English
Ant.Ishallremember:WhenC�sarsaysDothis,itisperformed.
—JuliusCaesar
TheimpatienceofthesavageswholingeredabouttheprisonofUncas,ashasbeenseen,hadovercometheirdreadoftheconjurer’sbreath.
Theystolecautiously,andwithbeatinghearts,toacrevice,throughwhichthefaintlightofthefirewasglimmering.
ForseveralminutestheymistooktheformofDavidforthatoftheprisoner;buttheveryaccidentwhichHawkeyehadforeseenoccurred.
Tiredofkeepingtheextremitiesofhislongpersonsoneartogether,thesingergraduallysufferedthelowerlimbstoextendthemselves,untiloneofhismisshapenfeetactuallycameincontactwithandshovedasidetheembersofthefire.
AtfirsttheHuronsbelievedtheDelawarehadbeenthusdeformedbywitchcraft.
ButwhenDavid,unconsciousofbeingobserved,turnedhishead,andexposedhissimple,mildcountenance,inplaceofthehaughtylineamentsoftheirprisoner,itwouldhaveexceededthecredulityofevenanativetohavedoubtedanylonger.
Theyrushedtogetherintothelodge,and,layingtheirhands,withbutlittleceremony,ontheircaptive,immediatelydetectedtheimposition.
Theyarosethecryfirstheardbythefugitives.
Itwassucceededbythemostfranticandangrydemonstrationsofvengeance.
David,however,firminhisdeterminationtocovertheretreatofhisfriends,wascompelledtobelievethathisownfinalhourhadcome.
Deprivedofhisbookandhispipe,hewasfaintotrusttoamemorythatrarelyfailedhimonsuchsubjects;andbreakingforthinaloudandimpassionedstrain,heendeavoredtosmoothhispassageintotheotherworldbysingingtheopeningverseofafuneralanthem.
TheIndianswereseasonablyremindedofhisinfirmity,and,rushingintotheopenair,theyarousedthevillageinthemannerdescribed.
Anativewarriorfightsashesleeps,withouttheprotectionofanythingdefensive.
Thesoundsofthealarmwere,therefore,hardlyutteredbeforetwohundredmenwereafoot,andreadyforthebattleorthechase,aseithermightberequired.
Theescapewassoonknown;andthewholetribecrowded,inabody,aroundthecouncil–lodge,impatientlyawaitingtheinstructionoftheirchiefs.
Insuchasuddendemandontheirwisdom,thepresenceofthecunningMaguacouldscarcelyfailofbeingneeded.
Hisnamewasmentioned,andalllookedroundinwonderthathedidnotappear.
Messengerswerethendespatchedtohislodgerequiringhispresence.
Inthemeantime,someoftheswiftestandmostdiscreetoftheyoungmenwereorderedtomakethecircuitoftheclearing,undercoverofthewoods,inordertoascertainthattheirsuspectedneighbors,theDelawares,designednomischief.
Womenandchildrenrantoandfro;and,inshort,thewholeencampmentexhibitedanothersceneofwildandsavageconfusion.
Gradually,however,thesesymptomsofdisorderdiminished;andinafewminutestheoldestandmostdistinguishedchiefswereassembledinthelodge,ingraveconsultation.
Theclamorofmanyvoicessoonannouncedthatapartyapproached,whomightbeexpectedtocommunicatesomeintelligencethatwouldexplainthemysteryofthenovelsurprise.
Thecrowdwithoutgaveway,andseveralwarriorsenteredtheplace,bringingwiththemthehaplessconjurer,whohadbeenleftsolongbythescoutinduress.
NotwithstandingthismanwasheldinveryunequalestimationamongtheHurons,somebelievingimplicitlyinhispower,andothersdeeminghimanimpostor,hewasnowlistenedtobyallwiththedeepestattention.
Whenhisbriefstorywasended,thefatherofthesickwomansteppedforth,and,inafewpithyexpression,related,inhisturn,whatheknew.
Thesetwonarrativesgaveaproperdirectiontothesubsequentinquiries,whichwerenowmadewiththecharacteristiccunningofsavages.
