The Deerslayer Read online

  Chapter XIV.

  "'A stranger animal,' cries one, 'Sure never liv'd beneath the sun; A lizard's body lean and long, A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, Its foot, with triple claw disjoined; And what a length of tail behind!'"

  James Merrick, "The Chameleon," 11.21-26.

  The first act of the Delaware, on rejoining his friend, was to proceedgravely to disencumber himself of his civilized attire, and to standforth an Indian warrior again. The protest of Deerslayer was met by hiscommunicating the fact that the presence of an Indian in the hut wasknown to the Iroquois, and that maintaining the disguise would be morelikely to direct suspicions to his real object, than if he came outopenly as a member of a hostile tribe. When the latter understood thetruth, and was told that he had been deceived in supposing the chief hadsucceeded in entering the Ark undiscovered, he cheerfully consented tothe change, since further attempt at concealment was useless. A gentlerfeeling than the one avowed, however, lay at the bottom of the Indian'sdesire to appear as a son of the forest. He had been told that Hist wason the opposite shore, and nature so far triumphed over all distinctionsof habit, and tribes and people, as to reduce this young savage warriorto the level of a feeling which would have been found in the mostrefined inhabitant of a town, under similar circumstances. There was amild satisfaction in believing that she he loved could see him, and ashe walked out on the platform in his scanty, native attire, an Apolloof the wilderness, a hundred of the tender fancies that fleet throughlovers' brains beset his imagination and softened his heart. All thiswas lost on Deerslayer, who was no great adept in the mysteries ofCupid, but whose mind was far more occupied with the concerns thatforced themselves on his attention, than with any of the truant fanciesof love. He soon recalled his companion, therefore, to a sense of theiractual condition, by summoning him to a sort of council of war, in whichthey were to settle their future course. In the dialogue that followed,the parties mutually made each other acquainted with what had passedin their several interviews. Chingachgook was told the history of thetreaty about the ransom, and Deerslayer heard the whole of Hetty'scommunications. The latter listened with generous interest to hisfriend's hopes, and promised cheerfully all the assistance he couldlend.

  "'Tis our main ar'n'd, Sarpent, as you know, this battling for thecastle and old Hutter's darters, coming in as a sort of accident.Yes--yes--I'll be actyve in helping little Hist, who's not only oneof the best and handsomest maidens of the tribe, but the very best andhandsomest. I've always encouraged you, chief, in that liking, and it'sproper, too, that a great and ancient race like your'n shouldn't come toan end. If a woman of red skin and red gifts could get to be near enoughto me to wish her for a wife, I'd s'arch for just such another, but thatcan never be; no, that can never be. I'm glad Hetty has met withHist, howsever, for though the first is a little short of wit andunderstanding, the last has enough for both. Yes, Sarpent," laughingheartily--"put 'em together, and two smarter gals isn't to be found inall York Colony!"

  "I will go to the Iroquois camp," returned the Delaware, gravely. "Noone knows Chingachgook but Wah, and a treaty for lives and scalpsshould be made by a chief. Give me the strange beasts, and let me take acanoe."

  Deerslayer dropped his head and played with the end of a fish-pole inthe water, as he sat dangling his legs over the edge of the platform,like a man who was lost in thought by the sudden occurrence of a novelidea. Instead of directly answering the proposal of his friend, he beganto soliloquize, a circumstance however that in no manner renderedhis words more true, as he was remarkable for saying what he thought,whether the remarks were addressed to himself, or to any one else.

  "Yes--yes--" he said--"this must be what they call love! I've heardsay that it sometimes upsets reason altogether, leaving a young man ashelpless, as to calculation and caution, as a brute beast. To think thatthe Sarpent should be so lost to reason, and cunning, and wisdom! Wemust sartainly manage to get Hist off, and have 'em married as soonas we get back to the tribe, or this war will be of no more use to thechief, than a hunt a little oncommon extr'ornary. Yes--Yes--he'll neverbe the man he was, till this matter is off his mind, and he comes to hissenses like all the rest of mankind. Sarpent, you can't be in airnest,and therefore I shall say but little to your offer. But you're a chief,and will soon be sent out on the war path at head of the parties, andI'll just ask if you'd think of putting your forces into the inimy'shands, afore the battle is fou't?"

