"His words are bonds, his oaths are oracles;
His love sincere, his thoughts immaculate;
His tears pure messengers sent from his heart;
His heart as far from fraud as heaven from earth."Two Gentlemen of Verona, II.vii,75-78
Neither of the girls spoke as Deerslayer stood before them alone,
his countenance betraying all the apprehension he felt on account
of two absent members of their party.
"Father!" Judith at length exclaimed, succeeding in uttering the
word, as it might be by a desperate effort.
"He's met with misfortune, and there's no use in concealing it,"
answered Deerslayer, in his direct and simple minded manner. "He
and Hurry are in Mingo hands, and Heaven only knows what's to be the
tarmination. I've got the canoes safe, and that's a consolation,
since the vagabonds will have to swim for it, or raft off, to come
near this place. At sunset we'll be reinforced by Chingachgook,
if I can manage to get him into a canoe; and then, I think, we two
can answer for the ark and the castle, till some of the officers
in the garrisons hear of this war-path, which sooner or later must
be the case, when we may look for succor from that quarter, if from
no other."
"The officers!" exclaimed Judith, impatiently, her color deepening,
and her eye expressing a lively but passing emotion. "Who thinks
or speaks of the heartless gallants now? We are sufficient of
ourselves to defend the castle. But what of my father, and of poor
Hurry Harry?"
"'T is natural you should feel this consarn for your own parent,
Judith, and I suppose it's equally so that you should feel it for
Hurry Harry, too."
Deerslayer then commenced a succinct but clear narrative of all
that occurred during the night, in no manner concealing what had
befallen his two companions, or his own opinion of what might prove
to be the consequences. The girls listened with profound attention,
but neither betrayed that feminine apprehension and concern which
would have followed such a communication when made to those who were
less accustomed to the hazards and accidents of a frontier life.
To the surprise of Deerslayer, Judith seemed the most distressed,
Hetty listening eagerly, but appearing to brood over the facts
in melancholy silence, rather than betraying any outward signs of
feeling. The former's agitation, the young man did not fail to
attribute to the interest she felt in Hurry, quite as much as to
her filial love, while Hetty's apparent indifference was ascribed
to that mental darkness which, in a measure, obscured her intellect,
and which possibly prevented her from foreseeing all the consequences.
Little was said, however, by either, Judith and her sister busying
themselves in making the preparations for the morning meal, as they
who habitually attend to such matters toil on mechanically even
in the midst of suffering and sorrow. The plain but nutritious
breakfast was taken by all three in sombre silence. The girls
ate little, but Deerslayer gave proof of possessing one material
requisite of a good soldier, that of preserving his appetite in
the midst of the most alarming and embarrassing circumstances. The
meal was nearly ended before a syllable was uttered; then, however,
Judith spoke in the convulsive and hurried manner in which feeling
breaks through restraint, after the latter has become more painful
than even the betrayal of emotion.
"Father would have relished this fish," she exclaimed; "he says the
salmon of the lakes is almost as good as the salmon of the sea."
"Your father has been acquainted with the sea, they tell me, Judith,"
returned the young man, who could not forbear throwing a glance of
inquiry at the girl; for in common with all who knew Hutter, he had
some curiosity on the subject of his early history. "Hurry Harry
tells me he was once a sailor."
Judith first looked perplexed; then, influenced by feelings that
were novel to her, in more ways than one, she became suddenly
communicative, and seemingly much interested in the discourse.
"If Hurry knows anything of father's history, I would he had told
it to me!" she cried. "Sometimes I think, too, he was once a sailor,
and then again I think he was not. If that chest were open, or if
it could speak, it might let us into his whole history. But its
fastenings are too strong to be broken like pack thread."
Deerslayer turned to the chest in question, and for the first time
examined it closely. Although discolored, and bearing proofs of
having received much ill-treatment, he saw that it was of materials
and workmanship altogether superior to anything of the same sort
he had ever before beheld. The wood was dark, rich, and had once
been highly polished, though the treatment it had received left
little gloss on its surface, and various scratches and indentations
proved the rough collisions that it had encountered with substances
still harder than itself. The corners were firmly bound with
steel, elaborately and richly wrought, while the locks, of which
it had no less than three, and the hinges, were of a fashion and
workmanship that would have attracted attention even in a warehouse
of curious furniture. This chest was quite large; and when Deerslayer
arose, and endeavored to raise an end by its massive handle, he
found that the weight fully corresponded with the external appearance.
