Asinglemomentservedtoconvincetheyouththathewasmistaken.Ahandwaslaid,withapowerfulpressure,onhisarm,andthelowvoiceofUncasmutteredinhisear:
Heywardwouldgladlyhaveheardmore,butagentlepushfromhisfriendurgedhimtowardthedoor,andadmonishedhimofthedangerthatmightattendthediscoveryoftheirintercourse.
Slowlyandreluctantlyyieldingtothenecessity,hequittedtheplace,andmingledwiththethrongthathoverednigh.
Thedyingfiresintheclearingcastadimanduncertainlightontheduskyfiguresthatweresilentlystalkingtoandfro;andoccasionallyabrightergleamthancommonglancedintothelodge,andexhibitedthefigureofUncasstillmaintainingitsuprightattitudenearthedeadbodyoftheHuron.
Aknotofwarriorssoonenteredtheplaceagain,andreissuing,theyborethesenselessremainsintotheadjacentwoods.
Afterthisterminationofthescene,Duncanwanderedamongthelodges,unquestionedandunnoticed,endeavoringtofindsometraceofherinwhosebehalfheincurredtheriskheran.
Inthepresenttemperofthetribeitwouldhavebeeneasytohavefledandrejoinedhiscompanions,hadsuchawishcrossedhismind.
But,inadditiontothenever–ceasinganxietyonaccountofAlice,afresherthoughfeeblerinterestinthefateofUncasassistedtochainhimtothespot.
Hecontinued,therefore,tostrayfromhuttohut,lookingintoeachonlytoencounteradditionaldisappointment,untilhehadmadetheentirecircuitofthevillage.
Abandoningaspeciesofinquirythatprovedsofruitless,heretracedhisstepstothecouncil–lodge,resolvedtoseekandquestionDavid,inordertoputanendtohisdoubts.
Onreachingthebuilding,whichhadprovedaliketheseatofjudgmentandtheplaceofexecution,theyoungmanfoundthattheexcitementhadalreadysubsided.
Thewarriorshadreassembled,andwerenowcalmlysmoking,whiletheyconversedgravelyonthechiefincidentsoftheirrecentexpeditiontotheheadoftheHorican.
ThoughthereturnofDuncanwaslikelytoremindthemofhischaracter,andthesuspiciouscircumstancesofhisvisit,itproducednovisiblesensation.
Sofar,theterriblescenethathadjustoccurredprovedfavorabletohisviews,andherequirednootherprompterthanhisownfeelingstoconvincehimoftheexpediencyofprofitingbysounexpectedanadvantage.
Withoutseemingtohesitate,hewalkedintothelodge,andtookhisseatwithagravitythataccordedadmirablywiththedeportmentofhishosts.
Ahastybutsearchingglancesufficedtotellhimthat,thoughUncasstillremainedwherehehadlefthim,Davidhadnotreappeared.
NootherrestraintwasimposedontheformerthanthewatchfullooksofayoungHuron,whohadplacedhimselfathand;thoughanarmedwarriorleanedagainstthepostthatformedonesideofthenarrowdoorway.
Ineveryotherrespect,thecaptiveseemedatliberty;stillhewasexcludedfromallparticipationinthediscourse,andpossessedmuchmoreoftheairofsomefinelymoldedstatuethanamanhavinglifeandvolition.
Heywardhadtoorecentlywitnessedafrightfulinstanceofthepromptpunishmentsofthepeopleintowhosehandshehadfallentohazardanexposurebyanyofficiousboldness.
Hewouldgreatlyhavepreferredsilenceandmeditationtospeech,whenadiscoveryofhisrealconditionmightprovesoinstantlyfatal.
Hehadnotlongoccupiedtheseatwiselytakenalittleintheshade,whenanotheroftheelderwarriors,whospoketheFrenchlanguage,addressedhim:
“MyCanadafatherdoesnotforgethischildren,”saidthechief;“Ithankhim.Anevilspiritlivesinthewifeofoneofmyyoungmen.Canthecunningstrangerfrightenhimaway?”
HeywardpossessedsomeknowledgeofthemummerypractisedamongtheIndians,inthecasesofsuchsupposedvisitations.
Itwould,therefore,havebeendifficult,justthentohaveutteredaproposalthatwouldhavegivenhimmoresatisfaction.
Awareofthenecessityofpreservingthedignityofhisimaginarycharacter,however,herepressedhisfeelings,andansweredwithsuitablemystery:
Agestureofassentwastheanswer.TheHuronwascontentwiththeassurance,and,resuminghispipe,heawaitedthepropermomenttomove.
