English
“Theydonotsleep,
Onyondercliffs,agrizzlyband,
Iseethemsit.”
—Gray
”’Twouldbeneglectingawarningthatisgivenforourgoodtoliehidanylonger,”saidHawkeye“whensuchsoundsareraisedintheforest.
Thesegentleonesmaykeepclose,buttheMohicansandIwillwatchupontherock,whereIsupposeamajoroftheSixtiethwouldwishtokeepuscompany.”
“Is,then,ourdangersopressing?”askedCora.
“Hewhomakesstrangesounds,andgivesthemoutforman’sinformation,aloneknowsourdanger.
Ishouldthinkmyselfwicked,untorebellionagainstHiswill,wasItoburrowwithsuchwarningsintheair!
Eventheweaksoulwhopasseshisdaysinsingingisstirredbythecry,and,ashesays,is‘readytogoforthtothebattle’If‘twereonlyabattle,itwouldbeathingunderstoodbyusall,andeasilymanaged;butIhaveheardthatwhensuchshrieksareatweenheavenand‘arth,itbetokensanothersortofwarfare!”
“Ifallourreasonsforfear,myfriend,areconfinedtosuchasproceedfromsupernaturalcauses,wehavebutlittleoccasiontobealarmed,”continuedtheundisturbedCora,“areyoucertainthatourenemieshavenotinventedsomenewandingeniousmethodtostrikeuswithterror,thattheirconquestmaybecomemoreeasy?”
“Lady,”returnedthescout,solemnly,“Ihavelistenedtoallthesoundsofthewoodsforthirtyyears,asamanwilllistenwhoselifeanddeathdependonthequicknessofhisears.
Thereisnowhineofthepanther,nowhistleofthecatbird,noranyinventionofthedevilishMingoes,thatcancheatme!
Ihaveheardtheforestmoanlikemortalmenintheiraffliction;often,andagain,haveIlistenedtothewindplayingitsmusicinthebranchesofthegirdledtrees;andIhaveheardthelightningcrackingintheairlikethesnappingofblazingbrushasitspittedforthsparksandforkedflames;butneverhaveIthoughtthatIheardmorethanthepleasureofhimwhosportedwiththethingsofhishand.
ButneithertheMohicans,norI,whoamawhitemanwithoutacross,canexplainthecryjustheard.
We,therefore,believeitasigngivenforourgood.”
“Itisextraordinary!”saidHeyward,takinghispistolsfromtheplacewherehehadlaidthemonentering;“beitasignofpeaceorasignalofwar,itmustbelookedto.Leadtheway,myfriend;Ifollow.”
Onissuingfromtheirplaceofconfinement,thewholepartyinstantlyexperiencedagratefulrenovationofspirits,byexchangingthepentairofthehiding–placeforthecoolandinvigoratingatmospherewhichplayedaroundthewhirlpoolsandpitchesofthecataract.
Aheavyeveningbreezesweptalongthesurfaceoftheriver,andseemedtodrivetheroarofthefallsintotherecessesoftheirowncavern,whenceitissuedheavilyandconstant,likethunderrumblingbeyondthedistanthills.
Themoonhadrisen,anditslightwasalreadyglancinghereandthereonthewatersabovethem;buttheextremityoftherockwheretheystoodstilllayinshadow.
Withtheexceptionofthesoundsproducedbytherushingwaters,andanoccasionalbreathingoftheair,asitmurmuredpasttheminfitfulcurrents,thescenewasasstillasnightandsolitudecouldmakeit.
Invainweretheeyesofeachindividualbentalongtheoppositeshores,inquestofsomesignsoflife,thatmightexplainthenatureoftheinterruptiontheyhadheard.
Theiranxiousandeagerlookswerebaffledbythedeceptivelight,orrestedonlyonnakedrocks,andstraightandimmovabletrees.
“Hereisnothingtobeseenbutthegloomandquietofalovelyevening,”whisperedDuncan;“howmuchshouldweprizesuchascene,andallthisbreathingsolitude,atanyothermoment,Cora!