"Did you never see that chest opened, Judith?" the young man
demanded with frontier freedom, for delicacy on such subjects was
little felt among the people on the verge of civilization, in that
age, even if it be today.
"Never. Father has never opened it in my presence, if he ever
opens it at all. No one here has ever seen its lid raised, unless
it be father; nor do I even know that he has ever seen it."
"Now you're wrong, Judith," Hetty quietly answered. "Father has
raised the lid, and I've seen him do it."
A feeling of manliness kept the mouth of Deerslayer shut; for, while
he would not have hesitated about going far beyond what would be
thought the bounds of propriety, in questioning the older sister,
he had just scruples about taking what might be thought an advantage
of the feeble intellect of the younger. Judith, being under no
such restraint, however, turned quickly to the last speaker and
continued the discourse.
"When and where did you ever see that chest opened, Hetty?"
"Here, and again and again. Father often opens it when you are
away, though he don't in the least mind my being by, and seeing
all he does, as well as hearing all he says."
"And what is it that he does, and what does he say?"
"That I cannot tell you, Judith," returned the other in a low but
resolute voice. "Father's secrets are not my secrets."
"Secrets! This is stranger still, Deerslayer, that father should
tell them to Hetty, and not tell them to me!"
"There's a good reason for that, Judith, though you're not to know
it. Father's not here to answer for himself, and I'll say no more
about it."
Judith and Deerslayer looked surprised, and for a minute the first
seemed pained. But, suddenly recollecting herself, she turned away
from her sister, as if in pity for her weakness and addressed the
young man.
"You've told but half your story," she said, "breaking off at the
place where you went to sleep in the canoe - or rather where you
rose to listen to the cry of the loon. We heard the call of the
loons, too, and thought their cries might bring a storm, though
we are little used to tempests on this lake at this season of the
year."
"The winds blow and the tempests howl as God pleases; sometimes at
one season, and sometimes at another," answered Deerslayer; "and
the loons speak accordin' to their natur'. Better would it be if
men were as honest and frank. After I rose to listen to the birds,
finding it could not be Hurry's signal, I lay down and slept. When
the day dawned I was up and stirring, as usual, and then I went in
chase of the two canoes, lest the Mingos should lay hands on 'em."
"You have not told us all, Deerslayer," said Judith earnestly. "We
heard rifles under the eastern mountain; the echoes were full and
long, and came so soon after the reports, that the pieces must
have been fired on or quite near to the shore. Our ears are used
to these signs, and are not to be deceived."
"They've done their duty, gal, this time; yes, they've done their
duty. Rifles have been sighted this morning, ay, and triggers pulled,
too, though not as often a they might have been. One warrior has
gone to his happy hunting-grounds, and that's the whole of it. A
man of white blood and white gifts is not to be expected to boast
of his expl'ites and to flourish scalps."
Judith listened almost breathlessly; and when Deerslayer, in his
quiet, modest manner, seemed disposed to quit the subject, she
rose, and crossing the room, took a seat by his side. The manner
of the girl had nothing forward about it, though it betrayed
the quick instinct of a female's affection, and the sympathizing
kindness of a woman's heart. She even took the hard hand of the
hunter, and pressed it in both her own, unconsciously to herself,
perhaps, while she looked earnestly and even reproachfully into
his sun burnt face.
"You have been fighting the savages, Deerslayer, singly and by
yourself!" she said. "In your wish to take care of us -- of Hetty
-- of me, perhaps, you've fought the enemy bravely, with no eye
to encourage your deeds, or to witness your fall, had it pleased
Providence to suffer so great a calamity!"
