"The great King of Kings
Hath in the table of his law commanded,
That thou shalt do no murder.
Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand,
To hurl upon their heads that break his law."Richard III, I.iv.i95-97 199-200.
That the party to which Hist compulsorily belonged was not one
that was regularly on the war path, was evident by the presence of
females. It was a small fragment of a tribe that had been hunting
and fishing within the English limits, where it was found by the
commencement of hostilities, and, after passing the winter and
spring by living on what was strictly the property of its enemies,
it chose to strike a hostile blow before it finally retired. There
was also deep Indian sagacity in the manoeuvre which had led them
so far into the territory of their foes. When the runner arrived
who announced the breaking out of hostilities between the English
and French - a struggle that was certain to carry with it all the
tribes that dwelt within the influence of the respective belligerents
- this particular party of the Iroquois were posted on the shores
of the Oneida, a lake that lies some fifty miles nearer to their
own frontier than that which is the scene of our tale.
To have fled in a direct line for the Canadas would have exposed them
to the dangers of a direct pursuit, and the chiefs had determined
to adopt the expedient of penetrating deeper into a region that
had now become dangerous, in the hope of being able to retire in
the rear of their pursuers, instead of having them on their trail.
The presence of the women had induced the attempt at this ruse,
the strength of these feebler members of the party being unequal
to the effort of escaping from the pursuit of warriors. When the
reader remembers the vast extent of the American wilderness, at
that early day, he will perceive that it was possible for even a
tribe to remain months undiscovered in particular portions of it;
nor was the danger of encountering a foe, the usual precautions
being observed, as great in the woods, as it is on the high seas,
in a time of active warfare.
The encampment being temporary, it offered to the eye no more than
the rude protection of a bivouac, relieved in some slight degree
by the ingenious expedients which suggested themselves to the
readiness of those who passed their lives amid similar scenes.
One fire, that had been kindled against the roots of a living oak,
sufficed for the whole party; the weather being too mild to require
it for any purpose but cooking. Scattered around this centre
of attraction, were some fifteen or twenty low huts, or perhaps
kennels would be a better word, into which their different owners
crept at night, and which were also intended to meet the exigencies
of a storm.
These little huts were made of the branches of trees, put together
with some ingenuity, and they were uniformly topped with bark that
had been stripped from fallen trees; of which every virgin forest
possesses hundreds, in all stages of decay. Of furniture they had
next to none. Cooking utensils of the simplest sort were lying near
the fire, a few articles of clothing were to be seen in or around
the huts, rifles, horns, and pouches leaned against the trees, or
were suspended from the lower branches, and the carcasses of two
or three deer were stretched to view on the same natural shambles.
As the encampment was in the midst of a dense wood, the eye could
not take in its tout ensemble at a glance, but hut after hut
started out of the gloomy picture, as one gazed about him in quest
of objects. There was no centre, unless the fire might be so
considered, no open area where the possessors of this rude village
might congregate, but all was dark, covert and cunning, like its
owners. A few children strayed from hut to hut, giving the spot
a little of the air of domestic life, and the suppressed laugh
and low voices of the women occasionally broke in upon the deep
stillness of the sombre forest. As for the men, they either ate,
slept, or examined their arms. They conversed but little, and then
usually apart, or in groups withdrawn from the females, whilst an
air of untiring, innate watchfulness and apprehension of danger
seemed to be blended even with their slumbers.
As the two girls came near the encampment, Hetty uttered a slight
exclamation, on catching a view of the person of her father. He
was seated on the ground with his back to a tree, and Hurry stood
near him indolently whittling a twig. Apparently they were as much
at liberty as any others in or about the camp, and one unaccustomed
to Indian usages would have mistaken them for visitors, instead
of supposing them to be captives. Wah-ta-Wah led her new friend
quite near them, and then modestly withdrew, that her own presence
might be no restraint on her feelings. But Hetty was not sufficiently
familiar with caresses or outward demonstrations of fondness, to
indulge in any outbreaking of feeling. She merely approached and
stood at her father's side without speaking, resembling a silent
statue of filial affection. The old man expressed neither alarm
nor surprise at her sudden appearance. In these particulars he
had caught the stoicism of the Indians, well knowing that there was
no more certain mode of securing their respect than by imitating
their self-command. Nor did the savages themselves betray the
least sign of surprise at this sudden appearance of a stranger
among them. In a word, this arrival produced much less visible
sensation, though occurring under circumstances so peculiar, than
would be seen in a village of higher pretensions to civilization
did an ordinary traveler drive up to the door of its principal inn.
