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diff --git a/old/2000-08-tpnrs10.txt b/old/2000-08-tpnrs10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59c535f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2000-08-tpnrs10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,18397 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Pioneers, by James Fenimore Cooper +#3 in our series by James Fenimore Cooper + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FENIMORE COOPER + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + + +As this work professes, in its title-page, to be a descriptive tale, +they who will take the trouble to read it may be glad to know how much +of its contents is literal fact, and how much is intended to represent +a general picture. The author is very sensible that, had he confined +himself to the latter, always the most effective, as it is the most +valuable, mode of conveying knowledge of this nature, he would have +made a far better book. But in commencing to describe scenes, and +perhaps he may add characters, that were so familiar to his own youth, +there was a constant temptation to delineate that which he had known, +rather than that which he might have imagined. This rigid adhesion to +truth, an indispensable requisite in history and travels, destroys the +charm of fiction; for all that is necessary to be conveyed to the mind +by the latter had better be done by delineations of principles, and of +characters in their classes, than by a too fastidious attention to +originals. + +New York having but one county of Otsego, and the Susquehanna but one +proper source, there can be no mistake as to the site of the tale. +The history of this district of country, so far as it is connected +with civilized men, is soon told. + +Otsego, in common with most of the interior of the province of New +York, was included in the county of Albany previously to the war of +the separation. It then became, in a subsequent division of +territory, a part of Montgomery; and finally, having obtained a +sufficient population of its own, it was set apart as a county by +itself shortly after the peace of 1783. It lies among those low spurs +of the Alleghanies which cover the midland counties of New York, and +it is a little east of a meridional line drawn through the centre of +the State. As the waters of New York flow either southerly into the +Atlantic or northerly into Ontario and its outlet, Otsego Lake, being +the source of the Susquehanna, is of necessity among its highest +lands. The face of the country, the climate as it was found by the +whites, and the manners of the settlers, are described with a +minuteness for which the author has no other apology than the force of +his own recollections. + +Otsego is said to be a word compounded of Ot, a place of meeting, and +Sego, or Sago, the ordinary term of salutation used by the Indians of +this region. There is a tradition which says that the neighboring +tribes were accustomed to meet on the banks of the lake to make their +treaties, and otherwise to strengthen their alliances, and which +refers the name to this practice. As the Indian agent of New York had +a log dwelling at the foot of the lake, however, it is not impossible +that the appellation grew out of the meetings that were held at his +council fires; the war drove off the agent, in common with the other +officers of the crown; and his rude dwelling was soon abandoned. The +author remembers it, a few years later, reduced to the humble office +of a smoke-house. + +In 1779 an expedition was sent against the hostile Indians, who dwelt +about a hundred miles west of Otsego, on the banks of the Cayuga. The +whole country was then a wilderness, and it was necessary to transport +the bag gage of the troops by means of the rivers—a devious but +practicable route. One brigade ascended the Mohawk until it reached +the point nearest to the sources of the Susquehanna, whence it cut a +lane through the forest to the head of the Otsego. The boats and +baggage were carried over this “portage,” and the troops proceeded to +the other extremity of the lake, where they disembarked and encamped. +The Susquehanna, a narrow though rapid stream at its source, was much +filled with “flood wood,” or fallen trees; and the troops adopted a +novel expedient to facilitate their passage. The Otsego is about nine +miles in length, varying in breadth from half a mile to a mile and a +half. The water is of great depth, limpid, and supplied from a +thousand springs. At its foot the banks are rather less than thirty +feet high the remainder of its margin being in mountains, intervals, +and points. The outlet, or the Susquehanna, flows through a gorge in +the low banks just mentioned, which may have a width of two hundred +feet. This gorge was dammed and the waters of the lake collected: the +Susquehanna was converted into a rill. + +When all was ready the troops embarked, the damn was knocked away, the +Otsego poured out its torrent, and the boats went merrily down with +the current. + +General James Clinton, the brother of George Clinton, then governor of +New York, and the father of De Witt Clinton, who died governor of the +same State in 1827, commanded the brigade employed on this duty. +During the stay of the troops at the foot of the Otsego a soldier was +shot for desertion. The grave of this unfortunate man was the first +place of human interment that the author ever beheld, as the smoke- +house was the first ruin! The swivel alluded to in this work was +buried and abandoned by the troops on this occasion, and it was +subsequently found in digging the cellars of the authors paternal +residence. + +Soon after the close of the war, Washington, accompanied by many +distinguished men, visited the scene of this tale, it is said with a +view to examine the facilities for opening a communication by water +with other points of the country. He stayed but a few hours. + +In 1785 the author’s father, who had an interest in extensive tracts +of land in this wilderness, arrived with a party of surveyors. The +manner in which the scene met his eye is described by Judge Temple. +At the commencement of the following year the settlement began; and +from that time to this the country has continued to flourish. It is a +singular feature in American life that at the beginning of this +century, when the proprietor of the estate had occasion for settlers +on a new settlement and in a remote county, he was enabled to draw +them from among the increase of the former colony. + +Although the settlement of this part of Otsego a little preceded the +birth of the author, it was not sufficiently advanced to render it +desirable that an event so important to himself should take place in +the wilderness. Perhaps his mother had a reasonable distrust of the +practice of Dr Todd, who must then have been in the novitiate of his +experimental acquirements. Be that as it may, the author was brought +an infant into this valley, and all his first impressions were here +obtained. He has inhabited it ever since, at intervals; and he thinks +he can answer for the faithfulness of the picture he has drawn. +Otsego has now become one of the most populous districts of New York. +It sends forth its emigrants like any other old region, and it is +pregnant with industry and enterprise. Its manufacturers are +prosperous, and it is worthy of remark that one of the most ingenious +machines known in European art is derived from the keen ingenuity +which is exercised in this remote region. + +In order to prevent mistake, it may be well to say that the incidents +of this tale are purely a fiction. The literal facts are chiefly +connected with the natural and artificial objects and the customs of +the inhabitants. Thus the academy, and court-house, and jail, and +inn, and most similar things, are tolerably exact. They have all, +long since, given place to other buildings of a more pretending +character. There is also some liberty taken with the truth in the +description of the principal dwelling; the real building had no +“firstly” and “lastly.” It was of bricks, and not of stone; and its +roof exhibited none of the peculiar beauties of the “composite order.” +It was erected in an age too primitive for that ambitious school of +architecture. But the author indulged his recollections freely when +he had fairly entered the door. Here all is literal, even to the +severed arm of Wolfe, and the urn which held the ashes of Queen Dido.* + + * Though forests still crown the mountains of Otsego, the bear, the + wolf, and the panther are nearly strangers to them. Even the innocent + deer is rarely seen bounding beneath their arches; for the rifle and + the activity of the settlers hare driven them to other haunts. To + this change (which in some particulars is melancholy to one who knew + the country in its infancy), it may be added that the Otsego is + beginning to be a niggard of its treasures. + +The author has elsewhere said that the character of Leather-Stocking +is a creation, rendered probable by such auxiliaries as were necessary +to produce that effect. Had he drawn still more upon fancy, the +lovers of fiction would not have so much cause for their objections to +his work. Still, the picture would not have been in the least true +without some substitutes for most of the other personages. The great +proprietor resident on his lands, and giving his name to instead of +receiving it from his estates as in Europe, is common over the whole +of New York. The physician with his theory, rather obtained from than +corrected by experiments on the human constitution; the pious, self- +denying, laborious, and ill-paid missionary; the half-educated, +litigious, envious, and disreputable lawyer, with his counterpoise, a +brother of the profession, of better origin and of better character; +the shiftless, bargaining, discontented seller of his “betterments;” +the plausible carpenter, and most of the others, are more familiar to +all who have ever dwelt in a new country. + +It may be well to say here, a little more explicitly, that there was +no real intention to describe with particular accuracy any real +characters in this book. It has been often said, and in published +statements, that the heroine of this book was drawn after the sister +of the writer, who was killed by a fall from a horse now near half a +century since. So ingenious is conjecture that a personal resemblance +has been discovered between the fictitious character and the deceased +relative! It is scarcely possible to describe two females of the same +class in life who would be less alike, personally, than Elizabeth +Temple and the sister of the author who met with the deplorable fate +mentioned. In a word, they were as unlike in this respect as in +history, character, and fortunes. + +Circumstances rendered this sister singularly dear to the author. +After a lapse of half a century, he is writing this paragraph with a +pain that would induce him to cancel it, were it not still more +painful to have it believed that one whom he regarded with a reverence +that surpassed the love of a brother was converted by him into the +heroine of a work of fiction. + +From circumstances which, after this Introduction, will be obvious to +all, the author has had more pleasure in writing “The Pioneers” than +the book will probably ever give any of its readers. He is quite +aware of its numerous faults, some of which he has endeavored to +repair in this edition; but as he has—in intention, at least—done his +full share in amusing the world, he trusts to its good-nature for +overlooking this attempt to please himself. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + + +“See, Winter comes, to rule the varied years, +Sullen and sad, with all his rising train; +Vapors, and clouds, and storms.”—Thomson. + +Near the centre of the State of New York lies an extensive district of +country whose surface is a succession of hills and dales, or, to speak +with greater deference to geographical definitions, of mountains and +valleys. It is among these hills that the Delaware takes its rise; +and flowing from the limpid lakes and thousand springs of this region +the numerous sources of the Susquehanna meander through the valleys +until, uniting their streams, they form one of the proudest rivers of +the United States. The mountains are generally arable to the tops, +although instances are not wanting where the sides are jutted with +rocks that aid greatly in giving to the country that romantic and +picturesque character which it so eminently possesses. The vales are +narrow, rich, and cultivated, with a stream uniformly winding through +each. Beautiful and thriving villages are found interspersed along +the margins of the small lakes, or situated at those points of the +streams which are favorable for manufacturing; and neat and +comfortable farms, with every indication of wealth about them, are +scattered profusely through the vales, and even to the mountain tops. +Roads diverge in every direction from the even and graceful bottoms of +the valleys to the most rugged and intricate passes of the hills. +Academies and minor edifices of learning meet the eye of the stranger +at every few miles as be winds his way through this uneven territory, +and places for the worship of God abound with that frequency which +characterize a moral and reflecting people, and with that variety of +exterior and canonical government which flows from unfettered liberty +of conscience. In short, the whole district is hourly exhibiting how +much can be done, in even a rugged country and with a severe climate, +under the dominion of mild laws, and where every man feels a direct +interest in the prosperity of a commonwealth of which he knows himself +to form a part. The expedients of the pioneers who first broke ground +in the settlement of this country are succeeded by the permanent +improvements of the yeoman who intends to leave his remains to moulder +under the sod which he tills, or perhaps of the son, who, born in the +land, piously wishes to linger around the grave of his father. Only +forty years * have passed since this territory was a wilderness. + + * Our tale begins in 1793, about seven years after the commencement of + one of the earliest of those settlements which have conduced to effect + that magical change in the power and condition of the State to which + we have alluded. + +Very soon after the establishment of the independence of the States by +the peace of 1783, the enterprise of their citizens was directed to a +development of the natural ad vantages of their widely extended +dominions. Before the war of the Revolution, the inhabited parts of +the colony of New York were limited to less than a tenth of its +possessions, A narrow belt of country, extending for a short distance +on either side of the Hudson, with a similar occupation of fifty miles +on the banks of the Mohawk, together with the islands of Nassau and +Staten, and a few insulated settlements on chosen land along the +margins of streams, composed the country, which was then inhabited by +less than two hundred thousand souls. Within the short period we have +mentioned, the population has spread itself over five degrees of +latitude and seven of longitude, and has swelled to a million and a +half of inhabitants, who are maintained in abundance, and can look +forward to ages before the evil day must arrive when their possessions +shall become unequal to their wants. + +It was near the setting of the sun, on a clear, cold day in December, +when a sleigh was moving slowly up one of the mountains in the +district we have described. The day had been fine for the season, and +but two or three large clouds, whose color seemed brightened by the +light reflected from the mass of snow that covered the earth, floated +in a sky of the purest blue. The road wound along the brow of a +precipice, and on one side was upheld by a foundation of logs piled +one upon the other, while a narrow excavation in the mountain in the +opposite direction had made a passage of sufficient width for the +ordinary travelling of that day. But logs, excavation, and every +thing that did not reach several feet above the earth lay alike buried +beneath the snow. A single track, barely wide enough to receive the +sleigh, * denoted the route of the highway, and this was sunk nearly +two feet below the surrounding surface. + + * Sleigh is the word used in every part of the United States to denote + a traineau. It is of local use in the west of England, whence it is + most probably derived by the Americans. The latter draw a distinction + between a sled, or sledge, and a sleigh, the sleigh being shod with + metal. Sleighs are also subdivided into two - horse and one-horse + sleighs. Of the latter, there are the cutter, with thills so arranged + as to permit the horse to travel in the side track; the “pung,” or + “tow-pung” which is driven with a pole; and the “gumper,” a rude + construction used for temporary purposes in the new countries. Many + of the American sleighs are elegant though the use of this mode of + conveyance is much lessened with the melioration of the climate + consequent to the clearing of the forests. + +In the vale, which lay at a distance of several hundred feet lower, +there was what, in the language of the country, was called a clearing, +and all the usual improvements of a new settlement; these even +extended up the hill to the point where the road turned short and ran +across the level land, which lay on the summit of the mountain; but +the summit itself remained in the forest. There was glittering in the +atmosphere, as if it was filled with innumerable shining particles; +and the noble bay horses that drew the sleigh were covered, in many +parts with a coat of hoar-frost. The vapor from their nostrils was +seen to issue like smoke; and every object in the view, as well as +every arrangement of the travellers, denoted the depth of a winter in +the mountains. The harness, which was of a deep, dull black, +differing from the glossy varnishing of the present day, was +ornamented with enormous plates and buckles of brass, that shone like +gold in those transient beams of the sun which found their way +obliquely through the tops of the trees. Huge saddles, studded with +nails and fitted with cloth that served as blankets to the shoulders +of the cattle, supported four high, square-topped turrets, through +which the stout reins led from the mouths of the horses to the hands +of the driver, who was a negro, of apparently twenty years of age. +His face, which nature had colored with a glistening black, was now +mottled with the cold, and his large shining eyes filled with tears; a +tribute to its power that the keen frosts of those regions always +extracted from one of his African origin. Still, there was a smiling +expression of good-humor in his happy countenance, that was created by +the thoughts of home and a Christmas fireside, with its Christmas +frolics. The sleigh was one of those large, comfortable, old- +fashioned conveyances, which would admit a whole family within its +bosom, but which now contained only two passengers besides the driver. +The color of its outside was a modest green, and that of its inside a +fiery red, The latter was intended to convey the idea of heat in that +cold climate. Large buffalo-skins trimmed around the edges with red +cloth cut into festoons, covered the back of the sleigh, and were +spread over its bottom and drawn up around the feet of the travellers +- one of whom was a man of middle age and the other a female just +entering upon womanhood. The former was of a large stature; but the +precautions he had taken to guard against the cold left but little of +his person exposed to view. A great-coat, that was abundantly +ornamented by a profusion of furs, enveloped the whole of his figure +excepting the head, which was covered with a cap of mar ten-skins +lined with morocco, the sides of which were made to fall, if +necessary, and were now drawn close over the ears and fastened beneath +his chin with a black rib bon. The top of the cap was surmounted with +the tail of the animal whose skin had furnished the rest of the +materials, which fell back, not ungracefully, a few inches be hind the +head. From beneath this mask were to be seen part of a fine, manly +face, and particularly a pair of expressive large blue eyes, that +promised extraordinary intellect, covert humor, and great benevolence. +The form of his companion was literally hid beneath the garments she +wore. There were furs and silks peeping from under a large camlet +cloak with a thick flannel lining, that by its cut and size was +evidently intended for a masculine wearer. A huge hood of black silk, +that was quilted with down, concealed the whole of her head, except at +a small opening in front for breath, through which occasionally +sparkled a pair of animated jet-black eyes. + +Both the father and daughter (for such was the connection between the +two travellers) were too much occupied with their reflections to break +a stillness that derived little or no interruption from the easy +gliding of the sleigh by the sound of their voices. The former was +thinking of the wife that had held this their only child to her bosom, +when, four years before, she had reluctantly consented to relinquish +the society of her daughter in order that the latter might enjoy the +advantages of an education which the city of New York could only offer +at that period. A few months afterward death had deprived him of the +remaining companion of his solitude; but still he had enough real +regard for his child not to bring her into the comparative wilderness +in which he dwelt, until the full period had expired to which he had +limited her juvenile labors. The reflections of the daughter were +less melancholy, and mingled with a pleased astonishment at the novel +scenery she met at every turn in the road. + +The mountain on which they were journeying was covered with pines that +rose without a branch some seventy or eighty feet, and which +frequently doubled that height by the addition of the tops. Through +the innumerable vistas that opened beneath the lofty trees, the eye +could penetrate until it was met by a distant inequality in the +ground, or was stopped by a view of the summit of the mountain which +lay on the opposite side of the valley to which they were hastening. +The dark trunks of the trees rose from the pure white of the snow in +regularly formed shafts, until, at a great height, their branches shot +forth horizontal limbs, that were covered with the meagre foliage of +an evergreen, affording a melancholy contrast to the torpor of nature +below. To the travellers there seemed to be no wind; but these pines +waved majestically at their topmost boughs, sending forth a dull, +plaintive sound that was quite in consonance with the rest of the +melancholy scene. + +The sleigh had glided for some distance along the even surface, and +the gaze of the female was bent in inquisitive and, perhaps, timid +glances into the recesses of the forest, when a loud and continued +howling was heard, pealing under the long arches of the woods like the +cry of a numerous pack of hounds. The instant the sounds reached the +ear of the gentleman he cried aloud to the black: + +“Hol up, Aggy; there is old Hector; I should know his bay among ten +thousand! The Leather-Stocking has put his hounds into the hills this +clear day, and they have started their game. There is a deer-track a +few rods ahead; and now, Bess, if thou canst muster courage enough to +stand fire, I will give thee a saddle for thy Christmas dinner.” + +The black drew up, with a cheerful grin upon his chilled features, and +began thrashing his arms together in order to restore the circulation +of his fingers, while the speaker stood erect and, throwing aside his +outer covering, stepped from the sleigh upon a bank of snow which +sustained his weight without yielding. + +In a few moments the speaker succeeded in extricating a double- +barrelled fowling-piece from among a multitude of trunks and +bandboxes. After throwing aside the thick mittens which had encased +his hands, there now appeared a pair of leather gloves tipped with +fur; he examined his priming, and was about to move forward, when the +light bounding noise of an animal plunging through the woods was +heard, and a fine buck darted into the path a short distance ahead of +him. The appearance of the animal was sudden, and his flight +inconceivably rapid; but the traveller appeared to be too keen a +sportsman to be disconcerted by either. As it came first into view he +raised the fowling-piece to his shoulder and, with a practised eye and +steady hand, drew a trigger. The deer dashed forward undaunted, and +apparently unhurt. Without lowering his piece, the traveller turned +its muzzle toward his victim, and fired again. Neither discharge, +however, seemed to have taken effect, + +The whole scene had passed with a rapidity that confused the female, +who was unconsciously rejoicing in the escape of the buck, as he +rather darted like a meteor than ran across the road, when a sharp, +quick sound struck her ear, quite different from the full, round +reports of her father’s gun, but still sufficiently distinct to be +known as the concussion produced by firearms. At the same instant +that she heard this unexpected report, the buck sprang from the snow +to a great height in the air, and directly a second discharge, similar +in sound to the first, followed, when the animal came to the earth, +failing head long and rolling over on the crust with its own velocity. +A loud shout was given by the unseen marksman, and a couple of men +instantly appeared from behind the trunks of two of the pines, where +they had evidently placed them selves in expectation of the passage of +the deer. + +“Ha! Natty, had I known you were in ambush, I should not have fired,” +cried the traveller, moving toward the spot where the deer lay—near to +which he was followed by the delighted black, with his sleigh; “but +the sound of old Hector was too exhilarating to be quiet; though I +hardly think I struck him, either.” + +“No—no——Judge,” returned the hunter, with an inward chuckle, and with +that look of exultation that indicates a consciousness of superior +skill, “you burnt your powder only to warm your nose this cold +evening. Did ye think to stop a full-grown buck, with Hector and the +slut open upon him within sound, with that pop-gun in your hand! +There’s plenty of pheasants among the swamps; and the snow-birds are +flying round your own door, where you may feed them with crumbs, and +shoot them at pleasure, any day; but if you’re for a buck, or a little +bear's meat, Judge, you’ll have to take the long rifle, with a greased +wadding, or you’ll waste more powder than you’ll fill stomachs, I’m +thinking.” + +As the speaker concluded he drew his bare hand across the bottom of +his nose, and again opened his enormous mouth with a kind of inward +laugh. + +“The gun scatters well, Natty, And it has killed a deer before now,” +said the traveller, smiling good-humoredly. “One barrel was charged +with buckshot, but the other was loaded for birds only. Here are two +hurts; one through the neck, and the other directly through the heart. +It is by no means certain, Natty, but I gave him one of the two + +“Let who will kill him.” said the hunter, rather surily. + +“I suppose the creature is to be eaten.” So saying, he drew a large +knife from a leathern sheath, which was stuck through his girdle, or +sash, and cut the throat of the animal, “If there are two balls +through the deer, I would ask if there weren’t two rifles fired— +besides, who ever saw such a ragged hole from a smooth-bore as this +through the neck? And you will own yourself, Judge, that the buck fell +at the last shot, which was sent from a truer and a younger hand than +your’n or mine either; but, for my part, although I am a poor man I +can live without the venison, but I don’t love to give up my lawful +dues in a free country. Though, for the matter of that, might often +makes right here, as well as in the old country, for what I can see.” + +An air of sullen dissatisfaction pervaded the manner of the hunter +during the whole of his speech; yet he thought it prudent to utter the +close of the sentence in such an undertone as to leave nothing audible +but the grumbling sounds of his voice. + +“Nay, Natty,” rejoined the traveller, with undisturbed good-humor, “it +is for the honor that I contend. A few dollars will pay for the +venison; but what will requite me for the lost honor of a buck’s tail +in my cap? Think, Natty, how I should triumph over that quizzing dog, +Dick Jones, who has failed seven times already this season, and has +only brought in one woodchuck and a few gray squirrels.” + +“Ah! The game is becoming hard to find, indeed, Judge, with your +clearings and betterments,” said the old hunter, with a kind of +compelled resignation. “The time has been when I have shot thirteen +deer without counting the fa’ns standing in the door of my own hut; +and for bear’s meat, if one wanted a ham or so, he had only to watch +a-nights, and he could shoot one by moonlight, through the cracks of +the logs, no fear of his oversleeping himself neither, for the howling +of the wolves was sartin to keep his eyes open. There’s old Hector”— +patting with affection a tall hound of black and yellow spots, with +white belly and legs, that just then came in on the scent, accompanied +by the slut he had mentioned; “see where the wolves bit his throat, +the night I druv them from the venison that was smoking on the chimney +top—that dog is more to be trusted than many a Christian man; for he +never forgets a friend, and loves the hand that gives him bread,” + +There was a peculiarity in the manner of the hunter that attracted the +notice of the young female, who had been a close and interested +observer of his appearance and equipments, from the moment he came +into view. He was tall, and so meagre as to make him seem above even +the six feet that he actually stood in his stockings. On his head, +which was thinly covered with lank, sandy hair, he wore a cap made of +fox-skin, resembling in shape the one we have already described, +although much inferior in finish and ornaments. His face was skinny +and thin al most to emaciation; but yet it bore no signs of disease— +on the contrary, it had every indication of the most robust and +enduring health. The cold and exposure had, together, given it a +color of uniform red. His gray eyes were glancing under a pair of +shaggy brows, that over hung them in long hairs of gray mingled with +their natural hue; his scraggy neck was bare, and burnt to the same +tint with his face; though a small part of a shirt-collar, made of the +country check, was to be seen above the overdress he wore. A kind of +coat, made of dressed deer-skin, with the hair on, was belted close to +his lank body by a girdle of colored worsted. On his feet were deer- +skin moccasins, ornamented with porcupines’ quills, after the manner +of the Indians, and his limbs were guarded with long leggings of the +same material as the moccasins, which, gartering over the knees of his +tarnished buckskin breeches, had obtained for him among the settlers +the nickname of Leather-Stocking. Over his left shoulder was slung a +belt of deer-skin, from which depended an enormous ox-horn, so thinly +scraped as to discover the powder it contained. The larger end was +fitted ingeniously and securely with a wooden bottom, and the other +was stopped tight by a little plug. A leathern pouch hung before him, +from which, as he concluded his last speech, he took a small measure, +and, filling it accurately with powder, he commenced reloading the +rifle, which as its butt rested on the snow before him reached nearly +to the top of his fox-skin cap. + +The traveller had been closely examining the wounds during these +movements, and now, without heeding the ill-humor of the hunter’s +manner, he exclaimed: + +“I would fain establish a right, Natty, to the honor of this death; +and surely if the hit in the neck be mine it is enough; for the shot +in the heart was unnecessary—what we call an act of supererogation, +Leather-Stocking.” + +“You may call it by what larned name you please, Judge,” said the +hunter, throwing his rifle across his left arm, and knocking up a +brass lid in the breech, from which he took a small piece of greased +leather and, wrapping a bail in it, forced them down by main strength +on the powder, where he continued to pound them while speaking. “It’s +far easier to call names than to shoot a buck on the spring; but the +creatur came by his end from a younger hand than either your’n or +mine, as I said before.” + +“What say you, my friend,” cried the traveller, turning pleasantly to +Natty’s companion; “shall we toss up this dollar for the honor, and +you keep the silver if you lose; what say you, friend?” + +“That I killed the deer,” answered the young man, with a little +haughtiness, as he leaned on another long rifle similar to that of +Natty. + +“Here are two to one, indeed,” replied the Judge with a smile; “I am +outvoted—overruled, as we say on the bench. There is Aggy, he can’t +vote, being a slave; and Bess is a minor—so I must even make the best +of it. But you’ll send me the venison; and the deuce is in it, but I +make a good story about its death.” + +“The meat is none of mine to sell,” said Leather-Stocking, adopting a +little of his companion’s hauteur; “for my part, I have known animals +travel days with shots in the neck, and I’m none of them who’ll rob a +man of his rightful dues.” + +“You are tenacious of your rights, this cold evening, Natty,” returned +the Judge with unconquerable good-nature; “but what say you, young +man; will three dollars pay you for the buck?” + +“First let us determine the question of right to the satisfaction of +us both,” said the youth firmly but respect fully, and with a +pronunciation and language vastly superior to his appearance: “with +how many shot did you load your gun?” + +“With five, sir,” said the Judge, a little struck with the other’s +manner; “are they not enough to slay a buck like this?” + +“One would do it; but,” moving to the tree from be hind which he had +appeared, “you know, sir, you fired in this direction—here are four of +the bullets in the tree.” + +The Judge examined the fresh marks in the bark of the pine, and, +shaking his head, said with a laugh: + +“You are making out the case against yourself, my young advocate; +where is the fifth?” + +“Here,” said the youth, throwing aside the rough over coat that he +wore, and exhibiting a hole in his under-garment, through which large +drops of blood were oozing. + +“Good God!” exclaimed the Judge, with horror; “have I been trifling +here about an empty distinction, and a fellow-creature suffering from +my hands without a murmur? But hasten—quick—get into my sleigh—it is +but a mile to the village, where surgical aid can be obtained—all +shall be done at my expense, and thou shalt live with me until thy +wound is healed, ay, and forever afterward.” + +“I thank you for your good intention, but I must decline your offer. +I have a friend who would be uneasy were he to hear that I am hurt and +away from him. The injury is but slight, and the bullet has missed +the bones; but I believe, sir, you will now admit me title to the +venison.” + +“Admit it!” repeated the agitated Judge; “I here give thee a right to +shoot deer, or bears, or anything thou pleasest in my woods, forever. +Leather-Stocking is the only other man that I have granted the same +privilege to; and the time is coming when it will be of value. But I +buy your deer—here, this bill will pay thee, both for thy shot and my +own.” + +The old hunter gathered his tall person up into an air of pride during +this dialogue, but he waited until the other had done speaking. + +“There’s them living who say that Nathaniel Bumppo's right to shoot on +these hills is of older date than Marmaduke Temple’s right to forbid +him,” he said. “But if there’s a law about it at all, though who ever +heard of a law that a man shouldn’t kill deer where he pleased!—but if +there is a law at all, it should be to keep people from the use of +smooth-bores. A body never knows where his lead will fly, when he +pulls the trigger of one of them uncertain firearms.” + +Without attending to the soliloquy of Natty, the youth bowed his head +silently to the offer of the bank-note, and replied: + +“Excuse me: I have need of the venison.” + +“But this will buy you many deer,” said the Judge; “take it, I entreat +you;” and, lowering his voice to a whisper, he added, “It is for a +hundred dollars.” + +For an instant only the youth seemed to hesitate, and then, blushing +even through the high color that the cold had given to his cheeks, as +if with inward shame at his own weakness, he again declined the offer. + +During this scene the female arose, and regardless of the cold air, +she threw back the hood which concealed her features, and now spoke, +with great earnestness. + +“Surely, surely—young man—sir—you would not pain my father so much as +to have him think that he leaves a fellow-creature in this wilderness +whom his own hand has injured. I entreat you will go with us, and +receive medical aid.” + +Whether his wound became more painful, or there was something +irresistible in the voice and manner of the fair pleader for her +father’s feelings, we know not; but the distance of the young mans +manner was sensibly softened by this appeal, and he stood in apparent +doubt, as if reluctant to comply with and yet unwilling to refuse her +request. The Judge, for such being his office must in future be his +title, watched with no little interest the display of this singular +contention in the feelings of the youth; and, advancing, kindly took +his hand, and, as he pulled him gently toward the sleigh, urged him to +enter it. + +“There is no human aid nearer than Templeton,” he said, “and the hut +of Natty is full three miles from this— come, come, my young friend, +go with us, and let the new doctor look to this shoulder of thine. +Here is Natty will take the tidings of thy welfare to thy friend; and +shouldst thou require it, thou shalt return home in the morning.” +The young man succeeded in extricating his hand from the warm grasp of +the Judge, but he continued to gaze on the face of the female, who, +regardless of the cold, was still standing with her fine features +exposed, which expressed feeling that eloquently seconded the request +of her father. Leather-Stocking stood, in the mean time, leaning upon +his long rifle, with his head turned a little to one side, as if +engaged in sagacious musing; when, having apparently satisfied his +doubts, by revolving the subject in his mind, he broke silence. +“It may be best to go, lad, after all; for, if the shot hangs under +the skin, my hand is getting too old to be cutting into human flesh, +as I once used to, Though some thirty years agone, in the old war, +when I was out under Sir William, I travelled seventy miles alone in +the howling wilderness, with a rifle bullet in my thigh, and then cut +it out with my own jack-knife. Old Indian John knows the time well. +I met him with a party of the Delawares, on the trail of the Iroquois, +who had been down and taken five scalps on the Schoharie. But I made +a mark on the red-skin that I’ll warrant he’ll carry to his grave! I +took him on the posteerum, saving the lady's presence, as he got up +from the ambushment, and rattled three buckshot into his naked hide, +so close that you might have laid a broad joe upon them all”—here +Natty stretched out his long neck, and straightened his body, as he +opened his mouth, which exposed a single tusk of yellow bone, while +his eyes, his face, even his whole frame seemed to laugh, although no +sound was emitted except a kind of thick hissing, as he inhaled his +breath in quavers. “I had lost my bullet-mould in crossing the Oneida +outlet, and had to make shift with the buckshot; but the rifle was +true, and didn’t scatter like your two-legged thing there, Judge, +which don’t do, I find, to hunt in company with.” + +Natty’s apology to the delicacy of the young lady was unnecessary, +for, while he was speaking, she was too much employed in helping her +father to remove certain articles of baggage to hear him. Unable to +resist the kind urgency of the travellers any longer, the youth, +though still with an unaccountable reluctance, suffered himself to be +persuaded to enter the sleigh. The black, with the aid of his master, +threw the buck across the baggage and entering the vehicle themselves, +the Judge invited the hunter to do so likewise. + +“ No, no,” said the old roan, shaking his head; “I have work to do at +home this Christmas eve—drive on with the boy, and let your doctor +look to the shoulder; though if he will only cut out the shot, I have +yarbs that will heal the wound quicker than all his foreign +‘intments.” He turned, and was about to move off, when, suddenly +recollecting himself, he again faced the party, and added: “If you see +anything of Indian John, about the foot of the lake, you had better +take him with you, and let him lend the doctor a hand; for, old as he +is, he is curious at cuts and bruises, and it’s likelier than not +he’ll be in with brooms to sweep your Christmas ha’arths.” + +“Stop, stop,” cried the youth, catching the arm of the black as he +prepared to urge his horses forward; “Natty—you need say nothing of +the shot, nor of where I am going—remember, Natty, as you love me.” +“Trust old Leather-Stocking,” returned the hunter significantly; “he +hasn’t lived fifty years in the wilderness, and not larnt from the +savages how to hold his tongue— trust to me, lad; and remember old +Indian John.” + +“And, Natty,” said the youth eagerly, still holding the black by the +arm. “I will just get the shot extracted, and bring you up to-night a +quarter of the buck for the Christmas dinner.” + +He was interrupted by the hunter, who held up his finger with an +expressive gesture for silence. He then moved softly along the margin +of the road, keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the branches of a +pine. When he had obtained such a position as he wished, he stopped, +and, cocking his rifle, threw one leg far behind him, and stretching +his left arm to its utmost extent along the barrel of his piece, he +began slowly to raise its muzzle in a line with the straight trunk of +the tree. The eyes of the group in the sleigh naturally preceded the +movement of the rifle, and they soon discovered the object of Natty’s +aim. On a small dead branch of the pine, which, at the distance of +seventy feet from the ground, shot out horizontally, immediately +beneath the living members of the tree, sat a bird, that in the vulgar +language of the country was indiscriminately called a pheasant or a +partridge. In size, it was but little smaller than a common barn-yard +fowl. The baying of the dogs, and the conversation that had passed +near the root of the tree on which it was perched, had alarmed the +bird, which was now drawn up near the body of the pine, with a head +and neck so erect as to form nearly a straight line with its legs. As +soon as the rifle bore on the victim, Natty drew his trigger, and the +partridge fell from its height with a force that buried it in the +snow. + +“Lie down, you old villain,” exclaimed Leather-Stocking, shaking his +ramrod at Hector as he bounded toward the foot of the tree, “ lie +down, I say.” The dog obeyed, and Natty proceeded with great rapidity, +though with the nicest accuracy, to reload his piece. When this was +ended, he took up his game, and, showing it to the party without a +head, he cried: “ Here is a tidbit for an old man’s Christmas—never +mind the venison, boy, and remember Indian John; his yarbs are better +than all the foreign ‘intments. Here, Judge,” holding up the bird +again, “do you think a smooth-bore would pick game off their roost, +and not ruffle a feather?” The old man gave another of his remarkable +laughs, which partook so largely of exultation, mirth, and irony, and, +shaking his head, he turned, with his rifle at a trail, and moved into +the forest with steps that were between a walk and a trot. At each +movement he made his body lowered several inches, his knees yielding +with an inclination inward; but, as the sleigh turned at a bend in the +road, the youth cast his eyes in quest of his old companion, and he +saw that he was already nearly concealed by the trunks of the tree; +while his dogs were following quietly in his footsteps, occasionally +scenting the deer track, that they seemed to know instinctively was +now of no further use to them. Another jerk was given to the sleigh, +and Leather-Stocking was hid from view. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + + +All places that the eye of heaven visits +Are to a wise man ports and happy havens: +Think not the king did banish thee: +But thou the king.—Richard II + +An ancestor of Marmaduke Temple had, about one hundred and twenty +years before the commencement of our tale, come to the colony of +Pennsylvania, a friend and co-religionist of its great patron. Old +Marmaduke, for this formidable prenomen was a kind of appellative to +the race, brought with him, to that asylum of the persecuted an +abundance of the good things of this life. He became the master of +many thousands of acres of uninhabited territory, and the supporter of +many a score of dependents. He lived greatly respected for his piety, +and not a little distinguished as a sectary; was intrusted by his +associates with many important political stations; and died just in +time to escape the knowledge of his own poverty. It was his lot to +share the fortune of most of those who brought wealth with them into +the new settlements of the middle colonies. + +The consequence of an emigrant into these provinces was generally to +be ascertained by the number of his white servants or dependents, and +the nature of the public situations that he held. Taking this rule as +a guide, the ancestor of our Judge must have been a man of no little +note. + +It is, however, a subject of curious inquiry at the present day, to +look into the brief records of that early period, and observe how +regular, and with few exceptions how inevitable, were the gradations, +on the one hand, of the masters to poverty, and on the other, of their +servants to wealth. Accustomed to ease, and unequal to the struggles +incident to an infant society, the affluent emigrant was barely +enabled to maintain his own rank by the weight of his personal +superiority and acquirements; but, the moment that his head was laid +in the grave, his indolent and comparatively uneducated offspring were +compelled to yield precedency to the more active energies of a class +whose exertions had been stimulated by necessity. This is a very +common course of things, even in the present state of the Union; but +it was peculiarly the fortunes of the two extremes of society, in the +peaceful and unenterprising colonies of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, + +The posterity of Marmaduke did not escape the common lot of those who +depend rather on their hereditary possessions than on their own +powers; and in the third generation they had descended to a point +below which, in this happy country, it is barely possible for honesty, +intellect and sobriety to fall. The same pride of family that had, by +its self-satisfied indolence, conduced to aid their fail, now became a +principle to stimulate them to endeavor to rise again. The feeling, +from being morbid, was changed to a healthful and active desire to +emulate the character, the condition, and, peradventure, the wealth of +their ancestors also. It was the father of our new acquaintance, the +Judge, who first began to reascend in the scale of society; and in +this undertaking he was not a little assisted by a marriage, which +aided in furnishing the means of educating his only son in a rather +better manner than the low state of the common schools of Pennsylvania +could promise; or than had been the practice in the family for the two +or three preceding generations. + +At the school where the reviving prosperity of his father was enabled +to maintain him, young Marmaduke formed an intimacy with a youth whose +years were about equal to his own. This was a fortunate connection +for our Judge, and paved the way to most of his future elevation in +life. + +There was not only great wealth but high court interest among the +connections of Edward Effingham. They were one of the few families +then resident in the colonies who thought it a degradation to its +members to descend to the pursuits of commerce; and who never emerged +from the privacy of domestic life unless to preside in the councils of +the colony or to bear arms in her defense. The latter had from youth +been the only employment of Edward’s father. Military rank under the +crown of Great Britain was attained with much longer probation, and by +much more toilsome services, sixty years ago than at the present time. +Years were passed without murmuring, in the sub ordinate grades of the +service; and those soldiers who were stationed in the colonies felt, +when they obtained the command of a company, that they were entitled +to receive the greatest deference from the peaceful occupants of the +soil. Any one of our readers who has occasion to cross the Niagara +may easily observe not only the self importance, but the real +estimation enjoyed by the hum blest representative of the crown, even +in that polar region of royal sunshine. Such, and at no very distant +period, was the respect paid to the military in these States, where +now, happily, no symbol of war is ever seen, unless at the free and +tearless voice of their people. When, therefore, the father of +Marmaduke’s friend, after forty years’ service, retired with the rank +of major, maintaining in his domestic establishment a comparative +splendor, he be came a man of the first consideration in his native +colony which was that of New York. He had served with fidelity and +courage, and having been, according to the custom of the provinces, +intrusted with commands much superior to those to which he was +entitled by rank, with reputation also. When Major Effingham yielded +to the claims of age, he retired with dignity, refusing his half-pay +or any other compensation for services that he felt he could no longer +perform. + +The ministry proffered various civil offices which yielded not only +honor but profit; but he declined them all, with the chivalrous +independence and loyalty that had marked his character through life. +The veteran soon caused this set of patriotic disinterestedness to be +followed by another of private munificence, that, however little it +accorded with prudence, was in perfect conformity with the simple +integrity of his own views. + +The friend of Marmaduke was his only child; and to this son, on his +marriage with a lady to whom the father was particularly partial, the +Major gave a complete conveyance of his whole estate, consisting of +money in the funds, a town and country residence, sundry valuable +farms in the old parts of the colony, and large tracts of wild land in +the new—in this manner throwing himself upon the filial piety of his +child for his own future maintenance. Major Effingham, in declining +the liberal offers of the British ministry, had subjected himself to +the suspicion of having attained his dotage, by all those who throng +the avenues to court patronage, even in the remotest corners of that +vast empire; but, when he thus voluntarily stripped himself of his +great personal wealth, the remainder of the community seemed +instinctively to adopt the conclusion also that he had reached a +second childhood. This may explain the fact of his importance rapidly +declining; and, if privacy was his object, the veteran had soon a free +indulgence of his wishes. Whatever views the world might entertain of +this act of the Major, to himself and to his child it seemed no more +than a natural gift by a father of those immunities which he could no +longer enjoy or improve, to a son, who was formed, both by nature and +education, to do both. The younger Effingham did not object to the +amount of the donation; for he felt that while his parent reserved a +moral control over his actions, he was relieving himself of a +fatiguing burden: such, indeed, was the confidence existing between +them, that to neither did it seem anything more than removing money +from one pocket to another. + +One of the first acts of the young man, on corning into possession of +his wealth, was to seek his early friend, with a view to offer any +assistance that it was now in his power to bestow. + +The death of Marmaduke’s father, and the consequent division of his +small estate, rendered such an offer extremely acceptable to the young +Pennsylvanian; he felt his own powers, and saw, not only the +excellences, but the foibles in the character of his friend. +Effingham was by nature indolent, confiding, and at times impetuous +and indiscreet; but Marmaduke was uniformly equable, penetrating, and +full of activity and enterprise. To the latter therefore, the +assistance, or rather connection that was proffered to him, seemed to +produce a mutual advantage. It was cheerfully accepted, and the +arrangement of its conditions was easily completed. A mercantile +house was established in the metropolis of Pennsylvania, with the +avails of Mr. Effingham's personal property; all, or nearly all, of +which was put into the possession of Temple, who was the only +ostensible proprietor in the concern, while, in secret, the other was +entitled to an equal participation in the profits. This connection +was thus kept private for two reasons, one of which, in the freedom of +their inter course, was frankly avowed to Marmaduke, while the other +continued profoundly hid in the bosom of his friend, The last was +nothing more than pride. To the descend ant of a line of soldiers, +commerce, even in that indirect manner, seemed a degrading pursuit; +but an insuperable obstacle to the disclosure existed in the +prejudices of his father + +We have already said that Major Effingham had served as a soldier with +reputation. On one occasion, while in command on the western frontier +of Pennsylvania against a league of the French and Indians, not only +his glory, but the safety of himself and his troops were jeoparded by +the peaceful policy of that colony. To the soldier, this was an +unpardonable offence. He was fighting in their defense—he knew that +the mild principles of this little nation of practical Christians +would be disregarded by their subtle and malignant enemies; and he +felt the in jury the more deeply because he saw that the avowed object +of the colonists, in withholding their succors, would only have a +tendency to expose his command, without preserving the peace. The +soldier succeeded, after a desperate conflict, in extricating himself, +with a handful of his men, from their murderous enemy; but he never +for gave the people who had exposed him to a danger which they left +him to combat alone. It was in vain to tell him that they had no +agency in his being placed on their frontier at all; it was evidently +for their benefit that he had been so placed, and it was their +“religious duty,” so the Major always expressed it, “it was their +religions duty to have supported him.” + +At no time was the old soldier an admirer of the peaceful disciples of +Fox. Their disciplined habits, both of mind and body, had endowed +them with great physical perfection; and the eye of the veteran was +apt to scan the fair proportions and athletic frames of the colonists +with a look that seemed to utter volumes of contempt for their moral +imbecility, He was also a little addicted to the expression of a +belief that, where there was so great an observance of the externals +of religion, there could not be much of the substance. It is not our +task to explain what is or what ought to be the substance of +Christianity, but merely to record in this place the opinions of Major +Effingham. + +Knowing the sentiments of the father in relation to this people, it +was no wonder that the son hesitated to avow his connection with, nay, +even his dependence on the integrity of, a Quaker. + +It has been said that Marmaduke deduced his origin from the +contemporaries and friends of Penn. His father had married without +the pale of the church to which he belonged, and had, in this manner, +forfeited some of the privileges of his offspring. Still, as young +Marmaduke was educated in a colony and society where even the ordinary +intercourse between friends was tinctured with the aspect of this mild +religion, his habits and language were some what marked by its +peculiarities. His own marriage at a future day with a lady without +not only the pale, but the influence, of this sect of religionists, +had a tendency, it is true, to weaken his early impressions; still he +retained them in some degree to the hour of his death, and was +observed uniformly, when much interested or agitated, to speak in the +language of his youth. But this is anticipating our tale. + +When Marmaduke first became the partner of young Effingham, he was +quite the Quaker in externals; and it was too dangerous an experiment +for the son to think of encountering the prejudices of the father on +this subject. The connection, therefore, remained a profound secret +to all but those who were interested in it, + +For a few years Marmaduke directed the commercial operations of his +house with a prudence and sagacity that afforded rich returns. He +married the lady we have mentioned, who was the mother of Elizabeth, +and the visits of his friend were becoming more frequent. There was a +speedy prospect of removing the veil from their intercourse, as its +advantages became each hour more apparent to Mr. Effingham, when the +troubles that preceded the war of the Revolution extended themselves +to an alarming degree. + +Educated in the most dependent loyalty, Mr. Effingham had, from the +commencement of the disputes between the colonists and the crown, +warmly maintained what he believed to be the just prerogatives of his +prince; while, on the other hand, the clear head and independent mind +of Temple had induced him to espouse the cause of the people. Both +might have been influenced by early impressions; for, if the son of +the loyal and gallant soldier bowed in implicit obedience to the will +of his sovereign, the descendant of the persecuted followers of Penn +looked back with a little bitterness to the unmerited wrongs that had +been heaped upon his ancestors. + +This difference in opinion had long been a subject of amicable dispute +between them: but, Latterly, the contest was getting to be too +important to admit of trivial discussions on the part of Marmaduke, +whose acute discernment was already catching faint glimmerings of the +important events that were in embryo. The sparks of dissension soon +kindled into a blaze; and the colonies, or rather, as they quickly +declared themselves, THE STATES, became a scene of strife and +bloodshed for years. + +A short time before the battle of Lexington, Mr. Effingham, already a +widower, transmitted to Marmaduke, for safe-keeping, all his valuable +effects and papers; and left the colony without his father. The war +had, however, scarcely commenced in earnest, when he reappeared in New +York, wearing the Livery of his king; and, in a short time, he took +the field at the head of a provincial corps. In the mean time +Marmaduke had completely committed himself in the cause, as it was +then called, of the rebel lion. Of course, all intercourse between +the friends ceased—on the part of Colonel Effingham it was unsought, +and on that of Marmaduke there was a cautious reserve. It soon became +necessary for the latter to abandon the capital of Philadelphia; but +he had taken the precaution to remove the whole of his effects beyond +the reach of the royal forces, including the papers of his friend +also. There he continued serving his country during the struggle, in +various civil capacities, and always with dignity and usefulness. +While, however, he discharged his functions with credit and fidelity, +Marmaduke never seemed to lose sight of his own interests; for, when +the estates of the adherents of the crown fell under the hammer, by +the acts of confiscation, he appeared in New York, and became the +purchaser of extensive possessions at comparatively low prices. + +It is true that Marmaduke, by thus purchasing estates that had been +wrested by violence from others, rendered himself obnoxious to the +censures of that Sect which, at the same time that it discards its +children from a full participation in the family union, seems ever +unwilling to abandon them entirely to the world. But either his +success, or the frequency of the transgression in others, soon wiped +off this slight stain from his character; and, although there were a +few who, dissatisfied with their own fortunes, or conscious of their +own demerits, would make dark hints concerning the sudden prosperity +of the unportioned Quaker, yet his services, and possibly his wealth, +soon drove the recollection of these vague conjectures from men’s +minds. When the war ended, and the independence of the States was +acknowledged, Mr. Temple turned his attention from the pursuit of +commerce, which was then fluctuating and uncertain, to the settlement +of those tracts of land which he had purchased. Aided by a good deal +of money, and directed by the suggestions of a strong and practical +reason, his enterprise throve to a degree that the climate and rugged +face of the country which he selected would seem to forbid. His +property increased in a tenfold ratio, and he was already ranked among +the most wealthy and important