"I've fou't, Judith; yes, I have fou't the inimy, and that too, for
the first time in my life. These things must be, and they bring
with 'em a mixed feelin' of sorrow and triumph. Human natur' is
a fightin' natur', I suppose, as all nations kill in battle, and
we must be true to our rights and gifts. What has yet been done
is no great matter, but should Chingachgook come to the rock this
evening, as is agreed atween us, and I get him off it onbeknown to
the savages or, if known to them, ag'in their wishes and designs,
then may we all look to something like warfare, afore the Mingos
shall get possession of either the castle, or the ark, or yourselves."
"Who is this Chingachgook; from what place does he come, and why
does he come here ?"
"The questions are nat'ral and right, I suppose, though the
youth has a great name, already, in his own part of the country.
Chingachgook is a Mohican by blood, consorting with the Delawares
by usage, as is the case with most of his tribe, which has long
been broken up by the increase of our color. He is of the family
of the great chiefs; Uncas, his father, having been the considerablest
warrior and counsellor of his people. Even old Tamenund honors
Chingachgook, though he is thought to be yet too young to lead
in war; and then the nation is so disparsed and diminished, that
chieftainship among 'em has got to be little more than a name.
"Well, this war having commenced in 'arnest, the Delaware and I
rendezvous'd an app'intment, to meet this evening at sunset on the
rendezvous-rock at the foot of this very lake, intending to come
out on our first hostile expedition ag'in the Mingos. Why we come
exactly this a way is our own secret; but thoughtful young men on
the war-path, as you may suppose, do nothing without a calculation
and a design."
"A Delaware can have no unfriendly intentions towards us," said
Judith, after a moment's hesitation, "and we know you to be friendly."
"Treachery is the last crime I hope to be accused of," returned
Deerslayer, hurt at the gleam of distrust that had shot through
Judith's mind; "and least of all, treachery to my own color."
"No one suspects you, Deerslayer," the girl impetuously cried. "No
- no -your honest countenance would be sufficient surety for the
truth of a thousand hearts! If all men had as honest tongues, and
no more promised what they did not mean to perform, there would be
less wrong done in the world, and fine feathers and scarlet cloaks
would not be excuses for baseness and deception."
The girl spoke with strong, nay, even with convulsed feeling, and
her fine eyes, usually so soft and alluring, flashed fire as she
concluded. Deerslayer could not but observe this extraordinary
emotion; but with the tact of a courtier, he avoided not only any
allusion to the circumstance, but succeeded in concealing the effect
of his discovery on himself. Judith gradually grew calm again,
and as she was obviously anxious to appear to advantage in the eyes
of the young man, she was soon able to renew the conversation as
composedly as if nothing had occurred to disturb her.
"I have no right to look into your secrets, or the secrets of your
friend, Deerslayer," she continued, "and am ready to take all you
say on trust. If we can really get another male ally to join us
at this trying moment, it will aid us much; and I am not without
hope that when the savages find that we are able to keep the lake,
they will offer to give up their prisoners in exchange for skins,
or at least for the keg of powder that we have in the house."
The young man had the words "scalps" and "bounty" on his lips, but
a reluctance to alarm the feelings of the daughters prevented him
from making the allusion he had intended to the probable fate of
their father. Still, so little was he practised in the arts of
deception, that his expressive countenance was, of itself, understood
by the quick-witted Judith, whose intelligence had been sharpened
by the risks and habits of her life.
"I understand what you mean," she continued, hurriedly, "and what
you would say, but for the fear of hurting me - us, I mean; for
Hetty loves her father quite as well as I do. But this is not
as we think of Indians. They never scalp an unhurt prisoner, but
would rather take him away alive, unless, indeed, the fierce wish
for torturing should get the mastery of them. I fear nothing for
my father's scalp, and little for his life. Could they steal on
us in the night, we should all probably suffer in this way; but
men taken in open strife are seldom injured; not, at least, until
the time of torture comes."
"That's tradition, I'll allow, and it's accordin' to practice -but,
Judith, do you know the arr'nd on which your father and Hurry went
ag'in the savages?"