Still a few warriors collected, and it was evident by the manner
in which they glanced at Hetty as they conversed together, that she
was the subject of their discourse, and probable that the reasons
of her unlooked-for appearance were matters of discussion. This
phlegm of manner is characteristic of the North American Indian
- some say of his white successor also - but, in this case much
should be attributed to the peculiar situation in which the party
was placed. The force in the Ark, the presence of Chingachgook
excepted, was well known, no tribe or body of troops was believed
to be near, and vigilant eyes were posted round the entire lake,
watching day and night the slightest movement of those whom it
would not be exaggerated now to term the besieged.
Hutter was inwardly much moved by the conduct of Hetty, though he
affected so much indifference of manner. He recollected her gentle
appeal to him before he left the Ark, and misfortune rendered
that of weight which might have been forgotten amid the triumph of
success. Then he knew the simple, single-hearted fidelity of his
child, and understood why she had come, and the total disregard of
self that reigned in all her acts.
"This is not well, Hetty," he said, deprecating the consequences
to the girl herself more than any other evil. "These are fierce
Iroquois, and are as little apt to forget an injury, as a favor."
"Tell me, father -" returned the girl, looking furtively about her
as if fearful of being overheard, "did God let you do the cruel
errand on which you came? I want much to know this, that I may
speak to the Indians plainly, if he did not."
"You should not have come hither, Hetty; these brutes will not
understand your nature or your intentions!"
"How was it, father; neither you nor Hurry seems to have any thing
that looks like scalps."
"If that will set your mind at peace, child, I can answer you, no.
I had caught the young creatur' who came here with you, but her
screeches soon brought down upon me a troop of the wild cats, that
was too much for any single Christian to withstand. If that will
do you any good, we are as innocent of having taken a scalp, this
time, as I make no doubt we shall also be innocent of receiving
the bounty."
"Thank God for that, father! Now I can speak boldly to the Iroquois,
and with an easy conscience. I hope Hurry, too, has not been able
to harm any of the Indians?"
"Why, as to that matter, Hetty," returned the individual in question,
"you've put it pretty much in the natyve character of the religious
truth. Hurry has not been able, and that is the long and short of
it. I've seen many squalls, old fellow, both on land and on the
water, but never did I feel one as lively and as snappish as that
which come down upon us, night afore last, in the shape of an Indian
hurrah-boys! Why, Hetty, you're no great matter at a reason, or
an idee that lies a little deeper than common, but you're human
and have some human notions - now I'll just ask you to look at them
circumstances. Here was old Tom, your father, and myself, bent on
a legal operation, as is to be seen in the words of the law and the
proclamation; thinking no harm; when we were set upon by critturs
that were more like a pack of hungry wolves than mortal savages
even, and there they had us tethered like two sheep, in less time
than it has taken me to tell you the story."
"You are free now, Hurry," returned Hetty, glancing timidly at the
fine unfettered limbs of the young giant -"You have no cords, or
withes, to pain your arms, or legs, now."
"Not I, Hetty. Natur' is natur', and freedom is natur', too. My
limbs have a free look, but that's pretty much the amount of it,
sin' I can't use them in the way I should like. Even these trees
have eyes; ay, and tongues too; for was the old man, here, or I,
to start one single rod beyond our gaol limits, sarvice would be
put on the bail afore we could 'gird up our loins' for a race, and,
like as not, four or five rifle bullets would be travelling arter
us, carrying so many invitations to curb our impatience. There
isn't a gaol in the colony as tight as this we are now in; for I've
tried the vartues of two or three on 'em, and I know the mater'als
they are made of, as well as the men that made 'em; takin' down being
the next step in schoolin', to puttin' up, in all such fabrications."
Lest the reader should get an exaggerated opinion of Hurry's
demerits from this boastful and indiscreet revelation, it may be well
to say that his offences were confined to assaults and batteries,
for several of which he had been imprisoned, when, as he has just
said, he often escaped by demonstrating the flimsiness of the
constructions in which he was confined, by opening for himself
doors in spots where the architects had neglected to place them.
But Hetty had no knowledge of gaols, and little of the nature
of crimes, beyond what her unadulterated and almost instinctive
perceptions of right and wrong taught her, and this sally of the
rude being who had spoken was lost upon her. She understood his
general meaning, however, and answered in reference to that alone.