Insteadofrushinginaconfusedanddisorderlythrongtothecavern,tenofthewisestandfirmestamongthechiefswereselectedtoprosecutetheinvestigation.
Asnotimewastobelost,theinstantthechoicewasmadetheindividualsappointedroseinabodyandlefttheplacewithoutspeaking.
Onreachingtheentrance,theyoungermeninadvancemadewayfortheirseniors;andthewholeproceededalongthelow,darkgallery,withthefirmnessofwarriorsreadytodevotethemselvestothepublicgood,though,atthesametime,secretlydoubtingthenatureofthepowerwithwhichtheywereabouttocontend.
Theouterapartmentofthecavernwassilentandgloomy.
Thewomanlayinherusualplaceandposture,thoughtherewerethosepresentwhoaffirmedtheyhadseenherbornetothewoodsbythesupposed“medicineofthewhitemen.”
Suchadirectandpalpablecontradictionofthetalerelatedbythefathercausedalleyestobeturnedonhim.
Chafedbythesilentimputation,andinwardlytroubledbysounaccountableacircumstance,thechiefadvancedtothesideofthebed,and,stooping,castanincredulouslookatthefeatures,asifdistrustingtheirreality.Hisdaughterwasdead.
Theunerringfeelingofnatureforamomentprevailedandtheoldwarriorhidhiseyesinsorrow.
Then,recoveringhisself–possession,hefacedhiscompanions,and,pointingtowardthecorpse,hesaid,inthelanguageofhispeople:
“Thewifeofmyyoungmanhasleftus!TheGreatSpiritisangrywithhischildren.”
Themournfulintelligencewasreceivedinsolemnsilence.
Afterashortpause,oneoftheelderIndianswasabouttospeak,whenadark–lookingobjectwasseenrollingoutofanadjoiningapartment,intotheverycenteroftheroomwheretheystood.
Ignorantofthenatureofthebeingstheyhadtodealwith,thewholepartydrewbackalittle,and,risingonend,exhibitedthedistortedbutstillfierceandsullenfeaturesofMagua.
Thediscoverywassucceededbyageneralexclamationofamazement.
Assoon,however,asthetruesituationofthechiefwasunderstood,severalknivesappeared,andhislimbsandtonguewerequicklyreleased.
TheHuronarose,andshookhimselflikealionquittinghislair.
Notawordescapedhim,thoughhishandplayedconvulsivelywiththehandleofhisknife,whilehisloweringeyesscannedthewholeparty,asiftheysoughtanobjectsuitedtothefirstburstofhisvengeance.
ItwashappyforUncasandthescout,andevenDavid,thattheywereallbeyondthereachofhisarmatsuchamoment;for,assuredly,norefinementincrueltywouldthenhavedeferredtheirdeaths,inoppositiontothepromptingsofthefiercetemperthatnearlychokedhim.
Meetingeverywherefacesthatheknewasfriends,thesavagegratedhisteethtogetherlikeraspsofiron,andswallowedhispassionforwantofavictimonwhomtoventit.
Thisexhibitionofangerwasnotedbyallpresent;andfromanapprehensionofexasperatingatemperthatwasalreadychafednearlytomadness,severalminutesweresufferedtopassbeforeanotherwordwasuttered.
When,however,suitabletimehadelapsed,theoldestofthepartyspoke.
“Myfriendhasfoundanenemy,”hesaid.“IshenighthattheHuronsmighttakerevenge?”
“LettheDelawaredie!”exclaimedMagua,inavoiceofthunder.
Anotherlongerandexpressivesilencewasobserved,andwasbroken,asbefore,withdueprecaution,bythesameindividual.
“TheMohicanisswiftoffoot,andleapsfar,”hesaid;“butmyyoungmenareonhistrail.”
“Ishegone?”demandedMagua,intonessodeepandguttural,thattheyseemedtoproceedfromhisinmostchest.
“Anevilspirithasbeenamongus,andtheDelawarehasblindedoureyes.”