TheimpatientHeyward,inwardlyexecratingthecoldcustomsofthesavages,whichrequiredsuchsacrificestoappearance,wasfaintoassumeanairofindifference,equaltothatmaintainedbythechief,whowas,intruth,anearrelativeoftheafflictedwoman.
Theminuteslingered,andthedelayhadseemedanhourtotheadventurerinempiricism,whentheHuronlaidasidehispipeanddrewhisrobeacrosshisbreast,asifabouttoleadthewaytothelodgeoftheinvalid.
Justthen,awarriorofpowerfulframe,darkenedthedoor,andstalkingsilentlyamongtheattentivegroup,heseatedhimselfononeendofthelowpileofbrushwhichsustainedDuncan.
Thelattercastanimpatientlookathisneighbor,andfelthisfleshcreepwithuncontrollablehorrorwhenhefoundhimselfinactualcontactwithMagua.
Severalpipes,thathadbeenextinguished,werelightedagain;whilethenewcomer,withoutspeakingaword,drewhistomahawkfromhisgirdle,andfillingthebowlonitsheadbegantoinhalethevaporsoftheweedthroughthehollowhandle,withasmuchindifferenceasifhehadnotbeenabsenttwowearydaysonalongandtoilsomehunt.
Tenminutes,whichappearedsomanyagestoDuncan,mighthavepassedinthismanner;andthewarriorswerefairlyenvelopedinacloudofwhitesmokebeforeanyofthemspoke.
“Theyoungmenstaggerundertheirburdens,”returnedMagua.“Let‘Reed–that–bends’goonthehuntingpath;hewillmeetthem.”
Thesmokewreathedabovetheirheadsinlittleeddies,andcurlinginaspiralformitascendedswiftlythroughtheopeningintheroofofthelodge,leavingtheplacebeneathclearofitsfumes,andeachdarkvisagedistinctlyvisible.
Thelooksofmostofthewarriorswererivetedontheearth;thoughafewoftheyoungerandlessgiftedofthepartysufferedtheirwildandglaringeyeballstorollinthedirectionofawhite–headedsavage,whosatbetweentwoofthemostveneratedchiefsofthetribe.
Theformerwasratherdepressed,thanremarkableforthebearingofthenatives;andthelatterwassuchaswascommonlywornbytheordinarymenofthenation.
Likemostaroundhimformorethanaminutehislook,too,wasontheground;but,trustinghiseyesatlengthtostealaglanceaside,heperceivedthathewasbecominganobjectofgeneralattention.
“Itwasalie,”hesaid;“Ihadnoson.Hewhowascalledbythatnameisforgotten;hisbloodwaspale,anditcamenotfromtheveinsofaHuron;thewickedChippewascheatedmysquaw.
TheGreatSpirithassaid,thatthefamilyofWiss–entushshouldend;heishappywhoknowsthattheevilofhisracedieswithhimself.Ihavedone.”
Thespeaker,whowasthefatheroftherecreantyoungIndian,lookedroundandabouthim,asifseekingcommendationofhisstoicismintheeyesoftheauditors.
Theexpressionofhiseyecontradictedhisfigurativeandboastfullanguage,whileeverymuscleinhiswrinkledvisagewasworkingwithanguish.
Standingasingleminutetoenjoyhisbittertriumph,heturnedaway,asifsickeningatthegazeofmen,and,veilinghisfaceinhisblanket,hewalkedfromthelodgewiththenoiselessstepofanIndianseeking,intheprivacyofhisownabode,thesympathyofonelikehimself,aged,forlornandchildless.
TheIndians,whobelieveinthehereditarytransmissionofvirtuesanddefectsincharacter,sufferedhimtodepartinsilence.
Then,withanelevationofbreedingthatmanyinamorecultivatedstateofsocietymightprofitablyemulate,oneofthechiefsdrewtheattentionoftheyoungmenfromtheweaknesstheyhadjustwitnessed,bysaying,inacheerfulvoice,addressinghimselfincourtesytoMagua,asthenewestcomer:
“TheDelawareshavebeenlikebearsafterthehoneypots,prowlingaroundmyvillage.ButwhohaseverfoundaHuronasleep?”
ThedarknessoftheimpendingcloudwhichprecedesaburstofthunderwasnotblackerthanthebrowofMaguaasheexclaimed:
“Hislegsweregood,thoughhisarmisbetterforthehoethanthetomahawk,”returnedtheother,pointingtotheimmovableformofUncas.
