Chapter XIII.
"An oaken, broken, elbow-chair; A caudle-cup without an ear; A battered, shattered ash bedstead; A box of deal without a lid; A pair of tongs, but out of joint; A back-sword poker, without point; A dish which might good meat afford once; An Ovid, and an old Concordance."
Thomas Sheridan, "A True and Faithful Inventory of the Goods belonging to Dr. Swift," II. i-6, 13-14.
No sooner did Deerslayer raise the pistols, than he turned to theDelaware and held them up for his admiration.
"Child gun," said the Serpent, smiling, while he handled one of theinstruments as if it had been a toy.
"Not it, Sarpent; not it--'twas made for a man and would satisfy agiant, if rightly used. But stop; white men are remarkable for theircarelessness in putting away fire arms, in chists and corners. Let melook if care has been given to these."
As Deerslayer spoke, he took the weapon from the hand of his friend andopened the pan. The last was filled with priming, caked like a bit ofcinder, by time, moisture and compression. An application of the ramrodshowed that both the pistols were charged, although Judith could testifythat they had probably lain for years in the chest. It is not easy toportray the surprise of the Indian at this discovery, for he was in thepractice of renewing his priming daily, and of looking to the contentsof his piece at other short intervals.
"This is white neglect," said Deerslayer, shaking his head, "and scarcea season goes by that some one in the settlements doesn't suffer fromit. It's extr'ornary too, Judith--yes, it's downright extr'ornary thatthe owner shall fire his piece at a deer, or some other game, or perhapsat an inimy, and twice out of three times he'll miss; but let him catchan accident with one of these forgotten charges, and he makes it sartaindeath to a child, or a brother, or a fri'nd! Well, we shall do a goodturn to the owner if we fire these pistols for him, and as they'renovelties to you and me, Sarpent, we'll try our hands at a mark. Freshenthat priming, and I'll do the same with this, and then we'll see who isthe best man with a pistol; as for the rifle, that's long been settledatween us."
Deerslayer laughed heartily at his own conceit, and, in a minute or two,they were both standing on the platform, selecting some object in theArk for their target. Judith was led by curiosity to their side.
"Stand back, gal, stand a little back; these we'pons have beenlong loaded," said Deerslayer, "and some accident may happen in thedischarge." "Then you shall not fire them! Give them both to theDelaware; or it would be better to unload them without firing."
"That's ag'in usage--and some people say, ag'in manhood; though I holdto no such silly doctrine. We must fire 'em, Judith; yes, we must fire'em; though I foresee that neither will have any great reason to boastof his skill."
Judith, in the main, was a girl of great personal spirit, and her habitsprevented her from feeling any of the terror that is apt to come overher sex at the report of fire arms. She had discharged many a rifle,and had even been known to kill a deer, under circumstances that werefavorable to the effort. She submitted therefore, falling a little backby the side of Deerslayer, giving the Indian the front of the platformto himself. Chingachgook raised the weapon several times, endeavored tosteady it by using both hands, changed his attitude from one that wasawkward to another still more so, and finally drew the trigger with asort of desperate indifference, without having, in reality, secured anyaim at all. The consequence was, that instead of hitting the knot whichhad been selected for the mark, he missed the ark altogether; the bulletskipping along the water like a stone that was thrown by hand.
"Well done--Sarpent--well done--" cried Deerslayer laughing, with hisnoiseless glee, "you've hit the lake, and that's an expl'ite for somemen! I know'd it, and as much as said it, here, to Judith; for yourshort we'pons don't belong to red-skin gifts. You've hit the lake, andthat's better than only hitting the air! Now, stand back and let us seewhat white gifts can do with a white we'pon. A pistol isn't a rifle, butcolour is colour."
The aim of Deerslayer was both quick and steady, and the report followedalmost as soon as the weapon rose. Still the pistol hung fire, as it istermed, and fragments of it flew in a dozen directions, some falling onthe roof of the castle, others in the Ark, and one in the water. Judithscreamed, and when the two men turned anxiously towards the girl she wasas pale as death, trembling in every limb.
"She's wounded--yes, the poor gal's wounded, Sarpent, though onecouldn't foresee it, standing where she did. We'll lead her in to aseat, and we must do the best for her that our knowledge and skill canafford."
