English
Bot.—Abiblweallmet?
Qui.—Pat—pat;andhere’samarvelousconvenientplaceforourrehearsal.
—MidsummerNight’sDream
Thereadermaybetterimagine,thatwedescribethesurpriseofHeyward.
HislurkingIndiansweresuddenlyconvertedintofour–footedbeasts;hislakeintoabeaverpond;hiscataractintoadam,constructedbythoseindustriousandingeniousquadrupeds;andasuspectedenemyintohistriedfriend,DavidGamut,themasterofpsalmody.
Thepresenceofthelattercreatedsomanyunexpectedhopesrelativetothesistersthat,withoutamoment’shesitation,theyoungmanbrokeoutofhisambush,andsprangforwardtojointhetwoprincipalactorsinthescene.
ThemerrimentofHawkeyewasnoteasilyappeased.
Withoutceremony,andwitharoughhand,hetwirledthesuppleGamutaroundonhisheel,andmorethanonceaffirmedthattheHuronshaddonethemselvesgreatcreditinthefashionofhiscostume.
Then,seizingthehandoftheother,hesqueezeditwithagripthatbroughttearsintotheeyesoftheplacidDavid,andwishedhimjoyofhisnewcondition.
“Youwereaboutopeningyourthroat–practisingsamongthebeavers,wereye?”hesaid.
“Thecunningdevilsknowhalfthetradealready,fortheybeatthetimewiththeirtails,asyouheardjustnow;andingoodtimeitwas,too,or‘killdeer’mighthavesoundedthefirstnoteamongthem.
Ihaveknowngreaterfools,whocouldreadandwrite,thananexperiencedoldbeaver;butasforsqualling,theanimalsareborndumb!Whatthinkyouofsuchasongasthis?”
Davidshuthissensitiveears,andevenHeywardapprisedashewasofthenatureofthecry,lookedupwardinquestofthebird,asthecawingofacrowrangintheairaboutthem.
“See!”continuedthelaughingscout,ashepointedtowardtheremainderoftheparty,who,inobediencetothesignal,werealreadyapproaching;“thisismusicwhichhasitsnaturalvirtues;itbringstwogoodriflestomyelbow,tosaynothingoftheknivesandtomahawks.
Butweseethatyouaresafe;nowtelluswhathasbecomeofthemaidens.”
“Theyarecaptivestotheheathen,”saidDavid;“and,thoughgreatlytroubledinspirit,enjoyingcomfortandsafetyinthebody.”
“Both!”demandedthebreathlessHeyward.
“Evenso.Thoughourwayfaringhasbeensoreandoursustenancescanty,wehavehadlittleothercauseforcomplaint,excepttheviolencedoneourfeelings,bybeingthusledincaptivityintoafarland.”
“Blessyefortheseverywords!”exclaimedthetremblingMunro;“Ishallthenreceivemybabes,spotlessandangel–like,asIlostthem!”
“Iknownotthattheirdeliveryisathand,”returnedthedoubtingDavid;“theleaderofthesesavagesispossessedofanevilspiritthatnopowershortofOmnipotencecantame.
Ihavetriedhimsleepingandwaking,butneithersoundsnorlanguageseemtotouchhissoul.”
“Whereistheknave?”bluntlyinterruptedthescout.
“Hehuntsthemooseto–day,withhisyoungmen;andtomorrow,asIhear,theypassfurtherintotheforests,andnighertothebordersofCanada.
Theeldermaidenisconveyedtoaneighboringpeople,whoselodgesaresituatebeyondyonderblackpinnacleofrock;whiletheyoungerisdetainedamongthewomenoftheHurons,whosedwellingsarebuttwoshortmileshence,onatable–land,wherethefirehaddonetheofficeoftheaxe,andpreparedtheplacefortheirreception.”
“Alice,mygentleAlice!”murmuredHeyward;“shehaslosttheconsolationofhersister’spresence!”