  "Wah!" ejaculated the Indian.

  "Ay--Wah--I know well enough it's Wah, and altogether Wah--Ra'ally,Sarpent, I'm consarned and mortified about you! I never heard so weak anidee come from a chief, and he, too, one that's already got a name forbeing wise, young and inexper'enced as he is. Canoe you sha'n't have, solong as the v'ice of fri'ndship and warning can count for any thing."

  "My pale-face friend is right. A cloud came over the face ofChingachgook, and weakness got into his mind, while his eyes were dim.My brother has a good memory for good deeds, and a weak memory for bad.He will forget."

  "Yes, that's easy enough. Say no more about it chief, but if anotherof them clouds blow near you, do your endivours to get out of its way.Clouds are bad enough in the weather, but when they come to the reason,it gets to be serious. Now, sit down by me here, and let us calculateour movements a little, for we shall soon either have a truce anda peace, or we shall come to an actyve and bloody war. You see thevagabonds can make logs sarve their turn, as well as the best raftsmenon the rivers, and it would be no great expl'ite for them to invade usin a body. I've been thinking of the wisdom of putting all old Tom'sstores into the Ark, of barring and locking up the Castle, and of takingto the Ark, altogether. That is moveable, and by keeping the sail up,and shifting places, we might worry through a great many nights, withoutthem Canada wolves finding a way into our sheep fold!"

  Chingachgook listened to this plan with approbation. Did the negotiationfail, there was now little hope that the night would pass withoutan assault, and the enemy had sagacity enough to understand thatin carrying the castle they would probably become masters of all itcontained, the offered ransom included, and still retain the advantagesthey had hitherto gained. Some precaution of the sort appeared to beabsolutely necessary, for now the numbers of the Iroquois were known, anight attack could scarcely be successfully met. It would be impossibleto prevent the enemy from getting possession of the canoes and the Ark,and the latter itself would be a hold in which the assailants would beas effectually protected against bullets as were those in the building.For a few minutes, both the men thought of sinking the Ark in theshallow water, of bringing the canoes into the house, and of dependingaltogether on the castle for protection. But reflection satisfied themthat, in the end, this expedient would fail. It was so easy to collectlogs on the shore, and to construct a raft of almost any size, that itwas certain the Iroquois, now they had turned their attention tosuch means, would resort to them seriously, so long as there was thecertainty of success by perseverance. After deliberating maturely,and placing all the considerations fairly before them, the two youngbeginners in the art of forest warfare settled down into the opinionthat the Ark offered the only available means of security. This decisionwas no sooner come to, than it was communicated to Judith. The girlhad no serious objection to make, and all four set about the measuresnecessary to carrying the plan into execution.

  The reader will readily understand that Floating Tom's worldly goodswere of no great amount. A couple of beds, some wearing apparel, thearms and ammunition, a few cooking utensils, with the mysterious andbut half examined chest formed the principal items. These were all soonremoved, the Ark having been hauled on the eastern side of the building,so that the transfer could be made without being seen from the shore. Itwas thought unnecessary to disturb the heavier and coarser articles offurniture, as they were not required in the Ark, and were of but littlevalue in themselves. As great caution was necessary in removing thedifferent objects, most of which were passed out of a window with a viewto conceal wh
at was going on, it required two or three hours before allcould be effected. By the expiration of that time, the raft made itsappearance, moving from the shore. Deerslayer immediately had recourseto the glass, by the aid of which he perceived that two warriors wereon it, though they appeared to be unarmed. The progress of the raft wasslow, a circumstance that formed one of the great advantages that wouldbe possessed by the scow, in any future collision between them, themovements of the latter being comparatively swift and light. As therewas time to make the dispositions for the reception of the two dangerousvisitors, everything was prepared for them, long before they had gotnear enough to be hailed. The Serpent and the girls retired into thebuilding, where the former stood near the door, well provided withrifles, while Judith watched the proceedings without through a loop. Asfor Deerslayer, he had brought a stool to the edge of the platform, atthe point towards which the raft was advancing, and taken his seat withhis rifle leaning carelessly between his legs.