Judith allowed herself to be supported to a seat, swallowed a mouthfulof the water that the Delaware offered her in a gourd, and, after aviolent fit of trembling that seemed ready to shake her fine frame todissolution, she burst into tears.
"The pain must be borne, poor Judith--yes, it must be borne," saidDeerslayer, soothingly, "though I am far from wishing you not to weep;for weeping often lightens galish feelin's. Where can she be hurt,Sarpent? I see no signs of blood, nor any rent of skin or garments?"
"I am uninjured, Deerslayer," stammered the girl through her tears."It's fright--nothing more, I do assure you, and, God be praised! noone, I find, has been harmed by the accident."
"This is extr'ornary!" exclaimed the unsuspecting and simple mindedhunter--"I thought, Judith, you'd been above settlement weaknesses,and that you was a gal not to be frightened by the sound of a burstingwe'pon--No--I didn't think you so skeary! Hetty might well have beenstartled; but you've too much judgment and reason to be frightenedwhen the danger's all over. They're pleasant to the eye, chief, andchangeful, but very unsartain in their feelin's!"
Shame kept Judith silent. There had been no acting in her agitation, butall had fairly proceeded from sudden and uncontrollable alarm--an alarmthat she found almost as inexplicable to herself, as it proved to beto her companions. Wiping away the traces of tears, however, she smiledagain, and was soon able to join in the laugh at her own folly.
"And you, Deerslayer," she at length succeeded in saying--"are you,indeed, altogether unhurt? It seems almost miraculous that a pistolshould have burst in your hand, and you escape without the loss of alimb, if not of life!"
"Such wonders ar'n't oncommon, at all, among worn out arms. The firstrifle they gave me play'd the same trick, and yet I liv'd through it,though not as onharmless as I've got out of this affair. Thomas Hutteris master of one pistol less than he was this morning, but, as ithappened in trying to sarve him, there's no ground of complaint. Now,draw near, and let us look farther into the inside of the chist."
Judith, by this time, had so far gotten the better of her agitation asto resume her seat, and the examination went on. The next article thatoffered was enveloped in cloth, and on opening it, it proved to be oneof the mathematical instruments that were then in use among seamen,possessing the usual ornaments and fastenings in brass. Deerslayer andChingachgook expressed their admiration and surprise at the appearanceof the unknown instrument, which was bright and glittering, havingapparently been well cared for.
"This goes beyond the surveyors, Judith!" Deerslayer exclaimed, afterturning the instrument several times in his hands. "I've seen all theirtools often, and wicked and heartless enough are they, for they nevercome into the forest but to lead the way to waste and destruction; butnone of them have as designing a look as this! I fear me, after all,that Thomas Hutter has journeyed into the wilderness with no fairintentions towards its happiness. Did you ever see any of the cravingsof a surveyor about your father, gal?"
"He is no surveyor, Deerslayer, nor does he know the use of thatinstrument, though he seems to own it. Do you suppose that Thomas Hutterever wore that coat? It is as much too large for him, as this instrumentis beyond his learning."
"That's it--that must be it, Sarpent, and the old fellow, by someonknown means, has fallen heir to another man's goods! They say he hasbeen a mariner, and no doubt this chist, and all it holds--ha! What havewe here?--This far out does the brass and black wood of the tool
!"
Deerslayer had opened a small bag, from which he was taking, one by one,the pieces of a set of chessmen. They were of ivory, much larger thancommon, and exquisitely wrought. Each piece represented the characteror thing after which it is named; the knights being mounted, the castlesstood on elephants, and even the pawns possessed the heads and busts ofmen. The set was not complete, and a few fractures betrayed bad usage;but all that was left had been carefully put away and preserved. EvenJudith expressed wonder, as these novel objects were placed before hereyes, and Chingachgook fairly forgot his Indian dignity in admirationand delight. The latter took up each piece, and examined it with nevertiring satisfaction, pointing out to the girl the more ingenious andstriking portions of the workmanship. But the elephants gave him thegreatest pleasure. The "Hughs!" that he uttered, as he passed hisfingers over their trunks, and ears, and tails, were very distinct,nor did he fail to note the pawns, which were armed as archers. Thisexhibition lasted several minutes, during which time Judith and theIndian had all the rapture to themselves. Deerslayer sat silent,thoughtful, and even gloomy, though his eyes followed each movement ofthe two principal actors, noting every new peculiarity about the piecesas they were held up to view. Not an exclamation of pleasure, nor a wordof condemnation passed his lips. At length his companions observedhis silence, and then, for the first time since the chessmen had beendiscovered, did he speak.
