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31 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper · Classic Adventure Books - Daily

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Chapter thirty one. Quote flu kill the poise and the luggage tis expressly against
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the law of arms. Tis an errant, a piece of knavery mark you
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now as can be offered in the earl unquote from King Henry the fifth.
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So long as their enemy and his victim continued in sight, the multitude remained
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motionless, as beings charmed to the place by some power that was friendly to
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Turon. But the instant he disappeared, it became tossed and agitated by fierce
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and powerful passion. Uncas maintained his elevated stand, keeping his eyes on the
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form of Cora until the colors of her dress were blended with the foliage of
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the forest. When he descended, and moving silently through the throng, he
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disappeared in that lodge from which he had so recently ensued. A few of
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the graver and more attentive warriors, who caught the gleams of anger that shot
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from the eyes of the young chief in passing, followed him to the place
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he had selected for his meditations, after which Tamenund and Alice were removed and
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the women and the children were ordered to disperse. During the momentous hour that
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succeeded. The encampment resembled a hive of troubled bees, who only awaited the
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appearance and example of their leader. To take some distance and momentous flight.
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A young warrior at length issued from the lodge of uncas, and moving deliberately
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with a sort of grave marsh, toward a dwarf pine that grew in the
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crevices of the rocky terrace. He tore the bark from its body, and
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then turned whence he came without speaking. He was soon followed by another,
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who stripped the sapling of its branches, leaving it a naked and blazed trunk.
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Footnote, A tree which has been partially or entirely stripped of its bark
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is said in the language of the country to be blazed. The term is
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strictly English, for a horse is said to be blazed when it has a
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white mark and footnote. A third colored the post with stripes of a dark
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red paint, all which indications of a hostile design in the leaders of the
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nation were received by the men without in a gloomy and ominous silence. Finally,
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the Mohican himself reappeared, difested of all his attire, except his girdle
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and leggings, and with one half of his fine features hid under a cloud
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of threatening black uncas moved with a slow and dignified tread toward the post,
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which he immediately commenced in, circling with a measured step, not unlike an
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ancient dance, raising his voice at the same time in the wild and irregular
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chant of his war song. The notes were in the extremes of human sounds,
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being sometimes melancholy and exquisitely plaintive, even rivaling the melody of birds,
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and then by sudden and startling transitions, causing the auditors to tremble by their
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depth and energy. The words were few and often repeated, proceeding gradually from
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a sort of invocation or him to the deity, to an intimation of the
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warrior's object, and terminating as they commenced, with an acknowledgment of his own
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dependence on the great Spirit. If it were possible to translate the comprehensive and
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melodious language in which he spoke, the ode might read something like the following,
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manitou, manitou, manito, Thou art great, thou art good,
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thou art wise, Manito Manito thou art just in the heavens. In the
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clouds, oh I see many spots, many dark, many red in the
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heavens. Oh I see many clouds in the woods, in the air.
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Oh I hear the hoop, the long yell, and this cry in the
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woods. Oh I hear the loud hoop. Manito, manitou, Manito.
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I am weak, thou art strong, I am slow? Manito, Manito,
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give me aid. At the end of what might be called each verse,
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he made a pause by raising a note louder and longer than common,
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that was peculiarly suited to the sentiment just expressed. The first close was solemn
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and intended to convey the idea of veneration. The second descriptive, bordering on
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the alarming, and the third was the well known and terrific war hoop,
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which burst from the lips of the young warrior like a combination of the frightful
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sounds of battle. The last was, like the first, humble and imploring.
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Three times did he repeat this song, and as often did he encircle
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the post in his dance. At the close of the first turn. A
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grave and highly esteemed chief of the Lenape followed his example singing words of his
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own, however, to music of similar character. Warrior after warrior enlisted in
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the dance, until all of any renowned and authority were numbered in its mazes.
