TheroutetakenbyHawkeyelayacrossthosesandyplains,relivedbyoccasionalvalleysandswellsofland,whichhadbeentraversedbytheirpartyonthemorningofthesameday,withthebaffledMaguafortheirguide.
Thesunhadnowfallenlowtowardthedistantmountains;andastheirjourneylaythroughtheinterminableforest,theheatwasnolongeroppressive.
Theirprogress,inconsequence,wasproportionate;andlongbeforethetwilightgatheredaboutthem,theyhadmadegoodmanytoilsomemilesontheirreturn.
Thehunter,likethesavagewhoseplacehefilled,seemedtoselectamongtheblindsignsoftheirwildroute,withaspeciesofinstinct,seldomabatinghisspeed,andneverpausingtodeliberate.
Arapidandobliqueglanceatthemossonthetrees,withanoccasionalupwardgazetowardthesettingsun,orasteadybutpassinglookatthedirectionofthenumerouswatercourses,throughwhichhewaded,weresufficienttodeterminehispath,andremovehisgreatestdifficulties.
Inthemeantime,theforestbegantochangeitshues,losingthatlivelygreenwhichhadembellisheditsarches,inthegraverlightwhichistheusualprecursorofthecloseofday.
Whiletheeyesofthesisterswereendeavoringtocatchglimpsesthroughthetrees,ofthefloodofgoldenglorywhichformedaglitteringhaloaroundthesun,tinginghereandtherewithrubystreaks,orborderingwithnarrowedgingsofshiningyellow,amassofcloudsthatlaypiledatnogreatdistanceabovethewesternhills,Hawkeyeturnedsuddenlyandpointingupwardtowardthegorgeousheavens,hespoke:
“Yonderisthesignalgiventomantoseekhisfoodandnaturalrest,”hesaid;“betterandwiserwoulditbe,ifhecouldunderstandthesignsofnature,andtakealessonfromthefowlsoftheairandthebeastsofthefield!
Iremembertohavefou’ttheMaquas,hereaways,inthefirstwarinwhichIeverdrewbloodfromman;andwethrewupaworkofblocks,tokeeptheravenousvarmintsfromhandlingourscalps.
Withoutwaitingforanassent,or,indeed,foranyreply,thesturdyhuntermovedboldlyintoadensethicketofyoungchestnuts,shovingasidethebranchesoftheexuberantshootswhichnearlycoveredtheground,likeamanwhoexpected,ateachstep,todiscoversomeobjecthehadformerlyknown.
Afterpenetratingthroughthebrush,mattedasitwaswithbriars,forafewhundredfeet,heenteredanopenspace,thatsurroundedalow,greenhillock,whichwascrownedbythedecayedblockhouseinquestion.
Thisrudeandneglectedbuildingwasoneofthosedesertedworks,which,havingbeenthrownuponanemergency,hadbeenabandonedwiththedisappearanceofdanger,andwasnowquietlycrumblinginthesolitudeoftheforest,neglectedandnearlyforgotten,likethecircumstanceswhichhadcausedittobereared.
Suchmemorialsofthepassageandstrugglesofmanareyetfrequentthroughoutthebroadbarrierofwildernesswhichonceseparatedthehostileprovinces,andformaspeciesofruinsthatareintimatelyassociatedwiththerecollectionsofcolonialhistory,andwhichareinappropriatekeepingwiththegloomycharacterofthesurroundingscenery.
Theroofofbarkhadlongsincefallen,andmingledwiththesoil,butthehugelogsofpine,whichhadbeenhastilythrowntogether,stillpreservedtheirrelativepositions,thoughoneangleoftheworkhadgivenwayunderthepressure,andthreatenedaspeedydownfalltotheremainderoftherusticedifice.
WhileHeywardandhiscompanionshesitatedtoapproachabuildingsodecayed,HawkeyeandtheIndiansenteredwithinthelowwalls,notonlywithoutfear,butwithobviousinterest.
Whiletheformersurveyedtheruins,bothinternallyandexternally,withthecuriosityofonewhoserecollectionswererevivingateachmoment,Chingachgookrelatedtohisson,inthelanguageoftheDelawares,andwiththeprideofaconqueror,thebriefhistoryoftheskirmishwhichhadbeenfought,inhisyouth,inthatsecludedspot.
Inthemeantime,thesistersgladlydismounted,andpreparedtoenjoytheirhaltinthecoolnessoftheevening,andinasecuritywhichtheybelievednothingbutthebeastsoftheforestcouldinvade.
