Latest / Thrilling Adventures - Daily / 22 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper
Transcript
- 0:00Speaker 1: Chapter twenty two. Quote bought a bibu. We all met
- 0:08Speaker 1: Qui Pat Pat, and here's a marvelous convenient place for
- 0:13Speaker 1: our rehearsal. End quote from Midsummer Night's Dream. The reader
- 0:20Speaker 1: may better imagine than we describe the surprise of Heyward.
- 0:24Speaker 1: His lurking Indians were suddenly converted into four footed beast,
- 0:29Speaker 1: his lake into a beaver pond, his cataract into a
- 0:34Speaker 1: dam constructed by those industrious and ingenious quadrupeds, and a
- 0:39Speaker 1: suspected enemy into his tried friend, David Gamout, the master
- 0:46Speaker 1: of psalmody. The presence of the latter created so many
- 0:50Speaker 1: unexpected hopes relative to the sisters, that, without a moment's hesitation,
- 0:56Speaker 1: the young man broke out of his ambush and sprang
- 1:00Speaker 1: forward to join the two principal actors in the scene.
- 1:04Speaker 1: The merriment of Hawkeye was not easily appeased. Without ceremony,
- 1:10Speaker 1: and with a rough hand, he twirled the supple Gamut
- 1:14Speaker 1: around on his heel, and more than once affirmed that
- 1:17Speaker 1: the Hurons had done themselves great credit in the fashion
- 1:20Speaker 1: of his costume. Then, seizing the hand of the other,
- 1:25Speaker 1: he squeezed it with a grip that brought tears into
- 1:28Speaker 1: the eyes of the placid David, and wished him joy
- 1:32Speaker 1: in his new condition. You were about opening your throat.
- 1:36Speaker 1: Practicings among the beavers were ye, he said, the cunning
- 1:40Speaker 1: devils know half the trade already, for they beat the
- 1:44Speaker 1: time with their tails, as you heard just now, and
- 1:48Speaker 1: in good time it was too or kill deer might
- 1:52Speaker 1: have sounded the first note among them. I have known
- 1:56Speaker 1: greater fools who could read and write than an experienced
- 1:59Speaker 1: old beaver. But as for squalling, the animals are born dumb.
- 2:05Speaker 1: What think of you as such a song as this?
- 2:09Speaker 1: David shut his sensitive ears, and even Heyward, apprized as
- 2:14Speaker 1: he was of the nature of the cry, looked upward
- 2:17Speaker 1: in quest of the bird, as the cawing of a
- 2:20Speaker 1: crow rang in the air about them. See, continued the
- 2:26Speaker 1: laughing scout, as he pointed toward the remainder of the party, who,
- 2:31Speaker 1: in obedience to the signal, were already approaching. This is
- 2:35Speaker 1: music which has its natural virtues. It brings two good
- 2:40Speaker 1: rifles to my elbow, to say nothing of the knives
- 2:44Speaker 1: and tomahawks. But we see that you are safe. Now
- 2:49Speaker 1: tell us what has become of the maidens. They are
- 2:54Speaker 1: captives of the heathen, said David, and the greatly troubled
- 3:00Speaker 1: in spirit, enjoying comfort and safety in the body, both
- 3:06Speaker 1: demanded the breathless heyward. Even so, though our wayfaring has
- 3:12Speaker 1: been sore, and are susten and scanty, we have had
- 3:16Speaker 1: little other cause for complaint except the violence done our
- 3:20Speaker 1: feelings by being thus led in captivity into a far land.
- 3:27Speaker 1: Bless ye for these very words, exclaimed the trembling Monroe.
- 3:32Speaker 1: I shall then receive my babes, spotless and angel like.
- 3:36Speaker 1: Has I lost them? I know nought that their delivery
- 3:41Speaker 1: is at hand, returned the doubting David. The leader of
- 3:45Speaker 1: those savages is possessed of an evil spirit that no
- 3:49Speaker 1: power short of omnipotence contain. I have tried him sleeping
- 3:55Speaker 1: and walking, but neither sounds nor language seemed to touch
- 3:59Speaker 1: his soul. Where is the knave? Bluntly interrupted the scout.
