English
Bot.—Letmeplaytheliontoo.
—MidsummerNight’sDream
NotwithstandingthehighresolutionofHawkeyehefullycomprehendedallthedifficultiesanddangerhewasabouttoincur.
Inhisreturntothecamp,hisacuteandpractisedintellectswereintentlyengagedindevisingmeanstocounteractawatchfulnessandsuspiciononthepartofhisenemies,thatheknewwere,innodegree,inferiortohisown.
NothingbutthecolorofhisskinhadsavedthelivesofMaguaandtheconjurer,whowouldhavebeenthefirstvictimssacrificedtohisownsecurity,hadnotthescoutbelievedsuchanact,howevercongenialitmightbetothenatureofanIndian,utterlyunworthyofonewhoboastedadescentfrommenthatknewnocrossofblood.
Accordingly,hetrustedtothewithesandligamentswithwhichhehadboundhiscaptives,andpursuedhiswaydirectlytowardthecenterofthelodges.
Asheapproachedthebuildings,hisstepsbecomemoredeliberate,andhisvigilanteyesufferednosign,whetherfriendlyorhostile,toescapehim.
Aneglectedhutwasalittleinadvanceoftheothers,andappearedasifithadbeendesertedwhenhalfcompleted—mostprobablyonaccountoffailinginsomeofthemoreimportantrequisites;suchaswoodorwater.
Afaintlightglimmeredthroughitscracks,however,andannouncedthat,notwithstandingitsimperfectstructure,itwasnotwithoutatenant.
Thither,then,thescoutproceeded,likeaprudentgeneral,whowasabouttofeeltheadvancedpositionsofhisenemy,beforehehazardedthemainattack.
Throwinghimselfintoasuitablepostureforthebeastherepresented,Hawkeyecrawledtoalittleopening,wherehemightcommandaviewoftheinterior.
ItprovedtobetheabidingplaceofDavidGamut.
Hitherthefaithfulsinging–masterhadnowbroughthimself,togetherwithallhissorrows,hisapprehensions,andhismeekdependenceontheprotectionofProvidence.
Attheprecisemomentwhenhisungainlypersoncameundertheobservationofthescout,inthemannerjustmentioned,thewoodsmanhimself,thoughinhisassumedcharacter,wasthesubjectofthesolitarybeing’sprofoundedreflections.
HoweverimplicitthefaithofDavidwasintheperformanceofancientmiracles,heeschewedthebeliefofanydirectsupernaturalagencyinthemanagementofmodernmorality.
Inotherwords,whilehehadimplicitfaithintheabilityofBalaam’sasstospeak,hewassomewhatskepticalonthesubjectofabear’ssinging;andyethehadbeenassuredofthelatter,onthetestimonyofhisownexquisiteorgans.
Therewassomethinginhisairandmannerthatbetrayedtothescouttheutterconfusionofthestateofhismind.
Hewasseatedonapileofbrush,afewtwigsfromwhichoccasionallyfedhislowfire,withhisheadleaningonhisarm,inapostureofmelancholymusing.
Thecostumeofthevotaryofmusichadundergonenootheralterationfromthatsolatelydescribed,exceptthathehadcoveredhisbaldheadwiththetriangularbeaver,whichhadnotprovedsufficientlyalluringtoexcitethecupidityofanyofhiscaptors.
TheingeniousHawkeye,whorecalledthehastymannerinwhichtheotherhadabandonedhispostatthebedsideofthesickwoman,wasnotwithouthissuspicionsconcerningthesubjectofsomuchsolemndeliberation.
Firstmakingthecircuitofthehut,andascertainingthatitstoodquitealone,andthatthecharacterofitsinmatewaslikelytoprotectitfromvisitors,heventuredthroughitslowdoor,intotheverypresenceofGamut.
Thepositionofthelatterbroughtthefirebetweenthem;andwhenHawkeyehadseatedhimselfonend,nearaminuteelapsed,duringwhichthetworemainedregardingeachotherwithoutspeaking.
Thesuddennessandthenatureofthesurprisehadnearlyprovedtoomuchfor—wewillnotsaythephilosophy—butforthepitchandresolutionofDavid.
Hefumbledforhispitch–pipe,andarosewithaconfusedintentionofattemptingamusicalexorcism.
