Latest / Thrilling Adventures - Daily / 17 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper

Transcript

17 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper · Thrilling Adventures - Daily

0:00
Speaker 1: Chapter seventeen. Quote weave the woof the thread is spun,
0:06
Speaker 1: the web is wove, the work is done unquote by Gray.
0:12
Speaker 1: The hostile armies which lay in the wilds of the
0:15
Speaker 1: Horican passed the night of the ninth of August seventeen
0:19
Speaker 1: fifty seven much in the manner they would had they
0:23
Speaker 1: encountered on the fairest field of Europe, while the conquered
0:27
Speaker 1: were still sullen and dejected. The victor's triumphed. But there
0:34
Speaker 1: are limits alike to grief and joy, And long before
0:38
Speaker 1: the watches of the morning came, the stillness of those
0:41
Speaker 1: boundless woods was only broken by a gay call from
0:45
Speaker 1: some exalting young Frenchmen of the advanced pickets, or a
0:49
Speaker 1: menacing challenge from the fort, which sternly forbade the approach
0:54
Speaker 1: of any hostile footsteps. Before the stipulated moment, even these
0:59
Speaker 1: a came, visional threatening sounds ceased to be heard in
1:03
Speaker 1: that dull hour which precedes the day, at which period
1:07
Speaker 1: a listener might have sought in vain any evidence of
1:10
Speaker 1: the presence of those armed powers that then slumbered on
1:14
Speaker 1: the shores of the Holy Lake. It was during these
1:18
Speaker 1: moments of deep silence, that the canvas which concealed the
1:21
Speaker 1: entrance to a spacious marquis in the French encampment, was
1:25
Speaker 1: shoved the side, and a man issued from beneath a
1:29
Speaker 1: drapery into the open air. He was enveloped in a
1:33
Speaker 1: cloak which might have been intended as a protection from
1:36
Speaker 1: the chilling damps of the woods, but which served equally
1:40
Speaker 1: well as a mantle to conceal his person. He was
1:45
Speaker 1: permitted to pass the grenadier who watched over the slumbers
1:48
Speaker 1: of the French commander without interruption, the man making the
1:53
Speaker 1: usual salute which betokens military difference, as the other passed
1:57
Speaker 1: swiftly through the little city of tents in the direction
2:01
Speaker 1: of William Henry. Whenever this unknown individual encountered one of
2:06
Speaker 1: the numberless sentinels who crossed his path, his answer was
2:10
Speaker 1: prompt and as it appeared satisfactory, for he was uniformly
2:16
Speaker 1: allowed to proceed without further interrogation, with the exception of
2:21
Speaker 1: such repeated but brief interruptions.
2:24
Speaker 2: He had moved.
2:24
Speaker 1: Silently from the center of the camp to its most
2:27
Speaker 1: advanced outpost. When he drew nigh the soldier who held
2:31
Speaker 1: his watch nearest to the works of the enemy. As
2:33
Speaker 1: he approached, he was received with the usual challenge. Che
2:38
Speaker 1: vivet frasei was the reply, Le motte d'oudrey le victory,
2:47
Speaker 1: said the other, drawing so nigh as to be heard
2:50
Speaker 1: in a loud whisper cespiin returned the sentinel, throwing his
2:54
Speaker 1: musket from the charge to his shoulder for promenaise bi
2:59
Speaker 1: montite sour i is necess de te vigilant monenfante. The
3:06
Speaker 1: other observed, dropping a fold of his cloak and looking
3:09
Speaker 1: the soldier close in the face as he passed him,
3:12
Speaker 1: Still continuing his way toward the British fortification, the man
3:17
Speaker 1: started his arms rattled heavily as he threw them forward
3:21
Speaker 1: in the lowest and most respectful salute, and when he
3:24
Speaker 1: had again recovered his peace, he turned to walk his post,
3:28
Speaker 1: muttering between his teeth.
3:31
Speaker 2: Font de trevigilant in verite gecroix quevnova vans la on
3:38
Speaker 2: carpolal kyni do jaimais.
3:43
Speaker 1: The officer proceeded without effecting to hear the words which
3:46
Speaker 1: escaped the sentinel in his surprise, nor did he again
3:50
Speaker 1: pause until he had reached the low strand, and in
3:53
Speaker 1: a somewhat dangerous vicinity to the western water bastion of
3:57
Speaker 1: the fort. The light of an obscure moon was just
4:02
Speaker 1: sufficient to render objects, though dim, perceptible in their outlines.
4:07
Speaker 1: He therefore took the precaution to place himself against the
4:12
Speaker 1: trunk of a tree, where he leaned for many minutes
4:16
Speaker 1: and seemed to contemplate the dark and silent mounds of
4:19
Speaker 1: the English works in profound attention. His gaze at the
4:24
Speaker 1: ramparts was not that of a curious or idle spectator,
4:28
Speaker 1: but his looks wandered from point to point, denoting his
4:32
Speaker 1: knowledge of military usages and betraying that his search was
4:36
Speaker 1: not unaccompanied by distrusts. At length, he appeared satisfied, and,
4:43
Speaker 1: having cast his eyes impatiently upward towards the summit of
4:46
Speaker 1: the eastern mountain, as if anticipating the approach of the morning,
4:51
Speaker 1: he was in the act of turning on his footsteps
4:54
Speaker 1: when a light sound on the nearest angle of the
4:57
Speaker 1: bastion caught his ear and induced him to re Just then,
5:02
Speaker 1: a figure was seen to approach the edge of the rampart,
5:05
Speaker 1: where it stood, apparently contemplating in its turn, the distant
5:10
Speaker 1: tents of the French encampment. Its head was then turned
5:13
Speaker 1: toward the east, as though equally anxious for the appearance
5:17
Speaker 1: of light. When the form leaned against the mound and
5:20
Speaker 1: seemed to gaze upon the glassy expanse of the waters, which,
5:25
Speaker 1: like a submarine firmament, glittered with its thousand mimic stars.