“Wouldnotourresting–placehavebeenmoreretired,myworthyfriend,”demandedthemorevigilantDuncan,perceivingthatthescouthadalreadyfinishedhisshortsurvey,“hadwechosenaspotlessknown,andonemorerarelyvisitedthanthis?”
“Fewlivewhoknowtheblockhousewaseverraised,”wastheslowandmusinganswer;”’tisnotoftenthatbooksaremade,andnarrativeswrittenofsuchascrimmageaswasherefou’tatweentheMohicansandtheMohawks,inawaroftheirownwaging.
Fortydaysandfortynightsdidtheimpscraveourbloodaroundthispileoflogs,whichIdesignedandpartlyreared,being,asyou’llremember,noIndianmyself,butamanwithoutacross.
TheDelawareslentthemselvestothework,andwemadeitgood,tentotwenty,untilournumberswerenearlyequal,andthenwesalliedoutuponthehounds,andnotamanofthemevergotbacktotellthefateofhisparty.
Yes,yes;Iwasthenyoung,andnewtothesightofblood;andnotrelishingthethoughtthatcreatureswhohadspiritslikemyselfshouldlayonthenakedground,tobetornasunderbybeasts,ortobleachintherains,Iburiedthedeadwithmyownhands,underthatverylittlehillockwhereyouhaveplacedyourselves;andnobadseatdoesitmakeneither,thoughitberaisedbythebonesofmortalmen.”
Heywardandthesistersarose,ontheinstant,fromthegrassysepulcher;norcouldthetwolatter,notwithstandingtheterrificscenestheyhadsorecentlypassedthrough,entirelysuppressanemotionofnaturalhorror,whentheyfoundthemselvesinsuchfamiliarcontactwiththegraveofthedeadMohawks.
Thegraylight,thegloomylittleareaofdarkgrass,surroundedbyitsborderofbrush,beyondwhichthepinesrose,inbreathingsilence,apparentlyintotheveryclouds,andthedeathlikestillnessofthevastforest,wereallinunisontodeepensuchasensation.
“Theyaregone,andtheyareharmless,”continuedHawkeye,wavinghishand,withamelancholysmileattheirmanifestalarm;“they’llnevershoutthewar–whoopnorstrikeablowwiththetomahawkagain!
TheeyesofthelistenersinvoluntarilysoughttheformsoftheIndians,withacompassionateinterestintheirdesolatefortune.
Theirdarkpersonswerestilltobeseenwithintheshadowsoftheblockhouse,thesonlisteningtotherelationofhisfatherwiththatsortofintensenesswhichwouldbecreatedbyanarrativethatredoundedsomuchtothehonorofthosewhosenameshehadlongreveredfortheircourageandsavagevirtues.
“IhadthoughttheDelawaresapacificpeople,”saidDuncan,“andthattheyneverwagedwarinperson;trustingthedefenseoftheirhandstothoseveryMohawksthatyouslew!”
Suchatreatywasmadeinagesgoneby,throughthedeviltriesoftheDutchers,whowishedtodisarmthenativesthathadthebestrighttothecountry,wheretheyhadsettledthemselves.
TheMohicans,thoughapartofthesamenation,havingtodealwiththeEnglish,neverenteredintothesillybargain,butkepttotheirmanhood;asintruthdidtheDelawares,whentheireyeswereopentotheirfolly.
OncehisfamilycouldchasetheirdeerovertractsofcountrywiderthanthatwhichbelongstotheAlbanyPatteroon,withoutcrossingbrookorhillthatwasnottheirown;butwhatisleftoftheirdescendant?
HemayfindhissixfeetofearthwhenGodchooses,andkeepitinpeace,perhaps,ifhehasafriendwhowilltakethepainstosinkhisheadsolowthattheplowsharescannotreachit!”
“Enough!”saidHeyward,apprehensivethatthesubjectmightleadtoadiscussionthatwouldinterrupttheharmonysonecessarytothepreservationofhisfaircompanions;“wehavejourneyedfar,andfewamongusareblessedwithformslikethatofyours,whichseemstoknowneitherfatiguenorweakness.”
“Thesinewsandbonesofamancarrymethroughitall,”saidthehunter,surveyinghismuscularlimbswithasimplicitythatbetrayedthehonestpleasurethecomplimentaffordedhim;“therearelargerandheaviermentobefoundinthesettlements,butyoumighttravelmanydaysinacitybeforeyoucouldmeetoneabletowalkfiftymileswithoutstoppingtotakebreath,orwhohaskeptthehoundswithinhearingduringachaseofhours.
