Butastheyregardedthefatalaccuracyofanaimwhichhaddaredtoimmolateanenemyatsomuchhazardtoafriend,thenameof“LaLongueCarabine”burstsimultaneouslyfromeverylip,andwassucceededbyawildandasortofplaintivehowl.
Thecrywasansweredbyaloudshoutfromalittlethicket,wheretheincautiouspartyhadpiledtheirarms;andatthenextmoment,Hawkeye,tooeagertoloadtheriflehehadregained,wasseenadvancinguponthem,brandishingtheclubbedweapon,andcuttingtheairwithwideandpowerfulsweeps.
Boldandrapidaswastheprogressofthescout,itwasexceededbythatofalightandvigorousformwhich,boundingpasthim,leaped,withincredibleactivityanddaring,intotheverycenteroftheHurons,whereitstood,whirlingatomahawk,andflourishingaglitteringknife,withfearfulmenaces,infrontofCora.
Quickerthanthethoughtscouldfollowthoseunexpectedandaudaciousmovements,animage,armedintheemblematicpanoplyofdeath,glidedbeforetheireyes,andassumedathreateningattitudeattheother’sside.
Thesavagetormentorsrecoiledbeforethesewarlikeintruders,anduttered,astheyappearedinsuchquicksuccession,theoftenrepeatedandpeculiarexclamationsofsurprise,followedbythewell–knownanddreadedappellationsof:
Castinghiskeeneyesaroundthelittleplain,hecomprehendedthenatureoftheassaultataglance,andencouraginghisfollowersbyhisvoiceaswellasbyhisexample,heunsheathedhislonganddangerousknife,andrushedwithaloudwhoopupontheexpectedChingachgook.Itwasthesignalforageneralcombat.
Neitherpartyhadfirearms,andthecontestwastobedecidedinthedeadliestmanner,handtohand,withweaponsofoffense,andnoneofdefense.
Uncasansweredthewhoop,andleapingonanenemy,withasingle,well–directedblowofhistomahawk,clefthimtothebrain.
Hawkeyesoongotanotherenemywithinreachofhisarm,andwithonesweepofhisformidableweaponhebeatdowntheslightandinartificialdefensesofhisantagonist,crushinghimtotheearthwiththeblow.
Encouragedbythisslightadvantage,theimpetuousyoungmancontinuedhisonset,andspranguponhisenemywithnakedhands.
Asingleinstantwasenoughtoassurehimoftherashnessofthemeasure,forheimmediatelyfoundhimselffullyengaged,withallhisactivityandcourage,inendeavoringtowardthedesperatethrustsmadewiththeknifeoftheHuron.
Unablelongertofoilanenemysoalertandvigilant,hethrewhisarmsabouthim,andsucceededinpinningthelimbsoftheothertohisside,withanirongrasp,butonethatwasfartooexhaustingtohimselftocontinuelong.
Atthenextmoment,thebreechofHawkeye’sriflefellonthenakedheadofhisadversary,whosemusclesappearedtowitherundertheshock,ashesankfromthearmsofDuncan,flexibleandmotionless.
ThefifthandonlyHurondisengagedatthefirstonsethadpausedamoment,andthenseeingthatallaroundhimwereemployedinthedeadlystrife,hehadsought,withhellishvengeance,tocompletethebaffledworkofrevenge.
Raisingashoutoftriumph,hesprangtowardthedefenselessCora,sendinghiskeenaxeasthedreadfulprecursorofhisapproach.
Sheeludedthegraspofthesavage,andrecklessofherownsafety,threwherselfonthebosomofAlice,strivingwithconvulsedandill–directedfingers,totearasunderthetwigswhichconfinedthepersonofhersister.
Anyotherthanamonsterwouldhaverelentedatsuchanactofgenerousdevotiontothebestandpurestaffection;butthebreastoftheHuronwasastrangertosympathy.
SeizingCorabytherichtresseswhichfellinconfusionaboutherform,hetoreherfromherfrantichold,andbowedherdownwithbrutalviolencetoherknees.
