,itisgatheredtogetherbythehandthatmadeit,andafewrodsbelowyoumayseeitall,flowingonsteadilytowardthesea,aswasforeordainedfromthefirstfoundationofthe‘arth!”
WhilehisauditorsreceivedacheeringassuranceofthesecurityoftheirplaceofconcealmentfromthisuntutoreddescriptionofGlenn’s,theyweremuchinclinedtojudgedifferentlyfromHawkeye,ofitswildbeauties.
Buttheywerenotinasituationtosuffertheirthoughtstodwellonthecharmsofnaturalobjects;and,asthescouthadnotfounditnecessarytoceasehisculinarylaborswhilehespoke,unlesstopointout,withabrokenfork,thedirectionofsomeparticularlyobnoxiouspointintherebelliousstream,theynowsufferedtheirattentiontobedrawntothenecessarythoughmorevulgarconsiderationoftheirsupper.
Glenn’sFallsareontheHudson,somefortyorfiftymilesabovetheheadoftide,orthatplacewheretheriverbecomesnavigableforsloops.
Thedescriptionofthispicturesqueandremarkablelittlecataract,asgivenbythescout,issufficientlycorrect,thoughtheapplicationofthewatertousesofcivilizedlifehasmateriallyinjureditsbeauties.
Therockyislandandthetwocavernsareknowntoeverytraveler,sincetheformersustainsthepierofabridge,whichisnowthrownacrosstheriver,immediatelyabovethefall.
InexplanationofthetasteofHawkeye,itshouldberememberedthatmenalwaysprizethatmostwhichisleastenjoyed.
Thus,inanewcountry,thewoodsandotherobjects,whichinanoldcountrywouldbemaintainedatgreatcost,aregotridof,simplywithaviewof“improving”asitiscalled.
Therepast,whichwasgreatlyaidedbytheadditionofafewdelicaciesthatHeywardhadtheprecautiontobringwithhimwhentheylefttheirhorses,wasexceedinglyrefreshingtothewearyparty.
Uncasactedasattendanttothefemales,performingallthelittleofficeswithinhispower,withamixtureofdignityandanxiousgrace,thatservedtoamuseHeyward,whowellknewthatitwasanutterinnovationontheIndiancustoms,whichforbidtheirwarriorstodescendtoanymenialemployment,especiallyinfavoroftheirwomen.
Astherightsofhospitalitywere,however,consideredsacredamongthem,thislittledeparturefromthedignityofmanhoodexcitednoaudiblecomment.
Hadtherebeenonetheresufficientlydisengagedtobecomeacloseobserver,hemighthavefanciedthattheservicesoftheyoungchiefwerenotentirelyimpartial.
ThatwhilehetenderedtoAlicethegourdofsweetwater,andthevenisoninatrencher,neatlycarvedfromtheknotofthepepperidge,withsufficientcourtesy,inperformingthesameofficestohersister,hisdarkeyelingeredonherrich,speakingcountenance.
Onceortwicehewascompelledtospeak,tocommandherattentionofthoseheserved.
InsuchcaseshemadeuseofEnglish,brokenandimperfect,butsufficientlyintelligible,andwhichherenderedsomildandmusical,byhisdeep,gutturalvoice,thatitneverfailedtocausebothladiestolookupinadmirationandastonishment.
Inthecourseofthesecivilities,afewsentenceswereexchanged,thatservedtoestablishtheappearanceofanamicableintercoursebetweentheparties.
Inthemeanwhile,thegravityofChingcachgookremainedimmovable.
Hehadseatedhimselfmorewithinthecircleoflight,wherethefrequent,uneasyglancesofhisguestswerebetterenabledtoseparatethenaturalexpressionofhisfacefromtheartificialterrorsofthewarpaint.
Theyfoundastrongresemblancebetweenfatherandson,withthedifferencethatmightbeexpectedfromageandhardships.
Thefiercenessofhiscountenancenowseemedtoslumber,andinitsplacewastobeseenthequiet,vacantcomposurewhichdistinguishesanIndianwarrior,whenhisfacultiesarenotrequiredforanyofthegreaterpurposesofhisexistence.
Itwas,however,easytobeseen,bytheoccasionalgleamsthatshotacrosshisswarthyvisage,thatitwasonlynecessarytoarousehispassions,inordertogivefulleffecttotheterrificdevicewhichhehadadoptedtointimidatehisenemies.