5:30
Speaker 1: The melancholy air the hour, together with the vast frame
5:35
Speaker 1: of the man who thus leaned musing against the English ramparts,
5:40
Speaker 1: left no doubt as to his person in the mind
5:42
Speaker 1: of the observant spectator. Delicacy no less than prudence now
5:47
Speaker 1: urged him to retire, and he had moved cautiously round
5:51
Speaker 1: the body of the tree for that purpose, when another
5:54
Speaker 1: sound drew his attention and once more arrested his footsteps.
5:59
Speaker 1: It was a love and almost inaudible movement of the water,
6:04
Speaker 1: and was succeeded by a grating of pebbles, one against
6:08
Speaker 1: the other. In a moment, he saw a dark form rise,
6:12
Speaker 1: as it were, out of the lake, and still without
6:15
Speaker 1: further noise, to the land, within a few feet of
6:19
Speaker 1: the place where he himself stood. A rifle neck slowly
6:23
Speaker 1: rose between his eyes and the watery mirror, But before
6:26
Speaker 1: it could be discharged. His own hand was on the
6:29
Speaker 1: lock who exclaimed the savage whose treacherous aim was so
6:35
Speaker 1: singularly and unexpectedly interrupted. Without making any reply, the French
6:41
Speaker 1: officer laid his hand on the shoulder of the Indian
6:44
Speaker 1: and led him, in profound silence, to a distance from
6:47
Speaker 1: the spot where their subsequent dialog might have proved dangerous,
6:51
Speaker 1: and where it seemed that one of them at least
6:54
Speaker 1: sought a victim. Then, throwing open his cloak so as
6:57
Speaker 1: to expose his uniform and the cross of Saint Louis,
7:00
Speaker 1: which was suspended at his breast, Montcalm sternly demanded, what
7:06
Speaker 1: means this? Does my son not know that the hatchet
7:10
Speaker 1: is buried between the English and his Canadian father? What
7:14
Speaker 1: can the Hurons do? Returned the savage, speaking also, though
7:18
Speaker 1: imperfectly in the French language.
7:21
Speaker 3: Not a warrior has a scalp and the pale faces
7:25
Speaker 3: make friends? Huh?
7:28
Speaker 2: The Renaud subtill methinks this is an excessive zeal for
7:32
Speaker 2: a friend who is so late an enemy. How many
7:37
Speaker 2: sons have set since le Renard struck the word post
7:40
Speaker 2: of the English?
7:42
Speaker 3: Where is that sun?
7:44
Speaker 2: Demanded the sullen savage.
7:47
Speaker 3: Behind the hill, and it is dark and cold, But
7:52
Speaker 3: when he comes again, it will be bright and warm.
7:55
Speaker 3: Le Subtille is the sun of his tribe. There have
7:59
Speaker 3: been clouds and many mountains between him and his nation,
8:04
Speaker 3: but now he shines, and it is a clear sky.
8:08
Speaker 2: The Renard has power with his people, I well know,
8:12
Speaker 2: said Montcalm. For yesterday he hunted for their scalps, and
8:17
Speaker 2: to day they hear him at the council. Far.
8:20
Speaker 3: Marquay is our great chief.
8:23
Speaker 2: Let him prove it by teaching his nation how to
8:26
Speaker 2: conduct themselves toward our new friends.
8:30
Speaker 3: Why did the chief of the Canadas bring these young
8:33
Speaker 3: men into the woods and fire his cannonet there at
8:35
Speaker 3: the house, demanded the subtle Indian to subdue it.
8:41
Speaker 2: My master owns the land, and your father was ordered
8:45
Speaker 2: to drive off these English squatters. They have consented to go,
8:50
Speaker 2: and now he calls them enemies. No longer tis well.
8:54
Speaker 2: Marka took the hatchet to color it with blood. It
8:57
Speaker 2: is now bright.
8:59
Speaker 3: When it is red, it shall be buried.
9:03
Speaker 2: But Marquay is pledged not to sully the lilies of France,
9:07
Speaker 2: the enemies of the great King across the Salt Lake,
9:10
Speaker 2: or his enemies his friends, the friends of the Huron's friends,
9:15
Speaker 2: repeated the Indian, in scorn, let his father give Maquai
9:20
Speaker 2: hand Montcalm, who felt that his influence over the warlike
9:25
Speaker 2: tribes he had gathered was to be maintained by concession
9:28
Speaker 2: rather than by power, complied reluctantly with the other's request.