“Anevilspirit!”repeatedtheother,mockingly;”’tisthespiritthathastakenthelivesofsomanyHurons;thespiritthatslewmyyoungmenat‘thetumblingriver’;thattooktheirscalpsatthe‘healingspring’;andwhohas,now,boundthearmsofLeRenardSubtil!”
“Ofwhomdoesmyfriendspeak?”
“OfthedogwhocarriestheheartandcunningofaHuronunderapaleskin––LaLongueCarabine.”
Thepronunciationofsoterribleanameproducedtheusualeffectamonghisauditors.
Butwhentimewasgivenforreflection,andthewarriorsrememberedthattheirformidableanddaringenemyhadevenbeeninthebosomoftheirencampment,workinginjury,fearfulragetooktheplaceofwonder,andallthosefiercepassionswithwhichthebosomofMaguahadjustbeenstrugglingweresuddenlytransferredtohiscompanions.
Someamongthemgnashedtheirteethinanger,othersventedtheirfeelingsinyells,andsome,again,beattheairasfranticallyasiftheobjectoftheirresentmentweresufferingundertheirblows.
Butthissuddenoutbreakingoftemperasquicklysubsidedinthestillandsullenrestrainttheymostaffectedintheirmomentsofinaction.
Magua,whohadinhisturnfoundleisureforreflection,nowchangedhismanner,andassumedtheairofonewhoknewhowtothinkandactwithadignityworthyofsograveasubject.
“Letusgotomypeople,”hesaid;“theywaitforus.”
Hiscompanionsconsentedinsilence,andthewholeofthesavagepartyleftthecavernandreturnedtothecouncil–lodge.
Whentheywereseated,alleyesturnedonMagua,whounderstood,fromsuchanindication,that,bycommonconsent,theyhaddevolvedthedutyofrelatingwhathadpassedonhim.
Hearose,andtoldhistalewithoutduplicityorreservation.
ThewholedeceptionpractisedbybothDuncanandHawkeyewas,ofcourse,laidnaked,andnoroomwasfound,evenforthemostsuperstitiousofthetribe,anylongertoaffixadoubtonthecharacteroftheoccurrences.
Itwasbuttooapparentthattheyhadbeeninsultingly,shamefully,disgracefullydeceived.
Whenhehadended,andresumedhisseat,thecollectedtribe––forhisauditors,insubstance,includedallthefightingmenoftheparty––satregardingeachotherlikemenastonishedequallyattheaudacityandthesuccessoftheirenemies.
Thenextconsideration,however,wasthemeansandopportunitiesforrevenge.
Additionalpursuersweresentonthetrailofthefugitives;andthenthechiefsappliedthemselves,inearnest,tothebusinessofconsultation.
Manydifferentexpedientswereproposedbytheelderwarriors,insuccession,toallofwhichMaguawasasilentandrespectfullistener.
Thatsubtlesavagehadrecoveredhisartificeandself–command,andnowproceededtowardhisobjectwithhiscustomarycautionandskill.
Itwasonlywheneachonedisposedtospeakhadutteredhissentiments,thathepreparedtoadvancehisownopinions.
Theyweregivenwithadditionalweightfromthecircumstancethatsomeoftherunnershadalreadyreturned,andreportedthattheirenemieshadbeentracedsofarastoleavenodoubtoftheirhavingsoughtsafetyintheneighboringcampoftheirsuspectedallies,theDelawares.
Withtheadvantageofpossessingthisimportantintelligence,thechiefwarilylaidhisplansbeforehisfellows,and,asmighthavebeenanticipatedfromhiseloquenceandcunning,theywereadoptedwithoutadissentingvoice.
Theywere,briefly,asfollows,bothinopinionsandinmotives.
Ithasbeenalreadystatedthat,inobediencetoapolicyrarelydepartedfrom,thesisterswereseparatedsosoonastheyreachedtheHuronvillage.
MaguahadearlydiscoveredthatinretainingthepersonofAlice,hepossessedthemosteffectualcheckonCora.