  As the raft drew nearer, every means possessed by the party in thecastle was resorted to, in order to ascertain if their visitors had anyfirearms. Neither Deerslayer nor Chingachgook could discover any, butJudith, unwilling to trust to simple eyesight, thrust the glass throughthe loop, and directed it towards the hemlock boughs that lay betweenthe two logs of the raft, forming a sort of flooring, as well as a seatfor the use of the rowers. When the heavy moving craft was within fiftyfeet of him, Deerslayer hailed the Hurons, directing them to ceaserowing, it not being his intention to permit them to land. Compliance,of course, was necessary, and the two grim-looking warriors instantlyquitted their seats, though the raft continued slowly to approach, untilit had driven in much nearer to the platform.

  "Are ye chiefs?" demanded Deerslayer with dignity--"Are ye chiefs?--Orhave the Mingos sent me warriors without names, on such an ar'n'd? Ifso, the sooner ye go back, the sooner them will be likely to come that awarrior can talk with."

  "Hugh!" exclaimed the elder of the two on the raft, rolling his glowingeyes over the different objects that were visible in and about theCastle, with a keenness that showed how little escaped him. "My brotheris very proud, but Rivenoak (we use the literal translation of the term,writing as we do in English) is a name to make a Delaware turn pale."

  "That's true, or it's a lie, Rivenoak, as it may be; but I am not likelyto turn pale, seeing that I was born pale. What's your ar'n'd, and whydo you come among light bark canoes, on logs that are not even dug out?"

  "The Iroquois are not ducks, to walk on water! Let the pale-faces givethem a canoe, and they'll come in a canoe."

  "That's more rational, than likely to come to pass. We have but fourcanoes, and being four persons that's only one for each of us. We thankyou for the offer, howsever, though we ask leave not to accept it. Youare welcome, Iroquois, on your logs."

  "Thanks--My young pale-face warrior--he has got a name--how do thechiefs call him?"

  Deerslayer hesitated a moment, and a gleam of pride and human weaknesscame over him. He smiled, muttered between his teeth, and then lookingup proudly, he said--"Mingo, like all who are young and actyve, I'vebeen known by different names, at different times. One of your warriorswhose spirit started for the Happy Grounds of your people, as latelyas yesterday morning, thought I desarved to be known by the name ofHawkeye, and this because my sight happened to be quicker than his own,when it got to be life or death atween us."

  Chingachgook, who was attentively listening to all that passed, heardand understood this proof of passing weakness in his friend, and ona future occasion he questioned him more closely concerning thetransaction on the point, where Deerslayer had first taken human life.When he had got the whole truth, he did not fail to communicate it tothe tribe, from which time the young hunter was universally known amongthe Delawares by an appellation so honorably earned. As this, however,was a period posterior to all the incidents of this tale, we shallcontinue to call the young hunter by the name under which he has beenfirst introduced to the reader. Nor was the Iroquois less struck withthe vaunt of the white man. He knew of the death of his comrade, and hadno difficulty in understanding the allusion, the intercourse between theconqueror and his victim on that occasion having been seen by severalsavages on the shore of the lake, who had been stationed at differentpoints just within the margin of bushes to watch the drifting canoes,and who had not time to reach the scene of action, ere the victor hadretired. The effect on this rude being of the forest was an exclamationof surprise; then such a smile of courtesy, and wave of the hand,succeeded, as would have done credit to Asiatic diplomacy. The twoIroquois spoke to each other in low tones, and both drew near the end ofthe raft that was closest to the platform.