9:34
Speaker 2: The Savage placed the fingers of the French commander on
9:37
Speaker 2: a deep scar in his bosom, and then exultingly demanded.
9:41
Speaker 3: Does my father know that what warrior does not?
9:47
Speaker 2: This were leaden bullet has cut?
9:51
Speaker 1: And this continued the Indian, who had turned his naked
9:55
Speaker 1: back to the other, his body being without its usual
9:58
Speaker 1: calico mantle.
10:00
Speaker 2: This, my son has been sadly injured. Here who has
10:04
Speaker 2: done this?
10:06
Speaker 3: Magua slept hard in the English wigwams, and the sticks
10:09
Speaker 3: have left their mark, returned the Savage with a hollow laugh,
10:13
Speaker 3: which did not conceal the fierce temper which nearly choked him.
10:18
Speaker 1: Then, recollecting himself with a sullen and native dignity, he added,
10:23
Speaker 1: go teach.
10:23
Speaker 3: Your young men at his peace. Lerenard Septil knows how
10:28
Speaker 3: to speak to.
10:29
Speaker 1: A Huron warrior without deigning to bestow further words or
10:34
Speaker 1: to wait for any answer. The savage cast his rifle
10:37
Speaker 1: into the hollow of his arm and moved silently through
10:41
Speaker 1: the encampment toward the woods, where his own tribe was
10:44
Speaker 1: known to lie. Every few yards. As he proceeded, he
10:49
Speaker 1: was challenged by the sentinels, but he stalked suddenly onward,
10:54
Speaker 1: utterly disregarding the summons of the soldiers, who only spared
10:58
Speaker 1: his life because they knew the air, and tread no
11:01
Speaker 1: less than the obstinate daring of an Indian. Montcalm lingered
11:05
Speaker 1: long and melancholy on the stand where he had been
11:08
Speaker 1: left by his companion, brooding deeply on the temper which
11:12
Speaker 1: his ungovernable ally had just discovered. Already had his fair
11:17
Speaker 1: fame been tarnished by one horrid scene, and in circumstances
11:21
Speaker 1: fearfully resembling those under which he now found himself. As
11:26
Speaker 1: he mused, he became keenly sensible the deep responsibility they
11:31
Speaker 1: assume who disregard the means to attain an end, And
11:34
Speaker 1: of all the danger of setting in motion an engine
11:37
Speaker 1: which exceeds human power to control, then shaking off a
11:41
Speaker 1: train of reflection, which he accounted a weakness in such
11:45
Speaker 1: a moment of triumph, he retraced his steps toward his tent,
11:50
Speaker 1: giving the order as he passed to make the signal
11:53
Speaker 1: that should arouse the army from its slumbers. The first
11:57
Speaker 1: tap of the French drums was echoed from the bosom
12:00
Speaker 1: of the fort, and presently the valley was filled with
12:03
Speaker 1: the strains of martial music, rising long, thrilling and lively
12:09
Speaker 1: above the rattling accompaniment. The horns of the victors sounded
12:13
Speaker 1: merry and cheerful flourishes until the last laggard of the
12:17
Speaker 1: camp was at his post. But the instant the British
12:22
Speaker 1: fifes had blown their shrill signal, they became mute. In
12:26
Speaker 1: the meantime, the day had dawned, and when the line
12:30
Speaker 1: of the French army was ready to receive its general,
12:33
Speaker 1: the rays of a brilliant sun were glancing along the
12:35
Speaker 1: glittering array. Then that success, which was already so well known,
12:41
Speaker 1: was officially announced. The favored band, who were selected to
12:45
Speaker 1: guard the gates of the fort, were detailed and defiled
12:48
Speaker 1: before their chief. The signal of their approach was given,
12:53
Speaker 1: and all the usual preparations for a change of masters
12:56
Speaker 1: were ordered and executed directly under the gun of the
13:00
Speaker 1: contested works. A very different scene presented itself within the
13:05
Speaker 1: lines of the Anglo American Army. As soon as the
13:09
Speaker 1: warning signal was given, it exhibited all the signs of
13:13
Speaker 1: a hurried and force departure. The solemn soldiers shouldered their
13:17
Speaker 1: empty tubes and fell into their places, like men whose
13:22
Speaker 1: blood had been heated by the past contest, and who
13:25
Speaker 1: only desired the opportunity to revenge an indignity which was
13:30
Speaker 1: still wounding to their pride. Concealed as it was under
13:35
Speaker 1: the observances of military etiquette, women and children ran from
13:39
Speaker 1: place to place, some bearing the scanty remnants of their baggage,
13:44
Speaker 1: and others searching in the ranks for those countenances they
13:47
Speaker 1: looked up to for protection. Monroe appeared among his silent troops,
13:53
Speaker 1: firm but dejected. It was evident that the unexpected blow
13:57
Speaker 1: had struck deep into his heart, though he struggled to
14:00
Speaker 1: sustain his misfortune with the port of a man. Duncan
14:05
Speaker 1: was touched at the quiet and impressive exhibition of his grief.