of his countrymen. To inherit this +wealth he had but one child—the daughter whom we have introduced to +the reader, and whom he was now conveying from school to preside over +a household that had too long wanted a mistress. + +When the district in which his estates lay had become sufficiently +populous to be set off as a county, Mr. Temple had, according to the +custom of the new settlements, been selected to fill its highest +judicial station. This might make a Templar smile; but in addition to +the apology of necessity, there is ever a dignity in talents and +experience that is commonly sufficient, in any station, for the +protection of its possessor; and Marmaduke, more fortunate in his +native clearness of mind than the judge of King Charles, not only +decided right, but was generally able to give a very good reason for +it. At all events, such was the universal practice of the country and +the times; and Judge Temple, so far from ranking among the lowest of +his judicial contemporaries in the courts of the new counties, felt +himself, and was unanimously acknowledged to be, among the first. + +We shall here close this brief explanation of the history and +character of some of our personages leaving them in future to speak +and act for themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + + +“All that thou see'st is Natures handiwork; +Those rocks that upward throw their mossy brawl +Like castled pinnacles of elder times; +These venerable stems, that slowly rock +Their towering branches in the wintry gale; +That field of frost, which glitters in the sun, +Mocking the whiteness of a marble breast! +Yet man can mar such works with his rude taste, +Like some sad spoiler of a virgin’s fame.” —Duo. + +Some little while elapsed ere Marmaduke Temple was sufficiently +recovered from his agitation to scan the person of his new companion. +He now observed that he was a youth of some two or three and twenty +years of age, and rather above the middle height. Further observation +was prevented by the rough overcoat which was belted close to his form +by a worsted sash, much like the one worn by the old hunter. The eyes +of the Judge, after resting a moment on the figure of the stranger, +were raised to a scrutiny of his countenance. There had been a look +of care visible in the features of the youth, when he first entered +the sleigh, that had not only attracted the notice of Elizabeth, but +which she had been much puzzled to interpret. His anxiety seemed the +strongest when he was en joining his old companion to secrecy; and +even when he had decided, and was rather passively suffering himself +to be conveyed to the village, the expression of his eyes by no means +indicated any great degree of self-satisfaction at the step. But the +lines of an uncommonly prepossessing countenance were gradually +becoming composed; and he now sat silent, and apparently musing. The +Judge gazed at him for some time with earnestness, and then smiling, +as if at his own forgetfulness, he said: + +“I believe, my young friend, that terror has driven you from my +recollection; your face is very familiar, and yet, for the honor of a +score of bucks’ tails in my cap, I could not tell your name.” + +“I came into the country but three weeks since,” returned the youth +coldly, “and I understand you have been absent twice that time.” + +“It will be five to-morrow. Yet your face is one that I have seen; +though it would not be strange, such has been my affright, should I +see thee in thy winding-sheet walking by my bedside to-night. What +say’st thou, Bess? Am I compos mentis or not? Fit to charge a grand +jury, or, what is just now of more pressing necessity, able to do the +honors of Christmas eve in the hall of Templeton?” + +“More able to do either, my dear father.” said a playful voice from +under the ample inclosures of the hood, “ than to kill deer with a +smooth-bore.” A short pause followed, and the same voice, but in a +different accent, continued. “We shall have good reasons for our +thanksgiving to night, on more accounts than one,” + +The horses soon reached a point where they seemed to know by instinct +that the journey was nearly ended, and, bearing on the bits as they +tossed their heads, they rapidly drew the sleigh over the level land +which lay on the top of the mountain, and soon came to the point where +the road descended suddenly, but circuitously, into the valley. + +The Judge was roused from his reflections, when he saw the four +columns of smoke which floated above his own chimneys. As house, +village, and valley burst on his sight, he exclaimed cheerfully to his +daughter: + +“See, Bess, there is thy resting-place for life! And thine too, young +man, if thou wilt consent to dwell with us.” + +The eyes of his auditors involuntarily met; and, if the color that +gathered over the face of Elizabeth was contradicted by the cold +expression of her eye, the ambiguous smile that again played about the +lips of the stranger seemed equally to deny the probability of his +consenting to form one of this family group. The scene was one, +however, which might easily warm a heart less given to philanthropy +than that of Marmaduke Temple. + +The side of the mountain on which our travellers were journeying, +though not absolutely perpendicular, was so steep as to render great +care necessary in descending the rude and narrow path which, in that +early day, wound along the precipices. The negro reined in his +impatient steeds, and time was given Elizabeth to dwell on a scene +which was so rapidly altering under the hands of man, that it only +resembled in its outlines the picture she had so often studied with +delight in childhood. Immediately beneath them lay a seeming plain, +glittering without in equality, and buried in mountains. The latter +were precipitous, especially on the side of the plain, and chiefly in +forest. Here and there the hills fell away in long, low points, and +broke the sameness of the outline, or setting to the long and wide +field of snow, which, without house, tree, fence, or any other +fixture, resembled so much spot less cloud settled to the earth. A +few dark and moving spots were, however, visible on the even surface, +which the eye of Elizabeth knew to be so many sleighs going their +several ways to or from the village. On the western border of the +plain, the mountains, though equally high, were less precipitous, and +as they receded opened into irregular valleys and glens, or were +formed into terraces and hollows that admitted of cultivation. +Although the evergreens still held dominion over many of the hills +that rose on this side of the valley, yet the undulating outlines of +the distant mountains, covered with forests of beech and maple, gave a +relief to the eye, and the promise of a kinder soil. Occasionally +spots of white were discoverable amidst the forests of the opposite +hills, which announced, by the smoke that curled over the tops of the +trees, the habitations of man and the commencement of agriculture. +These spots were sometimes, by the aid of united labor, enlarged into +what were called settlements, but more frequently were small and +insulated; though so rapid were the changes, and so persevering the +labors of those who had cast their fortunes on the success of the +enterprise, that it was not difficult for the imagination of Elizabeth +to conceive they were enlarging under her eye while she was gazing, in +mute wonder, at the alterations that a few short years had made in the +aspect of the country. The points on the western side of this +remarkable plain, on which no plant had taken root, were both larger +and more numerous than those on its eastern, and one in particular +thrust itself forward in such a manner as to form beautifully curved +bays of snow on either side. On its extreme end an oak stretched +forward, as if to overshadow with its branches a spot which its roots +were forbidden to enter. It had released itself from the thraldom +that a growth of centuries had imposed on the branches of the +surrounding forest trees, and threw its gnarled and fantastic arms +abroad, in the wildness of liberty. A dark spot of a few acres in +extent at the southern extremity of this beautiful flat, and +immediately under the feet of our travellers, alone showed by its +rippling surface, and the vapors which exhaled from it, that what at +first might seem a plain was one of the mountain lakes, locked in the +frosts of winter. A narrow current rushed impetuously from its bosom +at the open place we have mentioned, and was to be traced for miles, +as it wound its way toward the south through the real valley, by its +borders of hemlock and pine, and by the vapor which arose from its +warmer surface into the chill atmosphere of the hills. The banks of +this lovely basin, at its outlet, or southern end, were steep, but not +high; and in that direction the land continued, far as the eye could +reach, a narrow but graceful valley, along which the settlers had +scattered their humble habitations, with a profusion that bespoke the +quality of the soil and the comparative facilities of intercourse, +Immediately on the bank of the lake and at its foot, stood the village +of Templeton. It consisted of some fifty buildings, including those +of every description, chiefly built of wood, and which, in their +architecture, bore no great marks of taste, but which also, by the +unfinished appearance of most of the dwellings, indicated the hasty +manner of their construction, To the eye, they presented a variety of +colors. A few were white in both front and rear, but more bore that +expensive color on their fronts only, while their economical but +ambitious owners had covered the remaining sides of the edifices with +a dingy red. One or two were slowly assuming the russet of age; while +the uncovered beams that were to be seen through the broken windows of +their second stories showed that either the taste or the vanity of +their proprietors had led them to undertake a task which they were +unable to accomplish. The whole were grouped in a manner that aped +the streets of a city, and were evidently so arranged by the +directions of one who looked to the wants of posterity rather than to +the convenience of the present incumbents. Some three or four of the +better sort of buildings, in addition to the uniformity of their +color, were fitted with green blinds, which, at that season at least, +were rather strangely contrasted to the chill aspect of the lake, the +mountains, the forests, and the wide fields of snow. Before the doors +of these pretending dwellings were placed a few saplings, either +without branches or possessing only the feeble shoots of one or two +summers’ growth, that looked not unlike tall grenadiers on post near +the threshold of princes. In truth, the occupants of these favored +habitations were the nobles of Templeton, as Marmaduke was its king. +They were the dwellings of two young men who were cunning in the law; +an equal number of that class who chaffered to the wants of the +community under the title of storekeepers; and a disciple of +Aesculapius, who, for a novelty, brought more subjects into the world +than he sent out of it. In the midst of this incongruous group of +dwellings rose the mansion of the Judge, towering above all its +neighbors. It stood in the centre of an inclosure of several acres, +which was covered with fruit-trees. Some of the latter had been left +by the Indians, and began already to assume the moss and inclination +of age, therein forming a very marked contrast to the infant +plantations that peered over most of the picketed fences of the +village. In addition to this show of cultivation were two rows of +young Lombardy poplars, a tree but lately introduced into America, +formally lining either side of a pathway which led from a gate that +opened on the principal street to the front door of the building. The +house itself had been built entirely under the superintendence of a +certain Mr. Richard Jones, whom we have already mentioned, and who, +from his cleverness in small matters, and an entire willingness to +exert his talents, added to the circumstance of their being sisters’ +children, ordinarily superintended all the minor concerns of Marmaduke +Temple. Richard was fond of saying that this child of invention +consisted of nothing more nor less than what should form the +groundwork of every clergyman’s discourse, viz., a firstly and a +lastly. He had commenced his labors, in the first year of their +residence, by erecting a tall, gaunt edifice of wood, with its gable +toward the highway. In this shelter for it was little more, the +family resided three years. By the end of that period, Richard had +completed his design. He had availed himself, in this heavy +undertaking, of the experience of a certain wandering eastern +mechanic, who, by exhibiting a few soiled plates of English +architecture, and talking learnedly of friezes, entablatures, and +particularly of the composite order, had obtained a very undue +influence over Richard’s taste in everything that pertained to that +branch of the fine arts. Not that Mr. Jones did not affect to +consider Hiram Doolittle a perfect empiric in his profession, being in +the constant habit of listening to his treatises on architecture with +a kind of indulgent smile; yet, either from an inability to oppose +them by anything plausible from his own stores of learning or from +secret admiration, Richard generally submitted to the arguments of his +co-adjutor. Together, they had not only erected a dwelling for +Marmaduke, but they had given a fashion to the architecture of the +whole county. The composite order, Mr. Doolittle would contend, was +an order composed of many others, and was intended to be the most +useful of all, for it admitted into its construction such alterations +as convenience or circumstances might require. To this proposition +Richard usually assented; and when rival geniuses who monopolize not +only all the reputation but most of the money of a neighborhood, are +of a mind, it is not uncommon to see them lead the fashion, even in +graver matters. In the present instance, as we have already hinted, +the castle, as Judge Templeton’s dwelling was termed in common +parlance, came to be the model, in some one or other of its numerous +excellences, for every aspiring edifice within twenty miles of it. + +The house itself, or the “ lastly,” was of stone: large, square, and +far from uncomfortable. These were four requisites, on which +Marmaduke had insisted with a little more than his ordinary +pertinacity. But everything else was peaceably assigned to Richard +and his associate. These worthies found the material a little too +solid for the tools of their workmen, which, in General, were employed +on a substance no harder than the white pine of the adjacent +mountains, a wood so proverbially soft that it is commonly chosen by +the hunters for pillows. But for this awkward dilemma, it is probable +that the ambitious tastes of our two architects would have left us +much more to do in the way of description. Driven from the faces of +the house by the obduracy of the material, they took refuge in the +porch and on the roof. The former, it was decided, should be severely +classical, and the latter a rare specimen of the merits of the +Composite order. + +A roof, Richard contended, was a part of the edifice that the ancients +always endeavored to conceal, it being an excrescence in architecture +that was only to be tolerated on account of its usefulness. Besides, +as he wittily added, a chief merit in a dwelling was to present a +front on whichever side it might happen to be seen; for, as it was +exposed to all eyes in all weathers, there should be no weak flank for +envy or unneighborly criticism to assail. It was therefore decided +that the roof should be flat, and with four faces. To this +arrangement, Marmaduke objected the heavy snows that lay for months, +frequently covering the earth to a depth of three or four feet. +Happily the facilities of the composite order presented themselves to +effect a compromise, and the rafters were lengthened, so as to give a +descent that should carry off the frozen element. But, unluckily, +some mistake was made in the admeasurement of these material parts of +the fabric; and, as one of the greatest recommendations of Hiram was +his ability to work by the “square rule,” no opportunity was found of +discovering the effect until the massive timbers were raised on the +four walls of the building. Then, indeed, it was soon seen that, in +defiance of all rule, the roof was by far the most conspicuous part of +the whole edifice. Richard and his associate consoled themselves with +the relief that the covering would aid in concealing this unnatural +elevation; but every shingle that was laid only multiplied objects to +look at. Richard essayed to remedy the evil with paint, and four +different colors were laid on by his own hands. The first was a sky- +blue, in the vain expectation that the eye might be cheated into the +belief it was the heavens themselves that hung so imposingly over +Marmaduke’s dwelling; the second was what he called a “cloud-color,” +being nothing more nor less than an imitation of smoke; the third was +what Richard termed an invisible green, an experiment that did not +succeed against a background of sky. Abandoning the attempt to +conceal, our architects drew upon their invention for means to +ornament the offensive shingles. + +After much deliberation and two or three essays by moonlight, Richard +ended the affair by boldly covering the whole beneath a color that he +christened “sunshine,” a cheap way, as he assured his cousin the +Judge, of always keeping fair weather over his head. The platform, as +well as the caves of the house, were surmounted by gaudily painted +railings, and the genius of Hiram was exerted in the fabrication of +divers urns and mouldings, that were scattered profusely around this +part of their labors. Richard had originally a cunning expedient, by +which the chimneys were intended to be so low, and so situated, as to +resemble ornaments on the balustrades; but comfort required that the +chimneys should rise with the roof, in order that the smoke might bc +carried off, and they thus became four extremely conspicuous objects +in the view. + +As this roof was much the most important architectural undertaking in +which Mr. Jones was ever engaged, his failure produced a correspondent +degree of mortification At first, he whispered among his acquaintances +that it proceeded from ignorance of the square rule on the part of +Hiram; but, as his eye became gradually accustomed to the object, he +grew better satisfied with his labors, and instead of apologizing for +the defects, he commenced praising thc beauties of the mansion-house; +he soon found hearers, and, as wealth and comfort are at all times +attractive, it was, as has been said, made a model for imitation on a +small scale. In less than two years from its erection, he had the +pleasure of standing on the elevated platform, and of looking down on +three humble imitators of its beauty. Thus it is ever with fashion, +which even renders the faults of the great subjects of admiration. + +Marmaduke bore this deformity in his dwelling with great good-nature, +and soon contrived, by his own improvements, to give an air of +respectability and comfort to his place of residence. Still, there +was much of in congruity, even immediately about the mansion-house. +Although poplars had been brought from Europe to ornament the grounds, +and willows and other trees were gradually springing up nigh the +dwelling, yet many a pile of snow betrayed the presence of the stump +of a pine; and even, in one or two instances, unsightly remnants of +trees that had been partly destroyed by fire were seen rearing their +black, glistening columns twenty or thirty feet above the pure white +of the snow, These, which in the language of the country are termed +stubs, abounded in the open fields adjacent to the village, and were +accompanied, occasionally, by the ruin of a pine or a hemlock that had +been stripped of its bark, and which waved in melancholy grandeur its +naked limbs to the blast, a skeleton of its former glory. But these +and many other unpleasant additions to the view were unseen by the +delighted Elizabeth, who, as the horses moved down the side of the +mountain, saw only in gross the cluster of houses that lay like a map +at her feet; the fifty smokes that were curling from the valley to the +clouds; the frozen lake as it lay imbedded in mountains of evergreen, +with the long shadows of the pines on its white surface, lengthening +in the setting sun; the dark ribbon of water that gushed from the +outlet and was winding its way toward the distant Chesapeake—the +altered, though still remembered, scenes of her child hood. + +Five years had wrought greater changes than a century would produce in +countries where time and labor have given permanency to the works of +man. To our young hunter and the Judge the scene had less novelty; +though none ever emerge from the dark forests of that mountain, and +witness the glorious scenery of that beauteous valley, as it bursts +unexpectedly upon them, without a feeling of delight. The former cast +one admiring glance from north to south, and sank his face again +beneath the folds of his coat; while the latter contemplated, with +philanthropic pleasure, the prospect of affluence and comfort that was +expanding around him; the result of his own enterprise, and much of it +the fruits of his own industry. + +The cheerful sound of sleigh-bells, however, attracted the attention +of the whole party, as they came jingling up the sides of the +mountain, at a rate that announced a powerful team and a hard driver. +The bushes which lined the highway interrupted the view, and the two +sleighs were close upon each other before either was seen. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + + +“How now? whose mare’s dead? what’s the matter?” - Falstaff + +A large lumber sleigh, drawn by four horses, was soon seen dashing +through the leafless bushes which fringed the road. The leaders were +of gray, and the pole-horses of a jet-black. Bells innumerable were +suspended from every part of the harness where one of the tinkling +balls could be placed, while the rapid movement of the equipage, in +defiance of the steep ascent, announced the desire of the driver to +ring them to the utmost. The first glance at this singular +arrangement acquainted the Judge with the character of those in the +sleigh. It contained four male figures. On one of those stools that +are used at writing desks, lashed firmly to the sides of the vehicle, +was seated a little man, enveloped in a great-coat fringed with fur, +in such a manner that no part of him was visible, except a face of an +unvarying red color. There was an habitual upward look about the head +of this gentleman, as if dissatisfied with its natural proximity to +the earth; and the expression of his countenance was that of busy +care, He was the charioteer, and he guided the mettled animals along +the precipice with a fearless eye and a steady hand, Immediately +behind him, with his face toward the other two, was a tall figure, to +whose appearance not even the duplicate overcoats which he wore, aided +by the corner of a horse-blanket, could give the appearance of +strength. His face was protruding from beneath a woollen night cap; +and, when he turned to the vehicle of Marmaduke as the sleighs +approached each other, it seemed formed by nature to cut the +atmosphere with the least possible resistance. The eyes alone +appeared to create any obstacle, for from either side of his forehead +their light-blue, glassy balls projected. The sallow of his +countenance was too permanent to be affected even by the intense cold +of the evening. Opposite to this personage sat a solid, short, and +square figure. No part of his form was to be discovered through his +overdress, but a face that was illuminated by a pair of black eyes +that gave the lie to every demure feature in his countenance. A fair, +jolly wig furnished a neat and rounded outline to his visage, and he, +well as the other two, wore marten-skin caps. The fourth was a meek- +looking, long-visaged man, without any other protection from the cold +than that which was furnished by a black surcoat, made with some +little formality, but which was rather threadbare and rusty. He wore +a hat of extremely decent proportions, though frequent brushing had +quite destroyed its nap. His face was pale, and withal a little +melancholy, or what might be termed of a studious complexion. The air +had given it, just now, a light and somewhat feverish flush, The +character of his whole appearance, especially contrasted to the air of +humor in his next companion, was that of habitual mental care. No +sooner had the two sleighs approached within speaking distance, than +the driver of this fantastic equipage shouted aloud + +“Draw up in the quarry—draw up, thou king of the Greeks; draw into the +quarry, Agamemnon, or I shall never be able to pass you. Welcome +home, Cousin ‘Duke— welcome, welcome, black-eyed Bess. Thou seest, +Marina duke that I have taken the field with an assorted cargo, to do +thee honor. Monsieur Le Quoi has come out with only one cap; Old +Fritz would not stay to finish the bottle; and Mr. Grant has got to +put the ‘lastly’ to his sermon, yet. Even all the horses would come— +by the-bye, Judge, I must sell the blacks for you immediately; they +interfere, and the nigh one is a bad goer in double harness. I can +get rid of them to—” + +“Sell what thou wilt, Dickon,” interrupted the cheerful voice of the +Judge, “so that thou leavest me my daughter and my lands. And Fritz, +my old friend, this is a kind compliment, indeed, for seventy to pay +to five-and-forty. Monsieur Le Quoi, I am your servant. Mr. Grant,” +lifting his cap, “I feel indebted to your attention. Gentlemen, I +make you acquainted with my child. Yours are names with which she is +very familiar.” + +“Velcome, velcome Tchooge,” said the elder of the party, with a strong +German accent. “Miss Petsy vill owe me a kiss.” + +“And cheerfully will I pay It, my good sir,” cried the soft voice of +Elizabeth; which sounded, in the clear air of the hills. Like tones +of silver, amid the loud cries of Richard. “I have always a kiss for +my old friend. Major Hartmann.” + +By this time the gentleman in the front seat, who had been addressed +as Monsieur Le Quoi, had arisen with some difficulty, owing to the +impediment of his overcoats, and steadying himself by placing one hand +on the stool of the charioteer, with the other he removed his cap, and +bowing politely to the Judge and profoundly to Elizabeth, he paid his +compliments. + +“Cover thy poll, Gaul, cover thy poll,” cried the driver, who was Mr. +Richard Jones; “cover thy poll, or the frost will pluck out the +remnant of thy locks. Had the hairs on the head of Absalom been as +scarce as thine, he might have been living to this day.” The jokes of +Richard never failed of exciting risibility, for he uniformly did +honor to his own wit; and he enjoyed a hearty laugh on the present +occasion, while Mr. Le Quoi resumed his seat with a polite +reciprocation in his mirth. The clergyman, for such was the office of +Mr. Grant, modestly, though quite affectionately, exchanged his +greetings with the travellers also, when Richard prepared to turn the +heads of his horses homeward. + +It was in the quarry alone that he could effect this object, without +ascending to the summit of the mountain. A very considerable +excavation had been made in the side of the hill, at the point where +Richard had succeeded in stopping the sleighs, from which the stones +used for building in the village were ordinarily quarried, and in +which he now attempted to turn his team. Passing itself was a task of +difficulty, and frequently of danger, in that narrow road; but Richard +had to meet the additional risk of turning his four-in-hand. The +black civilly volunteered his services to take off the leaders, and +the Judge very earnestly seconded the measure with his advice. +Richard treated both proposals with great disdain. + +“Why, and wherefore. Cousin ‘Duke?” he exclaimed, a little angrily; +“the horses are gentle as lambs. You know that I broke the leaders +myself, and the pole-horses are too near my whip to be restive. Here +is Mr. Le Quoi, now, who must know something about driving, because he +has rode out so often with me; I will leave it to Mr. Le Quoi whether +there is any danger.” + +It was not in the nature of the Frenchman to disappoint expectations +so confidently formed; although he cat looking down the precipice +which fronted him, as Richard turned his leaders into the quarry, with +a pair of eyes that stood out like those of lobsters. The German’s +muscles were unmoved, but his quick sight scanned each movement. Mr. +Grant placed his hands on the side of the sleigh, in preparation for a +spring, but moral timidity deterred him from taking the leap that +bodily apprehension strongly urged him to attempt. + +Richard, by a sudden application of the whip, succeeded in forcing the +leaders into the snow-bank that covered the quarry; but the instant +that the impatient animals suffered by the crust, through which they +broke at each step, they positively refused to move an inch farther in +that direction. On the contrary, finding that the cries and blows of +their driver were redoubled at this juncture, the leaders backed upon +the pole-horses, who in their turn backed the sleigh. Only a single +log lay above the pile which upheld the road on the side toward the +valley, and this was now buried in the snow. The sleigh was easily +breed across so slight an impediment, and before Richard became +conscious of his danger one-half of the vehicle Was projected over a +precipice, which fell perpendicularly more than a hundred feet. The +Frenchman, who by his position had a full view of their threatened +flight, instinctively threw his body as far forward as possible, and +cried + +“Oh! mon cher Monsieur Deeck! mon Dieu! que faites vous!” + +“Donner und blitzen, Richart!” exclaimed the veteran German, looking +over the side of the sleigh with unusual emotion, “put you will preak +ter sleigh and kilt ter horses!” + +“Good Mr. Jones,” said the clergyman, “be prudent, good sir—be +careful,” + +“Get up, obstinate devils!” cried Richard, catching a bird’s-eye view +of his situation, and in his eagerness to move forward kicking the +stool on which he sat—” get up, I say—Cousin ‘Duke, I shall have to +sell the grays too; they are the worst broken horses—Mr. Le Quoi” +Richard was too much agitated to regard his pronunciation, of which he +was commonly a little vain: “Monsieur La Quoi, pray get off my leg; +you hold my leg so tight that it's no wonder the horses back.” + +“Merciful Providence!” exclaimed the Judge; “they will be all killed!” +Elizabeth gave a piercing shriek, and the black of Agamemnon’s face +changed to a muddy white. + +At this critical moment, the young hunter, who during the salutations +of the parties had sat in rather sullen silence, sprang from the +sleigh of Marmaduke to the heads of the refractory leaders. The +horses, which were yet suffering under the injudicious and somewhat +random blows of Richard, were dancing up and down with that ominous +movement that threatens a sudden and uncontrollable start, still +pressing backward. The youth gave the leaders a powerful jerk, and +they plunged aside, and re-entered the road in the position in which +they were first halted. The sleigh was whirled from its dangerous +position, and upset, with the runners outward. The German and the +divine were thrown, rather unceremoniously, into the highway, but +without danger to their bones. Richard appeared in the air, +describing the segment of a circle, of which the reins were the radii, +and landed, at the distance of some fifteen feet, in that snow-bank +which the horses had dreaded, right end uppermost. Here, as he +instinctively grasped the reins, as drowning men seize at straws, he +admirably served the purpose of an anchor. The Frenchman, who was on +his legs, in the act of springing from the sleigh, took an aerial +flight also, much in the attitude which boys assume when they play +leap-frog, and, flying off in a tangent to the curvature of his +course, came into the snow-bank head foremost, w-here he remained, +exhibiting two lathy legs on high, like scarecrows waving in a corn- +field. Major Hartmann, whose self-possession had been admirably +preserved during the whole evolution, was the first of the party that +gained his feet and his voice. + +“Ter deyvel, Richart!” he exclaimed in a voice half serious, half- +comical, “put you unload your sleigh very hautily!” + +It may be doubtful whether the attitude in which Mr. Grant continued +for an instant after his overthrow was the one into which he had been +thrown, or was assumed, in humbling himself before the Power that he +reverenced, in thanksgiving at his escape. When he rose from his +knees, he began to gaze about him, with anxious looks, after the +welfare of his companions, while every joint in his body trembled with +nervous agitation. There was some confusion in the faculties of Mr. +Jones also: but as the mist gradually cleared from before his eyes, he +saw that all was safe, and, with an air of great self-satisfaction, he +cried, “Well—that was neatly saved, anyhow!— it was a lucky thought in +me to hold on to the reins, or the fiery devils would have been over +the mountain by this time. How well I recovered myself, ‘Duke! +Another moment would have been too late; but I knew just the spot +where to touch the off-leader; that blow under his right flank, and +the sudden jerk I gave the rein, brought them round quite in rule, I +must own myself.” * + + * The spectators, from immemorial usage, have a right to laugh at the + casualties of a sleigh ride; and the Judge was no sooner certain that + no one was done than he made full use of the privilege. + +“Thou jerk! thou recover thyself, Dickon!” he said; ‘but for that +brave lad yonder, thou and thy horses, or rather mine, would have been +dashed to pieces—but where is Monsieur Le Quoi?” + +“Oh! mon cher Juge! mon ami!” cried a smothered voice,” praise be God, +I live; vill you, Mister Agamemnon, be pleas come down ici, and help +me on my leg?” + +The divine and the negro seized the incarcerated Gaul by his legs and +extricated him from a snow-bank of three feet in depth, whence his +voice had sounded as from the tombs. The thoughts of Mr. Le Quoi, +immediately on Ms liberation, were not extremely collected; and, when +he reached the light, he threw his eyes upward, in order to examine +the distance he had fallen. His good-humor returned, however, with a +knowledge of his safety, though it was some little time before he +clearly comprehended the case. + +“What, monsieur,” said Richard, who was busily assisting the black in +taking off the leaders; “are you there? I thought I saw you flying +toward the top of the mountain just now.” + +“Praise be God, I no fly down into the lake,” returned the Frenchman, +with a visage that was divided between pain, occasioned by a few large +scratches that he had received in forcing his head through the crust, +and the look of complaisance that seemed natural to his pliable +features. + +“Ah! mon cher Mister Deeck, vat you do next? - dere be noting you no +try.” + +“The next thing, I trust, will be to learn to drive,” said the Judge, +who bad busied himself in throwing the buck, together with several +other articles of baggage, from his own sleigh into the snow; “here +are seats for you all, gentlemen; the evening grows piercingly cold, +and the hour approaches for the service of Mr. Grant; we will leave +friend Jones to repair the damages, with the assistance of Agamemnon, +and hasten to a warm fire. Here, Dickon, are a few articles of Bess’ +trumpery, that you can throw into your sleigh when ready; and there is +also a deer of my taking, that I will thank you to bring. Aggy! +remember that there will be a visit from Santa Claus * to-night.” + + * The periodical visits of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, as he is + termed, were never forgotten among the inhabitants of New York, until + the emigration from New England brought in the opinions and usages of + the Puritans, like the “bon homme de Noel.” he arrives at each + Christmas. + +The black grinned, conscious of the bribe that was offered him for +silence on the subject of the deer, while Richard, without in the +least waiting for the termination of his cousin’s speech, began his +reply: + +“Learn to drive, sayest thou, Cousin ‘Duke? Is there a man in the +county who knows more of horse-flesh than myself? Who broke in the +filly, that no one else dare mount, though your coachman did pretend +that he had tamed her before I took her in hand; but anybody could see +that he lied—he was a great liar, that John—what’s that, a buck?” +Richard abandoned the horses, and ran to the spot where Marmaduke had +thrown the deer, “It is a buck! I am amazed! Yes, here are two holes +in him, he has fired both barrels, and hit him each time, Egod! how +Marmaduke will brag! he is a prodigious bragger about any small matter +like this now; well, to think that ‘Duke has killed a buck before +Christmas! There will be no such thing as living with him—they are +both bad shots though, mere chance—mere chance—now, I never fired +twice at a cloven foot in my life—it is hit or miss with me—dead or +run away-had it been a bear, or a wild-cat, a man might have wanted +both barrels. Here! you Aggy! how far off was the Judge when this +buck was shot?” + +“Oh! massa Richard, maybe a ten rod,” cried the black, bending under +one of the horses, with the pretence of fastening a buckle, but in +reality to conceal the grin that opened a mouth from ear to ear. + +“Ten rod!” echoed the other; “way, Aggy, the deer I Killed last winter +‘was at twenty—yes! if anything it was nearer thirty than twenty. I +wouldn’t shoot at a deer at ten rod: besides, you may remember, Aggy, +I only fired once.” + +“Yes, massa Richard, I ‘member ‘em! Natty Bumppo fire t’oder gun. You +know, sir, all ‘e folks say Natty kill him.” + +“The folks lie, you black devil!” exclaimed Richard in great heat. “I +have not shot even a gray squirrel these four years, to which that old +rascal has not laid claim, or some one else [or him. This is a damned +envious world that we live in—people are always for dividing the +credit at a thing, in order to bring down merit to their own level. +Now they have a story about the Patent,* that Hiram Doolittle helped +to plan the steeple to St. Paul’s; when Hiram knows that it is +entirely mine; a little taken front a print of his namesake in London, +I own; but essentially, as to all points of genius, my own.” + + * The grants of land, made either by the crown or the state, were but + letters patent under the great seal, and the term “patent” is usually + applied to any district of extent thus conceded; though under the + crown’, manorial rights being often granted with the soil, in the + older counties the word “manor” is frequently used. There are many + manors in New York though all political and judicial rights have + ceased. + +“I don't know where he come from,” said the black, losing every mark +of humor in an expression of admiration, “but eb’rybody say, he +wounerful handsome.” + +“And well they may say so, Aggy,” cried Richard, leaving the buck and +walking up to the negro with the air of a man who has new interest +awakened within him, “I think I may say, without bragging, that it is +the handsomest and the most scientific country church in America. I +know that the Connecticut settlers talk about their West Herfield +meeting-house; but I never believe more than half what they say, they +are such unconscionable braggers. Just as you have got a thing done, +if they see it likely to be successful, they are always for +interfering; and then it’s tea to one but they lay claim to half, or +even all of the credit. You may remember, Aggy, when I painted the +sign of the bold dragoon for Captain Hollister there was that fellow, +who was about town laying brick-dust on the houses, came one day and +offered to mix what I call the streaky black, for the tail and mane; +and then, because it looks like horse-hair, he tells everybody that +the sign was painted by himself and Squire Jones. If Marmaduke don’t +send that fellow off the Patent, he may ornament his village with his +own hands for me,” Here Richard paused a moment, and cleared his +throat by a loud hem, while the negro, who was all this time busily +engaged in preparing the sleigh, proceeded with his work in respectful +silence. Owing to the religious scruples of the Judge, Aggy was the +servant of Richard, who had his services for a time,* and who, of +course, commanded a legal claim to the respect of the young negro. +But when any dispute between his lawful and his real master occurred, +the black felt too much deference for both to express any opinion. + + * The manumission of the slaves in New York has been gradual. When + public opinion became strong in their favor, then grew up a custom of + buying the services of a slave, for six or eight years, with a + condition to liberate him at the end of the period. Then the law + provided that all born after a certain day should be free, the males + at twenty— eight and the females at twenty-five. After this the owner + was obliged to cause his servants to be taught to read and write + before they reached the age of eighteen, and, finally, the few that + remained were all unconditionally liberated in 1826, or after the + publication of this tale. It was quite usual for men more or less + connected with the Quakers, who never held slaves to adopt the first + expedient. + +In the mean while, Richard continued watching the negro as he fastened +buckle after buckle, until, stealing a look of consciousness toward +the other, he continued: “Now, if that young man who was in your +sleigh is a real Connecticut settler, he will be telling everybody how +he saved my horses, when, if he had let them alone for half a minute +longer, I would have brought them in much better, without upsetting, +with the whip amid rein—it spoils a horse to give him his heal, I +should not wonder if I had to sell the whole team, just for that one +jerk he gave them,” Richard paused and hemmed; for his conscience +smote him a little for censuring a man who had just saved his life. +“Who is the lad, Aggy—I don’t remember to have seen him before?” + +The black recollected the hint about Santa Claus; and, while he +briefly explained how they had taken up the person in question on the +top of the mountain, he forbore to add anything concerning the +accident or the wound, only saying that he believed the youth was a +stranger. It was so usual for men of the first rank to take into +their sleighs any one they found toiling through the snow, that +Richard was perfectly satisfied with this explanation. He heard Aggy +with great attention, and then remarked: “Well, if the lad has not +been spoiled by the people in Templeton he may be a modest young man, +and, as he certainly meant well, I shall take some notice of him— +perhaps he is land-hunting—I say, Aggy, maybe he is out hunting?” + +“Eh! yes, massa Richard,” said the black, a little confused; for, as +Richard did all the flogging, he stood in great terror of his master, +in the main—” Yes, sir, I b’lieve he be.” + +“Had he a pack and an axe?” + +“No, sir, only he rifle.” + +“Rifle!” exclaimed Richard, observing the confusion of The negro, +which now amounted to terror. “By Jove, he killed the deer! I knew +that Marmaduke couldn’t kill a buck on the jump—how was it, Aggy? Tell +me all about it, and I’ll roast ‘Duke quicker than he can roast his +saddle—how was it, Aggy? the lad shot the buck, and the Judge bought +it, ha! and he is taking the youth down to get the pay?” + +The pleasure of this discovery had put Richard in such a good humor, +that the negro’s fears in some measure vanished, and he remembered the +stocking of Santa Claus. After a gulp or two, he made out to reply; + +“You forgit a two shot, sir?” + +“Don’t lie, you black rascal!” cried Richard, stepping on the snow- +bank to measure the distance from his lash to the negro’s back; “speak +truth, or I trounce you.” While speaking, the stock was slowly rising +in Richard’s right hand, and the lash drawing through his left, in the +scientific manner with which drummers apply the cat; and Agamemnon, +after turning each side of himself toward his master, and finding both +equally unwilling to remain there, fairly gave in. In a very few +words he made his master acquainted with the truth, at the same time +earnestly conjuring Richard to protect him from the displeasure of thc +lodge I’ll do it, boy, I’ll do it,” cried the other, rubbing his hands +with delight; “say nothing, but leave me to manage ‘Duke. I have a +great mind to leave the deer on the hill, and to make the fellow send +for his own carcass; but no, I will let Marmaduke tell a few bounces +about it before I come out upon him. Come, hurry in, Aggy, I must +help to dress the lad’s wound; this Yankee* doctor knows nothing of +surgery—I had to hold out Milligan’s leg for him, while he cut it off. + + * In America the term Yankee is of local meaning. It is thought to be + derived from the manner in which the Indians of New England pronounced + the word “English,” or “Yengeese.” New York being originally a Dutch + province, the term of course was not known there, and Farther south + different dialects among the natives themselves probably produced a + different pronunciation Marmaduke and his cousin, being Pennsylvanians + by birth, were not Yankees in the American sense of the word. + +Richard was now seated on the stool again, and, the black taking the +hind seat, the steeds were put in motion toward home, As they dashed +down the hill on a fast trot, the driver occasionally turned his face +to Aggy, and continued speaking; for, notwithstanding their recent +rupture, the most perfect cordiality was again existing between them, +“This goes to prove that I turned the horses with the reins, for no +man who is shot in the right shoulder can have strength enough to +bring round such obstinate devils. I knew I did it from the first; +but I did not want to multiply words with Marmaduke about it.—Will you +bite, you villain? —hip, boys, hip! Old Natty, too, that is the best +of it!—Well, well—’Duke will say no more about my deer—and the Judge +fired both barrels, and hit nothing but a poor lad who was behind a +pine-tree. I must help that quack to take out the buckshot for the +poor fellow.” In this manner Richard descended the mountain; the bells +ringing, and his tongue going, until they entered the village, when +the whole attention of the driver was devoted to a display of his +horsemanship, to the admiration of all the gaping women and children +who thronged the windows to witness the arrival of their landlord and +his daughter. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + + +“Nathaniel’s coat, sir, was not fully made, +And Gabriel’s pumps were all unpink’d i’ th' heel; +There was no link to color Peter’s hat, +And Walter’s dagger was not come from sheathing; +There were none fine, but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory.”—Shakespeare. + +After winding along the side of the mountain, the road, on reaching +the gentle declivity which lay at the base of the hill, turned at a +right angle to its former course, and shot down an inclined plane, +directly into the village of Templeton. The rapid little stream that +we have already mentioned was crossed by a bridge of hewn timber, +which manifested, by its rude construction and the unnecessary size of +its framework, both the value of Labor and the abundance of materials. +This little torrent, whose dark waters gushed over the limestones that +lined its bottom, was nothing less than one of the many sources of the +Susquehanna; a river to which the Atlantic herself has extended an arm +in welcome. It was at this point that the powerful team of Mr. Jones +brought him up to the more sober steeds of our travellers. A small +hill was risen, and Elizabeth found herself at once amidst the +incongruous dwellings of the village. The street was of the ordinary +width, notwithstanding the eye might embrace, in one view, thousands +and tens of thousands of acres, that were yet tenanted only by the +beasts of the forest. But such had been the will of her father, and +such had also met the wishes of his followers. To them the road that +made the most rapid approaches to the condition of the old, or, as +they expressed it, the down countries, was the most pleasant; and +surely nothing could look more like civilization than a city, even if +it lay in a wilderness! The width of the street, for so it was called, +might have been one hundred feet; but the track for the sleighs was +much more limited. On either side of the highway were piled huge +heaps of logs, that were daily increasing rather than diminishing in +size, notwithstanding the enormous fires that might be seen through +every window. + +The last object at which Elizabeth gazed when they renewed their +journey, after their encountre with Richard, was the sun, as it +expanded in the refraction of the horizon, and over whose disk the +dark umbrage of a pine was stealing, while it slowly sank behind the +western hills. But his setting rays darted along the openings of the +mountain he was on, and lighted the shining covering of the birches, +until their smooth and glossy coats nearly rivalled the mountain sides +in color. The outline of each dark pine was delineated far in the +depths of the forest, and the rocks, too smooth and too perpendicular +to retain the snow that had fallen, brightened, as if smiling at the +leave-taking of the luminary. But at each step as they descended, +Elizabeth observed that they were leaving the day behind them. Even +the heartless but bright rays of a December sun were missed as they +glided into the cold gloom of the valley. Along the summits of the +mountains in the eastern range, it is true, the light still lingered, +receding step by step from the earth into the clouds that were +gathering with the evening mist, about the limited horizon, but the +frozen lake lay without a shadow on its bosom; the dwellings were +becoming already gloomy and indistinct, and the wood-cutters were +shouldering their axes and preparing to enjoy, throughout the long +evening before them, the comforts of those exhilarating fires that +their labor had been supplying with fuel. They paused only to gaze at +the passing sleighs, to lift their caps to Marmaduke, to exchange +familiar nods with Richard, and each disappeared in his dwelling. The +paper curtains dropped behind our travellers in every window, shutting +from the air even the firelight of the cheerful apartments, and when +the horses of her father turned with a rapid whirl into the open gate +of the mansion-house, and nothing stood before her but the cold dreary +stone walls of the building, as she approached them through an avenue +of young and leafless poplars, Elizabeth felt as if all the loveliness +of the mountain-view had vanished like the fancies of a dream. +Marmaduke retained so much of his early habits as to reject the use of +bells, but the equipage of Mr. Jones came dashing through the gate +after them, sending its jingling sounds through every cranny of the +building, and in a moment the dwelling was in an uproar. + +On a stone platform, of rather small proportions, considering the size +of the building, Richard and Hiram had, conjointly, reared four little +columns of wood, which in their turn supported the shingled roofs of +the portico— this was the name that Mr. Jones had thought proper to +give to a very plain, covered entrance. The ascent to the platform +was by five or six stone steps, somewhat hastily laid together, and +which the frost had already begun to move from their symmetrical +positions, But the evils of a cold climate and a superficial +construction did not end here. As the steps lowered the platform +necessarily fell also, and the foundations actually left the super +structure suspended in the air, leaving an open space of a foot +between the base of the pillars and the stones on which they had +originally been placed. It was lucky for the whole fabric that the +carpenter, who did the manual part of the labor, had fastened the +canopy of this classic entrance so firmly to the side of the house +that, when the base deserted the superstructure in the manner we have +described, and the pillars, for the want of a foundation, were no +longer of service to support the roof, the roof was able to uphold the +pillars. Here was, indeed, an unfortunate gap left in the ornamental +part of Richard’s column; but, like the window in Aladdin’s palace, it +seemed only left in order to prove the fertility of its master’s +resources. The composite order again offered its advantages, and a +second edition of the base was given, as the booksellers say, with +additions and improvements. It was necessarily larger, and it was +properly ornamented with mouldings; still the steps continued to +yield, and, at the moment when Elizabeth returned to her father’s +door, a few rough wedges were driven under the pillars to keep them +steady, and to prevent their weight from separating them from the +pediment which they ought to have supported. + +From the great door which opened into the porch emerged two or three +female domestics, and one male. The latter was bareheaded, but +evidently more dressed than usual, and on the whole was of so singular +a formation and attire as to deserve a more minute description. He +was about five feet in height, of a square and athletic frame, with a +pair of shoulders that would have fitted a grenadier. His low stature +was rendered the more striking by a bend forward that he was in the +habit of assuming, for no apparent reason, unless it might be to give +greater freedom to his arms, in a particularly sweeping swing, that +they constantly practised when their master was in motion. His face +was long, of a fair complexion, burnt to a fiery red; with a snub +nose, cocked into an inveterate pug; a mouth of enormous dimensions, +filled with fine teeth; and a pair of blue eyes, that seemed to look +about them on surrounding objects with habitual contempt. His head +composed full one-fourth of his whole length, and the cue that +depended from its rear occupied another. He wore a coat of very light +drab cloth, with buttons as large as dollars, bearing the impression +of a “foul anchor.” The skirts were extremely long, reaching quite to +the calf, and were broad in proportion. Beneath, there were a vest +and breeches of red plush, somewhat worn and soiled. He had shoes +with large buckles, and stockings of blue and white stripes. + +This odd-looking figure reported himself to be a native of the county +of Cornwall, in the island of Great Britain. His boyhood had passed +in the neighborhood of the tin mines, and his youth as the cabin-boy +of a smuggler, between Falmouth and Guernsey. From this trade he had +been impressed into the service of his king, and, for the want of a +better, had been taken into the cabin, first as a servant, and finally +as steward to the captain. Here he acquired the art of making +chowder, lobster, and one or two other sea-dishes, and, as he was fond +of saying, had an opportunity of seeing the world. With the exception +of one or two outports in France, and an occasional visit to +Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Deal, he had in reality seen no more of +mankind, however, than if he had been riding a donkey in one of his +native mines. But, being discharged from the navy at the peace of +‘83, he declared that, as he had seen all the civilized parts of the +earth, he was inclined to make a trip to the wilds of America We will +not trace him in his brief wanderings, under the influence of that +spirit of emigration that some times induces a dapper Cockney to quit +his home, and lands him, before the sound of Bow-bells is out of his +ears, within the roar of the cataract of Niagara; but shall only add +that at a very early day, even before Elizabeth had been sent to +school, he had found his way into the family of Marmaduke Temple, +where, owing to a combination of qualities that will be developed in +the course of the tale, he held, under Mr. Jones, the office of major- +domo. The name of this worthy was Benjamin Penguillan, according to +his own pronunciation; but, owing to a marvellous tale that he was in +the habit of relating, concerning the length of time he had to labor +to keep his ship from sinking after Rodney’s victory, he had +universally acquired the nick name of Ben Pump. + +By the side of Benjamin, and pressing forward as if a little jealous +of her station, stood a middle-aged woman, dressed in calico, rather +violently contrasted in color with a tall, meagre, shapeless figure, +sharp features, and a somewhat acute expression of her physiognomy. +Her teeth were mostly gone, and what did remain were of a tight +yellow. The skin of her nose was drawn tightly over the member, to +hang in large wrinkles in her cheeks and about her mouth. She took +snuff in such quantities as to create the impression that she owed the +saffron of her lips and the adjacent parts to this circumstance; but +it was the unvarying color of her whole face. She presided over the +female part of the domestic arrangements, in the capacity of +housekeeper; was a spinster, and bore the name of Remarkable +Pettibone. To Elizabeth she was an entire stranger, having been +introduced into the family since the death of her mother. + +In addition to these, were three or four subordinate menials, mostly +black, some appearing at the principal door, and some running from the +end of the building, where stood the entrance to the cellar-kitchen. + +Besides these, there was a general rush from Richard’s kennel, +accompanied with every canine tone from the howl of the wolf-dog to +the petulant bark of the terrier. The master received their +boisterous salutations with a variety of imitations from his own +throat, when the dogs, probably from shame of being outdone, ceased +their out- cry. One stately, powerful mastiff, who wore round his +neck a brass collar, with “M. T.” engraved in large letters on the +rim, alone was silent. He walked majestically, amid the confusion, to +the side of the Judge, where, receiving a kind pat or two, he turned +to Elizabeth, who even stooped to kiss him, as she called him kindly +by the name of “Old Brave.” The animal seemed to know her, as she +ascended the steps, supported by Monsieur Le Quoi and her father, in +order to protect her from falling on the ice with which they were +covered. He looked wistfully after her figure, and when the door +closed on the whole party, he laid himself in a kennel that was placed +nigh by, as if conscious that the house contained some thing of +additional value to guard. + +Elizabeth followed her father, who paused a moment to whisper a +message to one of his domestics, into a large hall, that was dimly +lighted by two candies, placed in high, old-fashioned, brass +candlesticks. The door closed, and the party were at once removed +from an atmosphere that was nearly at zero, to one of sixty degrees +above. In the centre of the hall stood an enormous stove, the sides +of which appeared to be quivering with heat; from which a large, +straight pipe, leading through the ceiling above, carried off the +smoke. An iron basin, containing water, was placed on this furnace, +for such only it could be called, in order to preserve a proper +humidity in the apartment. The room was carpeted, and furnished with +convenient, substantial furniture, some of which was brought from the +city, the remainder having been manufactured by the mechanics of +Templeton. There was a sideboard of mahogany, inlaid with ivory, and +bearing enormous handles of glittering brass, and groaning under the +piles of silver plate. Near it stood a set of prodigious tables, made +of the wild cherry, to imitate the imported wood of the sideboard, but +plain and without ornament of any kind. Opposite to these stood a +smaller table, formed from a lighter-colored wood, through the grains +of which the wavy lines of the curled maple of the mountains were +beautifully undulating. Near to this, in a corner, stood a heavy, +old-fashioned, brass-faced clock, incased in a high box, of the dark +hue of the black walnut from the seashore. An enormous settee, or +sofa, covered with light chintz, stretched along the walls for nearly +twenty feet on one side of the hail; and chairs of wood, painted a +light yellow, with black lines that were drawn by no very steady hand, +were ranged opposite, and in the intervals between the other pieces of +furniture. A Fahrenheit's thermometer in a mahogany case, and with a +barometer annexed, was hung against the wall, at some little distance +from the stove, which Benjamin consulted, every half hour, with +prodigious exactitude. Two small glass chandeliers were suspended at +equal distances between the stove and outer doors, one of which opened +at each end of the hall, and gilt lustres were affixed to the frame +work of the numerous side-doors that led from the apartment. Some +little display in architecture had been made in constructing these +frames and casings, which were surmounted with pediments, that bore +each a little pedestal in its centre; on these pedestals were small +busts in blacked plaster-of-Paris. The style of the pedestals as well +as the selection of the busts were all due to the taste of Mr. Jones. +On one stood Homer, a most striking likeness, Richard affirmed, “as +any one might see, for it was blind,” Another bore the