“Darkandmysteriousmonster!”heexclaimed,whilewithtremblinghandshedisposedofhisauxiliaryeyes,andsoughthisnever–failingresourceintrouble,thegiftedversionofthepsalms;“Iknownotyournaturenorintents;butifaughtyoumeditateagainstthepersonandrightsofoneofthehumblestservantsofthetemple,listentotheinspiredlanguageoftheyouthofIsrael,andrepent.”
Thebearshookhisshaggysides,andthenawell–knownvoicereplied:
“Putupthetootingwe’pon,andteachyourthroatmodesty.FivewordsofplainandcomprehendibleEnglishareworthjustnowanhourofsqualling.”
“Whatartthou?”demandedDavid,utterlydisqualifiedtopursuehisoriginalintention,andnearlygaspingforbreath.
“Amanlikeyourself;andonewhosebloodisaslittletaintedbythecrossofabear,oranIndian,asyourown.
Haveyousosoonforgottenfromwhomyoureceivedthefoolishinstrumentyouholdinyourhand?”
“Canthesethingsbe?”returnedDavid,breathingmorefreely,asthetruthbegantodawnuponhim.“Ihavefoundmanymarvelsduringmysojournwiththeheathen,butsurelynothingtoexcelthis.”
“Come,come,”returnedHawkeye,uncasinghishonestcountenance,thebettertoassurethewaveringconfidenceofhiscompanion;“youmayseeaskin,which,ifitbenotaswhiteasoneofthegentleones,hasnotingeofredtoitthatthewindsoftheheavenandthesunhavenotbestowed.Nowletustobusiness.”
“Firsttellmeofthemaiden,andoftheyouthwhosobravelysoughther,”interruptedDavid.
“Ay,theyarehappilyfreedfromthetomahawksofthesevarlets.ButcanyouputmeonthescentofUncas?”
“Theyoungmanisinbondage,andmuchIfearhisdeathisdecreed.Igreatlymournthatonesowelldisposedshoulddieinhisignorance,andIhavesoughtagoodlyhymn—”
“Canyouleadmetohim?”
“Thetaskwillnotbedifficult,”returnedDavid,hesitating;“thoughIgreatlyfearyourpresencewouldratherincreasethanmitigatehisunhappyfortunes.”
“Nomorewords,butleadon,”returnedHawkeye,concealinghisfaceagain,andsettingtheexampleinhisownperson,byinstantlyquittingthelodge.
Astheyproceeded,thescoutascertainedthathiscompanionfoundaccesstoUncas,underprivilegeofhisimaginaryinfirmity,aidedbythefavorhehadacquiredwithoneoftheguards,who,inconsequenceofspeakingalittleEnglish,hadbeenselectedbyDavidasthesubjectofareligiousconversion.
HowfartheHuroncomprehendedtheintentionsofhisnewfriendmaywellbedoubted;butasexclusiveattentionisasflatteringtoasavageastoamorecivilizedindividual,ithadproducedtheeffectwehavementioned.
ItisunnecessarytorepeattheshrewdmannerwithwhichthescoutextractedtheseparticularsfromthesimpleDavid;neithershallwedwellinthisplaceonthenatureoftheinstructionhedelivered,whencompletelymasterofallthenecessaryfacts;asthewholewillbesufficientlyexplainedtothereaderinthecourseofthenarrative.
ThelodgeinwhichUncaswasconfinedwasintheverycenterofthevillage,andinasituation,perhaps,moredifficultthananyothertoapproach,orleave,withoutobservation.
ButitwasnotthepolicyofHawkeyetoaffecttheleastconcealment.
Presumingonhisdisguise,andhisabilitytosustainthecharacterhehadassumed,hetookthemostplainanddirectroutetotheplace.
Thehour,however,affordedhimsomelittleofthatprotectionwhichheappearedsomuchtodespise.
Theboyswerealreadyburiedinsleep,andallthewomen,andmostofthewarriors,hadretiredtotheirlodgesforthenight.
FourorfiveofthelatteronlylingeredaboutthedooroftheprisonofUncas,warybycloseobserversofthemanneroftheircaptive.