"It's so best, Hurry," she said. "It is best father and you should
be quiet and peaceable, 'till I have spoken to the Iroquois, when
all will be well and happy. I don't wish either of you to follow,
but leave me to myself. As soon as all is settled, and you are at
liberty to go back to the castle, I will come and let you know it."
Hetty spoke with so much simple earnestness, seemed so confident of
success, and wore so high an air of moral feeling and truth, that
both the listeners felt more disposed to attach an importance to her
mediation, than might otherwise have happened. When she manifested
an intention to quit them, therefore, they offered no obstacle,
though they saw she was about to join the group of chiefs who were
consulting apart, seemingly on the manner and motive of her own
sudden appearance.
When Hist - for so we love best to call her - quitted her companion,
she strayed near one or two of the elder warriors, who had shown
her most kindness in her captivity, the principal man of whom had
even offered to adopt her as his child if she would consent to
become a Huron. In taking this direction, the shrewd girl did so
to invite inquiry. She was too well trained in the habits of her
people to obtrude the opinions of one of her sex and years on men
and warriors, but nature had furnished a tact and ingenuity that
enabled her to attract the attention she desired, without wounding
the pride of those to whom it was her duty to defer and respect.
Even her affected indifference stimulated curiosity, and Hetty had
hardly reached the side of her father, before the Delaware girl
was brought within the circle of the warriors, by a secret but
significant gesture. Here she was questioned as to the person of
her companion, and the motives that had brought her to the camp.
This was all that Hist desired. She explained the manner in which
she had detected the weakness of Hetty's reason, rather exaggerating
than lessening the deficiency in her intellect, and then she
related in general terms the object of the girl in venturing among
her enemies. The effect was all that the speaker expected, her
account investing the person and character of their visitor with a
sacredness and respect that she well knew would prove her protection.
As soon as her own purpose was attained, Hist withdrew to a distance,
where, with female consideration and a sisterly tenderness she set
about the preparation of a meal, to be offered to her new friend
as soon as the latter might be at liberty to partake of it. While
thus occupied, however, the ready girl in no degree relaxed in her
watchfulness, noting every change of countenance among the chiefs,
every movement of Hetty's, and the smallest occurrence that could
be likely to affect her own interests, or that of her new friend.
As Hetty approached the chiefs they opened their little circle,
with an ease and deference of manner that would have done credit
to men of more courtly origin. A fallen tree lay near, and the
oldest of the warriors made a quiet sign for the girl to be seated
on it, taking his place at her side with the gentleness of a father.
The others arranged themselves around the two with grave dignity,
and then the girl, who had sufficient observation to perceive that
such a course was expected of her, began to reveal the object of
her visit. The moment she opened her mouth to speak, however, the
old chief gave a gentle sign for her to forbear, said a few words
to one of his juniors, and then waited in silent patience until the
latter had summoned Hist to the party. This interruption proceeded
from the chief's having discovered that there existed a necessity
for an interpreter, few of the Hurons present understanding the
English language, and they but imperfectly.
Wah-ta-Wah was not sorry to be called upon to be present at the
interview, and least of all in the character in which she was now
wanted. She was aware of the hazards she ran in attempting to
deceive one or two of the party, but was none the less resolved to
use every means that offered, and to practice every artifice that
an Indian education could supply, to conceal the facts of the
vicinity of her betrothed, and of the errand on which he had come.
One unpracticed in the expedients and opinions of savage life
would not have suspected the readiness of invention, the wariness
of action, the high resolution, the noble impulses, the deep
self-devotion, and the feminine disregard of self when the affections
were concerned, that lay concealed beneath the demure looks, the
mild eyes, and the sunny smiles of this young Indian beauty. As she
approached them, the grim old warriors regarded her with pleasure,
for they had a secret pride in the hope of engrafting so rare a
scion on the stock of their own nation; adoption being as regularly
practised, and as distinctly recognized among the tribes of America,
as it ever had been among those nations that submit to the sway of
the Civil Law.
As soon as Hist was seated by the side of Hetty, the old chief
desired her to ask "the fair young pale-face" what had brought her
among the Iroquois, and what they could do to serve her.
