Latest / Adventure Books Collection / 04 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper

Transcript

04 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper · Adventure Books Collection

• 0:00
  Chapter four. Quote, well go thy way, thou shalt not from this
• 0:06
  grove till I torment thee for this injury unquote Midsummer Night's Dream. The words
• 0:14
  were still in the mouth of the scout when the leader of the party,
• 0:18
  whose approaching footsteps had caught the vigilant ear of the Indian, came openly into
• 0:23
  view. A beaten path, such as those made by the periodical passage of
• 0:28
  deer, wound through a little glen at no great distance, and struck the
• 0:33
  river at the point where the white man and his red companions had posted themselves.
• 0:39
  Along this track, The travelers, who had produced a surprise so unusual
• 0:44
  in the depths of the forest, advance slowly toward the hunter, who was
• 0:49
  in front of his associates, in readiness to receive them. Who comes,
• 0:55
  demanded the scout, throwing his rifle carelessly across his left arm and keeping the
• 1:00
  forefinger of his right hand on the trigger, Though he avoided all appearance of
• 1:03
  menace in the act, Who comes hither through the beast and dangers of the
• 1:07
  wilderness, believers in religion and friends of the law, And to the king
• 1:15
  returned he who wrote, foremost men who have journeyed since the rising sun in
• 1:19
  the shades of this forest without nourishment, and are sadly tired of their wayfaring.
• 1:26
  You are then lost, interrupted the hunter, and have found how helpless
• 1:30
  tis not to know whether to take the right hand or the left. Even
• 1:34
  so, sucking babes are not more dependent on those who guide them than we,
• 1:40
  who are of larger growth, and who may now be said to possess
• 1:44
  the stature without the knowledge of men. Know you the distance to a post
• 1:49
  of the crown called William Henry, shouted the scout, who did not spare
• 1:56
  his open laughter. Though instantly checking the dangerous sound, he in dullged his
• 2:00
  merriment at risk of being overhead by any lurking enemies. You are as much
• 2:07
  off the scent as a hound would be with Horrican at TwixT him and the
• 2:10
  deer William Henry Man. If you are friends to the king and have business
• 2:16
  with the army, your way would be to follow the river down to Edward
• 2:21
  and lay the matter before a webb who tarries there, instead of pushing into
• 2:25
  the defiles and driving this saucy frenchman back across Champlain into his den again before
• 2:34
  the stranger could make any reply to this unexpected proposition. A another horseman dashed
• 2:38
  the bushes aside and leaped his charger into the pathway in front of his companion.
• 2:45
  What then may be our distance from Fort, Edward, demanded a new
• 2:47
  speaker. The place you advised us to seek we left this morning, and
• 2:53
  our destination is the head of the lake. Then you must have lost your
• 2:58
  eyesight afore losing your way. For the road across the portage is cut to
• 3:02
  a good two rods, and is as grand as the path I calculate as
• 3:07
  any that runs into London, or even before the palace of the King himself.
• 3:13
  We will not dispute concerning the excellence of the passage, returned Heyward,
• 3:16
  smiling, For as the reader has anticipated, it was he. It was
• 3:22
  enough for the present that we trusted to an Indian guide to take us by
• 3:25
  a nearer, though blinder path, and that we are deceived in his knowledge.
• 3:31
  In plain words, we know not where we are an Indian lost in
• 3:37
  the woods, said the scout, shaking his head doubtingly. When the sun
• 3:43
  is scorching the tree tops, and the water courses are full, when the
• 3:47
  moss on every beach, he sees will tell him when what quarter the North
• 3:53
  star will shine at night. The woods are full of deer paths which run
• 3:59
  to the streams and licks places well known to everybody. Nor have the geese
• 4:03
  done their flight to the Canada waters altogether? Tis strange that an Indian should
• 4:10
  be lost a TwixT Horican and the bend in the river? Is he a
• 4:15
  mohawk? Not by birth, though adopted by that tribe. I think his
• 4:20
  birthplace was farther north. And he is one of those you call Huron.
