The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757

by James Fenimore Cooper

  CHAPTER II.

  "Sola, sola, wo, ha, ho, sola!"

  SHAKESPEARE.

  While one of the lovely beings we have so cursorily presented to thereader was thus lost in thought, the other quickly recovered from thealarm which induced the exclamation, and, laughing at her own weakness,she inquired of the youth who rode by her side,--

  "Are such spectres frequent in the woods, Heyward; or is this sight anespecial entertainment on our behalf? If the latter, gratitude mustclose our mouths; but if the former, both Cora and I shall have need todraw largely on that stock of hereditary courage which we boast, evenbefore we are made to encounter the redoubtable Montcalm."

  "Yon Indian is a 'runner' of the army; and, after the fashion of hispeople, he may be accounted a hero," returned the officer. "He hasvolunteered to guide us to the lake, by a path but little known, soonerthan if we followed the tardy movements of the column: and, byconsequence, more agreeably."

  "I like him not," said the lady, shuddering, partly in assumed, yet morein real terror. "You know him, Duncan, or you would not trust yourselfso freely to his keeping?"

  "Say, rather, Alice, that I would not trust you. I do know him, or hewould not have my confidence, and least of all at this moment. He issaid to be a Canadian, too; and yet he served with our friends theMohawks, who, as you know, are one of the six allied nations.[3] He wasbrought among us, as I have heard, by some strange accident in whichyour father was interested, and in which the savage was rigidly dealtby--but I forget the idle tale; it is enough, that he is now ourfriend."

  "If he has been my father's enemy, I like him still less!" exclaimed thenow really anxious girl. "Will you not speak to him, Major Heyward, thatI may hear his tones? Foolish though it may be, you have often heard meavow my faith in the tones of the human voice!"

  "It would be in vain; and answered, most probably, by an ejaculation.Though he may understand it, he affects, like most of his people, to beignorant of the English; and least of all will he condescend to speakit, now that war demands the utmost exercise of his dignity. But hestops; the private path by which we are to journey is, doubtless, athand."

  The conjecture of Major Heyward was true. When they reached the spotwhere the Indian stood, pointing into the thicket that fringed themilitary road, a narrow and blind path, which might, with some littleinconvenience, receive one person at a time, became visible.

  "Here, then, lies our way," said the young man, in a low voice."Manifest no distrust, or you may invite the danger you appear toapprehend."

  "Cora, what think you?" asked the reluctant fair one. "If we journeywith the troops, though we may find their presence irksome, shall we notfeel better assurance of our safety?"

  "Being little accustomed to the practices of the savages, Alice, youmistake the place of real danger," said Heyward. "If enemies havereached the portage at all, a thing by no means probable, as our scoutsare abroad, they will surely be found skirting the column where scalpsabound the most. The route of the detachment is known, while ours,having been determined within the hour, must still be secret."

  "Should we distrust the man because his manners are not our manners, andthat his skin is dark?" coldly asked Cora.

  Alice hesitated no longer; but giving her Narragansett[4] a smart cutof the whip, she was the first to dash aside the slight branches of thebushes, and to follow the runner along the dark and tangled pathway. Theyoung man regarded the last speaker in open admiration, and evenpermitted her fairer though certainly not more beautiful companion toproceed unattended, while he sedulously opened the way himself for thepassage of her who has been called Cora. It would seem that thedomestics had been previously instructed; for, instead of penetratingthe thicket, they followed the route of the column; a measure whichHeyward stated had been dictated by the sagacity of their guide, inorder to diminish the marks of their trail, if, haply, the Canadiansavages should be lurking so far in advance of their army. For manyminutes the intricacy of the route admitted of no further dialogue;after which they emerged from the broad border of underbrush which grewalong the line of the highway, and entered under the high but darkarches of the forest. Here their progress was less interrupted, and theinstant the guide perceived that the females could command their steeds,he moved on, at a pace between a trot and a walk, and at a rate whichkept the sure-footed and peculiar animals they rode, at a fast yet easyamble. The youth had turned to speak to the dark-eyed Cora, when thedistant sound of horses' hoofs, clattering over the roots of the brokenway in his rear, caused him to check his charger; and, as his companionsdrew their reins at the same instant, the whole party came to a halt, inorder to obtain an explanation of the unlooked-for interruption.

  In a few moments a colt was seen gliding, like a fallow-deer, among thestraight trunks of the pines; and, in another instant, the person of theungainly man described in the preceding chapter, came into view, with asmuch rapidity as he could excite his meagre beast to endure withoutcoming to an open rupture. Until now this personage had escaped theobservation of the travellers. If he possessed the power to arrest anywandering eye when exhibiting the glories of his altitude on foot, hisequestrian graces were still more likely to attract attention.Notwithstanding a constant application of his one armed heel to theflanks of the mare, the most confirmed gait that he could establish wasa Canterbury gallop with the hind legs, in which those more forwardassisted for doubtful moments, though generally content to maintain aloping trot. Perhaps the rapidity of the changes from one of these pacesto the other created an optical illusion, which might thus magnify thepowers of the beast; for it is certain that Heyward, who possessed atrue eye for the merits of a horse, was unable, with his utmostingenuity, to decide by what sort of movement his pursuer worked hissinuous way on his footsteps with such persevering hardihood.

