CHAPTER VI. "These, as they change, Almighty Father, these THOMSON. As the chief landed he was met by the Pathfinder, who addressed him in the language of the warrior's people. "Was it well done, Chingachgook," he said, reproachfully, "to ambush a dozen Mingos, alone! Killdeer seldom fails me, it is true; but the Oswego makes a distant mark, and that miscreant showed little more than his head and shoulders above the bushes, and an onpractysed hand and eye might have failed. You should have thought of this, chief; you should have thought of this!" "The great Serpent is a Mohican warrior-he sees only his enemies, when he is on the war-path, and his fathers have struck the Mingos from behind, since the waters began to run!" "I know your gifts-I know your gifts, and respect them, too. No man shall hear me complain that a red-skin obsarved red-skin natur', but prudence as much becomes a warrior as valour; and had not the Iroquois devils been looking after their friends who were in the water, a hot trail they would have made of yourn יין "What is the Delaware about to do?" exclaimed Jasper, who observed, at that moment, that the chief had suddenly left the Pathfinder, and advanced to the water's edge, apparently with an intention of again entering the river. will not be so mad as to return to the other shore, for any trifle he may have forgotten!" "He "Not he not he; he is as prudent as he is brave, in the main, though so forgetful of himself in the late ambushment. Harkee, Jasper," leading the other a little aside, just as they heard the Indian's plunge into the water- "harkee, lad; Chingachgook is not a Christian white man, like ourselves, but a Mohican chief, who has his gifts and traditions to tell him what he ought to do; and he who consorts with them that are not strictly and altogether of his own kind, had better leave natur' and use to govern his comrades. A king's soldier will swear, and he will drink, and it is of little use to try to prevent him; a gentleman likes his delicacies, and a lady her feathers, and it does not avail much to struggle against either; whereas an Indian's natur' and gifts are much stronger than these, and no doubt were bestowed by the Lord for wise ends, though neither you nor me can follow them in all their windings." "What does this mean?-See, the Delaware is swimming towards the body that is lodged on the rock. Why does he risk this?" "For honour, and glory, and renown, as great gentlemen quit their quiet homes, beyond seas, where, as they tell me, heart has nothing left to wish for, that is, such hearts as can be satisfied in a clearing, to come hither to live on game and fight the Frenchers." "I understand you-your friend has gone to secure the scalp." "Tis his gift, and let him enjoy it. We are white men, and cannot mangle a dead enemy, but it is honour in the eyes of a red-skin to do so. It may seem singular to you, Eau-douce, but I've known white men of great name and character manifest as remarkable idees concerning their honour, I have." "A savage will be a savage, Pathfinder, let him keep what company he may." "It is well for us to say so, lad, but, as I tell you, white honour will not always conform to reason, or to the will of God. I have passed days thinking of these matters, out in the silent woods, and I have come to the opinion, boy, that, as Providence rules all things, no gift is bestowed without some wise and reasonable end. If Indians are of no use, Indians would not have been created, and I do suppose, could one dive to the bottom of things, it would be found that even the Mingo tribes were produced for some rational and proper purpose, though I confess it surpasses my means to say what it is." "The Serpent greatly exposes himself to the enemy, in order to get his scalp! This may lose us the day." "Not in his mind, Jasper. That one scalp has more honour in it, according to the Sarpent's notions of warfare, than a field covered with slain, that kept the hair on their heads. Now, there was the fine young captain of the 60th that threw away his life, in trying to bring off a three-pounder from among the Frenchers, in the last skrimmage we had; he thought he was sarving honour; and I have known a young ensign wrap himself up in his colours, and go to sleep in his blood, fancying that he was lying on something softer even than buffalo-skins!" "Yes, yes; one can understand the merit of not hauling down an ensign." "And these are Chingachgook's colours-he will keep them to show his children's children-" here the Pathfinder interrupted himself, shook his head in melancholy, and slowly added "Ahs me! no shoot of the old Mohican stem remains! He has no children to delight with his trophies; no tribe to honour by his deeds; he is a lone man in this world, and yet he stands true to his training and his gifts! There is something honest and respectable in these, you must allow, Jasper; yes, there is something decent in that." Here a great outcry from among the Iroquois, was succeeded by the quick reports of their rifles, and so eager did the enemy become, in the desire to drive the Delaware back from his victim, that a dozen rushed into the river, several of whom even advanced near a hundred feet into the foaming current, as if they actually meditated a serious sortie. But Chingachgook continued as unmoved, as he remained unhurt by the