English
Salar.—Why,Iamsure,ifheforfeit,thouwiltnottakehisflesh;what’sthatgoodfor?
Shy.—Tobaitfishwithal;ifitwillfeednothingelse,itwillfeedmyrevenge.
—MerchantofVenice
Theshadesofeveninghadcometoincreasethedrearinessoftheplace,whenthepartyenteredtheruinsofWilliamHenry.
Thescoutandhiscompanionsimmediatelymadetheirpreparationstopassthenightthere;butwithanearnestnessandsobrietyofdemeanorthatbetrayedhowmuchtheunusualhorrorstheyhadjustwitnessedworkedoneventheirpractisedfeelings.
Afewfragmentsofrafterswererearedagainstablackenedwall;andwhenUncashadcoveredthemslightlywithbrush,thetemporaryaccommodationsweredeemedsufficient.
TheyoungIndianpoint3edtowardhisrudehutwhenhislaborwasended;andHeyward,whounderstoodthemeaningofthesilentgestures,gentlyurgedMunrotoenter.
Leavingthebereavedoldmanalonewithhissorrows,Duncanimmediatelyreturnedintotheopenair,toomuchexcitedhimselftoseekthereposehehadrecommendedtohisveteranfriend.
WhileHawkeyeandtheIndianslightedtheirfireandtooktheirevening’srepast,afrugalmealofdriedbear’smeat,theyoungmanpaidavisittothatcurtainofthedilapidatedfortwhichlookedoutonthesheetoftheHorican.
Thewindhadfallen,andthewaveswerealreadyrollingonthesandybeachbeneathhim,inamoreregularandtemperedsuccession.
Theclouds,asiftiredoftheirfuriouschase,werebreakingasunder;theheaviervolumes,gatheringinblackmassesaboutthehorizon,whilethelighterscudstillhurriedabovethewater,oreddiedamongthetopsofthemountains,likebrokenflightsofbirds,hoveringaroundtheirroosts.
Hereandthere,aredandfierystarstruggledthroughthedriftingvapor,furnishingaluridgleamofbrightnesstothedullaspectoftheheavens.
Withinthebosomoftheencirclinghills,animpenetrabledarknesshadalreadysettled;andtheplainlaylikeavastanddesertedcharnel–house,withoutomenorwhispertodisturbtheslumbersofitsnumerousandhaplesstenants.
Ofthisscene,sochillinglyinaccordancewiththepast,Duncanstoodformanyminutesaraptobserver.
Hiseyeswanderedfromthebosomofthemound,wheretheforesterswereseatedaroundtheirglimmeringfire,tothefainterlightwhichstilllingeredintheskies,andthenrestedlongandanxiouslyontheembodiedgloom,whichlaylikeadrearyvoidonthatsideofhimwherethedeadreposed.
Hesoonfanciedthatinexplicablesoundsarosefromtheplace,thoughsoindistinctandstolen,astorendernotonlytheirnaturebuteventheirexistenceuncertain.
Ashamedofhisapprehensions,theyoungmanturnedtowardthewater,andstrovetodiverthisattentiontothemimicstarsthatdimlyglimmeredonitsmovingsurface.
Still,histoo–consciousearsperformedtheirungratefulduty,asiftowarnhimofsomelurkingdanger.
Atlength,aswifttramplingseemed,quiteaudibly,torushathwartthedarkness.
Unableanylongertoquiethisuneasiness,Duncanspokeinalowvoicetothescout,requestinghimtoascendthemoundtotheplacewherehestood.
Hawkeyethrewhisrifleacrossanarmandcomplied,butwithanairsounmovedandcalm,astoprovehowmuchhecountedonthesecurityoftheirposition.
“Listen!”saidDuncan,whentheotherplacedhimselfdeliberatelyathiselbow;“therearesuppressednoisesontheplainwhichmayshowMontcalmhasnotyetentirelydesertedhisconquest.”
“Thenearsarebetterthaneyes,”saidtheundisturbedscout,who,havingjustdepositedaportionofabearbetweenhisgrinders,spokethickandslow,likeonewhosemouthwasdoublyoccupied.
“ImyselfsawhimcagedinTy,withallhishost;foryourFrenchers,whentheyhavedoneacleverthing,liketogetback,andhaveadance,oramerry–making,withthewomenovertheirsuccess.”