• 4:27
  Huh, exclaimed the two companions of the Scout, who had continued until this
• 4:31
  part of the dialogue seated immovable and apparently indifferent to what passed, but who
• 4:38
  now sprang to their feet with an activity and interest that had evidently got the
• 4:44
  better of their reserve. By surprise, A Huron repeated the sturdy scout once
• 4:49
  more, shaking his head in open distrust. They are a thievy shrace.
• 4:55
  Nor do I care by whom they are adopted. You can never make any
• 5:00
  of them but skulls and vagabonds. Since you trusted yourself to the care of
• 5:05
  one of that nation, I only wonder that you have not fallen in with
• 5:10
  more of that, there is little danger, since William Henry is so many
• 5:15
  miles in our front. You forgot that I have told you our God is
• 5:18
  now a mohawk, and that he serves with our forces as a friend.
• 5:24
  And I tell you that he who is born a Mingo will die a mingo,
• 5:29
  returned the other positively, a mohawk. No, give me a Delaware
• 5:34
  or a Mohican for honesty. And when they will fight, which they won't
• 5:40
  all do having suffered their cunning enemies, the mak was to make them women.
• 5:45
  But when they will fight at all, look to a Delaware or a
• 5:48
  Mohican for a warrior. Enough of this, said Heyward impatiently. I wish
• 5:55
  not to inquire into the character of a man that I know, and to
• 6:00
  whom you must be a stranger. You have not yet answered my question,
• 6:05
  what is our distance from the main army at Edward? It seems that may
• 6:11
  depend on who is your guide. One would think such a horse as that
• 6:15
  might get over a good deal of ground a TwixT sun up and sundown.
• 6:18
  I wish no contention of idle words with you, friend, said Heyward,
• 6:24
  curbing his dissatisfied manner and speaking in a more gentle voice, If you will
• 6:30
  tell me the distance to Fort Edward and conduct me thither, your labor shall
• 6:34
  not go without its reward. And in doing so, how know I that
• 6:41
  I don't guide an enemy and a spy of Montcalm to the works of the
• 6:45
  army. It is not every man who can speak the English tongue that isn't
• 6:48
  on a subject. If you serve with the troops of whom I judge you
• 6:54
  to be a scout, you should know of such a regiment of the king
• 6:58
  as the sixtieth. You can tell me little of the Royal Americans that I
• 7:02
  don't know, though I do wear a hunting shirt instead of a scarlet jacket.
• 7:08
  Well, then among other things, you may know the name of its
• 7:12
  major. It's major, interrupted the hunter, elevating his body like one who
• 7:17
  was proud of his trust. If there is a man in the country who
• 7:20
  knows Major Effingham, he stands before you. It is a corps which has
• 7:25
  many majors. The gentleman you name is the senior, But I speak of
• 7:30
  the junior of them all, he who commands the companies in garrison at William
• 7:35
  Henry. Yes, yes, I have heard that a young gentleman of vast
• 7:41
  riches from one of the provinces far south, has got the place. He
• 7:46
  is over young too to hold such rank and to be put above men whose
• 7:50
  heads are beginning to bleach. And yet they say he is a soldier in
• 7:56
  his knowledge and a gallant gentleman. Whatever he may be, or however he
• 8:01
  may be qualified for his rank. He now speaks to you, and of
• 8:05
  course can be no enemy to dread. The scout regarded Heyward in surprise,
• 8:11
  and then lifting his cap, he answered, in a tone less confident than
• 8:15
  before, though still expressing doubt. I have heard a party was to leave
• 8:22
  the encampment this morning for the lake shore. You have heard the truth,
• 8:28
  but I preferred a nearer route, trusting to the knowledge of the Indian I
• 8:31
  mentioned. And he deceived you and then deserted neither as I believe, certainly
• 8:39
  not the latter, for he is to be found in the rear. I
• 8:43
  should like to look at the creature. If it is a true Iroquois,
• 8:46
  I can tell him by his knavysh look and by his paint, said the
• 8:50
  scout, stepping past the charger of Heyward and entering the path behind the mare
• 8:54
  of the singing masters whose full had taken advantage of the to extract the maternal
• 9:01
