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

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty quote Land of Albania, let me bend mine
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Speaker 1: eyes on thee thou rugged nurse of savage men, unquote
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Speaker 1: by child Herald. The heavens were still studded with stars
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Speaker 1: when Hawkeye came to arouse the sleepers, casting aside their cloaks.
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Speaker 1: Monroe and Heyward were on their feet, while the woodsmen
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Speaker 1: was still making his low calls at the entrance of
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Speaker 1: the rude shelter where they had passed the night. When
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Speaker 1: they issued from beneath its concealment, they found the scout
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Speaker 1: awaiting their appearance nigh by, and the only salutation between
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Speaker 1: them was the significant gesture of silence made by their
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Speaker 1: sagacious leader. Think over your prayers, he whispered, as they
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Speaker 1: approached him. For he to whom you make them, knows
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Speaker 1: all tongues, that of the heart as well as those
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Speaker 1: of the mouth, But speak not a syllable. It is
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Speaker 1: rare for a white voice to pitch itself properly in
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Speaker 1: the woods, as we have seen by the example of
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Speaker 1: that miserable devil. The singer Come, he continued, turning toward
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Speaker 1: a curtain of the works. Let us get into the
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Speaker 1: ditch on this side, and be regardful to step on
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Speaker 1: the stones and fragments of wood as you go. His
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Speaker 1: companions complied, though to two of them the reasons for
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Speaker 1: this extraordinary precaution were yet a mystery. When they were
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Speaker 1: in the low cavity that surrounded the earthen fort on
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Speaker 1: three sides, they found that passage nearly choked by the ruins.
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Speaker 1: With care and patience, however, they succeeded in clambering after
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Speaker 1: the scout until they reached the sandy shore of the Horican.
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Speaker 1: That's a trail that nothing but a nose can follow,
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Speaker 1: said the satisfied scout, looking back along their difficulty way.
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Speaker 1: Grass is a treacherous carpet for a flying party to
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Speaker 1: tread on. But wood and stone take no print from
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Speaker 1: a moccasin. Had you worn your armed boots, there might
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Speaker 1: indeed have been something to fear. But with the deerskin
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Speaker 1: suitably prepared, a man may trust himself generally on rocks
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Speaker 1: with safety. Shove in the canoe nigh to the land,
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Speaker 1: uncas this sand will take a stamp as easily as
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Speaker 1: the butter of the garmans on the mohawk. Softly, lad softly.
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Speaker 1: It must not touch the beach, or the knaves will
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Speaker 1: know by what road we have left the place. The
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Speaker 1: young man observed the precaution, and the scout, laying aboard
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Speaker 1: from the ruins to the canoe, made a sign for
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Speaker 1: the two officers to enter. When this was done, everything
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Speaker 1: was studiously restored to its former disorder, and then Hawkeye
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Speaker 1: succeeded in reaching his little birch and vessel without behind
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Speaker 1: any of those marks which he appeared so much to dread.
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Speaker 1: Heyward was silent until the Indians had cautiously paddled the
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Speaker 1: canoe some distance from the fort, and with the broad
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Speaker 1: and dark shadows that fell from the eastern mountain on
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Speaker 1: the glassy surface of the lake. Then he demanded, what
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Speaker 1: need have we for this stolen and hurried departure. If
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Speaker 1: the blood of an Oneida could stain such a sheet
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Speaker 1: of pure water as this we float on, returned the scout.
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Speaker 1: Your two eyes would answer your own question. Have you
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Speaker 1: forgotten the skulking reptile Uncas slew by no means? But
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Speaker 1: he was said to be alone, and dead men give
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Speaker 1: no cause for fear. I he was alone in his deviltry.
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Speaker 1: But an Indian whose tribe counts so many warriors need
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Speaker 1: seldom fear. His blood will run without the death shriek
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Speaker 1: coming speedily from some of his enemies. But our presence,
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Speaker 1: the authority of Colonel Monroe, would prove sufficient protection against
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Speaker 1: the anger of our allies, especially in a case where
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Speaker 1: the wretch so well merited his fate. I trust in
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Speaker 1: Heaven you have not deviated a single foot from the
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Speaker 1: direct line of our course with so slight a reason.