14:10
Speaker 1: He had discharged his own duty, and he now pressed
14:13
Speaker 1: to the sight of the old man to know in
14:15
Speaker 1: what particular he might serve him my daughters, was the
14:20
Speaker 1: brief but expressive reply. Good, heavens, are not arrangements already
14:25
Speaker 1: made for their convenience to day. I am only a soldier,
14:30
Speaker 1: Major Heyward, said the veteran. All that you see here
14:35
Speaker 1: plain I like to be my children. Duncan had heard
14:39
Speaker 1: enough without losing one of those moments which had now
14:42
Speaker 1: become so precious. He flew toward the quarters of Monroe
14:46
Speaker 1: in quest of the sisters. He found them on the
14:50
Speaker 1: threshold of the low edifice, already prepared to depart, and
14:55
Speaker 1: surrounded by a clamorous and weeping assemblage of their own sex,
14:59
Speaker 1: who had gathered about the place with a sort of
15:01
Speaker 1: instinctive consciousness that it was the point most likely to
15:05
Speaker 1: be protected. Though the cheeks of Coral were pale and
15:09
Speaker 1: her countenance anxious, she had lost none of her firmness,
15:13
Speaker 1: but the eyes of Alice were inflamed and betrayed how
15:17
Speaker 1: long and bitterly she had wept. They both, however, received
15:21
Speaker 1: the young man with undisguised pleasure, the former for a novelty,
15:27
Speaker 1: being the first to speak. The fort is lost, she said,
15:31
Speaker 1: with a melancholy smile. Though are good name, I trust remains.
15:37
Speaker 2: It is brighter than ever. But dearest Miss Monroe, it
15:42
Speaker 2: is time to think less of others and to make
15:45
Speaker 2: some provision for yourself military usage. Pride, That pride on
15:53
Speaker 2: which you so much value yourself, demands that your father
15:57
Speaker 2: and I should, for a little while continue with the troops.
16:01
Speaker 2: Then where to seek a proper protector for you against
16:05
Speaker 2: the confusion and chances of such a scene? None is necessary,
16:10
Speaker 2: returned Cora. Who would dare to injure or insult the
16:14
Speaker 2: daughter of such a father at a time like this?
16:19
Speaker 1: I would not leave you alone, continued the youth, looking
16:23
Speaker 1: about him in a hurried manner, for the command of
16:26
Speaker 1: the best regiment in the pay of the king. Remember,
16:31
Speaker 1: our alice is not gifted with all your firmness, and
16:35
Speaker 1: God only knows the terrors she might endure. You may
16:40
Speaker 1: be right, Cora replied, smiling again, but far more sadly
16:44
Speaker 1: than before.
16:46
Speaker 2: Listen, Chance has already sent us a friend when he
16:50
Speaker 2: is most needed.
16:52
Speaker 1: Duncan did listen, and on the instant comprehended her meaning.
16:57
Speaker 1: The low and serious sounds of the sacred music so
17:01
Speaker 1: well known to the Eastern provinces caught his ear and
17:05
Speaker 1: instantly drew him to an apartment in an adjacent building
17:08
Speaker 1: which had already been deserted by its customary tenants. There
17:13
Speaker 1: he found David pouring out his pious feelings through the
17:16
Speaker 1: only medium in which he ever indulged. Duncan waited until,
17:21
Speaker 1: by the cessation of the movement of the hand, he
17:24
Speaker 1: believed the strain was ended. When by touching his shoulder
17:28
Speaker 1: he drew the attention of the other to himself, and
17:31
Speaker 1: in a few words explained his wishes. Even SOO replied
17:37
Speaker 1: the single minded disciple of the King of Israel, when
17:40
Speaker 1: the young man had ended. I have found much that
17:43
Speaker 1: is comely and melodious in the maidens, and it is
17:46
Speaker 1: fitting that we who have consorted in so much peril
17:51
Speaker 1: should abide together in peace. I will attend them when
17:55
Speaker 1: I have completed my morning praise, to which nothing is
17:59
Speaker 1: now wanting but the doxology. Wilt thou bear a part friend.
18:05
Speaker 1: The meter is common, and the tune southwell, then extending
18:11
Speaker 1: the little volume and giving the pitch of the air
18:13
Speaker 1: anew with considerate attention, David, then extending the little volume
18:19
Speaker 1: and giving the pitch of the air anew with considerate attention,
18:23
Speaker 1: David recommenced and finished his strains with a fixedness of
18:28
Speaker 1: manner that is not easy to interrupt. Heyward was fain
18:32
Speaker 1: to wait until the verse was ended. When seeing David
18:35
Speaker 1: relieving himself from the spectacles and replacing the book, he continued.
18:40
Speaker 2: It will be your duty to see that none dare
18:43
Speaker 2: approach the ladies with any rude intention, or to offer
18:47
Speaker 2: insult or to taunt at the misfortune of their brave father.
18:52
Speaker 2: In this task you will be seconded by the domestics
18:55
Speaker 2: of their household. Even so, it is possible that the
19:00
Speaker 2: Indians and stragglers of the enemy may intrude, in which
19:04
Speaker 2: case you will remind them of the terms of the
19:06
Speaker 2: capitulation and threaten to report their conduct to Montcalm. A
19:12
Speaker 2: word will suffice if not I have that here which shall.
19:18
Speaker 1: Returned David, exhibiting his book with an air in which
19:22
Speaker 1: meekness and confidence were singularly blended. Here are words which uttered,
19:28
Speaker 1: or rather thundered, with proper emphasis, and in measured time,
19:33
Speaker 1: shall quiet the most unruly temper? Why rage the heathen?