  contribution. After shoving aside the bushes and preceding a few paces, he encountered
• 9:07
  the females, who awaited the result of the conference with anxiety and not entirely
• 9:13
  without apprehension. Behind these, the runner leaned against a tree, where he
• 9:18
  stood the close examination of the scout, with an air unmoved, though with
• 9:24
  a look so dark and savage that it might in itself excite fear. Satisfied
• 9:30
  with his scrutiny, the hunter soon left him. As he repassed the females,
• 9:35
  he paused a moment to gaze upon their beauty, answering to the smile
• 9:39
  and nod of Alice with a look of open pleasure. Thence he went to
• 9:45
  the side of the motherly animal, and, spending a minute in a fruitless
• 9:48
  inquiry into the character of her rider, he shook his head and turned to
• 9:52
  Heyward. A Mingo is a mingo, and God, having made him so,
• 9:58
  neither the mohawks nor any other tribe can alter him, he said,
• 10:03
  when he had regained his former position, If we were alone, and you
• 10:07
  would leave that noble horse at the mercy of the wolves. Tonight, I
• 10:11
  could show you the way to Edward myself within an hour. Fort lies only
• 10:16
  about an hour's journey. Hence, but with such ladies in your company,
• 10:22
  'tis impossible, and why they are fatigued. But they are quite equal to
• 10:28
  a ride of a few more miles.'tis a natural impossibility, repeated the
• 10:35
  scout. I wouldn't walk a mile in these woods after night gets into them
• 10:41
  in company with that runner for the best rifle in the colonies. They are
• 10:46
  full of outlying Iroquois, and your mongrel mohawk knows where to find them too
• 10:52
  well to be my companion. Thank you, so said Heyward, leaning forward
• 10:56
  in the saddle and dropping his voice nearly to a whisper. I confess I
• 11:03
  have not been without my own suspicions, though I have endeavored to conceal them
• 11:09
  and affected a confidence I have not always felt on account of my companions.
• 11:13
  It was because I suspected him that I would follow no longer, making him,
• 11:18
  as you see follow me. I knew he was at one of the
• 11:24
  cheets as soon as I laid eyes on him, returned the scout, placing
• 11:28
  a finger on his nose in sign of caution. The thief is leaning against
• 11:31
  the foot of the sugar sapling that you can see over them bushes. His
• 11:35
  right leg is in a line with the bark of the tree, and tapping
• 11:39
  his rifle. I can take him from where I stand between the ankle and
• 11:43
  the knee with a single shot, putting an end to his tramping through the
• 11:48
  woods for at least a month to come. If I should go back to
• 11:50
  him, the cunning varment would suspect something and be dodging through the trees like
• 11:56
  a frightened deer. It would not do. He may be innocent, and
• 12:01
  I dislike the act, though if I felt confident of his treachery, tis
• 12:07
  a safe thing to calculate on the knavery of an Iroquois, said the scout,
• 12:11
  throwing his rifle forward by a sort of instinctive movement. Hold interrupted,
• 12:16
  heyward. It will not do. We must think of some other scheme.
• 12:22
  And yet I have much reason to believe the rascal has deceived me. The
• 12:26
  hunter, who had already abandoned his attention of maiming the runner, mused for
• 12:31
  a moment, and then made a gesture which instantly brought his two red companions
• 12:35
  to his side. They spoke together earnestly in the Delaware language, though in
• 12:41
  an undertone, and by the gestures of the white man, which were frequently
• 12:45
  directed toward the top of the sapling, it was evident he pointed out the
• 12:50
  situation of their hidden enemy. His companions were not long in comprehending his wishes,
• 12:56
  and laying aside their firearms. They parted, taking opposite sides of the
• 13:01
  path, and burying themselves in the thicket, with such cautious movements that their
• 13:07
  steps were inaudible. Now go you back, said the hunter, speaking again
• 13:11
  to Heyward, and hold the imp in talk. These Mohicans here will take
• 13:18
  him without breaking his paint. Nay, said Heyward, proudly. I will
• 13:22
  seize him myself his What could you do mounted against an Indian in the bushes?
