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

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three.
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Speaker 2: Quote.
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Speaker 1: But though the beast of game the privilege of chase
0:08
Speaker 1: may claim, though space and law, the stag we lend,
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Speaker 1: ere hound, we slip, or bow we bend whoever wrecked, where,
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Speaker 1: how or when the prowling fox was trapped or slain
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Speaker 1: Unquote from Lady of the Lake. It is unusual to
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Speaker 1: find an encampment of the natives, like those of the
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Speaker 1: more instructed Whites, guarded by the presence of armed men,
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Speaker 1: well informed of the approach of every danger, while it
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Speaker 1: is yet at a distance. The Indian generally rests secure
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Speaker 1: under his knowledge of the signs of the forest and
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Speaker 1: the long and difficult paths that separate him from those
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Speaker 1: he has most reason to dread. But the enemy, who,
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Speaker 1: by any lucky concurrence of accidents, has found means to
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Speaker 1: elude the vigilance of the scot will seldom meet with
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Speaker 1: sentinels near home to sound the alarm. In addition to
1:07
Speaker 1: this general usage, the tribes friendly to the French knew
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Speaker 1: too well the weight of the blow that had just
1:14
Speaker 1: been struck to apprehend any immediate danger from the hostile
1:18
Speaker 1: nations that were tributary to the Crown of Britain. When
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Speaker 1: Duncan and David therefore found themselves in the center of
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Speaker 1: the children, who played the antics already mentioned, it was
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Speaker 1: without the least previous intimation of their approach. But soon
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Speaker 1: as they were observed, the whole of the juvenile pack
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Speaker 1: raised by common consent a shrill and warning hoop, and
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Speaker 1: then sank, as it were, by magic, from before the
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Speaker 1: sight of their visitors. The naked, tawny bodies of the
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Speaker 1: crouching urchins blended so nicely at that hour with the
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Speaker 1: withered herbage that at first it seemed as if the
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Speaker 1: earth had, in truth swallowed up their forms. Though when
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Speaker 1: surprise permitted Duncan to bend his look more curiously about
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Speaker 1: the spot, he found it everywhere met by dark, quick
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Speaker 1: and rolling eyeballs. Gathering no encouragement from this startling presage
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Speaker 1: of the nature of the scrutiny he was likely to
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Speaker 1: undergo from the more mature judgments of the men. There
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Speaker 1: was an instant when the young soldier would have retreated.
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Speaker 1: It was, however, too late to appear to hesitate. The
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Speaker 1: cry of the children had drawn a dozen warriors to
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Speaker 1: the door of the nearest lodge, where they stood clustered
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Speaker 1: in a dark and savage group, gravely awaiting the nearer
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Speaker 1: approach of those who had unexpectedly come among them, David,
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Speaker 1: in some measure familiarized to the scene, led the way
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Speaker 1: with the steadiness that no slight obstacle was likely to
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Speaker 1: disconcert into this very building. It was the principal edifice
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Speaker 1: of the village, though roughly constructed of the bark and
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Speaker 1: branches of trees, being the lodge in which the tribe
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Speaker 1: held its councils and public meetings during their temporary residence
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Speaker 1: on the borders of the English province. Duncan found it
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Speaker 1: difficult to assume the necessary appearance of unconcern as he
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Speaker 1: brushed the dark and powerful frames of the savages who
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Speaker 1: thronged its threshold. But conscious that his existence depended on
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Speaker 1: his presence of mind, he trusted to the discretion of
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Speaker 1: his companion, who footstepsy closely followed, endeavoring as he proceeded
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Speaker 1: to rally his thoughts for the occasion. His blood curdled
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Speaker 1: when he found himself in absolute contact with such fierce
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Speaker 1: and implacable enemies, but he so far mastered his feelings
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Speaker 1: to pursue his way into the center of the lodge
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Speaker 1: with an exterior that did not betray the weakness. Imitating
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Speaker 1: the example of the deliberate Gamout, he drew a bundle
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Speaker 1: of fragrant brush from beneath a pile that filled the
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Speaker 1: corner of the hut, and seated himself in silence. So
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Speaker 1: soon as their visitor had passed, the observant warriors fell
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Speaker 1: back from the entrance, and arranging themselves about him, they
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Speaker 1: seemed patiently to await the moment when it might comport
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Speaker 1: with the dignity of the stranger to speak. By far
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Speaker 1: the greater numbers stood leaning in lazy, lounging attitudes against
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Speaker 1: the upright post that supported the crazy building, while three
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Speaker 1: or four of the oldest and most distinguished of the
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Speaker 1: chiefs placed themselves on the earth. A little more in advance.
