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

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Chapter fourteen quote Quillella Puck pisl pofridgehn La Fronce unquote King Henry the sixth.
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During the rapid movement from the blockhouse, and until the party was deeply buried
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in the forest, each individual was too much interested in the escape to hazard
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a word, even in whispers. The scout resumed his post in advance,
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though his steps after he had thrown a safe distance between himself and his enemies
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were more deliberate than in their previous march, in consequence of his utter ignorance
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of the localities of the surrounding woods. More than once he halted to consult
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with his confederates, the Mohicans, pointing upward at the moon and examining the
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barks of the trees with care. In these brief pauses, Heyward and the
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sisters listened with senses rendered doubly acute by the danger, to detect any symptoms
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which might announced the proximity of their foes. At such moments, it seemed
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as if the vast range of country lay buried in eternal sleep, not the
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least sound arising from the forest, unless it was the distant and scarcely audible
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rippling of a water course, birds, beast, and man appeared to slumber
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alike, if indeed any of the latter were to be found in that wide
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tract of wilderness. But the sounds of the rivulet feeble and murmuring as they
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were relieved the guides at once from no trifling embarrassment, and toward it.
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They immediately held their way. When the banks of the little stream were gained,
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Hawkeye made another halt, and, taking the moccasins from his feet,
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he invited Heyward and Gamut to follow his example. He then entered the water,
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and for near an hour they traveled in the bed of the brook,
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leaving no trail. The moon had already sunk into an immense pile of black
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clouds, which lay impending above the western horizon. When they issued from the
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low and devious water course to rise again to the light and the level of
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the sandy but wooded plain. Here the scouts seemed to be once more at
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home, for he held on his way with the certainty and the diligence of
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a man who moved in the security of his own knowledge. The path soon
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became more uneven, and the travelers could plainly perceive that the mountains drew Nigher
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to them on each hand, and that they were in truth about entering one
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of their gorges. Suddenly, Hawkeye made a pause, and waiting until he
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was joined by the whole party, he spoke, though in tones so low
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and cautious that they added to the solemnity of his words. In the quiet
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and darkness of the place, it is easy to know the pathways and to
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find the licks and water courses of the wilderness, he said. But who
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that saw this spot could venture to say that a mighty army was at rest
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among yonder silent trees and barren mountains. We are then at no great distance
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from William Henry, said Heyward, advancing Nigher to the scout. It is
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yet a long and weary path, and when and where to strike it is
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now our greatest difficulty. See, he said, pointing through the trees toward
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a spot where a little basin of water reflected the stars from its placid bosom.
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Here is the bloody pond. And I am on ground that I have
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not only often traveled, but over which I have fought the enemy from the
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rising to the setting of the sun. Ha That sheet of dull and dreary
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water. Then is the sepulcher of the brave men who fell in the contest.
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I have heard it named, but never have I stood on its banks.
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Before three battles we did make with the Dutch Frenchmen in a day,
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continued Hawk, pursuing the train of his own thoughts, rather than replying to
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the remark of Duncan. Footnote Baron Descoal, a German in the service of
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France. A few years previously to the period of the tale, this officer
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was defeated by Sir William Johnson of Johnstown, New York, on the shores
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of Lake George. And footnote he met us hard by in our outward march
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to ambush his advance, and scattered us like driven deer through the defile to
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the shores of Horican. Then we rallied behind our fallen trees and made head
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against him under Sir William, who was made Sir William for that very deed.
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And well did we pay him for the disgrace of the morning. Hundreds
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of Frenchmen saw the sun that day for the last time, and even their
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leader Descu himself fell into our hands, so cut and torn with the lead
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that he has gone back to his own country, unfit for further acts in
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war twas a noble repulse, exclaimed Heyward in the heat of his youthful ardor
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the fame of it reached us early in our southern army. Ay, but
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it did not end there. I was sent by Major Effingham, at Sir
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William's own bidding, to outflank the French and carry the tidings of their disaster
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across the portage to the fort on the Hudson. Just here away, where
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you see the trees rise into a mountain swell. I met a party coming
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down to our aid, and I led them where the enemy were taking their
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meal, little dreaming that they had not finished the bloody work of the day.