  "My brother, Hawkeye, has sent a message to the Hurons," resumedRivenoak, "and it has made their hearts very glad. They hear he hasimages of beasts with two tails! Will he show them to his friends?"

  "Inimies would be truer," returned Deerslayer, "but sound isn't sense,and does little harm. Here is one of the images; I toss it to you underfaith of treaties. If it's not returned, the rifle will settle the p'intatween us."

  The Iroquois seemed to acquiesce in the conditions, and Deerslayer aroseand prepared to toss one of the elephants to the raft, both partiesusing all the precaution that was necessary to prevent its loss. Aspractice renders men expert in such things, the little piece of ivorywas soon successfully transferred from one hand to the other, and thenfollowed another scene on the raft, in which astonishment and delightgot the mastery of Indian stoicism. These two grim old warriorsmanifested even more feeling, as they examined the curiously wroughtchessman, than had been betrayed by the boy; for, in the case of thelatter, recent schooling had interposed its influence; while the men,like all who are sustained by well established characters, were notashamed to let some of their emotions be discovered. For a few minutesthey apparently lost the consciousness of their situation, in theintense scrutiny they bestowed on a material so fine, work so highlywrought, and an animal so extraordinary. The lip of the moose is,perhaps, the nearest approach to the trunk of the elephant that is tobe found in the American forest, but this resemblance was far from beingsufficiently striking to bring the new creature within the range oftheir habits and ideas, and the more they studied the image, the greaterwas their astonishment. Nor did these children of the forest mistakethe structure on the back of the elephant for a part of the animal. Theywere familiar with horses and oxen, and had seen towers in the Canadas,and found nothing surprising in creatures of burthen. Still, by a verynatural association, they supposed the carving meant to represent thatthe animal they saw was of a strength sufficient to carry a fort on itsback; a circumstance that in no degree lessened their wonder.

  "Has my pale-face brother any more such beasts?" at last the senior ofthe Iroquois asked, in a sort of petitioning manner.

  "There's more where them came from, Mingo," was the answer; "one isenough, howsever, to buy off fifty scalps."

  "One of my prisoners is a great warrior--tall as a pine--strong as themoose--active as a deer--fierce as the panther! Some day he'll be agreat chief, and lead the army of King George!"

  "Tut-tut Mingo; Hurry Harry is Hurry Harry, and you'll never makemore than a corporal of him, if you do that. He's tall enough, of asartainty; but that's of no use, as he only hits his head ag'in thebranches as he goes through the forest. He's strong too, but a strongbody isn't a strong head, and the king's generals are not chosen fortheir sinews; he's swift, if you will, but a rifle bullet is swifter;and as for f'erceness, it's no great ricommend to a soldier; they thatthink they feel the stoutest often givin' out at the pinch. No, no,you'll niver make Hurry's scalp pass for more than a good head of curlyhair, and a rattle pate beneath it!"

  "My old prisoner very wise--king of the lake--great warrior, wisecounsellor!"

  "Well, there's them that might gainsay all this, too, Mingo. A very wiseman wouldn't be apt to be taken in so foolish a manner as befell MasterHutter, and if he gives good counsel, he must have listened to very badin that aff
air. There's only one king of this lake, and he's a long wayoff, and isn't likely ever to see it. Floating Tom is some such king ofthis region, as the wolf that prowls through the woods is king of theforest. A beast with two tails is well worth two such scalps!"

  "But my brother has another beast?--He will give two"--holding up asmany fingers, "for old father?"

  "Floating Tom is no father of mine, but he'll fare none the worse forthat. As for giving two beasts for his scalp, and each beast with twotails, it is quite beyond reason. Think yourself well off, Mingo, if youmake a much worse trade."

  By this time the self-command of Rivenoak had got the better of hiswonder, and he began to fall back on his usual habits of cunning, inorder to drive the best bargain he could. It would be useless to relatemore than the substance of the desultory dialogue that followed, inwhich the Indian manifested no little management, in endeavoringto recover the ground lost under the influence of surprise. He evenaffected to doubt whether any original for the image of the beastexisted, and asserted that the oldest Indian had never heard a traditionof any such animal. Little did either of them imagine at the time thatlong ere a century elapsed, the progress of civilization would bringeven much more extraordinary and rare animals into that region, ascuriosities to be gazed at by the curious, and that the particularbeast, about which the disputants contended, would be seen laving itssides and swimming in the very sheet of water, on which they had met.