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Speaker 1: A flaring torch was burning in the place, and set
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Speaker 1: its red glare from face to face and figure to
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Speaker 1: figure as it waved in the currents of air. Duncan
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Speaker 1: profited by its light to read the probable character of
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Speaker 1: his reception in the countenances of his host, but his
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Speaker 1: ingenuity availed him little against the cold artifices of the
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Speaker 1: people he had encountered. The chiefs in front scarce cast
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Speaker 1: a glance at his person, keeping their eyes on the ground,
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Speaker 1: with an air that might have been intended for respect,
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Speaker 1: but which it was quite easy to construe into distrust.
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Speaker 1: The men in the shadow were less reserved. Duncan soon
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Speaker 1: detected their searching but stolen looks, which in truth scanned
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Speaker 1: his person and attire inch by inch, leaving no emotion
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Speaker 1: of the countenance, no gesture, no line of the paint,
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Speaker 1: nor even the fashion of a garment, unheeded and without comment.
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Speaker 1: At length, one whose hair was beginning to be sprinkled
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Speaker 1: with gray, but whose sinewy limbs and firm tread announced
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Speaker 1: that he was still equal to the duties of manhood,
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Speaker 1: advanced out of the gloom of a corner whither he
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Speaker 1: had probably posted himself to make his observations unseen, and spoke.
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Speaker 1: He used the language of the Wyandots or Hurons. His
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Speaker 1: words were consequently unintelligible to Heyward, though they seemed, by
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Speaker 1: the gestures that accompanied them, to be uttered more in
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Speaker 1: courtesy than anger. The latter shook his head and made
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Speaker 1: a gesture indicative of his inability to reply.
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Speaker 2: Do none of my brothers speak the French or the English.
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Speaker 2: He said in the former language, looking about him from
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Speaker 2: countenance to countenance, in hopes of finding a nod of assent.
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Speaker 2: Though more than one had turned as if to catch
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Speaker 2: the meaning of his words, they remained unanswered. I should
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Speaker 2: be grieved to think, continued Duncan, speaking slowly and using
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Speaker 2: the simplest French of which he was the master. To
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Speaker 2: believe that none of this wise and brave nation understand
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Speaker 2: the language that the Grand Marquis uses when he talks
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Speaker 2: to his children, his heart would be heavy, did he
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Speaker 2: believe his red warriors paid him so little respect. A
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Speaker 2: long and grave pause succeeded, during which no movement of
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Speaker 2: a limb nor any expression of an eye betrayed the
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Speaker 2: expression produced by it's remark. Duncan, who knew that silence
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Speaker 2: was a virtue among his hosts, gladly had recourse to
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Speaker 2: the custom in order to arrange his ideas. At length.
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Speaker 2: The same warrior who had before addressed him replied by
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Speaker 2: dryly demanding, in the language of the Canadas, when our
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Speaker 2: great father speaks to his people, is it with the
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Speaker 2: tongue of a huron. He knows no difference in his
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Speaker 2: children whether the color of the skin, be red or
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Speaker 2: black or white, returned Duncan evasively, though chiefly he is
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Speaker 2: satisfied with the brave Huron. In what manner will he speak?
8:03
Speaker 2: Demanded the wary chief. When the runners count to him
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Speaker 2: the scalps which five nights ago grew on the heads
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Speaker 2: of the Yengeese, they were his enemies, said Duncan, shuddering involuntarily.
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Speaker 2: And doubtless he will say. It is good. My Hurons
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Speaker 2: are very gallant. Our Canadian father does not think it.
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Speaker 2: Instead of looking forward to reward his Indians, his eyes
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Speaker 2: are turned backward. He sees the dead Yengeese, but know
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Speaker 2: you're on What can this mean? O great chief, like
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Speaker 2: him has more thoughts than tongues. He looks to see
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Speaker 2: that no enemies are on his trail. The canoe of
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Speaker 2: a dead warrior will not float on the Horican returned
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Speaker 2: the savage gloomily. His ears are open to the Delawares,
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Speaker 2: who are not our friends, and they fill them with lies.
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Speaker 2: It cannot be see. He has bid me, who am
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Speaker 2: a man that knows the art of healing, to go
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Speaker 2: to his children, the red Hurons of the Great Lakes,
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Speaker 2: and ask if any are sick. Another silence succeeded this
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Speaker 2: annunciation of the character Duncan had assumed. Every eye was
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Speaker 2: simultaneously bent on his person, as if to inquire into
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Speaker 2: the truth or falsehood of the declaration, with an intelligence
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Speaker 2: and keenness that caused the subject of their scrutiny to
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Speaker 2: tremble for the result. He was, however, relieved again by
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Speaker 2: the former speaker. Do the cunning men of the Canadas
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Speaker 2: paint their skins? The huron coldly continued, We have heard
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Speaker 2: them most that their faces were pale. When an Indian
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Speaker 2: chief comes among his white fathers, returned Duncan with great steadiness.