AtthesightofGamut,accompaniedbyoneinthewell–knownmasqueradeoftheirmostdistinguishedconjurer,theyreadilymadewayforthemboth.
Stilltheybetrayednointentiontodepart.
Ontheotherhand,theywereevidentlydisposedtoremainboundtotheplacebyanadditionalinterestinthemysteriousmummeriesthattheyofcourseexpectedfromsuchavisit.
FromthetotalinabilityofthescouttoaddresstheHuronsintheirownlanguage,hewascompelledtotrusttheconversationentirelytoDavid.
Notwithstandingthesimplicityofthelatter,hedidamplejusticetotheinstructionshehadreceived,morethanfulfillingthestrongesthopesofhisteacher.
“TheDelawaresarewomen!”heexclaimed,addressinghimselftothesavagewhohadaslightunderstandingofthelanguageinwhichhespoke;“theYengeese,myfoolishcountrymen,havetoldthemtotakeupthetomahawk,andstriketheirfathersintheCanadas,andtheyhaveforgottentheirsex.
Doesmybrotherwishtohear‘LeCerfAgile’askforhispetticoats,andseehimweepbeforetheHurons,atthestake?”
Theexclamation“Hugh!”deliveredinastrongtoneofassent,announcedthegratificationthesavagewouldreceiveinwitnessingsuchanexhibitionofweaknessinanenemysolonghatedandsomuchfeared.
“Thenlethimstepaside,andthecunningmanwillblowuponthedog.Tellittomybrothers.”
TheHuronexplainedthemeaningofDavidtohisfellows,who,intheirturn,listenedtotheprojectwiththatsortofsatisfactionthattheiruntamedspiritsmightbeexpectedtofindinsucharefinementincruelty.
Theydrewbackalittlefromtheentranceandmotionedtothesupposedconjurertoenter.
Butthebear,insteadofobeying,maintainedtheseatithadtaken,andgrowled:
“Thecunningmanisafraidthathisbreathwillblowuponhisbrothers,andtakeawaytheircouragetoo,”continuedDavid,improvingthehinthereceived;“theymuststandfurtheroff.”
TheHurons,whowouldhavedeemedsuchamisfortunetheheaviestcalamitythatcouldbefallthem,fellbackinabody,takingapositionwheretheywereoutofearshot,thoughatthesametimetheycouldcommandaviewoftheentrancetothelodge.
Then,asifsatisfiedoftheirsafety,thescoutlefthisposition,andslowlyenteredtheplace.
Itwassilentandgloomy,beingtenantedsolelybythecaptive,andlightedbythedyingembersofafire,whichhadbeenusedforthepurposedofcookery.
Uncasoccupiedadistantcorner,inarecliningattitude,beingrigidlybound,bothhandsandfeet,bystrongandpainfulwithes.
WhenthefrightfulobjectfirstpresenteditselftotheyoungMohican,hedidnotdeigntobestowasingleglanceontheanimal.
Thescout,whohadleftDavidatthedoor,toascertaintheywerenotobserved,thoughtitprudenttopreservehisdisguiseuntilassuredoftheirprivacy.
Insteadofspeaking,therefore,heexertedhimselftoenactoneoftheanticsoftheanimalherepresented.
TheyoungMohican,whoatfirstbelievedhisenemieshadsentinarealbeasttotormenthim,andtryhisnerves,detectedinthoseperformancesthattoHeywardhadappearedsoaccurate,certainblemishes,thatatoncebetrayedthecounterfeit.
HadHawkeyebeenawareofthelowestimationinwhichtheskillfulUncasheldhisrepresentations,hewouldprobablyhaveprolongedtheentertainmentalittleinpique.
Butthescornfulexpressionoftheyoungman’seyeadmittedofsomanyconstructions,thattheworthyscoutwassparedthemortificationofsuchadiscovery.
Assoon,therefore,asDavidgavethepreconcertedsignal,alowhissingsoundwasheardinthelodgeinplaceofthefiercegrowlingsofthebear.
Uncashadcasthisbodybackagainstthewallofthehutandclosedhiseyes,asifwillingtoexcludesocontemptibleanddisagreeableanobjectfromhissight.