Fancyyourselvesinsecurity,andwhatnow,perhaps,increasesyourterror,maybemadeconducivetoenjoyment––”
“Listen!”interruptedAlice.
Thecautionwasunnecessary.Oncemorethesamesoundarose,asiffromthebedoftheriver,andhavingbrokenoutofthenarrowboundsofthecliffs,washeardundulatingthroughtheforest,indistantanddyingcadences.
“Cananyheregiveanametosuchacry?”demandedHawkeye,whenthelastechowaslostinthewoods;“ifso,lethimspeak;formyself,Ijudgeitnottobelongto‘arth!”
“Here,then,isonewhocanundeceiveyou,”saidDuncan;“Iknowthesoundfullwell,foroftenhaveIhearditonthefieldofbattle,andinsituationswhicharefrequentinasoldier’slife.
‘Tisthehorridshriekthatahorsewillgiveinhisagony;oftenerdrawnfromhiminpain,thoughsometimesinterror.
Mychargeriseitherapreytothebeastsoftheforest,orheseeshisdanger,withoutthepowertoavoidit.
Thesoundmightdeceivemeinthecavern,butintheopenairIknowittoowelltobewrong.”
Thescoutandhiscompanionslistenedtothissimpleexplanationwiththeinterestofmenwhoimbibenewideas,atthesametimethattheygetridofoldones,whichhadproveddisagreeableinmates.
Thetwolatterutteredtheirusualexpressiveexclamation,“hugh!”
asthetruthfirstglancedupontheirminds,whiletheformer,afterashort,musingpause,tookuponhimselftoreply.
“Icannotdenyyourwords,”hesaid,“forIamlittleskilledinhorses,thoughbornwheretheyabound.
Thewolvesmustbehoveringabovetheirheadsonthebank,andthetimorsomecreaturesarecallingonmanforhelp,inthebestmannertheyareable.
Uncas”––hespokeinDelaware––”Uncas,dropdowninthecanoe,andwhirlabrandamongthepack;orfearmaydowhatthewolvescan’tgetattoperform,andleaveuswithouthorsesinthemorning,whenweshallhavesomuchneedtojourneyswiftly!”
Theyoungnativehadalreadydescendedtothewatertocomply,whenalonghowlwasraisedontheedgeoftheriver,andwasborneswiftlyoffintothedepthsoftheforest,asthoughthebeasts,oftheirownaccord,wereabandoningtheirpreyinsuddenterror.
Uncas,withinstinctivequickness,receded,andthethreeforestersheldanotheroftheirlow,earnestconferences.
“Wehavebeenlikehunterswhohavelostthepointsoftheheavens,andfromwhomthesunhasbeenhidfordays,”saidHawkeye,turningawayfromhiscompanions;“nowwebeginagaintoknowthesignsofourcourse,andthepathsareclearedfrombriers!
Seatyourselvesintheshadewhichthemoonthrowsfromyonderbeech––’tisthickerthanthatofthepines––andletuswaitforthatwhichtheLordmaychoosetosendnext.
Letallyourconversationbeinwhispers;thoughitwouldbebetter,and,perhaps,intheend,wiser,ifeachonehelddiscoursewithhisownthoughts,foratime.”
Themannerofthescoutwasseriouslyimpressive,thoughnolongerdistinguishedbyanysignsofunmanlyapprehension.
Itwasevidentthathismomentaryweaknesshadvanishedwiththeexplanationofamysterywhichhisownexperiencehadnotservedtofathom;andthoughhenowfeltalltherealitiesoftheiractualcondition,thathewaspreparedtomeetthemwiththeenergyofhishardynature.
Thisfeelingseemedalsocommontothenatives,whoplacedthemselvesinpositionswhichcommandedafullviewofbothshores,whiletheirownpersonswereeffectuallyconcealedfromobservation.