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Speaker 2: He lays aside his buffalo robe to carry the shirt
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Speaker 2: that is offered him. My mothers have given me paint,
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Speaker 2: and I wear it. A low murmur of applause announced
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Speaker 2: that the compliment of the tribe was favorably received. The
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Speaker 2: elderly chief made a gesture of commendation, which was answered
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Speaker 2: by most of his companions, who each drew forth a
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Speaker 2: hand and uttered a brief exclamation of pleasure. Duncan began
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Speaker 2: to breathe more freely, believing that the weight of his
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Speaker 2: examination was past, and as he had already prepared it
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Speaker 2: simple and probable tale to support his pretend occupation. His
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Speaker 2: hopes of ultimate success grew brighter. After a silence of
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Speaker 2: a few moments, as if adjusting his thoughts in order
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Speaker 2: to make a suitable answer to the declaration their guests
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Speaker 2: had just given. Another warrior arose and placed himself in
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Speaker 2: an attitude to speak. While his lips were yet in
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Speaker 2: the act of parting, a low but fearful sound arose
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Speaker 2: from the forest. It was immediately.
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Speaker 1: Succeeded by a high, shrill yell that was drawn out
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Speaker 1: until it equaled the longest and most plaintive howl of
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Speaker 1: the wolf. The sudden and terrible interruption caused Duncan to
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Speaker 1: start from his seat, unconscious of everything but the effect
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Speaker 1: produced by so frightful a cry. At the same moment,
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Speaker 1: the warriors glided in a body from the lodge, and
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Speaker 1: the outer air was filled with loud shouts that nearly
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Speaker 1: drowned those awful sounds which were still ringing beneath the
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Speaker 1: arches of the woods. Unable to command himself any longer,
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Speaker 1: the youth broke from the place and presently stood in
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Speaker 1: the center of a disorderly throng that included everything having
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Speaker 1: life within the limits of the encampment. Men, women and children,
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Speaker 1: the agent, the infirm, the active, and the strong were
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Speaker 1: alike abroad, some exclaiming aloud, others clapping their hands with
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Speaker 1: a joy that seemed frantic, and all expressing their savage
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Speaker 1: pleasure in some unexpected event. Though astounded at first by
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Speaker 1: the uproar, Heyward was soon able to find its solution
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Speaker 1: by the scene that followed. There yet lingered sufficient light
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Speaker 1: in the heavens to exhibit those bright openings among the
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Speaker 1: tree tops, where different paths left the clearing to enter
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Speaker 1: the depths of the wilderness. Beneath one of them, a
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Speaker 1: line of warriors issued from the woods and advanced slowly
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Speaker 1: toward the dwellings. One in front bore a short pole,
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Speaker 1: on which, as it afterwards appeared, were suspended several human scalps.
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Speaker 1: The startling sounds that Duncan had heard were what the
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Speaker 1: Whites have not inappropriately called the quote death halo unquote,
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Speaker 1: and each repetition of the cry was intended to announce
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Speaker 1: to the tribe the fate of an enemy. Thus far,
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Speaker 1: the knowledge of Heyward assisted him in the explanation, and
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Speaker 1: as he now knew that the interruption was caused by
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Speaker 1: the unlooked for return of a successful war party. Every
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Speaker 1: disagreeable sensation was quieted in inward congratulation for the opportune
13:21
Speaker 1: relief and insignificance it conferred on himself. When at the
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Speaker 1: distance of a few hundred feet from the lodges, the
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Speaker 1: newly arrived warriors halted their plaintive and terrific cry, which
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Speaker 1: was intended to represent equally the waillings of the dead
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Speaker 1: and the triumph to the victors, had entirely ceased. One
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Speaker 1: of their number now called aloud in words that were
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Speaker 1: far from appalling, though not more intelligible to those whose
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Speaker 1: ears they were intended than their expressive yells. It would
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Speaker 1: be difficult to convey a suitable idea of the savage
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Speaker 1: ecstasy with which the news thus imparted was received. The
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Speaker 1: whole encampment in a moment, became a scene of the
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Speaker 1: most violent bustle and commotion. The warriors drew their knives,
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Speaker 1: and flourishing them, they arranged themselves in two lines, forming
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Speaker 1: a lane that extended from war party to the lodges.