However,asfleshandbloodarenotalwaysthesame,itisquitereasonabletosupposethatthegentleonesarewillingtorest,afteralltheyhaveseenanddonethisday.
Uncas,clearoutthespring,whileyourfatherandImakeacoverfortheirtenderheadsofthesechestnutshoots,andabedofgrassandleaves.”
Thedialogueceased,whilethehunterandhiscompanionsbusiedthemselvesinpreparationsforthecomfortandprotectionofthosetheyguided.
Aspring,whichmanylongyearsbeforehadinducedthenativestoselecttheplacefortheirtemporaryfortification,wassoonclearedofleaves,andafountainofcrystalgushedfromthebed,diffusingitswatersovertheverdanthillock.
Acornerofthebuildingwasthenroofedinsuchamannerastoexcludetheheavydewoftheclimate,andpilesofsweetshrubsanddriedleaveswerelaidbeneathitforthesisterstoreposeon.
Whilethediligentwoodsmenwereemployedinthismanner,CoraandAlicepartookofthatrefreshmentwhichdutyrequiredmuchmorethaninclinationpromptedthemtoaccept.
Theythenretiredwithinthewalls,andfirstofferinguptheirthanksgivingsforpastmercies,andpetitioningforacontinuanceoftheDivinefavorthroughoutthecomingnight,theylaidtheirtenderformsonthefragrantcouch,andinspiteofrecollectionsandforebodings,soonsankintothoseslumberswhichnaturesoimperiouslydemanded,andwhichweresweetenedbyhopesforthemorrow.
Duncanhadpreparedhimselftopassthenightinwatchfulnessnearthem,justwithouttheruin,butthescout,perceivinghisintention,pointedtowardChingachgook,ashecoollydisposedhisownpersononthegrass,andsaid:
“Theeyesofawhitemanaretooheavyandtooblindforsuchawatchasthis!TheMohicanwillbeoursentinel,thereforeletussleep.”
“Iprovedmyselfasluggardonmypostduringthepastnight,”saidHeyward,“andhavelessneedofreposethanyou,whodidmorecredittothecharacterofasoldier.
“IfwelayamongthewhitetentsoftheSixtieth,andinfrontofanenemyliketheFrench,Icouldnotaskforabetterwatchman,”returnedthescout;“butinthedarknessandamongthesignsofthewildernessyourjudgmentwouldbelikethefollyofachild,andyourvigilancethrownaway.
Heywardperceived,intruth,thattheyoungerIndianhadthrownhisformonthesideofthehillockwhiletheyweretalking,likeonewhosoughttomakethemostofthetimeallottedtorest,andthathisexamplehadbeenfollowedbyDavid,whosevoiceliterally“clovetohisjaws,”withthefeverofhiswound,heightened,asitwas,bytheirtoilsomemarch.
Unwillingtoprolongauselessdiscussion,theyoungmanaffectedtocomply,bypostinghisbackagainstthelogsoftheblockhouse,inahalfrecumbentposture,thoughresolutelydetermined,inhisownmind,nottocloseaneyeuntilhehaddeliveredhispreciouschargeintothearmsofMunrohimself.
Hawkeye,believinghehadprevailed,soonfellasleep,andasilenceasdeepasthesolitudeinwhichtheyhadfoundit,pervadedtheretiredspot.
FormanyminutesDuncansucceededinkeepinghissensesonthealert,andalivetoeverymoaningsoundthatarosefromtheforest.
Hisvisionbecamemoreacuteastheshadesofeveningsettledontheplace;andevenafterthestarswereglimmeringabovehishead,hewasabletodistinguishtherecumbentformsofhiscompanions,astheylaystretchedonthegrass,andtonotethepersonofChingachgook,whosatuprightandmotionlessasoneofthetreeswhichformedthedarkbarrieroneveryside.
Hestillheardthegentlebreathingsofthesisters,wholaywithinafewfeetofhim,andnotaleafwasruffledbythepassingairofwhichhiseardidnotdetectthewhisperingsound.
Atlength,however,themournfulnotesofawhip–poor–willbecameblendedwiththemoaningsofanowl;hisheavyeyesoccasionallysoughtthebrightraysofthestars,andhethenfanciedhesawthemthroughthefallenlids.
Atinstantsofmomentarywakefulnesshemistookabushforhisassociatesentinel;hisheadnextsankuponhisshoulder,which,initsturn,soughtthesupportoftheground;and,finally,hiswholepersonbecamerelaxedandpliant,andtheyoungmansankintoadeepsleep,dreamingthathewasaknightofancientchivalry,holdinghismidnightvigilsbeforethetentofarecapturedprincess,whosefavorhedidnotdespairofgaining,bysuchaproofofdevotionandwatchfulness.