Insteadofmanifestinganywomanishcuriositytofeasthiseyeswiththesightofacaptivefromapeoplehewasknowntohavesomuchreasontohate,Maguacontinuedtosmoke,withthemeditativeairthatheusuallymaintained,whentherewasnoimmediatecallonhiscunningorhiseloquence.
Althoughsecretlyamazedatthefactscommunicatedbythespeechoftheagedfather,hepermittedhimselftoasknoquestions,reservinghisinquiriesforamoresuitablemoment.
Itwasonlyafterasufficientintervalthatheshooktheashesfromhispipe,replacedthetomahawk,tightenedhisgirdle,andarose,castingforthefirsttimeaglanceinthedirectionoftheprisoner,whostoodalittlebehindhim.
Thewary,thoughseeminglyabstractedUncas,caughtaglimpseofthemovement,andturningsuddenlytothelight,theirlooksmet.
Nearaminutethesetwoboldanduntamedspiritsstoodregardingoneanothersteadilyintheeye,neitherquailingintheleastbeforethefiercegazeheencountered.
TheformofUncasdilated,andhisnostrilsopenedlikethoseofatigeratbay;butsorigidandunyieldingwashisposture,thathemighteasilyhavebeenconvertedbytheimaginationintoanexquisiteandfaultlessrepresentationofthewarlikedeityofhistribe.
ThelineamentsofthequiveringfeaturesofMaguaprovedmoreductile;hiscountenancegraduallylostitscharacterofdefianceinanexpressionofferociousjoy,andheavingabreathfromtheverybottomofhischest,hepronouncedaloudtheformidablenameof:
Eachwarriorspranguponhisfeetattheutteranceofthewell–knownappellation,andtherewasashortperiodduringwhichthestoicalconstancyofthenativeswascompletelyconqueredbysurprise.
Thewomenandchildren,wholingeredaroundtheentrance,tookupthewordsinanecho,whichwassucceededbyanothershrillandplaintivehowl.
Eachoneinpresenceseatedhimself,asthoughashamedofhisprecipitation;butitwasmanyminutesbeforetheirmeaningeyesceasedtorolltowardtheircaptive,incuriousexaminationofawarriorwhohadsooftenprovedhisprowessonthebestandproudestoftheirnation.
Uncasenjoyedhisvictory,butwascontentwithmerelyexhibitinghistriumphbyaquietsmile—anemblemofscornwhichbelongstoalltimeandeverynation.
Maguacaughttheexpression,andraisinghisarm,heshookitatthecaptive,thelightsilverornamentsattachedtohisbraceletrattlingwiththetremblingagitationofthelimb,as,inatoneofvengeance,heexclaimed,inEnglish:
“ThehealingwaterswillneverbringthedeadHuronstolife,”returnedUncas,inthemusicoftheDelawares;“thetumblingriverwashestheirbones;theirmenaresquaws:theirwomenowls.Go!
calltogethertheHurondogs,thattheymaylookuponawarrior,Mynostrilsareoffended;theyscentthebloodofacoward.”
Droppingthelightrobeofskinfromhisshoulder,hestretchedforthhisarm,andcommencedaburstofhisdangerousandartfuleloquence.
Howevermuchhisinfluenceamonghispeoplehadbeenimpairedbyhisoccasionalandbesettingweakness,aswellasbyhisdesertionofthetribe,hiscourageandhisfameasanoratorwereundeniable.
HeagainrecountedtheeventsoftheattackontheislandatGlenn’s,thedeathofhisassociatesandtheescapeoftheirmostformidableenemies.
Ofhisownbloodyintentionstowardthemaidens,andofhisbaffledmalicehemadenomention,butpassedrapidlyontothesurpriseofthepartyby“LaLongueCarabine,”anditsfataltermination.
Herehepaused,andlookedabouthim,inaffectedvenerationforthedeparted,but,intruth,tonotetheeffectofhisopeningnarrative.
Eachduskyfigureseemedabreathingstatue,somotionlesswastheposture,sointensetheattentionoftheindividual.
ThenMaguadroppedhisvoicewhichhadhithertobeenclear,strongandelevated,andtoucheduponthemeritsofthedead.
Onehadneverbeenknowntofollowthechaseinvain;anotherhadbeenindefatigableonthetrailoftheirenemies.Thiswasbrave,thatgenerous.
Inshort,hesomanagedhisallusions,thatinanationwhichwascomposedofsofewfamilies,hecontrivedtostrikeeverychordthatmightfind,initsturn,somebreastinwhichtovibrate.