14:18
Speaker 1: The squaws seized clubs, axes, or whatever weapon of offense
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Speaker 1: first offered itself to their hands and rushed eagerly to
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Speaker 1: act their part in the cruel game that was at hand.
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Speaker 1: Even the children would not be excluded, but boys, little
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Speaker 1: able to wield the instruments, tore the tomahawks from the
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Speaker 1: belts of their fathers and stole into the ranks, apt
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Speaker 1: imitators of the savage traits exhibited by their parents. Large
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Speaker 1: piles of brush lay scattered about the clearing, and a
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Speaker 1: wary and aged squaw was occupied in firing as many
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Speaker 1: as might serve to light the coming exhibition. As the
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Speaker 1: flame arose, its power exceeded that of the parting day
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Speaker 1: and assisted to render objects at the same time more
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Speaker 1: distinct and more hideous. The whole scene formed a striking picture,
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Speaker 1: whose frame was composed of the dark and tall border
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Speaker 1: of pines. The warriors just arrived were the most distant figures.
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Speaker 1: A little in advance stood two men who were apparently
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Speaker 1: selected from the rest as the principal actors in what
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Speaker 1: was to follow. The light was not strong enough to
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Speaker 1: render their features distinct, though it was quite evident that
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Speaker 1: they were governed by very different emotions. While one stood
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Speaker 1: erect and firm, prepared to meet his fate like a hero.
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Speaker 1: The other bowed his head, as if palsied by terror
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Speaker 1: or stricken with shame. The high spirited Duncan felt a
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Speaker 1: powerful impulse of admiration and pity toward the former, though
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Speaker 1: no opportunity could offer to exhibit his generous emotions. He
16:01
Speaker 1: watched his slightest movement, however, with eager eyes, and as
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Speaker 1: he traced the fine outline of his admirably proportioned and
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Speaker 1: the active frame, he endeavored to persuade himself that if
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Speaker 1: the powers of man, seconded by such noble resolution, could
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Speaker 1: bear one harmless through so severe a trial, the youthful
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Speaker 1: captive before him might hope for success in the hazardous
16:27
Speaker 1: race he was about to run. Insensibly, the young man
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Speaker 1: drew nigher to the swarthy lines of the Hurons and
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Speaker 1: scarcely breathed, so intense became his interest in the spectacle.
16:41
Speaker 1: Just then the signal yell was given, and the momentary
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Speaker 1: quiet that had preceded it was broken by a burst
16:48
Speaker 1: of cries that far exceeded any before heard. The more
16:53
Speaker 1: object of the two victims continued motionless, but the other
16:57
Speaker 1: bounded from the place of the cry with the activity
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Speaker 1: and swiftness of a deer. Instead of rushing through the
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Speaker 1: hostile lines, as had been expected, he just entered the
17:07
Speaker 1: dangerous defile, and before time was given for a single blow,
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Speaker 1: turned short and leaping the heads of a row of children,
17:16
Speaker 1: he gained at once the exterior and safer side of
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Speaker 1: the formidable array. The artifice was answered by a hundred
17:23
Speaker 1: voices raised in imprecations, and the whole of the excited
17:28
Speaker 1: multitude broke from their order and spread themselves about the
17:31
Speaker 1: place in wild confusion. A dozen blazing piles now shed
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Speaker 1: their lurid brightness on the place, which resembled some unhallowed
17:41
Speaker 1: and supernatural arena in which the malicious demons had assembled
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Speaker 1: to act their bloody and lawless rites. The forms in
17:50
Speaker 1: the background looked like unearthly beings gliding before the eye
17:54
Speaker 1: and cleaving the air with frantic and unmeaning gestures, while
17:58
Speaker 1: the savage passions of such as past the flames were
18:02
Speaker 1: rendered fearfully distinct by the gleams that shot athwart their
18:05
Speaker 1: inflamed visages. It will easily be understood that amid such
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Speaker 1: a concourse of vindictive enemies, no breathing time was allowed.
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Speaker 1: The fugitive There was a single moment when it seemed
18:20
Speaker 1: as if he would have reached the forest, but the
18:22
Speaker 1: whole body of his captors threw themselves before him and
18:26
Speaker 1: drove him back into the center of his relentless persecutors.
