English
Ifyoufindamanthere,heshalldieaflea’sdeath.
—MerryWivesofWindsor
Thepartyhadlandedontheborderofaregionthatis,eventothisday,lessknowntotheinhabitantsoftheStatesthanthedesertsofArabia,orthesteppesofTartary.
ItwasthesterileandruggeddistrictwhichseparatesthetributariesofChamplainfromthoseoftheHudson,theMohawk,andtheSt.Lawrence.
Sincetheperiodofourtaletheactivespiritofthecountryhassurroundeditwithabeltofrichandthrivingsettlements,thoughnonebutthehunterorthesavageiseverknownevennowtopenetrateitswildrecesses.
AsHawkeyeandtheMohicanshad,however,oftentraversedthemountainsandvalleysofthisvastwilderness,theydidnothesitatetoplungeintoitsdepth,withthefreedomofmenaccustomedtoitsprivationsanddifficulties.
Formanyhoursthetravelerstoiledontheirlaboriousway,guidedbyastar,orfollowingthedirectionofsomewater–course,untilthescoutcalledahalt,andholdingashortconsultationwiththeIndians,theylightedtheirfire,andmadetheusualpreparationstopasstheremainderofthenightwheretheythenwere.
Imitatingtheexample,andemulatingtheconfidenceoftheirmoreexperiencedassociates,MunroandDuncansleptwithoutfear,ifnowwithoutuneasiness.
Thedewsweresufferedtoexhale,andthesunhaddispersedthemists,andwassheddingastrongandclearlightintheforest,whenthetravelersresumedtheirjourney.
Afterproceedingafewmiles,theprogressofHawkeye,wholedtheadvance,becamemoredeliberateandwatchful.
Heoftenstoppedtoexaminethetrees;nordidhecrossarivuletwithoutattentivelyconsideringthequantity,thevelocity,andthecolorofitswaters.
Distrustinghisownjudgment,hisappealstotheopinionofChingachgookwerefrequentandearnest.
DuringoneoftheseconferencesHeywardobservedthatUncasstoodapatientandsilent,though,asheimagined,aninterestedlistener.
Hewasstronglytemptedtoaddresstheyoungchief,anddemandhisopinionoftheirprogress;butthecalmanddignifieddemeanorofthenativeinducedhimtobelieve,that,likehimself,theotherwaswhollydependentonthesagacityandintelligenceoftheseniorsoftheparty.
AtlastthescoutspokeinEnglish,andatonceexplainedtheembarrassmentoftheirsituation.
“WhenIfoundthatthehomepathoftheHuronsrunnorth,”hesaid,“itdidnotneedthejudgmentofmanylongyearstotellthattheywouldfollowthevalleys,andkeepatweenthewatersoftheHudsonandtheHorican,untiltheymightstrikethespringsoftheCanadastreams,whichwouldleadthemintotheheartofthecountryoftheFrenchers.
Yetherearewe,withinashortrangeoftheScaroons,andnotasignofatrailhavewecrossed!
Humannatur’isweak,anditispossiblewemaynothavetakentheproperscent.”
“Heavenprotectusfromsuchanerror!”exclaimedDuncan.“Letusretraceoursteps,andexamineaswego,withkeenereyes.HasUncasnocounseltoofferinsuchastrait?”
TheyoungMohicancastaglanceathisfather,but,maintaininghisquietandreservedmien,hecontinuedsilent.
Chingachgookhadcaughtthelook,andmotioningwithhishand,hebadehimspeak.
Themomentthispermissionwasaccorded,thecountenanceofUncaschangedfromitsgravecomposuretoagleamofintelligenceandjoy.
Boundingforwardlikeadeer,hesprangupthesideofalittleacclivity,afewrodsinadvance,andstood,exultingly,overaspotoffreshearth,thatlookedasthoughithadbeenrecentlyupturnedbythepassageofsomeheavyanimal.
Theeyesofthewholepartyfollowedtheunexpectedmovement,andreadtheirsuccessintheairoftriumphthattheyouthassumed.
”’Tisthetrail!”exclaimedthescout,advancingtothespot;“theladisquickofsightandkeenofwitforhisyears.”
”’Tisextraordinarythatheshouldhavewithheldhisknowledgesolong,”mutteredDuncan,athiselbow.