- 4:04Speaker 1: He hunts the moose to day with his young men,
- 4:08Speaker 1: and tomorrow, as I hear, they passed further into the
- 4:12Speaker 1: forest and nigher to the borders of Canada. The elder
- 4:16Speaker 1: maiden is conveyed to a neighboring people whose lodges are
- 4:20Speaker 1: situated beyond yonder black pinnicos of rock, while the younger
- 4:25Speaker 1: is detained among the women of the Hurons, whose dwellings
- 4:29Speaker 1: are but two short miles, hence on a table land,
- 4:33Speaker 1: where the fire had done the office of the axe
- 4:35Speaker 1: and prepared the place for their reception. Hallis my gentle
- 4:41Speaker 1: Alice murmured Heyward. She has lost the consolation of her
- 4:45Speaker 1: sister's presence. Even so, But so far as praise and thanksgiving,
- 4:50Speaker 1: insolmity can temper the spirit of affliction, she has not suffered.
- 4:56Speaker 1: Has she then? Ahut for music of the graver and
- 5:00Speaker 1: more solemn character. Though it must be acknowledged that in
- 5:05Speaker 1: spite of all my endeavors, the maiden weeps oftener than
- 5:09Speaker 1: she smiles, And such moments I forbear to press the
- 5:14Speaker 1: holy songs. But there are many sweet and comfortable periods
- 5:19Speaker 1: of satisfactory communication when the ears of the savages are
- 5:23Speaker 1: astounded with the uplifting of our voices. And why are
- 5:29Speaker 1: you permitted to go at large? Unwatched? David composed his
- 5:34Speaker 1: features into what he intended should express, an air of
- 5:37Speaker 1: modest humility, before he meekly replied, little be the praise
- 5:42Speaker 1: to such a worm as I. But though the power
- 5:46Speaker 1: of psalmody was suspended in the terrible business of that
- 5:49Speaker 1: field of blood through which we have passed, it has
- 5:53Speaker 1: recovered its influence over the souls of the heathen, and
- 5:57Speaker 1: I am suffered to go and come at will. The
- 6:02Speaker 1: scout laughed, and, tapping his own forehead significantly, he perhaps
- 6:07Speaker 1: explained the singular indulgence more satisfactorily when he said, the
- 6:13Speaker 1: Indians never harm a non composer. But why when the
- 6:17Speaker 1: path lay open before your eyes did you not strike
- 6:20Speaker 1: back on your own trail? It is not as blind
- 6:24Speaker 1: as that which a squirrel would make, and bring in
- 6:27Speaker 1: the tidings to Edward. The scout, remembering only his own
- 6:31Speaker 1: sturdy and iron nature, had probably exacted the task that David,
- 6:36Speaker 1: under no circumstances, could have performed, but without entirely losing
- 6:43Speaker 1: the meekness of his air. The latter was content to answer,
- 6:46Speaker 1: though my soul would rejoice to visit the habitations of
- 6:50Speaker 1: Christendom once more, my feet would rather follow the tender
- 6:55Speaker 1: spirits entrusted to my keeping, even into the idolatrous provence
- 7:01Speaker 1: of the Jesuits, then take one step backward while they
- 7:05Speaker 1: pined in captivity and sorrow. Though the figurative language of
- 7:10Speaker 1: David was not very intelligible, the sincere and steady expression
- 7:16Speaker 1: of his eye and the glow of his honest countenance
- 7:19Speaker 1: were not easily mistaken. Uncas pressed closer to his side
- 7:25Speaker 1: and regarded the speaker with a look of commendation. While
- 7:29Speaker 1: his father expressed his satisfaction by the ordinary pitheaic'sclamation of approbation,
- 7:37Speaker 1: the scout shook his head as he rejoined. The Lord
- 7:40Speaker 1: never intended that a man should place all his endeavors
- 7:43Speaker 1: in his throat, to the neglect of other and better gifts.
