English
Ifyoudenyme,fieuponyourlaw!ThereisnoforceinthedecreesofVenice:Istandforjudgment:answer,shallIhaveit?
—MerchantofVenice
Thesilencecontinuedunbrokenbyhumansoundsformanyanxiousminutes.
Thenthewavingmultitudeopenedandshutagain,andUncasstoodinthelivingcircle.
Allthoseeyes,whichhadbeencuriouslystudyingthelineamentsofthesage,asthesourceoftheirownintelligence,turnedontheinstant,andwerenowbentinsecretadmirationontheerect,agile,andfaultlesspersonofthecaptive.
Butneitherthepresenceinwhichhefoundhimself,northeexclusiveattentionthatheattracted,inanymannerdisturbedtheself–possessionoftheyoungMohican.
Hecastadeliberateandobservinglookoneverysideofhim,meetingthesettledexpressionofhostilitythatloweredinthevisagesofthechiefswiththesamecalmnessasthecuriousgazeoftheattentivechildren.
Butwhen,lastinthishaughtyscrutiny,thepersonofTamenundcameunderhisglance,hiseyebecamefixed,asthoughallotherobjectswerealreadyforgotten.
Then,advancingwithaslowandnoiselessstepupthearea,heplacedhimselfimmediatelybeforethefootstoolofthesage.
Herehestoodunnoted,thoughkeenlyobservanthimself,untiloneofthechiefsapprisedthelatterofhispresence.
“WithwhattonguedoestheprisonerspeaktotheManitou?”demandedthepatriarch,withoutunclosinghiseyes.
“Likehisfathers,”Uncasreplied;“withthetongueofaDelaware.”
Atthissuddenandunexpectedannunciation,alow,fierceyellranthroughthemultitude,thatmightnotinaptlybecomparedtothegrowlofthelion,ashischolerisfirstawakened—afearfulomenoftheweightofhisfutureanger.
Theeffectwasequallystrongonthesage,thoughdifferentlyexhibited.
Hepassedahandbeforehiseyes,asiftoexcludetheleastevidenceofsoshamefulaspectacle,whileherepeated,inhislow,gutturaltones,thewordshehadjustheard.
“ADelaware!IhavelivedtoseethetribesoftheLenapedrivenfromtheircouncil–fires,andscattered,likebrokenherdsofdeer,amongthehillsoftheIroquois!
Ihaveseenthehatchetsofastrongpeoplesweepwoodsfromthevalleys,thatthewindsofheavenhavespared!
Thebeaststhatrunonthemountains,andthebirdsthatflyabovethetrees,haveIseenlivinginthewigwamsofmen;butneverbeforehaveIfoundaDelawaresobaseastocreep,likeapoisonousserpent,intothecampsofhisnation.”
“Thesinging–birdshaveopenedtheirbills,”returnedUncas,inthesoftestnotesofhisownmusicalvoice;“andTamenundhasheardtheirsong.”
Thesagestarted,andbenthisheadaside,asiftocatchthefleetingsoundsofsomepassingmelody.
“DoesTamenunddream!”heexclaimed.“Whatvoiceisathisear!Havethewintersgonebackward!WillsummercomeagaintothechildrenoftheLenape!”
AsolemnandrespectfulsilencesucceededthisincoherentburstfromthelipsoftheDelawareprophet.
Hispeoplereadilyconstructedhisunintelligiblelanguageintooneofthosemysteriousconferenceshewasbelievedtoholdsofrequentlywithasuperiorintelligenceandtheyawaitedtheissueoftherevelationinawe.
Afterapatientpause,however,oneoftheagedmen,perceivingthatthesagehadlosttherecollectionofthesubjectbeforethem,venturedtoremindhimagainofthepresenceoftheprisoner.
“ThefalseDelawaretrembleslestheshouldhearthewordsofTamenund,”hesaid.”’Tisahoundthathowls,whentheYengeeseshowhimatrail.”