“Itwouldhavebeenmorewonderfulhadhespokenwithoutabidding.
No,no;youryoungwhite,whogathershislearningfrombooksandcanmeasurewhatheknowsbythepage,mayconceitthathisknowledge,likehislegs,outrunsthatofhisfathers’,but,whereexperienceisthemaster,thescholarismadetoknowthevalueofyears,andrespectsthemaccordingly.”
“See!”saidUncas,pointingnorthandsouth,attheevidentmarksofthebroadtrailoneithersideofhim,“thedark–hairhasgonetowardtheforest.”
“Houndneverranonamorebeautifulscent,”respondedthescout,dashingforward,atonce,ontheindicatedroute;“wearefavored,greatlyfavored,andcanfollowwithhighnoses.
Ay,herearebothyourwaddlingbeasts:thisHurontravelslikeawhitegeneral.
Thefellowisstrickenwithajudgment,andismad!
Looksharpforwheels,Sagamore,”hecontinued,lookingback,andlaughinginhisnewlyawakenedsatisfaction;“weshallsoonhavethefooljourneyinginacoach,andthatwiththreeofthebestpairofeyesonthebordersinhisrear.”
Thespiritsofthescout,andtheastonishingsuccessofthechase,inwhichacircuitousdistanceofmorethanfortymileshadbeenpassed,didnotfailtoimpartaportionofhopetothewholeparty.
Theiradvancewasrapid;andmadewithasmuchconfidenceasatravelerwouldproceedalongawidehighway.
Ifarock,orarivulet,orabitofearthharderthancommon,severedthelinksoftheclewtheyfollowed,thetrueeyeofthescoutrecoveredthematadistance,andseldomrenderedthedelayofasinglemomentnecessary.
TheirprogresswasmuchfacilitatedbythecertaintythatMaguahadfounditnecessarytojourneythroughthevalleys;acircumstancewhichrenderedthegeneraldirectionoftheroutesure.
NorhadtheHuronentirelyneglectedtheartsuniformlypractisedbythenativeswhenretiringinfrontofanenemy.
Falsetrailsandsuddenturningswerefrequent,whereverabrookortheformationofthegroundrenderedthemfeasible;buthispursuerswererarelydeceived,andneverfailedtodetecttheirerror,beforetheyhadlosteithertimeordistanceonthedeceptivetrack.
BythemiddleoftheafternoontheyhadpassedtheScaroons,andwerefollowingtherouteofthedecliningsun.
Afterdescendinganeminencetoalowbottom,throughwhichaswiftstreamglided,theysuddenlycametoaplacewherethepartyofLeRenardhadmadeahalt.
Extinguishedbrandswerelyingaroundaspring,theoffalsofadeerwerescatteredabouttheplace,andthetreesboreevidentmarksofhavingbeenbrowsedbythehorses.
Atalittledistance,Heywarddiscovered,andcontemplatedwithtenderemotion,thesmallbowerunderwhichhewasfaintobelievethatCoraandAlicehadreposed.
Butwhiletheearthwastrodden,andthefootstepsofbothmenandbeastsweresoplainlyvisiblearoundtheplace,thetrailappearedtohavesuddenlyended.
ItwaseasytofollowthetracksoftheNarragansetts,buttheyseemedonlytohavewanderedwithoutguides,oranyotherobjectthanthepursuitoffood.
AtlengthUncas,who,withhisfather,hadendeavoredtotracetherouteofthehorses,cameuponasignoftheirpresencethatwasquiterecent.
Beforefollowingtheclew,hecommunicatedhissuccesstohiscompanions;andwhilethelatterwereconsultingonthecircumstance,theyouthreappeared,leadingthetwofillies,withtheirsaddlesbroken,andthehousingssoiled,asthoughtheyhadbeenpermittedtorunatwillforseveraldays.
“Whatshouldthisprove?”saidDuncan,turningpale,andglancinghiseyesaroundhim,asifhefearedthebrushandleaveswereabouttogiveupsomehorridsecret.
“Thatourmarchiscometoaquickend,andthatweareinanenemy’scountry,”returnedthescout.
“Hadtheknavebeenpressed,andthegentleoneswantedhorsestokeepupwiththeparty,hemighthavetakentheirscalps;butwithoutanenemyathisheels,andwithsuchruggedbeastsasthese,hewouldnothurtahairoftheirheads.