Thesavagedrewtheflowingcurlsthroughhishand,andraisingthemonhighwithanoutstretchedarm,hepassedtheknifearoundtheexquisitelymoldedheadofhisvictim,withatauntingandexultinglaugh.
Boundingfromhisfootstepsheappearedforaninstantdartingthroughtheairanddescendinginaballhefellonthechestofhisenemy,drivinghimmanyyardsfromthespot,headlongandprostrate.
Buttheconflictwassoondecided;thetomahawkofHeywardandtherifleofHawkeyedescendedontheskulloftheHuron,atthesamemomentthattheknifeofUncasreachedhisheart.
Thebattlewasnowentirelyterminatedwiththeexceptionoftheprotractedstrugglebetween“LeRenardSubtil”and“LeGrosSerpent.”
Welldidthesebarbarouswarriorsprovethattheydeservedthosesignificantnameswhichhadbeenbestowedfordeedsinformerwars.
Whentheyengaged,somelittletimewaslostineludingthequickandvigorousthrustswhichhadbeenaimedattheirlives.
Suddenlydartingoneachother,theyclosed,andcametotheearth,twistedtogetherliketwiningserpents,inpliantandsubtlefolds.
Atthemomentwhenthevictorsfoundthemselvesunoccupied,thespotwheretheseexperiencedanddesperatecombatantslaycouldonlybedistinguishedbyacloudofdustandleaves,whichmovedfromthecenterofthelittleplaintowarditsboundary,asifraisedbythepassageofawhirlwind.
Urgedbythedifferentmotivesoffilialaffection,friendshipandgratitude,Heywardandhiscompanionsrushedwithoneaccordtotheplace,encirclingthelittlecanopyofdustwhichhungabovethewarriors.
InvaindidUncasdartaroundthecloud,withawishtostrikehisknifeintotheheartofhisfather’sfoe;thethreateningrifleofHawkeyewasraisedandsuspendedinvain,whileDuncanendeavoredtoseizethelimbsoftheHuronwithhandsthatappearedtohavelosttheirpower.
Coveredastheywerewithdustandblood,theswiftevolutionsofthecombatantsseemedtoincorporatetheirbodiesintoone.
Thedeath–likelookingfigureoftheMohican,andthedarkformoftheHuron,gleamedbeforetheireyesinsuchquickandconfusedsuccession,thatthefriendsoftheformerknewnotwheretoplantthesuccoringblow.
Itistruetherewereshortandfleetingmoments,whenthefieryeyesofMaguawereseenglittering,likethefabledorgansofthebasiliskthroughthedustywreathbywhichhewasenveloped,andhereadbythoseshortanddeadlyglancesthefateofthecombatinthepresenceofhisenemies;ere,however,anyhostilehandcoulddescendonhisdevotedhead,itsplacewasfilledbythescowlingvisageofChingachgook.
TheMohicannowfoundanopportunitytomakeapowerfulthrustwithhisknife;Maguasuddenlyrelinquishedhisgrasp,andfellbackwardwithoutmotion,andseeminglywithoutlife.
criedHawkeye,oncemoreelevatingthebuttofthelongandfatalrifle;“afinishingblowfromamanwithoutacrosswillnevertellagainsthishonor,norrobhimofhisrighttothescalp.”
Butattheverymomentwhenthedangerousweaponwasintheactofdescending,thesubtleHuronrolledswiftlyfrombeneaththedanger,overtheedgeoftheprecipice,andfallingonhisfeet,wasseenleaping,withasinglebound,intothecenterofathicketoflowbushes,whichclungalongitssides.
TheDelawares,whohadbelievedtheirenemydead,utteredtheirexclamationofsurprise,andwerefollowingwithspeedandclamor,likehoundsinopenviewofthedeer,whenashrillandpeculiarcryfromthescoutinstantlychangedtheirpurpose,andrecalledthemtothesummitofthehill.
”’Twaslikehimself!”criedtheinveterateforester,whoseprejudicescontributedsolargelytoveilhisnaturalsenseofjusticeinallmatterswhichconcernedtheMingoes;“alyinganddeceitfulvarletasheis.