18:32
Speaker 1: Turning like a headed deer, he shot with the swiftness
18:35
Speaker 1: of an arrow through a pillar of forke flame, and
18:39
Speaker 1: passing the whole multitude harmless, he appeared on the opposite
18:42
Speaker 1: side of the clearing. Here, too, he was met and
18:46
Speaker 1: turned by a few of the older and more subtle
18:48
Speaker 1: of Urons. Once more, he tried the throng, as if
18:52
Speaker 1: seeking safety in its blindness, and then several moments succeeded,
18:56
Speaker 1: during which Duncan believed the active and courageous young stranger
18:59
Speaker 1: was lost. Nothing could be distinguished but a dark mass
19:04
Speaker 1: of human forms, tossed and involved in inexplicable confusion. Arms,
19:10
Speaker 1: gleaming knives and formidable clubs appeared above them, but the
19:14
Speaker 1: blows were evidently given at random. The awful effect was
19:18
Speaker 1: heightened by the piercing shrieks of the women and the
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Speaker 1: fierce yells of the warriors. Now and then Duncan caught
19:25
Speaker 1: a glimpse of a light form cleaving the air in
19:27
Speaker 1: some desperate bound, and he rather hoped than believed that
19:32
Speaker 1: the captive yet retained the command of his astonishing powers
19:36
Speaker 1: of activity. Suddenly the multitude rolled backward and approached the
19:41
Speaker 1: spot where he himself stood. The heavy body in the
19:45
Speaker 1: rear pressed upon the woman and children in front, and
19:49
Speaker 1: bore them to the earth. The stranger reappeared in the confusion.
19:54
Speaker 1: Human power could not, however, much longer endure so severe
19:58
Speaker 1: a trial of this. The captive seemed conscious, profiting by
20:04
Speaker 1: the momentary opening he guarded from among the warriors, and
20:09
Speaker 1: made a desperate and what seemed to Duncan a final
20:12
Speaker 1: effort to gain the wood. As if aware that no
20:17
Speaker 1: danger was to be apprehended from the young soldier, the
20:20
Speaker 1: fugitive nearly brushed his person in his flight. A tall
20:24
Speaker 1: and powerful Huron, who had husbanded his forces, pressed close
20:29
Speaker 1: upon his heels, and with an uplifted arm menaced a
20:33
Speaker 1: fatal blow. Duncan thrust forth a foot, and the shock
20:37
Speaker 1: precipitated the eager savage headlong, many feet in advance of
20:41
Speaker 1: his intended victim. Thought itself is not quicker than was
20:46
Speaker 1: the motion with which the latter profited by the advantage.
20:50
Speaker 1: He turned gleamed like a meteor again before the eyes
20:54
Speaker 1: of Duncan, and at the next moment, when the latter
20:56
Speaker 1: recovered his recollection and gazed around in question of the captive,
21:01
Speaker 1: he saw him quietly leaning against a small painted post
21:04
Speaker 1: which stood before the door of the principal lodge. Apprehensive
21:10
Speaker 1: that the part he had taken in the escape might
21:13
Speaker 1: prove fatal to himself, Duncan left the place without delay.
21:17
Speaker 1: He followed the crowd which drew nigh the lodges, gloomy
21:20
Speaker 1: and sullen, like any other multitude that had been disappointed
21:24
Speaker 1: in an execution, Curiosity, or perhaps a better feeling, induced
21:30
Speaker 1: him to approach the stranger. He found him standing with
21:34
Speaker 1: one arm cast about the protecting post and breathing thick
21:38
Speaker 1: and hard after his exertions, but disdaining to permit a
21:42
Speaker 1: single sign of suffering to escape. His person was now
21:47
Speaker 1: protected by immemorial and sacred usage until the tribe and
21:51
Speaker 1: council had deliberated and determined on his fate. It was
21:56
Speaker 1: not difficult, however, to foretell the result. If any presage
22:01
Speaker 1: could be drawn from the feelings of those who crowded
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Speaker 1: the place. There was no term of abuse known to
22:07
Speaker 1: the Huron vocabulary that the disappointed woman did not lavishly
22:11
Speaker 1: expend on the successful stranger. They flouted at his efforts
22:16
Speaker 1: and told him with bitter scoffs that his feet were
22:20
Speaker 1: better than his hands, and that he merited wings while
22:24
Speaker 1: he knew not how to use an arrow or a knife.
22:28
Speaker 1: To all this, the captain made no reply, but was
22:32
Speaker 1: content to preserve an attitude in which dignity was singularly
22:36
Speaker 1: blended with disdain. Exasperated as much by his composure as
22:42
Speaker 1: by his good fortune, their words became unintelligible and were
22:46
Speaker 1: succeeded by shrill, piercing yells. Just then, the crafty squaw,
22:53
Speaker 1: who had taken the necessary precaution to fire the piles,
22:57
Speaker 1: made her way through the throng and cleared for herself
23:00
Speaker 1: in front of the captive. The squalid and withered person
23:05
Speaker 1: of this tag might well have obtained for her the
23:08
Speaker 1: character of possessing more than human cunning. Throwing back her
23:13
Speaker 1: light vestment, she stretched forth her long, skinny arm in derision, and,
23:17
Speaker 1: using the language of the lenape as more intelligible to
23:21
Speaker 1: the subject of her jobs, she commenced.