Iknowyourthoughts,andshamebeittoourcolorthatyouhavereasonforthem;buthewhothinksthatevenaMingowouldill–treatawoman,unlessitbetotomahawkher,knowsnothingofIndiannatur’,orthelawsofthewoods.
No,no;IhaveheardthattheFrenchIndianshadcomeintothesehillstohuntthemoose,andwearegettingwithinscentoftheircamp.Whyshouldtheynot?
ThemorningandeveninggunsofTymaybeheardanydayamongthesemountains;fortheFrenchersarerunninganewlineatweentheprovincesofthekingandtheCanadas.
Itistruethatthehorsesarehere,buttheHuronsaregone;letus,then,huntforthepathbywhichtheyparted.”
HawkeyeandtheMohicansnowappliedthemselvestotheirtaskingoodearnest.
Acircleofafewhundredfeetincircumferencewasdrawn,andeachofthepartytookasegmentforhisportion.
Theexamination,however,resultedinnodiscovery.
Theimpressionsoffootstepswerenumerous,buttheyallappearedlikethoseofmenwhohadwanderedaboutthespot,withoutanydesigntoquitit.
Againthescoutandhiscompanionsmadethecircuitofthehaltingplace,eachslowlyfollowingtheother,untiltheyassembledinthecenteroncemore,nowiserthanwhentheystarted.
“Suchcunningisnotwithoutitsdeviltry,”exclaimedHawkeye,whenhemetthedisappointedlooksofhisassistants.
“Wemustgetdowntoit,Sagamore,beginningatthespring,andgoingoverthegroundbyinches.TheHuronshallneverbraginhistribethathehasafootwhichleavesnoprint.”
Settingtheexamplehimself,thescoutengagedinthescrutinywithrenewedzeal.Notaleafwasleftunturned.
Thestickswereremoved,andthestoneslifted;forIndiancunningwasknownfrequentlytoadopttheseobjectsascovers,laboringwiththeutmostpatienceandindustry,toconcealeachfootstepastheyproceeded.Stillnodiscoverywasmade.
AtlengthUncas,whoseactivityhadenabledhimtoachievehisportionofthetaskthesoonest,rakedtheearthacrosstheturbidlittlerillwhichranfromthespring,anddiverteditscourseintoanotherchannel.
Sosoonasitsnarrowbedbelowthedamwasdry,hestoopedoveritwithkeenandcuriouseyes.
Acryofexultationimmediatelyannouncedthesuccessoftheyoungwarrior.
ThewholepartycrowdedtothespotwhereUncaspointedouttheimpressionofamoccasininthemoistalluvion.
“Thisladwillbeanhonortohispeople,”saidHawkeye,regardingthetrailwithasmuchadmirationasanaturalistwouldexpendonthetuskofamammothortheribofamastodon;“ay,andathorninthesidesoftheHurons.
YetthatisnotthefootstepofanIndian!
theweightistoomuchontheheel,andthetoesaresquared,asthoughoneoftheFrenchdancershadbeenin,pigeon–winginghistribe!
Runback,Uncas,andbringmethesizeofthesinger’sfoot.
Youwillfindabeautifulprintofitjustoppositeyonrock,aginthehillside.”
Whiletheyouthwasengagedinthiscommission,thescoutandChingachgookwereattentivelyconsideringtheimpressions.
Themeasurementsagreed,andtheformerunhesitatinglypronouncedthatthefootstepwasthatofDavid,whohadoncemorebeenmadetoexchangehisshoesformoccasins.
“Icannowreadthewholeofit,asplainlyasifIhadseentheartsofLeSubtil,”headded;“thesingerbeingamanwhosegiftslaychieflyinhisthroatandfeet,wasmadetogofirst,andtheothershavetrodinhissteps,imitatingtheirformation.”
“But,”criedDuncan,“Iseenosignsof—”
“Thegentleones,”interruptedthescout;“thevarlethasfoundawaytocarrythem,untilhesupposedhehadthrownanyfollowersoffthescent.
Mylifeonit,weseetheirprettylittlefeetagain,beforemanyrodsgoby.”