Ontheotherhand,thequick,rovingeyeofthescoutseldomrested.
Heateanddrankwithanappetitethatnosenseofdangercoulddisturb,buthisvigilanceseemednevertodeserthim.
Twentytimesthegourdorthevenisonwassuspendedbeforehislips,whilehisheadwasturnedaside,asthoughhelistenedtosomedistantanddistrustedsounds—amovementthatneverfailedtorecallhisguestsfromregardingthenoveltiesoftheirsituation,toarecollectionofthealarmingreasonsthathaddriventhemtoseekit.
Asthesefrequentpauseswereneverfollowedbyanyremark,themomentaryuneasinesstheycreatedquicklypassedaway,andforatimewasforgotten.
“Come,friend,”saidHawkeye,drawingoutakegfrombeneathacoverofleaves,towardthecloseoftherepast,andaddressingthestrangerwhosatathiselbow,doinggreatjusticetohisculinaryskill,“tryalittlespruce;‘twillwashawayallthoughtsofthecolt,andquickenthelifeinyourbosom.
Idrinktoourbetterfriendship,hopingthatalittlehorse–fleshmayleavenoheart–burningsatweenus.Howdoyounameyourself?”
“Gamut—DavidGamut,”returnedthesingingmaster,preparingtowashdownhissorrowsinapowerfuldraughtofthewoodsman’shigh–flavoredandwell–lacedcompound.
“Averygoodname,and,Idaresay,handeddownfromhonestforefathers.
I’manadmiratorofnames,thoughtheChristianfashionsfallfarbelowsavagecustomsinthisparticular.
ThebiggestcowardIeverknewascalledLyon;andhiswife,Patience,wouldscoldyououtofhearinginlesstimethanahunteddeerwouldrunarod.
WithanIndian‘tisamatterofconscience;whathecallshimself,hegenerallyis—notthatChingachgook,whichsignifiesBigSarpent,isreallyasnake,bigorlittle;butthatheunderstandsthewindingsandturningsofhumannatur’,andissilent,andstrikeshisenemieswhentheyleastexpecthim.Whatmaybeyourcalling?”
“Iamanunworthyinstructorintheartofpsalmody.”
“Anan!”
“IteachsingingtotheyouthsoftheConnecticutlevy.”
“Youmightbebetteremployed.Theyounghoundsgolaughingandsingingtoomuchalreadythroughthewoods,whentheyoughtnottobreathelouderthanafoxinhiscover.
Canyouusethesmoothbore,orhandletherifle?”
“PraisedbeGod,Ihaveneverhadoccasiontomeddlewithmurderousimplements!”
“Perhapsyouunderstandthecompass,andlaydownthewatercoursesandmountainsofthewildernessonpaper,inorderthattheywhofollowmayfindplacesbytheirgivennames?”
“Ipracticenosuchemployment.”
“Youhaveapairoflegsthatmightmakealongpathseemshort!youjourneysometimes,Ifancy,withtidingsforthegeneral.”
“Never;Ifollownootherthanmyownhighvocation,whichisinstructioninsacredmusic!”
”’Tisastrangecalling!”mutteredHawkeye,withaninwardlaugh,“togothroughlife,likeacatbird,mockingalltheupsanddownsthatmayhappentocomeoutofothermen’sthroats.
Well,friend,Isupposeitisyourgift,andmustn’tbedeniedanymorethanif‘twasshooting,orsomeotherbetterinclination.
Letushearwhatyoucandointhatway;‘twillbeafriendlymannerofsayinggood–night,for‘tistimethattheseladiesshouldbegettingstrengthforahardandalongpush,intheprideofthemorning,aforetheMaquasarestirring.”
“WithjoyfulpleasuredoIconsent”,saidDavid,adjustinghisiron–rimmedspectacles,andproducinghisbelovedlittlevolume,whichheimmediatelytenderedtoAlice.
“Whatcanbemorefittingandconsolatory,thantoofferupeveningpraise,afteradayofsuchexceedingjeopardy!”
Alicesmiled;but,regardingHeyward,sheblushedandhesitated.
“Indulgeyourself,”hewhispered;“oughtnotthesuggestionoftheworthynamesakeofthePsalmisttohaveitsweightatsuchamoment?”
Encouragedbyhisopinion,Alicedidwhatherpiousinclinations,andherkeenrelishforgentlesounds,hadbeforesostronglyurged.