Insuchcircumstances,commonprudencedictatedthatHeywardandhiscompanionsshouldimitateacautionthatproceededfromsointelligentasource.
Theyoungmandrewapileofthesassafrasfromthecave,andplacingitinthechasmwhichseparatedthetwocaverns,itwasoccupiedbythesisters,whowerethusprotectedbytherocksfromanymissiles,whiletheiranxietywasrelievedbytheassurancethatnodangercouldapproachwithoutawarning.
Heywardhimselfwaspostedathand,sonearthathemightcommunicatewithhiscompanionswithoutraisinghisvoicetoadangerouselevation;whileDavid,inimitationofthewoodsmen,bestowedhispersoninsuchamanneramongthefissuresoftherocks,thathisungainlylimbswerenolongeroffensivetotheeye.
Inthismannerhourspassedwithoutfurtherinterruption.
Themoonreachedthezenith,andsheditsmildlightperpendicularlyonthelovelysightofthesistersslumberingpeacefullyineachother’sarms.
DuncancastthewideshawlofCorabeforeaspectaclehesomuchlovedtocontemplate,andthensufferedhisownheadtoseekapillowontherock.
Davidbegantouttersoundsthatwouldhaveshockedhisdelicateorgansinmorewakefulmoments;inshort,allbutHawkeyeandtheMohicanslosteveryideaofconsciousness,inuncontrollabledrowsiness.
Butthewatchfulnessofthesevigilantprotectorsneithertirednorslumbered.
Immovableasthatrock,ofwhicheachappearedtoformapart,theylay,withtheireyesroving,withoutintermission,alongthedarkmarginoftrees,thatboundedtheadjacentshoresofthenarrowstream.
Notasoundescapedthem;themostsubtleexaminationcouldnothavetoldtheybreathed.
Itwasevidentthatthisexcessofcautionproceededfromanexperiencethatnosubtletyonthepartoftheirenemiescoulddeceive.
Itwas,however,continuedwithoutanyapparentconsequences,untilthemoonhadset,andapalestreakabovethetreetops,atthebendoftheriveralittlebelow,announcedtheapproachofday.
Then,forthefirsttime,Hawkeyewasseentostir.HecrawledalongtherockandshookDuncanfromhisheavyslumbers.
“Nowisthetimetojourney,”hewhispered;“awakethegentleones,andbereadytogetintothecanoewhenIbringittothelanding–place.”
“Haveyouhadaquietnight?”saidHeyward;“formyself,Ibelievesleephasgotthebetterofmyvigilance.”
“Allisyetstillasmidnight.Besilent,butbequick.”
BythistimeDuncanwasthoroughlyawake,andheimmediatelyliftedtheshawlfromthesleepingfemales.
ThemotioncausedCoratoraiseherhandasiftorepulsehim,whileAlicemurmured,inhersoft,gentlevoice,“No,no,dearfather,wewerenotdeserted;Duncanwaswithus!”
“Yes,sweetinnocence,”whisperedtheyouth;“Duncanishere,andwhilelifecontinuesordangerremains,hewillneverquitthee.Cora!Alice!awake!Thehourhascometomove!”
Aloudshriekfromtheyoungerofthesisters,andtheformoftheotherstandinguprightbeforehim,inbewilderedhorror,wastheunexpectedanswerhereceived.
WhilethewordswerestillonthelipsofHeyward,therehadarisensuchatumultofyellsandcriesasservedtodrivetheswiftcurrentsofhisownbloodbackfromitsboundingcourseintothefountainsofhisheart.
Itseemed,fornearaminute,asifthedemonsofhellhadpossessedthemselvesoftheairaboutthem,andwereventingtheirsavagehumorsinbarbaroussounds.
Thecriescamefromnoparticulardirection,thoughitwasevidenttheyfilledthewoods,and,astheappalledlistenerseasilyimagined,thecavernsofthefalls,therocks,thebedoftheriver,andtheupperair.