“Evenso.Butsofaraspraiseandthanksgivinginpsalmodycantemperthespiritinaffliction,shehasnotsuffered.”
“Hasshethenaheartformusic?”
“Ofthegraverandmoresolemncharacter;thoughitmustbeacknowledgedthat,inspiteofallmyendeavors,themaidenweepsoftenerthanshesmiles.
AtsuchmomentsIforbeartopresstheholysongs;buttherearemanysweetandcomfortableperiodsofsatisfactorycommunication,whentheearsofthesavagesareastoundedwiththeupliftingsofourvoices.”
“Andwhyareyoupermittedtogoatlarge,unwatched?”
Davidcomposedhisfeaturesintowhatheintendedshouldexpressanairofmodesthumility,beforehemeeklyreplied:
“LittlebethepraisetosuchawormasI.But,thoughthepowerofpsalmodywassuspendedintheterriblebusinessofthatfieldofbloodthroughwhichwehavepassed,ithasrecovereditsinfluenceevenoverthesoulsoftheheathen,andIamsufferedtogoandcomeatwill.”
Thescoutlaughed,and,tappinghisownforeheadsignificantly,heperhapsexplainedthesingularindulgencemoresatisfactorilywhenhesaid:
“TheIndiansneverharmanon–composser.
Butwhy,whenthepathlayopenbeforeyoureyes,didyounotstrikebackonyourowntrail(itisnotsoblindasthatwhichasquirrelwouldmake),andbringinthetidingstoEdward?”
Thescout,rememberingonlyhisownsturdyandironnature,hadprobablyexactedataskthatDavid,undernocircumstances,couldhaveperformed.
But,withoutentirelylosingthemeeknessofhisair,thelatterwascontenttoanswer:
“ThoughmysoulwouldrejoicetovisitthehabitationsofChristendomoncemore,myfeetwouldratherfollowthetenderspiritsintrustedtomykeeping,evenintotheidolatrousprovinceoftheJesuits,thantakeonestepbackward,whiletheypinedincaptivityandsorrow.”
ThoughthefigurativelanguageofDavidwasnotveryintelligible,thesincereandsteadyexpressionofhiseye,andtheglowofhishonestcountenance,werenoteasilymistaken.
Uncaspressedclosertohisside,andregardedthespeakerwithalookofcommendation,whilehisfatherexpressedhissatisfactionbytheordinarypithyexclamationofapprobation.
Thescoutshookhisheadasherejoined:
“TheLordneverintendedthatthemanshouldplaceallhisendeavorsinhisthroat,totheneglectofotherandbettergifts!
Buthehasfallenintothehandsofsomesillywoman,whenheshouldhavebeengatheringhiseducationunderabluesky,amongthebeautiesoftheforest.
Here,friend;Ididintendtokindleafirewiththistooting–whistleofthine;but,asyouvaluethething,takeit,andblowyourbestonit.”
Gamutreceivedhispitch–pipewithasstronganexpressionofpleasureashebelievedcompatiblewiththegravefunctionsheexercised.
Afteressayingitsvirtuesrepeatedly,incontrastwithhisownvoice,and,satisfyinghimselfthatnoneofitsmelodywaslost,hemadeaveryseriousdemonstrationtowardachievingafewstanzasofoneofthelongesteffusionsinthelittlevolumesooftenmentioned.
Heyward,however,hastilyinterruptedhispiouspurposebycontinuingquestionsconcerningthepastandpresentconditionofhisfellowcaptives,andinamannermoremethodicalthanhadbeenpermittedbyhisfeelingsintheopeningoftheirinterview.
David,thoughheregardedhistreasurewithlongingeyes,wasconstrainedtoanswer,especiallyasthevenerablefathertookapartintheinterrogatories,withaninteresttooimposingtobedenied.
Nordidthescoutfailtothrowinapertinentinquiry,wheneverafittingoccasionpresented.