19:38
Speaker 1: Furiously enough, said Heyward, interrupting the burst of his musical invocation.
19:45
Speaker 1: We understand each other. It is time that we should
19:49
Speaker 1: now assume our respective duties. Gamut cheerfully ascended, and together
19:55
Speaker 1: they sought the females. Cora received her new and somewhat
19:59
Speaker 1: extraordinary protector courteously at least, and even the pallid features
20:04
Speaker 1: of Alice lighted again with some of their native archness
20:08
Speaker 1: as she thanked Heyward for his care. Duncan took occasion
20:13
Speaker 1: to assure them he had done the best that circumstances permitted,
20:16
Speaker 1: and as he believed quite enough for the security of
20:20
Speaker 1: their feelings of danger, there was none. He then spoke
20:25
Speaker 1: gladly of his intention to rejoin them the moment. He
20:28
Speaker 1: had led the advance a few miles toward the Hudson
20:31
Speaker 1: and immediately took his leave. By this time, the signal
20:35
Speaker 1: for departure had been given and the head of the
20:38
Speaker 1: English column was in motion. The sisters started at the sound,
20:42
Speaker 1: and glancing their eyes around, they saw the white uniforms
20:46
Speaker 1: of the French grenadiers, who had already taken possession of
20:49
Speaker 1: the gates of the fort. At that moment, an enormous
20:53
Speaker 1: cloud seemed to pass suddenly above their heads, and looking upward,
20:57
Speaker 1: they discovered they stood beneath the wide of the standard
21:01
Speaker 1: of France.
21:03
Speaker 2: Let us go, said Cora. This is no longer a
21:07
Speaker 2: fit place for the children of an English officer.
21:12
Speaker 1: Alice clung to the arm of her sister, and together
21:15
Speaker 1: they left the parade, accompanied by the moving throng that
21:20
Speaker 1: surrounded them. As they passed the gates. The French officers,
21:24
Speaker 1: who had learned their rank, bowed often and low forbearing. However,
21:30
Speaker 1: to intrude those attentions which they saw with peculiar tact
21:35
Speaker 1: might not be agreeable. As every vehicle and each beast
21:39
Speaker 1: of burden was occupied by the sick and wounded, Cora
21:44
Speaker 1: had decided to endure the fatigues of a foot march
21:47
Speaker 1: rather than interfere with their comforts. Indeed, many a maimed
21:52
Speaker 1: and feeble soldier was compelled to drag his exhausted limbs
21:56
Speaker 1: in the rear of the columns for the want of
21:58
Speaker 1: the necessary means of con in that wilderness.
22:02
Speaker 2: The whole, however, it was in motion, the weak and wounded,
22:06
Speaker 2: groaning and in suffering, their comrades silent and sullen, and
22:12
Speaker 2: the woman and children in terror. They knew not of what.
22:16
Speaker 1: As the confused and timid throng left the protecting mounds
22:19
Speaker 1: of the fort, and issued on the open plain. The
22:24
Speaker 1: whole scene was at once presented to their eyes. At
22:28
Speaker 1: a little distance on the right and somewhat in the rear,
22:32
Speaker 1: the French army stood to their arms. Montcalm, having collected
22:36
Speaker 1: his party so soon as his guard had possession of
22:39
Speaker 1: the works. They were attentive but silent observers of the
22:42
Speaker 1: proceedings of the vanquished, failing in none of the stipulated
22:46
Speaker 1: military honors, and offering no taunt or insult in their
22:50
Speaker 1: success to the less fortunate foes. Living masses of the English,
22:56
Speaker 1: to the amount in the whole of near three thousand,
22:59
Speaker 1: were moving slowly across the plain toward the common center,
23:04
Speaker 1: and gradually approached each other. As they converged to the
23:07
Speaker 1: point of their march, a vista cut through the lofty trees,
23:11
Speaker 1: where the road to the Hudson entered the forest. Along
23:16
Speaker 1: the sweeping borders of the woods hung a dark cloud
23:19
Speaker 1: of savages, eyeing the passage of their enemies, and hovering
23:23
Speaker 1: at a distance like vultures who were only kept from
23:27
Speaker 1: swooping on their prey by the presence and restraint of
23:30
Speaker 1: a superior army. A few had straggled among the conquered columns,
23:35
Speaker 1: where they stalked in sullen discontent, at tent of though
23:40
Speaker 1: as yet passive observers of the moving multitude, The advance,
23:45
Speaker 1: with Hayward at its head, had already reached the defile
23:49
Speaker 1: and was slowly disappearing. When the attention of Cora was
23:52
Speaker 1: drawn to a collection of stragglers by the sounds of contention.
23:57
Speaker 1: A truant provincial was paying the orphit of his disobedience
24:02
Speaker 1: by being plundered of those very effects which had caused
24:05
Speaker 1: him to desert his place in the ranks. The man
24:08
Speaker 1: was of powerful frame and too avaricious to part with
24:12
Speaker 1: his goods without a struggle. Individuals from either party interfered,
24:17
Speaker 1: the one side to prevent and the other to aid
24:21
Speaker 1: in the robbery. Voices grew loud and angry, and a
24:25
Speaker 1: hundred savages appeared, as it were by magic, where a
24:28
Speaker 1: dozen only had been seen a minute before. It was
24:32
Speaker 1: then that Chorus saw the form of Magua blighting among
24:36
Speaker 1: his countrymen, and speaking with his fatal and artful eloquence.
