Latest / Adventure Books Collection / 06 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper

Transcript

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

0:00
Chapter six. Quote, though strains that once did sweet enzi and glide,
0:07
he wails a portion with judicious care, and let us worship God, he
0:12
says, with solemn air. Unquote. Burns Heyward and his female companions witnessed
0:21
this mysterious movement with secret uneasiness. For though the conduct of the white man
0:27
had hitherto been above reproach, his rude equipments, blunt address, and strong
0:33
antipathies, together with the character of his silent associates, were all causes for
0:39
exciting distrust in minds that had been so recently alarmed by Indian treachery. The
0:45
stranger alone disregarded the passing incidents. He seated himself on a projection of the
0:50
rocks, whence he gave no other signs of consciousness than by the struggles of
0:56
his spirit, as manifested in the frequent and heavy size. Smothered voices were
1:02
next heard, as though men called to each other in the bowels of the
1:04
earth, when a sudden light flashed upon those without and laid bared the much
1:08
prized secret of the place at the further extremity of a narrow, deep cavern
1:15
in the rock, whose length appeared much extended by the perspective and the nature
1:19
of the light by which it was seen, was seated the scout holding a
1:23
blazing knot of pine. The strong glare of the fire fell full upon his
1:29
sturdy, weather beaten countenance and forest attire, lending an air of romantic wildness
1:34
to the aspect of an individual who, seen by the sober light of day,
1:40
would have exhibited the peculiarities of a man remarkable for the strangeness of his
1:45
dress, the iron like inflexibility of his frame, and the singular compound of
1:51
quick, vigilant sagacity and of exquisite simplicity that, by turns usurped the possession
1:59
of his muscular features. At a little distance in advance, stood uncas his
2:04
whole person thrown powerfully into view. The travelers anxiously regarded the upright, flexible
2:09
figure of the young Mohican, graceful and unrestrained in the attitudes and movements of
2:15
nature. Though his person was more than usually screened by a green infringed hunting
2:20
shirt like that of the white man, there was no concealment of his dark,
2:24
glancing, fearless eye, a light terrible and calm, The bold outline
2:30
of his high, haughty features, pure in their native red, or to
2:35
the dignified elevation of his receding forehead, together with all the finest proportions of
2:40
a noble head bared to the generous scalping tuft. It was the first opportunity
2:46
possessed by Duncan and his companions to view the marked lineaments of either of their
2:52
Indian attendants, and each individual of the party felt relieved from a burden of
2:57
doubt as the proud and determined the wild expression of the features of the young
3:01
warrior forced itself on their notice. They felt it might be a being partially
3:08
benighted in the veil of ignorance, but it could not be one who would
3:14
willingly devote his rich natural gifts to the purpose of wanton treachery. The ingenuous
3:21
Alice gazed at his free air and proud carriage as she would have looked upon
3:25
some precious relic of the Grecian chisel, to which life had been imparted by
3:30
the invention of a miracle. While Heyward, though accustomed to see the perfection
3:35
of form which abounds among the uncorrupted natives, openly expressed his admiration at such
3:40
an unblemished specimen of the noblest proportions of man, I could sleep in peace,
3:47
whispered Alice, in reply, with such a fearless and generous looking youth.
3:53
For my sentinel, Shirley Duncan, those cruel martyrs, those terrific scenes
3:59
of torture of which we read and hear so much, are never acted in
4:03
the presence of such as he. This is certainly a rare and brilliant instance
4:10
of those natural qualities in which these peculiar people are said to excel. He
4:15
answered, I agree with you, Alice, in thinking that such a front
4:19
and eye were formed rather to intimidate than to deceive. But let us not
4:24
practice a deception upon ourselves by expecting any other exhibition of what we esteem virtue
4:30
than according to the fashion of the savage. As bright examples of great qualities
4:35
are but too uncommon among Christians, so they are singular and solitary with Indians,
4:43
though for the honor of our common nature, neither are incapable of producing
4:47
them. Let us then hope that this Mohican may not disappoint our wishes,
4:54
but prove what his looks assert him to be a brave and con friend.