  [The Otsego is a favorite place for the caravan keepers to lettheir elephants bathe. The writer has seen two at a time, since thepublication of this book, swimming about in company.]

  As is not uncommon on such occasions, one of the parties got a littlewarm in the course of the discussion, for Deerslayer met all thearguments and prevarication of his subtle opponent with his own cooldirectness of manner, and unmoved love of truth. What an elephant was heknew little better than the savage, but he perfectly understood thatthe carved pieces of ivory must have some such value in the eyes of anIroquois as a bag of gold or a package of beaver skins would in those ofa trader. Under the circumstances, therefore, he felt it to beprudent not to concede too much at first, since there existed anearly unconquerable obstacle to making the transfers, even after thecontracting parties had actually agreed upon the terms. Keeping thisdifficulty in view, he held the extra chessmen in reserve, as a means ofsmoothing any difficulty in the moment of need.

  At length the savage pretended that further negotiation was useless,since he could not be so unjust to his tribe as to part with thehonor and emoluments of two excellent, full grown male scalps fora consideration so trifling as a toy like that he had seen, and heprepared to take his departure. Both parties now felt as men are wont tofeel, when a bargain that each is anxious to conclude is on the eve ofbeing broken off, in consequence of too much pertinacity in the wayof management. The effect of the disappointment was very different,however, on the respective individuals. Deerslayer was mortified, andfilled with regret, for he not only felt for the prisoners, but he alsofelt deeply for the two girls. The conclusion of the treaty, therefore,left him melancholy and full of regret. With the savage, his defeatproduced the desire of revenge. In a moment of excitement, he had loudlyannounced his intention to say no more, and he felt equally enraged withhimself and with his cool opponent, that he had permitted a pale face tomanifest more indifference and self-command than an Indian chief. Whenhe began to urge his raft away from the platform his countenance loweredand his eye glowed, even while he affected a smile of amity and agesture of courtesy at parting.

  It took some little time to overcome the inertia of the logs, and whilethis was being done by the silent Indian, Rivenoak stalked over thehemlock boughs that lay between the logs in sullen ferocity, eyeingkeenly the while the hut, the platform and the person of his latedisputant. Once he spoke in low, quick tones to his companion, and hestirred the boughs with his feet like an animal that is restive. At thatmoment the watchfulness of Deerslayer had a little abated, for he satmusing on the means of renewing the negotiation without giving too muchadvantage to the other side. It was perhaps fortunate for him that thekeen and bright eyes of Judith were as vigilant as ever. At the instantwhen the young man was least on his guard, and his enemy was the moston the alert, she called out in a warning voice to the former, mostopportunely giving the alarm.

  "Be on your guard, Deerslayer," the girl cried--"I see rifles with theglass, beneath the hemlock brush, and the Iroquois is loosening themwith his feet!"

  It would seem that the enemy had carried their artifices so far as toemploy an agent who understood English. The previous dialogue had takenplace in his own language, but it was evident by the sudden manner inwhich his feet ceased their treacherous occupation, and in which thecountenance of Rivenoak changed from sullen ferocity to a smile ofcourtesy, that the call of the girl was understood. Signing to hiscompanion to cease his efforts to set the logs in motion, he advanced tothe end of the raft which was nearest to the platform, and spoke.

  "Why should Rivenoak and his brother leave any cloud between them," hesaid. "They are both wise, both brave, and both generous; they ought topart friends. One beast shall be the price of one prisoner."