- 7:48Speaker 1: But he has fallen into the hands of some silly
- 7:50Speaker 1: woman when he should have been gathering his education under
- 7:54Speaker 1: the blue sky among the beauties of the forest. Here, friend,
- 8:00Speaker 1: I didn't intend to kindle a fire with this toothing
- 8:03Speaker 1: whistle of thine, But as you value the thing, take
- 8:07Speaker 1: it and blow your best on it. Gamout received his
- 8:12Speaker 1: pitch pipe with as strong an expression of pleasure as
- 8:16Speaker 1: he believed compatible with the grave functions he exercised, after
- 8:21Speaker 1: essaying its virtues repeatedly in contrast with his own voice,
- 8:26Speaker 1: and satisfying himself that none of its melody was lost,
- 8:30Speaker 1: he made a very serious demonstration toward achieving a few
- 8:34Speaker 1: stanzas of one of the longest effusions in the little
- 8:37Speaker 1: volume so often mentioned. Heyward, however, hastily interrupted his pious
- 8:43Speaker 1: purpose by continuing questions concerning the past and present condition
- 8:48Speaker 1: of his fellow captives, and in a manner more methodical
- 8:52Speaker 1: than had been permitted by his feelings. In the opening
- 8:55Speaker 1: of their interview, David, though he regarded his treasure with
- 9:00Speaker 1: longing eyes, was constrained to answer, especially as the venerable
- 9:05Speaker 1: Father took a part in the interrogatories with an interest
- 9:10Speaker 1: too imposing to be denied. Nor did the scout fail
- 9:14Speaker 1: to throw in a pertinent inquiry whenever a fitting occasion presented.
- 9:20Speaker 1: In this manner, though with frequent interruptions which were filled
- 9:24Speaker 1: with certain threatening sounds from the recovered instrument, the pursuers
- 9:28Speaker 1: were put in possession of such leading circumstances as were
- 9:32Speaker 1: likely to prove useful in accomplishing their great and engrossing object,
- 9:37Speaker 1: the recovery of the sisters. The narrative of David was simple,
- 9:42Speaker 1: and the facts but few. Maqua had waited on the
- 9:47Speaker 1: mountain until a safe moment to retire presented itself when
- 9:51Speaker 1: he had descended and taken the route along the western
- 9:55Speaker 1: side of the Horican in the direction of the Canadas.
- 9:59Speaker 1: As the subtle Huron was familiar with the paths, and
- 10:03Speaker 1: well knew that there was no immediate danger of pursuit.
- 10:06Speaker 1: Their progress had been moderate and far from fatiguing. It
- 10:11Speaker 1: appeared from the unembellished statement of David that his own
- 10:15Speaker 1: presence had been rather endured than desired, though even Magua
- 10:20Speaker 1: had not been entirely exempt from the veneration with which
- 10:23Speaker 1: the Indians regard those whom the Great Spirit had visited
- 10:27Speaker 1: in their intellects at night. The utmost care had been
- 10:31Speaker 1: taken of the captives, both to prevent injury from the
- 10:34Speaker 1: damps of the woods and to guard against an escape
- 10:38Speaker 1: at the spring. The horses were turned loose, as has
- 10:42Speaker 1: been seen, and notwithstanding the remoteness and length of their trail,
- 10:48Speaker 1: the artifices already named were resorted to in order to
- 10:52Speaker 1: cut off every clue to the replace of retreat. On
- 10:56Speaker 1: their arrival at the encampment of his people, in obedience
- 11:01Speaker 1: to a policy seldom departed from, separated his prisoners, Cora
- 11:07Speaker 1: had been sent to a tribe that temporarily occupied an
- 11:10Speaker 1: adjacent valley. Though David was far too ignorant of the
- 11:14Speaker 1: customs and history of the natives to be able to
- 11:17Speaker 1: declare anything satisfactory concerning their name or character. He only
- 11:22Speaker 1: knew that they had not engaged in the late expedition
- 11:25Speaker 1: against William Henry, that like the Hurons themselves, they were
- 11:30Speaker 1: allies of Montcalm, and that they maintained an amicable, though
- 11:36Speaker 1: a watchful intercourse with the warlike and savage people whom
- 11:39Speaker 1: chance had for a time brought in such close and
- 11:43Speaker 1: disagreeable contact with themselves. The Mohicans and the Scout listened
- 11:49Speaker 1: to his interrupted and imperfect narrative with an interest that
- 11:53Speaker 1: obviously increased as he proceeded, And it was while attempting
- 11:58Speaker 1: to explain the pursuits of the community in which Cora
- 12:01Speaker 1: was detained, that the latter abruptly demanded, did you see
- 12:07Speaker 1: the fashion of their knives? Were they of English or
- 12:10Speaker 1: French formation? My thoughts were bent on no such vanities,
- 12:15Speaker 1: but rather mingled in consolation with those of the maidens.