Thebookwasopenatahymnnotilladaptedtotheirsituation,andinwhichthepoet,nolongergoadedbyhisdesiretoexceltheinspiredKingofIsrael,haddiscoveredsomechastenedandrespectablepowers.
Corabetrayedadispositiontosupporthersister,andthesacredsongproceeded,aftertheindispensablepreliminariesofthepitchpipe,andthetunehadbeendulyattendedtobythemethodicalDavid.
Theairwassolemnandslow.Attimesitrosetothefullestcompassoftherichvoicesofthefemales,whohungovertheirlittlebookinholyexcitement,andagainitsanksolow,thattherushingofthewatersranthroughtheirmelody,likeahollowaccompaniment.
ThenaturaltasteandtrueearofDavidgovernedandmodifiedthesoundstosuittheconfinedcavern,everycreviceandcrannyofwhichwasfilledwiththethrillingnotesoftheirflexiblevoices.
TheIndiansrivetedtheireyesontherocks,andlistenedwithanattentionthatseemedtoturnthemintostone.
Butthescout,whohadplacedhischininhishand,withanexpressionofcoldindifference,graduallysufferedhisrigidfeaturestorelax,until,asversesucceededverse,hefelthisironnaturesubdued,whilehisrecollectionwascarriedbacktoboyhood,whenhisearshadbeenaccustomedtolistentosimilarsoundsofpraise,inthesettlementsofthecolony.
Hisrovingeyesbegantomoisten,andbeforethehymnwasendedscaldingtearsrolledoutoffountainsthathadlongseemeddry,andfollowedeachotherdownthosecheeks,thathadoftenerfeltthestormsofheaventhananytestimonialsofweakness.
Thesingersweredwellingononeofthoselow,dyingchords,whichtheeardevourswithsuchgreedyrapture,asifconsciousthatitisabouttolosethem,whenacry,thatseemedneitherhumannorearthly,roseintheoutwardair,penetratingnotonlytherecessesofthecavern,buttotheinmostheartsofallwhoheardit.
Itwasfollowedbyastillnessapparentlyasdeepasifthewatershadbeencheckedintheirfuriousprogress,atsuchahorridandunusualinterruption.
“Whatisit?”murmuredAlice,afterafewmomentsofterriblesuspense.
“Whatisit?”repeatedHeywardaloud.
NeitherHawkeyenortheIndiansmadeanyreply.
Theylistened,asifexpectingthesoundwouldberepeated,withamannerthatexpressedtheirownastonishment.
Atlengththeyspoketogether,earnestly,intheDelawarelanguage,whenUncas,passingbytheinnerandmostconcealedaperture,cautiouslyleftthecavern.
Whenhehadgone,thescoutfirstspokeinEnglish.
“Whatitis,orwhatitisnot,noneherecantell,thoughtwoofushaverangedthewoodsformorethanthirtyyears.
IdidbelievetherewasnocrythatIndianorbeastcouldmake,thatmyearshadnotheard;butthishasprovedthatIwasonlyavainandconceitedmortal.”
“Wasitnot,then,theshoutthewarriorsmakewhentheywishtointimidatetheirenemies?”
askedCorawhostooddrawingherveilaboutherperson,withacalmnesstowhichheragitatedsisterwasastranger.
“No,no;thiswasbad,andshocking,andhadasortofunhumansound;butwhenyouoncehearthewar–whoop,youwillnevermistakeitforanythingelse.Well,Uncas!”
speakinginDelawaretotheyoungchiefashere–entered,“whatseeyou?
doourlightsshinethroughtheblankets?”
Theanswerwasshort,andapparentlydecided,beinggiveninthesametongue.
“Thereisnothingtobeseenwithout,”continuedHawkeye,shakinghisheadindiscontent;“andourhiding–placeisstillindarkness.
Passintotheothercave,youthatneedit,andseekforsleep;wemustbeafootlongbeforethesun,andmakethemostofourtimetogettoEdward,whiletheMingoesaretakingtheirmorningnap.”
Corasettheexampleofcompliance,withasteadinessthattaughtthemoretimidAlicethenecessityofobedience.
Beforeleavingtheplace,however,shewhisperedarequesttoDuncan,thathewouldfollow.