Butthemomentthenoiseoftheserpentwasheard,hearose,andcasthislooksoneachsideofhim,bendinghisheadlow,andturningitinquiringlyineverydirection,untilhiskeeneyerestedontheshaggymonster,whereitremainedriveted,asthoughfixedbythepowerofacharm.
Againthesamesoundswererepeated,evidentlyproceedingfromthemouthofthebeast.
Oncemoretheeyesoftheyouthroamedovertheinteriorofthelodge,andreturningtotheformerrestingplace,heuttered,inadeep,suppressedvoice:
“Hawkeye!”
“Cuthisbands,”saidHawkeyetoDavid,whojustthenapproachedthem.
Thesingerdidashewasordered,andUncasfoundhislimbsreleased.
Atthesamemomentthedriedskinoftheanimalrattled,andpresentlythescoutarosetohisfeet,inproperperson.
TheMohicanappearedtocomprehendthenatureoftheattempthisfriendhadmade,intuitively,neithertonguenorfeaturebetrayinganothersymptomofsurprise.
WhenHawkeyehadcasthisshaggyvestment,whichwasdonebysimplyloosingcertainthongsofskin,hedrewalong,glitteringknife,andputitinthehandsofUncas.
“TheredHuronsarewithout,”hesaid;“letusbeready.”
Atthesametimehelaidhisfingersignificantlyonanothersimilarweapon,bothbeingthefruitsofhisprowessamongtheirenemiesduringtheevening.
“Wewillgo,”saidUncas.
“Whither?”
“TotheTortoises;theyarethechildrenofmygrandfathers.”
“Ay,lad,”saidthescoutinEnglish—alanguagehewasapttousewhenalittleabstractedinmind;“thesamebloodrunsinyourveins,Ibelieve;buttimeanddistancehasalittlechangeditscolor.
WhatshallwedowiththeMingoesatthedoor?
Theycountsix,andthissingerisasgoodasnothing.”
“TheHuronsareboasters,”saidUncas,scornfully;“their‘totem’isamoose,andtheyrunlikesnails.TheDelawaresarechildrenofthetortoise,andtheyoutstripthedeer.”
“Ay,lad,thereistruthinwhatyousay;andIdoubtnot,onarush,youwouldpassthewholenation;and,inastraightraceoftwomiles,wouldbein,andgetyourbreathagain,aforeaknaveofthemallwaswithinhearingoftheothervillage.
Butthegiftofawhitemanliesmoreinhisarmsthaninhislegs.
Asformyself,IcanbrainaHuronaswellasabetterman;butwhenitcomestoaracetheknaveswouldprovetoomuchforme.”
Uncas,whohadalreadyapproachedthedoor,inreadinesstoleadtheway,nowrecoiled,andplacedhimself,oncemore,inthebottomofthelodge.
ButHawkeye,whowastoomuchoccupiedwithhisownthoughtstonotethemovement,continuedspeakingmoretohimselfthantohiscompanion.
“Afterall,”hesaid,“itisunreasonabletokeeponemaninbondagetothegiftsofanother.
So,Uncas,youhadbettertakethelead,whileIwillputontheskinagain,andtrusttocunningforwantofspeed.”
TheyoungMohicanmadenoreply,butquietlyfoldedhisarms,andleanedhisbodyagainstoneoftheuprightpoststhatsupportedthewallofthehut.
“Well,”saidthescoutlookingupathim,“whydoyoutarry?Therewillbetimeenoughforme,astheknaveswillgivechasetoyouatfirst.”
“Uncaswillstay,”wasthecalmreply.
“Forwhat?”
“Tofightwithhisfather’sbrother,anddiewiththefriendoftheDelawares.”
“Ay,lad,”returnedHawkeye,squeezingthehandofUncasbetweenhisownironfingers;”’twouldhavebeenmorelikeaMingothanaMohicanhadyouleftme.
ButIthoughtIwouldmaketheoffer,seeingthatyouthcommonlyloveslife.
Well,whatcan’tbedonebymaincourage,inwar,mustbedonebycircumvention.
Putontheskin;Idoubtnotyoucanplaythebearnearlyaswellasmyself.”
WhatevermighthavebeentheprivateopinionofUncasoftheirrespectiveabilitiesinthisparticular,hisgravecountenancemanifestednoopinionofhissuperiority.