- 12:22Speaker 1: The time may come when you will not consider the
- 12:25Speaker 1: knife of a savage such a despicable vanity, returned the
- 12:29Speaker 1: scout with a strong expression of contempt for the other's dullness.
- 12:34Speaker 1: Have they held their corn feast? Or can you say
- 12:37Speaker 1: anything of the totems of the tribe. Of course we
- 12:41Speaker 1: had minty and plentiful feast, for the grain being in
- 12:45Speaker 1: the milk is both sweet to the mouth and comfortable
- 12:49Speaker 1: to the stomach. Of totem. I knew not the meaning,
- 12:54Speaker 1: But if it pertaineth in any wise to the art
- 12:58Speaker 1: of Indian music, it need not be inquired after. At
- 13:02Speaker 1: their heads they never join their voices in praise, and
- 13:07Speaker 1: it would seem that they are among the profanest of
- 13:10Speaker 1: the idolatrous. Therein you belie the nature of an Indian,
- 13:16Speaker 1: even the Mingo adores. But the true and Loving God
- 13:21Speaker 1: tis wicked fabrication of the whites. And I say it
- 13:24Speaker 1: to the shame of my color, that would make the
- 13:27Speaker 1: warrior bow down before images of his own creation. It
- 13:32Speaker 1: is true they endeavor to make truces to the wicked one,
- 13:36Speaker 1: as who would not with an enemy he cannot conquer.
- 13:40Speaker 1: But they look up for favor and assistance to the
- 13:43Speaker 1: great and good Spirit. Only it may be so, said David,
- 13:49Speaker 1: But I have seen strange and fantastic images drawn in
- 13:53Speaker 1: their paint, of which their admiration and care savored of
- 13:58Speaker 1: spiritual pride, especially one and that two A foul and
- 14:05Speaker 1: loathsome object? Was it a serpent? Quickly demanded the scout
- 14:11Speaker 1: much the same. It was in the likeness of an
- 14:14Speaker 1: object and creeping tortoise. Huh, exclaimed both the attentive Mohicans
- 14:21Speaker 1: in a breath, while the scout shook his head with
- 14:23Speaker 1: the air of one who had made an important, but
- 14:26Speaker 1: by no means a pleasing discovery. Then the father spoke
- 14:31Speaker 1: in the language of the Delawares, and with a calmness
- 14:35Speaker 1: and dignity that instantly arrested the attention even of those
- 14:40Speaker 1: to whom his words were unintelligible. His gestures were impressive
- 14:45Speaker 1: and at times energetic. Once he lifted his arm on high,
- 14:50Speaker 1: and as it descended the action threw aside the folds
- 14:54Speaker 1: of his light mantle, a finger resting on his breast,
- 14:58Speaker 1: as if he could enforce them meaning by the attitude.
- 15:02Speaker 1: Duncan's eyes followed the movement, and he perceived that the
- 15:06Speaker 1: animal just mentioned was beautifully, though faintly, worked in blue
- 15:10Speaker 1: tint on the swarthy breast of the chief. All that
- 15:14Speaker 1: he had ever heard of the violent separation of the
- 15:17Speaker 1: vast tribes of the Delawares rushed across his mind, and
- 15:22Speaker 1: he awaited the proper moment to speak with a suspense
- 15:26Speaker 1: that was rendered nearly intolerable by his interests in the stake.
- 15:31Speaker 1: His wish, however, was anticipated by the scout, who turned
- 15:36Speaker 1: from his red friend, saying, we have found that which
- 15:40Speaker 1: may be good or evil to us as Heaven disposes.