24:42
Speaker 1: The mass of women and children stopped and hovered together
24:45
Speaker 1: like alarmed and fluttering birds. But the cupidity of the
24:49
Speaker 1: Indian was soon gratified, and the different bodies again moved
24:53
Speaker 1: slowly onward. The savages now fell back and seemed content
24:58
Speaker 1: to let their enemies advance without further molestation. But as
25:04
Speaker 1: the female crowd approached them, the gaudy colors of a
25:08
Speaker 1: shawl attracted the eyes of a wild and untutored huron.
25:13
Speaker 1: He advanced to seize it without the least hesitation. The woman,
25:18
Speaker 1: more in terror than through love of the ornament, wrapped
25:21
Speaker 1: her child in the coveted article and folded both more
25:24
Speaker 1: closely to her bosom. Cora was in the act of
25:28
Speaker 1: speaking with an intent to advise the woman to abandon
25:31
Speaker 1: the trifle, when the savage relinquished his hold on the
25:35
Speaker 1: shawl and tore the screaming infant from her arms, abandoning
25:41
Speaker 1: everything to the greedy grasp of those around her. The
25:44
Speaker 1: mother darted, with distraction of her mind to reclaim her child.
25:48
Speaker 1: The Indian smiled grimly and extended one hand in sign
25:52
Speaker 1: of a willingness to exchange, while with the other he
25:55
Speaker 1: flourished the babe over his head, holding it by the feet,
25:59
Speaker 1: as if to enhance the value of the ransom.
26:03
Speaker 2: Here here there.
26:04
Speaker 1: Oh, any everything, exclaimed the breathless woman, tearing the lighter
26:09
Speaker 1: articles of dress from her person with ill directed and
26:12
Speaker 1: trembling fingers.
26:13
Speaker 2: Take all, but give me my babe.
26:17
Speaker 1: The savage spurned the worthless rags, and, perceiving that the
26:21
Speaker 1: shawl had already become apprized to another, his bantering but
26:25
Speaker 1: sullen smile changing to a gleam of ferocity, he dashed
26:29
Speaker 1: the head of the infant against a rock and cast
26:31
Speaker 1: its quivering remains to her very feet. For an instant,
26:36
Speaker 1: the mother stood like a statue of despair, looking wildly
26:42
Speaker 1: down at the unseemly object which had so lately nestled
26:46
Speaker 1: in her bosom, and smiled in her face. And then
26:50
Speaker 1: she raised her eyes and countenance toward Heaven, as if
26:53
Speaker 1: calling on God to curse the perpetrator of.
26:55
Speaker 2: The foul deed.
26:58
Speaker 1: She was spared the sin of such a pre for
27:01
Speaker 1: maddened at his disappointment and excited at the sight of blood,
27:05
Speaker 1: the huron mercifully drove his tomahawk into her own brain.
27:11
Speaker 1: The mother sank under the blow and fell grasping had
27:15
Speaker 1: her child in death with the same engrossing love that
27:18
Speaker 1: had caused her to cherish it when living. At that
27:22
Speaker 1: dangerous moment, Maukua placed his hands to his mouth and
27:25
Speaker 1: raised the fatal and appalling hoop. The scattered Indians started
27:29
Speaker 1: at the well known cry as coursers bound at the
27:32
Speaker 1: signal to quit the goal, and directly there arose such
27:35
Speaker 1: a yell along the plain and through the arches of
27:38
Speaker 1: the wood, as seldom burst from human lips. Before they
27:42
Speaker 1: who heard it listened with a curdling horror at the heart,
27:45
Speaker 1: little inferior to that dread which may be expected to
27:48
Speaker 1: attend the blast of the final summons. More than two
27:52
Speaker 1: thousand raving savages broke from the forest at the signal
27:56
Speaker 1: and threw themselves across the fatal plain with instinctive alacrity.
28:00
Speaker 1: We shall not dwell on the revolting horrors that succeeded.
28:03
Speaker 1: Death was everywhere, and in his most terrific and disgusting aspects.
28:10
Speaker 1: Resistance only seemed to inflame the murderers who inflicted their
28:14
Speaker 1: furious blows long after their victims were beyond the power
28:17
Speaker 1: of their resentment. The flow of blood might be likened
28:21
Speaker 1: to the outbreaking of a torrent, and as the natives
28:24
Speaker 1: became heated and Maddened by the sight, many among them
28:28
Speaker 1: even kneeled to the earth and drank freely, exultingly, hellishly
28:33
Speaker 1: of the crimson tide. The trained bodies of the troops
28:37
Speaker 1: threw themselves quickly into solid masses, endeavering to all their
28:41
Speaker 1: assailants by the imposing appearance of a military front. The experiment,
28:45
Speaker 1: in some measure succeeded, though far too many suffered their
28:49
Speaker 1: unloaded muskets to be torn from their hands in the
28:52
Speaker 1: vain hope of appeasing the savages. In such a scene,
28:57
Speaker 1: none had leisure to note the fleeting moments. It might
29:00
Speaker 1: have been ten minutes. It seemed an age that the
29:04
Speaker 1: sisters had stood riveted to one spot, horror stricken, and
29:09
Speaker 1: nearly hopeless, when the first blow was struck. Their screaming
29:14
Speaker 1: companions had pressed upon them in a body rendering flight impossible.