Whentheyparted,therefore,hekepttheformerwithinreachofhishand,consigningtheonehemostvaluedtothekeepingoftheirallies.
Thearrangementwasunderstoodtobemerelytemporary,andwasmadeasmuchwithaviewtoflatterhisneighborsasinobediencetotheinvariableruleofIndianpolicy.
Whilegoadedincessantlybytheserevengefulimpulsesthatinasavageseldomslumber,thechiefwasstillattentivetohismorepermanentpersonalinterests.
Thefolliesanddisloyaltycommittedinhisyouthweretobeexpiatedbyalongandpainfulpenance,erehecouldberestoredtothefullenjoymentoftheconfidenceofhisancientpeople;andwithoutconfidencetherecouldbenoauthorityinanIndiantribe.
Inthisdelicateandarduoussituation,thecraftynativehadneglectednomeansofincreasinghisinfluence;andoneofthehappiestofhisexpedientshadbeenthesuccesswithwhichhehadcultivatedthefavoroftheirpowerfulanddangerousneighbors.
Theresultofhisexperimenthadansweredalltheexpectationsofhispolicy;fortheHuronswereinnodegreeexemptfromthatgoverningprincipleofnature,whichinducesmantovaluehisgiftspreciselyinthedegreethattheyareappreciatedbyothers.
But,whilehewasmakingthisostensiblesacrificetogeneralconsiderations,Maguaneverlostsightofhisindividualmotives.
Thelatterhadbeenfrustratedbytheunlooked–foreventswhichhadplacedallhisprisonersbeyondhiscontrol;andhenowfoundhimselfreducedtothenecessityofsuingforfavorstothosewhomithadsolatelybeenhispolicytooblige.
SeveralofthechiefshadproposeddeepandtreacherousschemestosurprisetheDelawaresand,bygainingpossessionoftheircamp,torecovertheirprisonersbythesameblow;forallagreedthattheirhonor,theirinterests,andthepeaceandhappinessoftheirdeadcountrymen,imperiouslyrequiredthemspeedilytoimmolatesomevictimstotheirrevenge.
Butplanssodangeroustoattempt,andofsuchdoubtfulissue,Maguafoundlittledifficultyindefeating.
Heexposedtheirriskandfallacywithhisusualskill;anditwasonlyafterhehadremovedeveryimpediment,intheshapeofopposingadvice,thatheventuredtoproposehisownprojects.
Hecommencedbyflatteringtheself–loveofhisauditors;anever–failingmethodofcommandingattention.
WhenhehadenumeratedthemanydifferentoccasionsonwhichtheHuronshadexhibitedtheircourageandprowess,inthepunishmentofinsults,hedigressedinahighencomiumonthevirtueofwisdom.
Hepaintedthequalityasformingthegreatpointofdifferencebetweenthebeaverandotherbrutes;betweenthebrutesandmen;and,finally,betweentheHurons,inparticular,andtherestofthehumanrace.
Afterhehadsufficientlyextolledthepropertyofdiscretion,heundertooktoexhibitinwhatmanneritsusewasapplicabletothepresentsituationoftheirtribe.
Ontheonehand,hesaid,wastheirgreatpalefather,thegovernoroftheCanadas,whohadlookeduponhischildrenwithahardeyesincetheirtomahawkshadbeensored;ontheother,apeopleasnumerousasthemselves,whospokeadifferentlanguage,possesseddifferentinterests,andlovedthemnot,andwhowouldbegladofanypretensetobringthemindisgracewiththegreatwhitechief.
Thenhespokeoftheirnecessities;ofthegiftstheyhadarighttoexpectfortheirpastservices;oftheirdistancefromtheirproperhunting–groundsandnativevillages;andofthenecessityofconsultingprudencemore,andinclinationless,insocriticalcircumstances.
Whenheperceivedthat,whiletheoldmenapplaudedhismoderation,manyofthefiercestandmostdistinguishedofthewarriorslistenedtothesepoliticplanswithloweringlooks,hecunninglyledthembacktothesubjectwhichtheymostloved.