Thewholepartynowproceeded,followingthecourseoftherill,keepinganxiouseyesontheregularimpressions.
Thewatersoonflowedintoitsbedagain,butwatchingthegroundoneitherside,theforesterspursuedtheirwaycontentwithknowingthatthetraillaybeneath.
Morethanhalfamilewaspassed,beforetherillrippledclosearoundthebaseofanextensiveanddryrock.
HeretheypausedtomakesurethattheHuronshadnotquittedthewater.
Itwasfortunatetheydidso.ForthequickandactiveUncassoonfoundtheimpressionofafootonabunchofmoss,whereitwouldseemanIndianhadinadvertentlytrodden.
Pursuingthedirectiongivenbythisdiscovery,heenteredtheneighboringthicket,andstruckthetrail,asfreshandobviousasithadbeenbeforetheyreachedthespring.
Anothershoutannouncedthegoodfortuneoftheyouthtohiscompanions,andatonceterminatedthesearch.
“Ay,ithasbeenplannedwithIndianjudgment,”saidthescout,whenthepartywasassembledaroundtheplace,“andwouldhaveblindedwhiteeyes.”
“Shallweproceed?”demandedHeyward.
“Softly,softly,weknowourpath;butitisgoodtoexaminetheformationofthings.
Thisismyschooling,major;andifoneneglectsthebook,thereislittlechanceoflearningfromtheopenlandofProvidence.
Allisplainbutonething,whichisthemannerthattheknavecontrivedtogetthegentleonesalongtheblindtrail.
EvenaHuronwouldbetooproudtolettheirtenderfeettouchthewater.”
“Willthisassistinexplainingthedifficulty?”
saidHeyward,pointingtowardthefragmentsofasortofhandbarrow,thathadbeenrudelyconstructedofboughs,andboundtogetherwithwithes,andwhichnowseemedcarelesslycastasideasuseless.
”’Tisexplained!”criedthedelightedHawkeye.
“Ifthemvarletshavepassedaminute,theyhavespenthoursinstrivingtofabricatealyingendtotheirtrail!
Well,I’veknownthemtowasteadayinthesamemannertoaslittlepurpose.
Herewehavethreepairofmoccasins,andtwooflittlefeet.
Itisamazingthatanymortalbeingscanjourneyonlimbssosmall!
Passmethethongofbuckskin,Uncas,andletmetakethelengthofthisfoot.
BytheLord,itisnolongerthanachild’sandyetthemaidensaretallandcomely.
ThatProvidenceispartialinitsgifts,foritsownwisereasons,thebestandmostcontentedofusmustallow.”
“Thetenderlimbsofmydaughtersareunequaltothesehardships,”saidMunro,lookingatthelightfootstepsofhischildren,withaparent’slove;“weshallfindtheirfaintingformsinthisdesert.”
“Ofthatthereislittlecauseoffear,”returnedthescout,slowlyshakinghishead;“thisisafirmandstraight,thoughalightstep,andnotoverlong.
See,theheelhashardlytouchedtheground;andtherethedark–hairhasmadealittlejump,fromroottoroot.
No,no;myknowledgeforit,neitherofthemwasnighfainting,hereaway.
Now,thesingerwasbeginningtobefootsoreandleg–weary,asisplainbyhistrail.
There,yousee,heslipped;herehehastraveledwideandtottered;andthereagainitlooksasthoughhejourneyedonsnowshoes.
Ay,ay,amanwhouseshisthroataltogether,canhardlygivehislegsapropertraining.”
Fromsuchundeniabletestimonydidthepractisedwoodsmanarriveatthetruth,withnearlyasmuchcertaintyandprecisionasifhehadbeenawitnessofallthoseeventswhichhisingenuitysoeasilyelucidated.
Cheeredbytheseassurances,andsatisfiedbyareasoningthatwassoobvious,whileitwassosimple,thepartyresumeditscourse,aftermakingashorthalt,totakeahurriedrepast.
Whenthemealwasended,thescoutcastaglanceupwardatthesettingsun,andpushedforwardwitharapiditywhichcompelledHeywardandthestillvigorousMunrotoexertalltheirmusclestoequal.
Theirroutenowlayalongthebottomwhichhasalreadybeenmentioned.