"I do; and a cruel errand it was! But what will you have? Men
will be men, and some even that flaunt in their gold and silver,
and carry the King's commission in their pockets, are not guiltless
of equal cruelty." Judith's eye again flashed, but by a desperate
struggle she resumed her composure. "I get warm when I think of
all the wrong that men do," she added, affecting to smile, an effort
in which she only succeeded indifferently well. "All this is silly.
What is done is done, and it cannot be mended by complaints. But
the Indians think so little of the shedding of blood, and value
men so much for the boldness of their undertakings, that, did they
know the business on which their prisoners came, they would be more
likely to honor than to injure them for it."
"For a time, Judith; yes, I allow that, for a time. But when that
feelin' dies away, then will come the love of revenge. We must
indivor, -Chingachgook and I, - we must indivor to see what we can
do to get Hurry and your father free; for the Mingos will no doubt
hover about this lake some days, in order to make the most of their
success."
"You think this Delaware can be depended on, Deerslayer?" demanded
the girl, thoughtfully.
"As much as I can myself. You say you do not suspect me, Judith?"
"You!" taking his hand again, and pressing it between her own,
with a warmth that might have awakened the vanity of one less
simple-minded, and more disposed to dwell on his own good qualities,
"I would as soon suspect a brother! I have known you but a day,
Deerslayer, but it has awakened the confidence of a year. Your name,
however, is not unknown to me; for the gallants of the garrisons
frequently speak of the lessons you have given them in hunting,
and all proclaim your honesty."
"Do they ever talk of the shooting, gal?" inquired the other
eagerly, after, however, laughing in a silent but heartfelt manner.
"Do they ever talk of the shooting? I want to hear nothing about
my own, for if that isn't sartified to by this time, in all these
parts, there's little use in being skilful and sure; but what do
the officers say of their own - yes, what do they say of their own?
Arms, as they call it, is their trade, and yet there's some among
'em that know very little how to use 'em!"
"Such I hope will not be the case with your friend Chingachgook,
as you call him - what is the English of his Indian name?"
"Big Sarpent - so called for his wisdom and cunning, Uncas is his
ra'al name -all his family being called Uncas until they get a
title that has been 'arned by deeds."
"If he has all this wisdom, we may expect a useful friend in him,
unless his own business in this part of the country should prevent
him from serving us."
"I see no great harm in telling you his arr'nd, a'ter all, and, as
you may find means to help us, I will let you and Hetty into the
whole matter, trusting that you'll keep the secret as if it was
your own. You must know that Chingachgook is a comely Injin, and
is much looked upon and admired by the young women of his tribe,
both on account of his family, and on account of himself. Now,
there is a chief that has a daughter called Wah-ta-Wah, which is
intarpreted into Hist-oh-Hist, in the English tongue, the rarest gal
among the Delawares, and the one most sought a'ter and craved for
a wife by all the young warriors of the nation. Well, Chingachgook,
among others, took a fancy to Wah-ta-Wah, and Wah-ta-Wah took a
fancy to him." Here Deerslayer paused an instant; for, as he got
thus far in his tale, Hetty Hutter arose, approached, and stood
attentive at his knee, as a child draws near to listen to the
legends of its mother. "Yes, he fancied her, and she fancied him,"
resumed Deerslayer, casting a friendly and approving glance at the
innocent and interested girl; "and when that is the case, and all
the elders are agreed, it does not often happen that the young
couple keep apart. Chingachgook couldn't well carry off such a
prize without making inimies among them that wanted her as much as
he did himself. A sartain Briarthorn, as we call him in English,
or Yocommon, as he is tarmed in Injin, took it most to heart, and
we mistrust him of having a hand in all that followed.
Wah-ta-Wah went with her father and mother, two moons ago, to fish
for salmon on the western streams, where it is agreed by all in
these parts that fish most abounds, and while thus empl'yed the
gal vanished. For several weeks we could get no tidings of her;
but here, ten days since, a runner, that came through the Delaware
country, brought us a message, by which we learn that Wah-ta-Wah
was stolen from her people, we think, but do not know it, by
Briarthorn's sarcumventions,-and that she was now with the inimy,
who had adopted her, and wanted her to marry a young Mingo. The
message said that the party intended to hunt and forage through
this region for a month or two, afore it went back into the Canadas,
and that if we could contrive to get on a scent in this quarter,
something might turn up that would lead to our getting the maiden
off."