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And you surprise them, if death can be a surprise to men who
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are thinking only of the cravings of their appetites. We gave them but little
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breathing time, for they had borne hard upon us in the fight of the
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morning, and there were few in our party who had not lost friend or
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relative by their hands. When all was over, the dead, and some
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say the dying, were cast into that little pond. These eyes seen its
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waters colored with blood as natural water, never yet flowed from the bowels of
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the earth. It was a convenient, and I trust will prove a peaceful
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grave for a soldier. You have then seen much service on this frontier,
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I said the scout, erecting his tall person with an air of military pride.
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There are not many echoes among these hills that haven't rung with the crack
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of my rifle. Nor is there the space of a square mile atwixt the
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Horican and the river that kildeer hasn't dropped the living body on. Be it
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an enemy or be it a brute beast. As for the grave there being
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as quiet as you mention, it is another matter. There are them in
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the camp, say and think, man to lie still should not be buried
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while the breath is in the body. And certain it is that in the
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hurry of that evening the doctors had but little time to say who was living
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and who was dead. Hist see you nothing walking on the shore of the
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pond. It is not probable that any are as houseless as ourselves in this
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dreary forest. Such as he may care but little for hels ER's shelter,
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and night dew can never wet a body that passes its days in the water,
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returned the scout, grasping the shoulder of Hayward with such convulsive strength as
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to make the young soldier painfully sensible how much superstitious terror had got the mastery
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of a man usually so dauntless by heaven. There is a human form,
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and it approaches. Stand to your arms, my friends, for we know
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not whom we encounter. Kivi Eve demanded, a stern, quick voice,
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which sounded like a challenge from another worldd issuing out from that solitary and solemn
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place. What says it, whispered the scout. It speaks neither Indian nor
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English. Kivive repeated the same voice, which was quickly followed by the rattling
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of arms and a menacing attitude. France cried Heyward, advancing from the shadow
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of the trees to the shore of the pond, within a few yards of
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the sentinel. Du veni vou oulivoud you see Buonon, demanded the grenadier,
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in the language and the accent of a man from old France. Jevon de
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de couvert jevemcuche at vueficier du ra san du mont comrade the prone to purun
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provincial jesuit capitan de cesi. Heyward well knew that the other was a regiment
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of the line. I see amint de field commandante la fortification aha to an
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ascentin du parlais j le i fight prisigner la foi et j lendice a general
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ma foi Madame John suifachepouvu, exclaimed the young soldier, touching his cap with
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grace my fortune de guerre vu trevrie no general on brajon it bean pulis avet
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ladame silic characterity Junes de guir said, Cora, with admirable self possession.
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But do moudomi je vou suetre un duvois rousa gread jarmpler. The soldier made
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a low and humble acknowledgment for her civility, and Heyward adding a bon comrade.
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They moved deliberately forward, leaving the sentinel pacing the banks of the silent
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pond, little suspecting an enemy of so much effrontery, and humming to himself
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those words which were recalled to his mind by the sight of women, and
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perhaps by recollections of his own distant and beautiful friends. V. B Levon
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v. B la mourd et cetera, et cetera. Tis well you understood
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the knave, whispered the scout, when they had gained a little distance from
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the place, and letting his rifle fall into the hollow of his arm again.
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I soon saw that he was one of them uneasy frenchers. And well
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for him it was that his speech was friendly and his wishes kind, or
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a place might have been found for his bones among those of his countrymen.
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He was interrupted by a long and heavy groan which arose from the little basin,
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as though in truth the spirits of the departed lingered about their watery sepulcher.
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Surely it was flesh, continued the scout. No spirit could handle its
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arm so steadily. It was a flesh. But whether the poor fellow still
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belongs to this world may well be doubted, said Heyward, glancing his eyes
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around him, and missing Chinchcotchcook from their little band. Another groan, more
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faint than the former, was succeeded by heavy and sullen plunged into the water,
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and all was still again, as if the borders of the Drury Pool
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had never been awakened from the silence of creation. While they yet hesitated an
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uncertainty. The form of the Indian was seen gliding out of the thicket as
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the chief rejoined them. With one hand he attached the reeking scalp of the
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unfortunate young Frenchman to his girdle, and with the other he replaced the knife
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and tomahawk that had drunk his blood. He then took his wonted station.