"Judith," he asked earnestly, but with a concern that amounted almost totenderness of manner, "did your parents ever talk to you of religion?"
The girl coloured, and the flashes of crimson that passed over herbeautiful countenance were like the wayward tints of a Neapolitan sky inNovember. Deerslayer had given her so strong a taste for truth,however, that she did not waver in her answer, replying simply and withsincerity.
"My mother did often," she said, "my father never. I thought it made mymother sorrowful to speak of our prayers and duties, but my father hasnever opened his mouth on such matters, before or since her death."
"That I can believe--that I can believe. He has no God--no such Godas it becomes a man of white skin to worship, or even a red-skin. Themthings are idols!"
Judith started, and for a moment she seemed seriously hurt. Then shereflected, and in the end she laughed. "And you think, Deerslayer, thatthese ivory toys are my father's Gods? I have heard of idols, and knowwhat they are."
"Them are idols!" repeated the other, positively. "Why should yourfather keep 'em, if he doesn't worship 'em."
"Would he keep his gods in a bag, and locked up in a chest? No, no,Deerslayer; my poor father carries his God with him, wherever he goes,and that is in his own cravings. These things may really be idols--Ithink they are myself, from what I have heard and read of idolatry,but they have come from some distant country, and like all the otherarticles, have fallen into Thomas Hutter's hands when he was a sailor."
"I'm glad of it--I am downright glad to hear it, Judith, for I do notthink I could have mustered the resolution to strive to help a whiteidolater out of his difficulties! The old man is of my colour and nationand I wish to sarve him, but as one who denied all his gifts, in the wayof religion, it would have come hard to do so. That animal seems to giveyou great satisfaction, Sarpent, though it's an idolatrous beast at thebest."
"It is an elephant," interrupted Judith. "I've often seen pictures ofsuch animals, at the garrisons, and mother had a book in which there wasa printed account of the creature. Father burnt that with all the otherbooks, for he said Mother loved reading too well. This was not longbefore mother died, and I've sometimes thought that the loss hastenedher end."
This was said equally without levity and without any very deepfeeling. It was said without levity, for Judith was saddened by herrecollections, and yet she had been too much accustomed to live forself, and for the indulgence of her own vanities, to feel her mother'swrongs very keenly. It required extraordinary circumstances to awaken aproper sense of her situation, and to stimulate the better feelings ofthis beautiful, but misguided girl, and those circumstances had not yetoccurred in her brief existence.
"Elephant, or no elephant, 'tis an idol," returned the hunter, "and notfit to remain in Christian keeping."
"Good for Iroquois!" said Chingachgook, parting with one of the castleswith reluctance, as his friend took it from him to replace it in thebag--"Elephon buy whole tribe--buy Delaware, almost!"
"Ay, that it would, as any one who comprehends red-skin natur' mustknow," answered Deerslayer, "but the man that passes false money,Sarpent, is as bad as he who makes it. Did you ever know a just Injinthat wouldn't scorn to sell a 'coon skin for the true marten, or to passoff a mink for a beaver. I know that a few of these idols, perhaps oneof them elephants, would go far towards buying Thomas Hutter's liberty,but it goes ag'in conscience to pass such counterfeit money. Perhaps noInjin tribe, hereaway, is downright idolators but there's some that comeso near it, that white gifts ought to be particular about encouragingthem in their mistake."
"If idolatry is a gift, Deerslayer, and gifts are what you seem to thinkthem, idolatry in such people can hardly be a sin," said Judith withmore smartness than discrimination.