Hesilentlyandexpeditiouslyencasedhimselfinthecoveringofthebeast,andthenawaitedsuchothermovementsashismoreagedcompanionsawfittodictate.
“Now,friend,”saidHawkeye,addressingDavid,“anexchangeofgarmentswillbeagreatconveniencetoyou,inasmuchasyouarebutlittleaccustomedtothemake–shiftsofthewilderness.
Here,takemyhuntingshirtandcap,andgivemeyourblanketandhat.
Youmusttrustmewiththebookandspectacles,aswellasthetooter,too;ifweevermeetagain,inbettertimes,youshallhaveallbackagain,withmanythanksintothebargain.”
Davidpartedwiththeseveralarticlesnamedwithareadinessthatwouldhavedonegreatcredittohisliberality,hadhenotcertainlyprofited,inmanyparticulars,bytheexchange.
Hawkeyewasnotlonginassuminghisborrowedgarments;andwhenhisrestlesseyeswerehidbehindtheglasses,andhisheadwassurmountedbythetriangularbeaver,astheirstatureswerenotdissimilar,hemightreadilyhavepassedforthesinger,bystarlight.
Assoonasthesedispositionsweremade,thescoutturnedtoDavid,andgavehimhispartinginstructions.
“Areyoumuchgiventocowardice?”hebluntlyasked,bywayofobtainingasuitableunderstandingofthewholecasebeforeheventuredaprescription.
“Mypursuitsarepeaceful,andmytemper,Ihumblytrust,isgreatlygiventomercyandlove,”returnedDavid,alittlenettledatsodirectanattackonhismanhood;“buttherearenonewhocansaythatIhaveeverforgottenmyfaithintheLord,eveninthegreateststraits.”
“Yourchiefestdangerwillbeatthemomentwhenthesavagesfindoutthattheyhavebeendeceived.
Ifyouarenotthenknockedonthehead,yourbeinganon–composserwillprotectyou;andyou’llthenhaveagoodreasontoexpecttodieinyourbed.
Ifyoustay,itmustbetositdownhereintheshadow,andtakethepartofUncas,untilsuchtimesasthecunningoftheIndiansdiscoverthecheat,when,asIhavealreadysaid,yourtimesoftrialwillcome.
Sochooseforyourself—tomakearushortarryhere.”
“Evenso,”saidDavid,firmly;“IwillabideintheplaceoftheDelaware.Bravelyandgenerouslyhashebattledinmybehalf,andthis,andmore,willIdareinhisservice.”
“Youhavespokenasaman,andlikeonewho,underwiserschooling,wouldhavebeenbroughttobetterthings.
Holdyourheaddown,anddrawinyourlegs;theirformationmighttellthetruthtooearly.
Keepsilentaslongasmaybe;anditwouldbewise,whenyoudospeak,tobreakoutsuddenlyinoneofyourshoutings,whichwillservetoremindtheIndiansthatyouarenotaltogetherasresponsibleasmenshouldbe.
Ifhowever,theytakeyourscalp,asItrustandbelievetheywillnot,dependonit,UncasandIwillnotforgetthedeed,butrevengeitasbecomestruewarriorsandtrustyfriends.”
“Hold!”saidDavid,perceivingthatwiththisassurancetheywereabouttoleavehim;“Iamanunworthyandhumblefollowerofonewhotaughtnotthedamnableprincipleofrevenge.
ShouldIfall,therefore,seeknovictimstomymanes,butratherforgivemydestroyers;andifyourememberthematall,letitbeinprayersfortheenlighteningoftheirminds,andfortheireternalwelfare.”
Thescouthesitated,andappearedtomuse.
“Thereisaprincipleinthat,”hesaid,“differentfromthelawofthewoods;andyetitisfairandnobletoreflectupon.”
Thenheavingaheavysigh,probablyamongthelastheeverdrewinpiningforaconditionhehadsolongabandoned,headded:“itiswhatIwouldwishtopractisemyself,asonewithoutacrossofblood,thoughitisnotalwayseasytodealwithanIndianasyouwouldwithafellowChristian.
Godblessyou,friend;Idobelieveyourscentisnotgreatlywrong,whenthematterisdulyconsidered,andkeepingeternitybeforetheeyes,thoughmuchdependsonthenaturalgifts,andtheforceoftemptation.”