"And how does that concern you, Deerslayer?" demanded Judith, a
little anxiously.
"It consarns me, as all things that touches a fri'nd consarns a
fri'nd. I'm here as Chingachgook's aid and helper, and if we can
get the young maiden he likes back ag'in, it will give me almost
as much pleasure as if I had got back my own sweetheart."
"And where, then, is your sweetheart, Deerslayer?"
"She's in the forest, Judith - hanging from the boughs of the
trees, in a soft rain - in the dew on the open grass - the clouds
that float about in the blue heavens - the birds that sing in the
woods - the sweet springs where I slake my thirst - and in all the
other glorious gifts that come from God's Providence!"
"You mean that, as yet, you've never loved one of my sex, but love
best your haunts, and your own manner of life."
"That's it - that's just it. I am white - have a white heart and
can't, in reason, love a red-skinned maiden, who must have a red-skin
heart and feelin's. No, no, I'm sound enough in them partic'lars,
and hope to remain so, at least till this war is over. I find my
time too much taken up with Chingachgook's affair, to wish to have
one of my own on my hands afore that is settled."
"The girl that finally wins you, Deerslayer, will at least win an
honest heart, - one without treachery or guile; and that will be
a victory that most of her sex ought to envy."
As Judith uttered this, her beautiful face had a resentful frown on
it; while a bitter smile lingered around a mouth that no derangement
of the muscles could render anything but handsome. Her companion
observed the change, and though little skilled in the workings of
the female heart, he had sufficient native delicacy to understand
that it might be well to drop the subject.
As the hour when Chingachgook was expected still remained distant,
Deerslayer had time enough to examine into the state of the defences,
and to make such additional arrangements as were in his power, and
the exigency of the moment seemed to require. The experience and
foresight of Hutter had left little to be done in these particulars;
still, several precautions suggested themselves to the young man,
who may be said to have studied the art of frontier warfare, through
the traditions and legends of the people among whom he had so long
lived. The distance between the castle and the nearest point on the
shore, prevented any apprehension on the subject of rifle-bullets
thrown from the land. The house was within musket-shot in one
sense, it was true, but aim was entirely out of the question, and
even Judith professed a perfect disregard of any danger from that
source. So long, then, as the party remained in possession of the
fortress, they were safe, unless their assailants could find the
means to come off and carry it by fire or storm, or by some of the
devices of Indian cunning and Indian treachery.
Against the first source of danger Hutter had made ample provision,
and the building itself, the bark roof excepted, was not very
combustible. The floor was scuttled in several places, and buckets
provided with ropes were in daily use, in readiness for any such
emergency. One of the girls could easily extinguish any fire that
might be lighted, provided it had not time to make much headway.
Judith, who appeared to understand all her father's schemes of
defence, and who had the spirit to take no unimportant share in the
execution of them, explained all these details to the young man,
who was thus saved much time and labor in making his investigations.
Little was to be apprehended during the day. In possession of
the canoes and of the ark, no other vessel was to be found on the
lake. Nevertheless, Deerslayer well knew that a raft was soon made,
and, as dead trees were to be found in abundance near the water,
did the savages seriously contemplate the risks of an assault, it
would not be a very difficult matter to find the necessary means.
The celebrated American axe, a tool that is quite unrivalled in
its way, was then not very extensively known, and the savages were
far from expert in the use of its hatchet-like substitute; still,
they had sufficient practice in crossing streams by this mode to
render it certain they would construct a raft, should they deem
it expedient to expose themselves to the risks of an assault. The
death of their warrior might prove a sufficient incentive, or it
might act as a caution; but Deerslayer thought it more than possible
that the succeeding night would bring matters to a crisis, and
in this precise way. This impression caused him to wish ardently
for the presence and succor of his Mohican friend, and to look
forward to the approach of sunset with an increasing anxiety.
