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

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Chapter ten, quote, I fear we shall outsleep the coming morn as much
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as we this night have overwatched unquote from midsummer night's dream. The instant the
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shock of this sudden misfortune had abated, Duncan began to make his observations on
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the appearance and proceedings of their captors. Contrary to the usages of the natives,
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in the wantonness of their success, they had respected not only the persons
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of the trembling sisters, but his own. The rich ornaments of his military
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attire had indeed been repeatedly handled by different individuals of the tribes, with eyes
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expressing a savage longing to possess the baubles. But before the customary violence could
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be resorted to a mandate in the authoritative voice of the large warrior already mentioned,
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stayed the uplifted hand and convinced Heyward that they were to be reserved for
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some object of particular moment. While, however, these manifestations of weakness were
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exhibited by the young in vain of the party, the more experienced warriors continued
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their search throughout both caverns with an activity that denoted they were far from being
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satisfied with those fruits of their conquest which had already been brought to light.
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Unable to discover any new victim, these diligent workers of vengeance soon approached their
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male prisoners, pronouncing the name La Longue Carabine with a fierceness that could not
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be easily mistaken. Duncan affected not to comprehend the meeting of the repeated and
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violent interrogatories, while his companion was spared the effort of a similar deception by
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his ignorance of French. Wearied at length by their importunities, and apprehensive of
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irritating his captors by stubborn as silence, the former looked about him in quest
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of Maukua, who might interpret his answers to questions, which were, at
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each moment becoming more earnest and threatening. The conduct of this savage had formed
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a solitary exception to that of his fellows, while the others were busily occupied
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in seeking to gratify their childish passion for finery by plundering even the miserable effects
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of the scout, or had been searching with such bloodthirsty vengeance in their looks
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for their absent owner. Let Renard had stood at a little distance from the
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prisoners, with a demeanor so quiet and satisfied as to betray that he had
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already effected the grand purpose of his treachery. When the eyes of Hayward first
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met those of his recent guide, he turned them away in horror at the
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sinister, the calm look he encountered. Conquering his disgust, However, he
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was able, with an averted face to address his successful enemy. Le Renad
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sub Til is too much of a warrior, said the reluctant Heyward to refuse
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telling an unarmed man what his conquerors say. They ask for the hunter who
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knows the paths through the woods, returned Makua in his broken English, laying
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his hand at the same time with a ferocious smile, on the bundle of
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leaves with which a wound on his shoulder was bandaged. La longue carabine.
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His rifle is good and his eye never shut. But like the shirt gun
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of the white chief, it is nothing against the life a le Subtil later
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in not is too brave to remember? The hurts received in war are the
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hands that gave them? Was it war? When the tired Indian rested at
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the sugar tree to taste his corn, Who filled the bushes with creeping enemies,
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who drew the knife, whose tongue was of peace, while his heart
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was colored with blood. Did mak Was say that the hatchet was out of
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the ground, and that his hand had dug it up. As Duncan dared
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not retort upon his accuser by reminding him of his own premeditated terreachery, and
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disdained to deprecate his resentment by any words of apology, he remained silent.
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Makua seemed also content to rest the controversy, as well as all further communication.
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There for he resumed the leaning attitude against the rock from which in momentary
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energy he had arisen. But the cry of le longue carabine was renewed the
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instant. The impatient savages perceived that short dialog was ended. You hear said
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Makwall with stubborn indifference. The red Hurons call for the life of the long
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rifle, or they will have the blood of him that kept him hid.
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He is gone, escaped, He is far beyond their reach. Renard smiled
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with cold contempt as he answered, when the white man dies, he thinks
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he is at peace, But the red men know how to torture even the
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ghost of their enemies. Where is his body? Let the Hurons see his
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scalp. He is not dead but escaped. Maka shook his head incredulously.
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Is he a bird to spread his wings? Or is he a fish to
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swim without air? The White Chief read in his books, and he believes
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the Hurons are fools. Though no fish the long rifle can swim. He
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floated down the stream when the powder was all burned, and when the eyes
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of the Hurons were behind a cloud. And why did the white chief stay?
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Demanded the incredulous Indian. Is he a stone that goes to the bottom?
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Or does the scalp burn his head? That I am not stone?
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Your dead comrade who fell into the falls? White? Answer? Where there's
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still life in him? Said the provoked young man, using in his anger
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that boastful language which was most likely to excite the admiration of an Indian.