"God grants no such gifts to any of his creatur's, Judith," returned thehunter, seriously. "He must be adored, under some name or other, and notcreatur's of brass or ivory. It matters not whether the Father of All iscalled God, or Manitou, Deity or Great Spirit, he is none the less ourcommon maker and master; nor does it count for much whether the soulsof the just go to Paradise, or Happy Hunting Grounds, since He may sendeach his own way, as suits his own pleasure and wisdom; but it curdlesmy blood, when I find human mortals so bound up in darkness and consait,as to fashion the 'arth, or wood, or bones, things made by their ownhands, into motionless, senseless effigies, and then fall down aforethem, and worship 'em as a Deity!"
"After all, Deerslayer, these pieces of ivory may not be idols, at all.I remember, now, to have seen one of the officers at the garrison witha set of fox and geese made in some such a design as these, and here issomething hard, wrapped in cloth, that may belong to your idols."
Deerslayer took the bundle the girl gave him, and unrolling it, he foundthe board within. Like the pieces it was large, rich, and inlaid withebony and ivory. Putting the whole in conjunction the hunter, thoughnot without many misgivings, slowly came over to Judith's opinion, andfinally admitted that the fancied idols must be merely the curiouslycarved men of some unknown game. Judith had the tact to use her victorywith great moderation, nor did she once, even in the most indirectmanner, allude to the ludicrous mistake of her companion.
This discovery of the uses of the extraordinary-looking little imagessettled the affair of the proposed ransom. It was agreed generally, andall understood the weaknesses and tastes of Indians, that nothing couldbe more likely to tempt the cupidity of the Iroquois than the elephants,in particular. Luckily the whole of the castles were among the pieces,and these four tower-bearing animals it was finally determined should bethe ransom offered. The remainder of the men, and, indeed, all the restof the articles in the chest, were to be kept out of view, and to beresorted to only as a last appeal. As soon as these preliminaries weresettled, everything but those intended for the bribe was carefullyreplaced in the chest, all the covers were 'tucked in' as they hadbeen found, and it was quite possible, could Hutter have been put inpossession of the castle again, that he might have passed the remainderof his days in it without even suspecting the invasion that had beenmade on the privacy of the chest. The rent pistol would have been themost likely to reveal the secret, but this was placed by the side of itsfellow, and all were pressed down as before, some half a dozen packagesin the bottom of the chest not having been opened at all. When this wasdone the lid was lowered, the padlocks replaced, and the key turned. Thelatter was then replaced in the pocket from which it had been taken.
More than an hour was consumed in settling the course proper to bepursued, and in returning everything to its place. The pauses toconverse were frequent,
and Judith, who experienced a lively pleasurein the open, undisguised admiration with which Deerslayer's honest eyesgazed at her handsome face, found the means to prolong the interview,with a dexterity that seems to be innate in female coquetry. Deerslayer,indeed, appeared to be the first who was conscious of the time that hadbeen thus wasted, and to call the attention of his companions to thenecessity of doing something towards putting the plan of ransoming intoexecution. Chingachgook had remained in Hutter's bed room, where theelephants were laid, to feast his eyes with the images of animals sowonderful, and so novel. Perhaps an instinct told him that his presencewould not be as acceptable to his companions as this holding himselfaloof, for Judith had not much reserve in the manifestations of herpreferences, and the Delaware had not got so far as one betrothedwithout acquiring some knowledge of the symptoms of the master passion.
"Well, Judith," said Deerslayer, rising, after the interview had lastedmuch longer than even he himself suspected, "'tis pleasant convarsingwith you, and settling all these matters, but duty calls us another way.All this time, Hurry and your father, not to say Hetty--" The word wascut short in the speaker's mouth, for, at that critical moment, a lightstep was heard on the platform, or 'court-yard', a human figure darkenedthe doorway, and the person last mentioned stood before him. The lowexclamation that escaped Deerslayer and the slight scream of Judith werehardly uttered, when an Indian youth, between the ages of fifteen andseventeen, stood beside her. These two entrances had been made withmoccasined feet, and consequently almost without noise, but, unexpectedand stealthy as they were, they had not the effect to disturbDeerslayer's self possession. His first measure was to speak rapidly inDelaware to his friend, cautioning him to keep out of sight, while hestood on his guard; the second was to step to the door to ascertainthe extent of the danger. No one else, however, had come, and a simplecontrivance, in the shape of a raft, that lay floating at the side ofthe Ark, at once explained the means that had been used in bringingHetty off. Two dead and dry, and consequently buoyant, logs of pinewere bound together with pins and withes and a little platform of rivenchestnut had been rudely placed on their surfaces. Here Hetty had beenseated, on a billet of wood, while the young Iroquois had rowed theprimitive and slow-moving, but perfectly safe craft from the shore.