Hespokeopenlyofthefruitsoftheirwisdom,whichheboldlypronouncedwouldbeacompleteandfinaltriumphovertheirenemies.
Heevendarklyhintedthattheirsuccessmightbeextended,withpropercaution,insuchamannerastoincludethedestructionofallwhomtheyhadreasontohate.
Inshort,hesoblendedthewarlikewiththeartful,theobviouswiththeobscure,astoflatterthepropensitiesofbothparties,andtoleavetoeachsubjectofhope,whileneithercouldsayitclearlycomprehendedhisintentions.
Theorator,orthepolitician,whocanproducesuchastateofthings,iscommonlypopularwithhiscontemporaries,howeverhemaybetreatedbyposterity.
Allperceivedthatmorewasmeantthanwasuttered,andeachonebelievedthatthehiddenmeaningwaspreciselysuchashisownfacultiesenabledhimtounderstand,orhisownwishesledhimtoanticipate.
Inthishappystateofthings,itisnotsurprisingthatthemanagementofMaguaprevailed.
Thetribeconsentedtoactwithdeliberation,andwithonevoicetheycommittedthedirectionofthewholeaffairtothegovernmentofthechiefwhohadsuggestedsuchwiseandintelligibleexpedients.
Maguahadnowattainedonegreatobjectofallhiscunningandenterprise.
Thegroundhehadlostinthefavorofhispeoplewascompletelyregained,andhefoundhimselfevenplacedattheheadofaffairs.
Hewas,intruth,theirruler;and,solongashecouldmaintainhispopularity,nomonarchcouldbemoredespotic,especiallywhilethetribecontinuedinahostilecountry.
Throwingoff,therefore,theappearanceofconsultation,heassumedthegraveairofauthoritynecessarytosupportthedignityofhisoffice.
Runnersweredespatchedforintelligenceindifferentdirections;spieswereorderedtoapproachandfeeltheencampmentoftheDelawares;thewarriorsweredismissedtotheirlodges,withanintimationthattheirserviceswouldsoonbeneeded;andthewomenandchildrenwereorderedtoretire,withawarningthatitwastheirprovincetobesilent.
Whentheseseveralarrangementsweremade,Maguapassedthroughthevillage,stoppinghereandtheretopayavisitwherehethoughthispresencemightbeflatteringtotheindividual.
Heconfirmedhisfriendsintheirconfidence,fixedthewavering,andgratifiedall.Thenhesoughthisownlodge.
ThewifetheHuronchiefhadabandoned,whenhewaschasedfromamonghispeople,wasdead.
Childrenhehadnone;andhenowoccupiedahut,withoutcompanionofanysort.
Itwas,infact,thedilapidatedandsolitarystructureinwhichDavidhadbeendiscovered,andwhomhehadtoleratedinhispresence,onthosefewoccasionswhentheymet,withthecontemptuousindifferenceofahaughtysuperiority.
Hither,then,Maguaretired,whenhislaborsofpolicywereended.
Whileothersslept,however,heneitherkneworsoughtrepose.
Hadtherebeenonesufficientlycurioustohavewatchedthemovementsofthenewlyelectedchief,hewouldhaveseenhimseatedinacornerofhislodge,musingonthesubjectofhisfutureplans,fromthehourofhisretirementtothetimehehadappointedforthewarriorstoassembleagain.
Occasionallytheairbreathedthroughthecrevicesofthehut,andthelowflamethatflutteredabouttheembersofthefirethrewtheirwaveringlightonthepersonofthesullenrecluse.
AtsuchmomentsitwouldnothavebeendifficulttohavefanciedtheduskysavagethePrinceofDarknessbroodingonhisownfanciedwrongs,andplottingevil.
Longbeforethedaydawned,however,warriorafterwarriorenteredthesolitaryhutofMagua,untiltheyhadcollectedtothenumberoftwenty.
Eachborehisrifle,andalltheotheraccoutermentsofwar,thoughthepaintwasuniformlypeaceful.