“Andye,”returnedUncas,lookingsternlyaroundhim,“aredogsthatwhine,whentheFrenchmancastsyetheoffalsofhisdeer!”
Twentyknivesgleamedintheair,andasmanywarriorssprangtotheirfeet,atthisbiting,andperhapsmeritedretort;butamotionfromoneofthechiefssuppressedtheoutbreakingoftheirtempers,andrestoredtheappearanceofquiet.
Thetaskmightprobablyhavebeenmoredifficult,hadnotamovementmadebyTamenundindicatedthathewasagainabouttospeak.
“Delaware!”resumedthesage,“littleartthouworthyofthyname.
Mypeoplehavenotseenabrightsuninmanywinters;andthewarriorwhodesertshistribewhenhidincloudsisdoublyatraitor.ThelawoftheManitouisjust.
Itisso;whiletheriversrunandthemountainsstand,whiletheblossomscomeandgoonthetrees,itmustbeso.
Heisthine,mychildren;dealjustlybyhim.”
Notalimbwasmoved,norwasabreathdrawnlouderandlongerthancommon,untiltheclosingsyllableofthisfinaldecreehadpassedthelipsofTamenund.
Thenacryofvengeanceburstatonce,asitmightbe,fromtheunitedlipsofthenation;afrightfulauguryoftheirruthlessintentions.
Inthemidstoftheseprolongedandsavageyells,achiefproclaimed,inahighvoice,thatthecaptivewascondemnedtoendurethedreadfultrialoftorturebyfire.
Thecirclebrokeitsorder,andscreamsofdelightmingledwiththebustleandtumultofpreparation.
Heywardstruggledmadlywithhiscaptors;theanxiouseyeofHawkeyebegantolookaroundhim,withanexpressionofpeculiarearnestness;andCoraagainthrewherselfatthefeetofthepatriarch,oncemoreasuppliantformercy.
Throughoutthewholeofthesetryingmoments,Uncashadalonepreservedhisserenity.
Helookedonthepreparationswithasteadyeye,andwhenthetormentorscametoseizehim,hemetthemwithafirmanduprightattitude.
Oneamongthem,ifpossiblemorefierceandsavagethanhisfellows,seizedthehunting–shirtoftheyoungwarrior,andatasingleefforttoreitfromhisbody.
Then,withayelloffranticpleasure,heleapedtowardhisunresistingvictimandpreparedtoleadhimtothestake.
But,atthatmoment,whenheappearedmostastrangertothefeelingsofhumanity,thepurposeofthesavagewasarrestedassuddenlyasifasupernaturalagencyhadinterposedinthebehalfofUncas.
TheeyeballsoftheDelawareseemedtostartfromtheirsockets;hismouthopenedandhiswholeformbecamefrozeninanattitudeofamazement.
Raisinghishandwithaslowandregulatedmotion,hepointedwithafingertothebosomofthecaptive.
Hiscompanionscrowdedabouthiminwonderandeveryeyewaslikehisown,fastenedintentlyonthefigureofasmalltortoise,beautifullytattooedonthebreastoftheprisoner,inabrightbluetint.
ForasingleinstantUncasenjoyedhistriumph,smilingcalmlyonthescene.
Thenmotioningthecrowdawaywithahighandhaughtysweepofhisarm,headvancedinfrontofthenationwiththeairofaking,andspokeinavoicelouderthanthemurmurofadmirationthatranthroughthemultitude.
“MenoftheLenniLenape!”hesaid,“myraceupholdstheearth!Yourfeebletribestandsonmyshell!
WhatfirethataDelawarecanlightwouldburnthechildofmyfathers,”headded,pointingproudlytothesimpleblazonryonhisskin;“thebloodthatcamefromsuchastockwouldsmotheryourflames!Myraceisthegrandfatherofnations!”
“Whoartthou?”demandedTamenund,risingatthestartlingtonesheheard,morethanatanymeaningconveyedbythelanguageoftheprisoner.