As the day advanced, the party in the castle matured their plans,
and made their preparations. Judith was active, and seemed to find
a pleasure in consulting and advising with her new acquaintance,
whose indifference to danger, manly devotion to herself and sister,
guilelessness of manner, and truth of feeling, had won rapidly on
both her imagination and her affections. Although the hours appeared
long in some respects to Deerslayer, Judith did not find them so,
and when the sun began to descend towards the pine-clad summits of
the western hills, she felt and expressed her surprise that the day
should so soon be drawing to a close. On the other hand, Hetty was
moody and silent. She was never loquacious, or if she occasionally
became communicative, it was under the influence of some temporary
excitement that served to arouse her unsophisticated mind; but,
for hours at a time, in the course of this all-important day, she
seemed to have absolutely lost the use of her tongue. Nor did
apprehension on account of her father materially affect the manner
of either sister. Neither appeared seriously to dread any evil
greater than captivity, and once or twice, when Hetty did speak,
she intimated the expectation that Hutter would find the means to
liberate himself. Although Judith was less sanguine on this head,
she too betrayed the hope that propositions for a ransom would come,
when the Indians discovered that the castle set their expedients
and artifices at defiance. Deerslayer, however, treated these
passing suggestions as the ill-digested fancies of girls, making
his own arrangements as steadily, and brooding over the future as
seriously, as if they had never fallen from their lips.
At length the hour arrived when it became necessary to proceed to
the place of rendezvous appointed with the Mohican, or Delaware,
as Chingachgook was more commonly called. As the plan had been
matured by Deerslayer, and fully communicated to his companions,
all three set about its execution, in concert, and intelligently.
Hetty passed into the ark, and fastening two of the canoes together, she
entered one, and paddled up to a sort of gateway in the palisadoes
that surrounded the building, through which she carried both;
securing them beneath the house by chains that were fastened within
the building. These palisadoes were trunks of trees driven firmly
into the mud, and served the double purpose of a small inclosure
that was intended to be used in this very manner, and to keep any
enemy that might approach in boats at arm's length. Canoes thus
docked were, in a measure, hid from sight, and as the gate was
properly barred and fastened, it would not be an easy task to remove
them, even in the event of their being seen. Previously, however,
to closing the gate, Judith also entered within the inclosure with
the third canoe, leaving Deerslayer busy in securing the door and
windows inside the building, over her head. As everything was
massive and strong, and small saplings were used as bars, it would
have been the work of an hour or two to break into the building,
when Deerslayer had ended his task, even allowing the assailants
the use of any tools but the axe, and to be unresisted. This
attention to security arose from Hutter's having been robbed once
or twice by the lawless whites of the frontiers, during some of
his many absences from home.
As soon as all was fast in the inside of the dwelling, Deerslayer
appeared at a trap, from which he descended into the canoe of
Judith. When this was done, he fastened the door with a massive
staple and stout padlock. Hetty was then received in the canoe,
which was shoved outside of the palisadoes. The next precaution
was to fasten the gate, and the keys were carried into the ark.
The three were now fastened out of the dwelling, which could only
be entered by violence, or by following the course taken by the
young man in quitting it. The glass had been brought outside as a
preliminary step, and Deerslayer next took a careful survey of the
entire shore of the lake, as far as his own position would allow.
Not a living thing was visible, a few birds excepted, and even the
last fluttered about in the shades of the trees, as if unwilling to
encounter the heat of a sultry afternoon. All the nearest points,
in particular, were subjected to severe scrutiny, in order to make
certain that no raft was in preparation; the result everywhere giving
the same picture of calm solitude. A few words will explain the
greatest embarrassment belonging to the situation of our party. Exposed
themselves to the observation of any watchful eyes, the movements
of their enemies were concealed by the drapery of a dense forest.
While the imagination would be very apt to people the latter with
more warriors than it really contained, their own weakness must
be too apparent to all who might chance to cast a glance in their
direction.
"Nothing is stirring, howsever," exclaimed Deerslayer, as he finally
lowered the glass, and prepared to enter the ark. "If the vagabonds
do harbor mischief in their minds, they are too cunning to let it
be seen; it's true, a raft may be in preparation in the woods, but
it has not yet been brought down to the lake. They can't guess
that we are about to quit the castle, and, if they did, they've no
means of knowing where we intend to go."