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Speaker 1: Do you think the bullet of that varlet's rifle would
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Speaker 1: have turned aside though his sacred majesty the King had
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Speaker 1: stood in its path, returned the stubborn scout. Why did
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Speaker 1: not the grand French Are he who is Captain General
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Speaker 1: of the Canadas bury the tomahawk of the Hurons? If
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Speaker 1: a word from a white can work so strongly on
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Speaker 1: the nature of an Indian? The reply of Heyward was
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Speaker 1: interrupted by a groan from Monroe, But after he had
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Speaker 1: paused a moment in deference to the sorrow of his
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Speaker 1: aged friend, he resumed the subject. The Marquis of Montcalm
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Speaker 1: can only settle that air with his God, said the
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Speaker 1: young man solemnly. Aye. Ay, now there is reason in
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Speaker 1: your word, for they are bottomed on religion. And honesty.
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Speaker 1: There is a vast difference between throwing a regiment of
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Speaker 1: whitecoats betwixt the tribes and the prisoners, and coaxing an
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Speaker 1: angry savage to forget he carries a knife and rifle,
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Speaker 1: with words that must begin with calling him your son. No, No,
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Speaker 1: continued the scout, looking back at the dim shore of
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Speaker 1: William Henry, which was now fast receding and laughing in
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Speaker 1: his own silent but heartfelt manner. I have put a
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Speaker 1: trail of water between us, and unless the imps can
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Speaker 1: make friends with the fishes, and here, who has paddled
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Speaker 1: across their basin this fine morning, shall throw the length
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Speaker 1: of the Horican behind us before they have made up
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Speaker 1: their minds which path to take. With foes in front
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Speaker 1: and foes in our rear, our journey is like to
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Speaker 1: be one of danger. Danger, repeated Hawkeye, calmly. No, not
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Speaker 1: absolutely of danger, For with vigilant ears and quick eyes,
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Speaker 1: we can manage to keep a few hours ahead of
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Speaker 1: the knaves, or we must try the rifle. There are
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Speaker 1: three of us who understands its gifts as well as
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Speaker 1: any you can name on the borders. No, not of danger,
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Speaker 1: but that we shall have what you may call a
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Speaker 1: brisk push of it is probable, and it may happen
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Speaker 1: a brush, a scrimmage, or some such divarsion, but always
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Speaker 1: where covers are good and ammunition abundant. It is possible
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Speaker 1: that Heyward's estimate of danger differed in some degree from
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Speaker 1: that of the scout, for instead of replying, he now
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Speaker 1: sat in silence while the canoe glided over several miles
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Speaker 1: of water. Just as the day dawn, they entered the
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Speaker 1: narrows of the lake and stole swiftly and cautiously among
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Speaker 1: their numberless little islands. Footnote. The beauties of Lake George
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Speaker 1: are well known to every American tourist. In the height
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Speaker 1: of the mountains which surrounded, and in the artificial accessories,
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Speaker 1: it is inferior to the finest of the Swiss and
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Speaker 1: Italian lakes, while in outline and purity of water it
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Speaker 1: is fully their equal, and in the number and disposition
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Speaker 1: of its isles and islets much superior to them. Altogether,
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Speaker 1: there are said to be some hundreds of islands in
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Speaker 1: a sheet of water less than thirty miles long. The
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Speaker 1: narrows which connect what may be called in truth two lakes,
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Speaker 1: are crowded with islands to such a degree as to
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Speaker 1: leave passages between them, frequently of only a few feet
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Speaker 1: in width. The lake itself varies in breadth from one
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Speaker 1: to three miles end footnote. It was by this road
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Speaker 1: that Montcalm had retired with his army, and the adventurers
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Speaker 1: knew not, but he had left some of his Indians
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Speaker 1: in ambush to protect the rear of his forces and
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Speaker 1: collect the stragglers. They therefore approached the passage with the