- 15:44Speaker 1: The Sagamore is of the high blood of the Delawares,
- 15:49Speaker 1: and is the great chief of their tortoises. That some
- 15:53Speaker 1: of this stalk are among the people of whom the
- 15:56Speaker 1: singer tells us is plain by his words. And had
- 16:01Speaker 1: he but spent half the breath in prudent questions that
- 16:06Speaker 1: he has blown away in making a trumpet of his throat,
- 16:09Speaker 1: we might have known how many warriors they numbered. It
- 16:13Speaker 1: is altogether a dangerous path we move in, for a
- 16:17Speaker 1: friend whose face is turned from you often bears a
- 16:21Speaker 1: bloodier mind than the enemy who seeks your scalp. Explain, said,
- 16:28Speaker 1: duncan 'tis a long and melancholy tradition, and one I
- 16:33Speaker 1: little like to think of, For it is not to
- 16:36Speaker 1: benign that the evil has been mainly done by men
- 16:38Speaker 1: with white skins. But it has ended in turning the
- 16:44Speaker 1: tomahawk of brother against brother, and brought the Mingo and
- 16:47Speaker 1: the Delaware to travel in the same path. You, then
- 16:52Speaker 1: suspect it is a portion of that people among whom
- 16:55Speaker 1: Cora resides. The Scalp nodded his head in assent, though
- 17:00Speaker 1: he seemed anxious to waive the further discussion of a
- 17:03Speaker 1: subject that appeared painful. The impatient Duncan now made several
- 17:08Speaker 1: hasty and desperate propositions to attempt the release of the sisters.
- 17:14Speaker 1: Monroe seemed to shake off his apathy and listened to
- 17:17Speaker 1: the wild schemes of the young man with a deference
- 17:21Speaker 1: that his gray hairs and reverent years should have denied.
- 17:25Speaker 1: But the scout, after suffering the ardor of the lover,
- 17:28Speaker 1: to expand itself a little, found means to convince him
- 17:32Speaker 1: of the folly of precipitation, in a manner that would
- 17:36Speaker 1: require their coolest judgment and utmost fortitude. It would be well,
- 17:42Speaker 1: he added, to let this man go in again as usual,
- 17:46Speaker 1: and for him to tarry in the lodges, giving notice
- 17:49Speaker 1: to the gentle ones of our approach, until we call
- 17:53Speaker 1: him out by signal to consult. You know the cry
- 17:56Speaker 1: of a crow friend from the whistle of a whipper
- 17:59Speaker 1: will tis a pleasing bird, returned David, and has a
- 18:03Speaker 1: soft and melancholy note. Though the time is rather quick,
- 18:07Speaker 1: and he'll measured. He speaks of the wish ton wish,
- 18:11Speaker 1: said the scout. Well, since you like his whistle, it
- 18:15Speaker 1: shall be your signal. Remember then, when you hear the
- 18:19Speaker 1: whipper wheels call three times repeated, you are to come
- 18:23Speaker 1: into the bushes where the bird might be supposed stop interrupted, Heyward,
- 18:29Speaker 1: I will accompany him, you exclaimed the astonished Hawkeye. Are
- 18:35Speaker 1: you tired of seeing the sunrise and set? David is
- 18:38Speaker 1: living proof that the Hurons can be merciful. Aye. But
- 18:43Speaker 1: David can use his throat, as no man in his
- 18:47Speaker 1: senses would pervert the gift. I too can play the madman,
- 18:51Speaker 1: the full the hero in short, any or everything to
- 18:56Speaker 1: rescue her. I love, name your objections, no law, hunger.