AnhonestDelawarenow,beingfairlyvanquished,wouldhavelainstill,andbeenknockedonthehead,buttheseknavishMaquasclingtolifelikesomanycats–o’–the–mountain.
Lethimgo—lethimgo;‘tisbutoneman,andhewithoutrifleorbow,manyalongmilefromhisFrenchcommerades;andlikearattlerthatlosthisfangs,hecandonofurthermischief,untilsuchtimeashe,andwetoo,mayleavetheprintsofourmoccasinsoveralongreachofsandyplain.
Itmaybewelltogoroundandfeelthevagabondsthatareleft,orwemayhaveanotherofthemlopingthroughthewoods,andscreechinglikeajaythathasbeenwinged.”
Sosayingthehonestbutimplacablescoutmadethecircuitofthedead,intowhosesenselessbosomshethrusthislongknife,withasmuchcoolnessasthoughtheyhadbeensomanybrutecarcasses.
Hehad,however,beenanticipatedbytheelderMohican,whohadalreadytorntheemblemsofvictoryfromtheunresistingheadsoftheslain.
ButUncas,denyinghishabits,wehadalmostsaidhisnature,flewwithinstinctivedelicacy,accompaniedbyHeyward,totheassistanceofthefemales,andquicklyreleasingAlice,placedherinthearmsofCora.
WeshallnotattempttodescribethegratitudetotheAlmightyDisposerofEventswhichglowedinthebosomsofthesisters,whowerethusunexpectedlyrestoredtolifeandtoeachother.
Theirthanksgivingsweredeepandsilent;theofferingsoftheirgentlespiritsburningbrightestandpurestonthesecretaltarsoftheirhearts;andtheirrenovatedandmoreearthlyfeelingsexhibitingthemselvesinlongandferventthoughspeechlesscaresses.
AsAlicerosefromherknees,whereshehadsunkbythesideofCora,shethrewherselfonthebosomofthelatter,andsobbedaloudthenameoftheiragedfather,whilehersoft,dove–likeeyes,sparkledwiththeraysofhope.
AndDuncan,”sheadded,lookingroundupontheyouthwithasmileofineffableinnocence,“evenourownbraveandnobleDuncanhasescapedwithoutahurt.”
TotheseardentandnearlyinnocentwordsCoramadenootheranswerthanbystrainingtheyouthfulspeakertoherheart,asshebentoverherinmeltingtenderness.
ThemanhoodofHeywardfeltnoshameindroppingtearsoverthisspectacleofaffectionaterapture;andUncasstood,freshandblood–stainedfromthecombat,acalm,and,apparently,anunmovedlooker–on,itistrue,butwitheyesthathadalreadylosttheirfierceness,andwerebeamingwithasympathythatelevatedhimfarabovetheintelligence,andadvancedhimprobablycenturiesbefore,thepractisesofhisnation.
Duringthisdisplayofemotionssonaturalintheirsituation,Hawkeye,whosevigilantdistrusthadsatisfieditselfthattheHurons,whodisfiguredtheheavenlyscene,nolongerpossessedthepowertointerruptitsharmony,approachedDavid,andliberatedhimfromthebondshehad,untilthatmoment,enduredwiththemostexemplarypatience.
“There,”exclaimedthescout,castingthelastwithebehindhim,“youareoncemoremasterofyourownlimbs,thoughyouseemnottousethemwithmuchgreaterjudgmentthanthatinwhichtheywerefirstfashioned.
Ifadvicefromonewhoisnotolderthanyourself,butwho,havinglivedmostofhistimeinthewilderness,maybesaidtohaveexperiencebeyondhisyears,willgivenooffense,youarewelcometomythoughts;andtheseare,topartwiththelittletootinginstrumentinyourjackettothefirstfoolyoumeetwith,andbuysomewe’ponwiththemoney,ifitbeonlythebarrelofahorseman’spistol.