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Speaker 1: customary silence of their guarded habits. Chinkotchkook laid aside his paddle,
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Speaker 1: while Uncas and the scout urged the light vessel through
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Speaker 1: crooked and intricate channels, where every foot that they advanced
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Speaker 1: exposed them to the danger of some sudden rising. On
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Speaker 1: their progress, the eyes of the Sagamore moved warily from
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Speaker 1: islet to islet, and copse to copse. As the canoe proceeded,
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Speaker 1: and when a clear sheet of water permitted, his keen
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Speaker 1: vision was bent along the bald rocks and impending forests
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Speaker 1: that frowned upon the narrow strait. Heyward, who was a
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Speaker 1: doubly interested spectator as well from the beauties of the place,
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Speaker 1: as from the apprehension natural to his situation, was just
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Speaker 1: believing that he had permitted the latter to be excited
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Speaker 1: without sufficient reason. When the paddle ceased moving in obedience
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Speaker 1: to a signal from Chinchkotchkok, Humph exclaimed uncas nearly at
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Speaker 1: the moment that the light tap his father had made
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Speaker 1: on the side of the canoe notified them of the
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Speaker 1: vicinity of danger. What now, asked the scout. The lake
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Speaker 1: is as smooth as if the winds had never blown,
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Speaker 1: and I can see along its sheet for miles. There
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Speaker 1: is not so much as the black head of a
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Speaker 1: loon dotting the water. The Indian gravely raised his paddle
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Speaker 1: and pointed in the direction in which his own steady
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Speaker 1: look was riveted. Duncan's eyes followed the motion. A few
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Speaker 1: rods in their front lay another of the wooded islets,
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Speaker 1: but it appeared as calm and peaceful, as if solitude
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Speaker 1: had never been disturbed by the foot of man. I
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Speaker 1: see nothing, he said, but land and water and a
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Speaker 1: lovely scene. It is st interrupted the scout. I sagamore,
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Speaker 1: there is always a reason for what you do. Tis
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Speaker 1: but a shade, and yet it is not natural. You
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Speaker 1: see the mist major that is rising above the island.
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Speaker 1: You can't call it a fog, for it is more
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Speaker 1: like a streak, a thin cloud. It is vapor from
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Speaker 1: the water that a child could tell. But what is
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Speaker 1: the edging of blacker smoke that hangs on its lower side,
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Speaker 1: and which you may trace down into the thicket of hazel?
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Speaker 1: Tis from a fire, but one that, in my judgment,
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Speaker 1: has been suffered to burn low. Let us then push
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Speaker 1: for the place and relieve our doults, said the impatient Duncan.
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Speaker 1: The party must be small that can lie on such
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Speaker 1: a bit of land. If you judge of Indian cunning
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Speaker 1: by the rules you find in books, or by white sagacity,
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Speaker 1: they will lead you astray, if not to your death,
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Speaker 1: returned Hawkeye, examining the signs of the place with that
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Speaker 1: acuteness which distinguished him. If I may be permitted to
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Speaker 1: speak in this matter, it will be to say that
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Speaker 1: we have but two things to choose between. The one
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Speaker 1: is to return and give up all thoughts of following
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Speaker 1: the Hurons, never, exclaimed Heyward, in a voice far too
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Speaker 1: loud for their circumstances. Well Well, continued Hawkeye, making a
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Speaker 1: hasty sign to repress his impatience. I am much of
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Speaker 1: your mind myself, though I thought it becoming my experience
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Speaker 1: to tell the whole We must then make a push,
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Speaker 1: and if the Indians or Frenchers are in the narrows,
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Speaker 1: run the gauntlet through these toppling mountains. Is there reason
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Speaker 1: in my word? Sagamore? The Indian made no answer other
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Speaker 1: than by dropping his paddle into the water and urging
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Speaker 1: forward the canoe, as he held the office of directing
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Speaker 1: its course. His resolution was sufficiently indicated by the movement.