Davidraisedhistallpersoninthemidstoftheinfernaldin,withahandoneitherear,exclaiming:
“Whencecomesthisdiscord!Hashellbrokeloose,thatmanshoulduttersoundslikethese!”
Thebrightflashesandthequickreportsofadozenrifles,fromtheoppositebanksofthestream,followedthisincautiousexposureofhisperson,andlefttheunfortunatesingingmastersenselessonthatrockwherehehadbeensolongslumbering.
TheMohicansboldlysentbacktheintimidatingyelloftheirenemies,whoraisedashoutofsavagetriumphatthefallofGamut.
Theflashofrifleswasthenquickandclosebetweenthem,buteitherpartywastoowellskilledtoleaveevenalimbexposedtothehostileaim.
Duncanlistenedwithintenseanxietyforthestrokesofthepaddle,believingthatflightwasnowtheironlyrefuge.
Theriverglancedbywithitsordinaryvelocity,butthecanoewasnowheretobeseenonitsdarkwaters.
Hehadjustfanciedtheywerecruellydesertedbytheirscout,asastreamofflameissuedfromtherockbeneaththem,andafierceyell,blendedwithashriekofagony,announcedthatthemessengerofdeathsentfromthefatalweaponofHawkeye,hadfoundavictim.
Atthisslightrepulsetheassailantsinstantlywithdrew,andgraduallytheplacebecameasstillasbeforethesuddentumult.
DuncanseizedthefavorablemomenttospringtothebodyofGamut,whichheborewithintheshelterofthenarrowchasmthatprotectedthesisters.
Inanotherminutethewholepartywascollectedinthisspotofcomparativesafety.
“Thepoorfellowhassavedhisscalp,”saidHawkeye,coollypassinghishandovertheheadofDavid;“butheisaproofthatamanmaybebornwithtoolongatongue!
‘Twasdownrightmadnesstoshowsixfeetoffleshandblood,onanakedrock,totheragingsavages.
Ionlywonderhehasescapedwithlife.”
“Ishenotdead?”demandedCora,inavoicewhosehuskytonesshowedhowpowerfullynaturalhorrorstruggledwithherassumedfirmness.“Canwedoaughttoassistthewretchedman?”
“No,no!thelifeisinhisheartyet,andafterhehassleptawhilehewillcometohimself,andbeawisermanforit,tillthehourofhisrealtimeshallcome,”returnedHawkeye,castinganotherobliqueglanceattheinsensiblebody,whilehefilledhischargerwithadmirablenicety.
“Carryhimin,Uncas,andlayhimonthesassafras.
Thelongerhisnaplaststhebetteritwillbeforhim,asIdoubtwhetherhecanfindapropercoverforsuchashapeontheserocks;andsingingwon’tdoanygoodwiththeIroquois.”
“Youbelieve,then,theattackwillberenewed?”askedHeyward.
“DoIexpectahungrywolfwillsatisfyhiscravingwithamouthful!
Theyhavelostaman,and‘tistheirfashion,whentheymeetaloss,andfailinthesurprise,tofallback;butweshallhavethemonagain,withnewexpedientstocircumventus,andmasterourscalps.
Ourmainhope,”hecontinued,raisinghisruggedcountenance,acrosswhichashadeofanxietyjustthenpassedlikeadarkeningcloud,“willbetokeeptherockuntilMunrocansendapartytoourhelp!
GodsenditmaybesoonandunderaleaderthatknowstheIndiancustoms!”
“Youhearourprobablefortunes,Cora,”saidDuncan,“andyouknowwehaveeverythingtohopefromtheanxietyandexperienceofyourfather.
Come,then,withAlice,intothiscavern,whereyou,atleast,willbesafefromthemurderousriflesofourenemies,andwhereyoumaybestowacaresuitedtoyourgentlenaturesonourunfortunatecomrade.”