Byindustryandcare,youmightthuscometosomeprefarment;forbythistime,Ishouldthink,youreyeswouldplainlytellyouthatacarrioncrowisabetterbirdthanamocking–thresher.
Theonewill,atleast,removefoulsightsfrombeforethefaceofman,whiletheotherisonlygoodtobrewdisturbancesinthewoods,bycheatingtheearsofallthathearthem.”
“Friend,”headded,thrustingforthhislean,delicatehandtowardHawkeye,inkindness,whilehiseyestwinkledandgrewmoist,“IthanktheethatthehairsofmyheadstillgrowwheretheywerefirstrootedbyProvidence;for,thoughthoseofothermenmaybemoreglossyandcurling,Ihaveeverfoundmineownwellsuitedtothebraintheyshelter.
Valiantandskillfulhastthouprovedthyselfintheconflict,andIherebythankthee,beforeproceedingtodischargeotherandmoreimportantduties,becausethouhastprovedthyselfwellworthyofaChristian’spraise.”
“Thethingisbutatrifle,andwhatyoumayoftenseeifyoutarrylongamongus,”returnedthescout,agooddealsoftenedtowardthemanofsong,bythisunequivocalexpressionofgratitude.
“Ihavegotbackmyoldcompanion,‘killdeer’,”headded,strikinghishandonthebreechofhisrifle;“andthatinitselfisavictory.
TheseIroquoisarecunning,buttheyoutwittedthemselveswhentheyplacedtheirfirearmsoutofreach;andhadUncasorhisfatherbeengiftedwithonlytheircommonIndianpatience,weshouldhavecomeinupontheknaveswiththreebulletsinsteadofone,andthatwouldhavemadeafinishofthewholepack;yonlopingvarlet,aswellashiscommerades.
Thescout,whobythistimewasseated,examiningintothestateofhisriflewithaspeciesofparentalassiduity,nowlookedupattheotherinadispleasurethathedidnotaffecttoconceal,roughlyinterruptingfurtherspeech.
IcancreditthatyonderHuronwastofallbymyhand,forwithmyowneyesIhaveseenit;butnothingshortofbeingawitnesswillcausemetothinkhehasmetwithanyreward,orthatChingachgooktherewillbecondemnedatthefinalday.”
“Youhavenowarrantyforsuchanaudaciousdoctrine,noranycovenanttosupportit,”criedDavidwhowasdeeplytincturedwiththesubtledistinctionswhich,inhistime,andmoreespeciallyinhisprovince,hadbeendrawnaroundthebeautifulsimplicityofrevelation,byendeavoringtopenetratetheawfulmysteryofthedivinenature,supplyingfaithbyself–sufficiency,andbyconsequence,involvingthosewhoreasonedfromsuchhumandogmasinabsurditiesanddoubt;“yourtempleisrearedonthesands,andthefirsttempestwillwashawayitsfoundation.
Idemandyourauthoritiesforsuchanuncharitableassertion(likeotheradvocatesofasystem,Davidwasnotalwaysaccurateinhisuseofterms).
“Book!”repeatedHawkeye,withsingularandill–concealeddisdain;“doyoutakemeforawhimperingboyattheapronstringofoneofyouroldgals;andthisgoodrifleonmykneeforthefeatherofagoose’swing,myox’shornforabottleofink,andmyleathernpouchforacross–barredhandkerchertocarrymydinner?Book!
Ineverreadbutinone,andthewordsthatarewrittentherearetoosimpleandtooplaintoneedmuchschooling;thoughImayboastthatoffortylongandhard–workingyears.”
Iknownotbutmanmaysodeformhisworksinthesettlement,astoleavethatwhichissoclearinthewildernessamatterofdoubtamongtradersandpriests.
Ifanysuchtherebe,andhewillfollowmefromsuntosun,throughthewindingsoftheforest,heshallseeenoughtoteachhimthatheisafool,andthatthegreatestofhisfollyliesinstrivingtorisetothelevelofOnehecanneverequal,beitingoodness,orbeitinpower.”