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Speaker 1: The whole party now plied their paddles vigorously, and in
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Speaker 1: a very few moments they had reached a point whence
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Speaker 1: they might command an entire view of the northern shore
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Speaker 1: of the island, the side that had hitherto been concealed.
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Speaker 1: There they are, by all the truth of signs, whispered
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Speaker 1: the scalp. Two canoes and a smoke. The nays haven't
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Speaker 1: got their eyes out of the mist, or we should
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Speaker 1: hear it the accursed hoop to the gather. Friends, We
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Speaker 1: are leaving them, and we are already nearly out of
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Speaker 1: whistle of a bullet, the well known crack of a rifle,
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Speaker 1: whose ball came skipping along the placid surface of the strait,
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Speaker 1: and a shrill yelled from the island. Interrupted his speech
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Speaker 1: and announced that their passage was discovered. In another instant,
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Speaker 1: several savages were seen rushing into canoes, which were soon
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Speaker 1: dancing over the water in pursuit. These fearful precursors of
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Speaker 1: a coming struggle produced no change in the countenances and
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Speaker 1: movements of his three guides so far as Duncan could discover,
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Speaker 1: except that the strokes of the paddle were longer and
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Speaker 1: more unison, and caused the little bark to spring forward
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Speaker 1: like a creature possessing life and volition. Hold them there, Sagmoor,
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Speaker 1: said Hawkeye, looking coolly backward over his left shoulder, while
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Speaker 1: he still plied his paddle. Keep them just there. Them
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Speaker 1: Hurons have never a peace in their nation that will
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Speaker 1: execute at this distance. But Kildere has a barrel on
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Speaker 1: which a man may calculate. The scout, having ascertained that
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Speaker 1: the Mohicans were sufficient of themselves to maintain the requisite distance,
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Speaker 1: deliberately laid aside his paddle and raised the fatal rifle
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Speaker 1: three several times. He brought the piece to his shoulder,
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Speaker 1: and when his companions were expecting its report, he has
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Speaker 1: often lowered it to request the Indians would permit their
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Speaker 1: enemies to approach a little nire at length. His accurate
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Speaker 1: and fastidious eye seemed satisfied, and throwing out his left
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Speaker 1: arm on the barrel, he was slowly elevating the muzzle
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Speaker 1: when an exclamation from Uncas, who sat at the bow
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Speaker 1: once more, caused him to suspend the shot. What now, lad,
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Speaker 1: demanded Hawkeye, you save a huron from the death. Shriek
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Speaker 1: by that word? Have you reason for what you do?
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Speaker 1: Uncas pointed toward a rocky shore a little in their front.
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Speaker 1: Once another war canoe was darting directly across their course.
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Speaker 1: It was too obvious now that their situation was imminently
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Speaker 1: perilous to need the aid of language to confirm it.
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Speaker 1: The scout laid aside his rifle and resumed the paddle,
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Speaker 1: while Chinchkotch Cook inclined the bows of the canoe a
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Speaker 1: little toward the western shore in order to increase the
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Speaker 1: distance between them and this new enemy. In the meantime,
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Speaker 1: they were reminded of the presence of those who pressed
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Speaker 1: upon their rear by wild and exalting shouts. The stirring
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Speaker 1: scene awakened even Monroe from his apathy. Let us make
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Speaker 1: for the rocks on the men, he said, with the
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Speaker 1: mien of a tired soldier, and give battle to the savages.
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Speaker 1: God forbid that I, or those attached to me and
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Speaker 1: mine should ever trust again to the faith of any
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Speaker 1: servant of the Louis he who wishes to prosper an
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Speaker 1: Indian warfare returned. The scout must not be too proud
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Speaker 1: to learn from the wit of a native. Lay her
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Speaker 1: more along the land, Sagamore. We are doubling on the varlets,
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Speaker 1: and perhap perhaps they may try to strike our trail
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Speaker 1: on the long calculation Hawkeye was not mistaken, for when
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Speaker 1: the huron found their course was likely to throw them
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Speaker 1: behind their chase, they rendered it less direct, until, by
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Speaker 1: gradually bearing more and more obliquely, the two canoes were
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Speaker 1: ere long gliding on parallel lines within two hundred yards
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Speaker 1: of each other. It now became entirely a trial of speed.