Theirspiritsaregonetowardthesettingsun,andarealreadycrossingthegreatwaters,tothehappyhunting–grounds.
Buttheydepartedwithoutfood,withoutgunsorknives,withoutmoccasins,nakedandpoorastheywereborn.Shallthisbe?
AretheirsoulstoenterthelandofthejustlikehungryIroquoisorunmanlyDelawares,orshalltheymeettheirfriendswitharmsintheirhandsandrobesontheirbacks?
aChippewahascomehitherwiththenameofaHuron’Brothers,wemustnotforgetthedead;ared–skinneverceasestoremember.
Theycalltousforaid,thoughourearsarenotopen;theysay,‘Forgetusnot’WhentheyseethespiritofthisMohicantoilingafterthemwithhisburden,theywillknowweareofthatmind.
Thenwilltheygoonhappy;andourchildrenwillsay,‘Sodidourfatherstotheirfriends,somustwedotothem’WhatisaYengee?
Theeffectofsuchanharangue,deliveredinthenervouslanguageandwiththeemphaticmannerofaHuronorator,couldscarcelybemistaken.
Maguahadsoartfullyblendedthenaturalsympathieswiththereligioussuperstitionofhisauditors,thattheirminds,alreadypreparedbycustomtosacrificeavictimtothemanesoftheircountrymen,losteveryvestigeofhumanityinawishforrevenge.
Onewarriorinparticular,amanofwildandferociousmien,hadbeenconspicuousfortheattentionhehadgiventothewordsofthespeaker.
AsMaguaendedhearoseand,utteringtheyellofademon,hispolishedlittleaxewasseenglancinginthetorchlightashewhirleditabovehishead.
ThekeenweaponcutthewarplumefromthescalpingtuftofUncas,andpassedthroughthefrailwallofthelodgeasthoughitwerehurledfromsomeformidableengine.
Duncanhadseenthethreateningaction,andspranguponhisfeet,withaheartwhich,whileitleapedintohisthroat,swelledwiththemostgenerousresolutioninbehalfofhisfriend.
Then,asifpityingawantofskillwhichhadprovedsofortunatetohimself,hesmiled,andmutteredafewwordsofcontemptinhisowntongue.
“No!”saidMagua,aftersatisfyinghimselfofthesafetyofthecaptive;“thesunmustshineonhisshame;thesquawsmustseehisfleshtremble,orourrevengewillbeliketheplayofboys.Go!
Theyoungmenwhosedutyitwastoguardtheprisonerinstantlypassedtheirligamentsofbarkacrosshisarms,andledhimfromthelodge,amidaprofoundandominoussilence.
Thereheturned,and,inthesweepingandhaughtyglancethathethrewaroundthecircleofhisenemies,Duncancaughtalookwhichhewasgladtoconstrueintoanexpressionthathewasnotentirelydesertedbyhope.
Shakinghismantle,andfoldingitonhisbosom,healsoquittedtheplace,withoutpursuingasubjectwhichmighthaveprovedsofataltotheindividualathiselbow.
Notwithstandinghisrisingresentment,hisnaturalfirmness,andhisanxietyonbehalfofUncas,Heywardfeltsensiblyrelievedbytheabsenceofsodangerousandsosubtleafoe.
Fornearhalfanhour,notasyllablewasuttered,orscarcelyalookcastaside;agraveandmeditativesilencebeingtheordinarysuccessiontoeverysceneofviolenceandcommotionamongthesebeings,whowerealikesoimpetuousandyetsoself–restrained.
Whenthechief,whohadsolicitedtheaidofDuncan,finishedhispipe,hemadeafinalandsuccessfulmovementtowarddeparting.
Amotionofafingerwastheintimationhegavethesupposedphysiciantofollow;andpassingthroughthecloudsofsmoke,Duncadwasglad,onmoreaccountsthanone,tobeableatlasttobreathethepureairofacoolandrefreshingsummerevening.
InsteadofpursuinghiswayamongthoselodgeswhereHeywardhadalreadymadehisunsuccessfulsearch,hiscompanionturnedaside,andproceededdirectlytowardthebaseofanadjacentmountain,whichoverhungthetemporaryvillage.
Inordertorendertheirgamesasliketherealityaspossible,oneoftheboldestoftheirnumberhadconveyedafewbrandsintosomepilesoftree–topsthathadhithertoescapedtheburning.
TheblazeofoneofthesefireslightedthewayofthechiefandDuncan,andgaveacharacterofadditionalwildnesstotherudescenery.