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The spectacle now became wildly terrific, the fierce looking and menacing visages of
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the chiefs receiving additional power from the appalling strains in which they mingled their guttural
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tones. Just then, Uncas struck his tomahawk deep into the post and raised
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his voice in a shout which might be termed his own battle cry. The
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act announced that he had assumed the chief authority in the intended expedition. It
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was a signal that awakened all the slumbering passions of the nation. A hundred
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youths, who had hitherto been restrained by the diffidence of their years, rushed
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in a frantic body on the fancied emblem of their enemy and severed it asunder,
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splinter by splendor, until nothing remained of the trunk but its roots in
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the earth. During this moment of tumult, the ruthless deeds of war were
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performed on the fragments of the tree with as much apparent ferocity as if they
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were the living victims of their cruelty. Some were scalped, some received the
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keen and trembling acts, and offers suffered thrust from the fatal knife. In
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short, the manifestations of zeal and fierce delight were so great and unequivocal that
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the expedition was declared to be a war of the nation. The instant Uncas
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had struck the blow, he moved out of the circle and cast his eyes
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up to the sun, which was just gaining the point whence the truce with
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Maw was to end. The fact was soon announced by a significant gesture accompanied
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by a corresponding cry, and the whole of the excited multitude abandoned their mimic
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warfare with shrill yells of pleasure, to prepare for the more hazardous experiment of
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the reality. The whole face of the encampment was instantly changed. The warriors,
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who were already armed and painted, became still, as if they were
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incapable of any uncommon burst of emotion. On the other hand, the women
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broke out of the lodges with songs of joy and those of lamentation so strangely
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mixed that it might have been difficult to have said, which passion preponderated.
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None, however, was idle. Some bore their choicest articles, others their
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young, and some their aged and infirm, into the forest, which spread
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itself like a verdant carpet of bright green against the side of the mountain.
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Thither also retired with calm composure after a short and touching interview with Uncas,
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from whom the sage separated with the reluctance that a parent would quit a long
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lost and just recovered child. In the meantime, Duncan saw Alice to a
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place of safety, and then sought the scout with a countenance that denoted how
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eagerly he also panted for the approaching contest. But Hawkeye was too much accustomed
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to the war song and the enlistments of the natives to betray any interest in
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the passing scene. He merely cast an occasional look at the number and quality
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of the warriors, who from time to time signified their readiness to accompany Uncas
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through the field. In this particular, he was soon satisfied, for,
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as has been already seen, the power of the young chief quickly embraced every
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fighting man in the nation. After this, this material point was so satisfactorily
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decided, he dispatched an Indian boy in quest of Kildeer and the rifle of
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Uncas to the place where they had deposited their weapons on approaching the camp of
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the Delawares. A measure of double policy inasmuch to protect the arms from their
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own fate if detained as prisoners, and gave them the advantage of appearing among
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the strangers rather as sufferers than as men provided with means of defense and subsistence.
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In selecting another to perform the office of reclaiming his highly prized rifle,
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the scout had lost sight of none of his habitual caution. He knew that
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Magua had not come unattended, and he also knew that Huron's spies watched the
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movements of their new enemies along the whole boundary of the woods. It would
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therefore have been fatal to himself to have attempted the experiment. A warrior would
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have fared no better, but the danger of a boy would not be likely
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to commend until after his object was discovered. When Hayward joined him, the
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scout was coolly awaiting the result of this experiment. The boy who had been
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well instructed, and was sufficiently crafty, proceeded with a bosom that was swelling
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with the pride of such a confidence and all the hopes of young ambition,
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carelessly across the clearing to the wood, which he entered at a point at
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some little distance from the place where the guns were secreted. The instant,
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however, he was concealed by the foliage of the bushes. His dusky form
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was to be seen gliding like that of a serpent toward the desired treasure.
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He was successful, and in another moment he appeared flying across the narrow opening
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that skirted the base of the terrace on which the village stood, with the
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velocity of an arrow, and bearing a prize in each hand. He had
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actually gained the crags and was leaping up their sides with incredible activity. When
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a shot from the wood showed how accurate had been the judgment of the scout,
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The boy answered it with a feeble but contemptuous shout, and immediately a
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second bullet was sent after him from another part of the cover. At the
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next instant, he appeared on the level above, elevating his guns in triumph.