As soon as Deerslayer had taken a close survey of this raft, andsatisfied himself nothing else was near, he shook his head and mutteredin his soliloquizing way--"This comes of prying into another man'schist! Had we been watchful, and keen eyed, such a surprise could neverhave happened, and, getting this much from a boy teaches us what wemay expect when the old warriors set themselves fairly about theirsarcumventions. It opens the way, howsever, to a treaty for the ransom,and I will hear what Hetty has to say."
Judith, as soon as her surprise and alarm had a little abated,discovered a proper share of affectionate joy at the return of hersister. She folded her to her bosom, and kissed her, as had been herwont in the days of their childhood and innocence. Hetty herself wasless affected, for to her there was no surprise, and her nerves weresustained by the purity and holiness of her purpose. At her sister'srequest she took a seat, and entered into an account of her adventuressince they had parted. Her tale commenced just as Deerslayer returned,and he also became an attentive listener, while the young Iroquois stoodnear the door, seemingly as indifferent to what was passing as one ofits posts.
The narrative of the girl was sufficiently clear, until she reached thetime where we left her in the camp, after the interview with the chiefs,and, at the moment when Hist quitted her, in the abrupt manner alreadyrelated. The sequel of the story may be told in her own language.
"When I read the texts to the chiefs, Judith, you could not have seenthat they made any changes on their minds," she said, "but if seed isplanted, it will grow. God planted the seeds of all these trees--"
"Ay that did he--that did he--" muttered Deerslayer; "and a goodlyharvest has followed."
"God planted the seeds of all these trees," continued Hetty, after amoment's pause, "and you see to what a height and shade they have grown!So it is with the Bible. You may read a verse this year, and forgetit, and it will come back to you a year hence, when you least expect toremember it."
"And did you find any thing of this among the savages, poor Hetty?"
"Yes, Judith, and sooner and more fully than I had even hoped. I did notstay long with father and Hurry, but went to get my breakfast with Hist.As soon as we had done the chiefs came to us, and then we found thefruits of the seed that had been planted. They said what I had readfrom the good book was right--it must be right--it sounded right; like asweet bird singing in their ears; and they told me to come back and sayas much to the great warrior who had slain one of their braves; and totell it to you, and to say how happy they should be to come to churchhere, in the castle, or to come out in the sun, and hear me read moreof the sacred volume--and to tell you that they wish you would lend themsome canoes that they can bring father and Hurry and their women to thecastle, that we might all sit on the platform there and listen to thesinging of the Pale-face Manitou. There, Judith; did you ever know ofany thing that so plainly shows the power of the Bible, as that!"
"If it were true 't would be a miracle, indeed, Hetty. But all this isno more than Indian cunning and Indian treachery, striving to get thebetter of us by management, when they find it is not to be done byforce."
"Do you doubt the Bible, sister, that you judge the savages so harshly!"
"I do not doubt the Bible, poor Hetty, but I much doubt an Indian and anIroquois. What do you say to this visit, Deerslayer?"
"First let me talk a little with Hetty," returned the party appealed to;"Was the raft made a'ter you had got your breakfast, gal, and did youwalk from the camp to the shore opposite to us, here?"
"Oh! no, Deerslayer. The raft was ready made and in the water--could thathave been by a miracle, Judith?"
"Yes--yes--an Indian miracle," rejoined the hunter--"They're expartenough in them sort of miracles. And you found the raft ready made toyour hands, and in the water, and in waiting like for its cargo?"
"It was all as you say. The raft was near the camp, and the Indiansput me on it, and had ropes of bark, and they dragged me to the placeopposite to the castle, and then they told that young man to row me off,here."