• 13:31
  I will dismount and thank you. When he saw one of your feet
• 13:35
  out of the stirrup, he would wait for the other to be free.
• 13:39
  Whoever comes into the woods to deal with the natives must use Indian fashions if
• 13:46
  he would wish to prosper in his undertakings. Go then talk openly to the
• 13:52
  miscreant, and seem to believe him. The truest friend you have on earth,
• 14:00
  prepared to comply, though with strong disgust that the nature of the office
• 14:03
  he was compelled to execute. Each moment, however, pressed upon him a
• 14:09
  conviction of the critical situation in which he had suffered his invaluable trust to be
• 14:15
  involved through his own confidence. The sun had already disappeared, and the woods,
• 14:22
  suddenly deprived of his light, were assuming a dusky hue, which keenly
• 14:26
  reminded him that the hour of the savage, usually choose for his most barbarous
• 14:31
  and remorseless acts of vengeance or hostility, was speedily drawing near footnote. The
• 14:39
  scene of this tale was in the forty second degree of latitude, where the
• 14:43
  twilight is never of long continuation end footnote. Stimulated by apprehension, he left
• 14:52
  the scout, who immediately entered into a loud conversation with the stranger who had
• 14:56
  so unceremoniously enlisted himself in the party of the travelers that morning. In passing
• 15:03
  his gentler companions, Heyward uttered a few words of encouragement, and was pleased
• 15:09
  to find that, though fatigued with the exercise of the day, they appeared
• 15:15
  to entertain no suspicion that their present embarrassment was other than the result of accident,
• 15:22
  giving them reason to believe he was merely employed in the consultation concerning the
• 15:26
  future route. He spurred his charger and drew the reins again, when the
• 15:31
  animal had carried him within a few yards of the place where the sullen runner
• 15:35
  still stood leaning against the tree. You may see maqua, he said,
• 15:39
  endeavoring to assume an air of freedom and confidence. That the night is closing
• 15:45
  around us, and yet we are no nearer to William Henry than when we
• 15:48
  left the encampment of Webb with the rising sun. You have missed the way,
• 15:54
  nor have I been more fortunate. But happily we have fallen in with
• 15:58
  a hunt he whom you hear talking to the singer that is acquainted with the
• 16:04
  deer paths and byways of the woods, and who promises to lead us to
• 16:11
  a place where we may rest securely till the morning. The Indian riveted his
• 16:15
  glowing eyes on Heyward, as he asked in his imperfect English, is he
• 16:21
  alone alone? Hesitatingly answered Hayward, to whom deception was too new to be
• 16:27
  assumed without embarrassment. Oh, not alone, surely, makwaf, for you
• 16:33
  know that we are with him. Then le Renard still will go, returned
• 16:38
  the runner coolly, raising his little wallet from the place where it had lain
• 16:42
  at his feet, And the pale faces will see none but their own color.
• 16:47
  Go, whom you call a Renard? Do is the name his Canadian
• 16:52
  fathers have given to Maqua? Returned the runner with an air that manifested his
• 16:56
  pride at the distinction. Night is the same as day to lise abtil when
• 17:02
  Munroe waits for him. And what account will le Renard give the chief of
• 17:06
  William Henry concerning his daughters? Will he dare to tell the hot blooded Scotsman
• 17:11
  that his children are left without a guide? The Maqua promised to be one.