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With the air of a man who believed he had done a deed of merit.
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The scout dropped one end of his rifle to the earth, and leaning
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his hands on the other, he stood musing in profound silence. Then shaking
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his head in a mournful manner, he muttered, twould have been a cruel
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and unhuman act for a white skin, but tis the gift and nature of
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an Indian, and I suppose it should not be denied. I could wish
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though it had befallen in accursed Mingo, rather than that gay young boy from
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the old countries. Enough, said Heyward, apprehensive the unconscious sisters might comprehend
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the nature of the detention, and conquering his disgust by a train of reflections
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very much like that of the hunter, tis done and though better it were
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left undone cannot be amended. You see, we are too obviously within the
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sentinels of the enemy. What course do you propose to follow? Yes,
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said Hawkeye, rousing himself again, tis, as you say, too late
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to harbor further thoughts about it. I the French have gathered around the fort
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in good earnest, and we have a delicate needle to thread in passing them,
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and but little time to do it in, added Heyward, glancing his
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eyes upwards towards the bank of vapor that concealed the setting moon, and little
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time to do it in repeated the scout. The thing may be done in
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two fashions, by the help of providence, without which it may not be
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done at all. Name them quickly, for time presses. One would be
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to dismount the gentle ones and let their peace range the plain. By sending
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the Mohicans in front, we might then cut a lane through their sentries and
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enter the fort over the dead bodies. It will not do, it will
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not do, interrupted the generous Heyward. A soldier might force his way in
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this manner, but never with such a convoy. Twould be indeed a bloody
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path for such tender feet to wade in return the equally reluctant scout, But
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I thought it befitting my man who had to name it. We must then
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turn in our trail and get without the line of their lookout, when we
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will bend short to the west and enter the mountains where I can hide you,
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so that the devil's hounds in Montcalm's pay will be thrown off the scent
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for months to come. Let it be done, and that instantly. Further
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words were unnecessary, for Hawkeye, merely uttering the mandate to follow, moved
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along the route by which they had just entered their present critical and even dangerous
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situation. Their progress, like their late dialogue, was guarded and without noise,
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for none knew at what moment a passing patrol or a crouching picket of
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the enemy might rise upon their path. As they held their silent way along
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the margin of the pond, again, Heyward in the Scout, stole furtive
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glances at its appalling dreariness. They looked in vain for the form they had
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so recently seen, stalking along in silent sh while a low and regular wash
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of the little waves. By announcing that the waters were not yet subsided,
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furnished a frightful memorial of the deed of blood they had just witnessed. Like
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all that passing and gloomy scene, the low basin, however, quickly melted
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in the darkness and became blended with the mass of black objects in the rear
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of the travelers. Hawkeye soon deviated from the line of their retreat, and
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striking off towards the mountains which formed the western boundary of the narrow plain.
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He led his followers with swift steps, deep within the shadows that were cast
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from their high and broken summits. The route was now painful, lying over
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ground, ragged with rocks and intersected with ravines, and their progress proportionately slow.
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Bleak and black hills lay on every side of them. Compensating in some
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degree for the additional toil of the march by the sense of security they imparted.
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At length, the party began slowly to rise, a steep and rugged
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ascent by a path that curiously wound among rocks and trees, avoiding the one
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and supported by the other, in a manner that showed it had been devised
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by men long practiced in the arts of the wilderness. As they gradually rose
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from the level of the valleys, the thick darkness which usually precedes the approach
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of day, began to disperse, and objects were seen in the plain and
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palpable colors with which they had been gifted by nature. When they issued from
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the stunted woods which clung to the barren sides of the mountain, upon a
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flat and mossy rock that formed its summit, they met the morning as it
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came blushing above the green pines of a hill that lay on the opposite side
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of the valley of the Horican. The scout now told the sisters to dismount,
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and, taking the bridles from the mouths and the saddles off the backs
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of the beast, he turned them loose to glean a scanty substance among the
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shrubs in meager herbage of that elevated region. Go, he said, and
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seek your food where nature gives it to you, And beware that you become
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not food to ravenous wolves yourselves among these hills. Have we no further need
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of them? Demanded heyward, see and judge with your own eyes, said
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the scout, advancing toward the eastern brow of the mountain, whither he beckoned
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for the whole party to follow. If it was as easy to look into
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the heart of man as it is to spy out the nakedness of Montcalm's camp,
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from this spot, hypocrites would grow scarce, and the cunning of a
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Mingo might prove a losing game compared to the honesty of a Delaware. When
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the travelers reached the verge of the precipices, they saw at a glance the
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truth of the scout's declaration and the admirable foresight with which he had led them
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to their commanding station. The mountain on which they stood, elevated perhaps a
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thousand feet in the air, was a high cone that rose a little in
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advance of that range, which stretches for miles along the western shores of the
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lake, until meeting its sisters miles beyond the water. It ran off toward
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the Canadas in confused and broken masses of rock, thinly sprinkled with evergreens.