29:19
Speaker 1: And now that fear of death had scattered most, if
29:22
Speaker 1: not all, from around them, they saw no avenue open,
29:26
Speaker 1: but such as conducted to the tomahawks of their foes.
29:30
Speaker 1: On every side arose shrieks, groans, exhortations, and curses. At
29:36
Speaker 1: this moment, Alice caught a glimpse on the vast form
29:39
Speaker 1: of her father, moving rapidly across the plain in the
29:42
Speaker 1: direction of the French army.
29:45
Speaker 2: He was, in truth.
29:46
Speaker 1: Proceeding to montcalmb fearless of any danger to claim the
29:50
Speaker 1: tardy escort for which he had before conditioned. Fifty glittering
29:55
Speaker 1: axes and barbed spears were offered unheeded at his life,
30:00
Speaker 1: but the savages respected his rank and calmness even in
30:03
Speaker 1: their fury. The dangerous weapons were brushed aside by the
30:07
Speaker 1: still nervous arm of the veteran, or fell of themselves
30:10
Speaker 1: after menacing an act that would seem no one had
30:14
Speaker 1: courage to perform. Fortunately, the vindictive Mockel was searching for
30:19
Speaker 1: his victim in the very band the veteran had just quitted.
30:23
Speaker 2: Father, Father, we are here, shrieked.
30:26
Speaker 1: Alice as he passed at no great distance, without appearing
30:30
Speaker 1: to heed them.
30:31
Speaker 2: Come to us, father, will we die?
30:34
Speaker 1: The cry was repeated, and in terms and tones that
30:37
Speaker 1: might have melted a hardest stone, but it was unanswered once. Indeed,
30:42
Speaker 1: the old man appeared to catch the sound, for he
30:44
Speaker 1: paused and listened, But Alice had dropped senseless on the earth,
30:49
Speaker 1: and cor had sunk at her side, hovering in untiring
30:54
Speaker 1: tenderness over her lifeless form. Monroe shook his head and disappointment,
31:01
Speaker 1: and proceeded, bent on the high duty of his station. Lady,
31:06
Speaker 1: said Gamut, who helpless and useless as he was, had
31:09
Speaker 1: not yet dreamed of deserting his trusts.
31:13
Speaker 2: It is the jubilee of the devils, and this is
31:16
Speaker 2: not a mean place for Christians to tarry in. Let
31:19
Speaker 2: us up and fly.
31:21
Speaker 1: Go, said Coras, still gazing at her unconscious sister.
31:26
Speaker 2: Save thyself to me, thou canst not be of further use.
31:31
Speaker 1: David comprehended the unyielding character of her resolution by the
31:34
Speaker 1: single but expressive gesture that accompanied her words. He gazed
31:38
Speaker 1: for a moment at the dusky forms that were acting
31:41
Speaker 1: their hellish rites on every side of him, and his
31:44
Speaker 1: tall person grew more erect, while his chest heaved and
31:47
Speaker 1: every feature swelled and seemed to speak with the power
31:50
Speaker 1: of the feelings by which he was governed.
31:53
Speaker 4: If the Jewish boy might tame the spirit of soul
31:56
Speaker 4: by the sound of his harp and the words of
31:58
Speaker 4: sacred song, they may not be amiss. He said, to
32:02
Speaker 4: try the potency of music here.
32:04
Speaker 1: Then, raising his voice to its highest tone, he poured
32:08
Speaker 1: out a strain so powerful as to be heard even
32:11
Speaker 1: amid the din of that bloody field. More than one
32:15
Speaker 1: savage rushed toward them, thinking to rifle the unprotected sisters
32:19
Speaker 1: of their attire and bear away their scalps. But when
32:23
Speaker 1: they found this strange and unmoved figure riveted to his post,
32:28
Speaker 1: they paused to listen. Astonishment soon changed to admiration, and
32:33
Speaker 1: they passed on to other and less courageous victims, openly
32:38
Speaker 1: expressing their satisfaction at the firmace with which the white
32:42
Speaker 1: warrior sang his death song. Encouraged and deluded by his success,
32:48
Speaker 1: David exerted all his power to extend what he believed
32:51
Speaker 1: so holy an influence. The unwonted sounds caught the ears
32:55
Speaker 1: of a distant savage who flew raging from group to group,
32:59
Speaker 1: like one who scorning to touch the vulgar herd, hunted
33:03
Speaker 1: for some victim more worthy of his renown. It was
33:07
Speaker 1: Maqua who uttered a yell of pleasure when he beheld
33:11
Speaker 1: his ancient prisoners again. At his mercy come, he said,
33:17
Speaker 1: laying his sword hands on the dress of Cora.
33:20
Speaker 2: The wigwam of the Yuron is still open. Is it
33:23
Speaker 2: not better than this place.
33:26
Speaker 1: Away, cried Cora, veiling her eyes from his revolting aspect.