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Speaker 1: So rapid was the progress of the light vessels that
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Speaker 1: the lake curled in their front in miniature waves, and
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Speaker 1: their motion became undulating by its own velocity. It was perhaps,
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Speaker 1: owing to the circumstance, in addition to the necessity of
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Speaker 1: keeping every hand employed at the paddles, that the Hurons
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Speaker 1: had not immediate recourse to their firearms. The exertions of
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Speaker 1: the fugitives were too severe to continue long, and the
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Speaker 1: pursuers had the advantage of numbers. Observed with uneasiness that
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Speaker 1: the scalp began to look anxiously about him, as if
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Speaker 1: searching for some further means of assisting their flight. Edge
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Speaker 1: her little more from the sun, Sagamore, said the stubborn woodsman.
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Speaker 1: I see the knaves are sparing a man to the rifle.
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Speaker 1: A single broken bone might lose us our scalps. Edge
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Speaker 1: more from the sun, and we will put the island
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Speaker 1: between us. The expedient was not without its use. A long,
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Speaker 1: low island lay at a little distance before them, and
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Speaker 1: as they closed with it, the chasing canoe was compelled
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Speaker 1: to take a side opposite to that on which the
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Speaker 1: pursued passed. The scout and his companions did not neglect
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Speaker 1: this advantage, But the instant they were hid from observation
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Speaker 1: by the bushes, they redoubled efforts that before had seen prodigious.
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Speaker 1: The two canoes came round the last low point like
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Speaker 1: two coursers, at the top of their speed, the fugitives
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Speaker 1: taking the lead. This change had brought them nigher to
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Speaker 1: each other. However, while it altered their relative position. You
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Speaker 1: should acknowledge in the shaping of a birch and bark
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Speaker 1: uncas when you chose this from among the huron canoes,
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Speaker 1: said the scout, smiling, apparently warrant satisfaction of their superiority
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Speaker 1: in the race, than from us prospect of final escape,
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Speaker 1: which now began to open a little upon them. The
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Speaker 1: hemps have put all their strength again at the paddles,
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Speaker 1: and we are to struggle for our scalp with bits
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Speaker 1: of flattened wood instead of clouded barrels and true eyes.
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Speaker 1: A long stroke and together, friends, they are preparing for
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Speaker 1: a shot, said Heyward, And as we are in line
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Speaker 1: with them, it can scarcely fail. Get you then into
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Speaker 1: the bottom of the canoe, returned the scout. You and
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Speaker 1: the colonel, it will be so much taken from the
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Speaker 1: size of the mark Heyward smiled at he answered, it
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Speaker 1: would be an ill example for the highest and rank
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Speaker 1: to dodge. While the warriors were under fire. Lord, Lord,
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Speaker 1: that is now a white man's courage, exclaimed the scout,
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Speaker 1: and like too many of his notions not to be
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Speaker 1: maintained by reason. Do you think the Sagamore, or Uncas,
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Speaker 1: or even i whom a man without a cross would
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Speaker 1: deliberate upon finding a cover in the scrimmage when an
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Speaker 1: open body would do no good? For what have the
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Speaker 1: frenchers reared up their quebec? If fighting is always to
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Speaker 1: be done in the clearings, all that you say is
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Speaker 1: very true, my friend replied, Heyward. Still our customs must
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Speaker 1: prevent us from doing as you wish. A volley from
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Speaker 1: the Hurons interrupted the discourse, and as the bullets whistled
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Speaker 1: about them, Duncan saw the head of Uncas turn looking
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Speaker 1: back at himself and Monroe. Notwithstanding the nearness of the
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Speaker 1: enemy and his own great personal danger, the countenance of
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Speaker 1: the young warrior expressed no other emotion as the former
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Speaker 1: was compelled to think, than amazement at finding men so
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Speaker 1: willing to encounter so useless an exposure. Chinchkotchkook was probably
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Speaker 1: better acquainted with the notions of white men, for he
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Speaker 1: did not even cast a glance aside from the riveted look,
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Speaker 1: his eye maintained on the object by which he governed
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Speaker 1: their course. A ball soon struck the light and polished
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Speaker 1: paddle from the hands of the chief, and drove it
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Speaker 1: through the air far in the advance. A shout arose
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Speaker 1: from the Hurons, who seized the opportunity to fire another volley.