- 19:01Speaker 1: I am resolved. Hawkeye regarded the young man a moment
- 19:06Speaker 1: in speechless amazement. But Duncan, who in deference to the
- 19:10Speaker 1: other skill and services, had hitherto submitted somewhat implicitly to
- 19:15Speaker 1: his dictation. Now assume the superior with a manner that
- 19:19Speaker 1: was not easily resisted. He waved his hand in sign
- 19:23Speaker 1: of his dislike to all remonstrance, and then, in more
- 19:28Speaker 1: tempered language, he continued, you have the means to disguise
- 19:34Speaker 1: change me, paint me too, if you will, in short
- 19:39Speaker 1: order me to anything a fool. It is not for
- 19:43Speaker 1: one like me to say that he who is already
- 19:46Speaker 1: formed by so powerful a hand as Providence, stands in
- 19:49Speaker 1: need of a change, muttered the discontented scout. When you
- 19:53Speaker 1: send your parties abroad in war, you find it prudent
- 19:57Speaker 1: at least to arrange the marks and play of encampment
- 20:01Speaker 1: in order that they who fight on your side may
- 20:04Speaker 1: know when and where to expect a friend. Listen, interrupted,
- 20:09Speaker 1: duncan you have heard from this faithful follower of the
- 20:12Speaker 1: captives that the Indians are of two tribes, if not
- 20:16Speaker 1: of different nations, with one whom you think to be
- 20:20Speaker 1: a branch of the Delawares is she you call the
- 20:23Speaker 1: dark Hair. The other and younger of the ladies is
- 20:27Speaker 1: undeniably with our declared enemies, the Huron. It becomes my
- 20:32Speaker 1: youth and rank to attempt the latter adventure. While you
- 20:36Speaker 1: therefore are negotiating with your friends for the release of
- 20:41Speaker 1: one of the sisters, I will affect that of the other,
- 20:45Speaker 1: or die. The awakened spirit of the young soldier gleamed
- 20:49Speaker 1: in his eyes, and his form became imposing. Under its influence. Hawkeye,
- 20:56Speaker 1: though too much accustomed to Indian artifices not to foret
- 21:00Speaker 1: see the danger of the experiment, knew not well how
- 21:04Speaker 1: to combat this sudden resolution. Perhaps there was something in
- 21:08Speaker 1: the proposal that suited his own hardy nature and that
- 21:13Speaker 1: secret love of desperate adventure, which had increased with his experience,
- 21:18Speaker 1: until hazard and danger had become, in some measure necessary
- 21:22Speaker 1: to the enjoyment of his existence. Instead of continuing to
- 21:27Speaker 1: oppose the scheme of Duncan, his humor suddenly altered, and
- 21:32Speaker 1: he lent himself to its execution. Come, he said, with
- 21:36Speaker 1: a good humored smile. The buck that will take to
- 21:39Speaker 1: the water must be headed and not followed. Chinkotchkook has
- 21:45Speaker 1: as many different paints as the engineer's officer's wife who
- 21:49Speaker 1: takes down nature on scraps of paper, making the mountains
- 21:53Speaker 1: look like crocs of rusty hay, and placing the blue
- 21:56Speaker 1: sky in reach of your hand. The Sagamore can use
- 22:00Speaker 1: them too. Seat yourself on the log and my life
- 22:05Speaker 1: on it. He can soon make a natural fool of you,
- 22:09Speaker 1: and that well to your liking. Duncan complied, and the Mohican,
- 22:15Speaker 1: who had been an attentive listener to their discourse, readily
- 22:19Speaker 1: undertook the office long practiced in all the subtle arts
- 22:24Speaker 1: of his race. He drew with great dexterity and quickness
- 22:28Speaker 1: the fantastic shadow that the Natives were accustomed to consider
- 22:33Speaker 1: as the evidence of a friendly and jocular disposition. Every
- 22:38Speaker 1: line that could possibly be interpreted into a secret inclination
- 22:42Speaker 1: for war was carefully avoided, while on the other hand,
- 22:47Speaker 1: he studied those conceits that might be construed into amity.
- 22:53Speaker 1: In short, he entirely sacrificed every appearance of the warrior
- 22:58Speaker 1: to the masquerade of a buffoon. Such exhibitions were not
- 23:03Speaker 1: uncommon among the Indians, and as Duncan was already sufficiently
- 23:08Speaker 1: disguised in his dress, there certainly did exist some reason
- 23:12Speaker 1: for believing that, with his knowledge of French, he might
- 23:16Speaker 1: pass for a juggler from Taekwonderoga, Straggling among the allied
- 23:21Speaker 1: and friendly tribes. When he was thought to be sufficiently painted.
- 23:26Speaker 1: The scout gave him much friendly advice, concerted signals, and
- 23:31Speaker 1: appointed the place where they should meet in the event
- 23:34Speaker 1: of mutual success. The parting between Monroe and his young
- 23:38Speaker 1: friend was more melancholy still. The former submitted to the
- 23:43Speaker 1: separation with an indifference that his warm and honest nature
- 23:47Speaker 1: would never have permitted in a more healthful state of mind.