33:32
Speaker 1: The Indian laughed tauntingly as he held up his reeking
33:35
Speaker 1: hand and answered.
33:37
Speaker 3: It is red, but it comes from white veins.
33:42
Speaker 2: Monster. There is blood, oceans of blood upon thy soul.
33:46
Speaker 2: Thy spirit has moved this scene. Makwa is a great chief,
33:52
Speaker 2: returned the exalting savage.
33:54
Speaker 3: Will they hair go to his tribe?
33:59
Speaker 2: Never right? If thou wilt and complete thy revenge.
34:03
Speaker 1: He hesitated a moment, and then, catching the light and
34:06
Speaker 1: senseless form of alice in his arms, the subtle Indian
34:09
Speaker 1: moved swiftly across the plain toward the woods. Old shrieked Cora,
34:14
Speaker 1: following wildly on his footsteps.
34:17
Speaker 2: Release the child, wretch, what is it you do?
34:21
Speaker 1: But Makua was deaf to her voice, or rather he
34:24
Speaker 1: knew his power and was determined to maintain it.
34:28
Speaker 2: Stay, ladies, stay, called gamut f after the unconscious Cora.
34:33
Speaker 2: The holy charm is beginning to be felt, and soon
34:37
Speaker 2: shalt thou see this horrid tumult stilled, perceiving that in
34:41
Speaker 2: his turn he was unheeded. The faithful David followed the
34:45
Speaker 2: distracted sister, raising his voice again in sacred song, and
34:49
Speaker 2: sweeping the air to measure with his long arm in
34:52
Speaker 2: diligent accompaniment. In this manner they traversed the plane through
34:57
Speaker 2: the flying and wounded of the dead. The fierce Churon
35:01
Speaker 2: was at any time sufficient for himself and the victim
35:04
Speaker 2: that he bore. Though Cora would have fallen more than
35:07
Speaker 2: once under the blows of her savage enemies, but for
35:10
Speaker 2: the extraordinary being who stalked in her rear, and who
35:13
Speaker 2: now peered to the astonished natives. Gifted with the protected
35:17
Speaker 2: spirit of madness, Maqua, who knew how to avoid the
35:21
Speaker 2: more pressing dangers and also to elude pursuit, entered the
35:26
Speaker 2: woods through a low ravine, where he quickly found the narragansetts,
35:30
Speaker 2: which the travelers had abandoned so shortly before, awaiting his
35:34
Speaker 2: appearance in custody of a savage as fierce and malign
35:38
Speaker 2: in expression as himself. Laying alice on one of the horses,
35:43
Speaker 2: he made a sign to Kra to mount the other.
35:46
Speaker 2: Notwithstanding the horror excited by the presence of her captor,
35:50
Speaker 2: there was a present relief of escaping from the bloody scene.
35:54
Speaker 2: Enacting on the plain, to which Cora could not be
35:56
Speaker 2: altogether insensible. She took her seat and held forth her
36:01
Speaker 2: arms for her sister, with an air of entreaty and
36:04
Speaker 2: love that even the huron could not deny. Placing Alice
36:08
Speaker 2: then on the same animal with Cora, he seized the
36:11
Speaker 2: bridle and commenced his route by plunging deeper into the forest. David,
36:17
Speaker 2: perceiving that he was left alone utterly disregarded as a
36:21
Speaker 2: subject too worthless even to destroy, threw his long limb
36:25
Speaker 2: across the saddle of the beasts they had deserted, and
36:27
Speaker 2: made such progress in the pursuit as the difficulty of
36:31
Speaker 2: the path permitted. They soon began to ascend, But as
36:35
Speaker 2: the motion had a tendency to revive the dormant faculties
36:38
Speaker 2: of her sister, the attention of Cora was too much
36:41
Speaker 2: divided between the tenderest solicitude in her behalf, and in
36:45
Speaker 2: listening to the cries which were still too audible on
36:48
Speaker 2: the plain to note the direction which they journeyed. When, however,
36:52
Speaker 2: they gained the flattened surface of the mountain top and
36:55
Speaker 2: approached the eastern precipice, she recognized the spot to which
37:00
Speaker 2: had once before been led under the more friendly auspices
37:03
Speaker 2: of the scout. Here Maku suffered them to dismount, and,
37:07
Speaker 2: notwithstanding their own captivity, the curiosity, which seems inseparable from horror,
37:13
Speaker 2: induced them to gaze at the sickening sight below. The
37:17
Speaker 2: cruel work was still unchecked. On every side. The captured
37:21
Speaker 2: were flying before the relentless persecutors, while the armed columns
37:25
Speaker 2: of the Christian king stood a fast and an apathy
37:28
Speaker 2: which has never been explained, and which has left an
37:31
Speaker 2: immovable blot on the otherwise fair excutcheon of their leader.
37:37
Speaker 2: Nor was the sword of death stayed until cupidity got
37:40
Speaker 2: the mastery of revenge. Then.
37:42
Speaker 1: Indeed, the shrieks of the wounded and the yells of
37:45
Speaker 1: their murderers grew less frequent, until finally the cries of
37:50
Speaker 1: horror were lost to their ear, or were drowned in
37:53
Speaker 1: the loud, long and piercing hoops of the triumphant savages.
38:00
Speaker 1: End of Chapter seventeen