The Deerslayer

bonds, his oa

re, his though

messengers sent

from fraud as h

n of Verona,

em alone, his countenance betraying all the apprehension

, succeeding in uttering the word, a

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

a lively but passing emotion. "Who thinks or speaks of the heartless gallants now? We are s

our own parent, Judith, and I suppose it's equall

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

exclaimed; "he says the salmon of the lakes

uld not forbear throwing a glance of inquiry at the girl; for in common with all who knew Hutter, he

t were novel to her, in more ways than one, she became suddenly

too, he was once a sailor, and then again I think he was not. If that chest were open, or if it could spea

een 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 ha

h frontier freedom, for delicacy on such subjects was little felt among t

opens it at all. No one here has ever seen its lid raised, unl

uietly answered. "Father has raised

t the bounds of propriety, in questioning the older sister, he had just scruples about taking what might be thought an advantage of the feeb

you ever see that

u are away, though he don't in the least mind my being by

hat he does, and

ed the other in a low but resolute voice

erslayer, that father should tell th

you're not to know it. Father's not here to an

med pained. But, suddenly recollecting herself, she turned away from h

or rather where you rose to listen to the cry of the loon. We heard the call of the loons, too, and thought t

in' 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 la

ntain; the echoes were full and long, and came so soon after the reports, that the pieces must have b

ers pulled, too, though not as often as they might have been. One warrior has gone to his happy hunting-grounds, and that's

ide. 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 ev

to take care of us--of Hetty-of me, perhaps, you've fought the enemy bravely, with no eye to encou

ppose, 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

rom what place does he come,

e 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.

zvous-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 th

s towards us," said Judith, after a moment's

Deerslayer, hurt at the gleam of distrust that had shot throug

he truth of a thousand hearts! If all men had as honest tongues, and no more promised what they did not mean to perform, there

y 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

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 ar

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 express

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,

o practice-but, Judith, do you know the arr'nd on w

rate 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 c

revenge. We must indivor,-Chingachgook and I,-we must indivor to see what we can do to get Hurry and your father

e depended on, Deerslayer?" de

elf. You say you do n

well 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 nam

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 off

our friend Chingachgook, as you call him

as is his ra'al name-all his family being called Uncas

friend in him, unless his own business in this part

sh 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 Deersla

, 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 yo

you, Deerslayer?" demanded

Chingachgook's aid and helper, and if we can get the young maiden he likes back ag

, is your sweeth

pen grass-the clouds that float about in the blue heavens-the birds that sing in the woods-the sweet

oved one of my sex, but love best your

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.

win an honest heart,-one without treachery or guile; and

derangement of the muscles could render anything but handsome. Her companion observed the change, and though little skilled i

ted 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,

re 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 fa

s. 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.

pressed 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 tha

use 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 incl

y 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 prepara

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 br

ll is ready, we may proceed at once, boldly, and without th

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 sc

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 calcul

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

se 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

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

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

Deerslayer? I was in hopes they might have fallen back i

at this minute, 'though the lake presarves us. We must draw near the rock on a calculation, and indivor to get the miscreants

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 co

tions, 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 full

th 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 pru