missiles, accomplishing his task with the dexterity of long habit. Flourishing his reeking trophy, he gave the war whoop in its most frightful intonations, and for a minute the arches of the silent woods, and the deep vista formed by the course of the river, echoed with cries so terrific that Mabel bowed her head, in irrepressible fear, while her uncle for a single instant, actually meditated flight. "This surpasses all I have heard from the wretches,” Jasper exclaimed, stopping his ears, equally in horror and disgust. "Tis their music, boy; their drum and fife; their trumpets and clarions. No doubt they love those sounds, for they stir up in them fierce feelings, and a desire for blood," returned the Pathfinder, totally unmoved. "I thought them rather frightful when a mere youngster, but they have got to be like the whistle of the whip-poor-will, or the song of the cat-bird in my ear now. All the screeching reptyles that could stand between the Falls and the garrison, would have no effect on my narves, at this time of day. I say it not in boasting, Jasper, for the man that lets in cowardice through the ears, must have but a weak heart, at the best; sounds and outcries being more intended to alarm women and children, than such as scout the forest, and face the foe. I hope the Sarpent is now satisfied, for here he comes with the scalp at his belt." Jasper turned away his head as the Delaware rose from the water, in pure disgust at his late errand, but the Pathfinder regarded his friend with the philosophical indifference of one who had made up his mind to be indifferent to things he deemed immaterial. As the Delaware passed deeper into the bushes, with a view to wring his trifling calico dress, and to prepare his rifle for service, he gave one glance of triumph at his companions, and then all emotion connected with the recent exploit seemed to cease. 66 Jasper," resumed the guide-" step down to the station of Master Cap, and ask him to join us: we have little time for a council, and yet our plans must be laid quickly, for it will not be long before them Mingos will be plotting our ruin." The young man complied, and in a few minutes the four were assembled near the shore, completely concealed from the view of their enemies, while they kept a vigilant watch over the proceedings of the latter, in order to consult on their own future movements. By this time, the day had so far advanced, as to leave but a few minutes between the passing light and an obscurity that promised to be even deeper than common. The sun had already set, and the twilight of a low latitude would soon pass into the darkness of deep night. Most of the hopes of the party rested on this favourable circumstance, though it was not without its dangers, also, as the very obscurity which would favour their escape would be as likely to conceal the movements of their wily enemies. "The moment has come, men," Pathfinder commenced, "when our plans must be coolly laid, in order that we may act together, and with a right understanding of our errand and gifts. In an hour's time, these woods will be as dark as midnight, and if we are ever to gain the garrison, it must be VOL. I. 8 done under favour of this advantage. What say you, Master Cap, for though none of the most experienced in combats and retreats in the woods, your years entitle you to speak first, in a matter like this,. and in a council." "And my near relationship to Mabel, Pathfinder, ought to count for something—” "I don't know that-I don't know that. Regard is regard, and liking, liking, whether it be a gift of natur', or come from one's own judgment and inclinations. I will say nothing for the Sarpent, who is past placing his mind on the women, but as for Jasper and myself, we are as ready to stand between the serjeant's daughter and the Mingos as her own brave father himself, could be. Do I say more than the truth, lad?" "Mabel may count on me to the last drop of my blood," said Jasper, speaking low, but speaking with intense feeling. "Well, well,” rejoined the uncle, "we will not discuss this matter, as all seem willing to serve the girl, and deeds are better than words. In my judgment, all we have to do, is to go on board the canoe, when it gets to be so dark the enemy's look-outs can't see us, and run for the haven, as wind and tide will allow." "That is easily said, but not so easily done," returned the guide. "We shall be more exposed in the river than by following the woods, and then there is the Oswego rift below us, and I am far from sartain that Jasper himself can carry a boat safely through it, in the dark. What say you, lad, as to your own skill and judgment?" "I am of Master Cap's opinion about using the canoe. Mabel is too tender to walk through swamps, and among roots of trees, in such a night as this promises to be, and then I always feel myself stouter of heart, and truer of eye, when afloat than when ashore." "Stout of heart, you always be, lad, and I think tolerably true of eye for one who has lived so much in broad sunshine, and so little in the woods. Ahs me! the Ontario has no trees, or it would be a plain to delight a hunter's heart! to your opinion, friends, there is much for, and much against it. For it, it may be said water leaves no trail-" As "What do you call the wake?" interrupted the pertinacious and dogmatical Cap. "Anan?" |