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The white man thinks none but cowards desert their women. Makwa muttered a few
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words inaudibly between his teeth before he continued aloud. Can the delaware swim too
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as well as crawl in the bushes. Where is le gross serpent? Duncan,
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who pursued received by the use of these Canadian appellations that his late companions
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were much better known to his enemies than to himself, answered reluctantly, he
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also is gone down with the water they Serfegidi is not here. I know
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not whom you call the nimble deer, said Duncan, gladly, profiting by
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any excuse to create delay. N Gus returned Maqua, pronouncing the Delaware name
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with even greater difficulty than he spoke his English words bounding. Elk is what
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the white man says when he calls to the young Maleikan. Here is some
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confusion in names between us, Lerenard, said Duncan, hoping to provoke a
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discussion. Dame is the French for deer, and surf for stag. Elon
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is the true term when one would speak of an elk, Yes, muttered
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the Indian in his native tongue. The pale faces are prattling women. They
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have two words for each thing, while a redskin will make the sound of
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his voice speak to him. Then changing his language, he continued, adhering
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to the imperfect nomenclature of his provincial instructors. The deer is swift but weak,
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the elk is swift but strong. And the son of les serpent is
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lay serf hadjid has he leaped the river to the woods, if you mean
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the younger delaware, he too has gone down with the water. As there
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was nothing improbable to an Indian in the manner of the escape. Makua admitted
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the truth of what he had heard with a readiness that afforded additional evident how
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little he would prize such worthless captives. With his companions, however, them
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feeling was manifestly different. The Hurons had awaited the result of this short dialog
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with characteristic patience, and with a silence that increased until there was a general
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stillness in the band. When Heyward ceased to speak, they turned their eyes
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as one man on Maqua, demanding in this expressive manner an explanation of what
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had been said. Their interpreter pointed to the river and made them acquainted with
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the result, as much by the action as by the few words he uttered.
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When the fact was generally understood, the savages raised a frightful yell,
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which declared the extent of their disappointment. Some ran furiously to the water's edge,
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beating the air with frantic gestures, while others spat upon the element to
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resent the supposed treason it had committed against their acknowledged rights as conquerors. A
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few, and they not the least powerful and terrific of the band, through
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lowering looks in which the fiercest passion was only tempered by habitual self command at
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those captives who still remained in their power, while one or two even gave
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vent to their malignant feelings by the most menacing gestures, against which neither the
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sex nor the beauty of the sisters was any protection. The young soldier made
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a desperate but fruitless effort to spring to the side of Alice when he saw
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the dark hand of a savage twisted in the rich tresses, which were flowing
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in volumes over her shoulders, while a knife was passed around the head from
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which they fell, as if to denote the horrid manner in which it was
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about to be of its beautiful ornament. But his hands were bound, and
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at the first movement he made, he felt the grasp of the powerful Indian
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who directed the band, pressing his shoulder like a vice. Immediately conscious how
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unavailing any struggle against such overwhelming force must prove, he submitted to his fate,
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encouraging his gentle companions by a few low and tender assurances that the natives
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seldom failed to threaten more than they performed. But while Duncan resorted to these
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words of consolation to quiet the apprehensions of the sisters, he was not so
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weak as to deceive himself. He well knew that the authority of an Indian
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chief was so little conventional that it was oftener maintained by physical superiority than by
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any moral supremacy he might possess. The danger was therefore magnified exactly in proportion
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to the number of savage spirits by which they were surrounded. The most positive
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mandate from him who seemed the acknowledged leader, was liable to be violated at
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each moment by any rash hand that might choose to sacrifice a victim to the
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mans of some dead friend or relative. While therefore he sustained an outward appearance
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of calmness and fortitude, his heart leaped into his throat whenever any of their
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fierce captors drew nearer than common to the helpless sisters, or fastened one of
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their solemn wondering looks on those fragile forms which were so little able to resist
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the slightest assault. His apprehensions were, however, greatly relieved when he saw
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that the leader had summoned his warriors to himself in council. Their deliberations were
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short, and it would seen by the silence of most of the party the
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decision unanimous. By the frequency with which the few speakers pointed in the direction
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of the encampment of Webb, it was apparent they dreaded the approach of danger
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from that quarter. This consideration probably hastened their determination and quickened the subsequent movements.