Inthismanner,thoughwithfrequentinterruptionswhichwerefilledwithcertainthreateningsoundsfromtherecoveredinstrument,thepursuerswereputinpossessionofsuchleadingcircumstancesaswerelikelytoproveusefulinaccomplishingtheirgreatandengrossingobject—therecoveryofthesisters.
ThenarrativeofDavidwassimple,andthefactsbutfew.
Maguahadwaitedonthemountainuntilasafemomenttoretirepresenteditself,whenhehaddescended,andtakentheroutealongthewesternsideoftheHoricanindirectionoftheCanadas.
AsthesubtleHuronwasfamiliarwiththepaths,andwellknewtherewasnoimmediatedangerofpursuit,theirprogresshadbeenmoderate,andfarfromfatiguing.
ItappearedfromtheunembellishedstatementofDavid,thathisownpresencehadbeenratherenduredthandesired;thoughevenMaguahadnotbeenentirelyexemptfromthatvenerationwithwhichtheIndiansregardthosewhomtheGreatSpirithadvisitedintheirintellects.
Atnight,theutmostcarehadbeentakenofthecaptives,bothtopreventinjuryfromthedampsofthewoodsandtoguardagainstanescape.
Atthespring,thehorseswereturnedloose,ashasbeenseen;and,notwithstandingtheremotenessandlengthoftheirtrail,theartificesalreadynamedwereresortedto,inordertocutoffeverycluetotheirplaceofretreat.
Ontheirarrivalattheencampmentofhispeople,Magua,inobediencetoapolicyseldomdepartedfrom,separatedhisprisoners.
Corahadbeensenttoatribethattemporarilyoccupiedanadjacentvalley,thoughDavidwasfartooignorantofthecustomsandhistoryofthenatives,tobeabletodeclareanythingsatisfactoryconcerningtheirnameorcharacter.
HeonlyknewthattheyhadnotengagedinthelateexpeditionagainstWilliamHenry;that,liketheHuronsthemselvestheywerealliesofMontcalm;andthattheymaintainedanamicable,thoughawatchfulintercoursewiththewarlikeandsavagepeoplewhomchancehad,foratime,broughtinsuchcloseanddisagreeablecontactwiththemselves.
TheMohicansandthescoutlistenedtohisinterruptedandimperfectnarrative,withaninterestthatobviouslyincreasedasheproceeded;anditwaswhileattemptingtoexplainthepursuitsofthecommunityinwhichCorawasdetained,thatthelatterabruptlydemanded:
“Didyouseethefashionoftheirknives?weetheyofEnglishorFrenchformation?”
“Mythoughtswerebentonnosuchvanities,butrathermingledinconsolationwiththoseofthemaidens.”
“Thetimemaycomewhenyouwillnotconsidertheknifeofasavagesuchadespicablevanity,”returnedthescout,withastrongexpressionofcontemptfortheother’sdullness.
“Hadtheyheldtheircornfeast—orcanyousayanythingofthetotemsofthetribe?”
“Ofcorn,wehadmanyandplentifulfeasts;forthegrain,beinginthemilkisbothsweettothemouthandcomfortabletothestomach.
Oftotem,Iknownotthemeaning;butifitappertainethinanywisetotheartofIndianmusic,itneednotbeinquiredafterattheirhands.
Theyneverjointheirvoicesinpraise,anditwouldseemthattheyareamongtheprofanestoftheidolatrous.”
“Thereinyoubeliethenatur’ofanIndian.
EventheMingoadoresbutthetrueandlovingGod.
‘Tiswickedfabricationofthewhites,andIsayittotheshameofmycolorthatwouldmakethewarriorbowdownbeforeimagesofhisowncreation.
Itistrue,theyendeavortomaketrucestothewickedone—aswhowouldnotwithanenemyhecannotconquer!
buttheylookupforfavorandassistancetotheGreatandGoodSpiritonly.”