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Speaker 2: Aloud, look ye delaware.
23:27
Speaker 1: She said, snapping her fingers in his face.
23:30
Speaker 3: Your nation is a race of women, and the whole
23:33
Speaker 3: is better fitted to your hands than nagan. Your squaws
23:37
Speaker 3: are the mothers of deer. But if a bear, or
23:41
Speaker 3: a wildcat or a serpent were born above you, ye
23:44
Speaker 3: would flee. The huron girl shall make you petticoats, and
23:49
Speaker 3: we will find you a husband. A burst of savage
23:55
Speaker 3: laughter succeeded this attack, during which the soft and musical
23:59
Speaker 3: merriment of the younger females strangely chimed with the cracked
24:03
Speaker 3: voices of their older and more malignant companion. But the
24:07
Speaker 3: stranger was superior to all their efforts. His head was immovable,
24:12
Speaker 3: nor did he betray the slightest consciousness that any were present,
24:16
Speaker 3: except when his haughty eye rolled toward the dusky forms
24:20
Speaker 3: of the warriors, who stalked in the background. Silent and
24:24
Speaker 3: sullen observers of the scene, infuriated that the self command
24:29
Speaker 3: of the captive, the woman placed her arms akimbo, and
24:32
Speaker 3: throwing herself in a posture of defiance, she broke out
24:36
Speaker 3: anew in a torrent of words that no art of
24:39
Speaker 3: ours could commit successfully to paper. Her breath was however,
24:44
Speaker 3: expended in vain, for although distinguished in her nation as
24:49
Speaker 3: a proficient in the art of abuse, she was permitted
24:53
Speaker 3: to work herself into such a fury as actually to
24:56
Speaker 3: foam at the mouth without causing a muscle to vibrate
25:00
Speaker 3: in the motionless figure of the stranger. The effect of
25:04
Speaker 3: this indifference began to extend itself to the other spectators,
25:08
Speaker 3: and a youngster, who was just quitting the condition of
25:11
Speaker 3: a boy to enter the state of manhood, attempted to
25:14
Speaker 3: assist the termagant by flourishing his tomahawk before their victim
25:19
Speaker 3: and adding his empty boasts to the taunts of the women. Then, indeed,
25:24
Speaker 3: the captive turned his face toward the light and looked
25:28
Speaker 3: down on the stripling with an expression that was superior
25:31
Speaker 3: to contempt. At the next moment, he resumed his quiet
25:36
Speaker 3: and reclining attitude against the post. But the change of
25:39
Speaker 3: posture had permitted Duncan to exchange glances with the firm
25:45
Speaker 3: and piercing eyes of Uncas. Breathless with amazement and heavily
25:51
Speaker 3: oppressed with the critical situation of his friend. Heyward recoiled
25:55
Speaker 3: before the look, trembling, lest its meeting might in some
25:59
Speaker 3: unknown manner hastened the prisoner's fate. There was, not, however,
26:05
Speaker 3: any instant cause for such an apprehension. Just then a
26:09
Speaker 3: warrior forced his way into the exasperated crowd, Motioning the
26:14
Speaker 3: woman and children aside with a stern gesture, he took
26:17
Speaker 3: Uncas by the arm and led him toward the door
26:20
Speaker 3: of the council lodge. Thither all the chiefs and most
26:25
Speaker 3: of the distinguished warriors followed, among whom the anxious Heyward
26:29
Speaker 3: found means to enter without attracting any dangerous attention to himself.
26:35
Speaker 3: A few moments were consumed in disposing of those present
26:38
Speaker 3: in a manner suitable to their rank and influence in
26:41
Speaker 3: the tribe. An order very similar to that adopted in
26:44
Speaker 3: the preceding interview was observed, the aged and superior chiefs
26:48
Speaker 3: occupying the area of the spacious apartment within the powerful
26:52
Speaker 3: light of a glaring torch, while their juniors and inferiors
26:56
Speaker 3: were arranged in the background, presenting a dark outline of
27:00
Speaker 3: swarthy marked visages. In the very center of the lodge,
27:04
Speaker 3: immediately under an opening that admitted the twinkling light of
27:08
Speaker 3: one or two stars, stood Uncas, calm, elevated and collected.