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Immediately at the feet of the party, the southern shore of the Horrican swept
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in a broad semicircle from mountain to mountain, making a wide strand that soon
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rose into an uneven and somewhat elevated plain. To the north stretched the limpid
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and as it appeared from that dizzy height, the narrow sheet of the Holy
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Lake, indented with numberless bays, embellished by fantastic headlands, and dotted with
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countless islands. At the distance of a few leagues, the bed of the
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water became lost among mountains or was wrapped in the masses of vapor that came
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slowly rolling along their bosom before a light morning air. But a narrow opening
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between the crest of the hills pointed out the passage by which they found their
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way still further north to spread their pure and ample sheets again, before pouring
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out their tribute into the distant champlain. To the south stretched the defile or
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rather broken plain so often mentioned, For several miles in this direction. The
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mountains appeared reluctant to yield their dominion, but within reach of the eye they
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diverged and finally melted into the level and sandy lands across which we have accompanied
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our adventurers in their double journey. Along both ranges of hills which bounded the
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opposite sides of the lake and valley, clouds of light vapor were rising in
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spiral wreaths from the uninhabited woods, looking like the smoke of hidden cottages,
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or rolled lazily down the declivities to mingle with the fogs of the lower land.
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A single solitary, snow white cloud floated above the valley and marked the
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spot beneath which lay the silent pool of the Bloody Pond. Directly on the
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shore of the lake, and nearer to its western than its eastern margin,
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lay the extensive earthen ramparts and low buildings of William Henry. Two of the
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sweeping bastions appeared to rest on the water, which washed their bases, while
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a deep ditch and extensive morasses guarded its other sides and angles. The land
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had been cleared of wood for a reasonable distance around the work, but every
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other part of the scene lay in the green livery of nature, except where
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the limpid water mellowed the view, or the bold rocks thrust their black and
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naked heads above the undulating outline of the mountain ranges. In this front might
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be seen the scattered sentinels, who held a weary watch against their numerous foes,
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and within the walls themselves, the travelers looked down upon men still drowsy
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with a night of vigilance. Toward the southeast, but in immediate contact with
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the fort, was an entrenched camp posted on a rocky eminence that would have
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been far more eligible for the work itself, in which Hawkeye pointed out the
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presence of those auxiliary regiments that had so recently left the Hudson in their company.
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From the woods. A little further to the south rose numerous dark and
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lurg smokes, which were easily to be distinguished from the purer exultations of the
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springs, and which the scout also showed to Heyward as evidences that the enemy
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lay in force in that direction. But the spectacle which most concerned the young
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soldier was on the western bank of the lake, though quite near to its
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southern termination, on a strip of land which appeared from this stand too narrow
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to contain such an army, but which in truth extended many hundreds of yards
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from the shores of the Horican to the base of the mountain, were to
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be seen the white tents and military engines of an encampment of ten thousand men.
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Batteries were already thrown up in their front, and even while the spectators
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above them were looking down with such different emotions on a scene which lay like
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a map beneath their feet. The roar of artillery rose from the valley and
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passed off in thundering echoes along the eastern hills. Morning is just touching them
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below, said the deliberate, amusing scout. And the watchers have a mind
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to wake up the sleepers by the sound of cannon. We are a few
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hours too late. Montcalmb has already filled the woods with his accursed iroquois.