“Itmaybeso,”saidDavid;“butIhaveseenstrangeandfantasticimagesdrawnintheirpaint,ofwhichtheiradmirationandcaresavoredofspiritualpride;especiallyone,andthat,too,afoulandloathsomeobject.”
“Wasitasarpent?”quicklydemandedthescout.
“Muchthesame.Itwasinthelikenessofanabjectandcreepingtortoise.”
“Hugh!”exclaimedboththeattentiveMohicansinabreath;whilethescoutshookhisheadwiththeairofonewhohadmadeanimportantbutbynomeansapleasingdiscovery.
Thenthefatherspoke,inthelanguageoftheDelawares,andwithacalmnessanddignitythatinstantlyarrestedtheattentionevenofthosetowhomhiswordswereunintelligible.
Hisgestureswereimpressive,andattimesenergetic.
Onceheliftedhisarmonhigh;and,asitdescended,theactionthrewasidethefoldsofhislightmantle,afingerrestingonhisbreast,asifhewouldenforcehismeaningbytheattitude.
Duncan’seyesfollowedthemovement,andheperceivedthattheanimaljustmentionedwasbeautifully,thoughfaintly,workedinbluetint,ontheswarthybreastofthechief.
AllthathehadeverheardoftheviolentseparationofthevasttribesoftheDelawaresrushedacrosshismind,andheawaitedthepropermomenttospeak,withasuspensethatwasrenderednearlyintolerablebyhisinterestinthestake.
Hiswish,however,wasanticipatedbythescoutwhoturnedfromhisredfriend,saying:
“Wehavefoundthatwhichmaybegoodoreviltous,asheavendisposes.
TheSagamoreisofthehighbloodoftheDelawares,andisthegreatchiefoftheirTortoises!
Thatsomeofthisstockareamongthepeopleofwhomthesingertellsus,isplainbyhiswords;and,hadhebutspenthalfthebreathinprudentquestionsthathehasblownawayinmakingatrumpetofhisthroat,wemighthaveknownhowmanywarriorstheynumbered.
Itis,altogether,adangerouspathwemovein;forafriendwhosefaceisturnedfromyouoftenbearsabloodiermindthantheenemywhoseeksyourscalp.”
“Explain,”saidDuncan.
”’Tisalongandmelancholytradition,andoneIlittleliketothinkof;foritisnottobedeniedthattheevilhasbeenmainlydonebymenwithwhiteskins.
Butithasendedinturningthetomahawkofbrotheragainstbrother,andbroughttheMingoandtheDelawaretotravelinthesamepath.”
“You,then,suspectitisaportionofthatpeopleamongwhomCoraresides?”
Thescoutnoddedhisheadinassent,thoughheseemedanxioustowaivethefurtherdiscussionofasubjectthatappearedpainful.
TheimpatientDuncannowmadeseveralhastyanddesperatepropositionstoattemptthereleaseofthesisters.
Munroseemedtoshakeoffhisapathy,andlistenedtothewildschemesoftheyoungmanwithadeferencethathisgrayhairsandreverendyearsshouldhavedenied.
Butthescout,aftersufferingtheardorofthelovertoexpenditselfalittle,foundmeanstoconvincehimofthefollyofprecipitation,inamannerthatwouldrequiretheircoolestjudgmentandutmostfortitude.
“Itwouldbewell,”headded,“toletthismangoinagain,asusual,andforhimtotarryinthelodges,givingnoticetothegentleonesofourapproach,untilwecallhimout,bysignal,toconsult.
Youknowthecryofacrow,friend,fromthewhistleofthewhip–poor–will?”
”’Tisapleasingbird,”returnedDavid,“andhasasoftandmelancholynote!thoughthetimeisratherquickandill–measured.”
“Hespeaksofthewish–ton–wish,”saidthescout;“well,sinceyoulikehiswhistle,itshallbeyoursignal.
Remember,then,whenyouhearthewhip–poor–will’scallthreetimesrepeated,youaretocomeintothebusheswherethebirdmightbesupposed—”
“Stop,”interruptedHeyward;“Iwillaccompanyhim.”