"Tell them, Hist, who I am - Thomas Hutter's youngest daughter;
Thomas Hutter, the oldest of their two prisoners; he who owns the
castle and the Ark, and who has the best right to be thought the
owner of these hills, and that lake, since he has dwelt so long,
and trapped so long, and fished so long, among them - They'll know
whom you mean by Thomas Hutter, if you tell them, that. And then
tell them that I've come here to convince them they ought not to
harm father and Hurry, but let them go in peace, and to treat them
as brethren rather than as enemies. Now tell them all this plainly,
Hist, and fear nothing for yourself or me. God will protect us."
Wah-ta-Wah did as the other desired, taking care to render the words
of her friend as literally as possible into the Iroquois tongue, a
language she used with a readiness almost equal to that with which
she spoke her own. The chiefs heard this opening explanation
with grave decorum, the two who had a little knowledge of English
intimating their satisfaction with the interpreter by furtive but
significant glances of the eyes.
"And, now, Hist," continued Hetty, as soon as it was intimated to
her that she might proceed, "and, now, Hist, I wish you to tell
these red men, word for word, what I am about to say. Tell them
first, that father and Hurry came here with an intention to take as
many scalps as they could, for the wicked governor and the province
have offered money for scalps, whether of warriors, or women, men
or children, and the love of gold was too strong for their hearts
to withstand it. Tell them this, dear Hist, just as you have heard
it from me, word for word."
Wah-ta-Wah hesitated about rendering this speech as literally
as had been desired, but detecting the intelligence of those who
understood English, and apprehending even a greater knowledge than
they actually possessed she found herself compelled to comply.
Contrary to what a civilized man would have expected, the admission
of the motives and of the errands of their prisoners produced no
visible effect on either the countenances or the feelings of the
listeners. They probably considered the act meritorious, and that
which neither of them would have hesitated to perform in his own
person, he would not be apt to censure in another.
"And, now, Hist," resumed Hetty, as soon as she perceived that her
first speeches were understood by the chiefs, "you can tell them
more. They know that father and Hurry did not succeed, and therefore
they can bear them no grudge for any harm that has been done. If
they had slain their children and wives it would not alter the
matter, and I'm not certain that what I am about to tell them would
not have more weight had there been mischief done. But ask them
first, Hist, if they know there is a God, who reigns over the whole
earth, and is ruler and chief of all who live, let them be red, or
white, or what color they may?"
Wah-ta-Wah looked a little surprised at this question, for the
idea of the Great Spirit is seldom long absent from the mind of
an Indian girl. She put the question as literally as possible,
however, and received a grave answer in the affirmative.
"This is right," continued Hetty, "and my duty will now be light.
This Great Spirit, as you call our God, has caused a book to
be written, that we call a Bible, and in this book have been set
down all his commandments, and his holy will and pleasure, and the
rules by which all men are to live, and directions how to govern
the thoughts even, and the wishes, and the will. Here, this is one
of these holy books, and you must tell the chiefs what I am about
to read to them from its sacred pages."
As Hetty concluded, she reverently unrolled a small English Bible
from its envelope of coarse calico, treating the volume with the
sort of external respect that a Romanist would be apt to show to
a religious relic. As she slowly proceeded in her task the grim
warriors watched each movement with riveted eyes, and when they saw
the little volume appear a slight expression of surprise escaped
one or two of them. But Hetty held it out towards them in triumph,
as if she expected the sight would produce a visible miracle, and
then, without betraying either surprise or mortification at the
Stoicism of the Indian, she turned eagerly to her new friend, in
order to renew the discourse.
"This is the sacred volume, Hist," she said - "and these words,
and lines, and verses, and chapters, all came from God."
"Why Great Spirit no send book to Injin, too?" demanded Hist, with
the directness of a mind that was totally unsophisticated.
"Why?" answered Hetty, a little bewildered by a question so
unexpected. "Why? - Ah! you know the Indians don't know how to
read."
If Hist was not satisfied with this explanation, she did not deem
the point of sufficient importance to be pressed. Simply bending
her body, in a gentle admission of the truth of what she heard,
she sat patiently awaiting the further arguments of the pale-face
enthusiast.
"You can tell these chiefs that throughout this book, men are ordered
to forgive their enemies; to treat them as they would brethren; and
never to injure their fellow creatures, more especially on account
of revenge or any evil passions. Do you think you can tell them
this, so that they will understand it, Hist?"