5:00
Now Major Heyward speaks as Major Hayward should, said Cora, who that looks
5:06
at this creature of nature remembers the shade of his skin. A short and
5:13
apparently and embarrassed silence succeeded this remark, which was interrupted by the scout calling
5:18
to them aloud to enter. This fire begins to show to bright a flame,
5:24
he continued, as they complied, and might light the mingoes to our
5:28
undoing uncas, drop the blanket and show the knaves its dark side. This
5:33
is not such a supper as a major of the Royal Americans has right to
5:38
expect. But I've known stout detachment of the corps glad to eat their venison
5:43
raw and without a relish too. Footnote. In vulgar parlance, the condiments
5:49
of a repast are called by the American a relish, substituting the thing for
5:56
its effect. These provincial terms are frequently put in the mouths of the speakers
6:00
according to their several conditions in life. Most of them are of local use,
6:05
and others quite peculiar to the particular class of men to which the character
6:10
belongs. In the present instance, the scout uses the word with immediate reference
6:16
to the salt with which his own party was so fortunate as to be provided
6:23
end footnote. Here you see we have plenty of salt and can make a
6:30
quick broil. There's fresh sassy frast boughs for the ladies to sit on,
6:35
which may not be as proud as they are my hog Guinea chairs, but
6:41
which sends up a sweeter flavor than the skin of any hog can do,
6:46
be it of Guinea, or be it of any other land. Come friend,
6:50
don't be mournful, for the cult twas an innocent thing and had not
6:56
seen much hardship. Its death will save the creature many a sore back and
7:00
weary foot. Uncas did as the other had directed, And when the voice
7:06
of Hawkeye ceased, the roar of the cataract sounded like the rumbling of distant
7:12
thunder. Are we quite safe in this cavern? Demanded heyward. Is there
7:16
no danger of surprise? A single armed man at its entrance would hold us
7:21
at his mercy. A spectral looking figure stalked out of the darkness behind the
7:27
scout, and, seizing a blazing brand, held it toward the further extremity
7:31
of their place of retreat. Alice uttered a faint shriek, and even Cora
7:36
rose to her feet as this appalling object moved into the light. But a
7:41
single word from Heyward calmed them with the assurance it was only their attendant.
7:46
Changed Gotchkook, who, lifting another blanket, discovered that the cavern had two
7:51
outlets. Then, holding the brand, he crossed a deep, narrow chasm
7:57
in the rocks, which ran at right angles with the passage they were in,
8:01
but which, unlike that, was open to the heavens, and entered
8:05
another cave. Answering to the description of the first in every essential particular,
8:13
such old foxes is Chinjotkook, in myself are not often caught in a barrel
8:18
with one hole, said Hawkeye, laughing, you can easily see the cunning
8:22
of the place. The rock is black limestone, which everyone knows is soft.
8:28
It makes no uncomfortable pillow where brush and pinewood is scarce. Well,
8:33
the foe was once a few hundred yards below us, and I dare to
8:35
say was in its time as regular and as handsome a sheet of water as
8:41
any along the Hudson. But old age is a great injury to good looks,
8:46
as these sweet young ladies have yet to learn the place is sadly changed.
8:50
These rocks are full of cracks, and in some places they are softer
8:56
than it othersome, And the water has worked out deep hollows for itself until
9:00
it has fallen back by some hundred feet, breaking here and wearing there,
9:05
until the falls have neither shape nor consistency in What part of them are we
9:11
asked, Heyward, why we are nigh the spot that Providence first placed them
9:16
at, But where it seems they were too rebellious to stay. The rock
9:22
proofs softer on each side of us, and so they left the center of
9:26
the river bear and dry, first, working out these two little holes for
9:31
us to hide in. We are on an island. I there are falls
9:35
on two sides of us, and the river above and below. If you
9:39
had daylight, it would be worth the trouble to step on the height of
9:43
this rock and look at the perversity of the water. It falls by no
9:48
rule at all. Sometimes it leaps, sometimes it tumbles there, It skips
9:54
here. It shoots in one place as white as snow, and in an
10:00
another tis green as grass. Hereabouts it pitches into deep hollows that rumb one
10:05
crush the earth, and there aways it ripples and sings like a brook,
10:11
fashioning whirlpools and gullies in the old stone, as if twas no harder than
10:16
trodden clay. The whole design of the river seems disconcerted. First it runs
10:22
smoothly, as if meaning to go down the descent as things were ordered.