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The place is indeed invested, returned Duncan. But is there no expeedi by
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which we may enter? Capture in the works would be far preferable to falling
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again into the hands of roving indians, see, exclaimed the scout, unconsciously
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directing the attention of Cora to the quarters of her own father. How that
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shot has made the stones fly from the side of the commandant's house. Aye,
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these frenchers will pull it to pieces faster than it was put together,
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Solid and thick though it be Heyward, I sicken at the sight of danger
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that I cannot share, said the undaunted but anxious daughter. Let us go
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to Montcombe and demand ad mission. He dare not deny it, child,
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the boon you would scarce find the tent of the Frenchman with the hair on
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your head, said the blunt scout. If I had but one of the
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thousand boats which lie among that shore, it might be done. Ha.
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Here will soon be an end of the firing, for yonder comes a fog
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that will turn day to night and make an Indian arrow more dangerous than a
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molded cannon. Now, if you are equal to the work and will follow,
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I will make a push for I long to get down into the camp,
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if it be only to scatter some mingoed dogs that I see lurking in
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the skirts of yonder thicket of birch. We are equal, said Cora firmly,
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on such an errand we will follow to any danger. The scout turned
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to her with a smile of honest and cordial approbation, as he answered,
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I would I had a thousand men of brawny limbs and quick eyes that feared
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death as little as you, I'd send them jabbering frenchers back into their den
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again. Afore the week was ended, howling like so many fettered hounds or
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hungry wolves. But Sir he added, turning from her to the rest of
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the party. The fall comes rolling down so fast. We shall have but
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just the time to meet it on the plain and use it as a cover.
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Remember, if any accident should be follow me to keep the air blowing
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on your left cheeks. Or rather follow the Mohicans they'd sent their way,
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be it in day or be it at night. He then waved his hand
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for them to follow, and threw himself down the steep declivity. With free
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but careful footsteps, Heyward assisted the sisters to descend, and in a few
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minutes they were all far down a mountain whose sides they had climbed with so
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much toil and pain. The direction taken by Hawkeye soon brought the travelers to
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the level of the plain, nearly opposite to a sally port in the western
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curtain of the fort, which lay itself at the distance of about half a
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mile from the point where he haulted to allow Duncan to come up with his
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charge. In their eagerness and favored by the nature of the ground, they
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had anticipated the fog which was rolling heavily down the lake, and it became
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necessary to pause until the mist had wrapped the camp of the enemy in their
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fleecy mantle. The Mohicans profited by the delay to steal out of the woods
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and to make a survey of surrounding objects. They were followed at a little
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distance by the scout, with a view to profit early by their report and
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to obtain some faint knowledge for himself of the more immediate localities. In a
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very few moments he returned, his face reddened with vexation, while he muttered
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his disappointment in words of no very gentle import Here has the cunning Frenchman been
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posting a picket directly in our path? He said, redskins and whites,
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and we shall be as likely to fall into their midst as to pass them.
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The fog cannot we make a circuit to avoid the danger, asked heyward,
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and come into our path again when it is past. Who that once
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bends from the line of his march in a fog can tell when he or
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how to find it again. The mist of Horican are not like the curls
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of us peace pipe, or the smoke which settles above a mosquito fire.
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He was yet speaking when a crashing sound was heard, and a cannon ball
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entered the thicket, striking the body of a sapling, and rebounding to the
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earth, its force much expended by previous resistance. The Indians followed instantly,
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like busy attendants on the terrible messenger, and Uncas commenced, speaking earnestly and
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with much action in the delaware tongue. It may be so, lad,
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muttered the scout when he had ended, For desperate fevers are not to be
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treated like a toothache. Come, then, the fog is shutting in.
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Stop, cried Heyward. First explain your expectations. Tis soon done, and
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a small hope it is, But it is better than nothing. This shot
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that you see, added the scout, kicking the harmless iron with his foot,
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has plowed the earth in its road from the fort, and we shall
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hunt for the furrow it has made. When all other signs may fail,
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No more words but follow, or the fog may leave us in the middle
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of our path, a mark for both armies to shoot at. Heyward,
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perceiving that in fact a crisis had arrived when acts were more required than words,
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placed himself between the sisters and drew them swiftly forward, keeping the dim
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figure of their leader in his eye. It was soon apparent that Hawkeye had
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not magnified the power of the fog, for before they had proceeded twenty yards
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it was difficult for the different individuals of the party to distinguish each other in
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the vapor. They had made their little circuit to the left, and were
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already inclining again toward the right, having, as Heyward thought, got over
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nearly half the distance to the friendly works when his ears were saluted with the
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fierce summons, apparently within twenty feet of them of give all up. Push
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on, whispered the scalp once more, bending to the left, Push on,
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repeated Heyward. When the summons was renewed by a dozen voices, each
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of which seemed charged with menace, Simon cried duncan dragging, rather than leading
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those he supported swiftly onward. Bit cimoa, I'll beat out a fance.