Atalittledistancefromabaldrock,anddirectlyinitsfront,theyenteredagrassyopening,whichtheypreparedtocross.
Itfelluponthewhitesurfaceofthemountain,andwasreflecteddownwarduponadarkandmysterious–lookingbeingthatarose,unexpectedly,intheirpath.
ThenevenDuncanknewit,byitsrestlessandsidlingattitudes,whichkepttheupperpartofitsforminconstantmotion,whiletheanimalitselfappearedseated,tobeabear.
Thoughitgrowledloudlyandfiercely,andtherewereinstantswhenitsglisteningeyeballsmightbeseen,itgavenootherindicationsofhostility.
TheHuron,atleast,seemedassuredthattheintentionsofthissingularintruderwerepeaceable,foraftergivingitanattentiveexamination,hequietlypursuedhiscourse.
Duncan,whoknewthattheanimalwasoftendomesticatedamongtheIndians,followedtheexampleofhiscompanion,believingthatsomefavoriteofthetribehadfounditswayintothethicket,insearchoffood.Theypasseditunmolested.
Thoughobligedtocomenearlyincontactwiththemonster,theHuron,whohadatfirstsowarilydeterminedthecharacterofhisstrangevisitor,wasnowcontentwithproceedingwithoutwastingamomentinfurtherexamination;butHeywardwasunabletopreventhiseyesfromlookingbackward,insalutarywatchfulnessagainstattacksintherear.
Hisuneasinesswasinnodegreediminishedwhenheperceivedthebeastrollingalongtheirpath,andfollowingtheirfootsteps.
Hewouldhavespoken,buttheIndianatthatmomentshovedasideadoorofbark,andenteredacaverninthebosomofthemountain.
Profitingbysoeasyamethodofretreat,Duncansteppedafterhim,andwasgladlyclosingtheslightcovertotheopening,whenhefeltitdrawnfromhishandbythebeast,whoseshaggyformimmediatelydarkenedthepassage.
Theywerenowinastraightandlonggallery,inachasmoftherocks,whereretreatwithoutencounteringtheanimalwasimpossible.
Thebeargrowledfrequentlyathisheels,andonceortwiceitsenormouspawswerelaidonhisperson,asifdisposedtopreventhisfurtherpassageintotheden.
HowlongthenervesofHeywardwouldhavesustainedhiminthisextraordinarysituation,itmightbedifficulttodecide,for,happily,hesoonfoundrelief.
HithertheHuronshadbroughtmostoftheirvaluables,especiallythosewhichmoreparticularlypertainedtothenation;andhither,asitnowappeared,thesickwoman,whowasbelievedtobethevictimofsupernaturalpower,hadbeentransportedalso,underanimpressionthathertormentorwouldfindmoredifficultyinmakinghisassaultsthroughwallsofstonethanthroughtheleafycoveringsofthelodges.
Thelatterapproachedherbedside,whichwassurroundedbyfemales,inthecenterofwhomHeywardwassurprisedtofindhismissingfriendDavid.
Shelayinasortofparalysis,indifferenttotheobjectswhichcrowdedbeforehersight,andhappilyunconsciousofsuffering.
Heywardwasfarfromregrettingthathismummeriesweretobeperformedononewhowasmuchtooilltotakeaninterestintheirfailureorsuccess.
Theslightqualmofconsciencewhichhadbeenexcitedbytheintendeddeceptionwasinstantlyappeased,andhebegantocollecthisthoughts,inordertoenacthispartwithsuitablespirit,whenhefoundhewasabouttobeanticipatedinhisskillbyanattempttoprovethepowerofmusic.
Gamut,whohadstoodpreparedtopourforthhisspiritinsongwhenthevisitorsentered,afterdelayingamoment,drewastrainfromhispipe,andcommencedahymnthatmighthaveworkedamiracle,hadfaithinisefficacybeenofmuchavail.
Hewasallowedtoproceedtotheclose,theIndiansrespectinghisimaginaryinfirmity,andDuncantoogladofthedelaytohazardtheslightestinterruption.
Asthedyingcadenceofhisstrainswasfallingontheearsofthelatter,hestartedasideathearingthemrepeatedbehindhim,inavoicehalfhumanandhalfsepulchral.
Lookingaround,hebeheldtheshaggymonsterseatedonendinashadowofthecavern,where,whilehisrestlessbodyswungintheuneasymanneroftheanimal,itrepeated,inasortoflowgrowl,sounds,ifnotwords,whichboresomeslightresemblancetothemelodyofthesinger.
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