Sosaying,thescoutreturnedandshookDavidcordiallybythehand;afterwhichactoffriendshipheimmediatelyleftthelodge,attendedbythenewrepresentativeofthebeast.
TheinstantHawkeyefoundhimselfundertheobservationoftheHurons,hedrewuphistallformintherigidmannerofDavid,threwouthisarmintheactofkeepingtime,andcommencedwhatheintendedforanimitationofhispsalmody.
Happilyforthesuccessofthisdelicateadventure,hehadtodealwithearsbutlittlepractisedintheconcordofsweetsounds,orthemiserableeffortwouldinfalliblyhavebeendetected.
Itwasnecessarytopasswithinadangerousproximityofthedarkgroupofthesavages,andthevoiceofthescoutgrewlouderastheydrewnigher.
WhenatthenearestpointtheHuronwhospoketheEnglishthrustoutanarm,andstoppedthesupposedsinging–master.
“TheDelawaredog!”hesaid,leaningforward,andpeeringthroughthedimlighttocatchtheexpressionoftheother’sfeatures;“isheafraid?WilltheHuronshearhisgroans?”
Agrowl,soexceedinglyfierceandnatural,proceededfromthebeast,thattheyoungIndianreleasedhisholdandstartedaside,asiftoassurehimselfthatitwasnotaveritablebear,andnocounterfeit,thatwasrollingbeforehim.
Hawkeye,whofearedhisvoicewouldbetrayhimtohissubtleenemies,gladlyprofitedbytheinterruption,tobreakoutanewinsuchaburstofmusicalexpressionaswould,probably,inamorerefinedstateofsocietyhavebeentermed“agrandcrash.”
Amonghisactualauditors,however,itmerelygavehimanadditionalclaimtothatrespectwhichtheyneverwithholdfromsuchasarebelievedtobethesubjectsofmentalalienation.
ThelittleknotonIndiansdrewbackinabody,andsuffered,astheythought,theconjurerandhisinspiredassistanttoproceed.
ItrequirednocommonexerciseoffortitudeinUncasandthescouttocontinuethedignifiedanddeliberatepacetheyhadassumedinpassingthelodge;especiallyastheyimmediatelyperceivedthatcuriosityhadsofarmasteredfear,astoinducethewatcherstoapproachthehut,inordertowitnesstheeffectoftheincantations.
TheleastinjudiciousorimpatientmovementonthepartofDavidmightbetraythem,andtimewasabsolutelynecessarytoinsurethesafetyofthescout.
Theloudnoisethelatterconceiveditpolitictocontinue,drewmanycuriousgazerstothedoorsofthedifferenthutsasthypassed;andonceortwiceadark–lookingwarriorsteppedacrosstheirpath,ledtotheactbysuperstitionandwatchfulness.
Theywerenot,however,interrupted,thedarknessofthehour,andtheboldnessoftheattempt,provingtheirprincipalfriends.
Theadventurershadgotclearofthevillage,andwerenowswiftlyapproachingtheshelterofthewoods,whenaloudandlongcryarosefromthelodgewhereUncashadbeenconfined.
TheMohicanstartedonhisfeet,andshookhisshaggycovering,asthoughtheanimalhecounterfeitedwasabouttomakesomedesperateeffort.
“Hold!”saidthescout,graspinghisfriendbytheshoulder,“letthemyellagain!‘Twasnothingbutwonderment.”
Hehadnooccasiontodelay,foratthenextinstantaburstofcriesfilledtheouterair,andranalongthewholeextentofthevillage.
Uncascasthisskin,andsteppedforthinhisownbeautifulproportions.
Hawkeyetappedhimlightlyontheshoulder,andglidedahead.
“Nowletthedevilsstrikeourscent!”saidthescout,tearingtworifles,withalltheirattendantaccouterments,frombeneathabush,andflourishing“killdeer”ashehandedUncashisweapon;“two,atleast,willfindittotheirdeaths.”
Then,throwingtheirpiecestoalowtrail,likesportsmeninreadinessfortheirgame,theydashedforward,andweresoonburiedinthesomberdarknessoftheforest.
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