TheinstantDaviddiscoveredthathebattledwithadisputantwhoimbibedhisfaithfromthelightsofnature,eschewingallsubtletiesofdoctrine,hewillinglyabandonedacontroversyfromwhichhebelievedneitherprofitnorcreditwastobederived.
Whilethescoutwasspeaking,hehadalsoseatedhimself,andproducingthereadylittlevolumeandtheiron–rimmedspectacles,hepreparedtodischargeaduty,whichnothingbuttheunexpectedassaulthehadreceivedinhisorthodoxycouldhavesolongsuspended.
Hewas,intruth,aminstrelofthewesterncontinent—ofamuchlaterday,certainly,thanthosegiftedbards,whoformerlysangtheprofanerenownofbaronandprince,butafterthespiritofhisownageandcountry;andhewasnowpreparedtoexercisethecunningofhiscraft,incelebrationof,orratherinthanksgivingfor,therecentvictory.
“Iinviteyou,friends,tojoininpraiseforthissignaldeliverancefromthehandsofbarbariansandinfidels,tothecomfortableandsolemntonesofthetunecalled‘Northampton’.”
Henextnamedthepageandversewheretherhymesselectedweretobefound,andappliedthepitch–pipetohislips,withthedecentgravitythathehadbeenwonttouseinthetemple.
Thistimehewas,however,withoutanyaccompaniment,forthesisterswerejustthenpouringoutthosetendereffusionsofaffectionwhichhavebeenalreadyalludedto.
Nothingdeterredbythesmallnessofhisaudience,which,intruth,consistedonlyofthediscontentedscout,heraisedhisvoice,commencingandendingthesacredsongwithoutaccidentorinterruptionofanykind.
Hawkeyelistenedwhilehecoollyadjustedhisflintandreloadedhisrifle;butthesounds,wantingtheextraneousassistanceofsceneandsympathy,failedtoawakenhisslumberingemotions.
Neverminstrel,orbywhatevermoresuitablenameDavidshouldbeknown,drewuponhistalentsinthepresenceofmoreinsensibleauditors;thoughconsideringthesinglenessandsincerityofhismotive,itisprobablethatnobardofprofanesongeverutterednotesthatascendedsoneartothatthronewhereallhomageandpraiseisdue.
Thescoutshookhishead,andmutteringsomeunintelligiblewords,amongwhich“throat”and“Iroquois”werealoneaudible,hewalkedaway,tocollectandtoexamineintothestateofthecapturedarsenaloftheHurons.
Whentheforestershadmadetheirselection,anddistributedtheirprizes,thescoutannouncedthatthehourhadarrivedwhenitwasnecessarytomove.
AidedbyDuncanandtheyoungerMohican,thetwolatterdescendedtheprecipitoussidesofthathillwhichtheyhadsolatelyascendedundersoverydifferentauspices,andwhosesummithadsonearlyprovedthesceneoftheirmassacre.
AtthefoottheyfoundtheNarragansettsbrowsingtheherbageofthebushes,andhavingmounted,theyfollowedthemovementsofaguide,who,inthemostdeadlystraits,hadsooftenprovedhimselftheirfriend.Thejourneywas,however,short.
Hawkeye,leavingtheblindpaththattheHuronshadfollowed,turnedshorttohisright,andenteringthethicket,hecrossedababblingbrook,andhaltedinanarrowdell,undertheshadeofafewwaterelms.
Theirdistancefromthebaseofthefatalhillwasbutafewrods,andthesteedshadbeenserviceableonlyincrossingtheshallowstream.
ThescoutandtheIndiansappearedtobefamiliarwiththesequesteredplacewheretheynowwere;for,leaningtheirrifleagainstthetrees,theycommencedthrowingasidethedriedleaves,andopeningtheblueclay,outofwhichaclearandsparklingspringofbright,glancingwater,quicklybubbled.
Thewhitemanthenlookedabouthim,asthoughseekingforsomeobject,whichwasnottobefoundasreadilyasheexpected.
“Themcarelessimps,theMohawks,withtheirTuscaroraandOnondagabrethren,havebeenhereslakingtheirthirst,”hemuttered,“andthevagabondshavethrownawaythegourd!