Thesistersfollowedhimintotheoutercave,whereDavidwasbeginning,byhissighs,togivesymptomsofreturningconsciousness,andthencommendingthewoundedmantotheirattention,heimmediatelypreparedtoleavethem.
“Duncan!”saidthetremulousvoiceofCora,whenhehadreachedthemouthofthecavern.
Heturnedandbeheldthespeaker,whosecolorhadchangedtoadeadlypaleness,andwhoselipsquivered,gazingafterhim,withanexpressionofinterestwhichimmediatelyrecalledhimtoherside.
“Remember,Duncan,hownecessaryyoursafetyistoourown––howyoubearafather’ssacredtrust––howmuchdependsonyourdiscretionandcare––inshort,”sheadded,whilethetelltalebloodstoleoverherfeatures,crimsoningherverytemples,“howverydeservedlydearyouaretoallofthenameofMunro.”
“Ifanythingcouldaddtomyownbaseloveoflife,”saidHeyward,sufferinghisunconsciouseyestowandertotheyouthfulformofthesilentAlice,“itwouldbesokindanassurance.
AsmajoroftheSixtieth,ourhonesthostwilltellyouImusttakemyshareofthefray;butourtaskwillbeeasy;itismerelytokeeptheseblood–houndsatbayforafewhours.”
Withoutwaitingforareply,hetorehimselffromthepresenceofthesisters,andjoinedthescoutandhiscompanions,whostilllaywithintheprotectionofthelittlechasmbetweenthetwocaves.
“Itellyou,Uncas,”saidtheformer,asHeywardjoinedthem,“youarewastefulofyourpowder,andthekickoftherifledisconcertsyouraim!
Littlepowder,lightlead,andalongarm,seldomfailofbringingthedeathscreechfromaMingo!
Atleast,suchhasbeenmyexperiencewiththecreatur’s.
Come,friends:letustoourcovers,fornomancantellwhenorwhereaMaquawillstrikehisblow.”
MingowastheDelawaretermoftheFiveNations.MaquaswasthenamegiventhembytheDutch.TheFrench,fromtheirfirstintercoursewiththem,calledthemIroquois.
TheIndianssilentlyrepairedtotheirappointedstations,whichwerefissuresintherocks,whencetheycouldcommandtheapproachestothefootofthefalls.
Inthecenterofthelittleisland,afewshortandstuntedpineshadfoundroot,formingathicket,intowhichHawkeyedartedwiththeswiftnessofadeer,followedbytheactiveDuncan.
Heretheysecuredthemselves,aswellascircumstanceswouldpermit,amongtheshrubsandfragmentsofstonethatwerescatteredabouttheplace.
Abovethemwasabare,roundedrock,oneachsideofwhichthewaterplayeditsgambols,andplungedintotheabyssesbeneath,inthemanneralreadydescribed.
Asthedayhadnowdawned,theoppositeshoresnolongerpresentedaconfusedoutline,buttheywereabletolookintothewoods,anddistinguishobjectsbeneathacanopyofgloomypines.
Alongandanxiouswatchsucceeded,butwithoutanyfurtherevidencesofarenewedattack;andDuncanbegantohopethattheirfirehadprovedmorefatalthanwassupposed,andthattheirenemieshadbeeneffectuallyrepulsed.
Whenheventuredtoutterthisimpressiontohiscompanions,itwasmetbyHawkeyewithanincredulousshakeofthehead.
“YouknownotthenatureofaMaqua,ifyouthinkheissoeasilybeatenbackwithoutascalp!”heanswered.
“Iftherewasoneoftheimpsyellingthismorning,therewereforty!
andtheyknowournumberandqualitytoowelltogiveupthechasesosoon.Hist!
lookintothewaterabove,justwhereitbreaksovertherocks.
Iamnomortal,iftheriskydevilshaven’tswamdownupontheverypitch,and,asbadluckwouldhaveit,theyhavehittheheadoftheisland.Hist!man,keepclose!
orthehairwillbeoffyourcrownintheturningofaknife!”