"Tell him well enough, but he no very easy to understand." Hist
then conveyed the ideas of Hetty, in the best manner she could, to
the attentive Indians, who heard her words with some such surprise as
an American of our own times would be apt to betray at a suggestion
that the great modern but vacillating ruler of things human, public
opinion, might be wrong. One or two of their number, however,
having met with missionaries, said a few words in explanation, and
then the group gave all its attention to the communications that
were to follow. Before Hetty resumed she inquired earnestly of
Hist if the chiefs had understood her, and receiving an evasive
answer, was fain to be satisfied.
"I will now read to the warriors some of the verses that it is
good for them to know," continued the girl, whose manner grew more
solemn and earnest as she proceeded - "and they will remember that
they are the very words of the Great Spirit. First, then, ye are
commanded to 'love thy neighbor as Thyself.' Tell them that, dear
Hist."
"Neighbor, for Injin, no mean pale-face," answered the Delaware
girl, with more decision than she had hitherto thought it necessary
to use. "Neighbor mean Iroquois for Iroquois, Mohican for Mohican,
Pale-face for pale face. No need tell chief any thing else."
"You forget, Hist, these are the words of the Great Spirit,
and the chiefs must obey them as well as others. Here is another
commandment -'Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn
to him the other also.'"
"What that mean?" demanded Hist, with the quickness of lightning.
Hetty explained that it was an order not to resent injuries, but
rather to submit to receive fresh wrongs from the offender.
"And hear this, too, Hist," she added. "'Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you and persecute you.'"
By this time Hetty had become excited; her eye gleamed with the
earnestness of her feelings, her cheeks flushed, and her voice,
usually so low and modulated, became stronger and more impressive.
With the Bible she had been early made familiar by her mother, and
she now turned from passage to passage with surprising rapidity,
taking care to cull such verses as taught the sublime lessons of
Christian charity and Christian forgiveness. To translate half
she said, in her pious earnestness, Wah-ta-Wah would have found
impracticable, had she made the effort, but wonder held her tongue
tied, equally with the chiefs, and the young, simple-minded enthusiast
had fairly become exhausted with her own efforts, before the other
opened her mouth, again, to utter a syllable. Then, indeed, the
Delaware girl gave a brief translation of the substance of what had
been both read and said, confining herself to one or two of the more
striking of the verses, those that had struck her own imagination
as the most paradoxical, and which certainly would have been the
most applicable to the case, could the uninstructed minds of the
listeners embrace the great moral truths they conveyed.
It will be scarcely necessary to tell the reader the effect that
such novel duties would be likely to produce among a group of Indian
warriors, with whom it was a species of religious principle never
to forget a benefit, or to forgive an injury. Fortunately, the
previous explanations of Hist had prepared the minds of the Hurons
for something extravagant, and most of that which to them seemed
inconsistent and paradoxical, was accounted for by the fact that
the speaker possessed a mind that was constituted differently from
those of most of the human race. Still there were one or two old
men who had heard similar doctrines from the missionaries, and these
felt a desire to occupy an idle moment by pursuing a subject that
they found so curious.
"This is the Good Book of the pale-faces," observed one of these
chiefs, taking the volume from the unresisting hands of Hetty, who
gazed anxiously at his face while he turned the leaves, as if she
expected to witness some visible results from the circumstance.
"This is the law by which my white brethren professes to live?"
Hist, to whom this question was addressed, if it might be considered
as addressed to any one, in particular, answered simply in the
affirmative; adding that both the French of the Canadas, and the
Yengeese of the British provinces equally admitted its authority,
and affected to revere its principles.
"Tell my young sister," said the Huron, looking directly at Hist,
"that I will open my mouth and say a few words."
"The Iroquois chief go to speak - my pale-face friend listen," said
Hist.
"I rejoice to hear it!" exclaimed Hetty. "God has touched his
heart, and he will now let father and Hurry go."
"This is the pale-face law," resumed the chief. "It tells him to
do good to them that hurt him, and when his brother asks him for
his rifle to give him the powder horn, too. Such is the pale-face
law?"
"Not so - not so -" answered Hetty earnestly, when these words had
been interpreted - "There is not a word about rifles in the whole
book, and powder and bullets give offence to the Great Spirit."
"Why then does the pale-face use them? If he is ordered to give
double to him that asks only for one thing, why does he take double
from the poor Indian who ask for no thing. He comes from beyond
the rising sun, with this book in his hand, and he teaches the red
man to read it, but why does he forget himself all it says? When
the Indian gives, he is never satisfied; and now he offers gold
for the scalps of our women and children, though he calls us beasts
if we take the scalp of a warrior killed in open war. My name is
Rivenoak."