image of a +smooth-visaged gentleman with a pointed beard, whom he called +Shakespeare. A third ornament was an urn, which; from its shape, +Richard was accustomed to say, intended to represent itself as holding +the ashes of Dido. A fourth was certainly old Franklin, in his cap +and spectacles. A fifth as surely bore the dignified composure of the +face of Washington. A sixth was a nondescript, representing “a man +with a shirt-collar open,” to use the language of Richard, “with a +laurel on his head-it was Julius Caesar or Dr. Faustus; there were +good reasons for believing either,” + +The walls were hung with a dark lead-colored English paper that +represented Britannia weeping over the tomb of Wolfe, The hero himself +stood at a little distance from the mourning goddess, and at the edge +of the paper. Each width contained the figure, with the slight +exception of one arm of the general, which ran over on the next piece, +so that when Richard essayed, with his own hands, to put together this +delicate outline, some difficulties occurred that prevented a nice +conjunction; and Britannia had reason to lament, in addition to the +loss of her favorite’s life, numberless cruel amputations of his right +arm. + +The luckless cause of these unnatural divisions now announced his +presence in the halt by a loud crack of his whip. + +“Why, Benjamin! you Ben Pump! is this the manner in which you receive +the heiress?” he cried. “Excuse him, Cousin Elizabeth. The +arrangements were too intricate to be trusted to every one; but now I +am here, things will go on better. —Come, light up, Mr. Penguillan, +light up, light up, and let us see One another’s faces. Well, ‘Duke, +I have brought home your deer; what is to be done with it, ha?” + +“By the Lord, squire,” commenced Benjamin, in reply, first giving his +mouth a wipe with the back of his hand, “if this here thing had been +ordered sum’at earlier in the day, it might have been got up, d’ye +see, to your liking. I had mustered all hands and was exercising +candles, when you hove in sight; but when the women heard your bells +they started an end, as if they were riding the boat swain’s colt; and +if-so-be there is that man in the house who can bring up a parcel of +women when they have got headway on them, until they’ve run out the +end of their rope, his name is not Benjamin Pump. But Miss Betsey +here must have altered more than a privateer in disguise, since she +has got on her woman’s duds, if she will take offence with an old +fellow for the small matter of lighting a few candles.” + +Elizabeth and her father continued silent, for both experienced the +same sensation on entering the hall. The former had resided one year +in the building before she left home for school, and the figure of its +lamented mistress was missed by both husband and child. + +But candles had been placed in the chandeliers and lustres, and the +attendants were so far recovered from surprise as to recollect their +use; the oversight was immediately remedied, and in a minute the +apartment was in a blaze of light. + +The slight melancholy of our heroine and her father was banished by +this brilliant interruption; and the whole party began to lay aside +the numberless garments they had worn in the air. + +During this operation Richard kept up a desultory dialogue with the +different domestics, occasionally throwing out a remark to the Judge +concerning the deer; but as his conversation at such moments was much +like an accompaniment on a piano, a thing that is heard without being +attended to, we will not undertake the task of recording his diffuse +discourse, + +The instant that Remarkable Pettibone had executed her portion of the +labor in illuminating, she returned to a position near Elizabeth, with +the apparent motive of receiving the clothes that the other threw +aside, but in reality to examine, with an air of curiosity—not unmixed +with jealousy—the appearance of the lady who was to supplant her in +the administration of their domestic economy. The housekeeper felt a +little appalled, when, after cloaks, coats, shawls, and socks had been +taken off in succession, the large black hood was removed, and the +dark ringlets, shining like the raven’s wing, fell from her head, and +left the sweet but commanding features of the young lady exposed to +view. Nothing could be fairer and more spotless than the forehead of +Elizabeth, and preserve the appearance of life and health. Her nose +would have been called Grecian, but for a softly rounded swell, that +gave in character to the feature what it lost in beauty. Her mouth, +at first sight, seemed only made for love; but, the instant that its +muscles moved, every expression that womanly dignity could utter +played around it with the flexibility of female grace. It spoke not +only to the ear, but to the eye. So much, added to a form of +exquisite proportions, rather full and rounded for her years, and of +the tallest medium height, she inherited from her mother. Even the +color of her eye, the arched brows, and the long silken lashes, came +from the same source; but its expression was her father’s. Inert and +composed, it was soft, benevolent, and attractive; but it could be +roused, and that without much difficulty. At such moments it was +still beautiful, though it was a little severe. As the last shawl +fell aside, and she stood dressed in a rich blue riding-habit, that +fitted her form with the nicest exactness; her cheeks burning with +roses, that bloomed the richer for the heat of the hall, and her eyes +lightly suffused with moisture that rendered their ordinary beauty +more dazzling, and with every feature of her speaking countenance +illuminated by the lights that flared around her, Remarkable felt that +her own power had ended + +The business of unrobing had been simultaneous. Marmaduke appeared in +a suit of plain, neat black; Monsieur Le Quoi in a coat of snuff- +color, covering a vest of embroidery, with breeches, and silk +stockings, and buckles—that were commonly thought to be of paste. +Major Hartmann wore a coat of sky-blue, with large brass buttons, a +club wig, and boots; and Mr. Richard Jones had set off his dapper +little form in a frock of bottle-green, with bullet-buttons, by one of +which the sides were united over his well-rounded waist, opening +above, so as to show a jacket of red cloth, with an undervest of +flannel, faced with green velvet, and below, so as to exhibit a pair +of buckskin breeches, with long, soiled, white top-boots, and spurs; +one of the latter a little bent, from its recent attacks on the stool. + +When the young lady had extricated herself from her garments, she was +at liberty to gaze about her, and to examine not only the household +over which she was to preside, but also the air and manner in which +the domestic arrangements were conducted. Although there was much +incongruity in the furniture and appearance of the hall, there was +nothing mean. The floor was carpeted, even in its remotest corners. +The brass candlesticks, the gilt lustres, and the glass chandeliers, +whatever might be their keeping as to propriety and taste, were +admirably kept as to all the purposes of use and comfort. They were +clean and glittering in the strong light of the apartment. + +Compared with the chill aspect of the December night without, the +warmth and brilliancy of the apartment produced an effect that was not +unlike enchantment. Her eye had not time to detect, in detail, the +little errors which in truth existed, but was glancing around her in +de light, when an object arrested her view that was in strong contrast +to the smiling faces and neatly attired person ages who had thus +assembled to do honor to the heiress of Templeton. + +In a corner of the hall near the grand entrance stood the young +hunter, unnoticed, and for the moment apparently forgotten. But even +the forgetfulness of the Judge, which, under the influence of strong +emotion, had banished the recollection of the wound of this stranger, +seemed surpassed by the absence of mind in the youth himself. On +entering the apartment, be had mechanically lifted his cap, and +exposed a head covered with hair that rivalled, in color and gloss, +the locks of Elizabeth. Nothing could have wrought a greater +transformation than the single act of removing the rough fox-skin cap. +If there was much that was prepossessing in the countenance of the +young hunter, there was something even noble in the rounded outlines +of his head and brow. The very air and manner with which the member +haughtily maintained itself over the coarse and even wild attire in +which the rest of his frame was clad, bespoke not only familiarity +with a splendor that in those new settlements was thought to be +unequalled, but something very like contempt also. + +The hand that held the cap rested lightly on the little ivory-mounted +piano of Elizabeth, with neither rustic restraint nor obtrusive +vulgarity. A single finger touched the instrument, as if accustomed +to dwell on such places. His other arm was extended to its utmost +length, and the hand grasped the barrel of his long rifle with +something like convulsive energy. The act and the attitude were both +involuntary, and evidently proceeded from a feeling much deeper than +that of vulgar surprise. His appearance, connected as it was with the +rough exterior of his dress, rendered him entirely distinct from the +busy group that were moving across the other end of the long hall, +occupied in receiving the travellers and exchanging their welcomes; +and Elizabeth continued to gaze at him in wonder. The contraction of +the stranger’s brows in creased as his eyes moved slowly from one +object to another. For moments the expression of his countenance was +fierce, and then again it seemed to pass away in some painful emotion. +The arm that was extended bent and brought the hand nigh to his face, +when his head dropped upon it, and concealed the wonderfully speaking +lineaments. + +“We forget, dear sir, the strange gentleman” (for her life Elizabeth +could not call him otherwise) “whom we have brought here for +assistance, and to whom we owe every attention.” + +All eyes were instantly turned in the direction of those of the +speaker, and the youth rather proudly elevated his head again, while +he answered: + +“My wound is trifling, and I believe that Judge Temple sent for a +physician the moment we arrived.” + +“Certainly,” said Marmaduke: “I have not forgotten the object of thy +visit, young man, nor the nature of my debt. + +“Oh!” exclaimed Richard, with something of a waggish leer, “thou owest +the lad for the venison, I suppose that thou killed, Cousin ‘Duke! +Marmaduke! Marmaduke! That was a marvellous tale of thine about the +buck! Here, young man, are two dollars for the deer, and Judge Temple +can do no less than pay the doctor. I shall charge you nothing for my +services, but you shall not fare the worst for that. Come, come, +‘Duke, don’t he down hearted about it; if you missed the buck, you +contrived to shoot this poor fellow through a pine-tree. Now I own +that you have beat me; I never did such a thing in all my life.” + +“And I hope never will,” returned the Judge, “if you are to experience +the uneasiness that I have suffered; but be of good cheer, my young +friend, the injury must be small, as thou movest thy arm with apparent +freedom. + +“Don’t make the matter worse, ‘Duke, by pretending to talk about +surgery,” interrupted Mr. Jones, with a contemptuous wave of the hand: +“it is a science that can only be learned by practice. You know that +my grandfather was a doctor, but you haven’t got a drop of medical +blood in your veins. These kind of things run in families. All my +family by my father’s side had a knack at physic. ‘There was my uncle +that was killed at Brandywine—he died as easy again as any other man +the regiment, just from knowing how to hold his breath naturally. Few +men know how to breathe naturally.” + +“I doubt not, Dickon,” returned the Judge, meeting the bright smile +which, in spite of himself, stole over the stranger’s features, “that +thy family thoroughly under stand the art of letting life slip through +their lingers.” + +Richard heard him quite coolly, and putting a hand in either pocket of +his surcoat, so as to press forward the skirts, began to whistle a +tune; but the desire to reply overcame his philosophy, and with great +heat he exclaimed: + +“You may affect to smile, Judge Temple, at hereditary virtues, if you +please; but there is not a man on your Patent who don’t know better. +Here, even this young man, who has never seen anything but bears, and +deer, and woodchucks, knows better than to believe virtues are not +transmitted in families. Don’t you, friend?” + +“I believe that vice is not,” said the stranger abruptly; his eye +glancing from the father to the daughter. + +“The squire is right, Judge,” observed Benjamin, with a knowing nod of +his head toward Richard, that bespoke the cordiality between them, +“Now, in the old country, the king’s majesty touches for the evil, and +that is a disorder that the greatest doctor in the fleet, or for the +matter of that admiral either: can’t cure; only the king’s majesty or +a man that’s been hanged. Yes, the squire is right; for if-so-be that +he wasn’t, how is it that the seventh son always is a doctor, whether +he ships for the cockpit or not? Now when we fell in with the +mounsheers, under De Grasse, d’ye see, we hid aboard of us a doctor—” + +“Very well, Benjamin,” interrupted Elizabeth, glancing her eyes from +the hunter to Monsieur Le Quoi, who was most politely attending to +what fell from each individual in succession, “you shall tell me of +that, and all your entertaining adventures together; just now, a room +must be prepared, in which the arm of this gentleman can be dressed.” + +“I will attend to that myself, Cousin Elizabeth,” observed Richard, +somewhat haughtily. “The young man will not suffer because Marmaduke +chooses to be a little obstinate. Follow me, my friend, and I will +examine the hurt myself.” + +“It will be well to wait for the physician,” said the hunter coldly; +“he cannot be distant,” + +Richard paused and looked at the speaker, a little astonished at the +language, and a good deal appalled at the refusal. He construed the +latter into an act of hostility, and, placing his hands in the pockets +again, he walked up to Mr. Grant, and, putting his face close to the +countenance of the divine, said in an undertone: + +“Now, mark my words—there will be a story among the settlers, that all +our necks would have been broken but for that fellow—as if I did not +know how to drive. Why, you might have turned the horses yourself, +sir; nothing was easier; it was only pulling hard on the nigh rein, +and touching the off flank of the leader. I hope, my dear sir, you +are not at all hurt by the upset the lad gave us?” + +The reply was interrupted by the entrance of the village physician. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + + +“And about his shelves, +A beggarly account of empty boxes, +Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds. +Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses, +Were thinly scattered to make up a show.”-Shakespeare. + +Doctor Elnathan Todd, for such was the name of the man of physic, was +commonly thought to be, among the settlers, a gentleman of great +mental endowments, and he was assuredly of rare personal proportions. +In height he measured, without his shoes, exactly six feet and four +inches. His hands, feet, and knees corresponded in every respect with +this formidable stature; but every other part of his frame appeared to +have been intended for a man several sizes smaller, if we except the +length of the limbs. His shoulders were square, in one sense at +least, being in a right line from one side to the other; but they were +so narrow, that the long dangling arms they supported seemed to issue +out of his back. His neck possessed, in an eminent degree, the +property of length to which we have alluded, and it was topped by a +small bullet-head that exhibited on one side a bush of bristling brown +hair and on the other a short, twinkling visage, that appeared to +maintain a constant struggle with itself in order to look wise. He +was the youngest son of a farmer in the western part of Massachusetts, +who, being in some what easy circumstances, had allowed this boy to +shoot up to the height we have mentioned, without the ordinary +interruptions of field labor, wood-chopping, and such other toils as +were imposed on his brothers. Elnathan was indebted for this +exemption from labor in some measure to his extraordinary growth, +which, leaving him pale, inanimate, and listless, induced his tender +mother to pronounce him “a sickly boy, and one that was not equal to +work, but who might earn a living comfortably enough by taking to +pleading law, or turning minister, or doctoring, or some such like +easy calling.’ Still, there was great uncertainty which of these +vocations the youth was best endowed to fill; but, having no other +employment, the stripling was constantly lounging about the homestead,” +munching green apples and hunting for sorrel; when the same sagacious eye +that had brought to light his latent talents seized upon this circumstance +as a clew to his future path through the turmoils of the world. +“Elnathan was cut out for a doctor, she knew, for he was forever digging +for herbs, and tasting all kinds of things that grow’d about the lots. +Then again he had a natural love for doctor-stuff, for when she had left +the bilious pills out for her man, all nicely covered with maple sugar +just ready to take, Nathan had come in and swallowed them for all the +world as if they were nothing, while Ichabod (her husband) could never get +one down without making such desperate faces that it was awful to look on.” + +This discovery decided the matter. Elnathan, then about fifteen, was, +much like a wild colt, caught and trimmed by clipping his bushy locks; +dressed in a suit of homespun, dyed in the butternut bark; furnished +with a “New Testament” and a “Webster’s Spelling Book,” and sent to +school. As the boy was by nature quite shrewd enough, and had +previously, at odd times, laid the foundations of reading, writing, +and arithmetic, he was soon conspicuous in the school for his +learning. The delighted mother had the gratification of hearing, from +the lips of the master, that her son was a “prodigious boy, and far +above all his class.” He also thought that “the youth had a natural +love for doctoring, as he had known him frequently advise the smaller +children against eating to much; and, once or twice, when the ignorant +little things had persevered in opposition to Elnathan’s advice, he +had known her son empty the school-baskets with his own mouth, to +prevent the consequences.” + +Soon after this comfortable declaration from his school master, the +lad was removed to the house of the village doctor, a gentleman whose +early career had not been unlike that of our hero where he was to be +seen sometimes watering a horse, at others watering medicines, blue, +yellow, and red: then again he might be noticed lolling under an +apple-tree, with Ruddiman’s Latin Grammar in his hand, and a corner of +Denman’s Midwifery sticking out of a pocket; for his instructor held +it absurd to teach his pupil how to dispatch a patient regularly from +this world, before he knew how to bring him into it. + +This kind of life continued for a twelvemonth, when he suddenly +appeared at a meeting in a long coat (and well did it deserve the +name!) of black homespun, with little bootees, bound with an uncolored +calf-skin for the want of red morocco. + +Soon after he was seen shaving with a dull razor. Three or four +months had scarce elapsed before several elderly ladies were observed +hastening toward the house of a poor woman in the village, while +others were running to and fro in great apparent distress. One or two +boys were mounted, bareback, on horses, and sent off at speed in +various directions. Several indirect questions were put concerning +the place where the physician was last seen; but all would not do; and +at length Elnathan was seen issuing from his door with a very grave +air, preceded by a little white-headed boy, out of breath, trotting +before him. The following day the youth appeared in the street, as +the highway was called, and the neighborhood was much edified by the +additional gravity of his air. The same week he bought a new razor; +and the succeeding Sunday he entered the meeting-house with a red silk +handkerchief in his hand, and with an extremely demure countenance. +In the evening he called upon a young woman of his own class in life, +for there were no others to be found, and, when he was left alone with +the fair, he was called, for the first time in his life, Dr. Todd, by +her prudent mother. The ice once broken in this manner, Elnathan was +greeted from every mouth with his official appellation. + +Another year passed under the superintendence of the same master, +during which the young physician had the credit of “ riding with the +old doctor,” although they were generally observed to travel different +roads. At the end of that period, Dr. Todd attained his legal +majority. He then took a jaunt to Boston to purchase medicines, and, +as some intimated, to walk the hospital; we know not how the latter +might have been, but, if true, he soon walked through it, for he +returned within a fortnight, bringing with him a suspicious-looking +box, that smelled powerfully of brimstone. + +The next Sunday he was married, and the following morning he entered a +one-horse sleigh with his bride, having before him the box we have +mentioned, with another filled with home-made household linen, a +paper-covered trunk with a red umbrella lashed to it, a pair of quite +new saddle-bags, and a handbox. The next intelligence that his +friends received of the bride and bridegroom was, that the latter was +“settled in the new countries, and well to do as a doctor in +Templeton, in York State!” + +If a Templar would smile at the qualifications of Marmaduke to fill +the judicial seat he occupied, we are certain that a graduate of +Leyden or Edinburgh would be extremely amused with this true narration +of the servitude of Elnathan in the temple of Aesculapius. But the +same consolation was afforded to both the jurist and the leech, for +Dr. Todd was quite as much on a level with his own peers of the +profession in that country, as was Marmaduke with his brethren on the +bench. + +Time and practice did wonders for the physician. He was naturally +humane, but possessed of no small share of moral courage; or, in other +words, he was chary of the lives of his patients, and never tried +uncertain experiments on such members of society as were considered +useful; but, once or twice, when a luckless vagrant had come under his +care, he was a little addicted to trying the effects of every phial in +his saddle-bags on the strangers constitution. Happily their number +was small, and in most cases their natures innocent. By these means +Elnathan had acquired a certain degree of knowledge in fevers and +agues, and could talk with judgment concerning intermittents, +remittents, tertians, quotidians, etc. In certain cutaneous disorders +very prevalent in new settlements, he was considered to be infallible; +and there was no woman on the Patent but would as soon think of +becoming a mother without a husband as without the assistance of Dr. +Todd. In short, he was rearing, on this foundation of sand a +superstructure cemented by practice, though composed of somewhat +brittle materials. He however, occasionally renewed his elementary +studies, and, with the observation of a shrewd mind, was comfort ably +applying his practice to his theory. + +In surgery, having the least experience, and it being a business that +spoke directly to the senses, he was most apt to distrust his own +powers; but he had applied oils to several burns, cut round the roots +of sundry defective teeth, and sewed up the wounds of numberless wood +choppers, with considerable éclat, when an unfortunate jobber suffered +a fracture of his leg by the tree that he had been felling. It was on +this occasion that our hero encountered the greatest trial his nerves +and moral feeling had ever sustained. In the hour of need, however, +he was not found wanting. Most of the amputations in the new +settlements, and they were quite frequent, were per formed by some one +practitioner who, possessing originally a reputation, was enabled by +this circumstance to acquire an experience that rendered him deserving +of it; and Elnathan had been present at one or two of these +operations. But on the present occasion the man of practice was not +to be obtained, and the duty fell, as a matter of course, to the share +of Mr. Todd. He went to work with a kind of blind desperation, +observing, at the same time, all the externals of decent gravity and +great skill, The sufferer’s name was Milligan, and it was to this +event that Richard alluded, when he spoke of assisting the doctor at +an amputation by holding the leg! The limb was certainly cut off, and +the patient survived the operation. It was, however, two years before +poor Milligan ceased to complain that they had buried the leg in so +narrow a box that it was straitened for room; he could feel the pain +shooting up from the inhumed fragment into the living members. +Marmaduke suggested that the fault might lie in the arteries and +nerves; but Richard, considering the amputation as part of his own +handiwork, strongly repelled the insinuation, at the same time +declaring that he had often heard of men who could tell when it was +about to rain, by the toes of amputated limbs, After two or three +years, notwithstanding, Milligan's complaints gradually diminished, +the leg was dug up, and a larger box furnished, and from that hour no +one had heard the sufferer utter another complaint on the subject. +This gave the public great confidence in Dr. Todd, whose reputation +was hourly increasing, and, luckily for his patients, his information +also. + +Notwithstanding Dr. Todd’s practice, and his success with the leg, he +was not a little appalled on entering the hall of the mansion-house. +It was glaring with the light of day; it looked so imposing, compared +with the hastily built and scantily furnished apartments which he +frequented in his ordinary practice, and contained so many well- +dressed persons and anxious faces, that his usually firm nerves were a +good deal discomposed. He had heard from the messenger who summoned +him, that it was a gun-shot wound, and had come from his own home, +wading through the snow, with his saddle-bags thrown over his arm, +while separated arteries, penetrated lungs, and injured vitals were +whirling through his brain, as if he were stalking over a field of +battle, instead of Judge Temple’s peaceable in closure. + +The first object that met his eye, as he moved into the room, was +Elizabeth in her riding-habit, richly laced with gold cord, her fine +form bending toward him, and her face expressing deep anxiety in every +one of its beautiful features. The enormous knees of the physician +struck each other with a noise that was audible; for, in the absent +state of his mind, he mistook her for a general officer, perforated +with bullets, hastening from the field of battle to implore +assistance. The delusion, however, was but momentary, and his eye +glanced rapidly from the daughter to the earnest dignity of the +father’s countenance; thence to the busy strut of Richard, who was +cooling his impatience at the hunter’s indifference to his assistance, +by pacing the hall and cracking his whip; from him to the Frenchman, +who had stood for several minutes unheeded with a chair for the lady; +thence to Major Hartmann, who was very coolly lighting a pipe three +feet long by a candle in one of the chandeliers; thence to Mr. Grant, +who was turning over a manuscript with much earnestness at one of the +lustres; thence to Remarkable, who stood, with her arms demurely +folded before her, surveying, with a look of admiration and envy, the +dress and beauty of the young lady; and from her to Benjamin, who, +with his feet standing wide apart, and his arms akimbo, was balancing +his square little body with the indifference of one who is accustomed +to wounds and bloodshed. All of these seemed to be unhurt, and the +operator began to breathe more freely; but, before he had time to take +a second look, the Judge, advancing, shook him kindly by the hand, and +spoke. + +“Thou art welcome, my good sir, quite welcome, indeed; here is a youth +whom I have unfortunately wounded in shooting a deer this evening, and +who requires some of thy assistance.” + +“Shooting at a deer, ‘Duke,” interrupted Richard— “shooting at a deer. +Who do you think can prescribe, unless he knows the truth of the case? +It is always so with some people; they think a doctor can be deceived +with the same impunity as another man.” + +“Shooting at a deer, truly,” returned the Judge, smiling, “although it +is by no means certain that I did not aid in destroying the buck; but +the youth is injured by my hand, be that as it may; and it is thy +skill that must cure him, and my pocket shall amply reward thee for +it.” + +“Two ver good tings to depend on,” observed Monsieur Le Quoi, bowing +politely, with a sweep of his head to the Judge and to the +practitioner. + +“I thank you, monsieur,” returned the Judge; “but we keep the young +man in pain. Remarkable, thou wilt please to provide linen for lint +and bandages.” + +This remark caused a cessation of the compliments, and induced the +physician to turn an inquiring eye in the direction of his patient. +During the dialogue the young hunter had thrown aside his overcoat, +and now stood clad in a plain suit of the common, light-colored +homespun of the country, that was evidently but recently made. His +hand was on the lapels of his coat, in the attitude of removing the +garment, when he suddenly suspended the movement, and looked toward +the commiserating Elizabeth, who was standing in an unchanged posture, +too much absorbed with her anxious feelings to heed his actions. A +slight color appeared on the brow of the youth. + +“Possibly the sight of blood may alarm the lady; I will retire to +another room while the wound is dressing.” + +“By no means.” said Dr. Todd, who, having discovered that his patient +was far from being a man of importance, felt much emboldened to +perform the duty. “The strong light of these candles is favorable to +the operation, and it is seldom that we hard students enjoy good +eyesight.” + +While speaking, Elnathan placed a pair of large iron-rimmed spectacles +on his face, where they dropped, as it were by long practice, to the +extremity of his slim pug nose; and, if they were of no service as +assistants to his eyes, neither were they any impediment to his +vision; for his little gray organs were twinkling above them like two +stars emerging from the envious cover of a cloud. The action was +unheeded by all but Remarkable, who observed to Benjamin: + +“Dr. Todd is a comely man to look on, and despu’t pretty. How well he +seems in spectacles! I declare, they give a grand look to a body’s +face. I have quite a great mind to try them myself.” + +The speech of the stranger recalled the recollection of Miss Temple, +who started as if from deep abstraction, and, coloring excessively, +she motioned to a young woman who served in the capacity of maid, and +retired with an air of womanly reserve. + +The field was now left to the physician and his patient, while the +different personages who remained gathered around the latter, with +faces expressing the various degrees of interest that each one felt in +his condition. Major Hartmann alone retained his seat, where he +continued to throw out vast quantities of smoke, now rolling his eyes +up to the ceiling, as if musing on the uncertainty of life, and now +bending them on the wounded man, with an expression that bespoke some +consciousness of his situation. + +In the mean time Elnathan, to whom the sight of a gun shot wound was a +perfect novelty, commenced his preparations with a solemnity and care +that were worthy of the occasion. An old shirt was procured by +Benjamin, and placed in the hand of the other, who tore divers +bandages from it, with an exactitude that marked both his own skill +and the importance of the operation. + +When this preparatory measure was taken, Dr. Todd selected a piece of +the shirt with great care, and handing to Mr. Jones, without moving a +muscle, said: “Here, Squire Jones, you are well acquainted with these +things; will you please to scrape the lint? It should be fine and +soft, you know, my dear sir; and be cautious that no cotton gets in, +or it may p’izen the wound. The shirt has been made with cotton +thread, but you can easily pick it out.” + +Richard assumed the office, with a nod at his cousin, that said quite +plainly, “You see this fellow can’t get along without me;” and began +to scrape the linen on his knee with great diligence. + +A table was now spread with phials, boxes of salve, and divers +surgical instruments. As the latter appeared in succession, from a +case of red morocco, their owner held up each implement to the strong +light of the chandelier, near to which he stood, and examined it with +the nicest care. A red silk handkerchief was frequently applied to +the glittering steel, as if to remove from the polished surfaces the +least impediment which might exist to the most delicate operation. +After the rather scantily furnished pocket-case which contained these +instruments was exhausted, the physician turned to his saddle-bags, +and produced various phials, filled with liquids of the most radiant +colors. These were arranged in due order by the side of the murderous +saws, knives, and scissors, when Elnathan stretched his long body to +its utmost elevation, placing his hand on the small of his back as if +for sup port, and looked about him to discover what effect this +display of professional skill was likely to produce on the spectators. + +“Upon my wort, toctor,” observed Major Hartmann, with a roguish roll +of his little black eyes, but with every other feature of his face in +a state of perfect rest, “put you have a very pretty pocket-book of +tools tere, and your toctor-stuff glitters as if it was petter for ter +eyes as for ter pelly.” + +Elnathan gave a hem—one that might have been equally taken for that +kind of noise which cowards are said to make in order to awaken their +dormant courage, or for a natural effort to clear the throat; if for +the latter it was successful; for, turning his face to the veteran +German, he said: + +“Very true, Major Hartmann, very true, sir; a prudent man will always +strive to make his remedies agreeable to the eyes, though they may not +altogether suit the stomach. It is no small part of our art, sir,” +and he now spoke with the confidence of a man who understood his +subject, “to reconcile the patient to what is for his own good, though +at the same time it may be unpalatable.” + +“Sartain! Dr. Todd is right,” said Remarkable, “and has Scripter for +what he says. The Bible tells us how things may be sweet to the +mouth, and bitter to the inwards.” + +“True, true,” interrupted the Judge, a little impatiently; “but here +is a youth who needs no deception to lure him to his own benefit. I +see, by his eye, that he fears nothing more than delay.” + +The stranger had, without assistance, bared his own shoulder, when the +slight perforation produced by the pas sage of the buckshot was +plainly visible. The intense cold of the evening had stopped the +bleeding, and Dr. Todd, casting a furtive glance at the wound, thought +it by no means so formidable an affair as he had anticipated. Thus +encouraged, he approached his patient, and made some indication of an +intention to trace the route that had been taken by the lead. + +Remarkable often found occasions, in after days, to recount the +minutiae of that celebrated operation; and when she arrived at this +point she commonly proceeded as follows:” And then the doctor tuck out +of the pocket book a long thing, like a knitting-needle, with a button +fastened to the end on't; and then he pushed it into the wound and +then the young man looked awful; and then I thought I should have +swaned away—I felt in sitch a dispu’t taking; and then the doctor had +run it right through his shoulder, and shoved the bullet out on tother +side; and so Dr. Todd cured the young man—Of a ball that the Judge had +shot into him—for all the world as easy as I could pick out a splinter +with my darning-needle.” + +Such were the impressions of Remarkable on the subject; and such +doubtless were the opinions of most of those who felt it necessary to +entertain a species of religious veneration for the skill of Elnathan; +but such was far from the truth. + +When the physician attempted to introduce the instrument described by +Remarkable, he was repulsed by the stranger, with a good deal of +decision, and some little contempt, in his manner. + +“I believe, sir,” he said, “that a probe is not necessary; the shot +has missed the bone, and has passed directly through the arm to the +opposite side, where it remains but skin deep, and whence, I should +think, it might he easily extracted.” + +“The gentleman knows best,” said Dr. Todd, laying down the probe with +the air of a man who had assumed it merely in compliance with forms; +and, turning to Richard, he fingered the lint with the appearance of +great care and foresight. “Admirably well scraped, Squire Jones: it +is about the best lint I have ever seen. I want your assistance, my +good sir, to hold the patient’s arm while I make an incision for the +ball. Now, I rather guess there is not another gentleman present who +could scrape the lint so well as Squire Jones!” + +“Such things run in families,” observed Richard, rising with alacrity +to render the desired assistance. “My father, and my grandfather +before him, were both celebrated for their knowledge of surgery; they +were not, like Marmaduke here, puffed up with an accidental thing, +such as the time when he drew in the hip-joint of the man who was +thrown from his horse; that was the fall before you came into the +settlement, doctor; but they were men who were taught the thing +regularly, spending half their lives in learning those little +niceties; though, for the matter of that, my grandfather was a +college-bred physician, and the best in the colony, too—that is, in +his neighborhood.” + +“So it goes with the world, squire,” cried Benjamin; “if so be that a +man wants to walk the quarter-deck with credit, d’ye see, and with +regular built swabs on his shoulders, he mustn’t think to do it by +getting in at the cabin windows. There are two ways to get into a +top, besides the lubber-holes. The true way to walk aft is to begin +forrard; tho’f it he only in a humble way, like myself, d’ye see, +which was from being only a hander of topgallant sails, and a stower +of the flying-jib, to keeping the key of the captain’s locker.” + +Benjamin speaks quite to the purpose,’ continued Richard, “I dare say +that he has often seen shot extracted in the different ships in which +he has served; suppose we get him to hold the basin; he must be used +to the sight of blood.” + +“That he is, squire, that he is,” interrupted the cidevant steward; +“many’s the good shot, round, double-headed, and grape, that I’ve seen +the doctors at work on. For the matter of that, I was in a boat, +alongside the ship, when they cut out the twelve-pound shot from the +thigh of the captain of the Foodyrong, one of Mounsheer Ler Quaw’s +countrymen!” * + + * It is possible that the reader may start at this declaration of + Benjamin, but those who have lived in the new settlements of America + are too much accustomed to hear of these European exploits to doubt + it. + +“A twelve-pound ball from the thigh of a human being:” exclaimed Mr. +Grant, with great simplicity, dropping the sermon he was again +reading, and raising his spectacles to the top of his forehead. + +“A twelve-pounder!” echoed Benjamin, staring around him with much +confidence; “a twelve-pounder! ay! a twenty-four-pound shot can easily +be taken from a man’s body, if so be a doctor only knows how, There’s +Squire Jones, now, ask him, sir; he reads all the books; ask him if he +never fell in with a page that keeps the reckoning of such things.” + +“Certainly, more important operations than that have been performed,” +observed Richard; “the encyclopaedia mentions much more incredible +circumstances than that, as, I dare say, you know, Dr. Todd.” + +“Certainly, there are incredible tales told in the encyclopaedias,” +returned Elnathan, “though I cannot say that I have ever seen, myself, +anything larger than a musket ball extracted.” + +During this discourse an incision had been made through the skin of +the young hunter’s shoulder, and the lead was laid bare. Elnathan +took a pair of glittering forceps, and was in the act of applying them +to the wound, when a sudden motion of the patient caused the shot to +fall out of itself, The long arm and broad hand of the operator were +now of singular service; for the latter expanded itself, and caught +the lead, while at the same time an extremely ambiguous motion was +made by its brother, so as to leave it doubtful to the spectators how +great was its agency in releasing the shot, Richard, however, put the +matter at rest by exclaiming: + +“Very neatly done, doctor! I have never seen a shot more neatly +extracted; and I dare say Benjamin will say the same.” + +“Why, considering,” returned Benjamin, “I must say that it was ship- +shape and Brister-fashion. Now all that the doctor has to do, is to +clap a couple of plugs in the holes, and the lad will float in any +gale that blows in these here hills,” + +“I thank you, sir, for what you have done,” said the youth, with a +little distance; “but here is a man who will take me under his care, +and spare you all, gentlemen, any further trouble on my account” + +The whole group turned their heads in surprise, and beheld, standing +at one of the distant doors of the hall, the person of Indian John. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + + +“From Sesquehanna’s utmost springs, +Where savage tribes pursue their game, +His blanket tied with yellow strings, +The shepherd of the forest came. ‘—Freneau. + +Before the Europeans, or, to use a more significant term, the +Christians, dispossessed the original owners of the soil, all that +section of country which contains the New England States, and those of +the Middle which lie east of the mountains, was occupied by two great +nations of Indians, from whom had descended numberless tribes. But, +as the original distinctions between these nations were marked by a +difference in language, as well as by repeated and bloody wars, they +were never known to amalgamate, until after the power and inroads of +the whites had reduced some of the tribes to a state of dependence +that rendered not only their political, but, considering the wants and +habits of a savage, their animal existence also, extremely precarious. + +These two great divisions consisted, on the one side, of the Five, or, +as they were afterward called, the Six Nations, and their allies; and, +on the other, of the Lenni Lenape, or Delawares, with the numerous and +powerful tribes that owned that nation as their grandfather The former +was generally called, by the Anglo-Americans Iroquois, or the Six +Nations, and sometimes Mingoes. Their appellation among their rivals, +seems generally to have been the Mengwe, or Maqua. They consisted of +the tribes or, as their allies were fond of asserting, in order to +raise their consequence, of the several nations of the Mohawks, the +Oneidas, the Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas; who ranked, in the +confederation in the order in which they are named. The Tuscaroras +were admitted to this union near a century after its foundation, and +thus completed the number of six. + +Of the Lenni Lenape, or as they were called by the whites, from the +circumstances of their holding their great council-fire on the banks +of that river, the Delaware nation, the principal tribes, besides that +which bore the generic name, were the Mahicanni, Mohicans, or +Mohegans, and the Nanticokes, or Nentigoes. Of these the latter held +the country along the waters of the Chesapeake and the seashore; while +the Mohegans occupied the district between the Hudson and the ocean, +including much of New England. Of course these two tribes were the +first who were dispossessed of their lands by the Europeans. + +The wars of a portion of the latter are celebrated among us as the +wars of King Philip; but the peaceful policy of William Penn, or +Miquon, as he was termed by the natives, effected its object with less +difficulty, though not with less certainty. As the natives gradually +disappeared from the country of the Mohegans, some scattering families +sought a refuge around the council-fire of the mother tribe, or the +Delawares. + +This people had been induced to suffer themselves to be called women +by their old enemies, the Mingoes, or Iroquois. After the latter, +having in vain tried the effects of hostility, had recourse in +artifice in order to prevail over their rivals. According to this +declaration, the Delawares were to cultivate the arts of peace, and to +intrust their defence entirely to the men, or warlike tribes of the +Six Nations. + +This state of things continued until the war of the Revolution. When +the Lenni Lenape formally asserted their independence, and fearlessly +declared that they were again men. But, in a government so peculiarly +republican as the Indian polity, it was not at all times an easy task +to restrain its members within the rules of the nation. Several +fierce and renowned warriors of the Mohegans, finding the conflict +with the whites to be in vain, sought a refuge with their grandfather, +and brought with them the feelings and principles that had so long +distinguished them in their own tribe. These chieftains kept alive, +in some measure, the martial spirit of the Delawares; and would, at +times, lead small parties against their ancient enemies, or such other +foes as incurred their resentment. + +Among these warriors was one race particularly famous for their +prowess, and for those qualities that render an Indian hero +celebrated. But war, time, disease, and want had conspired to thin +their number; and the sole representative of this once renowned family +now stood in the hall of Marmaduke Temple. He had for a long time +been an associate of the white men, particularly in their wars, and +having been, at the season when his services were of importance, much +noticed and flattered, he had turned Christian and was baptized by the +name of John. He had suffered severely in his family during the +recent war, having had every soul to whom he was allied cut off by an +inroad of the enemy; and when the last lingering remnant of his nation +extinguished their fires, among the hills of the Delaware, he alone +had remained, with a determination of laying his hones in that country +where his fathers had so long lived and governed. + +It was only, however, within a few months, that he had appeared among +the mountains that surrounded Templeton. To the hut of the old hunter +he seemed peculiarly welcome; and, as the habits of the Leather- +Stocking were so nearly assimilated to those of the savages, the +conjunction of their interests excited no surprise. They resided in +the same cabin, ate of the same food, and were chiefly occupied in the +same pursuits. + +We have already mentioned the baptismal name of this ancient chief; +but in his conversation with Natty, held in the language of the +Delawares, he was heard uniformly to call himself Chingachgook, which, +interpreted, means the “Great Snake.” This name he had acquired in his +youth, by his skill and prowess in war; but when his brows began to +wrinkle with time, and he stood alone, the last of his family, and his +particular tribe, the few Delawares, who yet continued about the head- +waters of their river, gave him the mournful appellation of Mohegan. +Perhaps there was something of deep feeling excited in the bosom of +this inhabitant of the forest by the sound of a name that recalled the +idea of his nation in ruins, for he seldom used it himself—never, +indeed, excepting on the most solemn occasions; but the settlers had +united, according to the Christian custom, his baptismal with his +national name, and to them he was generally known as John Mohegan, or, +more familiarly, as Indian John. + +From his long association with the white men, the habits of Mohegan +were a mixture of the civilized and savage states, though there was +certainly a strong preponderance in favor of the latter. In common +with all his people, who dwelt within the influence of the Anglo- +Americans, he had acquired new wants, and his dress was a mixture of +his native and European fashions. Notwithstanding the in tense cold +without, his head was uncovered; but a profusion of long, black, +coarse hair concealed his forehead, his crown, and even hung about his +cheeks, so as to convey the idea, to one who knew his present amid +former conditions, that he encouraged its abundance, as a willing veil +to hide the shame of a noble soul, mourning for glory once known. His +forehead, when it could be seen, appeared lofty, broad, and noble. +His nose was high, and of the kind called Roman, with nostrils that +expanded, in his seventieth year, with the freedom that had +distinguished them in youth. His mouth was large, but compressed, and +possessing a great share of expression and character, and, when +opened, it discovered a perfect set of short, strong, and regular +teeth. His chin was full, though not prominent; and his face bore the +infallible mark of his people, in its square, high cheek-bones. The +eyes were not large, but their black orbs glittered in the rays of the +candles, as he gazed intently down the hall, like two balls of fire. + +The instant that Mohegan observed himself to be noticed by the group +around the young stranger, he dropped the blanket which covered the +upper part of his frame, from his shoulders, suffering it to fall over +his leggins of untanned deer-skin, where it was retained by a belt of +bark that confined it to his waist. + +As he walked slowly down the long hail, the dignified and deliberate +tread of the Indian surprised the spectators. + +His shoulders, and body to his waist, were entirely bare, with the +exception of a silver medallion of Washington, that was suspended from +his neck by a thong of buckskin, and rested on his high chest, amid +many scars. His shoulders were rather broad and full; but the arms, +though straight and graceful, wanted the muscular appearance that +labor gives to a race of men. The medallion was the only ornament he +wore, although enormous slits in the rim of either ear, which suffered +the cartilages to fall two inches below the members, had evidently +been used for the purposes of decoration in other days. in his hand +he held a small basket of the ash-wood slips, colored in divers +fantastical conceits, with red and black paints mingled with the white +of the wood. + +As this child of the forest approached them, the whole party stood +aside, and allowed him to confront the object of his visit. He did +not speak, however, but stood fixing his glowing eyes on the shoulder +of the young hunter, and then turning them intently on the countenance +of the Judge. The latter was a good deal astonished at this unusual +departure from the ordinarily subdued and quiet manner of the Indian; +but he extended his hand, and said: + +“Thou art welcome, John. This youth entertains a high opinion of thy +skill, it seems, for he prefers thee to dress his wound even to our +good friend, Dr. Todd.” + +Mohegan now spoke in tolerable English, but in a low, monotonous, +guttural tone; + +“The children of Miquon do not love the sight of blood; and yet the +Young Eagle has been struck by the hand that should do no evil!” + +“Mohegan! old John!” exclaimed the Judge, “thinkest thou that my hand +has ever drawn human blood willingly? For shame! for shame, old John! +thy religion should have taught thee better.” + +“The evil spirit sometimes lives in the best heart,” returned John, +“but my brother speaks the truth; his hand has never taken life, when +awake; no! not even when the children of the great English Father were +making the waters red with the blood of his people.” + +“Surely John,” said Mr. Grant, with much earnestness, “you remember +the divine command of our Saviour, ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged.’ +What motive could Judge Temple have for injuring a youth like this; +one to whom he is unknown, and from whom he can receive neither in +jury nor favor?” + +John listened respectfully to the divine, and, when he had concluded, +he stretched out his arm, and said with energy: + +“He is innocent. My brother has not done this.” + +Marmaduke received the offered hand of the other with a smile, that +showed, however he might be astonished at his suspicion, he had ceased +to resent it; while the wounded youth stood, gazing from his red +friend to his host, with interest powerfully delineated in his +countenance. + +No sooner was this act of pacification exchanged, than John proceeded +to discharge the duty on which he had come. Dr. Todd was far from +manifesting any displeasure at this invasion of his rights, but made +way for the new leech with an air that expressed a willingness to +gratify the humors of his patient, now that the all-important part of +the business was so successfully performed, and nothing remained to be +done but what any child might effect, indeed, he whispered as much to +Monsieur Le Quoi, when he said: + +“It was fortunate that the ball was extracted before this Indian came +in; but any old woman can dress the wound. The young man, I hear, +lives with John and Natty Bumppo, and it’s always best to humor a +patient, when it can be done discreetly—I say, discreetly, monsieur.” + +“Certainement,” returned the Frenchman; “you seem ver happy, Mister +Todd, in your pratice. I tink the elder lady might ver well finish +vat you so skeelfully begin.” + +But Richard had, at the bottom, a great deal of veneration for the +knowledge of Mohegan, especially in external wounds; and, retaining +all his desire for a participation in glory, he advanced nigh the +Indian, and said: “Sago, sago, Mohegan! sago my good fellow I am glad +you have come; give me a regular physician, like Dr. Todd to cut into +flesh, and a native to heal the wound. Do you remember, John, the +time when I and you set the bone of Natty Bumppo’s little finger, +after he broke it by falling from the rock, when he was trying to get +the partridge that fell on the cliffs? I never could tell yet whether +it was I or Natty who killed that bird: he fired first, and the bird +stooped, and then it was rising again as I pulled trigger. I should +have claimed it for a certainty, but Natty said the hole was too big +for shot, and he fired a single ball from his rifle; but the piece I +carried then didn’t scatter, and I have known it to bore a hole +through a board, when I’ve been shooting at a mark, very much like +rifle bullets. Shall I help you, John? You know I have a knack at +these things.” + +Mohegan heard this disquisition quite patiently, and, when Richard +concluded, he held out the basket which contained his specifics, +indicating, by a gesture, that he might hold it. Mr. Jones was quite +satisfied with this commission; and ever after, in speaking of the +event, was used to say that “Dr. Todd and I cut out the bullet, and I +and Indian John dressed the wound.” + +The patient was much more deserving of that epithet while under the +hands of Mohegan, than while suffering under the practice of the +physician. Indeed, the Indian gave him but little opportunity for the +exercise of a forbearing temper, as he had come prepared for the +occasion. His dressings were soon applied, and consisted only of some +pounded bark, moistened with a fluid that he had expressed from some +of the simples of the woods. + +Among the native tribes of the forest there were always two kinds of +leeches to be met with. The one placed its whole dependence on the +exercise of a supernatural power, and was held in greater veneration +than their practice could at all justify ; but the other was really +endowed with great skill in the ordinary complaints of the human body, +and was more particularly, as Natty had intimated, “curous” in cuts +and bruises.” + +While John and Richard were placing the dressings on the wound, +Elnathan was acutely eyeing the contents of Mohegan’s basket, which +Mr. Jones, in his physical ardor had transferred to the doctor, in +order to hold himself one end of the bandages. Here he was soon +enabled to detect sundry fragments of wood and bark, of which he quite +coolly took possession, very possibly without any intention of +speaking at all upon the subject; but, when he beheld the full blue +eye of Marmaduke watching his movements, he whispered to the Judge: + +“It is not to be denied, Judge Temple, but what the savages are +knowing in small matters of physic. They hand these things down in +their traditions. Now in cancers and hydrophoby they are quite +ingenious. I will just take this bark home and analyze it; for, +though it can’t be worth sixpence to the young man’s shoulder, it may +be good for the toothache, or rheumatism, or some of them complaints. +A man should never be above learning, even if it be from an Indian,” + +It was fortunate for Dr. Todd that his principles were so liberal, as, +coupled with his practice, they were the means by which he acquired +all his knowledge, and by which he was gradually qualifying himself +for the duties of his profession. The process to which he subjected +the specific differed, however, greatly from the ordinary rules of +chemistry; for instead of separating he afterward united the component +parts of Mohegan’s remedy, and was thus able to discover the tree +whence the Indian had taken it. + +Some ten years after this event, when civilization and its refinements +had crept, or rather rushed, into the settlements among these wild +hills, an affair of honor occurred, and Elnathan was seen to apply a +salve to the wound received by one of the parties, which had the +flavor that was peculiar to the tree, or root, that Mohegan had used. +Ten years later still, when England and the United States were again +engaged in war, and the hordes of the western parts of the State of +New York were rushing to the field, Elnathan, presuming on the +reputation obtained by these two operations, followed in the rear of a +brigade of militia as its surgeon! + +When Mohegan had applied the bark, he freely relinquished to Richard +the needle and thread that were used in sewing the bandages, for these +were implements of which the native but little understood the use: +and, step ping back with decent gravity, awaited the completion of the +business by the other. + +“Reach me the scissors,” said Mr. Jones, when he had finished, and +finished for the second time, after tying the linen in every shape and +form that it could be placed; “reach me the scissors, for here is a +thread that must be cut off, or it might get under the dressings, and +inflame the wound. See, John, I have put the lint I scraped between +two layers of the linen; for though the bark is certainly best for the +flesh, yet the lint will serve to keep the cold air from the wound. +If any lint will do it good, it is this lint; I scraped it myself, and +I will not turn my back at scraping lint to any man on the Patent. I +ought to know how, if anybody ought, for my grandfather was a doctor, +and my father had a natural turn that way.” + +“Here, squire, is the scissors,” said Remarkable, producing from +beneath her petticoat of green moreen a pair of dull-looking shears; +“well, upon my say-so, you have sewed on the rags as well as a woman.” + +“As well as a woman!” echoed Richard with indignation; “what do women +know of such matters? and you are proof of the truth of what I say. +Who ever saw such a pair of shears used about a wound? Dr. Todd, I +will thank you for the scissors from the case, Now, young man, I think +you’ll do. The shot has been neatly taken out, although, perhaps, +seeing I had a hand in it, I ought not to say so; and the wound is +admirably dressed. You will soon be well again; though the jerk you +gave my leaders must have a tendency to inflame the shoulder, yet you +will do, you will do, You were rather flurried, I sup pose, and not +used to horses; but I forgive the accident for the motive; no doubt +you had the best of motives; yes, now you will do.” + +“Then, gentlemen,” said the wounded stranger, rising, and resuming his +clothes, “it will be unnecessary for me to trespass longer on your +time and patience. There remains but one thing more to be settled, +and that is, our respective rights to the deer, Judge Temple.” + +“I acknowledge it to be thine,” said. Marmaduke; “and much more +deeply am I indebted to thee than for this piece of venison. But in +the morning thou wilt call here, and we can adjust this, as well as +more important matters Elizabeth”—for the young lady, being apprised +that the wound was dressed, had re-entered the hall—” thou wilt order +a repast for this youth before we proceed to the church; and Aggy will +have a sleigh prepared to convey him to his friend.” + +“But, sir, I cannot go without a part of the deer,” returned the +youth, seemingly struggling with his own feelings; “I have already +told you that I needed the venison for myself.” + +“Oh, we will not he particular,” exclaimed Richard; “the Judge will +pay you in the morning for the whole deer; and, Remarkable, give the +lad all the animal excepting the saddle; so, on the whole, I think you +may consider yourself as a very lucky young man—you have been shot +without being disabled; have had the wound dressed in the best +possible manner here in the woods, as well as it would have been done +in the Philadelphia hospital, if not better; have sold your deer at a +high price, and yet can keep most of the carcass, with the skin in the +bargain. ‘Marky, tell Tom to give him the skin too, and in the +morning bring the skin to me and I will give you half a dollar for it, +or at least three-and-sixpence. I want just such a skin to cover the +pillion that I am making for Cousin Bess.” + +“I thank you, sir, for your liberality, and, I trust, am also thankful +for my escape,” returned the stranger; “but you reserve the very part +of the animal that I wished for my own use. I must have the saddle +myself.” + +“Must!” echoed Richard; “must is harder to be swallowed than the horns +of the buck.” + +“Yes, must,” repeated the youth; when, turning his head proudly around +him, as if to see who would dare to controvert his rights, he met the +astonished gaze of Elizabeth, and proceeded more mildly: “That is, if +a man is allowed the possession of that which his hand hath killed. +and the law will protect him in the enjoyment of his own.” + +“The law will do so,” said Judge Temple, with an air of mortification +mingled with surprise. “Benjamin, see that the whole deer is placed +in the sleigh; and have this youth conveyed to the hut of Leather +Stocking. But, young man thou hast a name, and I shall see you again, +in order to compensate thee for the wrong I have done thee?” + +“I am called Edwards,” returned the hunter; “Oliver Edwards, I am +easily to be seen, sir, for I live nigh by, and am not afraid to show +my face, having never injured any man.” + +“It is we who have injured you, sir,” said Elizabeth; “and the +knowledge that you decline our assistance would give my father great +pain. He would gladly see you in the morning.” + +The young hunter gazed at the fair speaker until his earnest look +brought the blood to her temples; when, recollecting himself, he bent +his head, dropping his eyes to the carpet, and replied: + +“In the morning, then, will I return, and see Judge Temple; and I will +accept his offer of the sleigh in token of amity.” + +“Amity!” repeated Marmaduke; “there was no malice in the act that +injured thee, young man; there should be none in the feelings which it +may engender.” + +“Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” +observed Mr. Grant, “is the language used by our Divine Master +himself, and it should be the golden rule with us, his humble +followers.” + +The stranger stood a moment lost in thought, and then, glancing his +dark eyes rather wildly around the hall, he bowed low to the divine, +and moved from the apartment with an air that would not admit of +detention. + +“‘Tis strange that one so young should harbor such feelings of +resentment,” said Marmaduke, when the door closed behind the stranger; +“but while the pain is recent, and the sense of the injury so fresh, +he must feel more strongly than in cooler moments. I doubt not we +shall see him in the morning more tractable.” + +Elizabeth, to whom this speech was addressed, did not reply, but moved +slowly up the hall by herself, fixing her eyes on the little figure of +the English ingrain carpet that covered the floor; while, on the other +hand, Richard gave a loud crack with his whip, as the stranger +disappeared, and cried: + +“Well, ‘Duke, you are your own master, but I would have tried law for +the saddle before I would have given it to the fellow. Do you not own +the mountains as well as the valleys? are not the woods your own? what +right has this chap, or the Leather-Stocking, to shoot in your woods +without your permission? Now, I have known a farmer in Pennsylvania +order a sportsman off his farm with as little ceremony as I would +order Benjamin to put a log in the stove—By-the-bye, Benjamin, see how +the thermometer stands.