Heywardliftedhisheadfromthecover,andbeheldwhathejustlyconsideredaprodigyofrashnessandskill.
Theriverhadwornawaytheedgeofthesoftrockinsuchamannerastorenderitsfirstpitchlessabruptandperpendicularthanisusualatwaterfalls.
Withnootherguidethantherippleofthestreamwhereitmettheheadoftheisland,apartyoftheirinsatiablefoeshadventuredintothecurrent,andswamdownuponthispoint,knowingthereadyaccessitwouldgive,ifsuccessful,totheirintendedvictims.
AsHawkeyeceasedspeaking,fourhumanheadscouldbeseenpeeringaboveafewlogsofdrift–woodthathadlodgedonthesenakedrocks,andwhichhadprobablysuggestedtheideaofthepracticabilityofthehazardousundertaking.
Atthenextmoment,afifthformwasseenfloatingoverthegreenedgeofthefall,alittlefromthelineoftheisland.
Thesavagestruggledpowerfullytogainthepointofsafety,and,favoredbytheglancingwater,hewasalreadystretchingforthanarmtomeetthegraspofhiscompanions,whenheshotawayagainwiththeshirlingcurrent,appearedtoriseintotheair,withupliftedarmsandstartingeyeballs,andfell,withasuddenplunge,intothatdeepandyawningabyssoverwhichhehovered.
Asingle,wild,despairingshriekrosefromthecavern,andallwashushedagainasthegrave.
ThefirstgenerousimpulseofDuncanwastorushtotherescueofthehaplesswretch;buthefelthimselfboundtothespotbytheirongraspoftheimmovablescout.
“Wouldyebringcertaindeathuponus,bytellingtheMingoeswherewelie?”
demandedHawkeye,sternly;”’Tisachargeofpowdersaved,andammunitionisaspreciousnowasbreathtoaworrieddeer!
Freshentheprimingofyourpistols––themidstofthefallsisapttodampenthebrimstone––andstandfirmforaclosestruggle,whileIfireontheirrush.”
Heplacedafingerinhismouth,anddrewalong,shrillwhistle,whichwasansweredfromtherocksthatwereguardedbytheMohicans.
Duncancaughtglimpsesofheadsabovethescattereddrift–wood,asthissignalroseontheair,buttheydisappearedagainassuddenlyastheyhadglanceduponhissight.
Alow,rustlingsoundnextdrewhisattentionbehindhim,andturninghishead,hebeheldUncaswithinafewfeet,creepingtohisside.
HawkeyespoketohiminDelaware,whentheyoungchieftookhispositionwithsingularcautionandundisturbedcoolness.
ToHeywardthiswasamomentoffeverishandimpatientsuspense;thoughthescoutsawfittoselectitasafitoccasiontoreadalecturetohismoreyouthfulassociatesontheartofusingfirearmswithdiscretion.
“Ofallwe’pons,”hecommenced,“thelongbarreled,true–grooved,soft–metaledrifleisthemostdangerousinskillfulhands,thoughitwantsastrongarm,aquickeye,andgreatjudgmentincharging,toputforthallitsbeauties.
Thegunsmithscanhavebutlittleinsightintotheirtradewhentheymaketheirfowling–piecesandshorthorsemen’s––”
Hewasinterruptedbythelowbutexpressive“hugh”ofUncas.
“Iseethem,boy,Iseethem!”continuedHawkeye;“theyaregatheringfortherush,ortheywouldkeeptheirdingybacksbelowthelogs.
Well,letthem,”headded,examininghisflint;“theleadingmancertainlycomesontohisdeath,thoughitshouldbeMontcalmhimself!”
Atthatmomentthewoodswerefilledwithanotherburstofcries,andatthesignalfoursavagessprangfromthecoverofthedriftwood.
Heywardfeltaburningdesiretorushforwardtomeetthem,sointensewasthedeliriousanxietyofthemoment;buthewasrestrainedbythedeliberateexamplesofthescoutandUncas.