“You!”exclaimedtheastonishedHawkeye;“areyoutiredofseeingthesunriseandset?”
“DavidisalivingproofthattheHuronscanbemerciful.”
“Ay,butDavidcanusehisthroat,asnomaninhissenseswouldpervartthegift.”
“Itoocanplaythemadman,thefool,thehero;inshort,anyoreverythingtorescueherIlove.Nameyourobjectionsnolonger:Iamresolved.”
Hawkeyeregardedtheyoungmanamomentinspeechlessamazement.
ButDuncan,who,indeferencetotheother’sskillandservices,hadhithertosubmittedsomewhatimplicitlytohisdictation,nowassumedthesuperior,withamannerthatwasnoteasilyresisted.
Hewavedhishand,insignofhisdisliketoallremonstrance,andthen,inmoretemperedlanguage,hecontinued:
“Youhavethemeansofdisguise;changeme;paintme,too,ifyouwill;inshort,altermetoanything—afool.”
“ItisnotforonelikemetosaythathewhoisalreadyformedbysopowerfulahandasProvidence,standsinneedofachange,”mutteredthediscontentedscout.
“Whenyousendyourpartiesabroadinwar,youfinditprudent,atleast,toarrangethemarksandplacesofencampment,inorderthattheywhofightonyoursidemayknowwhenandwheretoexpectafriend.”
“Listen,”interruptedDuncan;“youhaveheardfromthisfaithfulfollowerofthecaptives,thattheIndiansareoftwotribes,ifnotofdifferentnations.
Withone,whomyouthinktobeabranchoftheDelawares,issheyoucallthe‘dark–hair’;theother,andyounger,oftheladies,isundeniablywithourdeclaredenemies,theHurons.
Itbecomesmyyouthandranktoattemptthelatteradventure.
Whileyou,therefore,arenegotiatingwithyourfriendsforthereleaseofoneofthesisters,Iwilleffectthatoftheother,ordie.”
Theawakenedspiritoftheyoungsoldiergleamedinhiseyes,andhisformbecameimposingunderitsinfluence.
Hawkeye,thoughtoomuchaccustomedtoIndianartificesnottoforeseethedangeroftheexperiment,knewnotwellhowtocombatthissuddenresolution.
Perhapstherewassomethingintheproposalthatsuitedhisownhardynature,andthatsecretloveofdesperateadventure,whichhadincreasedwithhisexperience,untilhazardanddangerhadbecome,insomemeasure,necessarytotheenjoymentofhisexistence.
InsteadofcontinuingtoopposetheschemeofDuncan,hishumorsuddenlyaltered,andhelenthimselftoitsexecution.
“Come,”hesaid,withagood–humoredsmile;“thebuckthatwilltaketothewatermustbeheaded,andnotfollowed.
Chingachgookhasasmanydifferentpaintsastheengineerofficer’swife,whotakesdownnatur’onscrapsofpaper,makingthemountainslooklikecocksofrustyhay,andplacingtheblueskyinreachofyourhand.TheSagamorecanusethem,too.
Seatyourselfonthelog;andmylifeonit,hecansoonmakeanaturalfoolofyou,andthatwelltoyourliking.”
Duncancomplied;andtheMohican,whohadbeenanattentivelistenertothediscourse,readilyundertooktheoffice.
Longpractisedinallthesubtleartsofhisrace,hedrew,withgreatdexterityandquickness,thefantasticshadowthatthenativeswereaccustomedtoconsiderastheevidenceofafriendlyandjoculardisposition.
Everylinethatcouldpossiblybeinterpretedintoasecretinclinationforwar,wascarefullyavoided;while,ontheotherhand,hestudiedthoseconceitsthatmightbeconstruedintoamity.
Inshort,heentirelysacrificedeveryappearanceofthewarriortothemasqueradeofabuffoon.