HowlongthetiredDuncanlayinthisinsensiblestateheneverknewhimself,buthisslumberingvisionshadbeenlonglostintotalforgetfulness,whenhewasawakenedbyalighttapontheshoulder.
Arousedbythissignal,slightasitwas,hespranguponhisfeetwithaconfusedrecollectionoftheself–imposeddutyhehadassumedwiththecommencementofthenight.
“Whocomes?”hedemanded,feelingforhissword,attheplacewhereitwasusuallysuspended.“Speak!friendorenemy?”
“Friend,”repliedthelowvoiceofChingachgook;who,pointingupwardattheluminarywhichwassheddingitsmildlightthroughtheopeninginthetrees,directlyintheirbivouac,immediatelyadded,inhisrudeEnglish:“Mooncomesandwhiteman’sfortfar––faroff;timetomove,whensleepshutsbotheyesoftheFrenchman!”
“Weareawake,Duncan,”saidthesoft,silverytonesofAlicewithinthebuilding,“andreadytotravelveryfastaftersorefreshingasleep;butyouhavewatchedthroughthetediousnightinourbehalf,afterhavingenduredsomuchfatiguethelivelongday!”
“Say,rather,Iwouldhavewatched,butmytreacherouseyesbetrayedme;twicehaveIprovedmyselfunfitforthetrustIbear.”
“Nay,Duncan,denyitnot,”interruptedthesmilingAlice,issuingfromtheshadowsofthebuildingintothelightofthemoon,inallthelovelinessofherfreshenedbeauty;“Iknowyoutobeaheedlessone,whenselfistheobjectofyourcare,andbuttoovigilantinfavorofothers.
Cheerfully,mostcheerfully,willCoraandIkeepthevigils,whileyouandallthesebravemenendeavortosnatchalittlesleep!”
“Ifshamecouldcuremeofmydrowsiness,Ishouldnevercloseaneyeagain,”saidtheuneasyyouth,gazingattheingenuouscountenanceofAlice,where,however,initssweetsolicitude,hereadnothingtoconfirmhishalf–awakenedsuspicion.
“Itisbuttootrue,thatafterleadingyouintodangerbymyheedlessness,Ihavenoteventhemeritofguardingyourpillowsasshouldbecomeasoldier.”
“NoonebutDuncanhimselfshouldaccuseDuncanofsuchaweakness.Go,then,andsleep;believeme,neitherofus,weakgirlsasweare,willbetrayourwatch.”
Theyoungmanwasrelievedfromtheawkwardnessofmakinganyfurtherprotestationsofhisowndemerits,byanexclamationfromChingachgook,andtheattitudeofrivetedattentionassumedbyhisson.
“TheMohicanshearanenemy!”whisperedHawkeye,who,bythistime,incommonwiththewholeparty,wasawakeandstirring.“Theyscentdangerinthewind!”
Whilehespoke,however,theyoungsoldierseizedhisrifle,andadvancingtowardthefront,preparedtoatoneforhisvenialremissness,byfreelyexposinghislifeindefenseofthoseheattended.
”’Tissomecreatureoftheforestprowlingaroundusinquestoffood,”hesaid,inawhisper,assoonasthelow,andapparentlydistantsounds,whichhadstartledtheMohicans,reachedhisownears.
“Hist!”returnedtheattentivescout;”’tisman;evenIcannowtellhistread,poorasmysensesarewhencomparedtoanIndian’s!
Ishouldn’tlike,myself,tospillmorehumanbloodinthisspot,”headded,lookingaroundwithanxietyinhisfeatures,atthedimobjectsbywhichhewassurrounded;“butwhatmustbe,must!
Hewasinstantlyobeyed,theMohicansleadingtheNarrangansettswithintheruin,whitherthewholepartyrepairedwiththemostguardedsilence.
Thesoundofapproachingfootstepswerenowtoodistinctlyaudibletoleaveanydoubtsastothenatureoftheinterruption.
TheyweresoonmingledwithvoicescallingtoeachotherinanIndiandialect,whichthehunter,inawhisper,affirmedtoHeywardwasthelanguageoftheHurons.
Whenthepartyreachedthepointwherethehorseshadenteredthethicketwhichsurroundedtheblockhouse,theywereevidentlyatfault,havinglostthosemarkswhich,untilthatmoment,haddirectedtheirpursuit.