“Uncas,thesonofChingachgook,”answeredthecaptivemodestly,turningfromthenation,andbendinghisheadinreverencetotheother’scharacterandyears;“asonofthegreatUnamis.”
Turtle.
“ThehourofTamenundisnigh!”exclaimedthesage;“thedayiscome,atlast,tothenight!
IthanktheManitou,thatoneisheretofillmyplaceatthecouncil–fire.Uncas,thechildofUncas,isfound!
Lettheeyesofadyingeaglegazeontherisingsun.”
Theyouthsteppedlightly,butproudlyontheplatform,wherehebecamevisibletothewholeagitatedandwonderingmultitude.
Tamenundheldhimlongatthelengthofhisarmandreadeveryturninthefinelineamentsofhiscountenance,withtheuntiringgazeofonewhorecalleddaysofhappiness.
“IsTamenundaboy?”atlengththebewilderedprophetexclaimed.
“HaveIdreamedofsomanysnows—thatmypeoplewerescatteredlikefloatingsands—ofYengeese,moreplentythantheleavesonthetrees!
ThearrowofTamenundwouldnotfrightenthefawn;hisarmifwitheredlikethebranchofadeadoak;thesnailwouldbeswifterintherace;yetisUncasbeforehimastheywenttobattleagainstthepalefaces!
Uncas,thepantherofhistribe,theeldestsonoftheLenape,thewisestSagamoreoftheMohicans!
Tellme,yeDelawareshasTamenundbeenasleeperforahundredwinters?”
Thecalmanddeepsilencewhichsucceededthesewordssufficientlyannouncedtheawfulreverencewithwhichhispeoplereceivedthecommunicationofthepatriarch.
Nonedaredtoanswer,thoughalllistenedinbreathlessexpectationofwhatmightfollow.
Uncas,however,lookinginhisfacewiththefondnessandvenerationofafavoredchild,presumedonhisownhighandacknowledgedrank,toreply.
“Fourwarriorsofhisracehavelivedanddied,”hesaid,“sincethefriendofTamenundledhispeopleinbattle.
Thebloodoftheturtlehasbeeninmanychiefs,butallhavegonebackintotheearthfromwhencetheycame,exceptChingachgookandhisson.”
“Itistrue—itistrue,”returnedthesage,aflashofrecollectiondestroyingallhispleasingfancies,andrestoringhimatoncetoaconsciousnessofthetruehistoryofhisnation.
“OurwisemenhaveoftensaidthattwowarriorsoftheunchangedracewereinthehillsoftheYengeese;whyhavetheirseatsatthecouncil–firesoftheDelawaresbeensolongempty?”
Atthesewordstheyoungmanraisedhishead,whichhehadstillkeptbowedalittle,inreverence;andliftinghisvoicesoastobeheardbythemultitude,asiftoexplainatonceandforeverthepolicyofhisfamily,hesaidaloud:
“Oncewesleptwherewecouldhearthesaltlakespeakinitsanger.
ThenwewererulersandSagamoresovertheland.
Butwhenapalefacewasseenoneverybrook,wefollowedthedeerbacktotheriverofournation.TheDelawaresweregone.
Fewwarriorsofthemallstayedtodrinkofthestreamtheyloved.
Thensaidmyfathers,‘Herewillwehunt.
Thewatersoftherivergointothesaltlake.
Ifwegotowardthesettingsun,weshallfindstreamsthatrunintothegreatlakesofsweetwater;therewouldaMohicandie,likefishesofthesea,intheclearsprings.
WhentheManitouisreadyandshallsay“Come,”wewillfollowtherivertothesea,andtakeourownagain’Such,Delawares,isthebeliefofthechildrenoftheTurtle.
Oureyesareontherisingandnottowardthesettingsun.
Weknowwhencehecomes,butweknownotwhitherhegoes.Itisenough.”
ThemenoftheLenapelistenedtohiswordswithalltherespectthatsuperstitioncouldlend,findingasecretcharmeveninthefigurativelanguagewithwhichtheyoungSagamoreimpartedhisideas.