AstheHuronshadmadenofurthereffortstoconcealtheirfootsteps,theprogressofthepursuerswasnolongerdelayedbyuncertainty.
Beforeanhourhadelapsed,however,thespeedofHawkeyesensiblyabated,andhishead,insteadofmaintainingitsformerdirectandforwardlook,begantoturnsuspiciouslyfromsidetoside,asifhewereconsciousofapproachingdanger.
Hesoonstoppedagain,andwaitedforthewholepartytocomeup.
“IscenttheHurons,”hesaid,speakingtotheMohicans;“yonderisopensky,throughthetreetops,andwearegettingtoonightheirencampment.
Sagamore,youwilltakethehillside,totheright;Uncaswillbendalongthebrooktotheleft,whileIwilltrythetrail.
Ifanythingshouldhappen,thecallwillbethreecroaksofacrow.
Isawoneofthebirdsfanninghimselfintheair,justbeyondthedeadoak—anothersignthatweareapproachinganencampment.”
TheIndiansdepartedtheirseveralwayswithoutreply,whileHawkeyecautiouslyproceededwiththetwogentlemen.
Heywardsoonpressedtothesideoftheirguide,eagertocatchanearlyglimpseofthoseenemieshehadpursuedwithsomuchtoilandanxiety.
Hiscompaniontoldhimtostealtotheedgeofthewood,which,asusual,wasfringedwithathicket,andwaithiscoming,forhewishedtoexaminecertainsuspicioussignsalittleononeside.
Duncanobeyed,andsoonfoundhimselfinasituationtocommandaviewwhichhefoundasextraordinaryasitwasnovel.
Thetreesofmanyacreshadbeenfelled,andtheglowofamildsummer’seveninghadfallenontheclearing,inbeautifulcontrasttothegraylightoftheforest.
AshortdistancefromtheplacewhereDuncanstood,thestreamhadseeminglyexpandedintoalittlelake,coveringmostofthelowland,frommountaintomountain.
Thewaterfelloutofthiswidebasin,inacataractsoregularandgentle,thatitappearedrathertobetheworkofhumanhandsthanfashionedbynature.
Ahundredearthendwellingsstoodonthemarginofthelake,andeveninitswaters,asthoughthelatterhadoverfloweditsusualbanks.
Theirroundedroofs,admirablymoldedfordefenseagainsttheweather,denotedmoreofindustryandforesightthanthenativeswerewonttobestowontheirregularhabitations,muchlessonthosetheyoccupiedforthetemporarypurposesofhuntingandwar.
Inshort,thewholevillageortown,whicheveritmightbetermed,possessedmoreofmethodandneatnessofexecution,thanthewhitemenhadbeenaccustomedtobelievebelonged,ordinarily,totheIndianhabits.Itappeared,however,tobedeserted.
Atleast,sothoughtDuncanformanyminutes;but,atlength,hefanciedhediscoveredseveralhumanformsadvancingtowardhimonallfours,andapparentlydragginginthetrainsomeheavy,andashewasquicktoapprehend,someformidableengine.
Justthenafewdark–lookingheadsgleamedoutofthedwellings,andtheplaceseemedsuddenlyalivewithbeings,which,however,glidedfromcovertocoversoswiftly,astoallownoopportunityofexaminingtheirhumorsorpursuits.
Alarmedatthesesuspiciousandinexplicablemovements,hewasabouttoattemptthesignalofthecrows,whentherustlingofleavesathanddrewhiseyesinanotherdirection.
Theyoungmanstarted,andrecoiledafewpacesinstinctively,whenhefoundhimselfwithinahundredyardsofastrangerIndian.
Recoveringhisrecollectionontheinstant,insteadofsoundinganalarm,whichmightprovefataltohimself,heremainedstationary,anattentiveobserveroftheother’smotions.
AninstantofcalmobservationservedtoassureDuncanthathewasundiscovered.
Thenative,likehimself,seemedoccupiedinconsideringthelowdwellingsofthevillage,andthestolenmovementsofitsinhabitants.
Itwasimpossibletodiscovertheexpressionofhisfeaturesthroughthegrotesquemaskofpaintunderwhichtheywereconcealed,thoughDuncanfancieditwasrathermelancholythansavage.
Hisheadwasshaved,asusual,withtheexceptionofthecrown,fromwhosetuftthreeorfourfadedfeathersfromahawk’swingwerelooselydangling.