"And the woods are full of the vagabonds, waiting to know what is to bethe upshot of the miracle. We comprehend this affair, now, Judith, butI'll first get rid of this young Canada blood sucker, and then we'llsettle our own course. Do you and Hetty leave us together, firstbringing me the elephants, which the Sarpent is admiring, for 'twillnever do to let this loping deer be alone a minute, or he'll borrow acanoe without asking."
Judith did as desired, first bringing the pieces, and retiring with hersister into their own room. Deerslayer had acquired some knowledge ofmost of the Indian dialects of that region, and he knew enough of theIroquois to hold a dialogue in the language. Beckoning to the lad,therefore, he caused him to take a seat on the chest, when he placedtwo of the castles suddenly before him. Up to that moment, this youthfulsavage had not expressed a single intelligible emotion, or fancy. Therewere many things, in and about the place, that were novelties to him,but he had maintained his self-command with philosophical composure. Itis true, Deerslayer had detected his dark eye scanning the defences andthe arms, but the scrutiny had been made with such an air of innocence,in such a gaping, indolent, boyish manner, that no one but a man who hadhimself been taught in a similar school, would have even suspectedhis object. The instant, however, the eyes of the savage fell upon thewrought ivory, and the images of the wonderful, unknown beasts, surpriseand admiration got the mastery of him. The manner in which the nativesof the South Sea Islands first beheld the toys of civilized life hasbeen often described, but the reader is not to confound it with themanner of an American Indian, under similar circumstances. In thisparticular case, the young Iroquois or Huron permitted an exclamation ofrapture to escape him, and then he checked himself
like one who hadbeen guilty of an indecorum. After this, his eyes ceased to wander, butbecame riveted on the elephants, one of which, after a short hesitation,he even presumed to handle. Deerslayer did not interrupt him forquite ten minutes, knowing that the lad was taking such note of thecuriosities, as would enable him to give the most minute and accuratedescription of their appearance to his seniors, on his return. When hethought sufficient time had been allowed to produce the desired effect,the hunter laid a finger on the naked knee of the youth and drew hisattention to himself.
"Listen," he said; "I want to talk with my young friend from theCanadas. Let him forget that wonder for a minute."
"Where t'other pale brother?" demanded the boy, looking up and lettingthe idea that had been most prominent in his mind, previously to theintroduction of the chess men, escape him involuntarily.
"He sleeps, or if he isn't fairly asleep, he is in the room where themen do sleep," returned Deerslayer. "How did my young friend know therewas another?"
"See him from the shore. Iroquois have got long eyes--see beyond theclouds--see the bottom of the Great Spring!"
"Well, the Iroquois are welcome. Two pale-faces are prisoners in thecamp of your fathers, boy."
The lad nodded, treating the circumstance with great apparentindifference; though a moment after he laughed as if exulting in thesuperior address of his own tribe.
"Can you tell me, boy, what your chiefs intend to do with thesecaptyves, or haven't they yet made up their minds?"
The lad looked a moment at the hunter with a little surprise. Then hecoolly put the end of his fore finger on his own head, just above theleft ear, and passed it round his crown with an accuracy and readinessthat showed how well he had been drilled in the peculiar art of hisrace.
"When?" demanded Deerslayer, whose gorge rose at this cool demonstrationof indifference to human life. "And why not take them to your wigwams?"
"Road too long, and full of pale-faces. Wigwam full, and scalps sellhigh. Small scalp, much gold."
"Well that explains it--yes, that does explain it. There's no need ofbeing any plainer. Now you know, lad, that the oldest of your prisonersis the father of these two young women, and the other is the suitor ofone of them. The gals nat'rally wish to save the scalps of such fri'nds,and they will give them two ivory creaturs, as ransom. One for eachscalp. Go back and tell this to your chiefs, and bring me the answerbefore the sun sets."