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While he moved with the air of a conquer toward the renowned hunter who
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had honored him by so glorious a commission. Notwithstanding the lively interest Hawkeye had
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taken in the fate of his messenger, he received Kilder with a satisfaction that
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momentarily drove all other recollections from his mind. After examining the piece with an
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intelligent eye, and opening and shutting the pan for some ten or fifteen times,
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and trying sundry other equally important experiments on the lock, he turned to
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the boy and demanded, with great manifestations of kindness, if he was hurt.
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The urchin looked proudly up in his face, but made no reply.
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Ah, I see, lad, the knaves have barked your arm, added
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the scout, taking up the limb of the patient sufferer, across which a
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deep flesh wound had been made by one of the bullets. But a little
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bruised order will act like a charm. In the meantime, I will wrap
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it in a bandage of wampum. You have commenced the business of a warrior
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early, my brave boy, and are likely to bear plenty of honorable scars
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to your grave. I know many young men that have taken scalps that cannot
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show such a mark as this go. Having bound up the arm, you
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will be a chief. The lad departed, prouder of his flowing blood than
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the vainous courtier could be of his blushing ribbon, and stalked among the fellows
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of his age, an object of general admiration and envy. But in a
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moment of so many serious and important duties, this single act of juvenile fortitude
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did not attract the general notice and commendation it would have received under milder auspices.
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It had, however, served to apprize the Delawares of the position and
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intentions of their enemies. Accordingly, a party of adventurers better suited to the
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task than the weeks, though spirited boy, was ordered to dislodge the skulkers.
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The duty was soon performed, for most of the Hurons retired of themselves
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when they found they had been discovered. The Delawares followed to a sufficient distance
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from their own encampment, and then halted for orders, apprehensive of being led
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into an ambush. As both parties secreted themselves, the woods were again as
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still and quiet as a mild summer morning, and deep solitude could render them
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the calm, but still impatient, Uncas now collected his chiefs and divided his
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power. He presented Hawkeye as a warrior often tried and always found deserving of
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confidence. When he found his friend met with a favorable reception, he bestowed
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on him the command of twenty men like himself, active, skillful, and
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resolute. He gave the Delawares to understand the rank of Heyward among the troops
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of the Angeese, and then tendered to him a trust of equal authority.
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But Duncan declined the charge, professing his readiness to serve as a volunteer by
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the side of the scout. After this disposition, the young Mohican appointed various
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native chiefs to fill the different situations of responsibility and the time pressing. He
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gave forth the word to march. He was cheerfully but silently obeyed by more
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than two hundred men. Their entrance into the forest was perfectly unmolested, nor
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did they encounter any living objects which could either give the alarm or furnish the
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intelligence they needed, until they came upon the lairs of their own scouts.
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Here a halt was ordered, and the chiefs were assembled to hold a whispering
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council. At this meeting, diverse plans of operation were suggested, though none
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of a character to meet the wishes of their ardent leader. Had Uncas followed
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the promptings of his own inclinations, he would have led his followers to the
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charge without a moment's delay, and put the conflict to the hazard of an
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instant issue. But such, of course, would have been in opposition to
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all the received practices and opinions of his countrymen. He was therefore fain to
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adopt the caution that, in the present temper of his mind he exricated,
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and to listen to advice at which his fiery spirit chafed under the vivid recollection
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of Cora's danger and Mauqua's insolence. After an unsatisfactory conference of many minutes,
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a solitary individual was seen advancing from the side of the enemy with such apparent
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haste as to induce the belief he might be a messenger charged with pacific overtures.