  "And, Mingo," answered the other, delighted to renew the negotiations onalmost any terms, and determined to clinch the bargain if possible by alittle extra liberality, "you'll see that a pale-face knows how to paya full price, when he trades with an open heart, and an open hand. Keepthe beast that you had forgotten to give back to me, as you was about tostart, and which I forgot to ask for, on account of consarn at partingin anger. Show it to your chiefs. When you bring us our fri'nds, twomore shall be added to it, and," hesitating a moment in distrust of theexpediency of so great a concession; then, deciding in its favor--"and,if we see them afore the sun sets, we may find a fourth to make up aneven number."

  This settled the matter. Every gleam of discontent vanished from thedark countenance of the Iroquois, and he smiled as graciously, if not assweetly, as Judith Hutter, herself. The piece already in his possessionwas again examined, and an ejaculation of pleasure showed how much hewas pleased with this unexpected termination of the affair. In point offact, both he and Deerslayer had momentarily forgotten what had becomeof the subject of their discussion, in the warmth of their feelings, butsuch had not been the case with Rivenoak's companion. This man retainedthe piece, and had fully made up his mind, were it claimed under suchcircumstances as to render its return necessary, to drop it in the lake,trusting to his being able to find it again at some future day. Thisdesperate expedient, however, was no longer necessary, and afterrepeating the terms of agreement, and professing to understand them,the two Indians finally took their departure, moving slowly towards theshore.

  "Can any faith be put in such wretches?" asked Judith, when she andHetty had come out on the platform, and were standing at the side ofDeerslayer, watching the dull movement of the logs. "Will they notrather keep the toy they have, and send us off some bloody proofs oftheir getting the better of us in cunning, by way of boasting? I'veheard of acts as bad as this."

  "No doubt, Judith; no manner of doubt, if it wasn't for Indian natur'.But I'm no judge of a red-skin, if that two tail'd beast doesn't setthe whole tribe in some such stir as a stick raises in a beehive! Now,there's the Sarpent; a man with narves like flint, and no more cur'osityin every day consarns than is befitting prudence; why he was so overcomewith the sight of the creatur', carved as it is in bone, that I feltashamed for him! That's just their gifts, howsever, and one can't wellquarrel with a man for his gifts, when they are lawful. Chingachgookwill soon get over his weakness and remember that he's a chief, andthat he comes of a great stock, and has a renowned name to support anduphold; but as for yonder scamps, there'll be no peace among 'em untilthey think they've got possession of every thing of the natur' of thatbit of carved bone that's to be found among Thomas Hutter's stores!"

  "They only know of the elephants, and can have no hopes about the otherthings."

  "That's true,
Judith; still, covetousness is a craving feelin'! They'llsay, if the pale-faces have these cur'ous beasts with two tails, whoknows but they've got some with three, or for that matter with four!That's what the schoolmasters call nat'ral arithmetic, and 'twill besartain to beset the feelin's of savages. They'll never be easy, tillthe truth is known."

  "Do you think, Deerslayer," inquired Hetty, in her simple and innocentmanner, "that the Iroquois won't let father and Hurry go? I read to themseveral of the very best verses in the whole Bible, and you see whatthey have done, already."

  The hunter, as he always did, listened kindly and even affectionately toHetty's remarks; then he mused a moment in silence. There was somethinglike a flush on his cheek as he answered, after quite a minute hadpassed.

  "I don't know whether a white man ought to be ashamed, or not, to own hecan't read, but such is my case, Judith. You are skilful, I find, in allsuch matters, while I have only studied the hand of God as it is seen inthe hills and the valleys, the mountain-tops, the streams, the forestsand the springs. Much l'arning may be got in this way, as well as outof books; and, yet, I sometimes think it is a white man's gift to read!When I hear from the mouths of the Moravians the words of which Hettyspeaks, they raise a longing in my mind, and I then think I will knowhow to read 'em myself; but the game in summer, and the traditions, andlessons in war, and other matters, have always kept me behind hand."

  "Shall I teach you, Deerslayer?" asked Hetty, earnestly. "I'mweak-minded, they say, but I can read as well as Judith. It might saveyour life to know how to read the Bible to the savages, and it willcertainly save your soul; for mother told me that, again and again!"