—Now, if a man has a right to do this on a farm +of a hundred acres, what power must a landlord have who owns sixty +thousand—ay, for the matter of that, including the late purchases, a +hundred thousand? There is Mohegan, to be sure, he may have some +right, being a native; but it’s little the poor fellow can do now with +his rifle. How is this managed in France, Monsieur Le Quoi? Do you +let everybody run over your land in that country helter-skelter, as +they do here, shooting the game, so that a gentleman has but little or +no chance with his gun?” + +“Bah! diable, no, Meester Deeck,” replied the Frenchman; “we give, in +France, no liberty except to the ladi.” + +“Yes, yes, to the women, I know,” said Richard, “that is your Salic +law. I read, sir, all kinds of books; of France, as well as England; +of Greece, as well as Rome. But if I were in ‘Duke’s place, I would +stick up advertisements to-morrow morning, forbidding all persons to +shoot, or trespass in any manner, on my woods. I could write such an +advertisement myself, in an hour, as would put a stop to the thing at +once.” + +“Richart,” said Major Hartmann, very coolly knocking the ashes from +his pipe into the spitting-box by his side, “now listen; I have livet +seventy-five years on ter Mohawk, and in ter woots. You had better +mettle as mit ter deyvel, as mit ter hunters, Tey live mit ter gun, +and a rifle is better as ter law.” + +“Ain’t Marmaduke a judge?” said Richard indignantly. “Where is the +use of being a judge, or having a judge, if there is no law? Damn the +fellow! I have a great mind to sue him in the morning myself, before +Squire Doolittle, for meddling with my leaders. I am not afraid of +his rifle. I can shoot, too. I have hit a dollar many a time at +fifty rods + +“Thou hast missed more dollars than ever thou hast hit, Dickon,” +exclaimed the cheerful voice of the Judge. “But we will now take our +evening’s repast, which I perseive, by Remarkable's physiognomy, is +ready. Monsieur Le Quoi, Miss Temple has a hand at your service. +Will you lead the way, my child?” + +“Ah! ma chere mam’selle, comme je suis enchante!” said the Frenchman. +“Il ne manque que les dames de faire un paradis de Templeton.” + +Mr. Grant and Mohegan continued in the hall, while the remainder of +the party withdrew to an eating parlor, if we except Benjamin, who +civilly remained to close the rear after the clergyman and to open the +front door for the exit of the Indian. + +“John,” said the divine, when the figure of Judge Temple disappeared, +the last of the group, “to-morrow is the festival of the nativity of +our blessed Redeemer, when the church has appointed prayers and +thanksgivings to be offered up by her children, and when all are +invited to partake of the mystical elements. As you have taken up the +cross, and become a follower of good and an eschewer of evil, I trust +I shall see you before the altar, with a contrite heart and a meek +spirit.” + +“John will come,” said the Indian, betraying no surprise; though he +did not understand all the terms used by the other. + +“Yes,” continued Mr. Grant, laying his hand gently on the tawny +shoulder of the aged chief, “but it is not enough to be there in the +body; you must come in the spirit and in truth. The Redeemer died for +all, for the poor Indian as well as for the white man. Heaven knows +no difference in color; nor must earth witness a separation of the +church. It is good and profitable, John, to freshen the +understanding, and support the wavering, by the observance of our holy +festivals; but all form is but stench in the nostrils of the Holy One, +unless it be accompanied by a devout and humble spirit.” + +The Indian stepped back a little, and, raising his body to its utmost +powers of erection, he stretched his right arm on high, and dropped +his forefinger downward, as if pointing from the heavens; then, +striking his other band on his naked breast, he said, with energy: + +“The eye of the Great Spirit can see from the clouds— the bosom of +Mohegan is bare!” + +“It is well, John, and I hope you will receive profit and consolation +from the performance of this duty. The Great Spirit overlooks none of +his children; and the man of the woods is as much an object of his +care as he who dwells in a palace. I wish you a good-night, and pray +God to bless you. + +The Indian bent his head, and they separated—the one to seek his hut, +and the other to join his party at the supper-table. While Benjamin +was opening the door for the passage of the chief, he cried, in a tone +that was meant to be encouraging: + +The parson says the word that is true, John. If so be that they took +count of the color of the skin in heaven, why, they might refuse to +muster on their books a Christian-born, like myself, just for the +matter of a little tan, from cruising in warm latitudes; though, for +the matter of that, this damned norwester is enough to whiten the skin +of a blackamore. Let the reef out of your blanket, man, or your red +hide will hardly weather the night with out a touch from the frost.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + + +“For here the exile met from every clime, +And spoke, in friendship, every distant tongue.”—Campbell. + +We have made our readers acquainted with some variety in character and +nations, in introducing the most important personages of this legend +to their notice; but, in order to establish the fidelity of our +narrative, we shall briefly attempt to explain the reason why we have +been obliged to present so motley a dramatis personae. + +Europe, at the period of our tale, was in the commencement of that +commotion which afterward shook her political institutions to the +centre. Louis the Sixteenth had been beheaded, and a nation once +esteemed the most refined among the civilized people of the world was +changing its character, and substituting cruelty for mercy, and +subtlety and ferocity for magnanimity and courage. Thou sands of +Frenchmen were compelled to seek protection in distant lands. Among +the crowds who fled from France and her islands, to the United States +of America, was the gentleman whom we have already mentioned as +Monsieur Le Quoi. He had been recommended to the favor of Judge +Temple by the head of an eminent mercantile house in New York, with +whom Marmaduke was in habits of intimacy, and accustomed to exchange +good offices. At his first interview with the Frenchman, our Judge +had discovered him to be a man of breeding, and one who had seen much +more prosperous days in his own country. From certain hints that had +escaped him, Monsieur Le Quoi was suspected of having been a West- +India planter, great numbers of whom had fled from St. Domingo and the +other islands, and were now living in the Union, in a state of +comparative poverty, and some in absolute want The latter was not, +however, the lot of Monsieur Le Quoi. He had but little, he +acknowledged; but that little was enough to furnish, in the language +of the country, an assortment for a store. + +The knowledge of Marmaduke was eminently practical, and there was no +part of a settler's life with which he was not familiar. Under his +direction, Monsieur Le Quoi made some purchases, consisting of a few +cloths; some groceries, with a good deal of gunpowder and tobacco; a +quantity of iron-ware, among which was a large proportion of Barlow’s +jack-knives, potash-kettles, and spiders; a very formidable collection +of crockery of the coarsest quality and most uncouth forms; together +with every other common article that the art of man has devised for +his wants, not forgetting the luxuries of looking-glasses and Jew’s- +harps. With this collection of valuables, Monsieur Le Quoi had +stepped behind a counter, and, with a wonderful pliability of +temperament, had dropped into his assumed character as gracefully as +he had ever moved in any other. The gentleness and suavity of his +manners rendered him extremely popular; besides this, the women soon +discovered that he had taste. His calicoes were the finest, or, in +other words, the most showy, of any that were brought into the +country, and it was impossible to look at the prices asked for his +goods by” so pretty a spoken man,” Through these conjoint means, the +affairs of Monsieur Le Quoi were again in a prosperous condition, and +he was looked up to by the settlers as the second best man on the +“Patent.”* + + * The term “Patent” which we have already used, and for which we may + have further occasion, meant the district of country that had been + originally granted to old Major Effingham by the “king’s letters + patent,” and which had now become, by purchase under the act of + confiscation, the property of Marmaduke Temple. It was a term in + common use throughout the new parts of the State; and was usually + annexed to the landlord’s name, as “Temple’s or Effingham’s Patent,” + +Major Hartmann was a descendant of a man who, in company with a number +of his countrymen, had emigrated with their families from the banks of +the Rhine to those of the Mohawk. This migration had occurred as far +back as the reign of Queen Anne; and their descendants were now +living, in great peace and plenty, on the fertile borders of that +beautiful stream. + +The Germans, or “High Dutchers,” as they were called, to distinguish +them from the original or Low Dutch colonists, were a very peculiar +people. They possessed all the gravity of the latter, without any of +their phlegm; and like them, the “High Dutchers” were industrious, +honest, and economical, Fritz, or Frederick Hartmann, was an epitome +of all the vices and virtues, foibles and excellences, of his race. +He was passionate though silent, obstinate, and a good deal suspicious +of strangers; of immovable courage, in flexible honesty, and +undeviating in his friendships. In deed there was no change about +him, unless it were from grave to gay. He was serious by months, and +jolly by weeks. He had, early in their acquaintance, formed an +attachment for Marmaduke Temple, who was the only man that could not +speak High Dutch that ever gained his en tire confidence Four times in +each year, at periods equidistant, he left his low stone dwelling on +the banks of the Mohawk, and travelled thirty miles, through the +hills, to the door of the mansion-house in Templeton. Here he +generally stayed a week; and was reputed to spend much of that time in +riotous living, greatly countenanced by Mr. Richard Jones. But every +one loved him, even to Remarkable Pettibone, to whom he occasioned +some additional trouble, he was so frank, so sincere, and, at times, +so mirthful. He was now on his regular Christmas visit, and had not +been in the village an hour when Richard summoned him to fill a seat +in the sleigh to meet the landlord and his daughter. + +Before explaining the character and situation of Mr. Grant, it will be +necessary to recur to times far back in the brief history of the +settlement. + +There seems to be a tendency in human nature to endeavor to provide +for the wants of this world, before our attention is turned to the +business of the other. Religion was a quality but little cultivated +amid the stumps of Temple’s Patent for the first few years of its +settlement; but, as most of its inhabitants were from the moral States +of Connecticut and Massachusetts, when the wants of nature were +satisfied they began seriously to turn their attention to the +introduction of those customs and observances which had been the +principal care of their fore fathers. There was certainly a great +variety of opinions on the subject of grace and free-will among the +tenantry of Marmaduke; and, when we take into consideration the +variety of the religious instruction which they received, it can +easily be seen that it could not well be otherwise. + +Soon after the village had been formally laid out into the streets and +blocks that resembled a city, a meeting of its inhabitants had been +convened, to take into consideration the propriety of establishing an +academy. This measure originated with Richard, who, in truth, was +much disposed to have the institution designated a university, or at +least a college. Meeting after meeting was held, for this purpose, +year after year. The resolutions of these as sembiages appeared in +the most conspicuous columns of a little blue-looking newspaper, that +was already issued weekly from the garret of a dwelling-house in the +village, and which the traveller might as often see stuck into the +fissure of a stake, erected at the point where the footpath from the +log-cabin of some settler entered the highway, as a post-office for an +individual. Sometimes the stake supported a small box, and a whole +neighborhood received a weekly supply for their literary wants at this +point, where the man who “rides post’ regularly deposited a bundle of +the precious commodity. To these flourishing resolutions, which +briefly recounted the general utility of education, the political and +geographical rights of the village of Templeton to a participation in +the favors of the regents of the university, the salubrity of the air, +and wholesomeness of the water, together with the cheapness of food +and the superior state of morals in the neighbor hood, were uniformly +annexed, in large Roman capitals, the names of Marmaduke Temple as +chairman and Richard Jones as secretary. + +Happily for the success of this undertaking, the regents were not +accustomed to resist these appeals to their generosity, whenever there +was the smallest prospect of a donation to second the request. +Eventually Judge Temple concluded to bestow the necessary land, and to +erect the required edifice at his own expense. The skill of Mr., or, +as he was now called, from the circumstance of having received the +commission of a justice of the peace, Squire Doolittle, was again put +in requisition; and the science of Mr. Jones was once more resorted +to. + +We shall not recount the different devices of the architects on the +occasion; nor would it be decorous so to do, seeing that there was a +convocation of the society of the ancient and honorable fraternity “ +of the Free and Accepted Masons,’ at the head of whom was Richard, in +the capacity of master, doubtless to approve or reject such of the +plans as, in their wisdom, they deemed to he for the best. The knotty +point was, however, soon decided; and, on the appointed day, the +brotherhood marched in great state, displaying sundry banners and +mysterious symbols, each man with a little mimic apron before him, +from a most cunningly contrived apartment in the garret of the “Bold +Dragoon,” an inn kept by one Captain Hollister, to the site of the +intended edifice. Here Richard laid the corner stone, with suitable +gravity, amidst an assemblage of more than half the men, and all the +women, within ten miles of Templeton. + +In the course of the succeeding week there was another meeting of the +people, not omitting swarms of the gentler sex, when the abilities of +Hiram at the “square rule” were put to the test of experiment. The +frame fitted well; and the skeleton of the fabric was reared without a +single accident, if we except a few falls from horses while the +laborers were returning home in the evening. From this time the work +advanced with great rapidity, and in the course of the season the +Labor was completed; the edifice Manding, in all its heatity and +proportions, the boast of the village, the study of young aspirants +for architectural fame, and the admiration of every settler on the +Patent. + +It was a long, narrow house of wood, painted white, and more than half +windows; and, when the observer stood at the western side of the +building, the edifice offered but a small obstacle to a full view of +the rising sun. It was, in truth, but a very comfortless open place, +through which the daylight shone with natural facility. On its front +were divers ornaments in wood, designed by Richard and executed by +Hiram; but a window in the centre of the second story, immediately +over the door or grand entrance, and the “steeple” were the pride of +the building. The former was, we believe, of the composite order; for +it included in its composition a multitude of ornaments and a great +variety of proportions. It consisted of an arched compartment in the +centres with a square and small division on either side, the whole +incased in heavy frames, deeply and laboriously moulded in pine-wood, +and lighted with a vast number of blurred and green-looking glass of +those dimensions which are commonly called ”eight by ten.” Blinds, +that were intended to be painted green, kept the window in a state of +preservation, and probably might have contributed to the effect of the +whole, had not the failure in the public funds, which seems always to +be incidental to any undertaking of this kind, left them in the sombre +coat of lead-color with which they had been originally clothed. The +“steeple” was a little cupola, reared on the very centre of the roof, +on four tall pillars of pine that were fluted with a gouge, and loaded +with mouldings. On the tops of the columns was reared a dome or +cupola, resembling in shape an inverted tea-cup without its bottom, +from the centre of which projected a spire, or shaft of wood, +transfixed with two iron rods, that bore on their ends the letters N. +S. E. and W, in the same metal. The whole was surmounted by an +imitation of one of the finny tribe, carved in wood by the hands of +Richard, and painted what he called a “scale-color.” This animal Mr. +Jones affirmed to be an admirable resemblance of a great favorite of +the epicures in that country, which bore the title of “lake-fish,” and +doubtless the assertion was true; for, although intended to answer the +purposes of a weathercock, the fish was observed invariably to look +with a longing eye in the direction of the beautiful sheet of water +that lay imbedded in the mountains of Templeton. + +For a short time after the charter of the regents was received, the +trustees of this institution employed a graduate of one of the Eastern +colleges to instruct such youth as aspired to knowledge within the +walls of the edifice which we have described. The upper part of the +building was in one apartment, and was intended for gala-days and +exhibitions; and the lower contained two rooms that were intended for +the great divisions of education, viz., the Latin and the English +scholars. The former were never very numerous; though the sounds of +“nominative, pennaa—genitive, penny,” were soon heard to issue from +the windows of the room, to the great delight and manifest edification +of the passenger. + +Only one laborer in this temple of Minerva, however, was known to get +so far as to attempt a translation of Virgil. He, indeed, appeared at +the annual exhibition, to the prodigious exultation of all his +relatives, a farmer’s family in the vicinity, and repeated the whole +of the first eclogue from memory, observing the intonations of the +dialogue with much judgment and effect. The sounds, as they proceeded +from his mouth, of + +“Titty-ree too patty-lee ree-coo-bans sub teg-mi-nee faa-gy + +Syl-ves-trem ten-oo-i moo-sam, med-i-taa-ris, aa-ve-ny.” + +were the last that had been heard in that building, as probably they +were the first that had ever been heard, in the same language, there +or anywhere else. By this time the trustees discovered that they had +anticipated the age and the instructor, or principal, was superseded +by a master, who went on to teach the more humble lesson of “the more +haste the worst speed,” in good plain English. + +From this time until the date of our incidents, the academy was a +common country school, and the great room of the building was +sometimes used as a court-room, on extraordinary trials; sometimes for +conferences of the religious and the morally disposed, in the evening; +at others for a ball in the afternoon, given under the auspices of +Richard; and on Sundays, invariably, as a place of public worship. + +When an itinerant priest of the persuasion of the Methodists, +Baptists, Universalists, or of the more numerous sect of the +Presbyterians, was accidentally in the neighborhood, he was ordinarily +invited to officiate, and was commonly rewarded for his services by a +collection in a hat, before the congregation separated. When no such +regular minister offered, a kind of colloquial prayer or two was made +by some of the more gifted members, and a sermon was usually read, +from Sterne, by Mr. Richard Jones. + +The consequence of this desultory kind of priesthood was, as we have +already intimated, a great diversity of opinion on the more abstruse +points of faith. Each sect had its adherents, though neither was +regularly organized and disciplined. Of the religious education of +Marmaduke we have already written, nor was the doubtful character of +his faith completely removed by his marriage. The mother of Elizabeth +was an Episcopalian, as indeed, was the mother of the Judge himself; +and the good taste of Marmaduke revolted at the familiar colloquies +which the leaders of the conferences held with the Deity, in their +nightly meetings. In form, he was certainly an Episcopalian, though +not a sectary of that denomination. On the other hand, Richard was as +rigid in the observance of the canons of his church as he was +inflexible in his opinions. Indeed, he had once or twice essayed to +introduce the Episcopal form of service, on the Sundays that the +pulpit was vacant; but Richard was a good deal addicted to carrying +things to an excess, and then there was some thing so papal in his air +that the greater part of his hearers deserted him on the second +Sabbath—on the third his only auditor was Ben Pump, who had all the +obstinate and enlightened orthodoxy of a high churchman. + +Before the war of the Revolution, the English Church was supported in +the colonies, with much interest, by some of its adherents in the +mother country, and a few of the congregations were very amply +endowed. But, for the season, after the independence of the States +was established, this sect of Christians languished for the want of +the highest order of its priesthood. Pious and suitable divines were +at length selected, and sent to the mother country, to receive that +authority which, it is understood, can only be transmitted directly +from one to the other, and thus obtain, in order to reserve, that +unity in their churches which properly belonged to a people of the +same nation. But unexpected difficulties presented themselves, in the +oaths with which the policy of England had fettered their +establishment; and much time was spent before a conscientious sense of +duty would permit the prelates of Britain to delegate the authority so +earnestly sought. Time, patience, and zeal, however, removed every +impediment, and the venerable men who had been set apart by the +American churches at length returned to their expecting dioceses, +endowed with the most elevated functions of their earthly church. +Priests and deacons were ordained, and missionaries provided, to keep +alive the expiring flame of devotion in such members as were deprived +of the ordinary administrations by dwelling in new and unorganized +districts. + +Of this number was Mr. Grant. He had been sent into the county of +which Templeton was the capital, and had been kindly invited by +Marmaduke, and officiously pressed by Richard, to take up his abode in +the village. A small and humble dwelling was prepared for his family, +and the divine had made his appearance in the place but a few days +previously to the time of his introduction to the reader, As his forms +were entirely new to most of the inhabitants, and a clergyman of +another denomination had previously occupied the field, by engaging +the academy, the first Sunday after his arrival was allowed to pass in +silence; but now that his rival had passed on, like a meteor filling +the air with the light of his wisdom, Richard was empowered to give +notice that “Public worship, after the forms of the Protestant +Episcopal Church, would be held on the night before Christmas, in the +long room of the academy in Templeton, by the Rev. Mr. Grant.” + +This annunciation excited great commotion among the different +sectaries. Some wondered as to the nature of the exhibition; others +sneered; but a far greater part, recollecting the essays of Richard in +that way, and mindful of the liberality, or rather laxity, of +Marmaduke’s notions on the subject of sectarianism, thought it most +prudent to be silent. + +The expected evening was, however, the wonder of the hour; nor was the +curiosity at all diminished when Richard and Benjamin, on the morning +of the eventful day, were seen to issue from the woods in the +neighborhood of the village, each bearing on his shoulders a large +bunch of evergreens. This worthy pair was observed to enter the +academy, and carefully to fasten the door, after which their +proceedings remained a profound secret to the rest of the village; Mr. +Jones, before he commenced this mysterious business, having informed +the school-master, to the great delight of the white-headed flock he +governed, that there could be no school that day. Marmaduke was +apprised of all these preparations by letter, and it was especially +arranged that he and Elizabeth should arrive in season to participate +in the solemnities of the evening. + +After this digression, we shall return to our narrative. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + + +Now all admire, in each high-flavored dish +The capabilities of flesh—fowl—fish; +In order due each guest assumes his station, +Throbs high his breast with fond anticipation, +And prelibates the joys of mastication. “—Heliogabaliad. + +The apartment to which Monsieur Le Quoi handed Elizabeth communicated +with the hall, through the door that led under the urn which was +supposed to contain the ashes of Dido. The room was spacious, and of +very just proportions; but in its ornaments and furniture the same +diversity of taste and imperfection of execution were to be observed +as existed in the hall. Of furniture, there were a dozen green, +wooden arm-chairs, with cushions of moreen, taken from the same piece +as the petticoat of Remarkable. The tables were spread, and their +materials and workmanship could not be seen; but they were heavy and +of great size, An enormous mirror, in a gilt frame, hung against the +wall, and a cheerful fire, of the hard or sugar maple, was burning on +the hearth. The latter was the first object that struck the attention +of the Judge, who on beholding it exclaimed, rather angrily, to +Richard: + +“How often have I forbidden the use of the sugar maple in my dwelling! +The sight of that sap, as it exudes with the heat, is painful to me, +Richard, Really, it behooves the owner of woods so extensive as mine, +to be cautious what example he sets his people, who are already +felling the forests as if no end could be found to their treasures, +nor any limits to their extent. If we go on in this way, twenty years +hence we shall want fuel.” + +“Fuel in these hills, Cousin ‘Duke!” exclaimed Richard, in derision—” +fuel! why, you might as well predict that the fish will die for the +want of water in the lake, because I intend, when the frost gets out +of the ground, to lead one or two of the spring; through logs, into +the village. But you are always a little wild on such subject; +Marmaduke.” + +“Is it wildness,” returned the Judge earnestly, “to condemn a practice +which devotes these jewels of the forest, these precious gifts of +nature, these mines of corn- I fort and wealth, to the common uses of +a fireplace? But I must, and will, the instant the snow is off the +earth, send out a party into the mountains to explore for coal.” + +“Coal!” echoed Richard. “Who the devil do you think will dig for coal +when, in hunting for a bushel. he would have to rip up more of trees +than would keep him in fuel for a twelvemonth? Poh! poh! Marmaduke: +you should leave the management of these things to me, who have a +natural turn that way. It was I that ordered this fire, and a noble +one it is, to warm the blood of my pretty Cousin Bess.” + +The motive, then, must be your apology, Dick on,” said the Judge.—” +But, gentlemen, we are waiting.— Elizabeth, my child, take the head of +the table; Richard, I see, means to spare me the trouble of carving, +by sitting opposite to you.” + +“To be sure I do,” cried Richard. “Here is a turkey to carve; and I +flatter myself that I understand carving a turkey, or, for that +matter, a goose, as well as any man alive.—Mr. Grant! Where’s Mr. +Grant? Will you please to say grace, sir? Everything in getting cold. +Take a thing from the fire this cold weather, and it will freeze in +five minutes. Mr. Grant, we want you to say grace. ‘For what we are +about to receive, the Lord make, us thankful Come, sit down, sit down. +Do you eat wing or breast, Cousin Bess?” + +But Elizabeth had not taken her seat, nor Was she in readiness to +receive either the wing or breast. Her Laughing eyes were glancing at +the arrangements of the table, and the quality and selection of the +food. The eyes of the father soon met the wondering looks of his +daughter, and he said, with a smile: + +“You perceive, my child, how much we are indebted to Remarkable for +her skill in housewifery. She has indeed provided a noble repast—such +as well might stop the cravings of hunger.” + +“Law!” said Remarkable, “I’m glad if the Judge is pleased; but I’m +notional that you’ll find the sa’ce over done. I thought, as +Elizabeth was coming home, that a body could do no less than make +things agreeable.” + +“My daughter has now grown to woman’s estate, and is from this moment +mistress of my house,” said the Judge; “it is proper that all who live +with me address her as Miss Temple. + +“Do tell!” exclaimed Remarkable, a little aghast; “well, who ever +heerd of a young woman’s being called Miss? If the Judge had a wife +now, I shouldn’t think of calling her anything but Miss Temple; but—” + +“Having nothing but a daughter you will observe that style to her, if +you please, in future,” interrupted Marmaduke. + +As the Judge looked seriously displeased, and, at such moments, +carried a particularly commanding air with him, the wary housekeeper +made no reply; and, Mr. Grant entering the room, the whole party were +seated at the table. As the arrangements of this repast were much in +the prevailing taste of that period and country, we shall endeavor to +give a short description of the appearance of the banquet. + +The table-linen was of the most beautiful damask, and the plates and +dishes of real china, an article of great luxury at this early period +of American commerce. The knives and forks were of exquisitely +polished steel, and were set in unclouded ivory. So much, being +furnished by the wealth of Marmaduke, was not only comfortable but +even elegant. The contents of the several dishes, and their +positions, however, were the result of the sole judgment of +Remarkable. Before Elizabeth was placed an enormous roasted turkey, +and before Richard one boiled, in the centre of the table stood a pair +of heavy silver casters, surrounded by four dishes: one a fricassee +that consisted of gray squirrels; another of fish fried; a third of +fish boiled; the last was a venison steak. Between these dishes and +the turkeys stood, on the one side, a prodigious chine of roasted +bear’s meat, and on the other a boiled leg of delicious mutton. +Interspersed among this load of meats was every species of vegetables +that the season and country afforded. The four corners were garnished +with plates of cake. On one was piled certain curiously twisted and +complicated figures, called “nut-cakes,” On another were heaps of a +black-looking sub stance, which, receiving its hue from molasses, was +properly termed “sweet-cake ;” a wonderful favorite in the coterie of +Remarkable, A third was filled, to use the language of the +housekeeper, with “cards of gingerbread ;” and the last held a “ plum- +cake,” so called from the number of large raisins that were showing +their black heads in a substance of suspiciously similar color. At +each corner of the table stood saucers, filled with a thick fluid of +some what equivocal color and consistence, variegated with small dark +lumps of a substance that resembled nothing but itself, which +Remarkable termed her “sweetmeats.” At the side of each plate, which +was placed bottom upward, with its knife and fork most accurately +crossed above it, stood another, of smaller size, containing a motley- +looking pie, composed of triangular slices of apple, mince, pump kin, +cranberry, and custard so arranged as to form an entire whole, +Decanters of brandy, rum, gin, and wine, with sundry pitchers of +cider, beer, and one hissing vessel of “flip,” were put wherever an +opening would admit of their introduction. Notwithstanding the size +of the tables, there was scarcely a spot where the rich damask could +be seen, so crowded were the dishes, with their associated bottles, +plates, and saucers. The object seemed to be profusion, and it was +obtained entirely at the expense of order and elegance. + +All the guests, as well as the Judge himself, seemed perfectly +familiar with this description of fare, for each one commenced eating, +with an appetite that promised to do great honor to Remarkable’s taste +and skill. What rendered this attention to the repast a little +surprising, was the fact that both the German and Richard had been +summoned from another table to meet the Judge; but Major Hartmann both +ate and drank without any rule, when on his excursions; and Mr. Jones +invariably made it a point to participate in the business in hand, let +it be what it would. The host seemed to think some apology necessary +for the warmth he had betrayed on the subject of the firewood, and +when the party were comfortably seated, and engaged with their knives +and forks, he observed: + +“The wastefulness of the settlers with the noble trees of this country +is shocking, Monsieur Le Quoi, as doubt less you have noticed. I have +seen a man fell a pine, when he has been in want of fencing stuff, and +roll his first cuts into the gap, where he left it to rot, though its +top would have made rails enough to answer his purpose, and its butt +would have sold in the Philadelphia market for twenty dollars.” + +“And how the devil—I beg your pardon, Mr. Grant,” interrupted Richard: +“but how is the poor devil to get his logs to the Philadelphia market, +pray? put them in his pocket, ha! as you would a handful of chestnuts, +or a bunch of chicker-berries? I should like to see you walking up +High Street, with a pine log in each pocket!— Poh! poh! Cousin ‘Duke, +there are trees enough for us all, and some to spare. Why, I can +hardly tell which way the wind blows, when I’m out in the clearings, +they are so thick and so tall; I couldn’t at all, if it wasn’t for the +clouds, and I happen to know all the points of the compass, as it +were, by heart.” + +“Ay! ay! squire,” cried Benjamin, who had now entered and taken his +place behind the Judge’s chair, a little aside withal, in order to be +ready for any observation like the present; “look aloft, sir, look +aloft. The old seamen say, ‘that the devil wouldn’t make a sailor, +unless he looked aloft’ As for the compass, why, there is no such +thing as steering without one. I’m sure I never lose sight of the +main-top, as I call the squire’s lookout on the roof, but I set my +compass, d’ye see, and take the bearings and distance of things, in +order to work out my course, if so be that it should cloud up, or the +tops of the trees should shut out the light of heaven. The steeple of +St. Paul’s, now that we nave got it on end, is a great help to the +navigation of the woods, for, by the Lord Harry! as was—” + +“It is well, Benjamin,” interrupted Marmaduke, observing that his +daughter manifested displeasure at the major-domo’s familiarity; “but +you forget there is a lady in company, and the women love to do most +of the talking themselves.” + +“The Judge says the true word,” cried Benjamin, with one of his +discordant laughs. “Now here is Mistress Remarkable Pettibones; just +take the stopper off her tongue, and you’ll hear a gabbling worse like +than if you should happen to fall to leeward in crossing a French +privateer, or some such thing, mayhap, as a dozen monkeys stowed in +one bag.” + +It were impossible to say how perfect an illustration of the truth of +Benjamin’s assertion the housekeeper would have furnished, if she had +dared; but the Judge looked sternly at her, and unwilling to incur his +resentment, yet unable to contain her anger, she threw herself out of +the room with a toss of the body that nearly separated her frail form +in the centre. + +“Richard,” said Marmaduke, observing that his displeasure had produced +the desired effect, “can you inform me of anything concerning the +youth whom I so unfortunately wounded? I found him on the mountain +hunting in company with the Leather-Stocking, as if they were of the +same family; but there is a manifest difference in their manners. The +youth delivers himself in chosen language, such as is seldom heard in +these hills, and such as occasions great surprise to me, how one so +meanly clad, and following so lowly a pursuit, could attain. Mohegan +also knew him. Doubtless he is a tenant of Natty’s hut. Did you +remark the language of the lad. Monsieur Le Quoi?” + +“Certainement, Monsieur Temple,” returned the French man, “he deed +convairse in de excellent Anglaise.” + +“The boy is no miracle,” exclaimed Richard; “I’ve known children that +were sent to school early, talk much better before they were twelve +years old. There was Zared Coe, old Nehemiah’s son, who first settled +on the beaver-dam meadow, he could write almost as good . hand as +myself, when he was fourteen; though it’s true, I helped to teach him +a little in the evenings. But this shooting gentleman ought to be put +in the stocks, if he ever takes a rein in his hand again. He is the +most awkward fellow about a horse I ever met with. I dare say he +never drove anything but oxen in his life.” + +“There, I think, Dickon, you do the lad injustice,” said the Judge; +“he uses much discretion in critical moments. Dost thou not think so, +Bess?” + +There was nothing in this question particularly to excite blushes, but +Elizabeth started from the revery into which she had fallen, and +colored to her forehead as she answered: + +“To me, dear sir, he appeared extremely skilful, and prompt, and +courageous; but perhaps Cousin Richard will say I am as ignorant as +the gentleman himself.” + +“Gentleman!” echoed Richard; “do you call such chaps gentlemen, at +school, Elizabeth?” + +“Every man is a gentleman that knows how to treat a woman with respect +and consideration,” returned the young lady promptly, and a little +smartly. + +“So much for hesitating to appear before the heiress in his shirt- +sleeves,” cried Richard, winking at Monsieur Le Quoi, who returned the +wink with one eye, while he rolled the other, with an expression of +sympathy, toward the young lady. “Well, well, to me he seemed +anything but a gentleman. I must say, however, for the lad, that he +draws a good trigger, and has a true aim. He’s good at shooting a +buck, ha! Marmaduke?” + +“Richart,” said Major Hartmann, turning his grave countenance toward +the gentleman he addressed, with much earnestness, “ter poy is goot. +He savet your life, and my life, and ter life of i’ominie Grant, and +ter life of ter Frenchman; and, Richard, he shall never vant a pet to +sleep in vile olt Fritz Hartmann has a shingle to cover his het mit.” +“Well, well, as you please, old gentleman,” returned Mr. Jones, +endeavoring to look indifferent; “put him into your own stone house, +if you will, Major. I dare say the lad never slept in anything better +than a bark shanty in his life, unless it was some such hut as the +cabin of Leather-Stocking. I prophesy you will soon spoil him; any +one could see how proud he grew, in a short time, just because he +stood by my horses’ heads. while I turned them into the highway.” + +“No, no. my old friend,” cried Marmaduke, “it shall be my task to +provide in some manner for the youth; I owe him a debt of my own, +besides the service he has done me through my friends. And yet I +anticipate some little trouble in inducing him to accept of my +services. He showed a marked dislike, I thought, Bess, to my offer of +a residence within these walls for life.” + +“Really, dear sir,” said Elizabeth, projecting her beautiful under- +lip, “I have not studied the gentleman so closely as to read his +feelings in his countenance. I thought he might very naturally feel +pain from his wound, and therefore pitied him; but”—and as she spoke +she glanced her eye, with suppressed curiosity, toward the major-domo— +” I dare say, sir, that Benjamin can tell you something about him, He +cannot have been in the village, and Benjamin not have seen him +often.” + +“Ay! I have seen the boy before,” said Benjamin, who wanted little +encouragement to speak; “he has been backing and filling in the wake +of Natty Bumppo, through the mountains, after deer, like a Dutch long- +boat in tow of an Albany sloop. He carries a good rifle, too, ‘the +Leather-Stocking said, in my hearing, before Betty Hollister’s bar- +room fire, no later than the Tuesday night, that the younger was +certain death to the wild beasts. If so be he can kill the wild-cat +that has been heard moaning on the lake-side since the hard frosts and +deep snows have driven the deer to herd, he will be doing the thing +that is good. Your wild-cat is a bad shipmate, and should be made to +cruise out of the track of Christian men,” + +“Lives he in the hut of Bumppo?” asked Marmaduke, with some interest. + +“Cheek by jowl; the Wednesday will be three weeks since he first hove +in sight, in company with Leather-Stocking. They had captured a wolf +between them, and had brought in his scalp for the bounty. That +Mister Bump-ho has a handy turn with him in taking off a scalp; and +there’s them, in this here village, who say he l’arnt the trade by +working on Christian men. If so be that there is truth in the saying, +and I commanded along shore here, as your honor does, why, d'ye see, +I’d bring him to the gangway for it, yet. There’s a very pretty post +rigged alongside of the stocks; and for the matter of a cat, I can fit +one with my own hands; ay! and use it too, for the want of a better.” + +“You are not to credit the idle tales you hear of Natty; he has a kind +of natural right to gain a livelihood in these mountains; and if the +idlers in the village take it into their heads to annoy him, as they +sometimes do reputed rogues, they shall find him protected by the +strong arm of the law,” + +“Ter rifle is petter as ter law,” said the Major sententiously. + +“That for his rifle!” exclaimed Richard, snapping his fingers; “Ben is +right, and I—” He was stopped by the sound of a common ship-bell, that +had been elevated to the belfry of the academy, which now announced, +by its incessant ringing, that the hour for the appointed service had +arrived. “‘For this and every other instance of his goodness—’ I beg +pardon, Mr. Grant, will you please to return thanks, sir? It is time +we should be moving, as we are the only Episcopalians in the +neighborhood; that is, I and Benjamin, and Elizabeth; for I count +half— breeds, like Marmaduke as bad as heretics.” + +The divine arose and performed the office meekly and fervently, and +the whole party instantly prepared them selves for the church—or +rather academy. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + + +“And calling sinful man to pray, +Loud, long, and deep the bell had tolled.”—Scotts Burgher + +While Richard and Monsieur Le Quoi, attended by Benjamin, proceeded to +the academy by a foot-path through the snow, the judge, his daughter, +the divine, and the Major took a more circuitous route to the same +place by the streets of the village. + +The moon had risen, and its orb was shedding a flood of light over the +dark outline of pines which crowned the eastern mountain. In many +climates the sky would have been thought clear and lucid for a +noontide. The stars twinkled in the heavens, like the last +glimmerings of distant fire, so much were they obscured by the +overwhelming radiance of the atmosphere; the rays from the moon +striking upon the smooth, white surfaces of the lake and fields, +reflecting upward a light that was brightened by the spotless color of +the immense bodies of snow which covered the earth. + +Elizabeth employed herself with reading the signs, one of which +appeared over almost every door; while the sleigh moved steadily, and +at an easy gait, along the principal street. Not only new +occupations, but names that were strangers to her ears, met her gaze +at every step they proceeded. The very houses seemed changed. This +had been altered by an addition; that had been painted; another had +been erected on the site of an old acquaintance, which had been +banished from the earth almost as soon as it made its appearance on +it. All were, however, pouring forth their inmates, who uniformly +held their way toward the point where the expected exhibition of the +conjoint taste of Richard and Benjamin was to be made. + +After viewing the buildings, which really appeared to some advantage +under the bright but mellow light of the moon, our heroine turned her +eyes to a scrutiny of the different figures they passed, in search of +any form that she knew. But all seemed alike, as muffled in cloaks, +hoods, coats, or tippets, they glided along the narrow passages in the +snow which led under the houses, half hid by the bank that had been +thrown up in excavating the deep path in which they trod. Once or +twice she thought there was a stature or a gait that she recollected; +but thc person who owned it instantly disappeared behind one of those +enormous piles of wood that lay before most of the doors, It was only +as they turned from the main street into another that intersected it +at right angles, and which led directly to the place of meeting, that +she recognized a face and building that she knew. + +The house stood at one of the principal corners in the village; and by +its well-trodden doorway, as well as the sign that was swinging with a +kind of doleful sound in the blasts that occasionally swept down the +lake, was clearly one of the most frequented inns in the place. The +building was only of one story; but the dormer-windows in the roof, +the paint, the window-shutters, and the cheerful fire that shone +through the open door, gave it an air of comfort that was not +possessed by many of its neighbors. The sign was suspended from a +common ale-house post, and represented the figure of a horseman, armed +with sabre and pistols, and surmounted by a bear-skin cap, with a +fiery animal that he bestrode “rampant.” All these particulars were +easily to be seen by the aid of the moon, together with a row of +somewhat illegible writing in black paint, but in which Elizabeth, to +whom the whole was familiar, read with facility, “The Bold Dragoon.” + +A man and a woman were issuing from the door of this habitation as the +sleigh was passing, The former moved with a stiff, military step, that +was a good deal heightened by a limp in one leg; but the woman +advanced with a measure and an air that seemed not particularly +regardful of what she might encounter. The light of the moon fell +directly upon her full, broad, and red visage, exhibiting her +masculine countenance, under the mockery of a ruffled cap that was +intended to soften the lineamints of features that were by no means +squeamish. A small bonnet of black silk, and of a slightly formal +cut, was placed on the back of her head, but so as not to shade her +visage in the least. The face, as it encountered the rays of the moon +from the east, seemed not unlike sun rising in the west. She advanced +with masculine strides to intercept the sleigh; and the Judge, +directing the namesake of the Grecian king, who held the lines, to +check his horse, the par ties were soon near to each other. + +“Good luck to ye, and a welcome home, Jooge,” cried the female, with a +strong Irish accent; “and I’m sure it’s to me that ye’re always +welcome. Sure! and there’s Miss Lizzy, and a fine young woman she is +grown. What a heart-ache would she be giving the young men now, if +there was sich a thing as a rigiment in the town! Och! but it’s idle +to talk of sich vanities, while the bell is calling us to mateing jist +as we shall he called away unexpictedly some day, when we are the +laist calkilating. Good-even, Major; will I make the bowl of gin +toddy the night, or it’s likely ye’ll stay at the big house the +Christmas eve, and the very night of yer getting there?” + +“I am glad to see you, Mrs. Hollister,” returned Elizabeth. “I have +been trying to find a face that I knew since we left the door of the +mansion-house; but none have I seen except your own. Your house, too, +is unaltered, while all the others are so changed that, but for the +places where they stand, they would be utter strangers. I observe you +also keep the dear sign that I saw Cousin Richard paint; and even the +name at the bottom, about which, you may remember, you had the +disagreement.” + +“It is the bould dragoon, ye mane? And what name would he have, who +niver was known by any other, as my husband here, the captain, can +testify? He was a pleasure to wait upon, and was ever the foremost in +need. Och! but he had a sudden end! but it’s to be hoped that he was +justified by the cause, And it’s not Parson Grant there who’ll gainsay +that same. Yes, yes; the squire would paint, and so I thought that we +might have his face up there, who had so often shared good and evil +wid us. The eyes is no so large nor so fiery as the captain’s Own; +but the whiskers and the cap is as two paes. Well, well, I'll not +keep ye in the cowld, talking, but will drop in the morrow after +sarvice, and ask ye how ye do. It’s our bounden duty to make the most +of this present, and to go to the house which is open to all; so God +bless ye, and keep ye from evil! Will I make the gin-twist the night, +or no, Major?” + +To this question the German replied, very sententiously, in the +affirmative; and, after a few words had passed between the husband of +the fiery-faced hostess and the Judge, the sleigh moved on. It soon +reached the door of the academy, where the party alighted and entered +the building. + +In the mean time, Mr. Jones and his two companions, having a much +shorter distance to journey, had arrived before the appointed place +some minutes sooner than the party in the sleigh. Instead of +hastening into the room in order to enjoy the astonishment of the +settlers, Richard placed a hand in either pocket of his surcoat, and +affected to walk about, in front of the academy, like one to whom the +ceremonies were familiar. + +The villagers proceeded uniformly into the building, with a decorum +and gravity that nothing could move, on such occasions; but with a +haste that was probably a little heightened by curiosity. Those who +came in from the adjacent country spent some little time in placing +certain blue and white blankets over their horses before they +proceeded to indulge their desire to view the interior of the house. +Most of these men Richard approached, and inquired after the health +and condition of their families. The readiness with which he +mentioned the names of even the children, showed how very familiarly +acquainted he was with their circumstances; and the nature of the +answers he received proved that he was a general favorite. + +At length one of the pedestrians from the village stopped also, and +fixed an earnest gaze at a new brick edifice that was throwing a long +shadow across the fields of snow, as it rose, with a beautiful +gradation of light and shade, under the rays of a full moon. In front +of the academy was a vacant piece of ground, that was intended for a +public square. On the side opposite to Mr. Jones, the new and as yet +unfinished church of St. Paul’s was erected, This edifice had been +reared during the preceding summer, by the aid of what was called a +subscription; though all, or nearly all, of the money came from the +pockets of the landlord. It had been built under a strong conviction +of the necessity of a more seemly place of worship than “the long room +of the academy,” and under an implied agreement that, after its +completion, the question should be fairly put to the people, that they +might decide to what denomination it should belong. Of course, this +expectation kept alive a strong excitement in some few of the +sectaries who were interested in its decision; though but little was +said openly on the subject. Had Judge Temple espoused the cause of +any particular sect, the question would have been immediately put at +rest, for his influence was too powerful to be opposed; but he +declined interference in the matter, positively refusing to lend even +the weight of his name on the side of Richard, who had secretly given +an assurance to his diocesan that both the building and the +congregation would cheerfully come within the pale of the Protestant +Episcopal Church. But, when the neutrality of the Judge was clearly +ascertained, Mr. Jones discovered that he had to contend with a stiff +necked people. His first measure was to go among them and commence a +course of reasoning, in order to bring them round to his own way of +thinking. They all heard him patiently, and not a man uttered a word +in reply in the way of argument, and Richard thought, by the time that +he had gone through the settlement, the point was conclusively decided +in his favor. Willing to strike while the iron was hot, he called a +meeting, through the news paper, with a view to decide the question by +a vote at once. Not a soul attended; and one of the most anxious +afternoons that he had ever known was spent by Richard in a vain +discussion with Mrs. Hollister, who strongly contended that the +Methodist (her own) church was the best entitled to and most deserving +of, the possession of the new tabernacle. Richard now perceived that +he had been too sanguine, and had fallen into the error of all those +who ignorantly deal with that wary and sagacious people. He assumed a +disguise himself—that is, as well as he knew how, and proceeded step +by step to advance his purpose. + +The task of erecting the building had been unanimously transferred to +Mr. Jones and Hiram Doolittle. Together they had built the mansion- +house, the academy, and the jail, and they alone knew how to plan and +rear such a structure as was now required. Early in the day, these +architects had made an equitable division of their duties. To the +former was assigned the duty of making all the plans, and to the +latter the labor of superintending the execution. + +Availing himself of this advantage, Richard silently determined that +the windows should have the Roman arch; the first positive step in +effecting his wishes. As the building was made of bricks, he was +enabled to conceal his design until the moment arrived for placing the +frames; then, indeed, it became necessary to act. He communicated his +wishes to Hiram with great caution; and, without in the least +adverting to the spiritual part of his project, he pressed the point a +little warmly on the score of architectural beauty. Hiram heard him +patiently, and without contradiction, but still Richard was unable to +discover the views of his coadjutor on this interesting subject. As +the right to plan was duly delegated to Mr. Jones, no direct objection +was made in words. but numberless unexpected difficulties arose in +the execution. At first there was a scarcity in the right kind of +material necessary to form the frames; but this objection was +instantly silenced by Richard running his pencil through two feet of +their length at one stroke. Then the expense was mentioned; but +Richard reminded Hiram that his cousin paid, and that he was +treasurer. This last intimation had great weight, and after a silent +and protracted, but fruitless opposition, the work was suffered to +proceed on the original plan. + +The next difficulty occurred in the steeple, which Richard had +modelled after one of the smaller of those spires that adorn the great +London cathedral. The imitation was somewhat lame, it was true, the +proportions being but in differently observed; but, after much +difficulty, Mr. Jones had the satisfaction of seeing an object reared +that bore in its outlines, a striking resemblance to a vinegar-cruet. +There was less opposition to this model than to the windows; for the +settlers were fond of novelty, and their steeple was without a +precedent. + +Here the labor ceased for the season, and the difficult question of +the interior remained for further deliberation. Richard well knew +that, when he came to propose a reading-desk and a chancel, he must +unmask; for these were arrangements known to no church in the country +but his own. Presuming, however, on the advantages he had already +obtained, he boldly styled the building St. Paul’s, and Hiram +prudently acquiesced in this appellation, making, however, the slight +addition of calling it “New St. Paul’s,” feeling less aversion to a +name taken from the English cathedral than from the saint. + +The pedestrian whom we have already mentioned, as pausing to +contemplate this edifice, was no other than the gentleman so +frequently named as Mr. or Squire Doolittle. He was of a tall, gaunt +formation, with rather sharp features, and a face that expressed +formal propriety mingled with low cunning. Richard approached him, +followed by Monsieur Le Quoi and the major-domo. + +“Good-evening, squire,” said Richard, bobbing his head, but without +moving his hands from his pockets. + +“Good-evening, squire,” echoed Hiram, turning his body in order to +turn his head also. + +“A cold night, Mr. Doolittle, a cold night, sir.” + +“Coolish; a tedious spell on’t.” + +“What, looking at our church, ha! It looks well, by moonlight; how the +tin of the cupola glistens! I warrant you the dome of the other St. +Paul’s never shines so in the smoke of London.” + +“It is a pretty meeting -house to look on,” returned Hiram, “and I +believe that Monshure Ler Quow and Mr. Penguilliam will allow it.” + +“Sairtainlee!” exclaimed the complaisant Frenchman, “it ees ver fine,” + +“I thought the monshure would say so. The last molasses that we had +was excellent good. It isn’t likely that you have any more of it on +hand?” + +“Ah! oui; ees, sair,” returned Monsieur Le Quoi, with a slight shrug +of his shoulder, and a trifling grimace, “dere is more. I feel ver +happi dat you love eet. I hope dat Madame Doleet’ is in good ‘ealth.” + +“Why, so as to be stirring,” said Hiram. “The squire hasn’t finished +the plans for the inside of the meeting house yet?” + +“No—no—no,” returned Richard, speaking quickly, but making a +significant pause between each negative—.. “it requires reflection. +There is a great deal of room to fill up, and I am afraid we shall not +know how to dispose of it to advantage. There will be a large vacant +spot around the pulpit, which I do not mean to place against the wall, +like a sentry-box stuck up on the side of a fort.” + +“It is rulable to put the deacons’ box under the pulpit,” said Hiram; +and then, as if he had ventured too much, he added, “but there’s +different fashions in different Countries.” + +“That there is,” cried Benjamin; “now, in running down the coast of +Spain and Portingall, you may see a nunnery stuck out on every +headland, with more steeples and outriggers. such as dog-vanes and +weathercocks, than you’ll find aboard of a three-masted schooner. If +so be that a well-built church is wanting, old England, after all, is +the country to go to after your models and fashion pieces. As to +Paul’s, thof I’ve never seen it, being that it’s a long way up town +from Radcliffe Highway and the docks, yet everybody knows that it’s +the grandest place in the world Now, I’ve no opinion but this here +church over there is as like one end of it as a grampus is to a whale; +and that’s only a small difference in bulk. Mounsheer Ler Quaw, here, +has been in foreign parts; and thof that is not the same as having +been at home, yet he must have seen churches in France too, and can +form a small idee of what a church should be; now I ask the mounsheer +to his face if it is not a clever little thing, taking it by and +large.” + +“It ees ver apropos of saircumstance,” said the French-. man—” ver +judgment—but it is in the catholique country dat dey build dc—vat you +call—ah a ah-ha—la grande cathédrale—de big church. St. Paul, Londre, +is ver fine; ver belle; ver grand—vat you call beeg; but, Monsieur +Ben, pardonnez-moi, it is no vort so much as Notre Dame.” + +“Ha! mounsheer, what is that you say?” cried Benjamin; “St. Paul’s +church is not worth so much as a damn! Mayhap you may be thinking too +that the Royal Billy isn’t so good a ship as the Billy de Paris; but +she would have licked two of her any day, and in all weathers.” + +As Benjamin had assumed a very threatening kind of attitude, +flourishing an arm with a bunch at the end of it that was half as big +as Monsieur Le Quoi’s head, Richard thought it time to interpose his +authority. + +“Hush, Benjamin, hush,” he said; “you both misunderstand Monsieur Le +Quoi and forget yourself. But here comes Mr. Grant, and the service +will commence. Let us go in.” + +The Frenchman, who received Benjamin’s reply with a well-bred good- +humor that would not admit of any feeling but pity for the other’s +ignorance, bowed in acquiescence and followed his companion. + +Hiram and the major -domo brought up the rear, the latter grumbling as +he entered the building: + +“If so be that the king of France had so much as a house to live in +that would lay alongside of Paul’s, one might put up with their jaw. +It’s more than flesh and blood can bear to hear a Frenchman run down +an English church in this manner. Why, Squire Doolittle, I’ve been at +the whipping of two of them in one day—clean built, snug frigates with +standing royals and them new-fashioned cannonades on their quarters— +such as, if they had only Englishmen aboard of them, would have fout +the devil.” + +With this ominous word in his mouth Benjamin entered the church. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + + +“And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray.”—Goldsmith. + +Notwithstanding the united labors of Richard and Benjamin, the “long +room” was but an extremely inartificial temple. Benches; made in the +coarsest manner, and entirely with a view to usefulness, were arranged +in rows for the reception of the Congregation; while a rough, +unpainted box was placed against the wall, in the centre of the length +of the apartment, as an apology for a pulpit. Something like a +reading-desk was in front of this rostrum; and a small mahogany table +from the mansion-house, covered with a spotless damask cloth, stood a +little on one side, by the way of an altar. Branches of pines and +hemlocks were stuck in each of the fissures that offered in the +unseasoned and hastily completed woodwork of both the building and its +furniture; while festoons and hieroglyphics met the eye in vast +profusion along the brown sides of the scratch-coated walls. As the +room was only lighted by some ten or fifteen miserable candles, and +the windows were without shutters, it would have been but a dreary, +cheerless place for the solemnities of a Christmas eve, had not the +large fire that was crackling at each end of the apartment given an +air of cheerfulness to the scene, by throwing an occasional glare of +light through the vistas of bushes and faces. + +The two sexes were separated by an area in the centre of the room +immediately before the pulpit; amid a few benches lined this space, +that were occupied by the principal personages of the village and its +vicinity. This distinction was rather a gratuitous concession made by +the poorer and less polished part of the population than a right +claimed by the favored few. One bench was occupied by the party of +Judge Temple, including his daughter, and, with the exception of Dr. +Todd, no one else appeared willing to incur the imputation of pride, +by taking a seat in what was, literally, the high place of the +tabernacle. + +Richard filled the chair that was placed behind another table, in the +capacity of clerk; while Benjamin, after heaping sundry logs on the +fire, posted himself nigh by, in reserve for any movement that might +require co-operation. + +It would greatly exceed our limits to attempt a description of the +congregation, for the dresses were as various as the individuals. +Some one article of more than usual finery, and perhaps the relic of +other days, was to be seen about most of the females, in connection +with the coarse attire of the woods. This wore a faded silk, that had +gone through at least three generations, over coarse, woollen black +stockings; that, a shawl, whose dyes were as numerous as those of the +rainbow, over an awkwardly fitting gown of rough brown “woman’s wear.” +In short, each one exhibited some favorite article, and all appeared +in their best, both men and women; while the ground-works in dress, in +either sex, were the coarse fabrics manufactured within their own +dwellings. One man appeared in the dress of a volunteer company of +artillery, of which he had been a member in the “down countries,” +precisely for no other reason than because it was the best suit he +had. Several, particularly of the younger men, displayed pantaloons +of blue, edged with red cloth down the seams part of the equipments of +the “Templeton Light Infantry,” from a little vanity to be seen in +“boughten clothes.” There was also one man in a “rifle frock,” with +its fringes and folds of spotless white, striking a chill to the heart +with the idea of its coolness, although the thick coat of brown” home- +made” that was concealed beneath preserved a proper degree of warmth. + +There was a marked uniformity of expression in Countenance, especially +in that half of the congregation who did not enjoy the advantages of +the polish of the village. A sallow skin, that indicated nothing but +exposure, was common to all, as was an air of great decency and +attention, mingled, generally, with an expression of shrewdness, and +in the present instance of active curiosity. Now and then a face and +dress were to be seen among the congregation, that differed entirely +from this description. If pock-marked and florid, with gartered legs, +and a coat that snugly fitted the person of the wearer, it was surely +an English emigrant, who had bent his steps to this retired quarter of +the globe. If hard-featured and without color, with high cheek-bones, +it was a native of Scotland, in similar circumstances. + +The short, black-eyed man, with a cast of the swarthy Spaniard in his +face, who rose repeatedly to make room for the belles of the village +as they entered, was a son of Erin, who had lately left off his pack, +and become a stationary trader in Templeton. In short, half the +nations in the north of Europe had their representatives in this +assembly, though all had closely assimilated themselves to the +Americans in dress and appearance, except the English man. He, +indeed, not only adhered to his native customs in attire and living, +but usually drove his plough among the stumps in the same manner as he +had before done on the plains of Norfolk, until dear-bought experience +taught him the useful lesson that a sagacious people knew what was +suited to their circumstances better than a casual observer, or a +sojourner who was, perhaps, too much prejudiced to compare and, +peradventure, too conceited to learn. + +Elizabeth soon discovered that she divided the attention of the +congregation with Mr. Grant. Timidity, therefore, confined her +observation of the appearances which we have described to stoles +glances; but, as the stamping of feet was now becoming less frequent, +and even the coughing, and other little preliminaries of a +congregation settling themselves down into reverential attention, were +ceasing, she felt emboldened to look around her. Gradually all noises +diminished, until the suppressed cough denoted that it was necessary +to avoid singularity, and the most pro found stillness pervaded the +apartment. The snapping of the fires, as they threw a powerful heat +into the room, was alone heard, and each face and every eye were +turned on the divine. + +At this moment, a heavy stamping of feet was heard in the passage +below, as if a new-corner was releasing his limbs from the snow that +was necessarily clinging to the legs of a pedestrian. It was +succeeded by no audible tread; but directly Mohegan, followed by the +Leather-Stocking and the young hunter, made his appearance. + +Their footsteps would not have been heard, as they trod the apartment +in their moccasins, but for the silence which prevailed. + +The Indian moved with great gravity across the floor, and, observing a +vacant seat next to the Judge, he took it, in a manner that manifested +his sense of his own dignity. Here, drawing his blanket closely +around him so as partly to conceal his countenance, he remained during +the service immovable, but deeply attentive. Natty passed the place +that was so freely taken by his red companion, and seated himself on +one end of a log that was lying near the fire, where he continued, +with his rifle standing between his legs, absorbed in reflections +seemingly of no very pleasing nature. The youth found a seat among +the congregation, and another silence prevailed. + +Mr. Grant now arose and commenced his service with the sublime +declaration of the Hebrew prophet: “The Lord is in His holy temple; +let all the earth keep silence before Him.” The example of Mr. Jones +was unnecessary to teach the congregation to rise; the solemnity of +the divine effected this as by magic. After a short pause, Mr. Grant +proceeded with the solemn and winning exhortation of his service. +Nothing was heard but the deep though affectionate tones of the +reader, as he went slowly through this exordium; until, something +unfortunately striking the mind of Richard as incomplete, he left his +place and walked on tiptoe from the room. + +When the clergyman bent his knees in prayer and confession, the +congregation so far imitated his example as to resume their seats; +whence no succeeding effort of the divine, during the evening, was +able to remove them in a body. Some rose at times; but by far the +larger part continued unbending; observant, it is true, but it was the +kind of observation that regarded the ceremony as a spectacle rather +than a worship in which they were to participate. Thus deserted by +his clerk Mr. Grant continued to read; but no response was audible. +The short and solemn pause that succeeded each petition was made; +still no voice repeated the eloquent language of the prayer. + +The lips of Elizabeth moved, but they moved in vain and accustomed as +she was to the service of the churches of the metropolis, she was +beginning to feel the awkwardness of the circumstance most painfully +when a soft, low female voice repeated after the priest,” We have left +undone those things which we ought to have done.” Startled at finding +one of her own sex in that place who could rise superior to natural +timidity, Miss Temple turned her eyes in the direction of the +penitent. She observed a young female on her knees, but a short +distance from her, with her meek face humbly bent over her book. + +The appearance of this stranger, for such she was, entirely, to +Elizabeth, was light and fragile. Her dress was neat and becoming; +and her countenance, though pale and slightly agitated, excited deep +interest by its sweet and melancholy expression. A second and third +response was made by this juvenile assistant, when the manly sounds of +a male voice proceeded from the opposite part of the room, Miss Temple +knew the tones of the young hunter instantly, and struggling to +overcome her own diffidence she added her low voice to the number. + +All this time Benjamin stood thumbing the leaves of a prayer-book with +great industry; but some unexpected difficulties prevented his finding +the place. Before the divine reached the close of the confession, +however, Richard reappeared at the door, and, as he moved lightly +across the room, he took up the response, in a voice that betrayed no +other concern than that of not being heard. In his hand he carried a +small open box, with the figures “8 by 10” written in black paint on +one of its sides; which, having placed in the pulpit, apparently as a +footstool for the divine, he returned to his station in time to say, +sonorously, “Amen.” The eyes of the congregation, very naturally, were +turned to the windows, as Mr. Jones entered with his singular load; +and then, as if accustomed to his “general agency,” were again bent on +the priest, in close and curious attention. + +The long experience of Mr. Grant admirably qualified him to perform +his present duty. He well understood the character of his listeners, +who were mostly a primitive people in their habits; and who, being a +good deal addicted to subtleties and nice distinctions in their +religious opinions, viewed the introduction of any such temporal +assistance as form into their spiritual worship not only with +jealousy, but frequently with disgust. He had acquired much of his +knowledge from studying the great book of human nature as it lay open +in the world; and, knowing how dangerous it was to contend with +ignorance, uniformly endeavored to avoid dictating where his better +reason taught him it was the most prudent to attempt to lead, His +orthodoxy had no dependence on his cassock; he could pray with fervor +and with faith, if circumstances required it, without the assistance +of his clerk; and he had even been known to preach a most evangelical +sermon, in the winning manner of native eloquence, without the aid of +a cambric handkerchief. + +In the present instance he yielded, in many places, to the prejudices +of his congregation; and when he had ended, there was not one of his +new hearers who did not think the ceremonies less papal and offensive, +and more conformant to his or her own notions of devout worship, than +they had been led to expect from a service of forms, Richard found in +the divine, during the evening, a most powerful co-operator in his +religious schemes. In preaching, Mr. Grant endeavored to steer a +middle course between the mystical doctrines of those sublimated +creeds which daily involve their professors in the most absurd +contradictions, and those fluent roles of moral government which would +reduce the Saviour to a level with the teacher of a school of ethics. +Doctrine it was necessary to preach, for nothing less would have +satisfied the disputatious people who were his listeners, and who +would have interpreted silence on his part into a tacit acknowledgment +of the superficial nature of his creed. We have already said that, +among the endless variety of religious instructors, the settlers were +accustomed to hear every denomination urge its own distinctive +precepts, and to have found one indifferent to this Interesting +subject would have been destructive to his influence. But Mr. Grant +so happily blended the universally received opinions of the Christian +faith with the dogmas of his own church that, although none were +entirely exempt from the influence of his reasons, very few took any +alarm at the innovation. + +“When we consider the great diversity of the human character, +influenced as it is by education, by opportunity, and by the physical +and moral conditions of the creature, my dear hearers,” he earnestly +concluded “it can excite no surprise that creeds so very different in +their tendencies should grow out of a religion revealed, it is true, +but whose revelations are obscured by the lapse of ages, and whose +doctrines were, after the fashion of the countries in which they were +first promulgated, frequently delivered in parables, and in a language +abounding in metaphors and loaded with figures. On points where the +learned have, in purity of heart, been compelled to differ, the +unlettered will necessarily be at variance. But, happily for us, my +brethren, the fountain of divine love flows from a source too pure to +admit of pollution in its course; it extends, to those who drink of +its vivifying waters, the peace of the righteous, and life +everlasting; it endures through all time, and it pervades creation. +If there be mystery in its workings, it is the mystery of a Divinity. +With a clear knowledge of the nature, the might, and the majesty of +God, there might be conviction, but there could be no faith. If we +are required to believe in doctrines that seem not in conformity with +the deductions of human wisdom, let us never forget that such is the +mandate of a wisdom that is infinite. It is sufficient for us that +enough is developed to point our path aright, and to direct our +wandering steps to that portal which shall open on the light of an +eternal day. Then, indeed, it may be humbly hoped that the film which +has been spread by the subtleties of earthly arguments will be +dissipated by the spiritual light of Heaven; and that our hour of +probation, by the aid of divine grace, being once passed in triumph, +will be followed by an eternity of intelligence and endless ages of +fruition. All that is now obscure shall become plain to our expanded +faculties; and what to our present senses may seem irreconcilable to +our limited notions of mercy, of justice, and of love, shall stand +irradiated by the light of truth, confessedly the suggestions of +Omniscience, and the acts of an All-powerful Benevolence.” + +“What a lesson of humility, my brethren, might not each of us obtain +from a review of his infant hours, and the recollection of his +juvenile passions! How differently do the same acts of parental rigor +appear in the eyes of the suffering child and of the chastened man! +When the sophist would supplant, with the wild theories of his worldly +wisdom, the positive mandates of inspiration, let him remember the +expansion of his own feeble intellects, and pause—let him feel the +wisdom of God in what is partially concealed. as well as that which +is revealed; in short, let him substitute humility for pride of +reason—let him have faith, and live!” + +“The consideration of this subject is full of consolation, my hearers, +and does not fail to bring with it lessons of humility and of profit, +that, duly improved, would both chasten the heart and strengthen the +feeble-minded man in his course. It is a blessed consolation to be +able to lay the misdoubtings of our arrogant nature at the thresh old +of the dwelling-place of the Deity, from whence they shall be swept +away, at the great opening of the portal, like the mists of the +morning before the rising sun. It teaches us a lesson of humility, by +impressing us with the imperfection of human powers, and by warning us +of the many weak points where we are open to the attack of the great +enemy of our race; it proves to us that we are in danger of being +weak, when our vanity would fain soothe us into the belief that we arc +most strong; it forcibly points out to us the vainglory of intellect, +and shows us the vast difference between a saving faith and the +corollaries of a philosophical theology; and it teaches us to reduce +our self-examination to the test of good works. By good works must be +understood the fruits of repentance, the chiefest of which is charity. +Not that charity only which causes us to help the needy and comfort +the suffering, but that feeling of universal philanthropy which, by +teaching us to love, causes us to judge with lenity all men; striking +at the root of self-righteousness, and warning us to be sparing of our +condemnation of others, while our own salvation is not yet secure.” + +“The lesson of expediency, my brethren, which I would gather from the +consideration of this subject, is most strongly inculcated by +humility. On the heading and essential points of our faith, there is +but little difference among those classes of Christians who +acknowledge the attributes of the Saviour, and depend on his +mediation. But heresies have polluted every church, and schisms are +the fruit of disputation. In order to arrest these dangers, and to +insure the union of his followers, it would seem that Christ had +established his visible church. and delegated the ministry. Wise and +holy men, the fathers of our religion, have expended their labors in +clearing what was revealed from the obscurities of language, and the +results of their experience and researches have been em bodied in the +form of evangelical discipline That this discipline must be salutary, +is evident from the view of the weakness of human nature that we have +already taken; and that it may be profitable to us, and all who listen +to its precepts and its liturgy, may God, in his infinite wisdom, +grant!—And now to,” etc. + +With this ingenious reference to his own forms and ministry, Mr. Grant +concluded his discourse. The most profound attention had been paid to +the sermon during the whole of its delivery, although the prayers had +not been received with so perfect demonstration of respect. This was +by no means an intended slight of that liturgy to which the divine +alluded, but was the habit of a people who owed their very existence, +as a distinct nation, to the doctrinal character of their ancestors. +Sundry looks of private dissatisfaction were exchanged between Hiram +and one or two of the leading members of the conference, but the +feeling went no further at that time; and the congregation, after +receiving the blessing of Mr. Grant., dispersed in Silence, and with +great decorum. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + + +“Your creeds and dogmas of a learned church +May build a fabric, fair with moral beauty; +But it would seem that the strong hand of God +Can, only, 'rase the devil from the heart.”—Duo. + +While the congregation was separating, Mr. Grant approached the place +where Elizabeth and her father were seated, leading the youthful +female whom we have mentioned in the preceding chapter, and presented +her as his daughter. Her reception was as cordial and frank as the +manners of the country and the value of good society could render it; +the two young women feeling, instantly, that they were necessary to +the comfort of each other, The Judge, to whom the clergyman’s daughter +was also a stranger, was pleased to find one who, from habits, sex, +and years, could probably contribute largely to the pleasures of his +own child, during her first privations on her removal from the +associations of a city to the solitude of Templeton; while Elizabeth, +who had been forcibly struck with the sweetness and devotion of the +youthful suppliant, removed the slight embarrassment of the timid +stranger by the ease of her own manners. They were at once +acquainted; and, during the ten minutes that the “academy” was +clearing, engagements were made between the young people, not only for +the succeeding day, but they would probably have embraced in their +arrangements half of the winter, had not the divine interrupted them +by saying: + +“Gently, gently, my dear Miss Temple, or you will make my girl too +dissipated. You forget that she is my housekeeper, and that my +domestic affairs must remain unattended to, should Louisa accept of +half the kind offers you are so good as to make her.” + +“And why should they not be neglected entirely, sir?” interrupted +Elizabeth. “There are but two of you; and certain I am that my +father’s house will not only contain you both, but will open its doors +spontaneously to receive such guests. Society is a good not to he +rejected on account of cold forms, in this wilderness, sir; and I have +often heard my father say, that hospitality is not a virtue in a new +country, the favor being conferred by the guest.” + +“The manner in which Judge Temple exercises its rites would confirm +this opinion; but we must not trespass too freely. Doubt not that you +will see us often, my child, particularly during the frequent visits +that I shall be compelled to make to the distant parts of the country. +But to obtain an influence with such a people,” he continued, glancing +his eyes toward the few who were still lingering, curious observers of +the interview, “a clergyman most not awaken envy or distrust by +dwelling under so splendid a roof as that of Judge Temple.” + +“You like the roof, then, Mr. Grant,” cried Richard, who had been +directing the extinguishment of the fires and other little necessary +duties, and who approached in time to hear the close of the divine’s +speech. “I am glad to find one man of taste at last. Here’s ‘Duke. +now, pretends to call it by every abusive name he can invent; but +though ‘Duke is a tolerable judge, he is a very poor carpenter, let me +tell him. Well, sir, well, I think we may say, without boasting, that +the service was as well per formed this evening as you often see; I +think, quite as well as I ever knew it to be done in old Trinity—that +is, if we except the organ. But there is the school-master leads the +psalm with a very good air. I used to lead myself, but latterly I +have sung nothing but bass. There is a good deal of science to be +shown in the bass, and it affords a fine opportunity to show off a +full, deep voice. Benjamin, too, sings a good bass, though he is +often out in the words. Did you ever hear Benjamin sing the ‘Bay of +Biscay, 0?” + +“I believe he gave us part of it this evening,” said Marmaduke, +laughing. “There was, now and then, a fearful quaver in his voice, +and it seems that Mr. Penguillian is like most others who do one thing +particularly well; he knows nothing else. He has, certainly, a +wonderful partiality to one tune, and he has a prodigious self- +confidence in that one, for he delivers himself like a northwester +sweeping across the lake. But come, gentlemen, our way is clear, and +the sleigh waits. Good-evening, Mr. Grant. Good-night, young lady— +remember you dine beneath the Corinthian roof, to-morrow, with +Elizabeth.” + +The parties separated, Richard holding a close dissertation with Mr. +Le Quoi, as they descended the stairs, on the subject of psalmody, +which he closed by a violent eulogium on the air of the “Bay of +Biscay, 0,” as particularly connected with his friend Benjamin’s +execution. + +During the preceding dialogue, Mohegan retained his seat, with his +head shrouded in his blanket, as seemingly inattentive to surrounding +objects as the departing congregation was itself to the presence of +the aged chief, Natty, also, continued on the log where he had first +placed himself, with his head resting on one of his hands, while the +other held the rifle, which was thrown carelessly across his lap. His +countenance expressed uneasiness, and the occasional unquiet glances +that he had thrown around him during the service plainly indicated +some unusual causes for unhappiness. His continuing seated was, how +ever, out of respect to the Indian chief. to whom he paid the utmost +deference on all occasions, although it was mingled with the rough +manner of a hunter. + +The young companion of these two ancient inhabitants of the forest +remained also standing before the extinguished brands, probably from +an unwillingness to depart without his comrades. The room was now +deserted by all but this group, the divine, and his daughter. As the +party from the mansion-house disappeared, John arose, and, dropping +the blanket from his head, he shook back the mass of black hair from +his face, and, approaching Mr. Grant, he extended his hand, and said +solemnly: + +“Father, I thank you. The words that have been said, since the rising +moon, have gone upward, and the Great Spirit is glad. What you have +told your children, they will remember, and be good.” He paused a +moment, and then, elevating himself with the grandeur of an Indian +chief, he added: “If Chingachgook lives to travel toward the setting +sun, after his tribe, and the Great Spirit carries him over the lakes +and mountains with the breath of his body, he will tell his people the +good talk he has heard; and they will believe him; for who can say +that Mohegan has ever lied?” + +“Let him place his dependence on the goodness of Divine mercy,” said +Mr. Grant, to whom the proud consciousness of the Indian sounded a +little heterodox, “and it never will desert him. When the heart is +filled with love to God, there is no room for sin. But, young man, to +you I owe not only an obligation, in common with those you saved this +evening on the mountain, but my thanks for your respectable and pious +manner in assisting in the service at a most embarrassing moment. I +should be happy to see you sometimes at my dwelling, when, perhaps, my +conversation may strengthen you in the path which you appear to have +chosen. It is so unusual to find one of your age and appearance, in +these woods, at all acquainted with our holy liturgy, that it lessens +at once the distance between us, and I feel that we are no longer +strangers. You seem quite at home in the service; I did not perceive +that you had even a book, although good Mr. Jones. had laid several +in different parts of the room.” + +“It would be strange if I were ignorant of the service of our church, +sir,” returned the youth modestly; “for I was baptized in its +communion and I have never yet attended public worship elsewhere. For +me to use the forms of any other denomination would be as singular as +our own have proved to the people here this evening.” + +“You give me great pleasure, my dear sir,” cried the divine, seizing +the other by the hand, and shaking it cordially. “You will go home +with me now—indeed you must—my child has yet to thank you for saving +my life. I will-listen to no apologies. This worthy Indian, and your +friend, there, will accompany us. Bless me! to think that’ he has +arrived at manhood in this country, without entering a dissenting * +meeting-house!” + + * The divines of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States + commonly call other denominations Dissenters, though there never was + an established church in their own country! + +“No, no,” interrupted the Leather-Stocking, “I must away to the +wigwam; there’s work there that mustn’t be forgotten for all your +churchings and merry-makings. Let the lad go with you in welcome; he +is used to keeping company with ministers, and talking of such +matters; so is old John, who was christianized by the Moravians abouts +the time of the old war. But I am a plain unlarned man, that has +sarved both the king and his country, in his day, agin’ the French and +savages, but never so much as looked into a book, or larnt a letter of +scholarship, in my born days. I’ve never seen the use of much in-door +work, though I have lived to be partly bald, and in my time have +killed two hundred beaver in a season, and that without counting thc +other game. If you mistrust what I am telling you, you can ask +Chingachgook there, for I did it in the heart of the Delaware country, +and the old man is knowing to the truth of every word I say.” + +“I doubt not, my friend, that you have been both a valiant soldier and +skilful hunter in your day,” said the divine; “but more is wanting to +prepare you for that end which approaches. You may have heard the +maxim, that ‘young men may die, but that old men must’” + +“I’m sure I never was so great a fool as to expect to live forever,” +said Natty, giving one of his silent laughs; “no man need do that who +trails the savages through the woods, as I have done, and lives, for +the hot months, on the lake streams. I’ve a strong constitution, I +must say that for myself, as is plain to be seen; for I’ve drunk the +Onondaga water a hundred times, while I’ve been watching the deer- +licks, when the fever-an’-agy seeds was to be seen in it as plain and +as plenty as you can see the rattle snakes on old Crumhorn. But then +I never expected to hold out forever; though there’s them living who +have seen the German flats a wilderness; ay! and them that’s larned, +and acquainted with religion, too; though you might look a week, now, +and not find even the stump of a pine on them; and that’s a wood that +lasts in the ground the better part of a hundred years after the tree +is dead.” + +“This is but time, my good friend,” returned Mr. Grant, who began to +take an interest in the welfare of his new acquaintance, “but I would +have you prepare for eternity. It is incumbent on you to attend +places of public worship, as I am pleased to see that you have done +this evening. Would it not he heedless in you to start on a day’s +toil of hard hunting, and leave your ramrod and flint behind?” + +“It must be a young hand in the woods,” interrupted Natty, with +another laugh, “that didn’t know how to dress a rod out of an ash +sapling or find a fire-stone in the mountains. No, no, I never +expected to live forever; but I see, times be altering in these +mountains from what they was thirty years ago, or, for that matter, +ten years. But might makes right, and the law is stronger than an old +man, whether he is one that has much laming, or only like me, that is +better now at standing at the passes than in following the hounds, as +I once used to could. Heigh-ho! I never know’d preaching come into a +settlement but it made game scarce, and raised the price of gunpowder; +and that’s a thing that’s not as easily made as a ramrod or an Indian +flint.” + +The divine, perceiving that he had given his opponent an argument by +his own unfortunate selection of a comparison, very prudently +relinquished the controversy; although he was fully determined to +resume it at a more happy moment, Repeating his request to the young +hunter with great earnestness, the youth and Indian consented to ac +company him and his daughter to the dwelling that the care of Mr. +Jones had provided for their temporary residence. Leather-Stocking +persevered in his intention of returning to the hut, and at the door +of the building they separated. + +After following the course of one of the streets of the village a +short distance. Mr. Grant, who led the way, turned into a field, +through a pair of open bars, and entered a footpath, of but sufficient +width to admit one person to walk in at a time. The moon had gained a +height that enabled her to throw her rays perpendicularly on the +valley; and the distinct shadows of the party flitted along on the +banks of the silver snow, like the presence of aerial figures, gliding +to their appointed place of meeting. The night still continued +intensely cold, although not a breath of wind was felt. The path was +beaten so hard that the gentle female, who made one of the party, +moved with ease along its windings; though the frost emitted a low +creaking at the impression of even her light footsteps. + +The clergyman in his dark dress of broadcloth, with his mild, +benevolent countenance occasionally turned toward his companions, +expressing that look of subdued care which was its characteristic, +presented the first object in this singular group. Next to him moved +the Indian, his hair falling about his face, his head uncovered, and +the rest of his form concealed beneath his blanket. As his swarthy +visage, with its muscles fixed in rigid composure, was seen under the +light of the moon, which struck his face obliquely, he seemed a +picture of resigned old age, on whom the storms of winter had beaten +in vain for the greater part of a century; but when, in turning his +head, the rays fell directly on his dark, fiery eyes, they told a tale +of passions unrestrained, and of thoughts free as air. The slight +person of Miss Grant, which followed next, and which was but too +thinly clad for the severity of the season, formed a marked contrast +to thc wild attire and uneasy glances of the Delaware chief; and more +than once during their walk, the young hunter, himself no +insignificant figure in the group, was led to consider the difference +in the human form, as the face of Mohegan and the gentle countenance +of Miss Grant, with eyes that rivalled the soft hue of the sky, met +his view at the instant that each turned to throw a glance at the +splendid orb which lighted their path. Their way, which led through +fields that lay at some distance in the rear of the houses, was +cheered by a conversation that flagged or became animated with the +subject. The first to speak was the divine. + +“Really,” he said, “it is so singular a circumstance to meet with one +of your age, that has not been induced by idle curiosity to visit any +other church than the one in which he has been educated, that I feel a +strong curiosity to know the history of a life so fortunately +regulated. Your education must have been excellent; as indeed is +evident from your manners and language. Of which of the States are +you a native, Mr. Edwards? for such, I believe, was the name that you +gave Judge Temple.” + +“Of this.” + +“Of this! I was at a loss to conjecture, from your dialect, which does +not partake, particularly, of the peculiarities of any country with +which I am acquainted. You have, then, resided much in the cities, +for no other part of this country is so fortunate as to possess the +constant enjoyment of our excellent liturgy.” + +The young hunter smiled, as he listened to the divine while he so +clearly betrayed from what part of the country he had come himself; +but, for reasons probably connected with his present situation, he +made no answer. + +“I am delighted to meet with you, my young friend, for I think an +ingenuous mind, such as I doubt not yours must be, will exhibit all +the advantages of a settled doctrine and devout liturgy. You perceive +how I was compelled to bend to the humors of my hearers this evening. +Good Mr. Jones wished me to read the communion, and, in fact, all the +morning service; but, happily, the canons do not require this of an +evening. It would have wearied a new congregation; but to-morrow I +purpose administering the sacrament, Do you commune, my young friend?” + +“I believe not, sir,” returned the youth, with a little embarrassment, +that was not at all diminished by Miss Grant’s pausing involuntarily, +and turning her eyes on him in surprise; “I fear that I am not +qualified; I have never yet approached the altar; neither would I wish +to do it while I find so much of the world clinging to my heart.” + +“Each must judge for himself,” said Mr. Grant; “though I should think +that a youth who had never been blown about by the wind of false +doctrines, and who has enjoyed the advantages of our liturgy for so +many years in its purity, might safely come. Yet, sir, it is a solemn +festival, which none should celebrate until there is reason to hope it +is not mockery. I observed this evening, in your manner to Judge +Temple, a resentment that bordered on one of the worst of human +passions, We will cross this brook on the ice; it must bear us all, I +think, in safety. Be careful not to slip, my child.” While speaking, +he descended a little bank by the path, and crossed one of the small +streams that poured their waters into the lake; and, turning to see +his daughter pass, observed that the youth had advanced, and was +kindly directing her footsteps. When all were safely over, he moved +up the opposite bank, and continued his discourse. “It was wrong, my +dear sir, very wrong, to suffer such feelings to rise, under any +circumstances, and especially in the present, where the evil was not +intended.” + +“There is good in the talk of my father,” said Mohegan, stopping +short, and causing those who Were behind him to pause also; “it is the +talk of Miquon. The white man may do as his fathers have told him; +but the ‘Young Eagle’ has the blood of a Delaware chief in his veins; +it is red, and the stain it makes can only be washed out with the +blood of a Mingo.” + +Mr. Grant was surprised by the interruption of the Indian, and, +stopping, faced the speaker. His mild features were confronted to the +fierce and determined looks of the chief, and expressed the horror he +felt at hearing such sentiments from one who professed the religion of +his Saviour. Raising his hands to a level with his head, he +exclaimed: + +“John, John! is this the religion that you have learned from the +Moravians? But no—I will not be so uncharitable as to suppose it. +They are a pious, a gentle, and a mild people, and could never +tolerate these passions. Listen to the language of the Redeemer: ‘But +I say unto you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good +to them that hate you; pray for them that despitefully use you and +persecute you.’ This is the command of God, John, and, without +striving to cultivate such feelings, no man can see Him.” + +The Indian heard the divine with attention; the unusual fire of his +eye gradually softened, and his muscles relaxed into their ordinary +composure; but, slightly shaking his head, he motioned with dignity +for Mr. Grant to resume his walk, and followed himself in silence, The +agitation of the divine caused him to move with unusual rapidity along +the deep path, and the Indian, without any apparent exertion, kept an +equal pace; but the young hunter observed the female to linger in her +steps, until a trifling distance intervened between the two former and +the latter. Struck by the circumstance, and not perceiving any new +impediment to retard her footstep, the youth made a tender of his +assistance. + +“You are fatigued, Miss Grant,” he said; “the snow yields to the foot, +and you are unequal to the strides of us men. Step on the crust, I +entreat you, and take the help of my arm, Yonder light is, I believe, +the house of your father; but it seems yet at some distance.” + +“I am quite equal to the walk,” returned a low, tremulous voice; “but +I am startled by the manner of that Indian, Oh! his eye was horrid, as +he turned to the moon, in speaking to my father. But I forgot, sir; +he is your friend, and by his language may be your relative; and yet +of you I do not feel afraid.” + +The young man stepped on the bank of snow, which firmly sustained his +weight, and by a gentle effort induced his companion to follow. +Drawing her arm through his own, he lifted his cap from his head, +allowing the dark locks to flow in rich curls over his open brow, and +walked by her side with an air of conscious pride, as if inviting an +examination of his utmost thoughts. Louisa took but a furtive glance +at his person, and moved quietly along, at a rate that was greatly +quickened by the aid of his arm. + +“You are but little acquainted with this peculiar people, Miss Grant,” +he said, “or you would know that revenge is a virtue with an Indian. +They are taught, from infancy upward, to believe it a duty never to +allow an injury to pass unrevenged; and nothing but the stronger +claims of hospitality can guard one against their resentments where +they have power.” + +“Surely, sir,” said Miss Grant, involuntarily withdrawing her arm from +his, “you have not been educated with such unholy sentiments?” + +“It might be a sufficient answer to your excellent father to say that +I was educated in the church,” he returned; “but to you I will add +that I have been taught deep and practical lessons of forgiveness. I +believe that, on this subject, I have but little cause to reproach +myself; it shall he my endeavor that there yet be less.” + +While speaking, he stopped, and stood with his arm again proffered to +her assistance. As he ended, she quietly accepted his offer, and they +resumed their walk. + +Mr. Grant and Mohegan had reached the door of the former's residence, +and stood waiting near its threshold for the arrival of their young +companions. The former was earnestly occupied in endeavoring to +correct, by his precepts, the evil propensities that he had discovered +in the Indian during their conversation; to which the latter listened +in Profound but respectful attention. On the arrival of the young +hunter and the lady, they entered the building. The house stood at +some distance from the village, in the centre of a field, surrounded +by stumps that were peering above the snow, bearing caps of pure +white, nearly two feet in thickness. Not a tree nor a shrub was nigh +it; but the house, externally, exhibited that cheer less, unfurnished +aspect which is so common to the hastily erected dwellings of a new +country. The uninviting character of its outside was, however, +happily relieved by the exquisite neatness and comfortable warmth +within. + +They entered an apartment that was fitted as a parlor, though the +large fireplace, with its culinary arrangements, betrayed the domestic +uses to which it was occasionally applied. The bright blaze from the +hearth rendered the light that proceeded from the candle Louisa +produced unnecessary; for the scanty furniture of the room was easily +seen and examined by the former. The floor was covered in the centre +by a carpet made of rags, a species of manufacture that was then, and +yet continues to be, much in use in the interior; while its edges, +that were exposed to view, were of unspotted cleanliness. There was a +trifling air of better life in a tea-table and work-stand, as well as +in an old-fashioned mahogany bookcase; but the chairs, the dining- +table, and the rest of the furniture were of the plainest and cheapest +construction, Against the walls were hung a few specimens of needle- +work and drawing, the former executed with great neatness, though of +somewhat equivocal merit in their designs, while the latter were +strikingly deficient in both, + +One of the former represented a tomb, with a youthful female weeping +over it, exhibiting a church with arched windows in the background. +On the tomb were the names, with the dates of the births and deaths, +of several individuals, all of whom bore the name of Grant. An +extremely cursory glance at this record was sufficient to discover to +the young hunter the domestic state of the divine. He there read that +he was a widower; and that the innocent and timid maiden, who had been +his companion, was the only survivor of six children. The knowledge +of the dependence which each of these meek Christians had on the other +for happiness threw an additional charm around the gentle but kind +attentions which the daughter paid to the father. + +These observations occurred while the party were seating themselves +before the cheerful fire, during which time there was a suspension of +discourse. But, when each was comfortably arranged, and Louisa, after +laying aside a thin coat of faded silk, and a gypsy hat, that was more +becoming to her modest, ingenuous countenance than appropriate to the +season, had taken a chair between her father and the youth, the former +resumed the conversation. + +“I trust, my young friend,” he said, “that the education you have +received has eradicated most of those revengeful principles which you +may have inherited by descent, for I understand from the expressions +of John that you have some of the blood of the Delaware tribe. Do not +mistake me, I beg, for it is not color nor lineage that constitutes +merit; and I know not that he who claims affinity to the proper owners +of this soil has not the best right to tread these hills with the +lightest conscience.” + +Mohegan turned solemnly to the speaker, and, with the peculiarly +significant gestures of an Indian, he spoke: + +“Father, you are not yet past the summer of life; your limbs are +young. Go to the highest hill, and look around you. All that you +see, from the rising to the setting sun, from the head-waters of the +great spring, to where the ‘crooked river’* is hid by the hills, is +his. He has Delaware blood, and his right is strong. + + * The Susquehannah means crooked river; “hannah,” or “hannock,” meant + river in many of the native dialects. Thus we find Rappahannock as + far south as Virginia. + +But the brother of Miquon is just; he will cut the country in two +parts, as the river cuts the lowlands, and will say to the ‘Young +Eagle,’ ‘Child of the Delawares! take it—keep it; and be a chief in +the land of your fathers.’” + +“Never!” exclaimed the young hunter, with a vehemence that destroyed +the rapt attention with which the divine and his daughter were +listening to the Indian. “The wolf of the forest is not more +rapacious for his prey than that man is greedy of gold; and yet his +glidings into wealth are subtle as the movements of a serpent.” + +“Forbear, forbear, my son, forbear,” interrupted Mr. Grant. “These +angry passions most be subdued. The accidental injury you have +received from Judge Temple has heightened the sense of your hereditary +wrongs. But remember that the one was unintentional, and that the +other is the effect of political changes, which have, in their course, +greatly lowered the pride of kings, and swept mighty nations from the +face of the earth. Where now are the Philistines, who so often held +the children of Israel in bondage? or that city of Babylon, which +rioted in luxury and vice, and who styled herself the Queen of Nations +in the drunkenness of her pride? Remember the prayer of our holy +litany, where we implore the Divine Power—’that it may please thee to +forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their +hearts. The sin of the wrongs which have been done to the natives is +shared by Judge Temple only in common with a whole people, and your +arm will speedily be restored to its strength.” + +“This arm!” repeated the youth, pacing the floor in violent agitation. +“Think you, sir, that I believe the man a murderer? Oh, no! he is too +wily, too cowardly, for such a crime. But let him and his daughter +riot in their wealth—a day of retribution will come. No, no, no,” he +continued, as he trod the floor more calmly—” it is for Mohegan to +suspect him of an intent to injure me; but the trifle is not worth a +second thought.” He seated himself, and hid his face between his +hands, as they rested on his knees. + +“It is the hereditary violence of a native’s passion, my child,” said +Mr. Grant in a low tone to his affrighted daughter, who was clinging +in terror to his arm. “He is mixed with the blood of the Indians, you +have heard; and neither the refinements of education nor the +advantages of our excellent liturgy have been able entirely to +eradicate the evil. But care and time will do much for him yet.” + +Although the divine spoke in a low tone, yet what he uttered was heard +by the youth, who raised his head, with a smile of indefinite +expression, and spoke more calmly: + +“Be not alarmed, Miss Grant, at either the wildness of my manner or +that of my dress. I have been carried away by passions that I should +struggle to repress. I must attribute it, with your father, to the +blood in my veins, although I would not impeach my lineage willingly; +for it is all that is left me to boast of. Yes! I am proud of my +descent from a Delaware chief, who was a warrior that ennobled human +nature. Old Mohegan was his friend, and will vouch for his virtues.” + +Mr. Grant here took up the discourse, and, finding the young man more +calm, and the aged chief attentive, he entered into a full and +theological discussion of the duty of forgiveness. The conversation +lasted for more than an hour, when the visitors arose, and, after +exchanging good wishes with their entertainers, they departed. At the +door they separated, Mohegan taking the direct route to the village, +while the youth moved toward the lake. The divine stood at the +entrance of his dwelling, regarding the figure of the aged chief as it +glided, at an astonishing gait for his years, along the deep path; his +black, straight hair just visible over the bundle formed by his +blanket, which was sometimes blended with the snow, under the silvery +light of the moon. From the rear of the house was a window that +overlooked the lake; and here Louisa was found by her father, when he +entered, gazing intently on some object in the direction of the +eastern mountain. He approached the spot, and saw the figure of the +young hunter, at the distance of half a mile, walking with prodigious +steps across the wide fields of frozen snow that covered the ice, +toward the point where he knew the hut inhabited by the Leather- +Stocking was situated on the margin of the lake, under a rock that was +crowned by pines and hemlocks. At the next instant, the wild looking +form entered the shadow cast from the over-hanging trees, and was lost +to view. + +“It is marvellous how long the propensities of the savage continue in +that remarkable race,” said the good divine; “but if he perseveres as +he has commenced, his triumph shall yet be complete. Put me in mind, +Louisa, to lend him the homily ‘against peril of idolatry,’ at his +next visit.” + +“Surety, father, you do not think him in danger of relapsing into the +worship of his ancestors?” + +“No, my child,” returned the clergyman, laying his hand affectionately +on her flaxen locks, and smiling; “his white blood would prevent it; +but there is such a thing as the idolatry of our passions.” + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + + +“And I’ll drink out of the quart pot— Here’s a health to the barley +mow. “—Drinking Song. + +On one of the corners, where the two principal streets of Templeton +intersected each other, stood, as we have already mentioned, the inn +called the “Bold Dragoon”. In the original plan it was ordained that +the village should stretch along the little stream that rushed down +the valley; and the street which led from the lake to the academy was +intended to be its western boundary. But convenience frequently +frustrates the best-regulated plans. The house of Mr., or as, in +consequence of commanding the militia of that vicinity, he was called, +Captain Hollister, had, at an early day, been erected directly facing +the main street, and ostensibly interposed a barrier to its further +progress. Horsemen, and subsequently teamsters, however, availed +themselves of an opening, at the end of the building, to shorten their +passage westward, until in time the regular highway was laid out along +this course, and houses were gradually built on either side, so as +effectually to prevent any subsequent correction of the evil. + +Two material consequences followed this change in the regular plans of +Marmaduke. The main street, after running about half its length, was +suddenly reduced for precisely that difference in its width; and “Bold +Dragoon” became, next to the mansion-house, by far the most +conspicuous edifice in the place. + +This conspicuousness, aided by the characters of the host and hostess, +gave the tavern an advantage over all its future competitors that no +circumstances could conquer. An effort was, however, made to do so; +and at the corner diagonally opposite, stood a new building that was +in tended, by its occupants, to look down all opposition. It was a +house of wood, ornamented in the prevailing style of architecture, and +about the roof and balustrades was one of the three imitators of the +mansion-house. The upper windows were filled with rough boards +secured by nails, to keep out the cold air—for the edifice was far +from finished, although glass was to be seen in the lower apartments, +and the light of the powerful fires within de noted that it was +already inhabited. The exterior was painted white on the front and on +the end which was exposed to the street; but in the rear, and on the +side which was intended to join the neighboring house, it was coarsely +smeared with Spanish brown. Before the door stood two lofty posts, +connected at the top by a beam, from which was suspended an enormous +sign, ornamented around its edges with certain curious carvings in +pine boards, and on its faces loaded with Masonic emblems. Over these +mysterious figures was written, in large letters, “The Templeton +Coffee-house, and Traveller’s Hotel,” and beneath them, “By Habakkuk +Foote and Joshua Knapp.” This was a fearful rival to the” Bold +Dragoon,” as our readers will the more readily perceive when we add +that the same sonorous names were to be seen over a newly erected +store in the village, a hatter’s shop, and the gates of a tan-yard. +But, either because too much was attempted to be executed well, or +that the “Bold Dragoon” had established a reputation which could not +be easily shaken, not only Judge Temple and his friends, but most of +the villagers also, who were not in debt to the powerful firm we have +named, frequented the inn of Captain Hollister on all occasions where +such a house was necessary + +On the present evening the limping veteran and his consort were hardly +housed after their return from the academy, when the sounds of +stamping feet at their threshold announced the approach of visitors, +who were probably assembling with a view to compare opinions on the +subject of the ceremonies they had witnessed. + +The public, or as it was called, the “bar-room,” of the Bold Dragoon,” +was a spacious apartment, lined on three sides with benches and on the +fourth by fireplaces. Of the latter there were two of such size as to +occupy, with their enormous jambs, the whole of that side of the +apartment where they were placed, excepting room enough for a door or +two, and a little apartment in one corner, which was protected by +miniature palisades, and profusely garnished with bottles and glasses. +In the entrance to this sanctuary Mrs. Hollister was seated, with +great gravity in her air, while her husband occupied himself with +stirring the fires, moving the logs with a large stake burnt to a +point at one end. + +“There, sargeant, dear,” said the landlady, after she thought the +veteran had got the logs arranged in the most judicious manner, “give +over poking, for it’s no good ye’ll be doing, now that they burn so +convaniently. There’s the glasses on the table there, and the mug +that the doctor was taking his cider and ginger in, before the fire +here— just put them in the bar, will ye? for we’ll be having the +jooge, and the Major, and Mr. Jones down the night, without reckoning +Benjamin Poomp, and the lawyers; so yell be fixing the room tidy; and +put both flip irons in the coals; and tell Jude, the lazy black baste, +that if she’s no be cleaning up the kitchen I’ll turn her out of the +house, and she may live wid the jontlemen that kape the ‘Coffee +house,’ good luck to ‘em. Och! sargeant, sure it’s a great privilege +to go to a mateing where a body can sit asy, without joomping up and +down so often, as this Mr. Grant is doing that same.” + +“It’s a privilege at all times, Mrs. Hollister, whether we stand or be +seated; or, as good Mr. Whitefleld used to do after he had made a +wearisome day’s march, get on our knees and pray, like Moses of old, +with a flanker to the right and left to lift his hands to heaven,” +returned her husband, who composedly performed what she had directed +to be done. “It was a very pretty fight, Betty, that the Israelites +had on that day with the Amalekites, It seams that they fout on a +plain, for Moses is mentioned as having gone on the heights to +overlook the battle, and wrestle in prayer; and if I should judge, +with my little larning, the Israelites depended mainly on their horse, +for it was written ‘that Joshua cut up the enemy with the edge of the +sword; from which I infer, not only that they were horse, but well +diseiplyned troops. Indeed, it says as much as that they were chosen +men; quite likely volunteers; for raw dragoons seldom strike with the +edge of their swords, particularly if the weapon be any way crooked.” +“Pshaw! why do ye bother yourself