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Two bus plus later Donna met dea frants. Hooray o podieu je teffey ami
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du diabla, non fool, come on. For the order was instantly obeyed,
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and the fog was stirred by the explosion of fifty muskets. Happily,
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the aim was bad and the bullets cut the air in a direction a little
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different from that taken by the fugitives, though still so nigh them that to
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the unpracticed ears of David and the two females, it appeared as if they
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whistled within a few inches of the organs. The outcry was renewed, and
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the order not only to fire again but to pursue, was too plainly audible.
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When Hayward briefly explained the meaning of the words they heard, Hawkeye halted
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and spoke with quick decision and great firmness. Let us deliver our fire,
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he said. They will believe it a sortie and give way, or they
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will wait for reinforcements. The scheme was well conceived, but failed in its
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effects. The instant the French heard the pieces, it seemed as if the
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plane was alive, with men muskets rattling along its whole extent, from the
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shores of the lake to the furthest boundary of the woods. We shall draw
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their entire army upon us and bring on a general assault, said duncan lead
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on, my friend, for your own life and ours. The Scouts seemed
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willing to comply, but in the hurry of the moment, and in the
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change of position he had lost the direction. In vain, he turned either
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cheek toward the light air. They felt equally cool in this dilemma. Uncas
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lighted on the furrow of the cannonball, where it had cut the ground in
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three adjacent ant hills. Give me the range, said Hawkeye, bending to
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catch a glimpse of the direction, and then instantly moving onward. Cries,
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oaths, voices calling to each other, and the reports of muskets, which
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were now quick and incessant, and apparently on every side of them. Suddenly,
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a strong glare of light flashed across the scene. The fog rolled upward
31:51
in thick wreaths, and several cannons belched across the plain, and the roar
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was thrown heavily back from the bellowing echoes of the mountain.'tis from the
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fort, exclaimed Hawkeye, turning short on his tracks, And we, like
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stricken fools, were rushing to the woods under the very knives of the maquas.
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The instant their mistake was rectified. The whole party retraced the air with
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the utmost diligence. Duncan willingly relinquished the support of Cora to the arm of
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Uncas, and cora As readily accepted the welcome assistance. Men hot and angry
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in pursuit were evidently on their footsteps, and each instant threatened their capture,
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if not their destruction, cried an eager pursuer who seemed to direct the operations
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of the enemy. Stand firm and be ready, my gallant sixtieths, suddenly,
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exclaimed the voice above them. Wait to see the enemy, fire low
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and sweep the glassies. Father, father, exclaimed a piercing cry from out
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the mist. It is high Alice. Hadn't Elsie spare? Oh save your
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daughters. Hold, shouted the former speaker in the awful tones of paternal agony,
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the sound reaching even to the woods and rolling back in solemn echo.
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Do she God has restored me to my children. Throw open the sally port
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in the field. Sixtieth to the field. Pull not a trigger lest you
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kill my lambs. Drive off these dogs of France with your steel. Duncan
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heard the grating of the rusty hinges, and darting to the spot directed by
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the sound, he met a long line of dark red warriors passing swiftly toward
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the glassies. He knew them from his own battalion of the Royal Americans,
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and flying to their head, soon swept every trace of his pursuers from before
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the works. For an instant Cora and Alice stood trembling and bewildered by this
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unexpected desertion, But before either had leisure for speech or even thought, an
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officer of gigantic frame, whose locks were bleached with years of service, but
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whose air of military grandeur had been rather softened than destroyed by time, rushed
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out of the body of Mist and folded them to his bosom, while large
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scalding tears rolled down his pale and wrinkled cheeks, and he exclaimed, in
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the peculiar accent of Scotland. For this, I thank thee Lord. Let
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danger come as it will, Thy servant is now prepared. End Chapter fourteen