Uncasraisedtheblanketfortheirpassage,andasthesistersturnedtothankhimforthisactofattention,theysawthescoutseatedagainbeforethedyingembers,withhisfacerestingonhishands,inamannerwhichshowedhowdeeplyhebroodedontheunaccountableinterruptionwhichhadbrokenuptheireveningdevotions.
Heywardtookwithhimablazingknot,whichthrewadimlightthroughthenarrowvistaoftheirnewapartment.
Placingitinafavorableposition,hejoinedthefemales,whonowfoundthemselvesalonewithhimforthefirsttimesincetheyhadleftthefriendlyrampartsofFortEdward.
“Leaveusnot,Duncan,”saidAlice:“wecannotsleepinsuchaplaceasthis,withthathorridcrystillringinginourears.”
“Firstletusexamineintothesecurityofyourfortress,”heanswered,“andthenwewillspeakofrest.”
Heapproachedthefurtherendofthecavern,toanoutlet,which,liketheothers,wasconcealedbyblankets;andremovingthethickscreen,breathedthefreshandrevivingairfromthecataract.
Onearmoftheriverflowedthroughadeep,narrowravine,whichitscurrenthadworninthesoftrock,directlybeneathhisfeet,forminganeffectualdefense,ashebelieved,againstanydangerfromthatquarter;thewater,afewrodsabovethem,plunging,glancing,andsweepingalonginitsmostviolentandbrokenmanner.
“Naturehasmadeanimpenetrablebarrieronthisside,”hecontinued,pointingdowntheperpendiculardeclivityintothedarkcurrentbeforehedroppedtheblanket;“andasyouknowthatgoodmenandtrueareonguardinfrontIseenoreasonwhytheadviceofourhonesthostshouldbedisregarded.
IamcertainCorawilljoinmeinsayingthatsleepisnecessarytoyouboth.”
“Coramaysubmittothejusticeofyouropinionthoughshecannotputitinpractice,”returnedtheeldersister,whohadplacedherselfbythesideofAlice,onacouchofsassafras;“therewouldbeothercausestochaseawaysleep,thoughwehadbeensparedtheshockofthismysteriousnoise.
Askyourself,Heyward,candaughtersforgettheanxietyafathermustendure,whosechildrenlodgeheknowsnotwhereorhow,insuchawilderness,andinthemidstofsomanyperils?”
“Heisasoldier,andknowshowtoestimatethechancesofthewoods.”
“Heisafather,andcannotdenyhisnature.”
“Howkindhasheeverbeentoallmyfollies,howtenderandindulgenttoallmywishes!”sobbedAlice.“Wehavebeenselfish,sister,inurgingourvisitatsuchhazard.”
“Imayhavebeenrashinpressinghisconsentinamomentofmuchembarrassment,butIwouldhaveprovedtohim,thathoweverothersmightneglecthiminhisstraithischildrenatleastwerefaithful.”
“WhenheheardofyourarrivalatEdward,”saidHeyward,kindly,“therewasapowerfulstruggleinhisbosombetweenfearandlove;thoughthelatter,heightened,ifpossible,bysolongaseparation,quicklyprevailed.
‘Itisthespiritofmynoble–mindedCorathatleadsthem,Duncan’,hesaid,‘andIwillnotbalkit.
WouldtoGod,thathewhoholdsthehonorofourroyalmasterinhisguardianship,wouldshowbuthalfherfirmness!’”
“Anddidhenotspeakofme,Heyward?”demandedAlice,withjealousaffection;“surely,heforgotnotaltogetherhislittleElsie?”
“Thatwereimpossible,”returnedtheyoungman;“hecalledyoubyathousandendearingepithets,thatImaynotpresumetouse,buttothejusticeofwhich,Icanwarmlytestify.Once,indeed,hesaid—”
Duncanceasedspeaking;forwhilehiseyeswererivetedonthoseofAlice,whohadturnedtowardhimwiththeeagernessoffilialaffection,tocatchhiswords,thesamestrong,horridcry,asbefore,filledtheair,andrenderedhimmute.
Along,breathlesssilencesucceeded,duringwhicheachlookedattheothersinfearfulexpectationofhearingthesoundrepeated.
Atlength,theblanketwasslowlyraised,andthescoutstoodintheaperturewithacountenancewhosefirmnessevidentlybegantogivewaybeforeamysterythatseemedtothreatensomedanger,againstwhichallhiscunningandexperiencemightproveofnoavail.
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