“Iknownot.AnIndianseldomsleepsinwar,andplundermaykeepaHuronhereafterhistribehasdeparted.
Itwouldbewelltoextinguishthefire,andhaveawatch—listen!youhearthenoiseImean!”
“AnIndianmorerarelylurksaboutthegraves.
Thoughreadytoslay,andnotoverregardfulofthemeans,heiscommonlycontentwiththescalp,unlesswhenbloodishot,andtemperup;butafterspiritisoncefairlygone,heforgetshisenmity,andiswillingtoletthedeadfindtheirnaturalrest.
Speakingofspirits,major,areyouofopinionthattheheavenofared–skinandofuswhiteswillbeofoneandthesame?”
“Nodoubt—nodoubt.IthoughtIhearditagain!orwasittherustlingoftheleavesinthetopofthebeech?”
“Formyownpart,”continuedHawkeye,turninghisfaceforamomentinthedirectionindicatedbyHeyward,butwithavacantandcarelessmanner,“Ibelievethatparadiseisordainedforhappiness;andthatmenwillbeindulgedinitaccordingtotheirdispositionsandgifts.
I,therefore,judgethatared–skinisnotfarfromthetruthwhenhebelievesheistofindthemglorioushuntinggroundsofwhichhistraditionstell;nor,forthatmatter,doIthinkitwouldbeanydisparagementtoamanwithoutacrosstopasshistime—”
“Youhearitagain?”interruptedDuncan.
“Ay,ay;whenfoodisscarce,andwhenfoodisplenty,awolfgrowsbold,”saidtheunmovedscout.
“Therewouldbepicking,too,amongtheskinsofthedevils,iftherewaslightandtimeforthesport.
But,concerningthelifethatistocome,major;Ihaveheardpreacherssay,inthesettlements,thatheavenwasaplaceofrest.
Now,men’smindsdifferastotheirideasofenjoyment.
Formyself,andIsayitwithreverencetotheorderingofProvidence,itwouldbenogreatindulgencetobekeptshutupinthosemansionsofwhichtheypreach,havinganaturallongingformotionandthechase.”
Duncan,whowasnowmadetounderstandthenatureofthenoisehehadheard,answered,withmoreattentiontothesubjectwhichthehumorofthescouthadchosenfordiscussion,bysaying:
“Itisdifficulttoaccountforthefeelingsthatmayattendthelastgreatchange.”
“Itwouldbeachange,indeed,foramanwhohaspassedhisdaysintheopenair,”returnedthesingle–mindedscout;“andwhohassooftenbrokenhisfastontheheadwatersoftheHudson,tosleepwithinsoundoftheroaringMohawk.
ButitisacomforttoknowweserveamercifulMaster,thoughwedoiteachafterhisfashion,andwithgreattractsofwildernessatweenus—whatgoesthere?”
“Isitnottherushingofthewolvesyouhavementioned?”
Hawkeyeslowlyshookhishead,andbeckonedforDuncantofollowhimtoaspottowhichtheglarefromthefiredidnotextend.
Whenhehadtakenthisprecaution,thescoutplacedhimselfinanattitudeofintenseattentionandlistenedlongandkeenlyforarepetitionofthelowsoundthathadsounexpectedlystartledhim.
Hisvigilance,however,seemedexercisedinvain;forafterafruitlesspause,hewhisperedtoDuncan:
“WemustgiveacalltoUncas.TheboyhasIndiansenses,andhemayhearwhatishidfromus;for,beingawhite–skin,Iwillnotdenymynature.”
TheyoungMohican,whowasconversinginalowvoicewithhisfather,startedasheheardthemoaningofanowl,and,springingonhisfeet,helookedtowardtheblackmounds,asifseekingtheplacewhencethesoundsproceeded.
Thescoutrepeatedthecall,andinafewmoments,DuncansawthefigureofUncasstealingcautiouslyalongtherampart,tothespotwheretheystood.
Hawkeyeexplainedhiswishesinaveryfewwords,whichwerespokenintheDelawaretongue.
SosoonasUncaswasinpossessionofthereasonwhyhewassummoned,hethrewhimselfflatontheturf;where,totheeyesofDuncan,heappearedtoliequietandmotionless.