"This is so true, Deerslayer," returned Judith, "that now all
is ready, we may proceed at once, boldly, and without the fear of
being followed; else we shall be behind our time."
"No, no; the matter needs management; for, though the savages
are in the dark as to Chingachgook and the rock, they've eyes and
legs, and will see in what direction we steer, and will be sartain
to follow us. I shall strive to baffle 'em, howsever, by heading
the scow in all manner of ways, first in one quarter and then in
another, until they get to be a-leg-weary, and tired of tramping
a'ter us."
So far as it was in his power, Deerslayer was as good as his word.
In less than five minutes after this speech was made, the whole
party was in the ark, and in motion. There was a gentle breeze
from the north, and boldly hoisting the sail, the young man laid
the head of the unwieldy craft in such a direction, as, after making
a liberal but necessary allowance for leeway, would have brought
it ashore a couple of miles down the lake, and on its eastern side.
The sailing of the ark was never very swift, though, floating as
it did on the surface, it was not difficult to get it in motion, or
to urge it along over the water at the rate of some three or four
miles in the hour. The distance between the castle and the rock
was a little more than two leagues. Knowing the punctuality of
an Indian, Deerslayer had made his calculations closely, and had
given himself a little more time than was necessary to reach the
place of rendezvous, with a view to delay or to press his arrival,
as might prove most expedient. When he hoisted the sail, the sun
lay above the western hills, at an elevation that promised rather
more than two hours of day; and a few minutes satisfied him that
the progress of the scow was such as to equal his expectations.
It was a glorious June afternoon, and never did that solitary sheet
of water seem less like an arena of strife and bloodshed. The light
air scarce descended as low as the bed of the lake, hovering over
it, as if unwilling to disturb its deep tranquillity, or to ruffle
its mirror-like surface. Even the forests appeared to be slumbering
in the sun, and a few piles of fleecy clouds had lain for hours
along the northern horizon like fixtures in the atmosphere, placed
there purely to embellish the scene. A few aquatic fowls occasionally
skimmed along the water, and a single raven was visible, sailing high
above the trees, and keeping a watchful eye on the forest beneath
him, in order to detect anything having life that the mysterious
woods might offer as prey.
The reader will probably have observed, that, amidst the frankness
and abruptness of manner which marked the frontier habits of Judith,
her language was superior to that used by her male companions, her
own father included. This difference extended as well to pronunciation
as to the choice of words and phrases. Perhaps nothing so soon
betrays the education and association as the modes of speech;
and few accomplishments so much aid the charm of female beauty
as a graceful and even utterance, while nothing so soon produces
the disenchantment that necessarily follows a discrepancy between
appearance and manner, as a mean intonation of voice, or a vulgar
use of words. Judith and her sister were marked exceptions to all
the girls of their class, along that whole frontier; the officers
of the nearest garrison having often flattered the former with the
belief that few ladies of the towns acquitted themselves better
than herself, in this important particular. This was far from
being literally true, but it was sufficiently near the fact to give
birth to the compliment. The girls were indebted to their mother
for this proficiency, having acquired from her, in childhood,
an advantage that no subsequent study or labor can give without
a drawback, if neglected beyond the earlier periods of life. Who
that mother was, or rather had been, no one but Hutter knew. She
had now been dead two summers, and, as was stated by Hurry, she had
been buried in the lake; whether in indulgence of a prejudice, or
from a reluctance to take the trouble to dig her grave, had frequently
been a matter of discussion between the rude beings of that region.
Judith had never visited the spot, but Hetty was present at the
interment, and she often paddled a canoe, about sunset or by the
light of the moon, to the place, and gazed down into the limpid
water, in the hope of being able to catch a glimpse of the form
that she had so tenderly loved from infancy to the sad hour of
their parting.