27:16
Speaker 3: His high and haughty carriage was not lost on his captors,
27:20
Speaker 3: who often bent their looks on his person, with eyes which,
27:24
Speaker 3: while they lost none of their inflexibility of purpose, plainly
27:28
Speaker 3: betrayed their admiration of the stranger's daring. The case was
27:33
Speaker 3: different with the individual whom Duncan had observed to stand
27:36
Speaker 3: forth with his friend previously to the desperate trial of speed,
27:40
Speaker 3: and who, instead of joining in the chase, had remained
27:43
Speaker 3: throughout its turbulent uproar, like a cringing statue, expressive of
27:48
Speaker 3: shame and disgrace. Though not a hand had been extended
27:51
Speaker 3: to greet him, nor yet an eye had condescended to.
27:54
Speaker 1: Watch his movements. He had also entered the lodge as
27:58
Speaker 1: though impelled by a fate. To those dec he submitted
28:01
Speaker 1: seemingly without a struggle. Hayward profited by the first opportunity
28:06
Speaker 1: to gaze in his face, secretly apprehensive he might find
28:10
Speaker 1: the features of another acquaintance. But they proved to be
28:14
Speaker 1: those of a stranger, and what was still more inexplicable,
28:19
Speaker 1: a one who bore all the distinctive marks of a
28:22
Speaker 1: Huron warrior. Instead of mingling with his tribe however, he
28:27
Speaker 1: sat apart, a solitary being in a multitude, his form
28:32
Speaker 1: shrinking into a crouching and abject attitude, as if anxious
28:36
Speaker 1: to feel as little space as possible. When each individual
28:40
Speaker 1: had taken his proper station and silence reigned in the place,
28:45
Speaker 1: the gray haired chief, already introduced to the reader, spoke
28:49
Speaker 1: aloud in the language of the Lenni Lennape delaware. He said,
28:55
Speaker 1: though one of the nation of a woman, you have
28:58
Speaker 1: proved yourself a man. I would give you food, but
29:02
Speaker 1: he who eats with a uron should become his friend.
29:07
Speaker 1: Rest in peace till the morning sun, when our last
29:11
Speaker 1: wordge shall be spoken. Seven nights and as many summer
29:16
Speaker 1: days have I fasted on the trail of the Hurons,
29:20
Speaker 1: Uncas coldly replied, The children of the Lenape know how
29:24
Speaker 1: to travel the path of the just without.
29:27
Speaker 2: Lingering to eat. Two of my young men are in
29:30
Speaker 2: pursuit of your companion, resumed the other without appearing to
29:34
Speaker 2: regard the boast of his captive. When they get back,
29:38
Speaker 2: then will our wise man say to you live or die?
29:43
Speaker 2: As the Huron no ears.
29:45
Speaker 1: Scornfully, exclaimed Uncas.
29:47
Speaker 2: Twice since he has been your prisoner, has that delaware
29:50
Speaker 2: heard a gun that he knows your young men will
29:54
Speaker 2: never come back. A short and sullen pause succeeded this
29:59
Speaker 2: bold assertion. Duncan, who understood the Mohican to allude to
30:03
Speaker 2: the fatal rifle of the scout, bent forward in earnest
30:06
Speaker 2: observation of the effect it might produce on the conquerors.
30:10
Speaker 2: But the chief was content with simply retorting, if the
30:15
Speaker 2: lenape are so skillful, why is one of their bravest
30:19
Speaker 2: warriors here? He followed the steps of a flying coward
30:24
Speaker 2: and fell into a snare. The cunning beaver may be
30:28
Speaker 2: caught as uncas thus replied, He pointed with his finger
30:33
Speaker 2: toward the solitary huron, but without deigning to bestow any
30:37
Speaker 2: other notice on so unworthy an object. The words of
30:42
Speaker 2: the answer and the air of the speaker produced a
30:45
Speaker 2: strong sensation among his auditors. Every eye rolled sullenly toward
30:50
Speaker 2: the individual indicated by the simple gesture, and a low,
30:54
Speaker 2: threatening murmur passed through the crowd. The ominous sounds reached
30:58
Speaker 2: the outer door, and the women and children pressing into
31:01
Speaker 2: the throng. No gap had been left between shoulder and
31:04
Speaker 2: shoulder that was not now filled with the dark lineaments
31:07
Speaker 2: of some eager and curious human countenance. In the meantime,
31:11
Speaker 2: the more aged chiefs in the center communed with each
31:14
Speaker 2: other in short and broken sentences. Not a word was
31:18
Speaker 2: uttered that did not convey the meaning of the speaker
31:21
Speaker 2: in the simplest and most energetic form. Again, a long
31:26
Speaker 2: and deeply solemn pause took place. It was known by
31:30
Speaker 2: all present to be the brave precursor of a weighty
31:35
Speaker 2: and important judgment. They who composed the outer circle faces
31:40
Speaker 2: were on tiptoe to gaze, and even the culprit for
31:45
Speaker 2: an instant, forgot his shame in a deeper emotion and
31:49
Speaker 2: exposed his abject features in order to cast an anxious
31:53
Speaker 2: and troubled glance at the dark assemblage of chiefs. The
31:58
Speaker 2: silence was finally broken by the aged warrior so often named.