Surprisedattheimmovableattitudeoftheyoungwarrior,andcurioustoobservethemannerinwhichheemployedhisfacultiestoobtainthedesiredinformation,Heywardadvancedafewsteps,andbentoverthedarkobjectonwhichhehadkepthiseyeriveted.
ThenitwashediscoveredthattheformofUncasvanished,andthathebeheldonlythedarkoutlineofaninequalityintheembankment.
“WhathasbecomeoftheMohican?”hedemandedofthescout,steppingbackinamazement;“itwasherethatIsawhimfall,andcouldhaveswornthathereheyetremained.”
“Hist!speaklower;forweknownotwhatearsareopen,andtheMingoesareaquick–wittedbreed.
AsforUncas,heisoutontheplain,andtheMaquas,ifanysuchareaboutus,willfindtheirequal.”
“YouthinkthatMontcalmhasnotcalledoffallhisIndians?Letusgivethealarmtoourcompanions,thatwemaystandtoourarms.Herearefiveofus,whoarenotunusedtomeetanenemy.”
“Notawordtoeither,asyouvalueyourlife.
LookattheSagamore,howlikeagrandIndianchiefhesitsbythefire.
Ifthereareanyskulkersoutinthedarkness,theywillneverdiscover,byhiscountenance,thatwesuspectdangerathand.”
“Buttheymaydiscoverhim,anditwillprovehisdeath.Hispersoncanbetooplainlyseenbythelightofthatfire,andhewillbecomethefirstandmostcertainvictim.”
“Itisundeniablethatnowyouspeakthetruth,”returnedthescout,betrayingmoreanxietythanwasusual;“yetwhatcanbedone?
Asinglesuspiciouslookmightbringonanattackbeforewearereadytoreceiveit.
Heknows,bythecallIgavetoUncas,thatwehavestruckascent;IwilltellhimthatweareonthetrailoftheMingoes;hisIndiannaturewillteachhimhowtoact.”
Thescoutappliedhisfingerstohismouth,andraisedalowhissingsound,thatcausedDuncanatfirsttostartaside,believingthatheheardaserpent.
TheheadofChingachgookwasrestingonahand,ashesatmusingbyhimselfbutthemomenthehadheardthewarningoftheanimalwhosenamehebore,hearosetoanuprightposition,andhisdarkeyesglancedswiftlyandkeenlyoneverysideofhim.
Withhissuddenand,perhaps,involuntarymovement,everyappearanceofsurpriseoralarmended.
Hisriflelayuntouched,andapparentlyunnoticed,withinreachofhishand.
Thetomahawkthathehadloosenedinhisbeltforthesakeofease,wasevensufferedtofallfromitsusualsituationtotheground,andhisformseemedtosink,likethatofamanwhosenervesandsinewsweresufferedtorelaxforthepurposeofrest.
Cunninglyresuminghisformerposition,thoughwithachangeofhands,asifthemovementhadbeenmademerelytorelievethelimb,thenativeawaitedtheresultwithacalmnessandfortitudethatnonebutanIndianwarriorwouldhaveknownhowtoexercise.
ButHeywardsawthatwhiletoalessinstructedeyetheMohicanchiefappearedtoslumber,hisnostrilswereexpanded,hisheadwasturnedalittletooneside,asiftoassisttheorgansofhearing,andthathisquickandrapidglancesranincessantlyovereveryobjectwithinthepowerofhisvision.
“Seethenoblefellow!”whisperedHawkeye,pressingthearmofHeyward;“heknowsthatalookoramotionmightdisconsartourschemes,andputusatthemercyofthemimps—”
Hewasinterruptedbytheflashandreportofarifle.
Theairwasfilledwithsparksoffire,aroundthatspotwheretheeyesofHeywardwerestillfastened,withadmirationandwonder.
AsecondlooktoldhimthatChingachgookhaddisappearedintheconfusion.
Inthemeantime,thescouthadthrownforwardhisrifle,likeonepreparedforservice,andawaitedimpatientlythemomentwhenanenemymightrisetoview.
ButwiththesolitaryandfruitlessattemptmadeonthelifeofChingachgook,theattackappearedtohaveterminated.