"Must we reach the rock exactly at the moment the sun sets?" Judith
demanded of the young man, as they stood near each other, Deerslayer
holding the steering-oar, and she working with a needle at some
ornament of dress, that much exceeded her station in life, and was
altogether a novelty in the woods. "Will a few minutes, sooner or
later, alter the matter? It will be very hazardous to remain long
as near the shore as that rock!"
"That's it, Judith; that's the very difficulty! The rock's within
p'int blank for a shot-gun, and 'twill never do to hover about it
too close and too long. When you have to deal with an Injin, you
must calculate and manage, for a red natur' dearly likes sarcumvention.
Now you see, Judith, that I do not steer towards the rock at all,
but here to the eastward of it, whereby the savages will be tramping
off in that direction, and get their legs a-wearied, and all for
no advantage."
"You think, then, they see us, and watch our movements, Deerslayer?
I was in hopes they might have fallen back into the woods, and left
us to ourselves for a few hours."
"That's altogether a woman's consait. There's no let-up in an
Injin's watchfulness when he's on a war-path, and eyes are on us
at this minute, 'though the lake presarves us. We must draw near
the rock on a calculation, and indivor to get the miscreants on a
false scent. The Mingos have good noses, they tell me; but a white
man's reason ought always to equalize their instinct."
Judith now entered into a desultory discourse with Deerslayer, in
which the girl betrayed her growing interest in the young man; an
interest that his simplicity of mind and her decision of character,
sustained as it was by the consciousness awakened by the consideration
her personal charms so universally produced, rendered her less
anxious to conceal than might otherwise have been the case. She
was scarcely forward in her manner, though there was sometimes a
freedom in her glances that it required all the aid of her exceeding
beauty to prevent from awakening suspicions unfavorable to her
discretion, if not to her morals. With Deerslayer, however, these
glances were rendered less obnoxious to so unpleasant a construction;
for she seldom looked at him without discovering much of the
sincerity and nature that accompany the purest emotions of woman.
It was a little remarkable that, as his captivity lengthened,
neither of the girls manifested any great concern for her father;
but, as has been said already, their habits gave them confidence,
and they looked forward to his liberation, by means of a ransom,
with a confidence that might, in a great degree, account for their
apparent indifference. Once before, Hutter had been in the hands
of the Iroquois, and a few skins had readily effected his release.
This event, however, unknown to the sisters, had occurred in a
time of peace between England and France, and when the savages were
restrained, instead of being encouraged to commit their excesses,
by the policy of the different colonial governments.
While Judith was loquacious and caressing in her manner, Hetty
remained thoughtful and silent. Once, indeed, she drew near to
Deerslayer, and questioned him a little closely as to his intentions,
as well as concerning the mode of effecting his purpose; but her
wish to converse went no further. As soon as her simple queries
were answered - and answered they all were, in the fullest and
kindest manner - she withdrew to her scat, and continued to work
on a coarse garment that she was making for her father, sometimes
humming a low melancholy air, and frequently sighing.
In this manner the time passed away; and when the sun was beginning
to glow behind the fringe of the pines that bounded the western
hill, or about twenty minutes before it actually set, the ark was
nearly as low as the point where Hutter and Hurry had been made
prisoners. By sheering first to one side of the lake, and then to
the other, Deerslayer managed to create an uncertainty as to his
object; and, doubtless, the savages, who were unquestionably watching
his movements, were led to believe that his aim was to communicate
with them, at or near this spot, and would hasten in that direction,
in order to be in readiness to profit by circumstances. This
artifice was well managed; since the sweep of the bay, the curvature
of the lake, and the low marshy land that intervened, would probably
allow the ark to reach the rock before its pursuers, if really
collected near this point, could have time to make the circuit that
would be required to get there by land. With a view to aid this
deception, Deerslayer stood as near the western shore as was at all
prudent; and then causing Judith and Hetty to enter the house, or
cabin, and crouching himself so as to conceal his person by the
frame of the scow, he suddenly threw the head of the latter round,
and began to make the best of his way towards the outlet. Favored
by an increase in the wind, the progress of the ark was such as
to promise the complete success of this plan, though the crab-like
movement of the craft compelled the helmsman to keep its head looking
in a direction very different from that in which it was actually
moving.