  The industry and movements of the rider were not less remarkable thanthose of the ridden. At each change in the evolutions of the latter, theformer raised his tall person in the stirrups; producing, in thismanner, by the undue elongation of his legs, such sudden growths anddiminishings of the stature, as baffled every conjecture that might bemade as to his dimensions. If to this be added the fact that, inconsequence of the ex parte application of the spur, one side of themare appeared to journey faster than the other; and that the aggrievedflank was resolutely indicated by unremitted flourishes of a bushy tail,we finish the picture of both horse and man.

  The frown which had gathered around the handsome, open, and manly browof Heyward, gradually relaxed, and his lips curled into a slight smile,as he regarded the stranger. Alice made no very powerful effort tocontrol her merriment; and even the dark, thoughtful eye of Cora lightedwith a humor that, it would seem, the habit, rather than the nature ofits mistress repressed.

  "Seek you any here?" demanded Heyward, when the other had arrivedsufficiently nigh to abate his speed; "I trust you are no messenger ofevil tidings?"

  "Even so," replied the stranger, making diligent use of his triangularcastor, to produce a circulation in the close air of the woods, andleaving his hearers in doubt to which of the young man's questions heresponded; when, however, he had cooled his face, and recovered hisbreath, he continued, "I hear you are riding to William Henry; as I amjourneying thitherward myself, I concluded good company would seemconsistent to the wishes of both parties."

  "You appear to possess the privilege of a casting vote," returnedHeyward; "we are three, whilst you have consulted no one but yourself."

  "Even so. The first point to be obtained is to know one's own mind. Oncesure of that, and where women are concerned, it is not easy, the nextis, to act up to the decision. I have endeavored to do both, and here Iam."

  "If you journey to the lake, you have mistaken your route," saidHeyward, haughtily; "the highway thither is at least half a mile behindyou."

  "Even so," returned the stranger, nothing daunted by this coldreception; "I have tarried at 'Edward' a week, and I should be dumb notto have inquired the road I was to journey; and if dumb there
would bean end to my calling." After simpering in a small way, like one whosemodesty prohibited a more open expression of his admiration of awitticism that was perfectly unintelligible to his hearers, hecontinued: "It is not prudent for any one of my profession to be toofamiliar with those he is to instruct; for which reason I follow not theline of the army; besides which, I conclude that a gentleman of yourcharacter has the best judgment in matters of wayfaring; I havetherefore decided to join company, in order that the ride may be madeagreeable, and partake of social communion."

  "A most arbitrary, if not a hasty decision!" exclaimed Heyward,undecided whether to give vent to his growing anger, or to laugh in theother's face. "But you speak of instruction, and of a profession; areyou an adjunct to the provincial corps, as a master of the noble scienceof defence and offence; or, perhaps, you are one who draws lines andangles, under the pretence of expounding the mathematics?"

  The stranger regarded his interrogator a moment, in wonder; and then,losing every mark of self-satisfaction in an expression of solemnhumility, he answered:--

  "Of offence, I hope there is none, to either party: of defence, I makenone--by God's good mercy, having committed no palpable sin since lastentreating his pardoning grace. I understand not your allusions aboutlines and angles; and I leave expounding to those who have been calledand set apart for that holy office. I lay claim to no higher gift than asmall insight into the glorious art of petitioning and thanksgiving, aspractised in psalmody."

  "The man is, most manifestly, a disciple of Apollo," cried the amusedAlice, "and I take him under my own especial protection. Nay, throwaside that frown, Heyward, and in pity to my longing ears, suffer him tojourney in our train. Besides," she added, in a low and hurried voice,casting a glance at the distant Cora, who slowly followed the footstepsof their silent but sullen guide, "it may be a friend added to ourstrength, in time of need."

  "Think you, Alice, that I would trust those I love by this secret path,did I imagine such need could happen?"

  "Nay, nay, I think not of it now; but this strange man amuses me; and ifhe 'hath music in his soul,' let us not churlishly reject his company."She pointed persuasively along the path with her riding-whip, whiletheir eyes met in a look which the young man lingered a moment toprolong; then yielding to her gentle influence, he clapped his spursinto his charger, and in a few bounds was again at the side of Cora.

  "I am glad to encounter thee, friend," continued the maiden, waving herhand to the stranger to proceed, as she urged her Narragansett to renewits amble. "Partial relatives have almost persuaded me that I am notentirely worthless in a duet myself; and we may enliven our wayfaring byindulging in our favorite pursuit. It might be of signal advantage toone, ignorant as I, to hear the opinions and experience of a master inthe art."

  "It is refreshing both to the spirits and to the body to indulge inpsalmody, in befitting seasons," returned the master of song,unhesitatingly complying with her intimation to follow; "and nothingwould relieve the mind more than such a consoling communion. But fourparts are altogether necessary to the perfection of melody. You have allthe manifestations of a soft and rich treble; I can, by especial aid,carry a full tenor to the highest letter; but we lack counter and bass!Yon officer of the king, who hesitated to admit me to his company, mightfill the latter, if one may judge from the intonations of his voice incommon dialogue."