The boy entered zealously into this project, and with a sincerity thatleft no doubt of his executing his commission with intelligence andpromptitude. For a moment he forgot his love of honor, and all hisclannish hostility to the British and their Indians, in his wish tohave such a treasure in his tribe, and Deerslayer was satisfied with theimpression he had made. It is true the lad proposed to carry one of theelephants with him, as a specimen of the other, but to this his brothernegotiator was too sagacious to consent; well knowing that it mightnever reach its destination if confided to such hands. This littledifficulty was soon arranged, and the boy prepared to depart. As hestood on the platform, ready to step aboard of the raft, he hesitated,and turned short with a proposal to borrow a canoe, as the means mostlikely to shorten the negotiations. Deerslayer quietly refused therequest, and, after lingering a little longer, the boy rowed slowly awayfrom the castle, taking the direction of a thicket on the shore that layless than half a mile distant. Deerslayer seated himself on a stool andwatched the progress of the ambassador, sometimes closely scanning thewhole line of shore, as far as eye could reach, and then placing anelbow on a knee, he remained a long time with his chin resting on thehand.
During the interview between Deerslayer and the lad, a different scenetook place in the adjoining room. Hetty had inquired for the Delaware,and being told why and where he remained concealed, she joined him. Thereception which Chingachgook gave his visitor was respectful and gentle.He understood her character, and, no doubt, his disposition to be kindto such a being was increased by the hope of learning some tidings ofhis betrothed. As soon as the girl entered she took a seat, and invitedthe Indian to place himself near her; then she continued silent, as ifshe thought it decorous for him to question her, before she consented tospeak on the subject she had on her mind. But, as Chingachgook did notunderstand this feeling, he remained respectfully attentive to any thingshe might be pleased to tell him.
"You are Chingachgook, the Great Serpent of the Delawares, ar'n'tyou?" the girl at length commenced, in her own simple way losing herself-command in the desire to proceed, but anxious first to make sureof the individual. "Chingachgook," returned the Delaware with gravedignity. "That say Great Sarpent, in Deerslayer tongue."
"Well, that is my tongue. Deerslayer, and father, and Judith, and I,and poor Hurry Harry--do you know Henry March, Great Serpent? I know youdon't, however, or he would have spoken of you, too."
"Did any tongue name Chingachgook, Drooping-Lily"? for so the chief hadnamed poor Hetty. "Was his name sung by a little bird among Iroquois?"
Hetty did not answer at first, but, with that indescribable feeling thatawakens sympathy and intelligence among the youthful and unpracticedof her sex, she hung her head, and the blood suffused her cheek ere shefound her tongue. It would have exceeded her stock of intelligence toexplain this embarrassment, but, though poor Hetty could not reason, onevery emergency, she could always feel. The colour slowly receded fromher cheeks, and the girl looked up archly at the Indian, smiling withthe innocence of a child, mingled with the interest of a woman.
"My sister, the Drooping Lily, hear such bird!" Chingachgook added, andthis with a gentleness of tone and manner that would have astonishedthose who sometimes heard the discordant cries that often came from thesame throat; these transitions from the harsh and guttural, to the softand melodious not being infrequent in ordinary Indian dialogues. "Mysister's ears were open--has she lost her tongue?"
"You are Chingachgook--you must be; for there is no other red man here,and she thought Chingachgook would come."
"Chin-gach-gook," pronouncing the name slowly, and dwelling on eachsyllable--"Great Sarpent, Yengeese tongue."
[It is singular there should be any question concerning the origin ofthe well-known sobriquet of "Yankees." Nearly all the old writers whospeak of the Indians first known to the colonists make thempronounce the word "English" as "Yengeese." Even at this day, it is aprovincialism of New England to say "Anglish" instead of "Inglish," andthere is a close conformity of sound between "Anglish" and "yengeese,"more especially if the latter word, as was probably the case, bepronounced short. The transition from "Yengeese," thus pronounced, to"Yankees" is quite easy. If the former is pronounced "Yangis," it isalmost identical with "Yankees," and Indian words have seldom been speltas they are pronounced. Thus the scene of this tale is spelt "Otsego,"and is properly pronounced "Otsago." The liquids of the Indians wouldeasily convert "En" into "Yen."]
"Chin-gach-gook," repeated Hetty, in the same deliberate manner. "Yes,so Hist called it, and you must be the chief."
"Wah-ta-Wah," added the Delaware.
"Wah-ta-Wah, or Hist-oh-Hist. I think Hist prettier than Wah, and so Icall her Hist."
"Wah very sweet in Delaware ears!"