- 23:52Speaker 1: The scout led Heyward aside and acquainted him with his
- 23:55Speaker 1: intention to leave the veteran in some safe encampment. In charge,
- 24:00Speaker 1: Chinegotchkok while he and Uncas pursued their inquiries among the
- 24:05Speaker 1: people they had reason to believe were delawares. Then renewing
- 24:10Speaker 1: his cautions and advice, he concluded by saying, with a
- 24:14Speaker 1: solemnity and warmth of feeling with which Duncan was deeply touched,
- 24:20Speaker 1: and now God bless you. You have shown a spirit
- 24:24Speaker 1: that I like, for it is the gift of youth,
- 24:27Speaker 1: more especially one of warm blood and a stout heart.
- 24:32Speaker 1: But believe the warning of a man who has reason
- 24:35Speaker 1: to know all he says to be true. You will
- 24:39Speaker 1: have occasion for your best manhood and for a sharper
- 24:43Speaker 1: wit than what is to be gathered in books. Afore
- 24:45Speaker 1: you outdo the cunning, or get the better of the
- 24:48Speaker 1: courage of a mingo. God bless you. If the Hurons
- 24:53Speaker 1: master your scalp, rely on the promise of one who
- 24:57Speaker 1: has two stout warriors to back him, they shall pay
- 25:01Speaker 1: for their victory with a life for every hair it holds.
- 25:06Speaker 1: I say, young gentlemen, make providence bless your undertaking, which
- 25:12Speaker 1: is altogether for good. And remember that out with the
- 25:18Speaker 1: knaves it is lawful to practice things that may not
- 25:23Speaker 1: be naturally the gift of a white skin. Duncan shook
- 25:26Speaker 1: his worthy and reluctant associate warmly by the hand, once
- 25:31Speaker 1: more recommended the aged friend to his care, and returning
- 25:36Speaker 1: his good wishes, he motioned to David to proceed. Hawkeye
- 25:41Speaker 1: gazed after the high spirited and adventurous young man for
- 25:45Speaker 1: several moments in open admiration, Then, shaking his head doubtingly,
- 25:51Speaker 1: he turned and led his own division of the party
- 25:55Speaker 1: into the concealment of the forest. The route taken by
- 26:00Speaker 1: Duncan and David lay directly across the clearing of the
- 26:03Speaker 1: beavers and along the margin of their pond. When the
- 26:07Speaker 1: former found himself alone with one so simple and so
- 26:11Speaker 1: little qualified to render any assistance in desperate emergencies. He
- 26:16Speaker 1: first began to be sensible of the difficulties of the
- 26:19Speaker 1: task he had undertaken. The fading light increased the gloominess
- 26:24Speaker 1: of the bleak and savage wilderness that stretched so far
- 26:28Speaker 1: on every side of him, and there was even a
- 26:31Speaker 1: fearful character in the stillness of those little huts that
- 26:35Speaker 1: he knew were so abundantly peopled. It struck him, as
- 26:40Speaker 1: he gazed at the admirable structures and the wonderful precautions
- 26:44Speaker 1: of their sagacious inmates, that even the brutes of these
- 26:48Speaker 1: vast wilds were possessed of an instinct nearly commensurate with
- 26:53Speaker 1: his own reason. And he could not reflect without anxiety
- 26:59Speaker 1: on the unequal contest that he had so rashly courted.
- 27:03Speaker 1: Then came the glowing image of Alice, her distress, her
- 27:08Speaker 1: actual danger, and all the peril of his situation was forgotten.
- 27:14Speaker 1: Cheering David, he moved on with the light and vigorous
- 27:18Speaker 1: step of youth and enterprise. After making nearly a semicircle
- 27:22Speaker 1: around the pond, they diverged from the watercourse, and began
- 27:26Speaker 1: to ascend to the level of a slight elevation in
- 27:29Speaker 1: that bottom land over which they journeyed. Within half an
- 27:34Speaker 1: hour they gained the margin of another opening that bore
- 27:37Speaker 1: all the signs of having been also made by the beavers,
- 27:40Speaker 1: and which those sagacious animals had probably been induced by
- 27:44Speaker 1: some accident to abandon for the more eligible position they
- 27:49Speaker 1: now occupied. A very natural sensation caused Duncan to hesitate
- 27:55Speaker 1: a moment, unwilling to leave the cover of their bushy path.