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Speaker 1: Uncas described an arc in the water with his own blade,
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Speaker 1: and as the canoes passed swiftly on chinchgotch Cook recovered
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Speaker 1: his paddle, and, flourishing it on high, he gave the
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Speaker 1: war hoop of the Mohicans, and then lent his strength
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Speaker 1: and skill again to the important task. The clamorous sounds
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Speaker 1: of legoral serpent laylong carabene lesurferjeu burst at once from
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Speaker 1: the canoes behind, and seemed to give new zeal to
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Speaker 1: the pursuers. The scout seized keel deer in his left hand,
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Speaker 1: and elevating above his head, he shook it in triumph
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Speaker 1: at his enemies. The savages answered the insult with a yell,
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Speaker 1: and immediately another volley succeeded. The bullets pattered along the lake,
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Speaker 1: and one even pierced the bark of their little vessel.
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Speaker 1: No perceptible emotion could be discovered in the Mohicans during
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Speaker 1: this critical moment, their rigid features expressing neither hope nor alarm.
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Speaker 1: But the scout again turned his head, and, laughing in
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Speaker 1: his own silent manner, he said to Heyward, the knaves
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Speaker 1: love to hear the sound of their pieces, but the
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Speaker 1: eye is not to be found among the mingoes that
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Speaker 1: can calculate a true range in a dancing canoe. You see,
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Speaker 1: the dumb devils have taken off a man to charge,
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Speaker 1: and by the smallest measurement that can be allowed, we
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Speaker 1: moved three feet to their two duncan, who was not
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Speaker 1: altogether as easy under this nice estimate of distances as
21:55
Speaker 1: his companion was glad to find, however, that owing to
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Speaker 1: their superior dexterity and the diversion among their enemies, they
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Speaker 1: were very sensibly obtaining the advantage. The huron soon fired again,
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Speaker 1: and a bullet struck the blade of Hawkeye's paddle without injury.
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Speaker 1: That will do, said the scout, examining the slight indentation
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Speaker 1: with a curious eye. It would not have cut the
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Speaker 1: skin of an infant, much less of men who like
22:22
Speaker 1: us have been blown upon by the heavens in their anger. Now, Major,
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Speaker 1: if you will try to use this piece of flattened wood,
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Speaker 1: I'll let Kildeer take part in the conversation. Heyward seized
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Speaker 1: the paddle and applied himself to the work with an
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Speaker 1: eagerness that supplied the place of skill, while Hawkeye was
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Speaker 1: engaged in inspecting the priming of his rifle. The latter
22:46
Speaker 1: then took a swift aim and fired the huron in
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Speaker 1: the bowels of the leading canoe had risen with a
22:51
Speaker 1: similar object, and he now fell backward, suffering his gun
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Speaker 1: to escape from his hands into the water. In an
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Speaker 1: instant however, he recovered his feet, though his gestures were
23:01
Speaker 1: wild and bewildered. At the same moment, his companions suspended
23:05
Speaker 1: their efforts, and the chasing canoes clustered together and became stationary. Chinskotchkok,
23:11
Speaker 1: and Uncas profited by the interval to regain their win,
23:15
Speaker 1: though Duncan continued to work with the most persevering industry.