Uncashimselfwatchedtheeffectofhisbriefexplanationwithintelligenteyes,andgraduallydroppedtheairofauthorityhehadassumed,asheperceivedthathisauditorswerecontent.
Then,permittinghislookstowanderoverthesilentthrongthatcrowdedaroundtheelevatedseatofTamenund,hefirstperceivedHawkeyeinhisbonds.
Steppingeagerlyfromhisstand,hemadewayforhimselftothesideofhisfriend;andcuttinghisthongswithaquickandangrystrokeofhisownknife,hemotionedtothecrowdtodivide.
TheIndianssilentlyobeyed,andoncemoretheystoodrangedintheircircle,asbeforehisappearanceamongthem.
Uncastookthescoutbythehand,andledhimtothefeetofthepatriarch.
“Father,”hesaid,“lookatthispaleface;ajustman,andthefriendoftheDelawares.”
“IsheasonofMinquon?”
“Notso;awarriorknowntotheYengeese,andfearedbytheMaquas.”
“Whatnamehashegainedbyhisdeeds?”
“WecallhimHawkeye,”Uncasreplied,usingtheDelawarephrase;“forhissightneverfails.TheMingoesknowhimbetterbythedeathhegivestheirwarriors;withthemheis‘TheLongRifle’.”
“LaLongueCarabine!”exclaimedTamenund,openinghiseyes,andregardingthescoutsternly.“Mysonhasnotdonewelltocallhimfriend.”
“Icallhimsowhoproveshimselfsuch,”returnedtheyoungchief,withgreatcalmness,butwithasteadymien.“IfUncasiswelcomeamongtheDelawares,thenisHawkeyewithhisfriends.”
“Thepalefacehasslainmyyoungmen;hisnameisgreatfortheblowshehasstrucktheLenape.”
“IfaMingohaswhisperedthatmuchintheearoftheDelaware,hehasonlyshownthatheisasinging–bird,”saidthescout,whonowbelievedthatitwastimetovindicatehimselffromsuchoffensivecharges,andwhospokeasthemanheaddressed,modifyinghisIndianfigures,however,withhisownpeculiarnotions.
“ThatIhaveslaintheMaquasIamnotthemantodeny,evenattheirowncouncil–fires;butthat,knowingly,myhandhasneverharmedaDelaware,isopposedtothereasonofmygifts,whichisfriendlytothem,andallthatbelongstotheirnation.”
Alowexclamationofapplausepassedamongthewarriorswhoexchangedlookswitheachotherlikementhatfirstbegantoperceivetheirerror.
“WhereistheHuron?”demandedTamenund.“Hashestoppedmyears?”
Magua,whosefeelingsduringthatsceneinwhichUncashadtriumphedmaybemuchbetterimaginedthandescribed,answeredtothecallbysteppingboldlyinfrontofthepatriarch.
“ThejustTamenund,”hesaid,“willnotkeepwhataHuronhaslent.”
“Tellme,sonofmybrother,”returnedthesage,avoidingthedarkcountenanceofLeSubtil,andturninggladlytothemoreingenuousfeaturesofUncas,“hasthestrangeraconqueror’srightoveryou?”
“Hehasnone.Thepanthermaygetintosnaressetbythewomen;butheisstrong,andknowshowtoleapthroughthem.”
“LaLongueCarabine?”
“LaughsattheMingoes.Go,Huron,askyoursquawsthecolorofabear.”
“Thestrangerandwhitemaidenthatcomeintomycamptogether?”
“Shouldjourneyonanopenpath.”
“AndthewomanthatHuronleftwithmywarriors?”
Uncasmadenoreply.
“AndthewomanthattheMingohasbroughtintomycamp?”repeatedTamenund,gravely.
“Sheismine,”criedMagua,shakinghishandintriumphatUncas.“Mohican,youknowthatsheismine.”
“Mysonissilent,”saidTamenund,endeavoringtoreadtheexpressionofthefacethattheyouthturnedfromhiminsorrow.