SuchexhibitionswerenotuncommonamongtheIndians,andasDuncanwasalreadysufficientlydisguisedinhisdress,therecertainlydidexistsomereasonforbelievingthat,withhisknowledgeofFrench,hemightpassforajugglerfromTiconderoga,stragglingamongthealliedandfriendlytribes.
Whenhewasthoughttobesufficientlypainted,thescoutgavehimmuchfriendlyadvice;concertedsignals,andappointedtheplacewheretheyshouldmeet,intheeventofmutualsuccess.
ThepartingbetweenMunroandhisyoungfriendwasmoremelancholy;still,theformersubmittedtotheseparationwithanindifferencethathiswarmandhonestnaturewouldneverhavepermittedinamorehealthfulstateofmind.
ThescoutledHeywardaside,andacquaintedhimwithhisintentiontoleavetheveteraninsomesafeencampment,inchargeofChingachgook,whileheandUncaspursuedtheirinquiresamongthepeopletheyhadreasontobelievewereDelawares.
Then,renewinghiscautionsandadvice,heconcludedbysaying,withasolemnityandwarmthoffeeling,withwhichDuncanwasdeeplytouched:
“And,now,Godblessyou!YouhaveshownaspiritthatIlike;foritisthegiftofyouth,moreespeciallyoneofwarmbloodandastoutheart.
Butbelievethewarningofamanwhohasreasontoknowallhesaystobetrue.
Youwillhaveoccasionforyourbestmanhood,andforasharperwitthanwhatistobegatheredinbooks,aforeyououtdothecunningorgetthebetterofthecourageofaMingo.Godblessyou!
iftheHuronsmasteryourscalp,relyonthepromiseofonewhohastwostoutwarriorstobackhim.
Theyshallpayfortheirvictory,withalifeforeveryhairitholds.
Isay,younggentleman,mayProvidenceblessyourundertaking,whichisaltogetherforgood;and,remember,thattooutwittheknavesitislawfultopractisethingsthatmaynotbenaturallythegiftofawhite–skin.”
Duncanshookhisworthyandreluctantassociatewarmlybythehand,oncemorerecommendedhisagedfriendtohiscare,andreturninghisgoodwishes,hemotionedtoDavidtoproceed.
Hawkeyegazedafterthehigh–spiritedandadventurousyoungmanforseveralmoments,inopenadmiration;then,shakinghisheaddoubtingly,heturned,andledhisowndivisionofthepartyintotheconcealmentoftheforest.
TheroutetakenbyDuncanandDavidlaydirectlyacrosstheclearingofthebeavers,andalongthemarginoftheirpond.
Whentheformerfoundhimselfalonewithonesosimple,andsolittlequalifiedtorenderanyassistanceindesperateemergencies,hefirstbegantobesensibleofthedifficultiesofthetaskhehadundertaken.
Thefadinglightincreasedthegloominessofthebleakandsavagewildernessthatstretchedsofaroneverysideofhim,andtherewasevenafearfulcharacterinthestillnessofthoselittlehuts,thatheknewweresoabundantlypeopled.
Itstruckhim,ashegazedattheadmirablestructuresandthewonderfulprecautionsoftheirsagaciousinmates,thateventhebrutesofthesevastwildswerepossessedofaninstinctnearlycommensuratewithhisownreason;andhecouldnotreflect,withoutanxiety,ontheunequalcontestthathehadsorashlycourted.
ThencametheglowingimageofAlice;herdistress;heractualdanger;andalltheperilofhissituationwasforgotten.
CheeringDavid,hemovedonwiththelightandvigorousstepofyouthandenterprise.
Aftermakingnearlyasemicirclearoundthepond,theydivergedfromthewater–course,andbegantoascendtothelevelofaslightelevationinthatbottomland,overwhichtheyjourneyed.