23:19
Speaker 1: The father and son now cast calm but inquiring glances
23:22
Speaker 1: at each other to learn if either had sustained any
23:25
Speaker 1: injury by the fire, For both well knew that no
23:28
Speaker 1: cry or exclamation would in such a moment of necessity
23:31
Speaker 1: have been permitted to betray the accident. A few large
23:36
Speaker 1: drops of blood were trickling down the shoulder of the Sagamore, who,
23:41
Speaker 1: when he perceived the eyes of uncas dwelt too long
23:44
Speaker 1: on the sight, raised some water in the hollow of
23:46
Speaker 1: his hand, and washing off the stain, was content to
23:49
Speaker 1: manifest in this simple manner the slightness of the injury. Softly, softly, Major,
23:55
Speaker 1: said the scout, who by this time had reloaded his rifle.
23:59
Speaker 1: We are a little too far already for a rifle
24:03
Speaker 1: to put forth its beauties. And you see yonder yimps
24:06
Speaker 1: are holding a council. Let them come within striking distance.
24:11
Speaker 1: My eye may well be trusted in such a matter,
24:14
Speaker 1: and I will trail the varlets the length of the Horican,
24:17
Speaker 1: guaranteeing that not a shot of theirs shall, at the
24:20
Speaker 1: worst more than break the skin, while kill deer shall
24:24
Speaker 1: touch the life. Twice in three times. We forget our
24:28
Speaker 1: errand returned the diligent Duncan. For God's sake, Let us
24:32
Speaker 1: profit by this advantage and increase our distance from the enemy.
24:37
Speaker 1: Give me, my children, said Monroe, hoarsely. Trifle no longer
24:42
Speaker 1: with a father's agony, better is done me, my babes.
24:46
Speaker 1: Long and habitual deference to the mandates of his superiors
24:51
Speaker 1: had taught the scout the virtue of obedience. Throwing a
24:54
Speaker 1: last and lingering glance at the distant canoes, he laid
24:58
Speaker 1: aside his rifle, and, relieving the weary duncan, resumed the paddle,
25:03
Speaker 1: which he wielded with sinews that never tired. His efforts
25:07
Speaker 1: were seconded by those of the Mohicans, and a very
25:10
Speaker 1: few minutes served to place such a sheet of water
25:12
Speaker 1: between them and their enemies that Heyward once more breathed freely.
25:18
Speaker 1: The lake now began to expand, and their route lay
25:21
Speaker 1: along a wide reach that was lined, as before by
25:24
Speaker 1: high and ragged mountains, but the islands were few and
25:28
Speaker 1: easily avoided. The strokes of the paddles grew more measured
25:32
Speaker 1: and regular, while they who plied them continued their labor
25:35
Speaker 1: after the close and deadly chase from which they had
25:38
Speaker 1: just relieved themselves with as much coolness as though their
25:42
Speaker 1: speed had been tried in sport, rather than under such pressing,
25:46
Speaker 1: nay almost desperate circumstances. Instead of following the western shore
25:52
Speaker 1: whither their errand led them. The wary Mahican inclined his
25:56
Speaker 1: course more toward those hills behind which Montcalm was known
26:00
Speaker 1: to lead his army into the formidable fortress of Taekwonderoga.
26:05
Speaker 1: As the Hurons, to every periance, had abandoned the pursuit.
26:10
Speaker 1: There was no apparent reason for this excess of caution.
26:13
Speaker 1: It was, however, maintained for hours until they had reached
26:17
Speaker 1: a bay neither northern termination of the lake. Here the
26:21
Speaker 1: canoe was driven upon the beach, and the whole party landed.
26:25
Speaker 1: Hawkeye and Hayward ascended an adjacent bluff, where the former,
26:30
Speaker 1: after considering the expanse of water beneath him, pointed out
26:34
Speaker 1: to the latter, a small black object hovering under a
26:37
Speaker 1: headland at the distance of several miles. Do you see it?
26:42
Speaker 1: Demanded the scout. Now, what would you account that spot?