Onceortwicethelistenersthoughttheycoulddistinguishthedistantrustlingofbushes,asbodiesofsomeunknowndescriptionrushedthroughthem;norwasitlongbeforeHawkeyepointedoutthe“scamperingofthewolves,”astheyfledprecipitatelybeforethepassageofsomeintruderontheirproperdomains.
Afteranimpatientandbreathlesspause,aplungewasheardinthewater,anditwasimmediatelyfollowedbythereportofanotherrifle.
“TheregoesUncas!”saidthescout;“theboybearsasmartpiece!Iknowitscrack,aswellasafatherknowsthelanguageofhischild,forIcarriedthegunmyselfuntilabetteroffered.”
“Whatcanthismean?”demandedDuncan’“wearewatched,and,asitwouldseem,markedfordestruction.”
“Yonderscatteredbrandcanwitnessthatnogoodwasintended,andthisIndianwilltestifythatnoharmhasbeendone,”returnedthescout,droppinghisrifleacrosshisarmagain,andfollowingChingachgook,whojustthenreappearedwithinthecircleoflight,intothebosomofthework.“Howisit,Sagamore?
AretheMingoesuponusinearnest,orisitonlyoneofthosereptileswhohangupontheskirtsofawar–party,toscalpthedead,goin,andmaketheirboastamongthesquawsofthevaliantdeedsdoneonthepalefaces?”
Chingachgookveryquietlyresumedhisseat;nordidhemakeanyreply,untilafterhehadexaminedthefirebrandwhichhadbeenstruckbythebulletthathadnearlyprovedfataltohimself.
Afterwhichhewascontenttoreply,holdingasinglefingeruptoview,withtheEnglishmonosyllable:
“One.”
“Ithoughtasmuch,”returnedHawkeye,seatinghimself;“andashehadgotthecoverofthelakeaforeUncaspulleduponhim,itismorethanprobabletheknavewillsinghisliesaboutsomegreatambushment,inwhichhewasoutlyingonthetrailoftwoMohicansandawhitehunter—fortheofficerscanbeconsideredaslittlebetterthanidlersinsuchascrimmage.Well,lethim—lethim.
Therearealwayssomehonestmenineverynation,thoughheavenknows,too,thattheyarescarceamongtheMaquas,tolookdownanupstartwhenhebragsag’inthefaceofreason.
Thevarletsenthisleadwithinwhistleofyourears,Sagamore.”
Chingachgookturnedacalmandincuriouseyetowardtheplacewheretheballhadstruck,andthenresumedhisformerattitude,withacomposurethatcouldnotbedisturbedbysotriflinganincident.
JustthenUncasglidedintothecircle,andseatedhimselfatthefire,withthesameappearanceofindifferenceaswasmaintainedbyhisfather.
OftheseseveralmomentsHeywardwasadeeplyinterestedandwonderingobserver.
Itappearedtohimasthoughtheforestershadsomesecretmeansofintelligence,whichhadescapedthevigilanceofhisownfaculties.
Inplaceofthateagerandgarrulousnarrationwithwhichawhiteyouthwouldhaveendeavoredtocommunicate,andperhapsexaggerate,thatwhichhadpassedoutinthedarknessoftheplain,theyoungwarriorwasseeminglycontenttolethisdeedsspeakforthemselves.
Itwas,infact,neitherthemomentnortheoccasionforanIndiantoboastofhisexploits;anditisprobablythat,hadHeywardneglectedtoinquire,notanothersyllablewould,justthen,havebeenutteredonthesubject.
“Whathasbecomeofourenemy,Uncas?”demandedDuncan;“weheardyourrifle,andhopedyouhadnotfiredinvain.”
Theyoungchiefremovedafoldofhishuntingskirt,andquietlyexposedthefataltuftofhair,whichheboreasthesymbolofvictory.
Chingachgooklaidhishandonthescalp,andconsidereditforamomentwithdeepattention.
Thendroppingit,withdisgustdepictedinhisstrongfeatures,heejaculated:
“Oneida!”
“Oneida!”repeatedthescout,whowasfastlosinghisinterestinthescene,inanapathynearlyassimilatedtothatofhisredassociates,butwhonowadvancedinuncommonearnestnesstoregardthebloodybadge.
“BytheLord,iftheOneidasareoutlyinguponthetrail,weshallbyflankedbydevilsoneverysideofus!