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During his short conference, Heyward, finding a respite from his gravest fears,
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had leisure to admire the cautious manner in which the Hurons had made their
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approaches, even after hostilities had ceased. It has already been stated that the
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upper half of the island was a naked rock and destitute of any other defenses
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than a few scattered logs of driftwood. They had selected this point to make
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their descent, having borne the canoe through the wood around the cataract for that
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purpose, placing their arms in the little vessel. A dozen men clinging to
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its sides had trusted themselves to the direction of the canoe, which was controlled
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by two of the most skillful warriors, in attitudes that enabled them to command
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a view of the dangerous passage. Favored by this arrangement, they touched the
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head of the island at that point, which had proved so fatal to their
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first adventures. But with the advantages of superior numbers and the possession of firearms
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that such had been, the manner of their descent was rendered quite apparent to
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Duncan, for they now bore the light bark from the upper end of the
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rock and placed it in the water near the mouth of the outer cavern.
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As soon as this change was made, the leader made signs to the prisoners
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to descend and enter. As resistance was impossible and remonstrance useless, Heyward set
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the example of submission by eating the way into the canoe, where he was
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soon seated with the sisters and the still wondering David. Notwithstanding, the Hurons
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were necessarily ignorant of the little channels among the eddies and rapids of the streams,
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they knew the common signs of such a navigation too well to commit any
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material blunder. When the pilot chosen for the task of guiding the canoe had
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taken his station, the whole band plunged again into the river. The vessel
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glided down the current, and in a few moments the captives found themselves on
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the south bank of the stream, nearly opposite to the point where they had
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struck it the preceding evening. Here was held another short but earnest consultation,
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during which the horses, to whose panic their owners abscribed their heaviest misfortune,
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were led from the cover of the woods and brought to the sheltered spot.
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The man now divided, the great chief so often mentioned, mounting the charger
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of Heyward led the way directly across the river, followed by most of his
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people, and disappeared in the woods, leaving the prisoners in charge of six
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savages, at whose head was le Renard Subtil Duncan witnessed all their movements with
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renewed uneasiness. He had been fond of, believing from the uncommon forbearance of
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the savages that he was reserved as a prisoner to be delivered to Montcalm as
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the thoughts of those who were in misery seldom slumber, and the invention is
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never more likely than when it is stimulated by hope. However feeble and remote.
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He had even imagined that the parental feelings of Monroe were to be made
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instrumental in seducing him from his duty to the king. For though the French
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manner bore a high character for courage and enterprise, he was also thought to
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be an expert in those political practices which do not always respect the nicer obligations
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of morality, and which so generally disgraced the European diplomacy of that period.
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All those busy and ingenious speculations were now annihilated by the conduct of his captors.
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That portion of the band who had followed the huge warrior took the route
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toward the foot of the Horican, and no other expectation was left for himself
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and companions than that they were to be retained as hopeless captives by their savage
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conquerors. Anxious to know the worst, and willing in such an emergency to
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try the potency of gold, he overcame his reluctance to speak to Maqua.
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Addressing himself to his former guide, who had now assumed the authority and manner
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of one who was to direct the future movements of the party, he said,
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in tones as friendly and confiding as he could assume, I would speak
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to Makwall. What is fit only for so great a chief to hear?
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The Indian turned his eyes on the young soldiers scornfully as he answered, speak
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trees have no ears, but the red Hurons are not deaf, And counsel
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that is fit for the great men of a nation would make the young warriors
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drunk. If Mokwall will not listen, the officer the king knows how to
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be silent. The savage spoke carelessly to his comrades, who were busied,
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after their awkward manner, in preparing the horses for the reception of the sisters,
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and moved a little to one side, whitherby a cautious gesture he induced
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Heyward to follow. Now, speak, he said, if the words are
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such as makwashed here, Les Renaud Subtil has proved himself worthy of the honorable
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name given to him by his Canada fathers, commenced Heyward. I see his
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wisdom and all that he has done for us, and shall remember it when
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the hour to reward him arrives. Yes, Renaud has proved that he is
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not only a great chief in council, but one who knows how to deceive
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his enemies. What has Renaud done, coldly demanded the Indian. What has
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he not seen that the woods were filled with outlying parties of the enemies,
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and that the serpent could not steal through them without being seen? Then did
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he not lose his path to blind the eyes of the Hurons? Did he
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not pretend to go back to his tribe, who had treated him ill and
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driven him from their wigwams like a dog? And when he saw what he
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wished to do, did we not aid him by making a false face,
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that the Hurons might think the white man believed that his friend was his enemy?