Whentheirfoes,whohadleapedovertheblackrocksthatdividedthem,withlongbounds,utteringthewildestyells,werewithinafewrods,therifleofHawkeyeslowlyroseamongtheshrubs,andpouredoutitsfatalcontents.
TheforemostIndianboundedlikeastrickendeer,andfellheadlongamongthecleftsoftheisland.
“Now,Uncas!”criedthescout,drawinghislongknife,whilehisquickeyesbegantoflashwithardor,“takethelastofthescreechingimps;oftheothertwowearesartain!”
Hewasobeyed;andbuttwoenemiesremainedtobeovercome.
HeywardhadgivenoneofhispistolstoHawkeye,andtogethertheyrusheddownalittledeclivitytowardtheirfoes;theydischargedtheirweaponsatthesameinstant,andequallywithoutsuccess.
“Iknow’dit!andIsaidit!”mutteredthescout,whirlingthedespisedlittleimplementoverthefallswithbitterdisdain.“Comeon,yebloodymindedhell–hounds!yemeetamanwithoutacross!”
Thewordswerebarelyuttered,whenheencounteredasavageofgiganticstature,ofthefiercestmien.
Atthesamemoment,Duncanfoundhimselfengagedwiththeother,inasimilarcontestofhandtohand.
Withreadyskill,Hawkeyeandhisantagonisteachgraspedthatupliftedarmoftheotherwhichheldthedangerousknife.
Fornearaminutetheystoodlookingoneanotherintheeye,andgraduallyexertingthepoweroftheirmusclesforthemastery.
Atlength,thetoughenedsinewsofthewhitemanprevailedoverthelesspracticedlimbsofthenative.
Thearmofthelatterslowlygavewaybeforetheincreasingforceofthescout,who,suddenlywrestinghisarmedhandfromthegraspofthefoe,drovethesharpweaponthroughhisnakedbosomtotheheart.
Inthemeantime,Heywardhadbeenpressedinamoredeadlystruggle.
Hisslightswordwassnappedinthefirstencounter.
Ashewasdestituteofanyothermeansofdefense,hissafetynowdependedentirelyonbodilystrengthandresolution.
Thoughdeficientinneitherofthesequalities,hehadmetanenemyeverywayhisequal.
Happily,hesoonsucceededindisarminghisadversary,whoseknifefellontherockattheirfeet;andfromthismomentitbecameafiercestrugglewhoshouldcasttheotheroverthedizzyheightintoaneighboringcavernofthefalls.
Everysuccessivestrugglebroughtthemnearertotheverge,whereDuncanperceivedthefinalandconqueringeffortmustbemade.
Eachofthecombatantsthrewallhisenergiesintothateffort,andtheresultwas,thatbothtotteredonthebrinkoftheprecipice.
Heywardfeltthegraspoftheotherathisthroat,andsawthegrimsmilethesavagegave,undertherevengefulhopethathehurriedhisenemytoafatesimilartohisown,ashefelthisbodyslowlyyieldingtoaresistlesspower,andtheyoungmanexperiencedthepassingagonyofsuchamomentinallitshorrors.
Atthatinstantofextremedanger,adarkhandandglancingknifeappearedbeforehim;theIndianreleasedhishold,asthebloodflowedfreelyfromaroundtheseveredtendonsofthewrist;andwhileDuncanwasdrawnbackwardbythesavinghandofUncas,hischarmedeyesstillwererivetedonthefierceanddisappointedcountenanceofhisfoe,whofellsullenlyanddisappointeddowntheirrecoverableprecipice.
“Tocover!tocover!”criedHawkeye,whojustthenhaddespatchedtheenemy;“tocover,foryourlives!theworkisbuthalfended!”
TheyoungMohicangaveashoutoftriumph,andfollowedbyDuncan,heglideduptheacclivitytheyhaddescendedtothecombat,andsoughtthefriendlyshelteroftherocksandshrubs.
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