Theentranceofthesefierce–lookingbeingswasunnoticed:someseatingthemselvesintheshadowsoftheplace,andothersstandinglikemotionlessstatues,untilthewholeofthedesignatedbandwascollected.
ThenMaguaaroseandgavethesignaltoproceed,marchinghimselfinadvance.
Theyfollowedtheirleadersingly,andinthatwell–knownorderwhichhasobtainedthedistinguishingappellationof“Indianfile.”
Unlikeothermenengagedinthespirit–stirringbusinessofwar,theystolefromtheircampunostentatiouslyandunobservedresemblingabandofglidingspecters,morethanwarriorsseekingthebubblereputationbydeedsofdesperatedaring.
InsteadoftakingthepathwhichleddirectlytowardthecampoftheDelawares,Magualedhispartyforsomedistancedownthewindingsofthestream,andalongthelittleartificiallakeofthebeavers.
Thedaybegantodawnastheyenteredtheclearingwhichhadbeenformedbythosesagaciousandindustriousanimals.
ThoughMagua,whohadresumedhisancientgarb,boretheoutlineofafoxonthedressedskinwhichformedhisrobe,therewasonechiefofhispartywhocarriedthebeaverashispeculiarsymbol,or“totem.”
Therewouldhavebeenaspeciesofprofanityintheomission,hadthismanpassedsopowerfulacommunityofhisfanciedkindred,withoutbestowingsomeevidenceofhisregard.
Accordingly,hepaused,andspokeinwordsaskindandfriendlyasifhewereaddressingmoreintelligentbeings.
Hecalledtheanimalshiscousins,andremindedthemthathisprotectinginfluencewasthereasontheyremainedunharmed,whilemanyavaricioustraderswerepromptingtheIndianstotaketheirlives.
Hepromisedacontinuanceofhisfavors,andadmonishedthemtobegrateful.
Afterwhich,hespokeoftheexpeditioninwhichhewashimselfengaged,andintimated,thoughwithsufficientdelicacyandcircumlocution,theexpediencyofbestowingontheirrelativeaportionofthatwisdomforwhichtheyweresorenowned.
TheseharanguesofthebeastswerefrequentamongtheIndians.
Theyoftenaddresstheirvictimsinthisway,reproachingthemforcowardiceorcommendingtheirresolution,astheymayhappentoexhibitfortitudeorthereverse,insuffering.
Duringtheutteranceofthisextraordinaryaddress,thecompanionsofthespeakerwereasgraveandasattentivetohislanguageasthoughtheywereallequallyimpressedwithitspropriety.
Onceortwiceblackobjectswereseenrisingtothesurfaceofthewater,andtheHuronexpressedpleasure,conceivingthathiswordswerenotbestowedinvain.
Justasheendedhisaddress,theheadofalargebeaverwasthrustfromthedoorofalodge,whoseearthenwallshadbeenmuchinjured,andwhichthepartyhadbelieved,fromitssituation,tobeuninhabited.
Suchanextraordinarysignofconfidencewasreceivedbytheoratorasahighlyfavorableomen;andthoughtheanimalretreatedalittleprecipitately,hewaslavishofhisthanksandcommendations.
WhenMaguathoughtsufficienttimehadbeenlostingratifyingthefamilyaffectionofthewarrior,heagainmadethesignaltoproceed.
AstheIndiansmovedawayinabody,andwithastepthatwouldhavebeeninaudibletotheearsofanycommonman,thesamevenerable–lookingbeaveroncemoreventuredhisheadfromitscover.
HadanyoftheHuronsturnedtolookbehindthem,theywouldhaveseentheanimalwatchingtheirmovementswithaninterestandsagacitythatmighteasilyhavebeenmistakenforreason.
Indeed,soverydistinctandintelligiblewerethedevicesofthequadruped,thateventhemostexperiencedobserverwouldhavebeenatalosstoaccountforitsactions,untilthemomentwhenthepartyenteredtheforest,whenthewholewouldhavebeenexplained,byseeingtheentireanimalissuefromthelodge,uncasing,bytheact,thegravefeaturesofChingachgookfromhismaskoffur.
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