10:28
Then it angles about and faces the shores. Nor are there places wanting where
10:33
it looks backward, as if unwilling to leave the wilderness to mingle with the
10:37
salt. Aye, lady, The fine cobweb looking cloth you wear at your
10:43
throat is coarse and like a fish net. To the little spots, I
10:46
can show you where the river fabricates all sorts of images, as if having
10:52
broke loose from order, it would try its hand at everything. And yet
10:56
what does it amount to. After the water has been suffered so to have
11:01
its will for a time, like a headstrong man, it is gathered together
11:05
by the hand that made it, and a few rods below you may see
11:09
it all flowing on steadily toward the sea, as was fore ordained from the
11:16
first foundation of the earth. While his auditors received a cheering assurance of the
11:20
security of their place of concealment. From this untutored description of Glenn's they were
11:28
much inclined to judge differently from Hawkeye of its wild beauties. Footnote. Glenn's
11:33
falls are on the Hudson, some forty or fifty miles above the head of
11:37
tide, or that place where the river becomes navigable for sloops. The description
11:41
of this picturesque and remarkable little cataract, as given by the scout is sufficiently
11:48
correct, though the application of the water to uses in civilized life has materially
11:54
injured its beauties. The rocky island and the two caverns are known to every
11:58
traveler, since the former sustains the pier of a bridge which is now thrown
12:03
across the river immediately above the fall. In explanation of the taste of Hawkeye,
12:09
it should be remembered that men always prize that most which is least enjoyed.
12:15
Thus, in a new country the woods and other objects which in an
12:18
old country would be maintained at great cost or got rid of, simply with
12:24
a view of improving, as it is called end footnote, They were not
12:31
in a situation to suffer their thoughts to dwell on the charms of natural objects,
12:37
and as the scout had not found it necessary to cease his culinary labors
12:41
while he spoke, unless to point out with a broken fork the direction of
12:46
some particularly obnoxious point in the rebellious stream, they now suffered their attention to
12:52
be drawn to the necessary the more vulgar consideration of their supper. The repast,
12:58
which was greatly aided by the addition of a few delicacies that Heyward had
13:01
the precaution to bring with him when they left their horses, was exceedingly refreshing
13:07
to the weary party. Uncas acted as a tendant to the females, performing
13:11
all the little offices within his power, with a mixture of dignity and anxious
13:16
grace that served to amuse Heyward, who well knew that it was an utter
13:22
innovation on the Indian customs, which forbid their warriors to dissent to any menial
13:26
employment, especially in favor of their women. As the rights of hospitality were,
13:33
however, considered sacred among them. This little departure from the dignity of
13:39
manhood excited no audible comment. Had there been one sufficiently disengaged to become a
13:46
close observer, he might have fancied that the services of the young chief were
13:50
not entirely impartial, that while he tendered to Alice the gorge of sweet water
13:56
and the venison in a trencher neatly carved from the nod of a pepperage with
14:01
sufficient courtesy, in performing the same offices to her sister, his dark eye
14:07
lingered on her rich speaking countenance. Once or twice he was compelled to speak
14:13
to command her attention. Of those he served. In such cases he made
14:18
use of English, broken and imperfect, but sufficiently intelligible, and which he
14:24
rendered so mild and musical by his deep, gutteral voice, that it never
14:30
failed to cause both ladies to look up in admiration and astonishment. In the
14:35
course of these civilities, a few sentences were exchanged that served to establish the
14:39
appearance of an amicable intercourse between the parties. In the meanwhile, the gravity
14:46
of Chingotchkook remained immovable. He had seated himself more within the circle of light,
14:52
where the frequent uneasy glances of his guest were better enabled to separate the