“Itisso,”wasthelowanswer.
Ashortandimpressivepausesucceeded,duringwhichitwasveryapparentwithwhatreluctancethemultitudeadmittedthejusticeoftheMingo’sclaim.
Atlengththesage,onwhomalonethedecisiondepended,said,inafirmvoice:
“Huron,depart.”
“Ashecame,justTamenund,”demandedthewilyMagua,“orwithhandsfilledwiththefaithoftheDelawares?ThewigwamofLeRenardSubtilisempty.Makehimstrongwithhisown.”
Theagedmanmusedwithhimselfforatime;andthen,bendinghisheadtowardoneofhisvenerablecompanions,heasked:
“Aremyearsopen?”
“Itistrue.”
“IsthisMingoachief?”
“Thefirstinhisnation.”
“Girl,whatwouldstthou?Agreatwarriortakestheetowife.Go!thyracewillnotend.”
“Better,athousandtimes,itshould,”exclaimedthehorror–struckCora,“thanmeetwithsuchadegradation!”
“Huron,hermindisinthetentsofherfathers.Anunwillingmaidenmakesanunhappywigwam.”
“Shespeakswiththetongueofherpeople,”returnedMagua,regardinghisvictimwithalookofbitterirony.
“Sheisofaraceoftraders,andwillbargainforabrightlook.LetTamenundspeakthewords.”
“Takeyouthewampum,andourlove.”
“NothinghencebutwhatMaguabroughthither.”
“Thendepartwiththineown.TheGreatManitouforbidsthataDelawareshouldbeunjust.”
Maguaadvanced,andseizedhiscaptivestronglybythearm;theDelawaresfellback,insilence;andCora,asifconsciousthatremonstrancewouldbeuseless,preparedtosubmittoherfatewithoutresistance.
“Hold,hold!”criedDuncan,springingforward;“Huron,havemercy!herransomshallmaketheericherthananyofthypeoplewereeveryetknowntobe.”
“Maguaisared–skin;hewantsnotthebeadsofthepalefaces.”
“Gold,silver,powder,lead—allthatawarriorneedsshallbeinthywigwam;allthatbecomesthegreatestchief.”
“LeSubtilisverystrong,”criedMagua,violentlyshakingthehandwhichgraspedtheunresistingarmofCora;“hehashisrevenge!”
“MightyrulerofProvidence!”exclaimedHeyward,claspinghishandstogetherinagony,“canthisbesuffered!Toyou,justTamenund,Iappealformercy.”
“ThewordsoftheDelawarearesaid,”returnedthesage,closinghiseyes,anddroppingbackintohisseat,alikeweariedwithhismentalandhisbodilyexertion.“Menspeaknottwice.”
“Thatachiefshouldnotmisspendhistimeinunsayingwhathasoncebeenspokeniswiseandreasonable,”saidHawkeye,motioningtoDuncantobesilent;“butitisalsoprudentineverywarriortoconsiderwellbeforehestrikeshistomahawkintotheheadofhisprisoner.
Huron,Iloveyounot;norcanIsaythatanyMingohaseverreceivedmuchfavoratmyhands.
Itisfairtoconcludethat,ifthiswardoesnotsoonend,manymoreofyourwarriorswillmeetmeinthewoods.
Putittoyourjudgment,then,whetheryouwouldprefertakingsuchaprisonerasthatintoyourencampment,oronelikemyself,whoamamanthatitwouldgreatlyrejoiceyournationtoseewithnakedhands.”
“Will‘TheLongRifle’givehislifeforthewoman?”demandedMagua,hesitatingly;forhehadalreadymadeamotiontowardquittingtheplacewithhisvictim.
“No,no;Ihavenotsaidsomuchasthat,”returnedHawkeye,drawingbackwithsuitablediscretion,whenhenotedtheeagernesswithwhichMagualistenedtohisproposal.