  "Judge not too rashly from hasty and deceptive appearances," said thelady, smiling; "though Major Heyward can assume such deep notes onoccasion, believe me, his natural tones are better fitted for a mellowtenor than the bass you heard."

  "Is he, then, much practised in the art of psalmody?" demanded hersimple companion.

  Alice felt disposed to laugh, though she succeeded in suppressing hermerriment, ere she answered,--

  "I apprehend that he is rather addicted to profane song. The chances ofa soldier's life are but little fitted for the encouragement of moresober inclinations."

  "Man's voice is given to him, like his other talents, to be used, andnot to be abused. None can say they have ever known me neglect my gifts!I am thankful that, though my boyhood may be said to have been setapart, like the youth of the royal David, for the purposes of music, nosyllable of rude verse has ever profaned my lips."

  "You have, then, limited your efforts to sacred song?"

  "Even so. As the psalms of David exceed all other language, so does thepsalmody that has been fitted to them by the divines and sages of theland, surpass all vain poetry. Happily, I may say that I utter nothingbut the thoughts and the wishes of the King of Israel himself; forthough the times may call for some slight changes, yet does this versionwhich we use in the colonies of New England, so much exceed all otherversions, that, by its richness, its exactness, and its spiritualsimplicity, it approacheth, as near as may be, to the great work of theinspired writer. I never abide in any place, sleeping or waking, withoutan example of this gifted work. 'Tis the six-and-twentieth edition,promulgated at Boston, Anno Domini 1744; and is entitled, _The Psalms,Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of the Old and New Testaments; faithfullytranslated into English Metre, for the Use, Edification, and Comfort ofthe Saints, in Public and Private, especially in New England_."

  During this eulogium on the rare production of his native poets, thestranger had drawn the book from his pocket, and, fitting a pair ofiron-rimmed spectacles to his nose, opened the volume with a care andveneration suited to its sacred purposes. Then, without circumlocutionor apology, first pronouncing the word "Standish," and placing theunknown engine, already described, to his mouth, from which he drew ahigh, shrill sound, that was followed by an octave below, from his ownvoice, he commenced singing the following words, in full, sweet, andmelodious tones, that set the music, the poetry, and even the uneasymotion of his ill-trained beast at defiance:--

  "How good it is, O see, And how it pleaseth well, Together, e'en in unity, For brethren so to dwell. It's like the choice ointment, From the head to the beard did go: Down Aaron's beard, that downward went, His garment's skirts unto."

  The delivery of these skilful rhymes was accompanied, on the part of thestranger, by a regular rise and fall of his right hand, whichterminated at the descent, by suffering the fingers to dwell a moment onthe leaves of the little volume; and on the ascent, by such a flourishof the member as none but the initiated may ever hope to imitate. Itwould seem that long practice had rendered this manual accompanimentnecessary; for it did not cease until the preposition which the poet hadselected for the close of his verse, had been duly delivered like a wordof two syllables.

  Such an innovation on the silence and retirement of the forest could notfail to enlist the ears of those who journeyed at so short a distance inadvance. The Indian muttered a few words in broken English to Heyward,who, in his turn, spoke to the stranger; at once interrupting, and, forthe time, closing his musical efforts.

  "Though we are not in danger, common prudence would teach us to journeythrough this wilderness in as quiet a manner as possible. You will,then, pardon me, Alice, should I diminish your enjoyments, by requestingthis gentleman to postpone his chant until a safer opportunity."

  "You will diminish them, indeed," returned the arch girl, "for never didI hear a more unworthy conjunction of execution and language, than thatto which I have been listening; and I was far gone in a learned inquiryinto the causes of such an unfitness between sound and sense, when youbroke the charm of my musings by that bass of yours, Duncan!"

  "I know not what you call my bass," said Heyward, piqued at her remark,"but I know that your safety, and that of Cora, is far dearer to me thancould be any orchestra of Handel's music." He paused and turned his headquickly towards a thicket, and then bent his eyes suspiciously on theirguide, who continued his steady pace, in undisturbed gravity. The youngman smiled to himself, for he believed he had mistaken some shiningberry of the woods for the glistening eyeballs of a prowling savage, andhe rode forward, continuing the conversation which had been interruptedby the passing thought.<
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  Major Heyward was mistaken only in suffering his youthful and generouspride to suppress his active watchfulness. The cavalcade had not longpassed, before the branches of the bushes that formed the thicket werecautiously moved asunder, and a human visage, as fiercely wild as savageart and unbridled passions could make it, peered out on the retiringfootsteps of the travellers. A gleam of exultation shot across thedarkly painted lineaments of the inhabitant of the forest, as he tracedthe route of his intended victims, who rode unconsciously onward; thelight and graceful forms of the females waving among the trees, in thecurvatures of their path, followed at each bend by the manly figure ofHeyward, until, finally, the shapeless person of the singing-master wasconcealed behind the numberless trunks of trees, that rose, in darklines, in the intermediate space.