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Is not all this true? And when lay Subtil had shut the eyes
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and stopped the ears of his nation by his wisdom, did they not forget
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that they had once done him wrong and forced him to flee to the Mohawks?
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And did they not leave him on the south of the river with their
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prisoners while they have gone foolishly to the north. Does not Renard mean to
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turn like a fox on his footsteps, and carry to the rich and gray
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headed Scotchman his daughters. Yes, Maqua, I see it all, and
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I have already been thinking how so much wisdom and honesty should be repaid.
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First, the chief of William Henry will give, as great chief should for
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such a service. The medal of Maqua will no longer be of tin.
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Footnote. It has long been a practice of the Whites to conciliate the important
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men of the Indians by presenting medals which were worn in the place of their
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own rude ornaments. Those given by the English generally bear the impression of the
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reigning king, and those given by the Americans that of the President. And
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footnote, but of beaten gold. His horn will run over with powder.
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Dollars will be as plenty in his pouch as pebbles on the shore of Horican,
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and the deer will lick his hand, for they will know it to
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be vain to fly from the rifle he will carry. As for myself,
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I know not how to exceed the gratitude of the Scotchman, but I yes,
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I will. What will the young chief who comes from toward the sun
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give? Demanded the Huron. Observing that Heyward hesitated in his desire to end
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the enumeration of benefits with that which might form the climax of an Indian's wishes,
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he will make the fire water from the islands in the salt Lake flow
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before the wigwam of Maqua, until the heart of the Indians shall be lighter
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than the feathers of the humming bird, and his breath sweeter than wild honeysuckle.
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Le Renard had listened gravely as Heyward slowly proceeded in this subtle speech.
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When the young man mentioned the artifice he supposed the Indian to have practiced on
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his own nation, the countenance of the listener was veiled in an expression of
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cautious gravity at the allusion to the injury which Duncan effected to believe had driven
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the Huron from his native tribe. A gleam of such ungovernable borocity flashed from
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the other's eyes as induced the adventurous speaker to believe he had struck the proper
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chord. And by the time he reached the part where he so artfully blended
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the thirst of vengeance with the desire of gain, he had at least obtained
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a command of the deepest attention of the savage. The question put by le
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Renard had been calm and with all the dignity of an Indian, But it
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was quite apparent by the thoughtful expression of the listener's countenance that the answer was
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most cunningly devised. The Huron mused a few moments, and then, laying
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his hand on the rude bandages of his wounded shoulder, he said, with
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some energy, new friends make such marks? Would la longue cut it been
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got one so slight on an enemy? Do the delawares crawl upon those they
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love like snakes, twisting themselves to strike? Would le gros serpent have been
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heard by the ears of one he wished to be deaf? Does the White
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chief burn his powder in the faces of his brothers? Does he ever miss
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his aim? When seriously bent to kill? Returned Duncan, smiling with well
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acted sincerity. Another long and deliberate pause succeeded these sententious questions and ready replies.
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Duncan saw that the Indian hesitated in order to complete his victory. He
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was in the act of recommencing the enumeration of the rewards when Maqua made an
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expressive gesture, and said, enough, Larinard is a wise chief, and
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what he does will be seen. Go and keep the mouth shut. When
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Makua speaks, it will be the time to answer. Heyward, perceiving that
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the eyes of his companion were warily fastened on the rest of the band,
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fell back immediately in order to avoid the appearance of any suspicious confederacy with their
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leader. Maqua approached the horses and affected to be well pleased with the diligence
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and ingenuity of his comrades. He then signed to Hayward to assist the sisters
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into the saddles, for he seldom deigned to use the English tongue unless urged
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by some motive of more than usual moment. There was no longer any plausible
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pretext for delay, and Duncan was obliged, however reluctantly, to comply.