Now,towhiteeyesthereisnodifferencebetweenthisbitofskinandthatofanyotherIndian,andyettheSagamoredeclaresitcamefromthepollofaMingo;nay,heevennamesthetribeofthepoordevil,withasmucheaseasifthescalpwastheleafofabook,andeachhairaletter.
WhatrighthaveChristianwhitestoboastoftheirlearning,whenasavagecanreadalanguagethatwouldprovetoomuchforthewisestofthemall!
Whatsayyou,lad,ofwhatpeoplewastheknave?”
Uncasraisedhiseyestothefaceofthescout,andanswered,inhissoftvoice:
“Oneida.”
“Oneida,again!whenoneIndianmakesadeclarationitiscommonlytrue;butwhenheissupportedbyhispeople,setitdownasgospel!”
“ThepoorfellowhasmistakenusforFrench,”saidHeyward;“orhewouldnothaveattemptedthelifeofafriend.”
“HemistakeaMohicaninhispaintforaHuron!
Youwouldbeaslikelytomistakethewhite–coatedgrenadiersofMontcalmforthescarletjacketsoftheRoyalAmericans,”returnedthescout.
“No,no,thesarpentknewhiserrand;norwasthereanygreatmistakeinthematter,forthereisbutlittleloveatweenaDelawareandaMingo,lettheirtribesgoouttofightforwhomtheymay,inawhitequarrel.
Forthatmatter,thoughtheOneidasdoservehissacredmajesty,whoismysovereignlordandmaster,Ishouldnothavedeliberatedlongaboutlettingoff‘killdeer’attheimpmyself,hadluckthrownhiminmyway.”
“Thatwouldhavebeenanabuseofourtreaties,andunworthyofyourcharacter.”
“Whenamanconsortmuchwithapeople,”continuedHawkeye,“iftheywerehonestandhenoknave,lovewillgrowupatwixtthem.
Itistruethatwhitecunninghasmanagedtothrowthetribesintogreatconfusion,asrespectsfriendsandenemies;sothattheHuronsandtheOneidas,whospeakthesametongue,orwhatmaybecalledthesame,takeeachother’sscalps,andtheDelawaresaredividedamongthemselves;afewhangingabouttheirgreatcouncil–fireontheirownriver,andfightingonthesamesidewiththeMingoeswhilethegreaterpartareintheCanadas,outofnaturalenmitytotheMaquas—thusthrowingeverythingintodisorder,anddestroyingalltheharmonyofwarfare.
Yetarednatur’isnotlikelytoalterwitheveryshiftofpolicy;sothattheloveatwixtaMohicanandaMingoismuchliketheregardbetweenawhitemanandasarpent.”
“Iregrettohearit;forIhadbelievedthosenativeswhodweltwithinourboundarieshadfoundustoojustandliberal,nottoidentifythemselvesfullywithourquarrels.”
“Why,Ibelieveitisnatur’togiveapreferencetoone’sownquarrelsbeforethoseofstrangers.
Now,formyself,Idolovejustice;and,therefore,IwillnotsayIhateaMingo,forthatmaybeunsuitabletomycolorandmyreligion,thoughIwilljustrepeat,itmayhavebeenowingtothenightthat‘killdeer’hadnohandinthedeathofthisskulkingOneida.”
Then,asifsatisfiedwiththeforceofhisownreasons,whatevermightbetheireffectontheopinionsoftheotherdisputant,thehonestbutimplacablewoodsmanturnedfromthefire,contenttoletthecontroversyslumber.
Heywardwithdrewtotherampart,toouneasyandtoolittleaccustomedtothewarfareofthewoodstoremainateaseunderthepossibilityofsuchinsidiousattacks.
Notso,however,withthescoutandtheMohicans.
Thoseacuteandlong–practisedsenses,whosepowerssooftenexceedthelimitsofallordinarycredulity,afterhavingdetectedthedanger,hadenabledthemtoascertainitsmagnitudeandduration.
Notoneofthethreeappearedintheleasttodoubttheirperfectsecurity,aswasindicatedbythepreparationsthatweresoonmadetositincouncilovertheirfutureproceedings.
Theconfusionofnations,andevenoftribes,towhichHawkeyealluded,existedatthatperiodinthefullestforce.