• 17:17
  Though the gray head has a loud voice and a long charm ley Renaud
• 17:22
  will not hear him nor feel him in the woods. But what will the
• 17:26
  mohawks say? They will make him petticoats and bid him stay in the wigwam
• 17:32
  with the women, for he is no longer to be trusted with the business
• 17:36
  of a man. Lies of Hill knows the path to the great lakes,
• 17:41
  and he can find the bones of his father's was the answer of the unmoved
• 17:45
  runner. Enough, Maqua said, Heyward, are we not friends? Why
• 17:52
  should there be bitter words between us? Monroe has promised you a gift for
• 17:56
  your services when performed, and I shall be your debtor for another Rest your
• 18:03
  weary limbs, then, and open your wallet to eat. We have a
• 18:07
  few moments to spare. Let us not waste them in talk like wrangling women.
• 18:15
  When the ladies are refreshed, we will proceed. The pale faces make
• 18:18
  themselves dogs to their women, muttered the Indian in his native language. And
• 18:23
  then when they want to eat, their warriors must lay aside the tomahawk to
• 18:27
  feed their laziness. What say you, Renaud leesab Tille says it is good.
• 18:34
  The Indian then fastened his eyes keenly on the open countenance of Heyward,
• 18:38
  but meeting his glance, he turned them quickly away, and, seating himself
• 18:42
  deliberately on the ground, he drew forth the remnant of some former repast and
• 18:48
  began to eat, though not without first bending his looks slowly and cautiously around
• 18:52
  him. This is well, continued Heyward, and the Renauld will have strength
• 18:59
  and sight to find the path in the morning. He paused, for sounds
• 19:03
  like the snapping of a dried stick and the rustling of leaves rose from the
• 19:07
  adjacent bushes. But recollecting himself instantly, he continued, we must be moving
• 19:11
  before the sun is seen, or moret calm may lie in our path and
• 19:18
  shut us out from the fortress. The hand of Maqua dropped from his mouth
• 19:22
  to his side, and though his eyes were fastened on the ground, his
• 19:26
  head was turned aside. His nostrils expanded, and his ears seemed to stand
• 19:33
  even more erect than usual, giving him the appearance of a statue that was
• 19:37
  made to represent intense attention. Heyward, who watched his movements with a vigilant
• 19:44
  eye, carelessly extricated one of his feet from the stirrup while he passed a
• 19:48
  hand toward the bare skin covering of his holsters. Every effort to detect the
• 19:53
  point most regarded by the runner was completely frustrated by the tremulous glance of his
• 20:00
  organs, which seemed not to rest a single instant on any particular object,
• 20:06
  and which at the same time could be hardly said to move. While he
• 20:11
  hesitated, how to proceed less of tille cautiously raised himself to his feet though
• 20:18
  with a motion so slow and guarded that not the slightest noise was produced by
• 20:23
  the change. Heyward felt it had now become incumbent on him to act.
• 20:30
  Throwing his leg over the saddle, he dismounted with a determination to advance and
• 20:34
  seize his treacherous companion, trusting the result to his own manhood. In order,
• 20:41
  however, to prevent unnecessary alarm, he still preserved an air of calmness
• 20:45
  and friendship. Les Renards of Stills. Does not eat, he said,
• 20:52
  using the appellation he had found most flattering to the vanity of the Indian.
• 20:56
  His corn is not well parched, and it seems dry. Let me examine.
• 21:00
  Perhaps something may be found among my own provisions that will help his appetite.
• 21:07
  Makua held out the wallet to the proffer of the other. He even
• 21:11
  suffered their hands to meet, without betraying the least emotion or varying his riveted
• 21:15
  attitude of attention. But when he felt the fingers of Hayward moving gently along
• 21:22
  his own naked arm, he struck up the limb of the young man,
• 21:26
  and, uttering a piercing cry, he darted beneath it and plunged at a
• 21:30
  single bound into the opposite thicket. At the next instant, the form of
• 21:34
  Chingotkok appeared from the bushes, looking like a specter in its paint, and
• 21:40
  glided across the path in swift pursuit. Next followed the shout of Uncas when
• 21:45
  the woods were lighted by a sudden flash that was accompanied by the sharp report
• 21:51
  of the hunter's rifle end of Chapter four