- 28:00Speaker 1: As a man pauses to collect his energies before he
- 28:03Speaker 1: essays any hazardous experiment in which he is secretly conscious
- 28:09Speaker 1: they will all be needed. He profited by the halt
- 28:13Speaker 1: to gather such information as might be obtained from his
- 28:16Speaker 1: short and hasty glances. On the opposite side of the clearing,
- 28:21Speaker 1: and near the point where the brook tumbled over some
- 28:24Speaker 1: rocks from a still higher level, some fifty or sixty lodges,
- 28:28Speaker 1: rudely fabricated of logs, brush and earth intermingled, were to
- 28:33Speaker 1: be discovered. They were arranged without any order, and seemed
- 28:37Speaker 1: to be constructed with very little attention to neatness or beauty. Indeed,
- 28:43Speaker 1: so very inferior were they in the two latter particulars
- 28:46Speaker 1: to the village Duncan had just seen that he began
- 28:49Speaker 1: to expect a second surprise, no less astonishing than the former.
- 28:54Speaker 1: This expectation was in no degree diminished when, by the
- 28:58Speaker 1: doubtful twilight he beheld twenty or thirty forms rising alternately
- 29:03Speaker 1: from the cover of the tall, coarse grass in front
- 29:06Speaker 1: of the lodges, and then sinking again from the sight,
- 29:11Speaker 1: as it were, to burrow in the earth. By the
- 29:14Speaker 1: sudden and hasty glimpses that he caught of these figures,
- 29:18Speaker 1: they seemed more like dark glancing specters or some other
- 29:22Speaker 1: unearthly beings, than creatures fashioned with the ordinary and vulgar
- 29:27Speaker 1: materials of flesh and blood. A gaunt, naked form was
- 29:32Speaker 1: seen for a single instant, tossing its arms wildly in
- 29:35Speaker 1: the air, and then the spot it had filled was vacant,
- 29:41Speaker 1: the figure appearing suddenly in some other and distant place,
- 29:46Speaker 1: or being succeeded by another possessing the same mysterious character. David,
- 29:54Speaker 1: observing that his companion lingered, pursued the direction of his gaze,
- 29:59Speaker 1: and in some recalled the recollection of Hayward by speaking.
- 30:03Speaker 1: There is much fruitful soil uncultivated here, he said, And
- 30:09Speaker 1: I may add, without the sinful leaven of self commendation,
- 30:15Speaker 1: that since my short sojourn in these heathenish abodes, much
- 30:20Speaker 1: good seed has been scattered by the wayside. The tribes
- 30:24Speaker 1: are founder of the chase, than of the arts of
- 30:26Speaker 1: men of labor, returned the unconscious Duncan, still gazing at
- 30:30Speaker 1: the objects of his wonder. It is rather joy than
- 30:34Speaker 1: labor to the spirit to lift up the voice and praise.
- 30:39Speaker 1: But sadly do these boys abuse their gifts. Rarely have
- 30:44Speaker 1: I found any of their age on whom Nature has
- 30:47Speaker 1: so freely bestowed the elements of psalmody, And surely surely
- 30:53Speaker 1: there are none who neglect them. More. Three knights have
- 30:57Speaker 1: I now tarried here, and three several times have I
- 31:01Speaker 1: assembled the urchins to join in sacred song, And as
- 31:06Speaker 1: often have they responded to my efforts with whoopings and
- 31:11Speaker 1: howlings that have chilled my soul. Of whom speak you
- 31:17Speaker 1: of those children of the devil who waste the precious
- 31:21Speaker 1: moments in yonder idle antics. Oh, the wholesome restraint of
- 31:27Speaker 1: discipline is but little known among this self abandoned people.
- 31:33Speaker 1: In a country of birches, a rod is never seen,
- 31:37Speaker 1: and it ought not to appear a marvel in my eyes,
- 31:41Speaker 1: that the choicest blessings of Providence are wasted in such
- 31:44Speaker 1: cries as these. David closed his ears against the juvenile pack,
- 31:50Speaker 1: whose yell just then rang shrilly through the forest, and Duncan,
- 31:56Speaker 1: suffering his lip to curl, as in mockery of his
- 31:59Speaker 1: own superstition, said firmly, we will proceed without removing the
- 32:05Speaker 1: safeguards from his ears. The master of song complied, and
- 32:10Speaker 1: together they pursued their way toward what David was sometimes
- 32:14Speaker 1: wont to call thee quote tens of the Philistines end
- 32:20Speaker 1: quote end of chapter twenty two.