Thegreattieoflanguage,and,ofcourse,ofacommonorigin,wasseveredinmanyplaces;anditwasoneofitsconsequences,thattheDelawareandtheMingo(asthepeopleoftheSixNationswerecalled)werefoundfightinginthesameranks,whilethelattersoughtthescalpoftheHuron,thoughbelievedtobetherootofhisownstock.
TheDelawareswereevendividedamongthemselves.
ThoughloveforthesoilwhichhadbelongedtohisancestorskepttheSagamoreoftheMohicanswithasmallbandoffollowerswhowereservingatEdward,underthebannersoftheEnglishking,byfarthelargestportionofhisnationwereknowntobeinthefieldasalliesofMontcalm.
Thereaderprobablyknows,ifenoughhasnotalreadybeengleanedformthisnarrative,thattheDelaware,orLenape,claimedtobetheprogenitorsofthatnumerouspeople,whoonceweremastersofmostoftheeasternandnorthernstatesofAmerica,ofwhomthecommunityoftheMohicanswasanancientandhighlyhonoredmember.
Itwas,ofcourse,withaperfectunderstandingoftheminuteandintricateinterestswhichhadarmedfriendagainstfriend,andbroughtnaturalenemiestocombatbyeachother’sside,thatthescoutandhiscompanionsnowdisposedthemselvestodeliberateonthemeasuresthatweretogoverntheirfuturemovements,amidsomanyjarringandsavageracesofmen.
DuncanknewenoughofIndiancustomstounderstandthereasonthatthefirewasreplenished,andwhythewarriors,notexceptingHawkeye,tooktheirseatswithinthecurlofitssmokewithsomuchgravityanddecorum.
Placinghimselfatanangleoftheworks,wherehemightbeaspectatorofthescenewithout,heawaitedtheresultwithasmuchpatienceashecouldsummon.
Afterashortandimpressivepause,Chingachgooklightedapipewhosebowlwascuriouslycarvedinoneofthesoftstonesofthecountry,andwhosestemwasatubeofwood,andcommencedsmoking.
Whenhehadinhaledenoughofthefragranceofthesoothingweed,hepassedtheinstrumentintothehandsofthescout.
Inthismannerthepipehadmadeitsroundsthreeseveraltimes,amidthemostprofoundsilence,beforeeitherofthepartyopenedhislips.
ThentheSagamore,astheoldestandhighestinrank,inafewcalmanddignifiedwords,proposedthesubjectfordeliberation.
Hewasansweredbythescout;andChingachgookrejoined,whentheotherobjectedtohisopinions.
ButtheyouthfulUncascontinuedasilentandrespectfullistener,untilHawkeye,incomplaisance,demandedhisopinion.
Heywardgatheredfromthemannersofthedifferentspeakers,thatthefatherandsonespousedonesideofadisputedquestion,whilethewhitemanmaintainedtheother.
Thecontestgraduallygrewwarmer,untilitwasquiteevidentthefeelingsofthespeakersbegantobesomewhatenlistedinthedebate.
Notwithstandingtheincreasingwarmthoftheamicablecontest,themostdecorousChristianassembly,notevenexceptingthoseinwhichitsreverendministersarecollected,mighthavelearnedawholesomelessonofmoderationfromtheforbearanceandcourtesyofthedisputants.
ThewordsofUncaswerereceivedwiththesamedeepattentionasthosewhichfellfromthematurerwisdomofhisfather;andsofarfrommanifestinganyimpatience,neitherspokeinreply,untilafewmomentsofsilentmeditationwere,seemingly,bestowedindeliberatingonwhathadalreadybeensaid.
ThelanguageoftheMohicanswasaccompaniedbygesturessodirectandnaturalthatHeywardhadbutlittledifficultyinfollowingthethreadoftheirargument.
Ontheotherhand,thescoutwasobscure;becausefromthelingeringprideofcolor,heratheraffectedthecoldandartificialmannerwhichcharacterizesallclassesofAnglo–Americanswhenunexcited.
BythefrequencywithwhichtheIndiansdescribedthemarksofaforesttrial,itwasevidenttheyurgedapursuitbyland,whiletherepeatedsweepofHawkeye’sarmtowardtheHoricandenotedthathewasforapassageacrossitswaters.