14:58
natural expression of his face from the artificial terrors of the war paint. They
15:03
found a strong resemblance between father and son, with the difference that might be
15:07
expected from age and hardships. The fierceness of his countenance now seemed to slumber,
15:15
and in its place was to be seen the quiet, vacant composure which
15:20
distinguishes an Indian warrior when his faculties are not required for any of the greater
15:24
purposes of his existence. It was, however, easy to be seen by
15:31
the occasional gleams that shot across his swarthy visage, that it was only necessary
15:37
to arouse his passions in order to give full effect to the terrific device which
15:41
he had adopted to intimidate his enemies. On the other hand, the quick
15:48
roving eye of the scout seldom rested. He ate and drank with an appetite
15:52
that no sense of danger could disturb, but his vigilance seemed never to desert
15:58
him. Tenty times, the gordon the venison was suspended before his lips,
16:03
while his head was turned aside as though he listened to some distant and distrusted
16:08
sounds, a movement that never failed to recall his guest from regarding the novelties
16:15
of their situation to a recollection of the alarming reasons that had driven them to
16:21
seek it. As these frequent pauses were never followed by any remark, the
16:26
momentary uneasiness they created quickly passed away, and for a time was forgotten.
16:34
Come friend, said Hawkeye, drawing out a cake from beneath a cover of
16:38
leaves, toward the close of the repast, and addressing the stranger who sat
16:42
at his elbow doing great justice to his culinary skill. Try a little spruce
16:48
twill wash away all thoughts of the colt and quicken the life in your bosom.
16:53
I drink to our better friendship, hoping that a little horse flesh may
16:59
leave no heartburnings between us. How do you name yourself? Gamut? David
17:06
Gamut, returned the singing master, preparing to wash down his sorrows in a
17:10
powerful draft of the woodsman's high flavored and well laced compound. A very good
17:15
name, and I dare say, handed down from honest forefathers. I am
17:19
an admirator of names, though the Christian fashions fall far below savage customs.
17:25
In this particular. The biggest coward I ever knew was called Lion, and
17:30
his wife Patience would scold you out of hearing in less time than a haunted
17:33
deer would run a rod with an Indian'tis a matter of conscience. What
17:37
he calls himself. He generally is not the chinotch cook, which signifies big
17:45
Sarpent is really a snake, big or little, but that he understands the
17:52
windings and turnings of human nature, and is silent and strikes his enemies when
17:57
they least expect him. What may be your calling? I am an unworthy
18:03
instructor in the art of psalmody, and and I teach singing to the youths
18:11
of the Connecticut Levey. You might be better employed. The young hounds go
18:17
laughing and singing too much already through the woods when they ought not to breathe
18:22
louder than the fox in his cover. Can you use the smooth bore or
18:26
handle the rifle? Praise be to God. I have never had occasion to
18:32
meddle with murderous implements. Perhaps you understand the compass and lay down the water
18:37
courses and mountains of the wilderness on paper, in order that they who follow
18:41
may find places by their given names. I practice no such employment. You
18:48
have a pair of legs that might make a long path seem short you journey.
18:53
Sometimes I fancy with tidings for the general. Never I thought follow no
19:00
other than my own high vocation, which is instruction in sacred music.'tis
19:07
a strange calling, muttered Hawkeye with an inward laugh, to go through life
19:12
like a catbird, mocking all the ups and downs that may happen to come
19:18
out of other men's throats. Well, friend, I suppose it is your
19:22
gift and mustn't be denied any more than if twas shooting or some other better
19:27
inclination. Let us hear what you can do in that way. Twill be
19:33
a friendly manner of saying good night, for'tis time that these ladies should be
19:37
getting strength for a hard and long push in the pride of the morning.