32:02
Speaker 2: He arose from the earth, and, moving past the immovable
32:06
Speaker 2: form of uncas, placed himself in a dignified attitude before
32:10
Speaker 2: the offender. At that moment, the withered squaw already mentioned,
32:15
Speaker 2: moved into the circle in a slow, sidling sort of dance,
32:19
Speaker 2: holding the torch and muttering the indistinct words of what
32:23
Speaker 2: might have been a species of incantation. Though her presence
32:27
Speaker 2: was altogether an intrusion, it was unheeded approaching uncas she
32:33
Speaker 2: held the blazing brand in such a manner as to
32:36
Speaker 2: cast its red glare on his person and to expose
32:39
Speaker 2: the slightest emotion of his countenance. The Mohican maintained his
32:44
Speaker 2: firm and haughty attitude, and his eyes, so far from
32:48
Speaker 2: deigning to meet her inquisitive look, dwelt steadily on the distance,
32:53
Speaker 2: as though it penetrated the obstacles which impeded the view,
32:57
Speaker 2: and looked into futurity. Satisfied with her examination, she left
33:03
Speaker 2: him with a slight expression of pleasure, and proceeded to
33:07
Speaker 2: practice the same trying experiment on her delinquent countrymen. The
33:12
Speaker 2: young Huron was in his war paint, and very little
33:15
Speaker 2: of a finely molded form was concealed by his attire.
33:18
Speaker 2: The light rendered every limb and joint discernible, and Duncan
33:23
Speaker 2: turned away in horror when he saw they were writhing
33:26
Speaker 2: in irrepressible agony. The woman was commencing a low and
33:31
Speaker 2: plaintive howl at the sad and shameful spectacle. When the
33:34
Speaker 2: chief put forth his hand and gently pushed her aside.
33:38
Speaker 2: Read that bends, he said, addressing the young culprit by
33:42
Speaker 2: name and in his proper language. Though the great Spirit
33:46
Speaker 2: has made you pleasant to the eyes, it would have
33:49
Speaker 2: been better that you had not been bored. Your tongue
33:54
Speaker 2: is loud in the village, but in battle it is still.
33:58
Speaker 2: None of my young men strike the tomahawk deeper into
34:01
Speaker 2: the war post, none of them so lightly on the Angeese.
34:06
Speaker 2: The enemy know the shape of your back, but they
34:09
Speaker 2: have never seen the color of your eyes. Three times
34:14
Speaker 2: have they called on you to come, and as often
34:16
Speaker 2: did you forget to answer. Your name will never be
34:20
Speaker 2: mentioned again in our tribe. It is already forgotten.
34:25
Speaker 1: As the chief slowly uttered these words, pausing impressively between
34:30
Speaker 1: each sentence, the culprit raised his face in deference to
34:34
Speaker 1: the other's ranking years Shame, horror, and pride struggled in
34:40
Speaker 1: its lineaments. His eye, which was contracted with inward anguish,
34:45
Speaker 1: gleamed on the persons of those whose breath was his fame,
34:49
Speaker 1: and the latter emotion for an instant predominated. He arose
34:54
Speaker 1: to his feet, and, baring his bosom, looked steadily on
34:57
Speaker 1: the keen glittering knife that was already upheld by his
35:00
Speaker 1: inexorable judge. As the weapon passed slowly into his heart,
35:05
Speaker 1: he even smiled, as if in joy at having found
35:09
Speaker 1: death less dreadful than he had anticipated, and fell heavily
35:14
Speaker 1: on his face at the feet of the rigid and
35:17
Speaker 1: unyielding form of Uncas the squaw gave a loud and
35:21
Speaker 1: plaintive yell, dashed the torch to the earth and buried
35:25
Speaker 1: everything in darkness. The whole shattering group of spectators glided
35:31
Speaker 1: from the lodge like troubled sprites, and Duncan thought that
35:36
Speaker 1: he and the yet throbbing body of the victim of
35:39
Speaker 1: an Indian judgment had now become its only tenants. End
35:45
Speaker 1: of Chapter twenty three