Araggedcalicomantlehalfencircledhisbody,whilehisnethergarmentwascomposedofanordinaryshirt,thesleevesofwhichweremadetoperformtheofficethatisusuallyexecutedbyamuchmorecommodiousarrangement.
Hislegswere,however,coveredwithapairofgooddeer–skinmoccasins.
Altogether,theappearanceoftheindividualwasforlornandmiserable.
Duncanwasstillcuriouslyobservingthepersonofhisneighborwhenthescoutstolesilentlyandcautiouslytohisside.
“Youseewehavereachedtheirsettlementorencampment,”whisperedtheyoungman;“andhereisoneofthesavageshimself,inaveryembarrassingpositionforourfurthermovements.”
Hawkeyestarted,anddroppedhisrifle,when,directedbythefingerofhiscompanion,thestrangercameunderhisview.
Thenloweringthedangerousmuzzlehestretchedforwardhislongneck,asiftoassistascrutinythatwasalreadyintenselykeen.
“TheimpisnotaHuron,”hesaid,“norofanyoftheCanadatribes;andyetyousee,byhisclothes,theknavehasbeenplunderingawhite.
Ay,Montcalmhasrakedthewoodsforhisinroad,andawhooping,murderingsetofvarletshashegatheredtogether.
Canyouseewherehehasputhisrifleorhisbow?”
“Heappearstohavenoarms;nordoesheseemtobeviciouslyinclined.
Unlesshecommunicatethealarmtohisfellows,who,asyousee,aredodgingaboutthewater,wehavebutlittletofearfromhim.”
ThescoutturnedtoHeyward,andregardedhimamomentwithunconcealedamazement.
Thenopeningwidehismouth,heindulgedinunrestrainedandheartfeltlaughter,thoughinthatsilentandpeculiarmannerwhichdangerhadsolongtaughthimtopractise.
Repeatingthewords,“Fellowswhoaredodgingaboutthewater!”
headded,“somuchforschoolingandpassingaboyhoodinthesettlements!
Theknavehaslonglegs,though,andshallnotbetrusted.
DoyoukeephimunderyourriflewhileIcreepinbehind,throughthebush,andtakehimalive.Fireonnoaccount.”
Heywardhadalreadypermittedhiscompaniontoburypartofhispersoninthethicket,when,stretchingforthhisarm,hearrestedhim,inordertoask:
“IfIseeyouindanger,mayInotriskashot?”
Hawkeyeregardedhimamoment,likeonewhoknewnothowtotakethequestion;then,noddinghishead,heanswered,stilllaughing,thoughinaudibly:
“Fireawholeplatoon,major.”
Inthenextmomenthewasconcealedbytheleaves.
Duncanwaitedseveralminutesinfeverishimpatience,beforehecaughtanotherglimpseofthescout.
Thenhereappeared,creepingalongtheearth,fromwhichhisdresswashardlydistinguishable,directlyintherearofhisintendedcaptive.
Havingreachedwithinafewyardsofthelatter,hearosetohisfeet,silentlyandslowly.
Atthatinstant,severalloudblowswerestruckonthewater,andDuncanturnedhiseyesjustintimetoperceivethatahundreddarkformswereplunging,inabody,intothetroubledlittlesheet.
GraspinghisriflehislookswereagainbentontheIndiannearhim.
Insteadoftakingthealarm,theunconscioussavagestretchedforwardhisneck,asifhealsowatchedthemovementsaboutthegloomylake,withasortofsillycuriosity.
Inthemeantime,theupliftedhandofHawkeyewasabovehim.
But,withoutanyapparentreason,itwaswithdrawn,anditsownerindulgedinanotherlong,thoughstillsilent,fitofmerriment.
WhenthepeculiarandheartylaughterofHawkeyewasended,insteadofgraspinghisvictimbythethroat,hetappedhimlightlyontheshoulder,andexclaimedaloud:
“Hownow,friend!haveyouamindtoteachthebeaverstosing?”
“Evenso,”wasthereadyanswer.“ItwouldseemthattheBeingthatgavethempowertoimproveHisgiftssowell,wouldnotdenythemvoicestoproclaimHispraise.”
Share this article to
FINISH