HerehastheLordlaidhishand,inthemidstofthehowlingwilderness,fortheirgood,andraisedafountainofwaterfromthebowelsofthe‘arth,thatmightlaughattherichestshopofapothecary’swareinallthecolonies;andsee!
theknaveshavetroddenintheclay,anddeformedthecleanlinessoftheplace,asthoughtheywerebrutebeasts,insteadofhumanmen.”
Uncassilentlyextendedtowardhimthedesiredgourd,whichthespleenofHawkeyehadhithertopreventedhimfromobservingonabranchofanelm.
Fillingitwithwater,heretiredashortdistance,toaplacewherethegroundwasmorefirmanddry;herehecoollyseatedhimself,andaftertakingalong,and,apparently,agratefuldraught,hecommencedaverystrictexaminationofthefragmentsoffoodleftbytheHurons,whichhadhunginawalletonhisarm.
“Thankyou,lad!”hecontinued,returningtheemptygourdtoUncas;“nowwewillseehowtheserampagingHuronslived,whenoutlyinginambushments.Lookatthis!
Thevarletsknowthebetterpiecesofthedeer;andonewouldthinktheymightcarveandroastasaddle,equaltothebestcookintheland!
Uncas,takemysteelandkindleafire;amouthfulofatenderbroilwillgivenatur’ahelpinghand,aftersolongatrail.”
Heyward,perceivingthattheirguidesnowsetabouttheirrepastinsoberearnest,assistedtheladiestoalight,andplacedhimselfattheirside,notunwillingtoenjoyafewmomentsofgratefulrest,afterthebloodyscenehehadjustgonethrough.
Whiletheculinaryprocesswasinhand,curiosityinducedhimtoinquireintothecircumstanceswhichhadledtotheirtimelyandunexpectedrescue:
“Hadwegonetothebendintheriver,wemighthavebeenintimetoraketheleavesoveryourbodies,buttoolatetohavesavedyourscalps,”coollyansweredthescout.
“No,no;insteadofthrowingawaystrengthandopportunitybycrossingtothefort,welayby,underthebankoftheHudson,waitingtowatchthemovementsoftheHurons.”
Uncaspermittedhiseyestoturnforaninstantonthesturdycountenanceofthespeaker,butheneitherspokenorgaveanyindicationofrepentance.
Onthecontrary,HeywardthoughtthemanneroftheyoungMohicanwasdisdainful,ifnotalittlefierce,andthathesuppressedpassionsthatwerereadytoexplode,asmuchincomplimenttothelisteners,asfromthedeferenceheusuallypaidtohiswhiteassociate.
Butwhenyoulanded,weweredriventocrawllikesarpents,beneaththeleaves;andthenwelostsightofyouentirely,untilweplacedeyesonyouagaintrussedtothetrees,andreadyboundforanIndianmassacre.”
“OurrescuewasthedeedofProvidence.Itwasnearlyamiraclethatyoudidnotmistakethepath,fortheHuronsdivided,andeachbandhaditshorses.”
“Ay!therewewerethrownoffthescent,andmight,indeed,havelostthetrail,haditnotbeenforUncas;wetookthepath,however,thatledintothewilderness;forwejudged,andjudgedrightly,thatthesavageswouldholdthatcoursewiththeirprisoners.
Butwhenwehadfolloweditformanymiles,withoutfindingasingletwigbroken,asIhadadvised,mymindmisgaveme;especiallyasallthefootstepshadtheprintsofmoccasins.”
“Ourcaptorshadtheprecautiontoseeusshodlikethemselves,”saidDuncan,raisingafoot,andexhibitingthebuckskinhewore.
“Aye,‘twasjudgmaticalandlikethemselves;thoughweweretooexparttobethrownfromatrailbysocommonaninvention.”
“Towhat,asawhitemanwhohasnotaintofIndianblood,Ishouldbeashamedtoown;tothejudgmentoftheyoungMohican,inmatterswhichIshouldknowbetterthanhe,butwhichIcannowhardlybelievetobetrue,thoughmyowneyestellmeitisso.”