Itwouldseembythevoicesthattwentymenweresooncollectedatthatonespot,minglingtheirdifferentopinionsandadviceinnoisyclamor.
“Theknavesknowourweakness,”whisperedHawkeye,whostoodbythesideofHeyward,indeepshade,lookingthroughanopeninginthelogs,“ortheywouldn’tindulgetheiridlenessinsuchasquaw’smarch.Listentothereptiles!
Duncan,braveashewasinthecombat,couldnot,insuchamomentofpainfulsuspense,makeanyreplytothecoolandcharacteristicremarkofthescout.
Heonlygraspedhisriflemorefirmly,andfastenedhiseyesuponthenarrowopening,throughwhichhegazeduponthemoonlightviewwithincreasinganxiety.
Thedeepertonesofonewhospokeashavingauthoritywerenextheard,amidasilencethatdenotedtherespectwithwhichhisorders,orratheradvice,wasreceived.
Afterwhich,bytherustlingofleaves,andcracklingofdriedtwigs,itwasapparentthesavageswereseparatinginpursuitofthelosttrail.
Fortunatelyforthepursued,thelightofthemoon,whileitshedafloodofmildlusteruponthelittleareaaroundtheruin,wasnotsufficientlystrongtopenetratethedeeparchesoftheforest,wheretheobjectsstilllayindeceptiveshadow.
Thesearchprovedfruitless;forsoshortandsuddenhadbeenthepassagefromthefaintpaththetravelershadjourneyedintothethicket,thateverytraceoftheirfootstepswaslostintheobscurityofthewoods.
Itwasnotlong,however,beforetherestlesssavageswereheardbeatingthebrush,andgraduallyapproachingtheinneredgeofthatdenseborderofyoungchestnutswhichencircledthelittlearea.
“Theyarecoming,”mutteredHeyward,endeavoringtothrusthisriflethroughthechinkinthelogs;“letusfireontheirapproach.”
“Keepeverythingintheshade,”returnedthescout;“thesnappingofaflint,oreventhesmellofasinglekarnelofthebrimstone,wouldbringthehungryvarletsuponusinabody.
ShoulditpleaseGodthatwemustgivebattleforthescalps,trusttotheexperienceofmenwhoknowthewaysofthesavages,andwhoarenotoftenbackwardwhenthewar–whoopishowled.”
Duncancasthiseyesbehindhim,andsawthatthetremblingsisterswerecoweringinthefarcornerofthebuilding,whiletheMohicansstoodintheshadow,liketwouprightposts,ready,andapparentlywilling,tostrikewhentheblowshouldbeneeded.
Ashegazeduponthesilentblockhouse,themoonfelluponhisswarthycountenance,andbetrayeditssurpriseandcuriosity.
HemadetheexclamationwhichusuallyaccompaniestheformeremotioninanIndian,and,callinginalowvoice,soondrewacompaniontohisside.
Thesechildrenofthewoodsstoodtogetherforseveralmomentspointingatthecrumblingedifice,andconversingintheunintelligiblelanguageoftheirtribe.
Theythenapproached,thoughwithslowandcautioussteps,pausingeveryinstanttolookatthebuilding,likestartleddeerwhosecuriositystruggledpowerfullywiththeirawakenedapprehensionsforthemastery.
Thesavagesweresonear,thattheleastmotioninoneofthehorses,orevenabreathlouderthancommon,wouldhavebetrayedthefugitives.
Theyspoketogether,andthesoundsoftheirvoiceswerelowandsolemn,asifinfluencedbyareverencethatwasdeeplyblendedwithawe.
Thentheydrewwarilyback,keepingtheireyesrivetedontheruin,asiftheyexpectedtoseetheapparitionsofthedeadissuefromitssilentwalls,until,havingreachedtheboundaryofthearea,theymovedslowlyintothethicketanddisappeared.
Hawkeyedroppedthebreechofhisrifletotheearth,anddrawingalong,freebreath,exclaimed,inanaudiblewhisper:
Heywardlenthisattentionforasinglemomenttohiscompanion,butwithoutreplying,heagainturnedtowardthosewhojusttheninterestedhimmore.
HeheardthetwoHuronsleavethebushes,anditwassoonplainthatallthepursuersweregatheredaboutthem,indeepattentiontotheirreport.
Afterafewminutesofearnestandsolemndialogue,altogetherdifferentfromthenoisyclamorwithwhichtheyhadfirstcollectedaboutthespot,thesoundsgrewfainterandmoredistant,andfinallywerelostinthedepthsoftheforest.
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