“Itwouldbeanunequalexchange,togiveawarrior,intheprimeofhisageandusefulness,forthebestwomanonthefrontiers.
Imightconsenttogointowinterquarters,now—atleastsixweeksaforetheleaveswillturn—onconditionyouwillreleasethemaiden.”
Maguashookhishead,andmadeanimpatientsignforthecrowdtoopen.
“Well,then,”addedthescout,withthemusingairofamanwhohadnothalfmadeuphismind;“Iwillthrow‘killdeer’intothebargain.
Takethewordofanexperiencedhunter,thepiecehasnotitsequalatweentheprovinces.”
Maguastilldisdainedtoreply,continuinghiseffortstodispersethecrowd.
“Perhaps,”addedthescout,losinghisdissembledcoolnessexactlyinproportionastheothermanifestedanindifferencetotheexchange,“ifIshouldconditiontoteachyouryoungmentherealvirtueofthewe’pon,itwouldsmoothethelittledifferencesinourjudgments.”
LeRenardfiercelyorderedtheDelawares,whostilllingeredinanimpenetrablebeltaroundhim,inhopeshewouldlistentotheamicableproposal,toopenhispath,threatening,bytheglanceofhiseye,anotherappealtotheinfalliblejusticeoftheir“prophet.”
“Whatisorderedmustsoonerorlaterarrive,”continuedHawkeye,turningwithasadandhumbledlooktoUncas.
“Thevarletknowshisadvantageandwillkeepit!
Godblessyou,boy;youhavefoundfriendsamongyournaturalkin,andIhopetheywillproveastrueassomeyouhavemetwhohadnoIndiancross.
Asforme,soonerorlater,Imustdie;itis,therefore,fortunatetherearebutfewtomakemydeath–howl.
Afterall,itislikelytheimpswouldhavemanagedtomastermyscalp,soadayortwowillmakenogreatdifferenceintheeverlastingreckoningoftime.
Godblessyou,”addedtheruggedwoodsman,bendinghisheadaside,andtheninstantlychangingitsdirectionagain,withawistfullooktowardtheyouth;“Ilovedbothyouandyourfather,Uncas,thoughourskinsarenotaltogetherofacolor,andourgiftsaresomewhatdifficult.
TelltheSagamoreIneverlostsightofhiminmygreatesttrouble;and,asforyou,thinkofmesometimeswhenonaluckytrail,anddependonit,boy,whethertherebeoneheavenortwo,thereisapathintheotherworldbywhichhonestmenmaycometogetheragain.
You’llfindtherifleintheplacewehidit;takeit,andkeepitformysake;and,harkee,lad,asyournaturalgiftsdon’tdenyyoutheuseofvengeance,useitalittlefreelyontheMingoes;itmayunburdengriefsatmyloss,andeaseyourmind.
Huron,Iacceptyouroffer;releasethewoman.Iamyourprisoner!”
Asuppressed,butstilldistinctmurmurofapprobationranthroughthecrowdatthisgenerousproposition;eventhefiercestamongtheDelawarewarriorsmanifestingpleasureatthemanlinessoftheintendedsacrifice.
Maguapaused,andforananxiousmoment,itmightbesaid,hedoubted;then,castinghiseyesonCora,withanexpressioninwhichferocityandadmirationwerestrangelymingled,hispurposebecamefixedforever.
Heintimatedhiscontemptoftheofferwithabackwardmotionofhishead,andsaid,inasteadyandsettledvoice:
“LeRenardSubtilisagreatchief;hehasbutonemind.Come,”headded,layinghishandtoofamiliarlyontheshoulderofhiscaptivetourgeheronward;“aHuronisnotattler;wewillgo.”
Themaidendrewbackinloftywomanlyreserve,andherdarkeyekindled,whiletherichbloodshot,likethepassingbrightnessofthesun,intoherverytemples,attheindignity.
“Iamyourprisoner,and,atafittingtimeshallbereadytofollow,eventomydeath.