When Hetty had got this formidable question fairly presented to
her mind in the translation, and Hist did her duty with more than
usual readiness on this occasion, it scarcely need be said that
she was sorely perplexed. Abler heads than that of this poor girl
have frequently been puzzled by questions of a similar drift, and
it is not surprising that with all her own earnestness and sincerity
she did not know what answer to make.
"What shall I tell them, Hist," she asked imploringly - "I know
that all I have read from the book is true, and yet it wouldn't seem
so, would it, by the conduct of those to whom the book was given?"
"Give 'em pale-face reason," returned Hist, ironically - "that
always good for one side; though he bad for t'other."
"No - no - Hist, there can't be two sides to truth - and yet it
does seem strange! I'm certain I have read the verses right, and
no one would be so wicked as to print the word of God wrong. That
can never be, Hist."
"Well, to poor Injin girl, it seem every thing can be to pale-faces,"
returned the other, coolly. "One time 'ey say white, and one time
'ey say black. Why never can be?"
Hetty was more and more embarrassed, until overcome with the
apprehension that she had failed in her object, and that the lives
of her father and Hurry would be the forfeit of some blunder of
her own, she burst into tears. From that moment the manner of Hist
lost all its irony and cool indifference, and she became the fond
caressing friend again. Throwing her arms around the afflicted
girl, she attempted to soothe her sorrows by the scarcely ever
failing remedy of female sympathy.
"Stop cry - no cry -" she said, wiping the tears from the face of
Hetty, as she would have performed the same office for a child,
and stopping to press her occasionally to her own warm bosom with
the affection of a sister. "Why you so trouble? You no make he
book, if he be wrong, and you no make he pale-face if he wicked.
There wicked red man, and wicked white man - no colour all good -
no colour all wicked. Chiefs know that well enough."
Hetty soon recovered from this sudden burst of grief, and then her
mind reverted to the purpose of her visit, with all its single-hearted
earnestness. Perceiving that the grim looking chiefs were still
standing around her in grave attention, she hoped that another
effort to convince them of the right might be successful. "Listen,
Hist," she said, struggling to suppress her sobs, and to speak
distinctly - "Tell the chiefs that it matters not what the wicked
do -right is right - The words of The Great Spirit are the words
of The Great Spirit - and no one can go harmless for doing an evil
act, because another has done it before him. 'Render good for
evil,' says this book, and that is the law for the red man as well
as for the white man."
"Never hear such law among Delaware, or among Iroquois -" answered
Hist soothingly. "No good to tell chiefs any such laws as dat.
Tell 'em somet'ing they believe."
Hist was about to proceed, notwithstanding, when a tap on the
shoulder from the finger of the oldest chief caused her to look up.
She then perceived that one of the warriors had left the group, and
was already returning to it with Hutter and Hurry. Understanding
that the two last were to become parties in the inquiry, she became
mute, with the unhesitating obedience of an Indian woman. In a few
seconds the prisoners stood face to face with the principal men of
the captors.
"Daughter," said the senior chief to the young Delaware, "ask this
grey beard why he came into our camp?"
The question was put by Hist, in her own imperfect English, but
in a way that was easy to be understood. Hutter was too stern and
obdurate by nature to shrink from the consequences of any of his
acts, and he was also too familiar with the opinions of the savages
not to understand that nothing was to be gained by equivocation or
an unmanly dread of their anger. Without hesitating, therefore,
he avowed the purpose with which he had landed, merely justifying
it by the fact that the government of the province had bid high
for scalps. This frank avowal was received by the Iroquois with
evident satisfaction, not so much, however, on account of the
advantage it gave them in a moral point of view, as by its proving
that they had captured a man worthy of occupying their thoughts and
of becoming a subject of their revenge. Hurry, when interrogated,
confessed the truth, though he would have been more disposed to
concealment than his sterner companion, did the circumstances very
well admit of its adoption. But he had tact enough to discover
that equivocation would be useless, at that moment, and he made
a merit of necessity by imitating a frankness, which, in the case
of Hutter, was the offspring of habits of indifference acting on
a disposition that was always ruthless, and reckless of personal
consequences.