19:41
Afore the makuas are stirring with joyful pleasure. Do I consent? Said David,
19:48
adjusting his iron rimmed spectacles and producing his beloved little volume, which he
19:52
immediately tendered to Alice. What can be more fitting and consolatory than to offer
20:00
up evening praise after a day of such exceeding jeopardy. Alice smiled, but
20:07
regarding Heyward, she blushed and hesitated indulge yourself, he whispered, ought not
20:15
the suggestion of the worthy namesake of the Psalmist to have its weight at such
20:18
a moment. Encouraged by his opinion, Alice did what her pious inclinations and
20:23
her keen relish for gentle sounds had before so strongly urged. The book was
20:30
opened at a hymn not ill adapted to their situation, and in which the
20:33
poet, no longer goaded by his desire to expel the inspired King of Israel,
20:38
had discovered some chastened and respectable powers. Cora betrayed this position to support
20:45
her sister, and the sacred song proceeded. After the indispensable preliminaries of the
20:51
pitch pipe and the tune had been duly attended by the methodical David. The
20:56
air was solemn and slow. At times it rose to the fullest compass of
21:00
the rich voices of the females who hung over their little book in holy excitement.
21:07
And again it sank so low that the rushing of the waters ran through
21:11
their melody like a hollow accompaniment. The natural taste and true ear of David
21:17
governed and modified the sounds to suit the confined cavern every crevice and cranny of
21:22
which was filled with the thrilling notes of their flexible voices. The Indians riveted
21:27
their eyes on the rocks and listened with an attention that seemed to turn them
21:33
into stone. But the scout, who had placed his chin in his hand
21:38
with an expression of cold indifference, gradually suffered his rigid features to relax,
21:45
until, as verses seated verse, he felt his iron nature subdued, while
21:52
his recollection was carried back to boyhood, when his ears had been accustomed to
21:56
listen to similar sounds of praise in the sunettlements of the colony. His roving
22:03
eyes began to moisten, and before the hymn was ended, scalding tears rolled
22:07
out of fountains that had long seemed dry, and followed each other down those
22:14
cheeks that had oftener felt the storms of heaven than any testimonials of weakness.
22:21
The singers were dwelling on one of those low, dying chords, which the
22:25
ear divarsed with such greedy rapture, as if conscious that it was about to
22:30
lose them, when a cry that seemed neither human nor earthly rose in the
22:34
outward air, penetrating not only the recesses of the cavern, but to the
22:38
inmost hearts of all who heard it. It was followed by a stillness,
22:44
apparently as deep as if the waters had been checked in their furious progress.
22:48
At such a horrid and unusual interruption, what is it? Murmured Alice,
22:55
After a few moments of terrible suspense, what is it? Repeated Heyward alone.
23:00
Neither Hawkeye nor the Indians made any reply. They listened, as if
23:06
expecting the sound would be repeated, with a manner that expressed their own astonishment.
23:11
At length, they spoke together earnestly in the Delaware language. When Uncas,
23:18
passing by the inner and most concealed aperture, cautiously left the cavern.
23:22
When he had gone, the scout first spoke in English. What it is?
23:26
Or what it is not? None here can tell, though two of
23:30
us have ranged the wood for more than thirty years. I did believe there
23:34
was no cry that Indian or beasts could make, that my ears had not
23:38
heard. But this has proved that I was only a vain and conceited mortal.
23:45
Was it not, then, the shelted warriors make when they wished to
23:48
intimidate their enemies asked Cora, who stood drawing her veil about her person with
23:52
a calmness, to which her agitated sister was a stranger. No, No,
23:57
this was bad and shocking and had as short of unhuman sound. But
24:03
when you once hear the war whoop, you will never mistake it for anything
24:06
else. Well, Uncas, speaking in the delaware to the young chief as
24:11
he re entered, what see you do our light shine through the blankets?
24:15
The answer was short and apparently decided, being given in the same tongue.