  "Thankee, Hetty--yes, thankee, with all my heart. These are like to betoo stirring times for much idleness, but after it's peace, and I cometo see you ag'in on this lake, then I'll give myself up to it, as if'twas pleasure and profit in a single business. Perhaps I ought tobe ashamed, Judith, that 'tis so; but truth is truth. As for theseIroquois, 'tisn't very likely they'll forget a beast with two tails, onaccount of a varse or two from the Bible. I rather expect they'll giveup the prisoners, and trust to some sarcumvenion or other to get 'emback ag'in, with us and all in the castle and the Ark in the bargain.Howsever, we must humour the vagabonds, first to get your father andHurry out of their hands, and next to keep the peace atween us, untilsuch time as the Sarpent there can make out to get off his betrothedwife. If there's any sudden outbreakin' of anger and ferocity, theIndians will send off all their women and children to the camp at once,whereas, by keeping 'em calm and trustful we may manage to meet Hist atthe spot she has mentioned. Rather than have the bargain fall through,now, I'd throw in half a dozen of them effigy bow-and-arrow men, such aswe've in plenty in the chist."

  Judith cheerfully assented, for she would have resigned even theflowered brocade, rather than not redeem her father and pleaseDeerslayer. The prospects of success were now so encouraging as toraise the spirits of all in the castle, though a due watchfulness ofthe movements of the enemy was maintained. Hour passed after hour,notwithstanding, and the sun had once more begun to fall towards thesummits of the western hills, and yet no signs were seen of the returnof the raft. By dint of sweeping the shore with the glass, Deerslayerat length discovered a place in the dense and dark woods where, heentertained no doubt, the Iroquois were assembled in considerablenumbers. It was near the thicket whence the raft had issued, and alittle rill that trickled into the lake announced the vicinity ofa spring. Here, then, the savages were probably holding theirconsultation, and the decision was to be made that went to settle thequestion of life or death for the prisoners. There was one ground forhope in spite of the delay, however, that Deerslayer did not fail toplace before his anxious companions. It was far more probable thatthe Indians had left their prisoners in the camp, than that they hadencumbered themselves by causing them to follow through the woods aparty that was out on a merely temporary excursion. If such was thefact, it required considerable time to send a messenger the necessarydistance, and to bring the two white men to the spot where they wereto embark. Encouraged by these reflections, a new stock of patience wasgathered, and the declension of the sun was viewed with less alarm.

  The result justified Deerslayer's conjecture. Not long before thesun had finally disappeared, the two logs were seen coming out of thethicket, again, and as it drew near, Judith announced that her fatherand Hurry, both of them pinioned, lay on the bushes in the centre. Asbefore, the two Indians were rowing. The latter seemed to be consciousthat the lateness of the hour demanded unusual exertions, and contraryto the habits of their people, who are ever averse to toil, they laboredhard at the rude substitutes for oars. In consequence of this diligence,the raft occupied its old station in about half the time that had beentaken in the previous visits.

  Even after the conditions were so well understood, and matters hadproceeded so far, the actual transfer of the prisoners was not a dutyto be executed without difficulty. The Iroquois were compelled toplace great reliance on the good faith of their foes, though itwas reluctantly given; and was yielded to necessity rather than toconfidence. As soon as Hutter and Hurry should be released, the partyin the castle numbered two to one, as opposed to those on the raft, andescape by flight was out of the question, as the former had three barkcanoes, to say nothing of the defences of the house and the Ark. Allthis was understood by both parties, and it is probable the arrangementnever could have been completed, had not the honest countenance andmanner of Deerslayer wrought their usual effect on Rivenoak.

  "My brother knows I put faith in him," said the latter, as he advancedwith Hutter, whose legs had been released to enable the old man toascend to the platform. "One scalp--one more beast."

  "Stop, Mingo," interrupted the hunter, "keep your prisoner a moment. Ihave to go and seek the means of payment."