Butviolenceisunnecessary,”shecoldlysaid;andimmediatelyturningtoHawkeye,added:“Generoushunter!frommysoulIthankyou.
Yourofferisvain,neithercoulditbeaccepted;butstillyoumayserveme,evenmorethaninyourownnobleintention.Lookatthatdroopinghumbledchild!
Abandonhernotuntilyouleaveherinthehabitationsofcivilizedmen.
Iwillnotsay,”wringingthehardhandofthescout,“thatherfatherwillrewardyou—forsuchasyouareabovetherewardsofmen—buthewillthankyouandblessyou.
And,believeme,theblessingofajustandagedmanhasvirtueinthesightofHeaven.
WouldtoGodIcouldhearonewordfromhislipsatthisawfulmoment!”
Hervoicebecamechoked,and,foraninstant,shewassilent;then,advancingastepnighertoDuncan,whowassupportingherunconscioussister,shecontinued,inmoresubduedtones,butinwhichfeelingandthehabitsofhersexmaintainedafearfulstruggle:“Ineednottellyoutocherishthetreasureyouwillpossess.
Youloveher,Heyward;thatwouldconcealathousandfaults,thoughshehadthem.
Sheiskind,gentle,sweet,good,asmortalmaybe.
Thereisnotablemishinmindorpersonatwhichtheproudestofyouallwouldsicken.Sheisfair—oh!howsurpassinglyfair!”
layingherownbeautiful,butlessbrilliant,handinmelancholyaffectiononthealabasterforeheadofAlice,andpartingthegoldenhairwhichclusteredaboutherbrows;“andyethersoulispureandspotlessasherskin!
Icouldsaymuch—more,perhaps,thancoolerreasonwouldapprove;butIwillspareyouandmyself—”Hervoicebecameinaudible,andherfacewasbentovertheformofhersister.
Afteralongandburningkiss,shearose,andwithfeaturesofthehueofdeath,butwithoutevenatearinherfeverisheye,sheturnedaway,andadded,tothesavage,withallherformerelevationofmanner:“Now,sir,ifitbeyourpleasure,Iwillfollow.”
“Ay,go,”criedDuncan,placingAliceinthearmsofanIndiangirl;“go,Magua,go.
theseDelawareshavetheirlaws,whichforbidthemtodetainyou;butI—Ihavenosuchobligation.
Go,malignantmonster—whydoyoudelay?”
ItwouldbedifficulttodescribetheexpressionwithwhichMagualistenedtothisthreattofollow.
Therewasatfirstafierceandmanifestdisplayofjoy,andthenitwasinstantlysubduedinalookofcunningcoldness.
“Thewordsareopen,”hewascontentwithanswering,”’TheOpenHand’cancome.”
“Hold,”criedHawkeye,seizingDuncanbythearm,anddetaininghimbyviolence;“youknownotthecraftoftheimp.Hewouldleadyoutoanambushment,andyourdeath—“
“Huron,”interruptedUncas,whosubmissivetothesterncustomsofhispeople,hadbeenanattentiveandgravelistenertoallthatpassed;“Huron,thejusticeoftheDelawarescomesfromtheManitou.Lookatthesun.
Heisnowintheupperbranchesofthehemlock.Yourpathisshortandopen.
Whenheisseenabovethetrees,therewillbemenonyourtrail.”
“Ihearacrow!”exclaimedMagua,withatauntinglaugh.“Go!”
headded,shakinghishandatthecrowd,whichhadslowlyopenedtoadmithispassage.
“WherearethepetticoatsoftheDelawares!
LetthemsendtheirarrowsandtheirgunstotheWyandots;theyshallhavevenisontoeat,andcorntohoe.Dogs,rabbits,thieves—Ispitonyou!”
Hispartinggibeswerelistenedtoinadead,bodingsilence,and,withthesebitingwordsinhismouth,thetriumphantMaguapassedunmolestedintotheforest,followedbyhispassivecaptive,andprotectedbytheinviolablelawsofIndianhospitality.
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