24:21
There is nothing to be seen without, continued Hawkeye, shaking his head in
24:25
discontent. And our hiding place is still in darkness. Pass into the other
24:32
cave you that need it and seek for sleep. We must be afoot long
24:37
before the sun and make the most of our time to get to Edward while
24:40
the Mingoes are still taking their morning nap. Corus set the example of compliance
24:45
with a steadiness that taught the more timid Alice the necessity of obedience. Before
24:49
leaving the place, however, she whispered a request to Duncan that he would
24:53
follow. Uncas raised the blanket for the passage, and as the bister's turned
25:00
to thank him for his act, of attention. They saw the scouts seated
25:03
again before the dying embers, with his face resting on his hands, in
25:08
a manner which showed how deeply he brooded on the unaccountable interruption which had broken
25:14
their evening devotions. Heyward took with him a blazing knot, which threw a
25:18
dim light through the narrow vista of their new apartment, placing it in a
25:22
favorable position. He joined the females, who now found themselves alone with him
25:27
for the first time since they had left the friendly ramparts of Fort Edward.
25:32
Leave us not, Duncan, said, Alice, we cannot sleep in such
25:36
a place as this, with that horrid cry still ringing in our ears.
25:41
First let us examine into the security of our fortress, he answered, and
25:47
then we will speak of rest. He approached the further end of the cavern
25:49
to an outlet, which, like the others, was concealed by blankets,
25:53
and removing the thick screen, breathe a fresh and reviving air from the cataract.
25:59
One arm of the river flowed through a deep, narrow ravine which its
26:03
current had worn in the soft rock directly beneath his feet, forming an effectual
26:07
defense as he believed against any danger from that quarter. The water a few
26:14
rods above them, plunging, glancing, and sweeping along in its most violent
26:18
and broken manner, Nature has made an impenetrable barrier on this side. He
26:23
continued, pointing down the perpendicular declivity into the dark current, before he dropped
26:29
the blanket. And as you know that good men and true are on guard
26:33
in front, I see no reason why the advice of our honest host should
26:37
be disregarded. I am certain Cora will join me in saying that sleep is
26:42
necessary to you both. Cora may submit to the justice of your opinion,
26:48
though she cannot put it in practice, returned the elder sister, who had
26:52
placed herself by the side of Alice on a couch of Sassyfras there would be
26:56
other causes to chase away sleep. We had been spared the shock of this
27:00
mysterious noise. Ask yourself, Heyward, can daughters forget the anxiety? If
27:07
father must endure? Whose children lodge? He knows not where or how in
27:11
such a wilderness, and in the midst of so many perils. He is
27:17
a soldier and knows how to estimate the chances of the woods he is a
27:22
father and cannot deny his nature. How kind has he ever been to all
27:27
my follies, how tender and intuligent to all my wishes? Sobbed Alice.
27:34
We have been selfish, sister, in urging our visit at such hazard.
27:40
I have been rash in pressing his consent in a moment of such embarrassment,
27:45
that I would have proved to him that, however others might neglect him in
27:48
his strait, his children, at least were faithful. When he heard of
27:53
your arrival at Edward said, Heyward, kindly, there was a powerful struggle
27:59
in his bosom, being between fear and love, though the latter heightened,
28:03
if possible, by so long a separation quickly prevailed. It is the spirit
28:08
of my noble minded Cora that leads them. Duncan, he said, And
28:12
I would not balk. It would to God that he who holds the honor
28:17
of our royal master in his guardianship would show but half her firmness. And
28:23
did he not speak of me, Heyward demanded Alice, with jealous affection.
28:29
Surely he forgotten not altogether? Is little Elsie, that were impossible, returned
28:34
the young man. He called you by a thousand endearing epithets that I may
28:41
not presume to use, but to the justice of which I can warmly testify.
28:45
Once Indeed, he said, Duncan ceased speaking, for while his eyes
28:52
were riveted on those of Alice, who had turned toward him with the eagerness
28:55
of filial affection to catch his words, the same strong, horrid cry as
29:00
before filled the air and rendered him mute. A long, breathless silence succeeded,
29:07
during which each looked at the others in fearful expectation of hearing the sound
29:11
repeated. At length. The blanket was slowly raised, and the scout stood
29:17
in the aperture with a countenance whose firmness evidently began to give way before a
29:22
mystery that seemed to threaten some danger against which all his cunning and experience might
29:27
prove to no avail. End of Chapter six