"You make it sound differently from me. But, never mind, I did hear thebird you speak of sing, Great Serpent."
"Will my sister say words of song? What she sing most--how shelook--often she laugh?"
"She sang Chin-gach-gook oftener than any thing else; and she laughedheartily, when I told how the Iroquois waded into the water after us,and couldn't catch us. I hope these logs haven't ears, Serpent!"
"No fear logs; fear sister next room. No fear Iroquois; Deerslayer stuffhis eyes and ears with strange beast."
"I understand you, Serpent, and I understood Hist. Sometimes I think I'mnot half as feeble minded as they say I am. Now, do you look up at theroof, and I'll tell you all. But you frighten me, you look so eager whenI speak of Hist."
The Indian controlled his looks, and affected to comply with the simple
request of the girl.
"Hist told me to say, in a very low voice, that you mustn't trust theIroquois in anything. They are more artful than any Indians she knows.Then she says that there is a large bright star that comes over thehill, about an hour after dark"--Hist had pointed out the planetJupiter, without knowing it--"and just as that star comes in sight, shewill be on the point, where I landed last night, and that you must comefor her, in a canoe."
"Good--Chingachgook understand well enough, now; but he understandbetter if my sister sing him ag'in."
Hetty repeated her words, more fully explaining what star was meant, andmentioning the part of the point where he was to venture ashore. She nowproceeded in her own unsophisticated way to relate her intercourse withthe Indian maid, and to repeat several of her expressions and opinionsthat gave great delight to the heart of her betrothed. She particularlyrenewed her injunctions to be on their guard against treachery, awarning that was scarcely needed, however, as addressed to men aswary as those to whom it was sent. She also explained with sufficientclearness, for on all such subjects the mind of the girl seldom failedher, the present state of the enemy, and the movements they had madesince morning. Hist had been on the raft with her until it quitted theshore, and was now somewhere in the woods, opposite to the castle, anddid not intend to return to the camp until night approached; when shehoped to be able to slip away from her companions, as they followedthe shore on their way home, and conceal herself on the point. Noone appeared to suspect the presence of Chingachgook, though it wasnecessarily known that an Indian had entered the Ark the previous night,and it was suspected that he had since appeared in and about the castlein the dress of a pale-face. Still some little doubt existed on thelatter point, for, as this was the season when white men might beexpected to arrive, there was some fear that the garrison of the castlewas increasing by these ordinary means. All this had Hist communicatedto Hetty while the Indians were dragging them along shore, the distance,which exceeded six miles, affording abundance of time.
"Hist don't know, herself, whether they suspect her or not, or whetherthey suspect you, but she hopes neither is the case. And now, Serpent,since I have told you so much from your betrothed," continued Hetty,unconsciously taking one of the Indian's hands, and playing with thefingers, as a child is often seen to play with those of a parent, "youmust let me tell you something from myself. When you marry Hist, youmust be kind to her, and smile on her, as you do now on me, and not lookcross as some of the chiefs do at their squaws. Will you promise this?"
"Alway good to Wah!--too tender to twist hard; else she break."
"Yes, and smile, too; you don't know how much a girl craves smilesfrom them she loves. Father scarce smiled on me once, while I was withhim--and, Hurry--Yes--Hurry talked loud and laughed, but I don't thinkhe smiled once either. You know the difference between a smile and alaugh?"
"Laugh, best. Hear Wah laugh, think bird sing!"
"I know that; her laugh is pleasant, but you must smile. And then,Serpent, you mustn't make her carry burthens and hoe corn, as so manyIndians do; but treat her more as the pale-faces treat their wives."
"Wah-ta-Wah no pale-face--got red-skin; red heart, red feelin's. Allred; no pale-face. Must carry papoose."
"Every woman is willing to carry her child," said Hetty smiling, "andthere is no harm in that. But you must love Hist, and be gentle, andgood to her; for she is gentle and good herself."
Chingachgook gravely bowed, and then he seemed to think this part of thesubject might be dismissed. Before there was time for Hetty to resumeher communications, the voice of Deerslayer was heard calling on hisfriend, in the outer room. At this summons the Serpent arose to obey,and Hetty joined her sister.
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