Thelatterwastoeveryappearancefastlosingground,andthepointwasabouttobedecidedagainsthim,whenhearosetohisfeet,andshakingoffhisapathy,hesuddenlyassumedthemannerofanIndian,andadoptedalltheartsofnativeeloquence.
Elevatinganarm,hepointedoutthetrackofthesun,repeatingthegestureforeverydaythatwasnecessarytoaccomplishtheirobjects.
Thenhedelineatedalongandpainfulpath,amidrocksandwater–courses.
TheageandweaknessoftheslumberingandunconsciousMunrowereindicatedbysignstoopalpabletobemistaken.
Duncanperceivedthatevenhisownpowerswerespokenlightlyof,asthescoutextendedhispalm,andmentionedhimbytheappellationofthe“OpenHand”—anamehisliberalityhadpurchasedofallthefriendlytribes.
Thencamearepresentationofthelightandgracefulmovementsofacanoe,setinforciblecontrasttothetotteringstepsofoneenfeebledandtired.
HeconcludedbypointingtothescalpoftheOneida,andapparentlyurgingthenecessityoftheirdepartingspeedily,andinamannerthatshouldleavenotrail.
TheMohicanslistenedgravely,andwithcountenancesthatreflectedthesentimentsofthespeaker.
Convictiongraduallywroughtitsinfluence,andtowardthecloseofHawkeye’sspeech,hissentenceswereaccompaniedbythecustomaryexclamationofcommendation.
Inshort,Uncasandhisfatherbecameconvertstohiswayofthinking,abandoningtheirownpreviouslyexpressedopinionswithaliberalityandcandorthat,hadtheybeentherepresentativesofsomegreatandcivilizedpeople,wouldhaveinfalliblyworkedtheirpoliticalruin,bydestroyingforevertheirreputationforconsistency.
Theinstantthematterindiscussionwasdecided,thedebate,andeverythingconnectedwithit,excepttheresultappearedtobeforgotten.
Hawkeye,withoutlookingroundtoreadhistriumphinapplaudingeyes,verycomposedlystretchedhistallframebeforethedyingembers,andclosedhisownorgansinsleep.
Leftnowinameasuretothemselves,theMohicans,whosetimehadbeensomuchdevotedtotheinterestsofothers,seizedthemomenttodevotesomeattentiontothemselves.
CastingoffatoncethegraveandausteredemeanorofanIndianchief,Chingachgookcommencedspeakingtohissoninthesoftandplayfultonesofaffection.
Uncasgladlymetthefamiliarairofhisfather;andbeforethehardbreathingofthescoutannouncedthatheslept,acompletechangewaseffectedinthemannerofhistwoassociates.
Itisimpossibletodescribethemusicoftheirlanguage,whilethusengagedinlaughterandendearments,insuchawayastorenderitintelligibletothosewhoseearshaveneverlistenedtoitsmelody.
Thecompassoftheirvoices,particularlythatoftheyouth,waswonderful—extendingfromthedeepestbasstotonesthatwereevenfeminineinsoftness.
Theeyesofthefatherfollowedtheplasticandingeniousmovementsofthesonwithopendelight,andheneverfailedtosmileinreplytotheother’scontagiousbutlowlaughter.
Whileundertheinfluenceofthesegentleandnaturalfeelings,notraceofferocitywastobeseeninthesoftenedfeaturesoftheSagamore.
Hisfiguredpanoplyofdeathlookedmorelikeadisguiseassumedinmockerythanafierceannunciationofadesiretocarrydestructioninhisfootsteps.
Afteranhourhadpassedintheindulgenceoftheirbetterfeelings,Chingachgookabruptlyannouncedhisdesiretosleep,bywrappinghisheadinhisblanketandstretchinghisformonthenakedearth.
ThemerrimentofUncasinstantlyceased;andcarefullyrakingthecoalsinsuchamannerthattheyshouldimparttheirwarmthtohisfather’sfeet,theyouthsoughthisownpillowamongtheruinsoftheplace.
Imbibingrenewedconfidencefromthesecurityoftheseexperiencedforesters,Heywardsoonimitatedtheirexample;andlongbeforethenighthadturned,theywholayinthebosomoftheruinedwork,seemedtoslumberasheavilyastheunconsciousmultitudewhoseboneswerealreadybeginningtobleachonthesurroundingplain.
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