  This excuse, however, though true in part, was principally a fetch.Deerslayer left the platform, and entering the house, he directed Judithto collect all the arms and to conceal them in her own room. He thenspoke earnestly to the Delaware, who stood on guard as before, near theentrance of the building, put the three remaining castles in his pocket,and returned.

  "You are welcome back to your old abode, Master Hutter," saidDeerslayer, as he helped the other up on the platform, slyly passinginto the hand of Rivenoak, at the same time, another of the castles."You'll find your darters right glad to see you, and here's Hetty comeherself to say as much in her own behalf."

  Here the hunter stopped speaking and broke out into a hearty fit of hissilent and peculiar laughter. Hurry's legs were just released, and hehad been placed on his feet. So tightly had the ligatures been drawn,that the use of his limbs was not immediately recovered, and the younggiant presented, in good sooth, a very helpless and a somewhat ludicrouspicture. It was this unusual spectacle, particularly the bewilderedcountenance, that excited the merriment of Deerslayer.

  "You look like a girdled pine in a clearin', Hurry Harry, that isrocking in a gale," said Deerslayer, checking his unseasonable mirth,more from delicacy to the others than from any respect to the liberatedcaptive. "I'm glad, howsever, to see that you haven't had your hairdressed by any of the Iroquois barbers, in your late visit to theircamp."

  "Harkee, Deerslayer," returned the other a little fiercely, "it willbe prudent for you to deal less in mirth and more in friendship on thisoccasion. Act like a Christian, for once, and not like a laughing galin a country school when the master's back is turned, and just tell mewhether there's any feet, or not, at the end of these legs of mine. Ithink I can see them, but as for feelin' they might as well be down onthe banks of the Mohawk, as be where they seem to be."

  "You've come off whole, Hurry, and that's not a little," answered theother, secretly passing to the Indian the remainder of the stipulatedransom, and making an earnest sign at the same moment for him tocommence his retreat. "You've come off whole, feet and all, and areonly a little numb from a tight fit of the withes. Natur'll soon set theblood in motion, and then you may begin
to dance, to celebrate what Icall a most wonderful and onexpected deliverance from a den of wolves."

  Deerslayer released the arms of his friends, as each landed, and thetwo were now stamping and limping about on the platform, growlingand uttering denunciations as they endeavored to help the returningcirculation. They had been tethered too long, however, to regain the useof their limbs in a moment, and the Indians being quite as diligent ontheir return as on their advance, the raft was fully a hundred yardsfrom the castle when Hurry, turning accidentally in that direction,discovered how fast it was getting beyond the reach of his vengeance. Bythis time he could move with tolerable facility, though still numb andawkward. Without considering his own situation, however, he seized therifle that leaned against the shoulder of Deerslayer, and attempted tocock and present it. The young hunter was too quick for him. Seizing thepiece he wrenched it from the hands of the giant, not, however, untilit had gone off in the struggle, when pointed directly upward. It isprobable that Deerslayer could have prevailed in such a contest, onaccount of the condition of Hurry's limbs, but the instant the gun wentoff, the latter yielded, and stumped towards the house, raising his legsat each step quite a foot from the ground, from an uncertainty of theactual position of his feet. But he had been anticipated by Judith. Thewhole stock of Hutter's arms, which had been left in the building as aresource in the event of a sudden outbreaking of hostilities, hadbeen removed, and were already secreted, agreeably to Deerslayer'sdirections. In consequence of this precaution, no means offered by whichMarch could put his designs in execution.

  Disappointed in his vengeance, Hurry seated himself, and like Hutter,for half an hour, he was too much occupied in endeavoring to restore thecirculation, and in regaining the use of his limbs, to indulge in anyother reflections. By the end of this time the raft had disappeared, andnight was beginning to throw her shadows once more over the whole sylvanscene. Before darkness had completely set in, and while the girls werepreparing the evening meal, Deerslayer related to Hutter an outline ofevents that had taken place, and gave him a history of the means he hadadopted for the security of his children and property.