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When within a hundred yards, however, of the cover behind which the
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Delaware Council had assembled, the stranger hesitated, appeared uncertain what course to take,
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and finally halted. All eyes were turned now on Uncas As if seeking
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directions how to proceed. O God, said the young chief in a low
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voice. He must never speak to the hurons again. His time has come,
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said the laconic Scalp, thrusting the long barrel of his rifle through the
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leaves and taking his deliberate and fatal aim. But instead of pulling the trigger,
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he lowered the muzzle again and indulged himself in a fit of his peculiar
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mirth. I took the inframingo as I'm a miserable sinner, he said.
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But when my eye ranged along his ribs for a place to get the bullet
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in, would you think it Uncas, I saw the musicianer's blower. And
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so after all, it is the man and they call Gamut, whose death
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can profit no one, and whose life, if this tongue can do anything
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but sing, may be made serviceable to our own ends. If sounds have
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not lost their virtue, I'll soon have a discourse with the honest fellow,
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and that in a voice he'll find more agreeable than the speech of Kildeer.
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So saying, Hawkeye laid aside his rifle and crawling through the bushes until within
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hearing of David. He attempted to repeat the musical effort which had conducted himself
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with so much safety, and he clopt through the Huron encampment. The exquisite
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organsic of Mout could not readily be deceived, and to say the truth,
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it would have been difficult for any other than Hawkeye to produce a similar noise.
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And consequently, having once before heard the sounds, he now knew whence
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they proceeded. The poor fellow appeared relieved from a state of great embarrassment for
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pursuing the direction of the voice, a task that to him was not much
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less arduous than it would have been to have gone up in the face of
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a battery. He soon discovered the hidden songster. I wonder what the Hurons
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will think of that, said the scout, laughing, as he took his
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companion by the arm and urged him toward the rear. If the knaves lie
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within earshot, they will say there are two non composers instead of one.
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But here we are safe, he added, pointing to Uncas and his associates.
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Now give us the history of the mingo inventions in natural English, and
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without any ups and Down's voice. David gazed about him at the fierce and
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wild looking chiefs in mute wonder, but assured by the presence of faces that
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he knew, he soon rallied his faculties so far as to make an intelligent
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reply. The Heathen are abroad in goodly numbers, said David, and I
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fear with evil intent. There has been much howling and godly revelie, together
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with such sounds as it is profaned to the utter in their habitations, within
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the past hour, So much so in truth, that I have fled to
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the Delawares in search of peace. Your ears might not have profited much by
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the exchange, had you been quicker. Afoot returned the scout a little dryly.
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But let that be as it may. Where are the Hurons? They
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lie hid in the forest between this spot and their village in such force that
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prudence would teach you instantly to return. Uncas cast a glance along the range
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of trees which concealed his own band, and mentioned the name of Maqua.
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He is among them. He brought in the maiden that had sojourned with the
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Delawares, and leaving her in the cave, has put himself like a raging
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wolf at the head of his savages. I know not what has troubled his
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spirits so great he has left her, you say in the cave, interrupted,
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Heyward,'tis well that we know its situation? May not something be
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done for her instant relief? Uncas looked earnestly at the scout before he asked,
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what says Hawkeye, Give me twenty rifles, and I will turn to
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the right along the stream, and, passing by the huts of the beaver,
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will join the Sagamore and the colonel. You shall then hear the hoop
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from that quarter. With this wind, one may easily send it a mile.
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Then, Uncas, do you drive in the front. When they come
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within range of our pieces, we will give them a blow that I pledge
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the good name of an old frontiersman, shall make their line bend like an
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ashen bow, after which we will carry the village and take the woman from
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the cave. When the affair may be finished with the tribe according to a
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white man's battle by a blow and a victory, or in the Indian fashion,
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with lodge and cover. There may be no great learning major in this
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plan, but with courage and patience. It can all be done. I
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like it very much, cried Duncan, who saw that the release of Cora
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was the primary object in the mind of the Scout. I like it much.
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Let it be instantly attempted. After a short conference, the plan was
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matured and rendered more intelligible to the several parties. The different signals were appointed
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and the chiefs separated, each to his allotted station. End of Chapter thirty one.