26:46
Speaker 1: Were you left alone to white experience to find your
26:49
Speaker 1: way through this wilderness. But for its distance and its magnitude,
26:55
Speaker 1: I would suppose it a bird? Can it be a
26:57
Speaker 1: living object? 'tis a canew of birch and bark, and
27:02
Speaker 1: paddled by fierce and crafty mingoes. Though Providence has lent
27:07
Speaker 1: to those who inhabit the woods eyes that would be
27:10
Speaker 1: needless to men in the settlements, where there are inventions
27:14
Speaker 1: to assist the site. Yet no human organs can see
27:18
Speaker 1: all the dangers which at this moment circumvent us. These
27:22
Speaker 1: varlets pretend to be bent chiefly on their sundown meal.
27:25
Speaker 1: But the moment it is dark they will be on
27:28
Speaker 1: our trail, as true as hounds on the scent. We
27:31
Speaker 1: must throw them off, or our pursuit of a knowledge
27:34
Speaker 1: of tuue may be given up. These lakes are useful
27:39
Speaker 1: at times, especially when the game take the water, continued
27:42
Speaker 1: the scout, gazing about him with a countenance of concern.
27:47
Speaker 1: But they give no cover, except it be to the fishes.
27:51
Speaker 1: God knows what the country would be if the settlement
27:54
Speaker 1: should spread far from the two rivers, both hunting and
27:59
Speaker 1: war would lose their Let us not delay a moment
28:03
Speaker 1: without some good and obvious cause. I little like that
28:07
Speaker 1: smoke which you may see warming up along the rock
28:10
Speaker 1: above the canoe, interrupted the abstracted scout. My life on it.
28:15
Speaker 1: Other eyes than ours see it and know its meaning well.
28:20
Speaker 1: Words will not mend the matter, And it is time
28:23
Speaker 1: that we were doing. Hawkeye moved away, from the lookout
28:27
Speaker 1: and descended, musing profoundly to the shore. He communicated the
28:32
Speaker 1: result of his observations to his companions in Delaware, and
28:36
Speaker 1: a short and earnest consultation succeeded. When it terminated, the
28:42
Speaker 1: three instantly set about executing their new resolutions. The canoe
28:47
Speaker 1: was lifted from the water and borne on the shoulders
28:50
Speaker 1: of the party. They proceeded into the wood, making as
28:53
Speaker 1: broad and obvious a trail as possible. They soon reached
28:57
Speaker 1: the water course, which they crossed, and continuing onward until
29:02
Speaker 1: they came to an extensive and naked rock. At this point,
29:07
Speaker 1: where their footsteps might be expected to be no longer visible,
29:11
Speaker 1: they retraced their route to the brook. Walking backward with
29:14
Speaker 1: the utmost care. They now followed the bed of the
29:18
Speaker 1: little stream to the lake, into which they immediately launched
29:21
Speaker 1: their canoe again. A low point concealed them from the headland,
29:27
Speaker 1: and the margin of the lake was fringed for some
29:29
Speaker 1: distance with thence and overhanging bushes. Under the cover of
29:34
Speaker 1: these natural advantages, they toiled their way with patient industry,
29:39
Speaker 1: until the scout pronounced that he believed it would be
29:41
Speaker 1: safe once more to land. The halt continued until evening
29:46
Speaker 1: rendered objects indistinct and uncertain to the eye. Then they
29:51
Speaker 1: resumed their route, and, favored by the darkness, pushed silently
29:55
Speaker 1: and vigorously toward the western shore. Although the rugged outline
29:59
Speaker 1: of a mountain to which they were steering presented no
30:02
Speaker 1: distinctive marks to the eyes of Duncan, the Mohican entered
30:05
Speaker 1: the little haven he had selected with the confidence and
30:09
Speaker 1: accuracy of an experienced pilot. The boat was again lifted
30:14
Speaker 1: and borne into the woods, where it was carefully concealed
30:17
Speaker 1: under a pile of brush. The adventurers assumed their arms
30:21
Speaker 1: and packs, and the scout announced to Monroe and Heyward
30:25
Speaker 1: that he and the Indians were at least in readiness
30:28
Speaker 1: to proceed. End of Chapter twenty