As soon as the chiefs had received the answers to their questions,
they walked away in silence, like men who deemed the matter
disposed of, all Hetty's dogmas being thrown away on beings trained
in violence from infancy to manhood. Hetty and Hist were now left
alone with Hutter and Hurry, no visible restraint being placed on
the movements of either; though all four, in fact, were vigilantly
and unceasingly watched. As respects the men, care was had to prevent
them from getting possession of any of the rifles that lay scattered
about, their own included; and there all open manifestations of
watchfulness ceased. But they, who were so experienced in Indian
practices, knew too well how great was the distance between appearances
and reality, to become the dupes of this seeming carelessness.
Although both thought incessantly of the means of escape, and this
without concert, each was aware of the uselessness of attempting
any project of the sort that was not deeply laid, and promptly
executed. They had been long enough in the encampment, and were
sufficiently observant to have ascertained that Hist, also, was a
sort of captive, and, presuming on the circumstance, Hutter spoke
in her presence more openly than he might otherwise have thought it
prudent to do; inducing Hurry to be equally unguarded by his example.
"I'll not blame you, Hetty, for coming on this errand, which
was well meant if not very wisely planned," commenced the father,
seating himself by the side of his daughter and taking her hand; a
sign of affection that this rude being was accustomed to manifest
to this particular child. "But preaching, and the Bible, are not
the means to turn an Indian from his ways. Has Deerslayer sent any
message; or has he any scheme by which he thinks to get us free?"
"Ay, that's the substance of it!" put in Hurry. "If you can help
us, gal, to half a mile of freedom, or even a good start of a short
quarter, I'll answer for the rest. Perhaps the old man may want
a little more, but for one of my height and years that will meet
all objections."
Hetty looked distressed, turning her eyes from one to the other,
but she had no answer to give to the question of the reckless Hurry.
"Father," she said, "neither Deerslayer nor Judith knew of my coming
until I had left the Ark. They are afraid the Iroquois will make
a raft and try to get off to the hut, and think more of defending
that than of coming to aid you."
"No - no - no -" said Hist hurriedly, though in a low voice, and
with her face bent towards the earth, in order to conceal from
those whom she knew to be watching them the fact of her speaking
at all. "No - no - no - Deerslayer different man. He no t'ink
of defending 'self, with friend in danger. Help one another, and
all get to hut."
"This sounds well, old Tom," said Hurry, winking and laughing,
though he too used the precaution to speak low - "Give me a ready
witted squaw for a fri'nd, and though I'll not downright defy an
Iroquois, I think I would defy the devil."
"No talk loud," said Hist. "Some Iroquois got Yengeese tongue,
and all got Yengeese ear."
"Have we a friend in you, young woman?" enquired Hutter with an
increasing interest in the conference. "If so, you may calculate
on a solid reward, and nothing will be easier than to send you to
your own tribe, if we can once fairly get you off with us to the
castle. Give us the Ark and the canoes, and we can command the
lake, spite of all the savages in the Canadas. Nothing but artillery
could drive us out of the castle, if we can get back to it.
"S'pose 'ey come ashore to take scalp?" retorted Hist, with cool
irony, at which the girl appeared to be more expert than is common
for her sex.
"Ay - ay - that was a mistake; but there is little use in lamentations,
and less still, young woman, in flings."
"Father," said Hetty, "Judith thinks of breaking open the big chest,
in hopes of finding something in that which may buy your freedom
of the savages."
A dark look came over Hutter at the announcement of this fact, and
he muttered his dissatisfaction in a way to render it intelligible
enough.
"What for no break open chest?" put in Hist. "Life sweeter than
old chest -scalp sweeter than old chest. If no tell darter to
break him open, Wah-ta-Wah no help him to run away."
"Ye know not what ye ask - ye are but silly girls, and the wisest
way for ye both is to speak of what ye understand and to speak
of nothing else. I little like this cold neglect of the savages,
Hurry; it's a proof that they think of something serious, and if
we are to do any thing, we must do it soon. Can we count on this
young woman, think you?"
"Listen -" said Hist quickly, and with an earnestness that proved
how much her feelings were concerned - "Wah-ta-Wah no Iroquois
- All over Delaware - got Delaware heart - Delaware feeling. She
prisoner, too. One prisoner help t'udder prisoner. No good to
talk more, now. Darter stay with fader - Wah-ta-Wah come and see
friend - all look right - Then tell what he do."
This was said in a low voice, but distinctly, and in a manner to
make an impression. As soon as it was uttered the girl arose and
left the group, walking composedly towards the hut she occupied,
as if she had no further interest in what might pass between the
pale-faces.