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As he performed this office, he whispered his reviving hopes in the ears of
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the trembling females, who, through dread of encountering the savage countenances of their
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captors, seldom raised their eyes from the ground. The Mayor of David had
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been taken with the followers of the large chief, in consequence its owner as
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well as Duncan, was compelled to journey on foot. The latter did not,
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however, so much regret this circumstance as it might enable him to retard
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the speed of the party, for he still turned his longing looks in the
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direction of Fort Edward, in the vain expectation of catching some sound from that
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quarter of the forest which might denote the approach of succor. When all were
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prepared, Makua made the signal to proceed, advancing in front to lead the
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party in person. Next followed David, who was gradually coming to a true
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sense of his condition as the effects of the wound became less and less apparent.
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The sisters rode in his rear, with Heyward at their side, while
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the Indians flanked the party and brought up the close of the march with a
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caution that seemed never to tire. In this manner. They proceeded in uninterrupted
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silence, except when Heyward expressed some solitary word of comfort to the females,
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or David gave vent to the moanings of his spirit in piteous exclamations which he
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intended should express. The humility of resignation. Their direction lay toward the south,
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and in a course nearly opposite to the road to William Henry. Notwithstanding
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this apparent adherence in Maqua to the original determination of his conquerors, Heyward could
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not believe his tempting bait was so soon forgotten, And he knew the windings
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of an Indian's path too well to suppose that its apparent course led directly to
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its object when artifice was at all necessary. Mile after mile was, however,
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pass through the boundless woods in this painful manner, without any prospect of
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a termination of their journey. Heyward watched the sun as he darted his meridian
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rays through the branches of the trees, and pined for the moment when the
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policy of Maqua should change their route to one more favorable to his hopes.
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Sometimes he fancied the wary savage, despairing a passing. The army of Montcalm
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in safety, was holding his way toward a well known border settlement, where
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a distinguished officer of the Crown and a favored friend of the Six Nations held
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his large possessions as well as his usual residence, to be delivered into the
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hands of Sir William Johnson was far perferable to being led into the wilds of
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Canada. But in order to effect even the former, it would be necessary
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to traverse the forest for many weary leagues, each step of which was carrying
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him further from the scene of the war and consequently from the post. Not
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only of honor but of duty. Cora alone remembered the parting injunctions of the
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scout, and whenever an opportunity offered, she stretched forth her arm to bend
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aside the twigs that met her hands. But the vigilance of the Indians rendered
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this act of precaution both difficult and dangerous. She was often defeated in her
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purpose by encountering their watchful eyes. When it became necessary to feign an alarm,
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she did not feel and occupy the limb by some gesture of feminine apprehension.
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Once, and once only was she completely successful, when she broke down
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the bow of a large sumac and by a sudden thought, let her glove
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fall at the same instant. This sign, intended for those that might follow,
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was observed by one of her conductors, who restored the glove, broke
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the remaining branches of the bush in such a manner that it appeared to proceed
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from the struggling of some beast in its branches, and then laid his hand
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on his tomahawk, with a look so significant that it put an effectual end
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to those stolen memorials of their passage. As there were horses to leave the
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prints of their footsteps in both bands of the Indians, this interruption cut off
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any probable hopes of assistance being conveyed through the means of their trail. Heyward
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would have ventured a remonstrance had there been anything encouraging in the glooming reserve of
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Magua. But the Savage during all this time seldom turned to look at his
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fellows, and never spoke with the sun for his only guide, or aided
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by such blind marks as are only known to the sagacity of a native,
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he held his way along the barrens of pine, through occasional little fertile veils,
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across brooks and rivulets, and over undulating hills, with the accuracy of
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instinct, and nearly with the directness of a bird. He never seemed to
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hesitate whether the path was hardly distinguishable, whether it disappeared, or whether it
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lay beaten and plane before him, made no sensible difference in his speed or
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certainty. It seemed as if fatigue could not affect him. Whenever the eyes
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of the wearied travelers rose from the decayed leaves over which they trod, his
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dark form was to be seen glancing among the stems of the trees in front,
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his head, immovably fastened in a forward position, with the light plume
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on his crest fluttering in a current of air made solely by the swiftness of
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his own motion. But all his diligence and speed were not without an object.
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After crossing a low vale through which a gushing brook meandered, he suddenly
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ascended a hill so steep and difficult of ascent that the sisters were compelled to
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alight in order to follow. When the summit was gained, they found themselves
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on a level spot, but thinly covered with trees, under one of which
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Maquet had thrown his dark form, as if willing and ready to seek that
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rest which was so much needed by the whole party. End of Chapter ten