“Uncaswasboldenoughtosay,thatthebeastsriddenbythegentleones,”continuedHawkeye,glancinghiseyes,notwithoutcuriousinterest,onthefilliesoftheladies,“plantedthelegsofonesideonthegroundatthesametime,whichiscontrarytothemovementsofalltrottingfour–footedanimalsofmyknowledge,exceptthebear.
Andyetherearehorsesthatalwaysjourneyinthismanner,asmyowneyeshaveseen,andastheirtrailhasshownfortwentylongmiles.”
”’Tisthemeritoftheanimal!TheycomefromtheshoresofNarrangansettBay,inthesmallprovinceofProvidencePlantations,andarecelebratedfortheirhardihood,andtheeaseofthispeculiarmovement;thoughotherhorsesarenotunfrequentlytrainedtothesame.”
“Itmaybe—itmaybe,”saidHawkeye,whohadlistenedwithsingularattentiontothisexplanation;“thoughIamamanwhohasthefullbloodofthewhites,myjudgmentindeerandbeaverisgreaterthaninbeastsofburden.
“True;forhewouldvaluetheanimalsforverydifferentproperties.Stillisthisabreedhighlyesteemedand,asyouwitness,muchhonoredwiththeburdensitisoftendestinedtobear.”
TheMohicanshadsuspendedtheiroperationsabouttheglimmeringfiretolisten;and,whenDuncanhaddone,theylookedateachothersignificantly,thefatherutteringthenever–failingexclamationofsurprise.
Theouterbranch,neartheprintsofoneofthehorses,wasbentupward,asaladybreaksaflowerfromitsstem,butalltherestwereraggedandbrokendown,asifthestronghandofamanhadbeentearingthem!
SoIconcludedthatthecunningvarmentshadseenthetwigbent,andhadtorntherest,tomakeusbelieveabuckhadbeenfeelingtheboughswithhisantlers.”
“Thatwaseasytosee,”addedthescout,innodegreeconsciousofhavingexhibitedanyextraordinarysagacity;“andaverydifferentmatteritwasfromawaddlinghorse!
“Isit,then,sofamous?”demandedHeyward,examining,withamorecuriouseye,thesecludeddell,withitsbubblingfountain,surrounded,asitwas,byearthofadeep,dingybrown.
“Fewred–skins,whotravelsouthandeastofthegreatlakesbuthaveheardofitsqualities.Willyoutasteforyourself?”
“Ah!youwanttheflavorthatonegetsbyhabit;thetimewaswhenIlikeditaslittleasyourself;butIhavecometomytaste,andInowcraveit,asadeerdoesthelicks.
Yourhigh–spicedwinesarenotbetterlikedthanared–skinrelishesthiswater;especiallywhenhisnatur’isailing.
Thesearecalled“licks”or“saltlicks,”inthelanguageofthecountry,fromthecircumstancethatthequadrupedisoftenobligedtolicktheearth,inordertoobtainthesalineparticles.
Interruptingthedialoguebythisabrupttransition,thescouthadinstantrecoursetothefragmentsoffoodwhichhadescapedthevoracityoftheHurons.
Averysummaryprocesscompletedthesimplecookery,whenheandtheMohicanscommencedtheirhumblemeal,withthesilenceandcharacteristicdiligenceofmenwhoateinordertoenablethemselvestoenduregreatandunremittingtoil.
Whenthisnecessary,and,happily,gratefuldutyhadbeenperformed,eachoftheforestersstoopedandtookalongandpartingdraughtatthatsolitaryandsilentspring,aroundwhichanditssisterfountains,withinfiftyyears,thewealth,beautyandtalentsofahemisphereweretoassembleinthrongs,inpursuitofhealthandpleasure.
Thesistersresumedtheirsaddles;DuncanandDavidgraspedtheirrifles,andfollowedonfootsteps;thescoutleadingtheadvance,andtheMohicansbringinguptherear.
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