Withinhalfanhourtheygainedthemarginofanotheropeningthatboreallthesignsofhavingbeenalsomadebythebeavers,andwhichthosesagaciousanimalshadprobablybeeninduced,bysomeaccident,toabandon,forthemoreeligiblepositiontheynowoccupied.
AverynaturalsensationcausedDuncantohesitateamoment,unwillingtoleavethecoveroftheirbushypath,asamanpausestocollecthisenergiesbeforeheessaysanyhazardousexperiment,inwhichheissecretlyconscioustheywillallbeneeded.
Heprofitedbythehalt,togathersuchinformationasmightbeobtainedfromhisshortandhastyglances.
Ontheoppositesideoftheclearing,andnearthepointwherethebrooktumbledoversomerocks,fromastillhigherlevel,somefiftyorsixtylodges,rudelyfabricatedoflogsbrush,andearthintermingled,weretobediscovered.
Theywerearrangedwithoutanyorder,andseemedtobeconstructedwithverylittleattentiontoneatnessorbeauty.
Indeed,soveryinferiorweretheyinthetwolatterparticularstothevillageDuncanhadjustseen,thathebegantoexpectasecondsurprise,nolessastonishingthattheformer.
Thisexpectationwasisnodegreediminished,when,bythedoubtfultwilight,hebeheldtwentyorthirtyformsrisingalternatelyfromthecoverofthetall,coarsegrass,infrontofthelodges,andthensinkingagainfromthesight,asitweretoburrowintheearth.
Bythesuddenandhastyglimpsesthathecaughtofthesefigures,theyseemedmorelikedark,glancingspecters,orsomeotherunearthlybeings,thancreaturesfashionedwiththeordinaryandvulgarmaterialsoffleshandblood.
Agaunt,nakedformwasseen,forasingleinstant,tossingitsarmswildlyintheair,andthenthespotithadfilledwasvacant;thefigureappearingsuddenlyinsomeotheranddistantplace,orbeingsucceededbyanother,possessingthesamemysteriouscharacter.
David,observingthathiscompanionlingered,pursuedthedirectionofhisgaze,andinsomemeasurerecalledtherecollectionofHeyward,byspeaking.
“Thereismuchfruitfulsoiluncultivatedhere,”hesaid;“and,Imayadd,withoutthesinfulleavenofself–commendation,that,sincemyshortsojournintheseheathenishabodes,muchgoodseedhasbeenscatteredbythewayside.”
“Thetribesarefonderofthechasethanoftheartsofmenoflabor,”returnedtheunconsciousDuncan,stillgazingattheobjectsofhiswonder.
“Itisratherjoythanlabortothespirit,toliftupthevoiceinpraise;butsadlydotheseboysabusetheirgifts.
RarelyhaveIfoundanyoftheirage,onwhomnaturehassofreelybestowedtheelementsofpsalmody;andsurely,surely,therearenonewhoneglectthemmore.
ThreenightshaveInowtarriedhere,andthreeseveraltimeshaveIassembledtheurchinstojoininsacredsong;andasoftenhavetheyrespondedtomyeffortswithwhoopingsandhowlingsthathavechilledmysoul!”
“Ofwhomspeakyou?”
“Ofthosechildrenofthedevil,whowastethepreciousmomentsinyonderidleantics.Ah!
thewholesomerestraintofdisciplineisbutlittleknownamongthisself–abandonedpeople.
Inacountryofbirches,arodisneverseen,anditoughtnottoappearamarvelinmyeyes,thatthechoicestblessingsofProvidencearewastedinsuchcriesasthese.”
Davidclosedhisearsagainstthejuvenilepack,whoseyelljustthenrangshrillythroughtheforest;andDuncan,sufferinghisliptocurl,asinmockeryofhisownsuperstition,saidfirmly:
“Wewillproceed.”
Withoutremovingthesafeguardsformhisears,themasterofsongcomplied,andtogethertheypursuedtheirwaytowardwhatDavidwassometimeswonttocallthe“tentsofthePhilistines.”
Share this article to
FINISH