wid texts, man, about so small a +matter?” interrupted the landlady; “sure, it was the Lord who was with +‘em; for he always sided with the Jews, before they fell away; and +it’s but little matter what kind of men Joshua commanded, so that he +was doing the right bidding. Aven them cursed millaishy, the Lord +forgive me for swearing, that was the death of him, wid their +cowardice, would have carried the day in old times. There’s no rason +to be thinking that the soldiers were used to the drill.” + +“I must say, Mrs. Hollister, that I have not often seen raw troops +fight better than the left flank of the militia, at the time you +mention. They rallied handsomely, and that without beat of drum, +which is no easy thing to do under fire, and were very steady till he +fell. But the Scriptures contain no unnecessary words; and I will +maintain that horse, who know how to strike with the edge of the +sword, must be well disoiplyned. Many a good sarmon has been preached +about smaller matters than that one word! If the text was not meant to +be particular, why wasn’t it written with the sword, and not with the +edge? Now, a back-handed stroke, on the edge, takes long practice. +Goodness! what an argument would Mr. Whitefield make of that word +edge! As to the captain, if he had only called up the guard of +dragoons when he rallied the foot, they would have shown the inimy +what the edge of a sword was; for, although there was no commissioned +officer with them, yet I think I must say,” the veteran continued, +stiffening his cravat about his throat, and raising himself up with +tile air of a drill-sergeant, “they were led by a man who knowed how +to bring them on. in spite of the ravine.” + +“Is it lade on ye would,” cried the landlady, “when ye know yourself, +Mr. Hollister, that the baste he rode was but little able to joomp +from one rock to another, and the animal was as spry as a squirrel? +Och! but it’s useless to talk, for he’s gone this many a year. I +would that he had lived to see the true light; but there’s mercy for a +brave sowl, that died in the saddle, fighting for the liberty. It is +a poor tombstone they have given him, anyway, and many a good one that +died like himself; but the sign is very like, and I will be kapeing it +up, while the blacksmith can make a hook for it to swing on, for all +the ‘coffee-houses’ betwane this and Albany.” + +There is no saying where this desultory conversation would have led +the worthy couple, had not the men, who were stamping the snow off +their feet on the little plat form before the door, suddenly ceased +their occupation, and entered the bar-room. + +For ten or fifteen minutes the different individuals, who intended +either to bestow or receive edification before the fires of the “Bold +Dragoon” on that evening, were collecting, until the benches were +nearly filled with men of different occupations. Dr. Todd and a +slovenly-looking, shabby-genteel young man, who took tobacco +profusely, wore a coat of imported cloth cut with something like a +fashionable air, frequently exhibited a large French silver watch, +with a chain of woven hair and a silver key, and who, altogether, +seemed as much above the artisans around him as he was himself +inferior to the real gentle man, occupied a high-back wooden settee, +in the most comfortable corner in the apartment. + +Sundry brown mugs, containing cider or beer, were placed between the +heavy andirons, and little groups were found among the guests as +subjects arose or the liquor was passed from one to the other. No man +was seen to drink by himself, nor in any instance was more than one +vessel considered necessary for the same beverage; but the glass or +the mug was passed from hand to hand until a chasm in the line or a +regard to the rights of ownership would regularly restore the dregs of +the potation to him who de frayed the cost. + +Toasts were uniformly drunk; and occasionally some one who conceived +himself peculiarly endowed by Nature to shine in the way of wit would +attempt some such sentiment as “ hoping that he” who treated “might +make a better man than his father;” or “live till all his friends +wished him dead;” while the more humble pot-companion contented +himself by saying, with a most composing gravity in his air, “Come, +here’s luck,” or by expressing some other equally comprehensive +desire. In every instance the veteran landlord was requested to +imitate the custom of the cupbearers to kings, and taste the liquor he +presented, by the invitation of “After you is manners,” with which +request he ordinarily complied by wetting his lips, first expressing +the wish of “Here’s hoping,” leaving it to the imagination of the +hearers to fill the vacuum by whatever good each thought most +desirable. During these movements the landlady was busily occupied +with mixing the various compounds required by her customers, with her +own hands, and occasionally exchanging greetings and inquiries +concerning the conditions of their respective families, with such of +the villagers as approached the bar. + +At length the common thirst being in some measure assuaged, +conversation of a more general nature became the order of the hour. +The physician and his companion, who was one of the two lawyers of the +village, being considered the best qualified to maintain a public +discourse with credit, were the principal speakers, though a remark +was hazarded, now and then, by Mr. Doolittle, who was thought to be +their inferior only in the enviable point of education. A general +silence was produced on all but the two speakers, by the following +observation from the practitioner of the law: + +“So, Dr. Todd, I understand that you have been per forming an +important operation this evening by cutting a charge of buckshot from +the shoulder of the son of Leather-Stocking?” + +“Yes, sir,” returned other, elevating his little head with an air of +importance. “I had a small job up at the Judge’s in that way; it was, +however, but a trifle to what it might have been, had it gone through +the body. The shoulder is not a very vital part; and I think the +young man will soon be well. But I did not know that the patient was +a son of Leather-Stocking; it is news to me to hear that Natty had a +wife.” + +“It is by no means a necessary consequence, returned the other, +winking, with a shrewd look around the bar room; “there is such a +thing, I suppose you know, in law as a filius nullius.” + +“Spake it out, man,” exclaimed the landlady; “spake it out in king’s +English; what for should ye be talking Indian in a room full of +Christian folks, though it is about a poor hunter, who is but little +better in his ways than the wild savages themselves? Och! it’s to be +hoped that the missionaries will, in his own time, make a conversion +of the poor devils; and then it will matter little of what color is +the skin, or wedder there be wool or hair on the head.” + +“Oh! it is Latin, not Indian, Miss Hollister!” returned the lawyer, +repeating his winks and shrewd looks; “and Dr. Todd understands Latin, +or how would he read the labels on his gailipots and drawers? No, no, +Miss Hollis ter, the doctor understands me; don’t you, doctor?” + +“Hem—why, I guess I am not far out of the way,” returned Elnathan, +endeavoring to imitate the expression of the other’s countenance, by +looking jocular. “Latin is a queer language, gentlemen; now I rather +guess there is no one in the room, except Squire Lippet, who can +believe that ‘Far. Av.’ means oatmeal, in English.” + +The lawyer in his turn was a good deal embarrassed by this display of +learning; for, although he actually had taken his first degree at one +of the eastern universities, he was somewhat puzzled with the terms +used by his companion. It was dangerous, however, to appear to he out +done in learning in a public bar-room, and before so many of his +clients; he therefore put the best face on the matter, and laughed +knowingly as if there were a good joke concealed under it, that was +understood only by the physician and himself. All this was attentively +observed by the listeners, who exchanged looks of approbation; and the +expressions of “ tonguey mati,” and “I guess Squire Lippet knows if +anybody does,” were heard in different parts of the room, as vouchers +for the admiration of his auditors. Thus encouraged, the lawyer rose +from his chair, and turning his back to the fire, and facing the +company, he continued: + +“The son of Natty, or the son of nobody, I hope the young man is not +going to let the matter drop. This is a country of law; and I should +like to see it fairly tried, whether a man who owns, or says he owns, +a hundred thousand acres of land, has any more right to shoot a body +than another. What do you think of it, Dr. Todd?” + +Oh, sir, I am of opinion that the gentleman will soon be well, as I +said before; the wound isn’t in a vital part; and as the ball was +extracted so soon, and the shoulder was what I call well attended to, +I do not think there is as much danger as there might have been.” +“I say, Squire Doolittle,” continued the attorney, raising his voice, +“you are a magistrate, and know what is law and what is not law. I +ask you, sir, if shooting a man is a thing that is to be settled so +very easily? Suppose, sir, that the young man had a wife and family; +and suppose that he was a mechanic like yourself, sir; and sup pose +that his family depended on him for bread; and suppose that the ball, +instead of merely going through the flesh, had broken the shoulder- +blade, and crippled him forever; I ask you all, gentlemen, supposing +this to be the case, whether a jury wouldn’t give what I call handsome +damages?” + +As the close of this supposititious case was addressed to the company +generally, Hiram did not at first consider himself called on for a +reply; but finding the eyes of the listeners bent on him in +expectation, he remembered his character for judicial discrimination, +and spoke, observing a due degree of deliberation and dignity. + +“Why, if a man should shoot another,” he said, “ and if he should do +it on purpose and if the law took notice on’t, and if a jury should +find him guilty, it would be likely to turn out a state-prison +matter.” + +“It would so, sir,” returned the attorney. “The law, gentlemen, is no +respecter of persons in a free country. It is one of the great +blessings that has been handed down to us from our ancestors, that all +men are equal in the eye of the laws, as they are by nater. Though +some may get property, no one knows how, yet they are not privileged +to transgress the laws any more than the poorest citizen in the State. +This is my notion, gentlemen: and I think that it a man had a mind to +bring this matter up, something might be made out of it that would +help pay for the salve—ha! doctor!” + +“Why, sir,” returned the physician, who appeared a little uneasy at +the turn the conversation was taking, “I have the promise of Judge +Temple before men—not but what I would take his word as soon as his +note of hand— but it was before men. Let me see—there was Mounshier +Ler Quow, and Squire Jones, and Major Hartmann, and Miss Pettibone, +and one or two of the blacks by, when he said that his pocket would +amply reward me for what I did.” + +“Was the promise made before or after the service was performed?” +asked the attorney. + +“It might have been both,” returned the discreet physician; “though +I’m certain he said so before I undertook the dressing.” + +“But it seems that he said his pocket should reward you, doctor,” +observed Hiram. “Now I don’t know that the law will hold a man to +such a promise; he might give you his pocket with sixpence in’t, and +tell you to take your pay out on’t,” + +“That would not be a reward in the eye of the law, interrupted the +attorney—” not what is called a ‘quid pro quo;’ nor is the pocket to +be considered as an agent, but as part of a man’s own person, that is, +in this particular. I am of opinion that an action would lie on that +promise, and I will undertake to bear him out, free of costs, if he +don’t recover.” + +To this proposition the physician made no reply; but he was observed +to cast his eyes around him, as if to enumerate the witnesses, in +order to substantiate this promise also, at a future day, should it +prove necessary. A subject so momentous as that of suing Judge Temple +was not very palatable to the present company in so public a place; +and a short silence ensued, that was only interrupted by the opening +of the door, and the entrance of Natty himself. + +The old hunter carried in his hand his never-failing companion, the +rifle; and although all of the company were uncovered excepting the +lawyer, who wore his hat on one side, with a certain dam’me air, Natty +moved to the front of one of the fires without in the least altering +any part of his dress or appearance. Several questions were addressed +to him, on the subject of the game he had killed, which he answered +readily, and with some little interest; and the landlord, between whom +and Natty there existed much cordiality, on account of their both +having been soldiers in youth, offered him a glass of a liquid which, +if we might judge from its reception, was no unwelcome guest. When +the forester had got his potation also, he quietly took his seat on +the end of one of the logs that lay nigh the fires, and the slight +interruption produced by his entrance seemed to he forgotten. + +“The testimony of the blacks could not be taken, sir,” continued the +lawyer, “for they are all the property of Mr. Jones, who owns their +time. But there is a way by which Judge Temple, or any other man, +might be made to pay for shooting another, and for the cure in the +bargain. There is a way, I say, and that without going into the +‘court of errors,’ too,” + +“And a mighty big error ye would make of it, Mister Todd,” cried the +landlady, “should ye be putting the mat ter into the law at all, with +Joodge Temple, who has a purse as long as one of them pines on the +hill, and who is an asy man to dale wid, if yees but mind the humor of +him. He’s a good man is Joodge Temple, and a kind one, and one who +will be no the likelier to do the pratty thing, becase ye would wish +to tarrify him wid the law. I know of but one objaction to the same, +which is an over-careless ness about his sowl. It’s neither a +Methodie, nor a Papish, nor Parsbetyrian, that he is, but just nothing +at all; and it’s hard to think that he, ‘who will not fight the good +fight, under the banners of a rig’lar church, in this world, will be +mustered among the chosen in heaven,’ as my husband, the captain +there, as ye call him, says—though there is but one captain that I +know, who desarves the name. I hopes, Lather-Stocking, ye’ll no be +foolish, and putting the boy up to try the law in the matter; for +‘twill be an evil day to ye both, when ye first turn the skin of so +paceable an animal as a sheep into a bone of contention, The lad is +wilcome to his drink for nothing, until his shoulther will bear the +rifle agin.” + +“Well, that’s gin’rous,” was heard from several mouths at once, for +this was a company in which a liberal offer was not thrown away; while +the hunter, instead ‘of expressing any of that indignation which he +might be sup posed to feel, at hearing the hurt of his young companion +alluded to, opened his mouth, with the silent laugh for which he was +so remarkable; and after he had indulged his humor, made this reply: + +“I knowed the Judge would do nothing with his smooth bore when he got +out of his sleigh. I never saw but one smooth-bore that would carry +at all, and that was a French ducking-piece, upon the big lakes; it +had a barrel half as long agin as my rifle, and would throw fine shot +into a goose at one hundred yards; but it made dreadful work with the +game, and you wanted a boat to carry it about in. When I went with +Sir William agin’ the French, at Fort Niagara, all the rangers used +the rifle; and a dreadful weapon it is, in the hands of one who knows +how to charge it, and keep a steady aim. The captain knows, for he +says he was a soldier in Shirley’s; and, though they were nothing but +baggonet-men, he must know how we cut up the French and Iroquois in +the skrimmages in that war. Chingachgook, which means ‘Big Sarpent’ +in English, old John Mohegan, who lives up at the hut with me, was a +great warrior then, and was out with us; he can tell all about it, +too; though he was overhand for the tomahawk, never firing more than +once or twice, before he was running in for the scalps. Ah! times is +dreadfully altered since then. Why, doctor, there was nothing but a +foot path, or at the most a track for pack-horses, along the Mohawk, +from the Jarman Flats up to the forts. Now, they say, they talk of +running one of them wide roads with gates on it along the river; first +making a road, and then fencing it up! I hunted one season back of the +Kaatskills, nigh-hand to the settlements, and the dogs often lost the +scent, when they came to them highways, there was so much travel on +them; though I can’t say that the brutes was of a very good breed. +Old Hector will wind a deer, in the fall of the year, across the +broadest place in the Otsego, and that is a mile and a half, for I +paced it my self on the ice, when the tract was first surveyed, under +the Indian grant.” + +“It sames to me, Natty, but a sorry compliment to call your comrad +after the evil one,” said the landlady; “and it’s no much like a snake +that old John is looking now, Nimrod would be a more becomeing name +for the lad, and a more Christian, too, seeing that it conies from the +Bible. The sargeant read me the chapter about him, the night before +my christening, and a mighty asement it was to listen to anything from +the book.” + +“Old John and Chingachgook were very different men to look on,” +returned the hunter, shaking his head at his melancholy recollections. +“In the ‘fifty-eighth war’ he was in the middle of manhood, and taller +than now by three inches. If you had seen him, as I did, the morning +we beat Dieskau, from behind our log walls, you would have called him +as comely a redskin as ye ever set eyes on. He was naked all to his +breech-cloth and leggins; and you never seed a creatur’ so handsomely +painted. One side of his face was red and the other black. His head +was shaved clean, all to a few hairs on the crown, where he wore a +tuft of eagle’s feathers, as bright as if they had come from a +peacock’s tail. He had colored his sides so that they looked like +anatomy, ribs and all, for Chingachgook had a great taste in such +things, so that, what with his bold, fiery countenance, his knife, and +his tomahawk, I have never seen a fiercer warrior on the ground. He +played his part, too, like a man, for I saw him next day with thirteen +scalps on his pole. And I will say this for the ‘Big Snake,’ that he +always dealt fair, and never scalped any that he didn’t kill with his +own hands.” + +“Well, well!” cried the landlady, “fighting is fighting +anyway, and there is different fashions in the thing; though +I can’t say that I relish mangling a body after the breath +is out of it; neither do I think it can be uphild by doctrine. +I hope, sargeant, ye niver was helping in sich evil worrek.” +“It was my duty to keep my ranks, and to stand or fall by the baggonet +or lead,” returned the veteran. “I was then in the fort, and seldom +leaving my place, saw but little of the savages, who kept on the +flanks or in front, skrimmaging. I remember, howsomever, to have +heard mention made of the ‘Great Snake,’ as he was called, for he was +a chief of renown; but little did I ever expect to see him enlisted in +the cause of Christianity, and civilized like old John.” + +“Oh! he was Christianized by the Moravians, who were always over- +intimate with the Delawares,” said Leather-Stocking. “It’s my opinion +that, had they been left to themselves, there would he no such doings +now about the head-waters of the two rivers, and that these hills +mought have been kept as good hunting-ground by their right owner, who +is not too old to carry a rifle, and whose sight is as true as a fish- +hawk hovering—” + +He was interrupted by more stamping at the door, and presently the +party from the mansion-house entered, followed by the Indian himself. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + + +“There’s quart-pot, pint-pot. Mit-pint, +Gill-pot, half-gill. nipperkin. +And the brown bowl— Here’s a health to the barley mow, +My brave boys, Here’s a health to the barley mow.”—Drinking Song. + +Some little commotion was produced by the appearance of the new +guests, during which the lawyer slunk from the room. Most of the men +approached Marmaduke, and shook his offered hand, hoping “that the +Judge was well;” while Major Hartmann having laid aside his hat and +wig, and substituted for the latter a warm, peaked woollen nightcap, +took his seat very quietly on one end of the settee, which was +relinquished by its former occupant. His tobacco-box was next +produced, and a clean pipe was handed him by the landlord. When he +had succeeded in raising a smoke, the Major gave a long whiff, and, +turning his head toward the bar, he said: + +“Petty, pring in ter toddy.” + +In the mean time the Judge had exchanged his salutations with most of +the company, and taken a place by the side of the Major, and Richard +had bustled himself into the most comfortable seat in the room. Mr. +Le Quoi was the last seated, nor did he venture to place his chair +finally, until by frequent removals he had ascertained that he could +not possibly intercept a ray of heat front any individual present. +Mohegan found a place on an end of one of the benches, and somewhat +approximated to the bar. + +When these movements had subsided, the Judge remarked pleasantly: +Well, Betty, I find you retain your popularity through all weathers, +against all rivals, and among all religions. How liked you the +sermon?” + +“Is it the sarmon?” exclaimed the landlady. “I can’t say but it was +rasonable; but the prayers is mighty unasy. It’s no small a matter +for a body in their fifty-nint’ year to be moving so much in church. +Mr. Grant sames a godly man, any way, and his garrel a hommble on; and +a devout. Here, John, is a mug of cider, laced with whiskey. An +Indian will drink cider, though he niver be athirst. +“I must say,” observed Hiram, with due deliberation, “that it was a +tongney thing; and I rather guess that it gave considerable +satisfaction, There was one part, though, which might have been left +out, or something else put in; but then I s’pose that, as it was a +written discourse, it is not so easily altered as where a minister +preaches without notes.” + +“Ày! there’s the rub, Joodge,” cried the landlady. “How can a man +stand up and be preaching his word, when all that he is saying is +written down, and he is as much tied to it as iver a thaving dragoon +was to the pickets?” + +“Well, well,” cried Marmaduke, waving his hand for silence, “there is +enough said; as Mr. Grant told us, there are different sentiments on +such subjects, and in my opinion he spoke most sensibly. So, Jotham, +I am told you have sold your betterments to a new settler, and have +moved into the village and opened a school. Was it cash or dicker?” + +The man who was thus addressed occupied a seat immediately behind +Marmaduke, and one who was ignorant of the extent of the Judge’s +observation might have thought he would have escaped notice. He was +of a thin, shapeless figure, with a discontented expression of +countenance, and with something extremely shiftless in his whole air, +Thus spoken to, after turning and twisting a little, by way of +preparation, he made a reply: + +“Why part cash and part dicker. I sold out to a Pumfietman who was +so’thin’ forehanded. He was to give me ten dollar an acre for the +clearin’, and one dollar an acre over the first cost on the woodland, +and we agreed to leave the buildin’s to men. So I tuck Asa Montagu, +and he tuck Absalom Bement, and they two tuck old Squire Napthali +Green. And so they had a meetin’, and made out a vardict of eighty +dollars for the buildin’s. There was twelve acres of clearin’ at ten +dollars, and eighty-eight at one, and the whole came to two hundred +and eighty-six dollars and a half, after paying the men.” + +“Hum,” said Marmaduke, “what did you give for the place?” + +“Why, besides what’s comin’ to the Judge, I gi’n my brother Tim a +hundred dollars for his bargain; but then there’s a new house on’t, +that cost me sixty more, and I paid Moses a hundred dollars for +choppin’, and loggin’, and sowin’, so that the whole stood to me in +about two hundred and sixty dollars. But then I had a great crop oft +on’t, and as I got twenty-six dollars and a half more than it cost, I +conclude I made a pretty good trade on’t.” + +“Yes, but you forgot that the crop was yours without the trade, and +you have turned yourself out of doors for twenty-six dollars.” + +“Oh! the Judge is clean out,” said the man with a look of sagacious +calculation; “he turned out a span of horses, that is wuth a hundred +and fifty dollars of any man’s money, with a bran-new wagon; fifty +dollars in cash, and a good note for eighty more; and a side-saddle +that was valued at seven and a half—so there was jist twelve shillings +betwixt us. I wanted him to turn out a set of harness, and take the +cow and the sap troughs. He wouldn’t—but I saw through it; he thought +I should have to buy the tacklin’ afore I could use the wagon and +horses; but I knowed a thing or two myself; I should like to know of +what use is the tacklin’ to him! I offered him to trade back agin for +one hundred and fifty-five. But my woman said she wanted to churn, so +I tuck a churn for the change.” + +“And what do you mean to do with your time this winter? You must +remember that time is money.” + +“Why, as master has gone down country to see his mother, who, they +say, is going to make a die on’t, I agreed to take the school in hand +till he comes back, It times doesn’t get worse in the spring, I’ve +some notion of going into trade, or maybe I may move off to the +Genesee; they say they are carryin’ on a great stroke of business +that-a-way. If the wust comes to the wust, I can but work at my +trade, for I was brought up in a shoe manufactory.” + +It would seem that Marmaduke did not think his society of sufficient +value to attempt inducing him to remain where he was, for he addressed +no further discourse to the man, but turned his attention to other +subjects. After a short pause, Hiram ventured a question: + +“What news does the Judge bring us from the Legislature? It’s not +likely that Congress has done much this session; or maybe the French +haven’t fit any more battles lately?” + +“The French, since they have beheaded their king, have done nothing +but fight,” returned the Judge. “The character of the nation seems +changed. I knew many French gentlemen during our war, and they all +appeared to me to be men of great humanity and goodness of heart; but +these Jacobins are as blood thirsty as bull-dogs.” + +“There was one Roshambow wid us down at Yorrektown,” cried the +landlady “a mighty pratty man he was too; and their horse was the very +same. It was there that the sargeant got the hurt in the leg from the +English batteries, bad luck to ‘em.” + +“Oh! mon pauvre roil” muttered Monsieur Le Quoi. + +“The Legislature have been passing laws,” continued Marmaduke, “that +the country much required. Among others, there is an act prohibiting +the drawing of seines, at any other than proper seasons, in certain of +our streams and small lakes; and another, to prohibit the killing of +deer in the teeming months. These are laws that were loudly called +for by judicious men; nor do I despair of getting an act to make the +unlawful felling of timber a criminal offence.” + +The hunter listened to this detail with breathless attention, and, +when the Judge had ended, he laughed in open derision. + +“You may make your laws, Judge,” be cried, “but who will you find to +watch the mountains through the long summer days, or the lakes at +night? Game is game, and be who finds may kill; that has been the law +in these mountains for forty years to my sartain knowledge; and I +think one old law is worth two new ones. None but a green one would +wish to kill a doe with a fa’n by its side, unless his moccasins were +getting old, or his leggins ragged, for the flesh is lean and coarse. +But a rifle rings among the rocks along the lake shore, sometimes, as +if fifty pieces were fired at once—it would be hard to tell where the +man stood who pulled the trigger.” + +“Armed with the dignity of the law, Mr. Bumppo,” returned the Judge, +gravely, “a vigilant magistrate can prevent much of the evil that has +hitherto prevailed, and which is already rendering the game scarce. I +hope to live to see the day when a man’s rights in his game shall be +as much respected as his title to his farm,” + +“Your titles and your farms are all new together,” cried Natty; “but +laws should be equal, and not more for one than another. I shot a +deer, last Wednesday was a fort night, and it floundered through the +snow-banks till it got over a brush fence; I catched the lock of my +rifle in the twigs in following, and was kept back, until finally the +creature got off. Now I want to know who is to pay me for that deer; +and a fine buck it was. If there hadn’t been a fence I should have +gotten another shot into it; and I never drawed upon anything that +hadn’t wings three times running, in my born days. No, no, Judge, +it’s the farmers that makes the game scarce, and not the hunters.” + +“Ter teer is not so plenty as in tee old war, Pumppo,” said the Major, +who had been an attentive listener, amid clouds of smoke; “put ter +lant is not mate as for ter teer to live on, put for Christians.” + +“Why, Major, I believe you’re a friend to justice and the right, +though you go so often to the grand house; but it’s a hard case to a +man to have his honest calling for a livelihood stopped by laws, and +that, too, when, if right was done, he mought hunt or fish on any day +in the week, or on the best flat in the Patent, if he was so minded.” + +“I unterstant you, Letter-Stockint,” returned the Major, fixing his +black eyes, with a look of peculiar meaning, on the hunter: “put you +didn’t use to be so prutent as to look ahet mit so much care.” + +“Maybe there wasn’t so much occasion,” said the hunter, a little +sulkily; when he sank into a silence from which be was not roused for +some time. + +“The Judge was saying so’thin’ about the French,” Hiram observed when +the pause in the conversation had continued a decent time. + +“Yes, sir,” returned Marmaduke, “the Jacobins of France seem rushing +from one act of licentiousness to an other, They continue those +murders which are dignified by the name of executions. You have heard +that they have added the death of their queen to the long list of +their crimes.” + +“Les monstres!” again murmured Monsieur Le Quoi, turning himself +suddenly in his chair, with a convulsive start. + +“The province of La Vendée is laid waste by the troops of the +republic, and hundreds of its inhabitants, who are royalists in their +sentiments, are shot at a time. La Vendée is a district in the +southwest of France, that continues yet much attached to the family of +the Bourbons; doubtless Monsieur Le Quoi is acquainted with it, and +can describe it more faithfully.” + +“Non, non, non, mon cher ami,” returned the Frenchman in a suppressed +voice, but speaking rapidly, and gesticulating with his right hand, as +if for mercy, while with his left he concealed his eyes. + +“There have been many battles fought lately,” continued Marmaduke, +“and the infuriated republicans are too often victorious. I cannot +say, however, that I am sorry that they have captured Toulon from the +English, for it is a place to which they have a just right.” + +“Ah—ha!” exclaimed Monsieur Le Quoi, springing on his feet and +flourishing both arms with great animation; “ces Anglais!” + +The Frenchman continued to move about the room with great alacrity for +a few minutes, repeating his exclamations to himself; when overcome by +the contrary nature of his emotions, he suddenly burst out of the +house, and was seen wading through the snow toward his little shop, +waving his arms on high, as if to pluck down honor from the moon. His +departure excited but little surprise, for the villagers were used to +his manner; but Major Hartmann laughed outright, for the first during +his visit, as he lifted the mug, and observed: + +“Ter Frenchman is mat—put he is goot as for noting to trink: he is +trunk mit joy.” + +“The French are good soldiers,” said Captain Hollis ter; “they stood +us in hand a good turn at Yorktown; nor do I think, although I am an +ignorant man about the great movements of the army, that his +excellency would have been able to march against Cornwallis without +their reinforcements.” + +“Ye spake the trot’, sargeant,” interrupted his wife, “and I would +iver have ye be doing the same. It’s varry pratty men is the French; +and jist when I stopt the cart, the time when ye was pushing on in +front it was, to kape the riglers in, a rigiment of the jontlemen +marched by, and so I dealt them out to their liking. Was it pay I +got? Sure did I, and in good solid crowns; the divil a bit of +continental could they muster among them all, for love nor money. +Och! the Lord forgive me for swearing and spakeing of such vanities; +but this I will say for the French, that they paid in good silver; and +one glass would go a great way wid ‘em, for they gin’rally handed it +back wid a drop in the cup; and that’s a brisk trade, Joodge, where +the pay is good, and the men not over-partic’lar.” + +“A thriving trade, Mrs. Hollister,” said Marmaduke. “But what has +become of Richard? he jumped up as soon as seated, and has been absent +so long that I am really fearful he has frozen.” + +“No fear of that, Cousin ‘Duke,” cried the gentleman himself; +“business will sometimes keep a man warm the coldest night that ever +snapt in the mountains. Betty, your husband told me, as we came out +of church, that your hogs were getting mangy, and so I have been out +to take a look at them, and found it true. I stepped across, doctor, +and got your boy to weigh me out a pound of salts, and have been +mixing it with their swill. I’ll bet a saddle of venison against a +gray squirrel that they are better in a week. And now, Mrs. +Hollister, I’m ready for a hissing mug of flip.” + +“Sure I know’d ye’d be wanting that same,” said the landlady; “it’s +fixt and ready to the boiling. Sargeant, dear, be handing up the +iron, will ye?—no, the one on the far fire, it’s black, ye will see. +Ah! you’ve the thing now; look if it’s not as red as a cherry.” +The beverage was heated, and Richard took that kind of draught which +men are apt to indulge in who think that they have just executed a +clever thing, especially when they like the liquor. + +“Oh! you have a hand. Betty, that was formed to mix flip,” cried +Richard, when he paused for breath. “The very iron has a flavor in +it. Here, John, drink, man, drink! I and you and Dr. Todd have done a +good thing with the shoulder of that lad this very night. ‘Duke, I +made a song while you were gone—one day when I had nothing to do; so +I'll sing you a verse or two, though I haven’t really determined on +the tune yet. + +“What is life but a scene of care, +Where each one must toil in his way? +Then let us be jolly, and prove that we are +A set of good fellows, who seem very rare, +And can laugh and sing all the day. +Then let us be jolly +And cast away folly, +For grief turns a black head to gray.” + +“There, ‘Duke, what do you think of that? There is another verse of +it, all but the last line. I haven’t got a rhyme for the last line +yet. Well, old John, what do you think of the music? as good as one +of your war-songs, ha?” + +“Good!” said Mohegan, who had been sharing deeply in the potations of +the landlady, besides paying a proper respect to the passing mugs of +the Major and Marmaduke. + +“Bravo! pravo! Richart,” cried the Major, whose black eyes were +beginning to swim in moisture; “pravisimo his a goot song; put Natty +Pumppo has a petter. Letter-Stockint, vilt sing? say, olt poy, vilt +sing ter song as apout ter wools?” + +“No, no, Major,” returned the hunter, with a melancholy shake of the +head, “I have lived to see what I thought eyes could never behold in +these hills, and I have no heart left for singing. If he that has a +right to be master and ruler here is forced to squinch his thirst, +when a-dry, with snow-Water, it ill becomes them that have lived by +his bounty to be making merry, as if there was nothing in the world +but sunshine and summer.” + +When he had spoken, Leather-Stocking again dropped his head on his +knees, and concealed his hard and wrinkled features with his hands. +The change from the excessive cold without to the heat of the bar- +room, coupled with the depth and frequency of Richard’s draughts, had +already levelled whatever inequality there might have existed between +him and the other guests, on the score of spirits; and he now held out +a pair of swimming mugs of foaming flip toward the hunter, as he +cried: + +“Merry! ay! merry Christmas to you, old boy! Sun shine and summer! no! +you are blind, Leather-Stocking, ‘tis moonshine and winter—take these +spectacles. and open your eyes— So let us be jolly, + +And cast away folly, + +For grief turns a black head to gray.’ + +—Hear how old John turns his quavers. What damned dull music an +Indian song is, after all, Major! I wonder if they ever sing by note.” + +While Richard was singing and talking, Mohegan was uttering dull, +monotonous tones, keeping time by a gentle motion of his head and +body. He made use of but few words, and such as he did utter were in +his native language, and consequently only understood by himself and +Natty. Without heeding Richard, he continued to sing a kind of wild, +melancholy air, that rose, at times, in sudden and quite elevated +notes, and then fell again into the low, quavering sounds that seemed +to compose the character of his music. + +The attention of the company was now much divided, the men in the rear +having formed themselves into little groups, where they were +discussing various matters; among the principal of which were the +treatment of mangy hogs and Parson Grant’s preaching; while Dr. Todd +was endeavoring to explain to Marmaduke the nature of the hurt +received by the young hunter. Mohegan continued to sing, while his +countenance was becoming vacant, though, coupled with his thick, bushy +hair, it was assuming an expression very much like brutal ferocity. +His notes were gradually growing louder, and soon rose to a height +that caused a general cessation in the discourse. The hunter now +raised his head again, and addressed the old warrior warmly in the +Delaware language, which, for the benefit of our readers, we shall +render freely into English. + +“Why do you sing of your battles, Chingachgook, and of the warriors +you have slain, when the worst enemy of all is near you, and keeps the +Young Eagle from his rights? I have fought in as many battles as any +warrior in your tribe, but cannot boast of my deeds at such a time as +this.” + +“Hawk-eye,” said the Indian, tottering with a doubtful step from his +place, “I am the Great Snake of the Delawares; I can track the Mingoes +like an adder that is stealing on the whip-poor-will’s eggs, and +strike them like the rattlesnake dead at a blow. The white man made +the tomahawk of Chingachgook bright as the waters of Otsego, when the +last sun is shining; but it is red with the blood of the Maquas.” + +“And why have you slain the Mingo warriors? Was it not to keep these +hunting-grounds and lakes to your father’s children? and were they not +given in solemn council to the Fire-eater? and does not the blood of a +warrior run in the veins of a young chief, who should speak aloud +where his voice is now too low to be heard?” + +The appeal of the hunter seemed in some measure to recall the confused +faculties of the Indian, who turned his face toward the listeners and +gazed intently on the Judge. He shook his head, throwing his hair +back from his countenance, and exposed eyes that were glaring with an +expression of wild resentment. But the man was not himself. His hand +seemed to make a fruitless effort to release his tomahawk, which was +confined by its handle to his belt, while his eyes gradually became +vacant. Richard at that instant thrusting a mug before him, his +features changed to the grin of idiocy, and seizing the vessel with +both hands, he sank backward on the bench and drank until satiated, +when he made an effort to lay aside the mug with the helplessness of +total inebriety. + +“Shed not blood!” exclaimed the hunter, as he watched the countenance +of the Indian in its moment of ferocity; “but he is drunk and can do +no harm. This is the way with all the savages; give them liquor, and +they make dogs of themselves. Well, well—the- day will come when +right will be done; and we must have patience.” + +Natty still spoke in the Delaware language, and of course was not +understood. He had hardly concluded before Richard cried: + +“Well, old John is soon sewed up. Give him a berth, captain, in the +barn, and I will pay for it. I am rich to night, ten times richer +than ‘Duke, with all his lands, amid military lots, and funded debts, +and bonds, and mortgages + +' Come, let us be jolly, +And cast awsy folly, +For grief—-’ + +Drink, King Hiram—drink, Mr. Doo-nothing—-drink, sir, I say. This is +a Christmas eve, which comes, you know, but once a year.” + +“He! he! he! the squire is quite moosical to-night,” said Hiram, whose +visage began to give marvellous signs of relaxation. “I rather guess +we shall make a church on’t yet, squire?” + +“A church, Mr. Doolittle! we will make a cathedral of it! bishops, +priests, deacons, wardens, vestry, and choir; organ, organist, amid +bellows! By the Lord Harry, as Benjamin says, we will clap a steeple +on the other end of it, and make two churches of it. What say you, +‘Duke, will you pay? ha! my cousin Judge, wilt pay?” + +“Thou makest such a noise, Dickon,” returned Marmaduke, “it is +impossible that I can hear what Dr. Todd is saying. I think thou +observedst, it is probable the wound will fester, so as to occasion +danger to the limb in this cold weather?” + +“Out of nater, sir, quite out of nater,” said Elnathan, attempting to +expectorate, but succeeding only in throwing a light, frothy +substance, like a flake of snow, into the fire—” quite out of nater +that a wound so well dressed, and with the ball in my pocket, should +fester. I s’pose, as the Judge talks of taking the young man into his +house, it will be most convenient if I make but one charge on’t.” + +“I should think one would do,” returned Marmaduke, with that arch +smile that so often beamed on his face; leaving the beholder in doubt +whether he most enjoyed the character of his companion or his own +covert humor. The landlord had succeeded in placing the. Indian on +some straw in one of his outbuildings, where, covered with his own +blanket, John continued for the remainder of the night. + +In the mean time, Major Hartmann began to grow noisy and jocular; +glass succeeded glass, and mug after mug was introduced, until the +carousal had run deep into the night, or rather morning; when the +veteran German ex- I pressed an inclination to return to the mansion- +house. Most of the party had already retired, but Marmaduke knew the +habits of his friend too well to suggest an earlier adjournment. So +soon, however, as the proposal was made, the Judge eagerly availed +himself of it, and the trio prepared to depart. Mrs. Hollister +attended them to the door in person, cautioning her guests as to the +safest manner of leaving her premises + +“Lane on Mister Jones, Major,” said she “he’s young and will be a +support to ye. Well, it’s a charming sight to see ye, anyway, at the +Bould Dragoon; and sure it’s no harm to be kaping a Christmas eve wid +a light heart, for it’s no telling when we may have sorrow come upon +us. So good-night, Joodge, and a merry Christmas to ye all tomorrow +morning.” + +The gentlemen made their adieus as well as they could, and taking the +middle of the road, which was a fine, wide, and well-beaten path, they +did tolerably well until they reached the gate of the mansion-house: +but on entering the Judge’s domains they encountered some slight +difficulties. We shall not stop to relate them, but will just mention +that in the morning sundry diverging paths were to be seen in the +snow; and that once during their progress to the door, Marmaduke, +missing his companions, was enabled to trace them by one of these +paths to a spot where he discovered them with nothing visible but +their heads, Richard singing in a most vivacious strain: + +“Come, let us be jolly, +And cast away folly, +For grief turns a black head to gray.” + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + + +“As she lay, on that day, in the Bay of Biscay, 0!” + +Previously to the occurrence of the scene at the “Bold Dragoon,” +Elizabeth had been safely reconducted to the mansion-house, where she +was left as its mistress, either to amuse or employ herself during the +evening as best suited her own inclinations. Most of the lights were +extinguished; but as Benjamin adjusted with great care and regularity +four large candles, in as many massive candlesticks of brass, in a row +on the sideboard, the hall possessed a peculiar air of comfort and +warmth, contrasted with the cheerless aspect of the room she had left +in the academy. + +Remarkable had been one of the listeners to Mr. Grant, and returned +with her resentment, which had been not a little excited by the +language of the Judge, somewhat softened by reflection and the +worship. She recollected the youth of Elizabeth, and thought it no +difficult task, under present appearances, to exercise that power +indirectly which hitherto she had enjoyed undisputed. The idea of +being governed, or of being compelled to pay the deference of +servitude, was absolutely intolerable; and she had already determined +within herself, some half dozen times, to make an effort that should +at once bring to an issue the delicate point of her domestic +condition. But as often as she met the dark, proud eye of Elizabeth, +who was walking up and down the apartment, musing on the scenes of her +youth and the change in her condition, and perhaps the events of the +day, the housekeeper experienced an awe that she would not own to +herself could be excited by anything mortal. It, however, checked her +advances, and for some time held her tongue-tied. At length she +determined to commence the discourse by entering on a subject that was +apt to level all human distinctions, and in which she might display +her own abilities. + +“It was quite a wordy sarmon that Parson Grant gave us to-night,” said +Remarkable. “The church ministers be commonly smart sarmonizers, but +they write down their idees, which is a great privilege. I don’t +think that, by nater, they are as tonguey speakers, for an off-hand +discourse, as the standing-order ministers.” + +“And what denomination do you distinguish as the standing-order?” +inquired Miss Temple, with some surprise. + +“Why, the Presbyter’ans and Congregationals, and Baptists, too, for- +til’ now; and all sitch as don’t go on their knees to prayer,” + +“By that rule, then, you would call those who belong’ to the +persuasion of my father, the sitting-order,” observed Elizabeth. +“I’m sure I’ve never heard ‘em spoken of by any other’ name than +Quakers, so called,” returned Remarkable, betraying a slight +uneasiness; “I should be the last to call them otherwise, for I never +in my life used a disparaging’ tarm of the Judge, or any of his +family. I’ve always set store by the Quakers, they are so pretty- +spoken, clever people, and it’s a wonderment to me how your father +come to marry into a church family; for they are as contrary in +religion as can be. One sits still, and, for the most part; says +nothing, while the church folks practyse all kinds of ways, so that I +sometimes think it quite moosical to see them; for I went to a church- +meeting once before, down country.” + +“You have found an excellence in the church liturgy that has hitherto +escaped me. I will thank you to inquire whether the fire in my room +burns; I feel fatigued with my journey, and will retire.” + +Remarkable felt a wonderful inclination to tell the young mistress of +the mansion that by opening a door she might see for herself; but +prudence got the better of resentment, and after pausing some little +time, as a salve to her dignity, she did as desired. The report was +favorable, and the young lady, wishing Benjamin, who was filling the +stove with wood, and the housekeeper, each a good-night, withdrew. + +The instant the door closed on Miss Temple, Remark able commenced a +sort of mysterious, ambiguous discourse, that was neither abusive nor +commendatory of the qualities of the absent personage, but which +seemed to be drawing nigh, by regular degrees, to a most dissatisfied +description. The major-domo made no reply. but continued his +occupation with great industry, which being happily completed, he took +a look at the thermometer, and then opening a drawer of the sideboard, +he produced a supply of stimulants that would have served to keep the +warmth in his system without the aid of the enormous fire he had been +building. A small stand was drawn up near the stove, and the bottles +and the glasses necessary for convenience were quietly arranged. Two +chairs were placed by the side of this comfortable situation, when +Benjamin, for the first time, appeared to observe his companion. + +“Come,” he cried, “come, Mistress Remarkable, bring yourself to an +anchor on this chair. It’s a peeler without, I can tell you, good +woman; but what cares I? blow high or blow low, d’ye see, it’s all the +same thing to Ben. The niggers are snug stowed below before a fire +that would roast an ox whole. The thermometer stands now at fifty- +five, but if there’s any vartue in good maple wood, I’ll weather upon +it, before one glass, as much as ten points more, so that the squire, +when he comes home from Betty Hollister’s warm room, will feel as hot +as a hand that has given the rigging a lick with bad tar. Come, +mistress, bring up in this here chair, and tell me how you like our +new heiress.” + +“Why, to my notion, Mr. Penguillum——” + +“Pump, Pump,” interrupted Benjamin; “it’s Christmas eve, Mistress +Remarkable, and so, dye see, you had better call me Pump. It’s a +shorter name, and as I mean to pump this here decanter till it sucks, +why, you may as well call me Pump.” + +“Did you ever!” cried Remarkable, with a laugh that seemed to unhinge +every joint in her body. “You’re a moosical creature, Benjamin, when +the notion takes you. But, as I was saying, I rather guess that times +will be altered now in this house.” + +“Altered!” exclaimed the major-domo, eyeing the bottle, that was +assuming the clear aspect of cut glass with astonishing rapidity; “it +don’t matter much, Mistress Remarkable, so long as I keep the keys of +the lockers in my pocket.” + +“I can’t say,” continued the housekeeper, “but there’s good eatables +and drinkables enough in the house for a body’s content—a little more +sugar, Benjamin, in the glass —for Squire Jones is an excellent +provider. But new lords, new laws; and I shouldn’t wonder if you and +I had an unsartain time on’t in footer.” + +“Life is as unsartain as the wind that blows,” said Benjamin, with a +moralizing air; “and nothing is more varible than the wind, Mistress +Remarkable, unless you hap pen to fall in with the trades, d’ye see, +and then you may run for the matter of a month at a time, with +studding-sails on both sides, alow and aloft, and with the cabin-boy +at the wheel.” + +“I know that life is disp’ut unsartain,” said Remark able, compressing +her features to the humor of her companion; “but I expect there will +be great changes made in the house to rights; and that you will find a +young man put over your head, as there is one that wants to be over +mine; and after having been settled as long as you have, Benjamin, I +should judge that to be hard.” + +“Promotion should go according to length of sarvice,” said the major- +domo; “and if-so-be that they ship a hand for my berth, or place a new +steward aft, I shall throw up my commission in less time than you can +put a pilot-boat in stays. Thof Squire Dickon “—this was a common +misnomer with Benjamin—” is a nice gentleman, and as good a man to +sail with as heart could wish, yet I shall tel the squire, d’ye see, +in plain English, and that’s my native tongue, that if-so-be he is +thinking of putting any Johnny Raw over my head, why, I shall resign. +I began forrard, Mistress Prettybones, and worked my way aft, like a +man. I was six months aboard a Garnsey lugger, hauling in the slack +of the lee-sheet and coiling up rigging. From that I went a few trips +in a fore-and-after, in the same trade, which, after all, was but a +blind kind of sailing in the dark, where a man larns but little, +excepting how to steer by the stars. Well, then, d’ye see, I larnt +how a topmast should be slushed, and how a topgallant-sail was to be +becketted; and then I did small jobs in the cabin, such as mixing the +skipper’s grog. ‘Twas there I got my taste, which, you must have +often seen, is excel lent. Well, here’s better acquaintance to us.” +Remarkable nodded a return to the compliment, and took a sip of the +beverage before her; for, provided it was well sweetened, she had no +objection to a small potation now and then, After this observance of +courtesy between the worthy couple, the dialogue proceeded. + +“You have had great experiences in life, Benjamin; for, as the +Scripter says, ‘They that go down to the sea in ships see the works of +the Lord.’” + +“Ay! for that matter, they in brigs and schooners, too; and it mought +say, the works of the devil. The sea, Mistress Remarkable, is a great +advantage to a man, in the way of knowledge, for he sees the fashions +of nations and the shape of a country. Now, I suppose, for myself +here, who is but an unlarned man to some that follows the seas, I +suppose that, taking the coast from Cape Ler Hogue as low down as Cape +Finish-there, there isn’t so much as a headland, or an island, that I +don’t know either the name of it or something more or less about it. +Take enough, woman, to color the water. Here’s sugar. It’s a sweet +tooth, that fellow that you hold on upon yet, Mistress Prettybones. +But, as I was saying, take the whole coast along, I know it as well as +the way from here to the Bold Dragoon; and a devil of acquaintance is +that Bay of Biscay. Whew! I wish you could but hear the wind blow +there. It sometimes takes two to hold one man’s hair on his head. +Scudding through the bay is pretty much the same thing as travelling +the roads in this country, up one side of a mountain and down the +other,” + +“Do tell!” exclaimed Remarkable; “and does the sea run as high as +mountains, Benjamin?” + +“Well, I will tell; but first let’s taste the grog. Hem! it’s the +right kind of stuff, I must say, that you keep in this country; but +then you’re so close aboard the West Indies, you make but a small run +of it. By the Lord Harry, woman, if Garnsey only lay somewhere +between Cape Hatteras and the bite of Logann, but you’d see rum cheap! +As to the seas, they runs more in uppers in the Bay of Biscay, unless +it may be in a sow-wester, when they tumble about quite handsomely; +thof it’s not in the narrow sea that you are to look for a swell; just +go off the Western Islands, in a westerly blow, keeping the land on +your larboard hand, with the ship’s head to the south’ard, and bring +to, under a close-reefed topsail; or, mayhap, a reefed foresail, with +a fore-topmast-staysail and mizzen staysail to keep her up to the sea, +if she will bear it; and ay there for the matter of two watches, if +you want to see mountains. Why, good woman, I’ve been off there in +the Boadishey frigate, when you could see nothing but some such matter +as a piece of sky, mayhap, as big as the main sail; and then again, +there was a hole under your lee-quarter big enough to hold the whole +British navy.” + +“Oh! for massy’s sake! and wa’n’t you afeard, Benjamin? and how did +you get off?” + +“Afeard! who the devil do you think was to be frightened at a little +salt water tumbling about his head? As for getting off, when we had +enough of it, and had washed our decks down pretty well, we called all +hands, for, d’ye see, the watch below was in their hammocks, all the +same as if they were in one of your best bedrooms; and so we watched +for a smooth time, clapt her helm hard a weather, let fall the +foresail, and got the tack aboard; and so, when we got her afore it, I +ask you, Mistress Prettybones, if she didn’t walk? didn’t she? I’m no +liar, good woman, when I say that I saw that ship jump from the top of +one sea to another, just like one of these squirrels that can fly +jumps from tree to tree.” + +“What! clean out of the water?” exclaimed Remark able, lifting her two +lank arms, with their bony hands spread in astonishment. + +“It was no such easy matte: to get out of the water, good woman; for +the spray flew so that you couldn’t tell which was sea or which was +cloud. So there we kept her afore it for the matter of two glasses. +The first lieutenant he cun’d the ship himself, and there was four +quarter masters at the wheel, besides the master with six forecastle +men in the gun-room at the relieving tackles. But then she behaved +herself so well! Oh! she was a sweet ship, mistress! That one frigate +was well worth more, to live in, than the best house in the island. +If I was king of England I’d have her hauled up above Lon’on bridge, +and fit her up for a palace; because why? if anybody can afford to +live comfortably, his majesty can.” + +“Well! but, Benjamin,” cried the listener, who was in an ecstasy of +astonishment at this relation of the steward’s dangers, “what did you +do?” + +“Do! why, we did our duty like hearty fellows. Now if the countrymen +of Monnsheer Ler Quaw had been aboard of her, they would have just +struck her ashore on some of them small islands; but we run along the +land until we found her dead to leeward off the mountains of Pico, and +dam’me if I know to this day how we got there—whether we jumped over +the island or hauled round it; but there we was, and there we lay, +under easy sail, fore-reaching first upon one tack and then upon +t’other, so as to poke her nose out now and then and take a look to +wind’ard till the gale blowed its pipe out.” + +“I wonder, now!” exclaimed Remarkable, to whom most of the terms used +by Benjamin were perfectly unintelligible, but who had got a confused +idea of a raging tempest. “It must be an awful life, that going to +sea! and I don’t feel astonishment that you are so affronted with the +thoughts, of being forced to quit a comfortable home like this. Not +that a body cares much for’t, as there’s more houses than one to live +in. Why, when the Judge agreed with me to come and live with him, I’d +no more notion of stopping any time than anything. I happened in just +to see how the family did, about a week after Mrs. Temple died, +thinking to be back home agin’ night; but the family was in such a +distressed way that I couldn’t but stop awhile and help em on. I +thought the situation a good one, seeing that I was an unmarried body, +and they were so much in want of help; so I tarried.” + +“And a long time you’ve left your anchors down in the same place, +mistress. I think yo’ must find that the ship rides easy.” + +“How you talk, Benjamin! there’s no believing a word you say. I must +say that the Judge and Squire Jones have both acted quite clever, so +long; but I see that now we shall have a specimen to the contrary. I +heern say thats the Judge was gone a great ‘broad, and that he meant +to bring his darter hum, but I didn’t calculate on sich carrins +on. To my notion, Benjamin, she’s likely to turn out a desp’ut ugly +gal.” + +“Ugly!” echoed the major-domo, opening eyes that were beginning to +close in a very suspicious sleepiness, in wide amazement. “By the +Lord Harry, woman, I should as soon think of calling the Boadishey a +clumsy frigate. What the devil would you have? Arn’t her eyes as +bright as the morning and evening stars? and isn’t her hair as black +and glistening as rigging that has just had a lick of tar? doesn’t she +move as stately as a first-rate in smooth water, on a bowline? Why, +woman, the figure-head of the Boadishey was a fool to her, and that, +as I’ve often heard the captain say, was an image of a great queen; +and arn’t queens always comely, woman? for who do you think would be a +king, and not choose a handsome bedfellow?” + +“Talk decent, Benjamin,” said the housekeeper, “Or I won’t keep your +company. I don’t gainsay her being comely to look on, but I will +maintain that she’s likely to show poor conduct. She seems to think +herself too good to talk to a body. From what Squire Jones had telled +me, I some expected to be quite captivated by her company. Now, to my +reckoning, Lowizy Grant is much more pritty behaved than Betsey +Temple. She wouldn’t so much as hold discourse with me when I wanted +to ask her how she felt on coming home and missing her mammy.” + +“Perhaps she didn’t understand you, woman; you are none of the best +linguister; and then Miss Lizzy has been exercising the king’s English +under a great Lon’on lady, and, for that matter, can talk the language +almost as well as myself, or any native-born British subject. You’ve +forgot your schooling, and the young mistress is a great scollard.” + +“Mistress!” cried Remarkable; “don’t make one out to be a nigger, +Benjamin. She’s no mistress of mine, and never will be. And as to +speech, I hold myself as second to nobody out of New England. I was +born and raised in Essex County; and I’ve always heern say that the +Bay State was provarbal for pronounsation!” + +“I’ve often heard of that Bay of State,” said Benjamin, “but can’t say +that I’ve ever been in it, nor do I know exactly whereaway it is that +it lays; but I suppose there is good anchorage in it, and that it’s no +bad place for the taking of ling; but for size it can’t be so much as +a yawl to a sloop of war compared with the Bay of Biscay, or, mayhap, +Torbay. And as for language, if you want to hear the dictionary +overhauled like a log-line in a blow, you must go to Wapping and +listen to the Lon’oners as they deal out their lingo. Howsomever, I +see no such mighty matter that Miss Lizzy has been doing to you, good +woman; so take another drop of your brews and forgive and forget, like +an honest soul,” + +“No, indeed! and I shan’t do sitch a thing, Benjamin. This treatment +is a newity to me, and what I won’t put up with. I have a hundred and +fifty dollars at use, besides a bed and twenty sheep, to good; and I +don’t crave to live in a house where a body mustn’t call a young woman +by her given name to her face. I will call her Betsey as much as I +please; it’s a free country, and no one can stop me. I did intend to +stop while summer, but I shall quit to-morrow morning; and I will talk +just as I please.” + +“For that matter, Mistress Remarkable,” said Benjamin, “there’s none +here who will contradict you; for I’m of opinion that it would be as +easy to stop a hurricane with a Barcelony handkerchy as to bring up +your tongue when the stopper is off. I say, good woman, do they grow +many monkeys along the shores of that Bay of State?” + +“You’re a monkey yourself, Mr. Penguillum,” cried the enraged +housekeeper, “or a bear—a black, beastly bear! and ain’t fit for a +decent woman to stay with. I’ll never, keep your company agin, sir, +if I should live thirty years with the Judge. Sitch talk is more +befitting the kitchen than the keeping-room of a house of one who is +well-to-do in the world.” + +“Look you, Mistress Pitty—Patty------Prettybones, mayhap I’m some such +matter as a bear, as they will find who come to grapple with me; but +dam’me if I’m a monkey— a thing that chatters without knowing a word +of what it says—a parrot; that will hold a dialogue, for what an +honest man knows, in a dozen languages; mayhap in the Bay of State +lingo; mayhap in Greek or High Dutch. But dost it know what it means +itself? canst answer me that, good woman? Your midshipman can sing +out, and pass the word, when the captain gives the order, but just +send him adrift by himself, and let him work the ship of his own head, +and stop my grog if you don’t find all the Johnny Raws laughing at +him.” + +“Stop your grog, indeed!” said Remarkable, rising with great +indignation, and seizing a candle; “you’re groggy now, Benjamin and +I’ll quit the room before I hear any misbecoming words from you.” +The housekeeper retired, with a manner but little less dignified, as +she thought, than the air of the heiress, muttering as she drew the +door after her, with a noise like the report of a musket, the +opprobrious terms of “drunkard,” “sot,” and “ beast.” + +“Who’s that you say is drunk?” cried Benjamin fiercely, rising and +making a movement toward Remarkable. “You talk of mustering yourself +with a lady you’re just fit to grumble and find fault. Where the +devil should you larn behavior and dictionary? in your damned Bay of +State, ha?” + +Benjamin here fell back in his chair, and soon gave vent to certain +ominous sounds, which resembled not a little the growling of his +favorite animal the bear itself. Be fore, however, he was quite +locked—to use the language that would suit the Della-cruscan humor of +certain refined minds of the present day—” in the arms of Morpheus,” +he spoke aloud, observing due pauses between his epithets, the +impressive terms of “monkey,” “parrot,” “picnic,” “tar pot,” and +“linguisters” + +We shall not attempt to explain his meaning nor connect his sentences; +and our readers must be satisfied with our informing them that they +were expressed with all that coolness of contempt that a man might +well be supposed to feel for a monkey. + +Nearly two hours passed in this sleep before the major domo was +awakened by the noisy entrance of Richard, Major Hartmann, and the +master of the mansion. Benjamin so far rallied his confused faculties +as to shape the course of the two former to their respective +apartments, when he disappeared himself, leaving the task of securing +the house to him who was most interested in its safety. Locks and +bars were but little attended to in the early days of that settlement, +and so soon as Marmaduke had given an eye to the enormous fires of his +dwelling he retired. With this act of prudence closes the first night +of our tale. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + + +“Watch (aside). Some treason, masters— +Yet stand close.”—Much Ado About Nothing. + +It was fortunate for more than one of the bacchanalians who left the +“Bold Dragoon” late in the evening that the severe cold of the season +was becoming rapidly less dangerous as they threaded the different +mazes through the snow-banks that led to their respective dwellings. +Then driving clouds began toward morning to flit across the heavens, +and the moon set behind a volume of vapor that was impelled furiously +toward the north, carrying with it the softer atmosphere from the +distant ocean. The rising sun was obscured by denser and increasing +columns of clouds, while the southerly wind that rushed up the valley +brought the never-failing symptoms of a thaw. + +It was quite late in the morning before Elizabeth, observing the faint +glow which appeared on the eastern mountain long after the light of +the sun had struck the opposite hills, ventured from the house, with a +view to gratify her curiosity with a glance by daylight at the +surrounding objects before the tardy revellers of the Christmas eve +should make their appearance at the breakfast- table. While she was +drawing the folds of her pelisse more closely around her form, to +guard against a cold that was yet great though rapidly yielding, in +the small inclosure that opened in the rear of the house on a little +thicket of low pines that were springing up where trees of a mightier +growth had lately stood, she was surprised at the voice of Mr. Jones. + +“Merry Christmas, merry Christmas to you, Cousin Bess,” he shouted. +“Ah, ha! an early riser, I see; but I knew I should steal a march on +you. I never was in a house yet where I didn’t get the first +Christmas greeting on every soul in it, man, woman, and child—great +and small—black, white, and yellow. But stop a minute till I can just +slip on my coat. You are about to look at the improvements, I see, +which no one can explain so well as I, who planned them all. It will +be an hour before ‘Duke and the Major can sleep off Mrs. Hollister’s +confounded distillations, and so I’ll come down and go with you. + +Elizabeth turned and observed her cousin in his night cap, with his +head out of his bedroom window, where his zeal for pre-eminence, in +defiance of the weather, had impelled him to thrust it. She laughed, +and promising to wait for his company re-entered the house, making her +appearance again, holding in her hand a packet that was secured by +several large and important seals, just in time to meet the gentleman. + +“Come, Bessy, come,” he cried, drawing one of her arms through his +own; “ the snow begins to give, but it will bear us yet. Don’t you +snuff old Pennsylvania in the very air? This is a vile climate, girl; +now at sunset, last evening, it was cold enough to freeze a man’s +zeal, and that, I can tell you, takes a thermometer near zero for me; +then about nine or ten it began to moderate; at twelve it was quite +mild, and here all the rest of the night I have been so hot as not to +bear a blanket on the bed. —Holla! Aggy—merry Christmas, Aggy—I say, +do you hear me, you black dog! there’s a dollar for you; and if the +gentle men get up before I come back, do you come out and let me know. +I wouldn’t have 'Duke get the start of me for the worth of your head.” + +The black caught the money from the snow, and promising a due degree +of watchfulness, he gave the dollar a whirl of twenty feet in the air, +and catching it as it fell in the palm of his hand, he withdrew to the +kitchen, to exhibit his present, with a heart as light as his face was +happy in its expression. + +“Oh, rest easy, my dear coz,” said the young lady; “I took a look in +at my father, who is likely to sleep an hour; and by using due +vigilance you will secure all the honors of the season.” + +“Why, Duke is your father, Elizabeth ; but ‘Duke is a man who likes to +be foremost, even in trifles. Now, as for myself, I care for no such +things, except in the way of competition; for a thing which is of no +moment in itself may be made of importance in the way of competition. +So it is with your father—he loves to he first; but I only; struggle +with him as a competitor.” + +“It’s all very clear, sir,” said Elizabeth; “you would not care a fig +for distinction if there were no one in the world but yourself; but as +there happens to be a great many others, why, you must struggle with +them all—in the way of competition.” + +“Exactly so; I see you are a clever girl, Bess, and one who does +credit to her masters. It was my plan to send you to that school; for +when your father first mentioned the thing, I wrote a private letter +for advice to a judicious friend in the city, who recommended the very +school you went to. ‘Duke was a little obstinate at first, as usual, +but when he heard the truth he was obliged to send you.” + +“Well, a truce to ‘Duke’s foibles, sir; he is my father, and if you +knew what he has been doing for you while we were in Albany, you would +deal more tenderly with his character.” + +“For me!” cried Richard, pausing a moment in his walk to reflect. +“Oh! he got the plans of the new Dutch meeting-house for me, I +suppose; but I care very little about it, for a man of a certain kind +of talent is seldom aided by any foreign suggestions; his own brain is +the best architect.” + +“No such thing,” said Elizabeth, looking provokingly knowing. + +“No! let me see—perhaps he had my name put in the bill for the new +turnpike, as a director.” + +“He might possibly; but it is not to such an appointment that I +allude.” + +“Such an appointment!” repeated Mr. Jones, who began to fidget with +curiosity; “then it is an appointment. If it is in the militia, I +won’t take it. + +“No, no, it is not in the militia,” cried Elizabeth, showing the +packet in her hand, and then drawing it back with a coquettish air; +“it is an office of both honor and emolument.” + +“Honor and emolument!” echoed Richard, in painful suspense; “show me +the paper, girl. Say, is it an office where there is anything to do?” + +“You have hit it, Cousin Dickon; it is the executive office of the +county; at least so said my father when he gave me this packet to +offer you as a Christmas-box. Surely, if anything will please +Dickon,’ he said, ‘it will be to fill the executive chair of the +county.’” + +“Executive chair! what nonsense!” cried the impatient gentleman, +snatching the packet from her hand; “there is no such office in the +county. Eh! what! it is, I declare, a commission, appointing Richard +Jones, Esquire, sheriff of the county. Well, this is kind in ‘Duke, +positively. I must say ‘Duke has a warm heart, and never forgets his +friends. Sheriff! High Sheriff of —! it sounds well, Bess, but it +shall execute better. ‘Duke is a judicious man after all, and knows +human nature thoroughly, I’m much obliged to him,” continued Richard, +using the skirt of his coat unconsciously to wipe his eyes; “though I +would do as much for him any day, as he shall see, if I have an +opportunity to perform any of the duties of my office on him. It +shall be done, Cousin Bess----it shall be done, I say. How this +cursed south wind makes one’s eyes water!” + +“Now, Richard,” said the laughing maiden, “now I think you will find +something to do. I have often heard you complain of old that there +was nothing to do in this new country, while to my eyes it seemed as +if everything remained to be done.” + +“Do!” echoed Richard, who blew his nose, raised his little form to its +greatest elevation, and looked serious. “Everything depends on +system, girl. I shall sit down this afternoon and systematize the +county. I must have deputies, you know. I will divide the county +into districts, over which I will place my deputies; and I will have +one for the village, which I will call my home department. Let me +see—ho! Benjamin! yes, Benjamin will make a good deputy; he has been +naturalized, and would answer admirably if he could only ride on +horseback.” + +“Yes, Mr. Sheriff,” said his companion; “and as he understands ropes +so well, he would be very expert, should occasion happen for his +services in another way.” + +“No,” interrupted the other; “I flatter myself that no man could hang +a man better than—that is—ha!—oh! yes, Benjamin would do extremely +well in such an unfortunate dilemma, if he could be persuaded to +attempt it. But I should despair of the thing. I never could induce +him to hang, or teach him to ride on horseback. I must seek another +deputy.” +“Well, sir, as you have abundant leisure for all these important +affairs, I beg that you will forget that you are high sheriff, and +devote some little of your time to gallantry. Where are the beauties +and improvements which you were to show me?” + +“Where? why, everywhere! Here I have laid out some new streets; and +when they are opened, and the trees felled, and they are all built up, +will they not make a fine town? Well, ‘Duke is a liberal-hearted +fellow, with all his stubbornness. Yes, yes; I must have at least +four deputies, besides a jailer.” + +“I see no streets in the direction of our walk,” said Elizabeth, +“unless you call the short avenues through these pine bushes by that +name. Surely you do not contemplate building houses, very soon, in +that forest before us, and in those swamps.” + +We must run our streets by the compass, coz, and disregard trees, +hills, ponds, stumps, or, in fact, anything but posterity. Such is +the will of your father, and your father, you know——” + +“Had you made sheriff, Mr. Jones,” interrupted the lady, with a tone +that said very plainly to the gentleman that he was touching a +forbidden subject. + +“I know it, I know it,” cried Richard; “and if it were in my power, +I’d make ‘Duke a king. He is a noble hearted fellow, and would make +an excellent king; that is, if he had a good prime minister. But who +have we here? voices in the bushes—a combination about mischief, I’ll +wager my commission. Let us draw near and examine a little into the +matter.” + +During this dialogue, as the parties had kept in motion, Richard and +his cousin advanced some distance from the house into the open space +in the rear of the village, where, as may be gathered from the +conversation, streets were planned and future dwellings contemplated; +but where, in truth, the only mark of improvement that was to be seen +was a neglected clearing along the skirt of a dark forest of mighty +pines, over which the bushes or sprouts of the same tree had sprung up +to a height that interspersed the fields of snow with little thickets +of evergreen. The rushing of the wind, as it whistled through the +tops of these mimic trees, prevented the footsteps of the pair from +being heard, while the branches concealed their persons. Thus aided, +the listeners drew nigh to a spot where the young hunter, Leather- +Stocking, and the Indian chief were collected in an earnest +consultation. The former was urgent in his manner, and seemed to +think the subject of deep importance, while Natty appeared to listen +with more than his usual attention to what the other was saying. +Mohegan stood a little on one side, with his head sunken on his chest, +his hair falling forward so as to conceal most of his features, and +his whole attitude expressive of deep dejection, if not of shame. +Let us withdraw,” whispered Elizabeth; “ we are intruders, and can +have no right to listen to the secrets of these men.” + +“No right!” returned Richard a little impatiently, in the same tone, +and drawing her arm so forcibly through his own as to prevent her +retreat; “you forget, cousin, that it is my duty to preserve the peace +of the county and see the laws executed, these wanderers frequently +commit depredations, though I do not think John would do anything +secretly. Poor fellow! he was quite boozy last night, and hardly +seems to be over it yet. Let us draw nigher and hear what they say.” + +Notwithstanding the lady’s reluctance, Richard, stimulated doubtless +by his sense of duty, prevailed; and they were soon so near as +distinctly to hear sounds. + +“The bird must he had,” said Natty, “by fair means or foul. Heigho! +I’ve known the time, lad, when the wild turkeys wasn’t over-scarce in +the country; though you must go into the Virginia gaps if you want +them now. ‘to be sure, there is a different taste to a partridge and +a well-fatted turkey; though, to my eating, beaver’s tail and bear’s +ham make the best of food. But then every one has his own appetite. +I gave the last farthing, all to that shilling, to the French trader, +this very morning, as I came through the town, for powder; so, as you +have nothing, we can have but one shot for it. I know that Billy +Kirby is out, and means to have a pull of the trigger at that very +turkey. John has a true eye for a single fire, and, some how, my hand +shakes so whenever I have to do anything extrawnary, that I often lose +my aim. Now, when I killed the she-bear this fall, with her cubs, +though they were so mighty ravenous, I knocked them over one at a +shot, and loaded while I dodged the trees in the bargain; but this is +a very different thing, Mr. Oliver.” + +“This,” cried the young man, with an accent that sounded as if he took +a bitter pleasure in his poverty, while he held a shilling up before +his eyes, “this is all the treasure that I possess—this and my rifle! +Now, indeed, I have become a man of the woods, and must place my sole +dependence on the chase. Come, Natty, let us stake the last penny for +the bird; with your aim, it cannot fail to be successful.” + +“I would rather it should be John, lad; my heart jumps into my mouth, +because you set your mind so much out; and I’m sartain that I shall +miss the bird. Them Indians can shoot one time as well as another; +nothing ever troubles them. I say, John, here’s a shilling; take my +rifle, and get a shot at the big turkey they’ve put up at the stump. +Mr. Oliver is over-anxious for the creatur’, and I’m sure to do +nothing when I have over-anxiety about it.” + +The Indian turned his head gloomily, and after looking keenly for a +moment, in profound silence, at his companions, he replied: + +“When John was young, eyesight was not straighter than his bullet. +The Mingo squaws cried out at the sound of his rifle. The Mingo +warriors were made squaws. When did he ever shoot twice? The eagle +went above the clouds when he passed the wigwam of Chingachgook; his +feathers were plenty with the women. But see,” he said, raising his +voice from the low, mournful tones in which he had spoken to a pitch +of keen excitement, and stretching forth both hands, “they shake like +a deer at the wolf’s howl. Is John old? When was a Mohican a squaw +with seventy winters? No! the white man brings old age with him—rum is +his tomahawk!” + +“Why, then, do you use it, old man?” exclaimed the young hunter; “why +will one, so noble by nature, aid the devices of the devil by making +himself a beast?” + +“Beast! is John a beast?” replied the Indian slowly; “yes; you say no +lie, child of the Fire-eater! John is a beast. The smokes were once +few in these hills, The deer would lick the hand of a white man and +the birds rest on his head. They were strangers to him. My fathers +came from the shores of the salt lake. They fled before rum. They +came to their grandfather, and they lived in peace; or, when they did +raise the hatchet, it was to strike it into the brain of a Mingo. +They gathered around the council fire, and what they said was done. +Then John was a man. But warriors and traders with light eyes +followed them. One brought the long knife and one brought rum. They +were more than the pines on the mountains; and they broke up the +councils and took the lands, The evil spirit was in their jugs, and +they let him loose. Yes yes—you say no lie, Young Eagle; John is a +Christian beast.” + +“Forgive me, old warrior,” cried the youth, grasping his hand; “I +should be the last to reproach you. The curses of Heaven light on the +cupidity that has destroyed such a race. Remember, John, that I am of +your family, and it is now my greatest pride.” + +The muscles of Mohegan relaxed a little, and he said, more mildly: + +“You are a Delaware, my son; your words are not heard—John cannot +shoot.” + +“I thought that lad had Indian blood in him,” whispered Richard, “by +the awkward way he handled my horses last night. You see, coz, they +never use harness. But the poor fellow shall have two shots at the +turkey, if he wants it, for I’ll give him another shilling myself; +though, per haps, I had better offer to shoot for him. They have got +up their Christmas sports, I find, in the bushes yonder, where you +hear the laughter—though it is a queer taste this chap has for turkey; +not but what it is good eating, too,” + +“Hold, Cousin Richard,” exclaimed Elizabeth, clinging to his arm; +“would it be delicate to offer a shilling to that gentleman?” + +“Gentleman, again! Do you think a half-breed, like him, will refuse +money? No, no, girl, he will take the shilling; ay! and even rum too, +notwithstanding he moralizes so much about it, But I’ll give the lad a +chance for his turkey; for that Billy Kirby is one of the best +marksmen in the country; that is, if we except the—the gentleman.” + +“Then,” said Elizabeth, who found her strength unequal to her will, “ +then, sir, I will speak.” She advanced, with an air of determination, +in front of her cousin, and entered the little circle of bushes that +surrounded the trio of hunters. Her appearance startled the youth, +who at first made an unequivocal motion toward retiring, but, +recollecting himself, bowed, by lifting his cap, and resumed his +attitude of leaning on his rifle. Neither Natty nor Mohegan betrayed +any emotion, though the appearance of Elizabeth was so entirely +unexpected. + +“I find,” she said, “that the old Christmas sport of shooting the +turkey is yet in use among you. I feel inclined to try my chance for +a bird. Which of you will take this money, and, after paying my fee, +give me the aid of his rifle?” + +“Is this a sport for a lady?” exclaimed the young hunter, with an +emphasis that could not well be mistaken, and with a rapidity that +showed he spoke without consulting anything but feeling. +“Why not, sir? If it be inhuman the sin is not confined to one sex +only. But I have my humor as well as others. I ask not your +assistance, but”—turning to Natty, and dropping a dollar in his hand—” +this old veteran of the forest will not be so ungallant as to refuse +one fire for a lady.” + +Leather-Stocking dropped the money into his pouch, and throwing up the +end of his rifle he freshened his priming; and first laughing in his +usual manner, he threw the piece over his shoulder, and said: + +“If Billy Kirby don’t get the bird before me, and the Frenchman’s +powder don’t hang fire this damp morning, you’ll see as fine a turkey +dead, in a few minutes, as ever was eaten in the Judge’s shanty. I +have knowed the Dutch women, on the Mohawk and Schoharie, count +greatly on coming to the merry-makings; and so, lad, you shouldn’t be +short with the lady. Come, let us go forward, for if we wait the +finest bird will be gone.” + +“But I have a right before you, Natty, and shall try on my own luck +first. You will excuse me, Miss Temple; I have much reason to wish +that bird, and may seem ungallant, but I must claim my privileges.” + +“Claim anything that is justly your own, sir,” returned the lady; “we +are both adventurers; and this is my knight. I trust my fortune to +his hand and eye. Lead on, Sir Leather-Stocking, and we will follow.” + +Natty, who seemed pleased with the frank address of the young and +beauteous Elizabeth, who had so singularly intrusted him with such a +commission, returned the bright smile with which she had addressed +him, by his own peculiar mark of mirth, and moved across the snow +toward the spot whence the sounds of boisterous mirth proceeded, with +the long strides of a hunter. His companions followed in silence, the +youth casting frequent and uneasy glances toward Elizabeth, who was +detained by a motion from Richard. + +“I should think, Miss Temple,” he said, so soon as the others were out +of hearing, “that if you really wished a turkey, you would not have +taken a stranger for the office, and such a one as Leather-Stocking. +But I can hardly believe that you are serious, for I have fifty, at +this moment, shut up in the coops, in every stage of fat, so that you +might choose any quality you pleased. There are six that I am trying +an experiment on, by giving them brick-bats with—” + +“Enough, Cousin Dickon,” interrupted the lady; “I do wish the bird, +and it is because I so wish that I commissioned this Mr. Leather- +Stocking.” + +“Did you ever hear of the great shot that I made at the wolf, Cousin +Elizabeth, who was carrying off your father's sheep?” said Richard, +drawing himself up with an air of displeasure. “He had the sheep on +his hack; and, had the head of the wolf been on the other side, I +should have killed him dead; as it was—” + +“You killed the sheep—I know it all, dear coz. Hut would it have been +decorous for the High Sheriff of —to mingle in such sports as these?” +“Surely you did not think that I intended actually to fire with my own +hands?” said Mr. Jones. “But let us follow, and see the shooting. +There is no fear of anything unpleasant occurring to a female in this +new country, especially to your father’s daughter, and in my +presence.” + +“My father’s daughter fears nothing, sir, more especially when +escorted by the highest executive officer in the county.” + +She took his arm, and he led her through the mazes of the bushes to +the spot where most of the young men of the village were collected for +the sports of shooting a Christmas match, and whither Natty and his +Companions had already preceded them. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + + + +I guess, by all this quaint array, +The burghers hold their sports to-day.”—Scott. + +The ancient amusement of shooting the Christmas turkey is one of the +few sports that the settlers of a new country seldom or never neglect +to observe. It was connected with the daily practices of a people who +often laid aside the axe or the scythe to seize the rifle, as the deer +glided through the forests they were felling, or the bear entered +their rough meadows to scent the air of a clearing, and to scan, with +a look of sagacity, the progress of the invader. + +On the present occasion, the usual amusement of the day had been a +little hastned, in order to allow a fair opportunity to Mr. Grant, +whose exhibition was not less a treat to the young sportsmen than the +one which engaged their present attention. The owner of the birds was +a free black, who had prepared for the occasion a collection of game +that was admirably qualified to inflame the appetite of an epicure, +and was well adapted to the means and skill of the different +competitors, who were of all ages. He had offered to the younger and +more humble marks men divers birds of an inferior quality, and some +shooting had already taken place, much to the pecuniary advantage of +the sable owner of the game. The order of the sports was extremely +simple, and well understood. The bird was fastened by a string to the +stump of a large pine, the side of which, toward the point where the +marksmen were placed, had been flattened with an axe, in order that it +might serve the purpose of a target, by which the merit of each +individual might be ascertained. The distance between the stump and +shooting-stand was one hundred measured yards; a foot more or a foot +less being thought an invasion of the right of one of the parties. +The negro affixed his own price to every bird, and the terms of the +chance; but, when these were once established, he was obliged, by the +strict principles of public justice that prevailed in the country, to +admit any adventurer who might offer. + +The throng consisted of some twenty or thirty young men, most of whom +had rifles, and a collection of all the boys in the village. The +little urchins, clad in coarse but warm garments, stood gathered +around the more distinguished marksmen, with their hands stuck under +their waistbands, listening eagerly to the boastful stories of skill +that had been exhibited on former occasions, and were already +emulating in their hearts these wonderful deeds in gunnery. + +The chief speaker was the man who had been mentioned by Natty as Billy +Kirby. This fellow, whose occupation, when he did labor, was that of +clearing lands, or chopping jobs, was of great stature, and carried in +his very air the index of his character. He was a noisy, boisterous, +reckless lad, whose good-natured eye contradicted the bluntness and +bullying tenor of his speech. For weeks he would lounge around the +taverns of the county, in a state of perfect idleness, or doing small +jobs for his liquor and his meals, and cavilling with applicants about +the prices of his labor; frequently preferring idleness to an +abatement of a little of his independence, or a cent in his wages. +But, when these embarrassing points were satisfactorily arranged, he +would shoulder his axe and his rifle, slip his arms through the straps +of his pack, and enter the woods with the tread of a Hercules. His +first object was to learn his limits, round which he would pace, +occasionally freshening, with a blow of his axe, the marks on the +boundary trees; and then he would proceed, with an air of great +deliberation, to the centre of his premises, and, throwing aside his +superfluous garments, measure, with a knowing eye, one or two of the +nearest trees that were towering apparently into the very clouds as he +gazed upward. Commonly selecting one of the most noble for the first +trial of his power, he would approach it with a listless air, +whistling a low tune; and wielding his axe with a certain flourish, +not unlike the salutes of a fencing-master, he would strike a light +blow into the bark, and measure his distance. The pause that followed +was ominous of the fall of the forest which had flourished there for +centuries. The heavy and brisk blows that he struck were soon +succeeded by the thundering report of the tree, as it came, first +cracking and threatening with the separation of its own last +ligaments, then threshing and tearing with its branches the tops of +its surrounding brethren, and finally meeting the ground with a shock +but little inferior to an earthquake. From that moment the sounds of +the axe were ceaseless, while the failing of the trees was like a +distant cannonading; and the daylight broke into the depths of the +woods with the suddenness of a winter morning. + +For days, weeks, nay months, Billy Kirby would toil with an ardor that +evinced his native spirit, and with an effect that seemed magical, +until, his chopping being ended, his stentorian lungs could be heard +emitting sounds, as he called to his patient oxen, which rang through +the hills like the cries of an alarm. He had been often heard, on a +mild summer’ evening, a long mile across the vale of Templeton; when +the echoes from the mountains would take up his cries, until they died +away in the feeble sounds from the distant rocks that overhung the +lake. His piles, or, to use the language of the country, his logging +ended, with a dispatch that could only accompany his dexterity and +herculean strength, the jobber would collect together his implements +of labor, light the heaps of timber, and march away under the blaze of +the prostrate forest, like the conqueror of some city who, having +first prevailed over his adversary, applies the torch as the finishing +blow to his conquest. For a long time Billy Kirby would then be seen +sauntering around the taverns, the rider of scrub races, the bully of +cock-fights, and not infrequently the hero of such sports as the one +in hand. + +Between him and the Leather-Stocking there had long existed a jealous +rivalry on the point of skill with the rifle. Notwithstanding the +long practice of Natty, it was commonly supposed that the steady +nerves and the quick eye of the wood-chopper rendered him his equal. +The competition had, however, been confined hitherto to boasting, and +comparisons made from their success in various hunting excursions; but +this was the first time they had ever come in open collision. A good +deal of higgling about the price of the choicest bird had taken place +between Billy Kirby and its owner before Natty and his companions +rejoined the sportsmen It had, however, been settled at one shilling * +a shot, which was the highest sum ever exacted, the black taking care +to protect himself from losses, as much as possible, by the conditions +of the sport. + + * Before the Revolution, each province had its own money of account + though neither coined any but copper pieces. In New York the Spanish + dollar was divided into eight shillings, each of the value of a + fraction more than sixpence sterling. At present the Union has + provided a decimal system, with coins to represent it. + +The turkey was already fastened at the “mark,” hut its body was +entirely hid by the surrounding snow, nothing being visible but its +red swelling head and its long neck. If the bird was injured by any +bullet that struck below the snow, it was to continue the property of +its present owner; but if a feather was touched in a visible part, the +animal became the prize of the successful adventurer. + +These terms were loudly proclaimed by the negro, who was seated in the +snow, in a somewhat hazardous vicinity to his favorite bird, when +Elizabeth and her cousin approached the noisy sportsmen. The sounds +of mirth and contention sensibly lowered at this unexpected visit; +but, after a moment’s pause, the curious interest exhibited in the +face of the young lady, together with her smiling air, restored the +freedom of the morning; though it was somewhat chastened, both in +language and vehemence, by the presence of such a spectator. + +“Stand out of the way there, boys!” cried the wood-chopper, who was +placing himself at the shooting-point— stand out of the way, you +little rascals, or I will shoot through you. Now, Brom, take leave of +your turkey.” +Stop!” cried the young hunter; “I am a candidate for a chance. Here +is my shilling, Brom; I wish a shot too.” +You may wish it in welcome,” cried Kirby, “but if I ruffle the +gobbler’s feathers, how are you to get it? Is money so plenty in your +deer-skin pocket, that you pay for a chance that you may never have?” + +“How know you, sir, how plenty money is in my pocket?” said the youth +fiercely. “Here is my shilling, Brom, and I claim a right to shoot.” + +“Don't be crabbed, my boy,” said the other, who was very coolly fixing +his flint. “They say you have a hole in your left shoulder yourself, +so I think Brom may give you a fire for half-price. It will take a +keen one to hit that bird, I can tell you, my lad, even if I give you +a chance, which is what I have no mind to do.” + +“Don’t be boasting, Billy Kirby,” said Natty, throwing the breech of +his rifle into the snow, and leaning on its barrel; “you’ll get but +one shot at the creatur’, for if the lad misses his aim, which +wouldn’t be a wonder if he did, with his arm so stiff and sore, you’ll +find a good piece and an old eye coming a’ter you. Maybe it’s true +that I can’t shoot as I used to could, but a hundred yards is a short +distance for a long rifle.” + +“What, old Leather-Stocking, are you out this morning?” cried his +reckless opponent. “Well, fair play’s a jewel. I’ve the lead of you, +old fellow; so here goes for a dry throat or a good dinner.” + +The countenance of the negro evinced not only all the interest which +his pecuniary adventure might occasion, but also the keen excitement +that the sport produced in the others, though with a very different +wish as to the result. While the wood-chopper was slowly and steadily +raising his rifle, he bawled; + +“Fair play, Billy Kirby—stand back—make ‘em stand back, boys—gib a +nigger fair play—poss-up, - gobbler; shake a head, fool; don’t you see +‘em taking aim?” + +These cries, which were intended as much to distract the attention of +the marksman as for anything else, were fruitless. + +The nerves of the wood-chopper were not so easily shaken, and he took +his aim with the utmost deliberation. Stillness prevailed for a +moment, and he fired. The head of the turkey was seen to dash on one +side, and its wings were spread in momentary fluttering; but it +settled itself down calmly into its bed of snow, and glanced its eyes +uneasily around. For a time long enough to draw a deep breath, not a +sound was heard. The silence was then broken by the noise of the +negro, who laughed, and shook his body with all kinds of antics, +rolling over in the snow in the excess of delight. + +“Well done, a gobbler,” be cried, jumping up and affecting to embrace +his bird; “I tell ‘em to poss-up, and you see ‘em dodge. Gib anoder +shillin’, Billy, and halb anoder shot.” + +“No—the shot is mine,” said the young hunter; “you have my money +already. Leave the mark, and let me try my luck.” + +“Ah! it’s but money thrown away, lad,” said Leather-Stocking. “A +turkey’s head and neck is but a small mark for a new hand and a lame +shoulder. You’d best let me take the fire, and maybe we can make some +settlement with the lady about the bird.” +The chance is mine,” said the young hunter. “Clear the ground, that I +may take it.” + +The discussions and disputes concerning the last shot were now +abating, it having been determined that if the turkey’s head had been +anywhere but just where it was at that moment, the bird must certainly +have been killed. There was not much excitement produced by the +preparations of the youth, who proceeded in a hurried manner to take +his aim, and was in the act of pulling the trigger, when he was +stopped by Natty. + +“Your hand shakes, lad,” he said, “and you seem over eager. Bullet- +wounds are apt to weaken flesh, and to my judgment you’ll not shoot so +well as in common. If you will fire, you should shoot quick, before +there is time to shake off the aim.” + +“Fair play,” again shouted the negro; “fair play—gib a nigger fair +play. What right a Nat Bumppo advise a young man? Let ‘em shoot—clear +a ground.” + +The youth fired with great rapidity, but no motion was made by the +turkey; and, when the examiners for the ball returned from the “mark,” +they declared that he had missed the stump. + +Elizabeth observed the change in his countenance, and could not help +feeling surprise that one so evidently superior to his companions +should feel a trifling loss so sensibly. But her own champion was now +preparing to enter the lists. + +The mirth of Brom, which had been again excited, though in a much +smaller degree than before, by the failure of the second adventurer, +vanished the instant Natty took his stand. His skin became mottled +with large brown spots, that fearfully sullied the lustre of his +native ebony, while his enormous lips gradually compressed around two +rows of ivory that had hitherto been shining in his visage like pearls +set in jet. His nostrils, at all times the most conspicuous feature +of his face, dilated until they covered the greater part of the +diameter of his countenance; while his brown and bony hands +unconsciously grasped the snow-crust near him, the excitement of the +moment completely overcoming his native dread of cold. + +While these indications of apprehension were exhibited in the sable +owner of the turkey, the man who gave rise to this extraordinary +emotion was as calm and collected as if there was not to be a single +spectator of his skill. + +“I was down in the Dutch settlements on the Schoharie,” said Natty, +carefully removing the leather guard from the lock of his rifle, “just +before the breaking out of the last war, and there was a shooting- +match among the boys; so I took a hand. I think I opened a good many +Dutch eyes that day; for I won the powder-horn, three bars of lead, +and a pound of as good powder as ever flashed in pan. Lord! how they +did swear in Jarman! They did tell me of one drunken Dutchman who said +he’d have the life of me before I got back to the lake agin. But if +he had put his rifle to his shoulder with evil intent God would have +punished him for it; and even if the Lord didn’t, and he had missed +his aim, I know one that would have given him as good as he sent, and +better too, if good shooting could come into the ‘count.” +By this time the old hunter was ready for his business, and throwing +his right leg far behind him, and stretching his left arm along the +barrel of his piece, he raised it toward the bird, Every eye glanced +rapidly from the marks man to the mark; but at the moment when each +ear was expecting the report of the rifle, they were disappointed by +the ticking sound of the flint. + +“A snap, a snap!” shouted the negro, springing from his crouching +posture like a madman, before his bird. A snap good as fire—Natty +Bumppo gun he snap—Natty Bumppo miss a turkey!” + +Natty Bumppo hit a nigger,” said the indignant old hunter, “if you +don’t get out of the way, Brom. It’s contrary to the reason of the +thing, boy, that a snap should count for a fire, when one is nothing +more than a fire-stone striking a steel pan, and the other is sudden +death; so get out of my way, boy, and let me show Billy Kirby how to +shoot a Christmas turkey.” + +“Gib a nigger fair play!” cried the black, who continued resolutely to +maintain his post, and making that appeal to the justice of his +auditors which the degraded condition of his caste so naturally +suggested. “Eberybody know dat snap as good as fire. Leab it to +Massa Jone—leab it to lady.” + +“Sartain,” said the wood-chopper; “it’s the law of the game in this +part of the country, Leather-Stocking. If you fire agin you must pay +up the other shilling. I b’lieve I’ll try luck once more myself; so, +Brom, here’s my money, and I take the next fire.” + +“It’s likely you know the laws of the woods better than I do, Billy +Kirby,” returned Natty. “You come in with the settlers, with an ox- +goad in your hand, and I come in with moccasins on my feet, and with a +good rifle on my shoulders, so long back as afore the old war. Which +is likely to know the best? I say no man need tell me that snapping is +as good as firing when I pull the trigger.” + +“Leab it to Massa Jone,” said the alarmed negro; “he know eberyting.” +This appeal to the knowledge of Richard was too flattering to be +unheeded. He therefore advanced a little from the spot whither the +delicacy of Elizabeth had induced her to withdraw, and gave the +following opinion, with the gravity that the subject and his own rank +demanded: + +“There seems to be a difference in opinion,” he said, “on the subject +of Nathaniel Bumppo’s right to shoot at Abraham Freeborn’s turkey +without the said Nathaniel paying one shilling for the privilege.” The +fact was too evident to be denied, and after pausing a moment, that +the audience might digest his premises, Richard proceeded: “It seems +proper that I should decide this question, as I am bound to preserve +the peace of the county; and men with deadly weapons in their hands +should not be heedlessly left to contention and their own malignant +passions. It appears that there was no agreement, either in writing +or in words, on the disputed point; therefore we must reason from +analogy, which is, as it were, comparing one thing with another. Now, +in duels, where both parties shoot, it is generally the rule that a +snap is a fire; and if such is the rule where the party has a right to +fire back again, it seems to me unreasonable to say that a man may +stand snapping at a defenceless turkey all day. I therefore am of the +opinion that Nathaniel Bumppo has lost his chance, and must pay +another shilling before he renews his right.” + +As this opinion came from so high a quarter, and was delivered with +effect, it silenced all murmurs—for the whole of the spectators had +begun to take sides with great warmth—except from the Leather- +Stocking himself. + +“I think Miss Elizabeth’s thoughts should be taken,” said Natty. +“I’ve known the squaws give very good counsel when the Indians had +been dumfounded. If she says that I ought to lose, I agree to give it +up.” + +“Then I adjudge you to be a loser for this time,” said Miss Temple; +“but pay your money and renew your chance; unless Brom will sell me +the bird for a dollar. I will give him the money, and save the life +of the poor victim.” + +This proposition was evidently but little relished by any of the +listeners, even the negro feeling the evil excitement of the chances. +In the mean while, as Billy Kirby was preparing himself for another +shot, Natty left the stand, with an extremely dissatisfied manner, +muttering: + +“There hasn’t been such a thing as a good flint sold at the foot of +the lake since the Indian traders used to come into the country; and, +if a body should go into the flats along the streams in the hills to +hunt for such a thing, it’s ten to one but they will be all covered up +with the plough. Heigho! it seems to me that just as the game grows +scarce, and a body wants the best ammunition to get a livelihood, +everything that’s bad falls on him like a judgment. But I’ll change +the stone, for Billy Kirby hasn’t the eye for such a mark, I know.” + +The wood-chopper seemed now entirely sensible that his reputation +depended on his care; nor did he neglect any means to insure success. +He drew up his rifle, and renewed his aim again and again, still +appearing reluctant to fire, No sound was heard from even Brom, during +these portentous movements, until Kirby discharged his piece, with the +same want of success as before. Then, indeed, the shouts of the negro +rang through the bushes and sounded among the trees of the neighboring +forest like the outcries of a tribe of Indians. He laughed, rolling +his head first on one side, then on the other, until nature seemed +exhausted with mirth. He danced until his legs were wearied with +motion in the snow; and, in short, he exhibited all that violence of +joy that characterizes the mirth of a thoughtless negro. + +The wood-chopper had exerted all his art, and felt a proportionate +degree of disappointment at the failure. He first examined the bird +with the utmost attention, and more than once suggested that he had +touched its feathers; but the voice of the multitude was against him, +for it felt disposed to listen to the often-repeated cries of the +black to “gib a nigger fair play.” + +Finding it impossible to make out a title to the bird, Kirby turned +fiercely to the black and said: + +“Shut your oven, you crow! Where is the man that can hit a turkey’s +head at a hundred yards? I was a fool for trying. You needn’t make an +uproar like a falling pine-tree about it. Show me the man who can do +it.” + +“Look this a-way, Billy Kirby,” said Leather-Stocking, and let them +clear the mark, and I’ll show you a man who’s made better shots afore +now, and that when he’s been hard pressed by the savages and wild +beasts,” + +“Perhaps there is one whose rights come before ours, Leather- +Stocking,” said Miss Temple. “If so, we will waive our privilege.” + +“If it be me that you have reference to,” said the young hunter, “I +shall decline another chance. My shoulder is yet weak, I find.” + +Elizabeth regarded his manner, and thought that she could discern a +tinge on his cheek that spoke the shame of conscious poverty. She +said no more, but suffered her own champion to make a trial. Although +Natty Bumppo had certainly made hundreds of more momentous shots at +his enemies or his game, yet he never exerted himself more to excel. +He raised his piece three several times: once to get his range; once +to calculate his distance; and once because the bird, alarmed by the +death-like stillness, turned its head quickly to examine its foes. +But the fourth time he fired. The smoke, the report, and the +momentary shock prevented most of the spectators from instantly +knowing the result; but Elizabeth, when she saw her champion drop the +end of his rifle in the snow and open his mouth in one of its silent +laughs, and then proceed very coolly to recharge his piece, knew that +he had been successful. The boys rushed to the mark, and lifted the +turkey on high, lifeless, and with nothing but the remnant of a head. +“Bring in the creatur’,” said Leather-Stocking, “and put it at the +feet of the lady. I was her deputy in the matter, and the bird is her +property.” + +“And a good deputy you have proved yourself,” returned Elizabeth—” so +good, Cousin Richard, that I would advise you to remember his +qualities.” She paused, and the gayety that beamed on her face gave +place to a more serious earnestness. She even blushed a little as she +turned to the young hunter, and with the charm of a woman’s manner +added: “But it was only to see an exhibition of the far-famed skill of +Leather-Stocking, that I tried my fortunes. Will you, sir, accept the +bird as a small peace offering for the hurt that prevented your own +success?” + +The expression with which the youth received this present was +indescribable, He appeared to yield to the blandishment of her air, in +opposition to a strong inward impulse to the contrary. He bowed, and +raised the victim silently from her feet, but continued silent. + +Elizabeth handed the black a piece of silver as a remuneration for his +loss, which had some effect in again unbending his muscles, and then +expressed to her companion her readiness to return homeward. + +“Wait a minute, Cousin Bess,” cried Richard; “there is an uncertainty +about the rules of this sport that it is proper I should remove. If +you will appoint a committee, gentlemen, to wait on me this morning, I +will draw up in writing a set of regulations—’ He stopped, with some +indignation, for at that instant a hand was laid familiarly on the +shoulder of the High Sheriff of —. + +“A merry Christmas to you, Cousin Dickon,” said Judge Temple, who had +approached the party unperceived: “I must have a vigilant eye to my +daughter, sir, if you are to be seized daily with these gallant fits. +I admire the taste which would introduce a lady to such scenes!” + +“It is her own perversity, ‘Duke,” cried the disappointed sheriff, who +felt the loss of the first salutation as grievously as many a man +would a much greater misfortune; “and I must say that she comes +honestly by it. I led her out to show her the improvements, but away +she scampered, through the snow, at the first sound of fire-arms, the +same as if she had been brought up in a camp, instead of a first-rate +boarding-school. I do think, Judge Temple, that such dangerous +amusements should be suppressed, by statute; nay, I doubt whether they +are not already indict able at common law.” + +“Well, sir, as you are sheriff of the county, it becomes your duty to +examine into the matter,” returned the smiling Marmaduke, “I perceive +that Bess has executed her commission, and I hope it met with a +favorable reception.” Richard glanced his eye at the packet which he +held in his hand, and the slight anger produced by disappointment +vanished instantly. + +“Ah! ‘Duke, my dear cousin,” he said, “step a little on one side; I +have something I would say to you.” + +Marmaduke complied, and the sheriff led him to a little distance in +the bushes, and continued: “First, ‘Duke, let me thank you for your +friendly interest with the Council and the Governor, without which I +am confident that the greatest merit would avail but little. But we +are sisters’ children—we are sisters’ children, and you may use me +like one of your horses; ride me or drive me, ‘Duke, I am wholly +yours. But in my humble opinion, this young companion of Leather- +Stocking requires looking after. He has a very dangerous propensity +for turkey.” + +“Leave him to my management, Dickon,” said the Judge, “and I will cure +his appetite by indulgence. It is with him that I would speak. Let +us rejoin the sportsmen.” + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + + +“Poor wretch! the mother that him bare, +If she had been in presence there, +In his wan face, and sunburnt hair, +She had not known her child, ‘—Scott. + +It diminished, in no degree, the effect produced by the conversation +which passed between Judge Temple and the I young hunter, that the +former took the arm of his daughter and drew it through his own, when +he advanced from the spot whither Richard had led him to that where +the youth was standing, leaning on his rifle, and contemplating the +dead bird at his feet. The presence of Marmaduke did not interrupt +the sports, which were resumed by loud and clamorous disputes +concerning the conditions of a chance that involved the life of a bird +of much inferior quality to the last. Leather-Stocking and Mohegan +had alone drawn aside to their youthful companion; and, although in +the immediate vicinity of such a throng, the following conversation +was heard only by those who were interested in it. + +“I have greatly injured you, Mr. Edwards,” said the Judge; but the +sudden and inexplicable start with which the person spoken to received +this unexpected address, caused him to pause a moment. As no answer +was given, and the strong emotion exhibited in the countenance of the +youth gradually passed away, he continued: “But fortunately it is in +some measure in my power to compensate you for what I have done. My +kinsman, Richard Jones, has received an appointment that will, in +future, deprive me of his assistance, and leave me, just now, +destitute of one who might greatly aid me with his pen. Your manner, +notwithstanding appearances, is a sufficient proof of your education, +nor will thy shoulder suffer thee to labor, for some time to come.” +(Marmaduke insensibly relapsed into the language of the Friends as he +grew warm.) “My doors are open to thee, my young friend, for in this +infant country we harbor no suspicions; little offering to tempt the +cupidity of the evil-disposed. Be come my assistant, for at least a +season, and receive such compensation as thy services will deserve.” + +There was nothing in the manner of the offer of the Judge to justify +the reluctance, amounting nearly to loathing, with which the youth +listened to his speech; but, after a powerful effort for self-command, +he replied: + +“I would serve you, sir, or any other man, for an honest support, for +I do not affect to conceal that my necessities are very great, even +beyond what appearances would indicate; but I am fearful that such new +duties would interfere too much with more important business; so that +I must decline your offer, and depend on my rifle, as before, for +subsistence.” + +Richard here took occasion to whisper to the young lady, who had +shrunk a little from the foreground of the picture: + +“This, you see, Cousin Bess, is the natural reluctance of a half-breed +to leave the savage state. Their attachment to a wandering life is, I +verily believe, unconquerable.” + +“It is a precarious life,” observed Marmaduke, without hearing the +sheriff’s observation, “and one that brings more evils with it than +present suffering. Trust me, young friend, my experience is greater +than thine, when I tell thee that the unsettled life of these hunters +is of vast disadvantage for temporal purposes, and it totally removes +one from the influence of more sacred things.” + +“No, no, Judge,” interrupted the Leather-Stocking, who was hitherto +unseen, or disregarded; “take him into your shanty in welcome, but +tell him truth. I have lived in the woods for forty long years, and +have spent five at a time without seeing the light of a clearing +bigger than a window in the trees; and I should like to know where +you’ll find a man, in his sixty-eighth year, who can get an easier +living, for all your betterments and your deer laws; and, as for +honesty, or doing what’s right between man and man, I’ll not turn my +back to the longest-winded deacon on your Patent.” + +“Thou art an exception, Leather-Stocking,” returned the Judge, nodding +good-naturedly at the hunter; “for thou hast a temperance unusual in +thy class, and a hardihood exceeding thy years. But this youth is +made of I materials too precious to be wasted in the forest—I entreat +thee to join my family, if it be but till thy arm is healed. My +daughter here, who is mistress of my dwelling, wilt tell thee that +thou art welcome.” + +“Certainly,” said Elizabeth, whose earnestness was a little checked by +female reserve. “The unfortunate would be welcome at any time, but +doubly so when we feel that we have occasioned the evil ourselves,” +“Yes,” said Richard, “and if you relish turkey, young man, there are +plenty in the coops, and of the best kind, I can assure you.” + +Finding himself thus ably seconded, Marmaduke pushed his advantage to +the utmost. He entered into a detail of the duties that would attend +the situation, and circumstantially mentioned the reward, and all +those points which are deemed of importance among men of business. +The youth listened in extreme agitation. There was an evident contest +in his feelings; at times he appeared to wish eagerly for the change, +and then again the incomprehensible expression of disgust would cross +his features, like a dark cloud obscuring a noonday sun. + +The Indian, in whose manner the depression of self-abasement was most +powerfully exhibited, listened to the offers of the Judge with an +interest that increased with each syllable. Gradually he drew nigher +to the group and when, with his keen glance, he detected the most +marked evidence of yielding in the countenance of his young companion, +he changed at once from his attitude and look of shame to the front of +an Indian warrior, and moving, with great dignity, closer to the +parties, he spoke. + +“Listen to your father,” he said; “his words are old. Let the Young +Eagle and the Great Land Chief eat together; let them sleep, without +fear, near each other. The children of Miquon love not blood: they +are just, and will do right. The sun must rise and set often, be fore +men can make one family; it is not the work of a day, but of many +winters. The Mingoes and the Delawares are born enemies; their blood +can never mix in the wigwam; it never will run in the same stream in +the battle. What makes the brother of Miquon and the Young Eagle +foes? They are of the same tribe; their fathers and mothers are one. +Learn to wait, my son, you are a Delaware, and an Indian warrior knows +how to be patient.” + +This figurative address seemed to have great weight with the young +man, who gradually yielded to the representations of Marmaduke, and +eventually consented to his proposal. It was, however, to be an +experiment only; and, if either of the parties thought fit to rescind +the engagement, it was left at his option so to do. The remarkable +and ill-concealed reluctance of the youth to accept of an offer, which +most men in his situation would consider as an unhoped-for elevation, +occasioned no little surprise in those to whom he was a stranger; and +it left a slight impression to his disadvantage. When the parties +separated, they very naturally made the subject the topic of a +conversation, which we shall relate; first commencing with the Judge, +his daughter, and Richard, who were slowly pursuing the way back to +the mansion-house. + +“I have surely endeavored to remember the holy man dates of our +Redeemer, when he bids us ‘love them who despitefully use you,’ in my +intercourse with this incomprehensible boy,” said Marmaduke. “I know +not what there is in my dwelling to frighten a lad of his years, +unless it may he thy presence and visage, Bess,” + +“No, no,” said Richard, with great simplicity, “it is not Cousin Bess. +But when did you ever know a half-breed, ‘Duke, who could bear +civilization? For that mat ter, they are worse than the savages +themselves! Did you notice how knock-kneed he stood, Elizabeth, and +what a wild look he had in his eyes?” + +“I heeded not his eyes, nor his knees, which would be all the better +for a little humbling. Really, my dear sir, I think you did exercise +the Christian virtue of patience to the utmost. I was disgusted with +his airs, long before he consented to make one of our family. Truly +we are much honored by the association! In what apartment is he to be +placed, sir; and at what table is he to receive his nectar and +ambrosia?” + +“With Benjamin and Remarkable,” interrupted Mr. Jones; “you sorely +would not make the youth eat with the blacks! He is part Indian, it is +true; but the natives hold the negroes in great contempt. No, no; he +would starve before he would break a crust with the negroes.” + +“I am but too happy, Dickon, to tempt him to eat with ourselves,” said +Marmaduke, “to think of offering even the indignity you propose.” + +“Then, sir,” said Elizabeth, with an air that was slightly affected, +as if submitting to her father’s orders in opposition to her own will, +“it is your pleasure that he be a gentleman.” + +“Certainly; he is to fill the station of one. Let him receive the +treatment that is due to his place, until we find him unworthy of it.” + +“Well, well, ‘Duke,” cried the sheriff, “ you will find it no easy +matter to make a gentleman of him. The old proverb says that ‘it +takes three generations to make a gentleman.’ There was my father whom +everybody knew my grandfather was an M.D., and his father a D.D.; and +his father came from England, I never could come at the truth of his +origin; but he was either a great mer chant in London, or a great +country lawyer, or the youngest son of a bishop.” + +“Here is a true American genealogy for you,” said Marmaduke, laughing. +“It does very well till you get across the water, where, as everything +is obscure, it is certain to deal in the superlative. You are sure +that your English progenitor was great, Dickon, whatever his +profession might have been?” + +“To be sure I am,” returned the other. “I have heard my old aunt talk +of him by the month. We are of a good family, Judge Temple, and have +never filled any but honorable stations in life.” + +“I marvel that you should be satisfied with so scanty a provision of +gentility in the olden time, Dickon. Most of the American +genealogists commence their traditions like the stories for children, +with three brothers, taking especial care that one of the triumvirate +shall be the pro genitor of any of the same name who may happen to be +better furnished with worldly gear than themselves. But, here, all +are equal who know how to conduct themselves with propriety; and +Oliver Edwards comes into my family on a footing with both the high +sheriff and the judge.” + +“Well, ‘Duke, I call this democracy, not republicanism; but I say +nothing; only let him keep within the law, or I shall show him that +the freedom of even this country is under wholesome restraint.” + +“Surely, Dickon, you will not execute till I condemn! But what says +Bess to the new inmate? We must pay a deference to the ladies in this +matter, after all.” + +“Oh, sir!” returned Elizabeth, “I believe I am much like a certain +Judge Temple in this particular—not easily to be turned from my +opinion. But, to be serious, although I must think the introduction +of a demi-savage into the family a somewhat startling event, +whomsoever you think proper to countenance may be sure of my respect.” + +The Judge drew her arm more closely in his own and smiled, while +Richard led the way through the gate of the little court-yard in the +rear of the dwelling, dealing out his ambiguous warnings with his +accustomed loquacity. + +On the other hand, the foresters—for the three hunters, +notwithstanding their difference in character, well deserved this +common name—pursued their course along the skirts of the village in +silence. It was not until they had reached the lake, and were moving +over its frozen surface toward the foot of the mountain, where the hut +stood, that the youth exclaimed: + +“Who could have foreseen this a month since! I have consented to serve +Marmaduke Temple—to be an inmate in the dwelling of the greatest enemy +of my race; yet what better could I do? The servitude cannot be long; +and, when the motive for submitting to it ceases to exist, I will +shake it off like the dust from my feet.” + +“Is he a Mingo, that you will call him enemy?” said Mohegan. “The +Delaware warrior sits still, and waits the time of the Great Spirit. +He is no woman, to cry out like a child.” + +“Well, I’m mistrustful, John,” said Leather-Stocking, in whose air +there had been, during the whole business, a strong expression of +doubt and uncertainty. “They say that there’s new laws in the land, +and I’m sartin that there’s new ways in the mountains. One hardly +knows the lakes and streams, they’ve altered the country so much. I +must say I’m mistrustful of such smooth speakers; for I've known the +whites talk fair when they wanted the Indian lands most. This I will +say, though I’m a white myself, and was born nigh York, and of honest +parents, too.” + +“I will submit,” said the youth; “I will forget who I am. Cease to +remember, old Mohegan, that I am the descendant of a Delaware chief, +who once was master of these noble hills, these beautiful vales, and +of this water, over which we tread. Yes, yes; I will become his bonds +man—his slave, Is it not an honorable servitude, old man?” + +“Old man!” repeated the Indian solemnly, and pausing in his walk, as +usual, when much excited; “yes, John is old. Son of my brother! if +Mohegan was young, when would his rifle be still? Where would the deer +hide, and he not find him? But John is old; his hand is the hand of a +squaw; his tomahawk is a hatchet; brooms and baskets are his enemies— +he strikes no other. Hunger and old age come together. See Hawk-eye! +when young, he would go days and eat nothing; but should he not put +the brush on the fire now, the blaze would go out. Take the son of +Miquon by the hand, and he will help you.” + +“I’m not the man I was, I’ll own, Chingachgook,” returned the Leather- +Stocking; “but I can go without a meal now, on occasion. When we +tracked the Iroquois through the ‘Beech-woods,’ they drove the game +afore them, for I hadn’t a morsel to eat from Monday morning come +Wednesday sundown, and then I shot as fat a buck, on the Pennsylvany +line, as ever mortal laid eyes on. It would have done your heart good +to have seen the Delaware eat; for I was out scouting and skrimmaging +with their tribe at the time. Lord! The Indians, lad, lay still, and +just waited till Providence should send them their game, but I foraged +about, and put a deer up, and put him down too, afore he had made a +dozen jumps. I was too weak and too ravenous to stop for his flesh, +so I took a good drink of his blood, and the Indians ate of his meat +raw. John was there, and John knows. But then starvation would be +apt to be too much for me now, I will own, though I’m no great eater +at any time.” + +“Enough is said, my friend,” cried the youth. “I feel that everywhere +the sacrifice is required at my hands, and it shall be made; but say +no more, I entreat you; I can not bear this subject now.” + +His companions were silent; and they soon reached the hut, which they +entered, after removing certain complicated and ingenious fastenings, +that were put there apparently to guard a property of but very little +value. Immense piles of snow lay against the log walls of this +secluded habitation on one side; while fragments of small trees, and +branches of oak and chestnut, that had been torn from their parent +stems by the winds, were thrown into a pile on the other. A small +column of smoke rose through a chimney of sticks, cemented with clay, +along the side of the rock, and had marked the snow above with its +dark tinges, in a wavy line, from the point of emission to an other, +where the hill receded from the brow of a precipice, and held a soil +that nourished trees of a gigantic growth, that overhung the little +bottom beneath. + +The remainder of the day passed off as such days are commonly spent in +a new country. The settlers thronged to the academy again, to witness +the second effort of Mr. Grant; and Mohegan was one of his hearers. +But, not withstanding the divine fixed his eyes intently on the Indian +when he invited his congregation to advance to the table, the shame of +last night’s abasement was yet too keen in the old chief to suffer him +to move. + +When the people were dispersing, the clouds that had been gathering +all the morning were dense and dirty, and before half of the curious +congregation had reached their different cabins, that were placed in +every glen and hollow of the mountains, or perched on the summits of +the hills themselves, the rain was falling in torrents. The dark +edges of the stumps began to exhibit themselves, as the snow settled +rapidly; the fences of logs and brush, which before had been only +traced by long lines of white mounds, that ran across the valley and +up the mountains, peeped out from their covering, and the black stubs +were momentarily becoming more distinct, as large masses of snow and +ice fell from their sides, under the influence of the thaw. + +Sheltered in the warm hall of her father’s comfortable mansion, +Elizabeth, accompanied by Louisa Grant, looked abroad with admiration +at the ever-varying face of things without. Even the village, which +had just before been glittering with the color of the frozen element, +reluctantly dropped its mask, and the houses exposed their dark roofs +and smoked chimneys. The pines shook off the covering of snow, and +everything seemed to he assuming its proper hues with a transition +that bordered on the supernatural. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + + +“And yet, poor Edwin was no vulgar boy.”—Beattie. + +The close of Christmas Day, A.D. 1793, was tempestuous, but +comparatively warm. When darkness had again hid the objects in the +village from the gaze of Elizabeth, she turned from the window, where +she had remained while the least vestige of light lingered over the +tops of the dark pines, with a curiosity that was rather excited than +appeased by the passing glimpses of woodland scenery that she had +caught during the day. + +With her arm locked in that of Miss Grant, the young mistress of the +mansion walked slowly up and down the hall, musing on scenes that were +rapidly recurring to her memory, and possibly dwelling, at times, in +the sanctuary of her thoughts, on the strange occurrences that had led +to the introduction to her father’s family of one whose Manners so +singularly contradicted the inferences to be drawn from his situation. +The expiring heat of the apartment—for its great size required a day +to reduce its temperature—had given to her cheeks a bloom that +exceeded their natural color, while the mild and melancholy features +of Louisa were brightened with a faint tinge, that, like the hectic of +disease, gave a painful interest to her beauty. + +The eyes of the gentlemen, who were yet seated around the rich wines +of Judge Temple, frequently wandered from the table, that was placed +at one end of the hall, to the forms that were silently moving over +its length. Much mirth, and that, at times, of a boisterous kind, +proceeded from the mouth of Richard; but Major Hartmann was not yet +excited to his pitch of merriment, and Marmaduke respected the +presence of his clerical guest too much to indulge in even the +innocent humor that formed no small ingredient in his character. + +Such were, and such continued to be, the pursuits of the party, for +half an hour after the shutters were closed, and candles were placed +in various parts of the hall, as substitutes for departing daylight. +The appearance of Benjamin, staggering under the burden of an armful +of wood, was the first interruption to the scene. + +“How now, Master Pump!” roared the newly appointed sheriff; “is there +not warmth enough in ‘Duke’s best Madeira to keep up the animal heat +through this thaw? Remember, old boy, that the Judge is particular +with his beech and maple, beginning to dread already a scarcity of the +precious articles. Ha! ha! ha! ‘Duke, you are a good, warm-hearted +relation, I will own, as in duty bound, but you have some queer +notions about you, after all. ‘Come, let us be jolly, and cast away +folly.” + +The notes gradually sank into a hum, while the major-domo threw down +his load, and, turning to his interrogator with an air of earnestness, +replied: + +“Why, look you, Squire Dickon, mayhap there’s a warm latitude round +about the table there, thof it’s not the stuff to raise the heat in my +body, neither; the raal Jamaiky being the only thing to do that, +besides good wood, or some such matter as Newcastle coal. But, if I +know anything of the weather, d’ye see, it’s time to be getting all +snog, and for putting the ports in and stirring the fires a bit. +Mayhap I’ve not followed the seas twenty-seven years, and lived +another seven in these here woods, for nothing, gemmen.” + +“Why, does it bid fair for a change in the weather, Benjamin?” +inquired the master of the house. + +“There’s a shift of wind, your honor,” returned the steward; “and when +there’s a shift of wind, you may look for a change in this here +climate. I was aboard of one of Rodney’s fleet, dye see, about the +time we licked De Grasse, Mounsheer Lor Quaw’s countryman, there; and +the wind was here at the south’ard and east'ard; and I was below, +mixing a toothful of hot stuff for the captain of marines, who dined, +dye see, in the cabin, that there very same day; and I suppose he +wanted to put out the captain’s fire with a gun-room ingyne; and so, +just as I got it to my own liking, after tasting pretty often, for the +soldier was difficult to please, slap came the foresail agin’ the +mast, whiz went the ship round on her heel, like a whirligig. And a +lucky thing was it that our helm was down; for as she gathered +starnway she paid off, which was more than every ship in the fleet +did, or could do. But she strained herself in the trough of the sea, +and she shipped a deal of water over her quarter. I never swallowed +so much clear water at a time in my life as I did then, for I was +looking up the after-hatch at the instant.” + +“I wonder, Benjamin, that you did not die with a dropsy!” said +Marmaduke. + +“I mought, Judge,” said the old tar, with a broad grin; “but there was +no need of the medicine chest for a cure; for, as I thought the brew +was spoilt for the marine’s taste, and there was no telling when +another sea might come and spoil it for mine. I finished the mug on +the spot. So then all hands was called to the pumps, and there we +began to ply the pumps—” + +“Well, but the weather?” interrupted Marmaduke; + +“what of the weather without doors?” + +“Why here the wind has been all day at the south, and now there’s a +lull, as if the last blast was out of the bellows; and there’s a +streak along the mountains, to the northard, that, just now, wasn’t +wider than the bigness of your hand; and then the clouds drive afore +it as you’d brail a mainsail, and the stars are heaving in sight, like +so many lights and beacons, put there to warn us to pile on the wood; +and, if so be that I’m a judge of weather, it’s getting to be time to +build on a fire, or you'll have half of them there porter bottles, and +them dimmyjohns of wine, in the locker here, breaking with the frost, +afore the morning watch is called.” + +“Thou art a prudent sentinel,” said the Judge. “Act thy pleasure with +the forests, for this night at feast.” + +Benjamin did as he was ordered; nor had two hours elapsed, before the +prudence of his precautions became very visible. The south wind had, +indeed, blown itself cut, and it was succeeded by the calmness that +usually gave warning of a serious change in the weather. Long before +the family retired to rest, the cold had become cuttingly severe; and +when Monsieur Le Quoi sallied c forth under a bright moon, to seek his +own abode, he was compelled to beg a blanket, in which he might +envelop c his form, in addition to the numerous garments that his +sagacity had provided for the occasion. The divine and s his daughter +remained as inmates of the mansion-house during the night, and the +excess of last night’s merriment c induced the gentlemen to make an +early retreat to their several apartments, Long before midnight, the +whole s family were invisible. + +Elizabeth and her friend had not yet lost their senses in sleep, and +the howlings of the northwest wind were heard around the buildings, +and brought with them that exquisite sense of comfort that is ever +excited under such circumstances, in an apartment where the fire has +not yet ceased to glimmer, and curtains, and shutters, and feathers +unite to preserve the desired temperature. Once, just as her eyes had +opened, apparently in the last stage of drowsiness, the roaring winds +brought with them a long and plaintive howl, that seemed too wild for +a dog, and yet resembled the cries of that faithful animal, when night +awakens his vigilance, and gives sweetness and solemnity to its +charms. The form of Louis Grant instinctively pressed nearer to that +of the young heiress, who, finding her companion was yet awake, said +in a low tone, as if afraid to break a charm with her voice: + +“Those distant cries are plaintive, and even beautiful. Can they be +the hounds from the hut of Leather-Stocking?” + +“They are wolves, who have ventured from the mountain, on the lake,” +whispered Louisa, “and who are only kept from the village by the +lights. One night, since we have been here, hunger drove them to our +very door. Oh, what a dreadful night it was! But the riches of Judge +Temple have given him too many safeguards, to leave room for fear in +this house.” + +“The enterprise of Judge Temple is taming the very forests!” exclaimed +Elizabeth, throwing off the covering, and partly rising in the bed. +“How rapidly is civilization treading on the foot of Nature!” she +continued, as her eye glanced over not only the comforts, hut the +luxuries of her apartment, and her ear again listened to the distant. +but often repeated howls from the lake. Finding, how-ever, that the +timidity of her companion rendered the sounds painful to her, +Elizabeth resumed her place, and soon forgot the changes in the +country, with those in her own condition, in a deep sleep. + +The following morning, the noise of the female servant, who entered +the apartment to light the fire, awoke the females. They arose, and +finished the slight preparations I of their toilets in a clear, cold +atmosphere, that penetrated through all the defences of even Miss +Temple’s warm room. When Elizabeth was attired, she approached a +window and drew its curtain, and throwing open its shutters she +endeavored to look abroad on the village and the lake. But a thick +covering of frost on the glass, while it admitted the light, shut out +the view. She raised the sash, and then, indeed, a glorious scene met +her delighted eye. + +The lake had exchanged its covering of unspotted snow for a face of +dark ice, that reflected the rays of the rising sun like a polished +mirror. The houses clothed in a dress of the same description, but +which, owing to its position, shone like bright steel; while the +enormous icicles that were pendent from every roof caught the +brilliant light, apparently throwing it from one to the other, as each +glittered, on the side next the luminary, with a golden lustre that +melted away, on its opposite, into the dusky shades of a background. +But it was the appearance of the boundless forests that covered the +hills as they rose in the distance, one over the other, that most +attracted the gaze of Miss Temple. The huge branches of the pines and +hemlocks bent with the weight of the ice they supported, while their +summits rose above the swelling tops of the oaks, beeches, and maples, +like spires of burnished silver issuing from domes of the same +material. The limits of the view, in the west, were marked by an +undulating outline of bright light, as if, reversing the order of +nature, numberless suns might momentarily he expected to heave above +the horizon. In the foreground of the picture, along the shores of +the lake, and near to the village, each tree seemed studded with +diamonds. Even the sides of the mountains where the rays of the sun +could not yet fall, were decorated with a glassy coat, that presented +every gradation of brilliancy, from the first touch of the luminary to +the dark foliage of the hemlock, glistening through its coat of +crystal. In short, the whole view was one scene of quivering +radiancy, as lake, mountains, village, and woods, each emitted a +portion of light, tinged with its peculiar hue, and varied by its +position and its magnitude. + +“See!” cried Elizabeth; “see, Louisa; hasten to the window, and +observe the miraculous change!” + +Miss Grant complied; and, after bending for a moment in silence from +the opening, she observed, in a low tone, as if afraid to trust the +sound of her voice: + +“The change is indeed wonderful! I am surprised that he should be able +to effect it so soon.” + +Elizabeth turned in amazement, to hear so skeptical a sentiment from +one educated like her companion; but was surprised to find that, +instead of looking at the view, the mild blue eyes of Miss Grant were +dwelling on the form of a well-dressed young man, who was standing – +before the door of the building, in earnest conversation with her +father. A second look was necessary before she was able to recognize +the person of the young hunter in a plain, but assuredly the ordinary, +garb of a gentleman. + +“Everything in this magical country seems to border on the +marvellous,” said Elizabeth; “and, among all the changes, this is +certainly not the least wonderful, The actors are as unique as the +scenery.” + +Miss Grant colored and drew in her head. + +“I am a simple country girl, Miss Temple, and I am afraid you will +find me but a poor companion,” she said. “I—I am not sure that I +understand all you say. But I really thought that you wished me to +notice the alteration in Mr. Edwards, Is it not more wonderful when we +recollect his origin? They say he is part Indian.” + +“He is a genteel savage; but let us go down, and give the sachem his +tea; for I suppose he is a descendant of King Philip, if not a +grandson of Pocahontas.” + +The ladies were met in the hall by Judge Temple, who took his daughter +aside to apprise her of that alteration in the appearance of their new +inmate, with which she was already acquainted. + +“He appears reluctant to converse on his former situation,” continued +Marmaduke “but I gathered from his discourse, as is apparent from his +manner, that he has seen better days; and I am really inclining to the +opinion of Richard, as to his origin; for it was no unusual thing for +the Indian agents to rear their children in a laudable manner, and—” + +“Very well, my dear sir,” interrupted his daughter, laughing and +averting her eyes; “it is all well enough, I dare say; but, as I do +not understand a word of the Mohawk language he must be content to +speak English; and as for his behavior, I trust to your discernment to +control it.” + +“Ay! but, Bess,” cried the judge, detaining her gently by the hand, +“nothing must be said to him of his past life. This he has begged +particularly of me, as a favor, He is, perhaps, a little soured, just +now, with his wounded arm; the injury seems very light, and another +time he may be more communicative,” + +“Oh! I am not much troubled, sir, with that laudable thirst after +knowledge that is called curiosity. I shall believe him to he the +child of Corn-stalk, or Corn-planter, or some other renowned +chieftain; possibly of the Big Snake himself; and shall treat him as +such until he sees fit to shave his good-looking head, borrow some +half-dozen pair of my best earrings, shoulder his rifle again, and +disappear as suddenly as he made his entrance. So come, my dear sir, +and let us not forget the rites of hospitality, for the short time he +is to remain with us.” + +Judge Temple smiled at the playfulness of his child, and taking her +arm they entered the breakfast parlor, where the young hunter was +seated with an air that showed his determination to domesticate +himself in the family with as little parade as possible. + +Such were the incidents that led to this extraordinary increase in the +family of Judge Temple, where, having once established the youth, the +subject of our tale requires us to leave him for a time, to pursue +with diligence and intelligence the employments that were assigned him +by Marmaduke. + +Major Hartmann made his customary visit, and took his leave of the +party for the next three months. Mr. Grant was compelled to be absent +most of his time, in remote parts of the country, and his daughter +became almost a constant visitor at the mansion-house. Richard +entered, with his constitutional eagerness, on the duties of his new +office; and, as Marmaduke was much employed with the constant +applications of adventures for farms, the winter passed swiftly away. +The lake was the principal scene f or the amusements of the young +people; where the ladies, in their one-horse cutter, driven by +Richard, and attended, when the snow would admit of it, by young Ed +wards on his skates, spent many hours taking the benefit of exercise +in the clear air of the hills. The reserve of the youth gradually +gave way to time and his situation, though it was still evident, to a +close observer, that he had frequent moments of bitter and intense +feeling. + +Elizabeth saw many large openings appear in the sides of the mountains +during the three succeeding months, where different settlers had, in +the language of the country “made their pitch,” while the numberless +sleighs that passed through the village, loaded with wheat and barrels +of potashes, afforded a clear demonstration that all these labors were +not undertaken in vain. In short, the whole country was exhibiting +the bustle of a thriving settlement, where the highways were thronged +with sleighs, bearing piles of rough household furniture, studded, +here and there, with the smiling faces of women and children, happy in +the excitement of novelty; or with loads of produce, hastening to the +common market at Albany, that served as so many snares to induce the +emigrants to enter into those wild mountains in search of competence +and happiness. + +The village was alive with business, the artisans in creasing in +wealth with the prosperity of the country, and each day witnessing +some nearer approach to the manners and usages of an old-settled town. +The man who carried the mail or “the post,” as he was called, talked +much of running a stage, and, once or twice during the winter, he was +seen taking a single passenger, in his cutter, through the snow-banks, +toward the Mohawk, along which a regular vehicle glided, semi-weekly, +with the velocity of lightning, and under the direction of a knowing +whip from the “down countries,” Toward spring, divers families, who +had been into the “old States” to see their relatives, returned in +time to save the snow, frequently bringing with them whole +neighborhoods, who were tempted by their representations to leave the +farms of Connecticut and Massachusetts, to make a trial of fortune in +the woods. + +During all this time, Oliver Edwards, whose sudden elevation excited +no surprise in that changeful country, was earnestly engaged in the +service of Marmaduke, during the days; but his nights were often spent +in the hut of Leather-Stocking. The intercourse between the three +hunters was maintained with a certain air of mystery, it is true, but +with much zeal and apparent interest to all the parties. Even Mohegan +seldom came to the mansion-house, and Natty never; but Edwards sought +every leisure moment to visit his former abode, from which he would +often return in the gloomy hours of night. through the snow, or, if +detained beyond the time at which the family retired to rest, with the +morning sun. These visits certainly excited much speculation in those +to whom they were known, but no comments were made, excepting +occasionally in whispers from Richard, who would say: + +“It is not at all remarkable; a half-breed can never be weaned from +the savage ways—and, for one of his lineage, the boy is much nearer +civilization than could, in reason, be expected.” + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + + +“Away! nor let me loiter in my song, +For we have many a mountain-path to tread.”—Byron. + +As the spring gradually approached, the immense piles of snow that, by +alternate thaws and frosts, and repeated storms, had obtained a +firmness which threatened a tiresome durability, began to yield to the +influence of milder breezes and a warmer sun. The gates of heaven at +times seemed to open, and a bland air diffused itself over the earth, +when animate and inanimate nature would awaken, and, for a few hours, +the gayety of spring shone in every eye and smiled on every field. +But the shivering blasts from the north would carry their chill +influence over the scene again, and the dark and gloomy clouds that +intercepted the rays of the sun were not more cold and dreary than the +reaction. These struggles between the seasons became daily more +frequent, while the earth, like a victim to contention, slowly lost +the animated brilliancy of winter, without obtaining the aspect of +spring. + +Several weeks were consumed in this cheerless manner, during which the +inhabitants of the country gradually changed their pursuits from the +social and bustling movements of the time of snow to the laborious and +domestic engagements of the coming season, The village was no longer +thronged with visitors; the trade that had enlivened the shops for +several months, began to disappear; the highways lost their shining +coats of beaten snow in impassable sloughs, and were deserted by the +gay and noisy travellers who, in sleighs, had, during the winter, +glided along their windings; and, in short, everything seemed +indicative of a mighty change, not only in the earth, but in those who +derived their sources of comfort and happiness from its bosom. + +The younger members of the family in the mansion house, of which +Louisa Grant was now habitually one, were by no means indifferent +observers of these fluctuating and tardy changes. While the snow +rendered the roads passable, they had partaken largely in the +amusements of the winter, which included not only daily rides over the +mountains, and through every valley within twenty miles of them, but +divers ingenious and varied sources of pleasure on the bosom of their +frozen lake. There had been excursions in the equipage of Richard, +when with his four horses he had outstripped the winds, as it flew +over the glassy ice which invariably succeeded a thaw. Then the +exciting and dangerous “whirligig” would be suffered to possess its +moment of notice. Cutters, drawn by a single horse, and handsleds, +impelled by the gentlemen on skates, would each in turn be used; and, +in short, every source of relief against the tediousness of a winter +in the mountains was resorted to by the family, Elizabeth was +compelled to acknowledge to her father, that the season, with the aid +of his library, was much less irksome than she had anticipated. + +As exercise in the open air was in some degree necessary to the habits +of the family, when the constant recurrence of frosts and thaws +rendered the roads, which were dangerous at the most favorable times, +utterly impassable for wheels, saddle-horses were used as substitutes +for other conveyances. Mounted on small and sure-footed beasts, the +ladies would again attempt the passages of the mountains and penetrate +into every retired glen where the enterprise of a settler had induced +him to establish himself. In these excursions they were attended by +some one or all of the gentlemen of the family, as their different +pursuits admitted. Young Edwards was hourly becoming more +familiarized to his situation, and not infrequently mingled in the +parties with an unconcern and gayety that for a short time would expel +all unpleasant recollections from his mind. Habit, and the buoyancy +of youth, seemed to be getting the ascendency over the secret causes +of his uneasiness; though there were moments when the same remarkable +expression of disgust would cross his intercourse with Marmaduke, that +had distinguished their conversations in the first days of their +acquaintance. + +It was at the close of the month of March, that the sheriff succeeded +in persuading his cousin and her young friend to accompany him in a +ride to a hill that was said to overhang the lake in a manner peculiar +to itself. + +“Besides, Cousin Bess,” continued the indefatigable Richard, “we will +stop and see the ‘sugar bush’ of Billy Kirby; he is on the east end of +the Ransom lot, making sugar for Jared Ransom. There is not a better +hand over a kettle in the county than that same Kirby. You remember, +‘Duke, that I had him his first season in our camp; and it is not a +wonder that he knows something of his trade.” + +“He’s a good chopper, is Billy,” observed Benjamin, who held the +bridle of the horse while the sheriff mounted; “and he handles an axe +much the same as a forecastleman does his marling-spike, or a tailor +his goose. They say he’ll lift a potash-kettle off the arch alone, +though I can’t say that I’ve ever seen him do it with my own eyes; but +that is the say. And I’ve seen sugar of his making, which, maybe, +wasn’t as white as an old topgallant sail, but which my friend, +Mistress Pettibones, within there, said had the true molasses smack to +it; and you are not the one, Squire Dickens, to be told that Mistress +Remarkable has a remarkable tooth for sweet things in her nut- +grinder.” + +The loud laugh that succeeded the wit of Benjamin, and in which he +participated with no very harmonious sounds himself, very fully +illustrated the congenial temper which existed between the pair. Most +of its point was, however, lost on the rest of the party, who were +either mounting their horses or assisting the ladies at the moment. +When all were safely in their saddles, they moved through the village +in great order. They paused for a moment before the door of Monsieur +Le Quoi, until he could bestride his steed, and then, issuing from the +little cluster of houses, they took one of the principal of those +highways that centred in the village. + +As each night brought with it a severe frost, which the heat of the +succeeding day served to dissipate, the equestrians were compelled to +proceed singly along the margin of the road, where the turf, and +firmness of the ground, gave the horses a secure footing. Very +trifling indications of vegetation were to he seen, the surface of the +earth presenting a cold, wet, and cheerless aspect that chilled the +blood. The snow yet lay scattered over most of those distant +clearings that were visible in different parts of the mountains; +though here and there an opening might be seen where, as the white +covering yielded to the season, the bright and lively green of the +wheat served to enkindle the hopes of the husbandman. Nothing could +be more marked than the contrast between the earth and the heavens; +for, while the former presented the dreary view that we have +described, a warm and invigorating sun was dispensing his heats from a +sky that contained but a solitary cloud, and through an atmosphere +that softened the colors of the sensible horizon until it shone like a +sea of blue. + +Richard led the way on this, as on all other occasions that did not +require the exercise of unusual abilities; and as he moved along, he +essayed to enliven the party with the sounds of his experienced voice. + +“This is your true sugar weather, ‘Duke,” he cried; “a frosty night +and a sunshiny day. I warrant me that the sap runs like a mill-tail +up the maples this warm morning. It is a pity, Judge, that you do not +introduce a little more science into the manufactory of sugar among +your tenants. It might be done, sir, without knowing as much as Dr. +Franklin—it might be done, Judge Temple.” + +“The first object of my solicitude, friend Jones,” returned Marmaduke, +“is to protect the sources of this great mine of comfort and wealth +from the extravagance of the people themselves. When this important +point shall be achieved, it will be in season to turn our attention to +an improvement in the manufacture of the article, But thou knowest, +Richard, that I have already subjected our sugar to the process of the +refiner, and that the result has produced loaves as white as the snow +on yon fields, and possessing the saccharine quality in its utmost +purity.” + +“Saccharine, or turpentine, or any other 'ine, Judge Temple, you have +never made a loaf larger than a good-sized sugar-plum,” returned the +sheriff. “Now, sir, I assert that no experiment is fairly tried, +until it be reduced to practical purposes. If, sir, I owned a +hundred, or, for that matter, two hundred thousand acres of land, as +you do. I would build a sugar house in the village; I would invite +learned men to an investigation of the subject—and such are easily to +be found, sir; yes, sir, they are not difficult to find—men who unite +theory with practice; and I would select a wood of young and thrifty +trees; and, instead of making loaves of the size of a lump of candy, +dam’me, ‘Duke, but I’d have them as big as a haycock.” + +“And purchase the cargo of one of those ships that they say are going +to China,” cried Elizabeth; “turn your pot ash-kettles into teacups, +the scows on the lake into saucers, bake your cake in yonder lime- +kiln, and invite the county to a tea-party. How wonderful are the +projects of genius! Really, sir, the world is of opinion that Judge +Temple has tried the experiment fairly, though he did not cause his +loaves to be cast in moulds of the magnitude that would suit your +magnificent conceptions.” + +“You may laugh, Cousin Elizabeth—you may laugh, madam,” retorted +Richard, turning himself so much in his saddle as to face the party, +and making dignified gestures with his whip; “but I appeal to common +sense, good sense, or, what is of more importance than either, to the +sense of taste, which is one of the five natural senses, whether a big +loaf of sugar is not likely to contain a better illustration of a +proposition than such a lump as one of your Dutch women puts under her +tongue when she drinks her tea. There are two ways of doing +everything, the right way and the wrong way. You make sugar now, I +will admit, and you may, possibly, make loaf-sugar; but I take the +question to be, whether you make the best possible sugar, and in the +best possible loaves.” + +“Thou art very right, Richard,” observed Marmaduke, with a gravity in +his air that proved how much he was interested in the subject. “It is +very true that we manufacture sugar, and the inquiry is quite useful, +how much? and in what manner? I hope to live to see the day when farms +and plantations shall be devoted to this branch of business. Little +is known concerning the properties of the tree itself, the source of +all this wealth; how much it may be improved by cultivation, by the +use of the hoe and plough.” + +“Hoe and plough!” roared the sheriff; “would you set a man hoeing +round the root of a maple like this?” pointing to one of the noble +trees that occur so frequently in that part of the country. “Hoeing +trees! are you mad, ‘Duke? This is next to hunting for coal! Poh! poh! +my dear cousin, hear reason, and leave the management of the sugar- +bush to me. Here is Mr. Le Quoi—he has been in the West Indies, and +has seen sugar made. Let him give an account of how it is made there, +and you will hear the philosophy of the thing. Well, monsieur, how is +it that you make sugar in the West Indies; anything in Judge Temples +fashion?” + +The gentleman to whom this query was put was mounted on a small horse, +of no very fiery temperament, and was riding with his stirrups so +short as to bring his knees, while the animal rose a small ascent in +the wood-path they were now travelling, into a somewhat hazardous +vicinity to his chin. There was no room for gesticulation or grace in +the delivery of his reply, for the mountain was steep and slippery; +and, although the Frenchman had an eye of uncommon magnitude on either +side of his face, they did not seem to be half competent to forewarn +him of the impediments of bushes, twigs, and fallen trees, that were +momentarily crossing his path. With one hand employed in averting +these dangers, and the other grasping his bridle to check an untoward +speed that his horse was assuming, the native of France responded as +follows: + +“Sucre! dey do make sucre in Martinique; mais—mais ce n’est pas one +tree—ah—ah—vat you call—je voudrois que ces chemins fussent au diable +- vat you call—steeck pour la promenade?” +“Cane,” said Elizabeth, smiling at the imprecation which the wary +Frenchman supposed was understood only by himself. +“Oui, mam’selle, cane.” +“Yes, yes,” cried Richard, “cane is the vulgar name for it, but the +real term is saccharum officinarum; and what we call the sugar, or +hard maple, is acer saccharinum. These are the learned names, +monsieur, and are such as, doubtless, you well understand.” + +“Is this Greek or Latin, Mr. Edwards?” whispered Elizabeth to the +youth, who was opening a passage for herself and her companions +through the bushes, “or per haps it is a still more learned language, +for an interpretation of which we must look to you.” + +The dark eye of the young man glanced toward the speaker, but its +resentful expression changed in a moment. + +“I shall remember your doubts, Miss Temple, when next I visit my old +friend Mohegan, and either his skill, or that of Leather-Stocking, +shall solve them.” + +“And are you, then, really ignorant of their language?” + +“Not absolutely; but the deep learning of Mr. Jones is more familiar +to me, or even the polite masquerade of Monsieur Le Quoi.” + +“Do you speak French?” said the lady, with quickness. + +“It is a common language with the Iroquois, and through the Canadas,” +he answered, smiling. + +“Ah! but they are Mingoes, and your enemies.” + +“It will be well for me if I have no worse,” said the youth, dashing +ahead with his horse, and putting an end to the evasive dialogue. + +The discourse, however, was maintained with great vigor by Richard, +until they reached an open wood on the summit of the mountain, where +the hemlocks and pines totally disappeared, and a grove of the very +trees that formed the subject of debate covered the earth with their +tall, straight trunks and spreading branches, in stately pride. The +underwood had been entirely removed from this grove, or bush, as, in +conjunction with the simple arrangements for boiling, it was called, +and a wide space of many acres was cleared, which might be likened to +the dome of a mighty temple, to which the maples formed the columns, +their tops composing the capitals and the heavens the arch. A deep +and careless incision had been made into each tree, near its root, +into which little spouts, formed of the I bark of the alder, or of the +sumach, were fastened; and a trough, roughly dug out of the linden, or +basswood, was I lying at the root of each tree, to catch the sap that +flowed from this extremely wasteful and inartificial arrangement. + +The party paused a moment, on gaining the flat, to breathe their +horses, and, as the scene was entirely new to several of their +number, to view the manner of collecting the fluid. A fine, powerful +voice aroused them from their momentary silence, as it rang under the +branches of the trees, singing the following words of that inimitable +doggerel, whose verses, if extended, would reach from the Caters of +the Connecticut to the shores of Ontario. The tune was, of course, a +familiar air which, although it is said to have been first applied to +this nation in derision, circumstances have since rendered so glorious +that no American ever hears its jingling cadence without feeling +a thrill at his heart: + +“The Eastern States be full of men, +The Western Full of woods, sir, +The hill be like a cattle-pen, +The roads be full of goods, sir! +Then flow away, my sweety sap, +And I will make you boily; +Nor catch a wood man’s hasty nap, +For fear you should get roily. +The maple-tree's a precious one, +‘Tis fuel, food, and timber; +And when your stiff day’s work is done, +Its juice will make you limber, +Then flow away, etc. + +“And what’s a man without his glass. +His wife without her tea, sir? +But neither cup nor mug will pass, +Without his honey-bee, sir! +Then flow away,” etc. + +During the execution of this sonorous doggerel, Richard kept time with +his whip on the mane of his charger, accompanying the gestures with a +corresponding movement of his head and body. Toward the close of the +song, he was overheard humming the chorus, and, at its last +repetition, to strike in at “sweety sap,’ and carry a second through, +with a prodigious addition to the “effect” of the noise, if not to +that of the harmony. + +“Well done us!” roared the sheriff, on the same key with the tune; “a +very good song, Billy Kirby, and very well sung. Where got you the +words, lad? Is there more of it, and can you furnish me with a copy?” +The sugar-boiler, who was busy in his “camp,” at a short distance from +the equestrians, turned his head with great indifference, and surveyed +the party, as they approached, with admirable coolness. To each +individual, as he or she rode close by him, he gave a nod that was +extremely good-natured and affable, but which partook largely of the +virtue of equality, for not even to the ladies +did he in the least vary his mode of salutation, by touching the +apology for a hat that he wore, or by any other motion than the one we +have mentioned. + +“How goes it, how goes it, sheriff?” said the wood-chopper; “what’s +the good word in the village?” + +“Why, much as usual, Billy,” returned Richard. “But how is this? +where are your four kettles, and your troughs, and your iron coolers? +Do you make sugar in this slovenly way? I thought you were one of the +best sugar-boilers in the county.” + +“I’m all that, Squire Jones,” said Kirby, who continued his +occupation; “I’ll turn my back to no man in the Otsego hills for +chopping and logging, for boiling down the maple sap, for tending +brick-kiln, splitting out rails, making potash, and parling too, or +hoeing corn; though I keep myself pretty much to the first business, +seeing that the axe comes most natural to me.” + +“You be von Jack All-trade, Mister Beel,” said Monsieur Le Quoi. + +“How?” said Kirby, looking up with a simplicity which, coupled with +his gigantic frame and manly face, was a little ridiculous, “if you be +for trade, mounsher, here is some as good sugar as you’ll find the +season through. It’s as clear from dirt as the Jarman Flats is free +from stumps, and it has the raal maple flavor. Such stuff would sell +in York for candy.” + +The Frenchman approached the place where Kirby had deposited his cake +of sugar, under the cover of a bark roof, and commenced the +examination of the article with the eye of one who well understood its +value. Marmaduke had dismounted, and was viewing the works and the +trees very closely, and not without frequent expressions of +dissatisfaction at the careless manner in which the manufacture was +conducted. + +“You have much experience in these things, Kirby,” he said; “what +course do you pursue in making your sugar? I see you have but two +kettles.” + +“Two is as good as two thousand, Judge. I’m none of your polite +sugar-makers, that boils for the great folks; but if the raal sweet +maple is wanted, I can answer your turn. First, I choose, and then I +tap my trees; say along about the last of February, or in these +mountains maybe not afore the middle of March; but anyway, just as the +sap begins to cleverly run—” + +“Well, in this choice,” interrupted Marmaduke, “are you governed by +any outward signs that prove the quality of the tree?” + +“Why, there’s judgment in all things,” said Kirby, stirring the liquor +in his kettles briskly. “There’s some thing in knowing when and how +to stir the pot. It’s a thing that must be larnt. Rome wasn’t built +in a day, nor for that matter Templeton either, though it may be said +to be a quick-growing place. I never put my axe into a stunty tree, +or one that hasn’t a good, fresh-looking bark: for trees have +disorders, like creatur’s; and where’s the policy of taking a tree +that’s sickly, any more than you’d choose a foundered horse to ride +post, or an over heated ox to do your logging?” + +“All that is true. But what are the signs of illness? how do you +distinguish a tree that is well from one that is diseased?” + +“How does the doctor tell who has fever and who colds?” interrupted +Richard. “By examining the skin, and feeling the pulse, to be sure.” + +“Sartain,” continued Billy; “the squire ain’t far out of the way. +It’s by the look of the thing, sure enough. Well, when the sap begins +to get a free run, I hang over the kettles, and set up the bush. My +first boiling I push pretty smartly, till I get the virtue of the sap; +but when it begins to grow of a molasses nater, like this in the +kettle, one mustn’t drive the fires too hard, or you’ll burn the +sugar; and burny sugar is bad to the taste, let it be never so sweet. +So you ladle out from one kettle into the other till it gets so, when +you put the stirring-stick into it, that it will draw into a thread— +when it takes a kerful hand to manage it. There is a way to drain it +off, after it has grained, by putting clay into the pans; bitt it +isn’t always practised; some doos and some doosn’t. Well, mounsher, +be we likely to make a trade?” + +“I will give you, Mister Etel, for von pound, dix sous.” + +“No, I expect cash for it; I never dicker my sugar, But, seeing that +it’s you, mounsher,” said Billy, with a Coaxing smile, “I'll agree to +receive a gallon of rum, and cloth enough for two shirts if you’ll +take the molasses in the bargain. It’s raal good. I wouldn’t deceive +you or any man and to my drinking it’s about the best molasses that +come out of a sugar-bush.” + +“Mr. Le Quoi has offered you ten pence,” said young Edwards. + +The manufacturer stared at the speaker with an air of great freedom, +but made no reply. + +“Oui,” said the Frenchman, “ten penny. Jevausraner cie, monsieur: ah! +mon Anglois! je l'oublie toujours.” + +The wood-chopper looked from one to the other with some displeasure; +and evidently imbibed the opinion that they were amusing themselves at +his expense. He seized the enormous ladle, which was lying on one of +his kettles, and began to stir the boiling liquid with great +diligence. After a moment passed in dipping the ladle full, and then +raising it on high, as the thick rich fluid fell back into the kettle, +he suddenly gave it a whirl, as if to cool what yet remained, and +offered the bowl to Mr. Le Quoi, saying: + +‘Taste that, mounsher, and you will say it is worth more than you +offer. The molasses itself would fetch the money,” + +The complaisant Frenchman, after several timid efforts to trust his +lips in contact with the howl of the ladle, got a good swallow of the +scalding liquid. He clapped his hands on his breast, and looked most +piteously at the ladies, for a single instant; and then, to use the +language oft Billy, when he afterward recounted the tale, “no +drumsticks ever went faster on the skin of a sheep than the +Frenchman’s legs, for a round or two; and then such swearing and +spitting in French you never saw. But it’s a knowing one, from the +old countries, that thinks to get his jokes smoothly over a wood- +chopper.” + +The air of innocence with which Kirby resumed the occupation of +stirring the contents of his kettles would have completely deceived +the spectators as to his agency in the temporary sufferings of Mr. Le +Quoi, had not the reckless fellow thrust his tongue into his cheek, +and cast his eyes over the party, with a simplicity of expression that +was too exquisite to be natural. Mr. Le Quoi soon recovered his +presence of mind and his decorum; and he briefly apologized to the +ladies for one or two very intemperate expressions that had escaped +him in a moment of extraordinary excitement, and, remounting his +horse, he continued in the background during the remainder of the +visit, the wit of Kirby putting a violent termination, at once, to all +negotiations on the subject of trade. During all this time, Marmaduke +had been wandering about the grove, making observations on his +favorite trees, and the wasteful manner in which the wood-chopper +conducted his manufacture. + +“It grieves me to witness the extravagance that pervades this +country,” said the Judge, “where the settlers trifle with the +blessings they might enjoy, with the prodigality of successful +adventurers. You are not exempt from the censure yourself, Kirby, for +you make dreadful wounds in these trees where a small incision would +effect the same object. I earnestly beg you will remember that they +are the growth of centuries, and when once gone none living will see +their loss remedied.” + +“Why, I don’t know, Judge,” returned the man he ad dressed; “it seems +to me, if there’s plenty of anything in this mountaynious country, +it’s the trees. If there’s any sin in chopping them, I’ve a pretty +heavy account to settle; for I’ve chopped over the best half of a +thousand acres, with my own hands, counting both Varmount and York +States; and I hope to live to finish the whull, before I lay up my +axe. Chopping comes quite natural to me, and I wish no other +employment; but Jared Ransom said that he thought the sugar was likely +to be source this season, seeing that so many folks was coming into +the settlement, and so I concluded to take the ‘bush’ on sheares for +this one spring. What’s the best news, Judge, consarning ashes? do +pots hold so that a man can live by them still? I s’pose they will, if +they keep on fighting across the water.” + +“Thou reasonest with judgment, William,” returned Marmaduke. “So long +as the Old Worm is to be convulsed with wars, so long will the harvest +of America continue.” + +“Well, it’s an ill wind, Judge, that blows nobody any good. I’m sure +the country is in a thriving way; and though I know you calkilate +greatly on the trees, setting as much store by them as some men would +by their children, yet to my eyes they are a sore sight any time, +unless I'm privileged to work my will on them: in which case I can’t +say but they are more to my liking. I have heard the settlers from +the old countries say that their rich men keep great oaks and elms, +that would make a barrel of pots to the tree, standing round their +doors and humsteds and scattered over their farms, just to look at. +Now, I call no country much improved that is pretty well covered with +trees. Stumps are a different thing, for they don’t shade the land; +and, besides, you dig them—they make a fence that will turn anything +bigger than a hog, being grand for breachy cattle.” + +“Opinions on such subjects vary much in different countries,” said +Marmaduke; “but it is not as ornaments that I value the noble trees of +this country; it is for their usefulness We are stripping the forests, +as if a single year would replace what we destroy. But the hour +approaches when the laws will take notice of not only the woods, but +the game they contain also.” + +With this consoling reflection, Marmaduke remounted, and the +equestrians passed the sugar-camp, on their way to the promised +landscape of Richard. The wood-chop-per was left alone, in the bosom +of the forest, to pursue his labors. Elizabeth turned her head, when +they reached the point where they were to descend the mountain, and +thought that the slow fires that were glimmering under his enormous +kettles, his little brush shelter, covered with pieces of hemlock +bark, his gigantic size, as he wielded his ladle with a steady and +knowing air, aided by the back-ground of stately trees, with their +spouts and troughs, formed, altogether, no unreal picture of human +life in its first stages of civilization. Perhaps whatever the scene +possessed of a romantic character was not injured by the powerful +tones of Kirby’s voice ringing through the woods as he again awoke his +strains to another tune, which was but little more scientific than the +former. All that she understood of the words were: + +“And when the proud forest is falling, To my oxen cheerfully calling, +From morn until night I am bawling, Whoa, back there, and haw and gee; +Till our labor is mutually ended, By my strength and cattle +befriended, And against the mosquitoes defended By the bark of the +walnut-trees. Away! then, you lads who would buy land; Choose the oak +that grows on the high land, or the silvery pine on the dry land, it +matters but little to me.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + + +“Speed! Malise, speed! such cause of haste +Thine active sinews never braced. “—Scott. + +The roads of Otsego, if we except the principal high ways, were, at +the early day of our tale, but little better than wood-paths. The +high trees that were growing on the very verge of the wheel-tracks +excluded the sun’s rays, unless at meridian; and the slowness of the +evaporation, united with the rich mould of vegetable decomposition +that covered the whole country to the depth of several inches, +occasioned but an indifferent foundation for the footing of +travellers. Added to these were the inequalities of a natural +surface, and the constant recurrence of enormous and slippery roots +that were laid bare by the removal of the light soil, together with +stumps of trees, to make a passage not only difficult but dangerous. +Yet the riders among these numerous obstructions, which were such as +would terrify an unpracticed eye, gave no demonstrations of uneasiness +as their horses toiled through the sloughs or trotted with uncertain +paces along the dark route. In many places the marks on the trees +were the only indications of a road, with perhaps an occasional +remnant of a pine that, by being cut close to the earth, so as to +leave nothing visible but its base of roots, spreading for twenty feet +in every direction, was apparently placed there as a beacon to warn +the traveller that it was the centre of a highway. + +Into one of these roads the active sheriff led the way, first striking +out of the foot-path, by which they had descended from the sugar-bush, +across a little bridge, formed of round logs laid loosely on sleepers +of pine, in which large openings of a formidable width were frequent. +The nag of Richard, when it reached one of these gaps, laid its nose +along the logs and stepped across the difficult passage with the +sagacity of a man; but the blooded filly which Miss Temple rode +disdained so humble a movement. She made a step or two with an +unusual caution, and then, on reaching the broadest opening, obedient +to the curt and whip of her fearless mistress, she bounded across the +dangerous pass with the activity of a squirrel. + +“Gently, gently, my child,” said Marmaduke, who was following in the +manner of Richard; “this is not a country for equestrian feats. Much +prudence is requisite to journey through our rough paths with safety. +Thou mayst practise thy skill in horsemanship on the plains of New +Jersey with safety; but in the hills of Otsego they may be suspended +for a time.” + +“I may as well then relinquish my saddle at once, dear sir,” returned +his daughter; “for if it is to be laid aside until this wild country +be improved, old age will overtake me, and put an end to what you term +my equestrian feats.” +“Say not so, my child,” returned her father; “but if thou venturest +again as in crossing this bridge, old age will never overtake thee, +but I shall be left to mourn thee, cut off in thy pride, my Elizabeth. +If thou hadst seen this district of country, as I did, when it lay in +the sleep of nature, and bad witnessed its rapid changes as it awoke +to supply the wants of man, thou wouldst curb thy impatience for a +little time, though thou shouldst not check thy steed.” + +“I recollect hearing you speak of your first visit to these woods, but +the impression is faint, and blended with the confused images of +childhood. Wild and unsettled as it may yet seem, it must have been a +thousand times more dreary then. Will you repeat, dear sir, what you +then thought of your enterprise, and what you felt?” + +During this speech of Elizabeth, which was uttered with the fervor of +affection, young Edwards rode more closely to the side of the Judge, +and bent his dark eyes on his countenance with an expression that +seemed to read his thoughts. + +“Thou wast then young, my child, but must remember when I left thee +and thy mother, to take my first survey of these uninhabited +mountains,” said Marmaduke. “But thou dost not feel all the secret +motives that can urge a man to endure privations in order to +accumulate wealth. In my case they have not been trifling, and God +has been pleased to smile on my efforts. If I have encountered pain, +famine, and disease in accomplishing the settlement of this rough +territory, I have not the misery of failure to add to the grievances.” + +“Famine!” echoed Elizabeth; “I thought this was the land of abundance! +Had you famine to contend with?” + +“Even so, my child,” said her father. “Those who look around them +now, and see the loads of produce that issue out of every wild path in +these mountains during the season of travelling, will hardly credit +that no more than five years have elapsed since the tenants of these +woods were compelled to eat the scanty fruits of the forest to sustain +life, and, with their unpracticed skill, to hunt the beasts as food +for their starving families.” + +“Ay!” cried Richard, who happened to overhear the last of this speech +between the notes of the wood-chopper’s song, which he was endeavoring +to breathe aloud; “that was the starving-time,* Cousin Bess. I grew +as lank as a weasel that fall, and my face was as pale as one of your +fever-and-ague visages. Monsieur Le Quoi, there, fell away like a +pumpkin in drying; nor do I think you have got fairly over it yet, +monsieur. Benjamin, I thought, bore it with a worse grace than any of +the family; for he swore it was harder to endure than a short +allowance in the calm latitudes. Benjamin is a sad fellow to swear if +you starve him ever so little. I had half a mind to quit you then, +‘Duke, and to go into Pennsylvania to fatten; but, damn it, thinks I, +we are sisters’ children, and I will live or die with him, after all.” + + * The author has no better apology for interrupting the interest of a + work of fiction by these desultory dialogues than that they have ref- + erence to facts. In reviewing his work, after so many years, he is + compelled to confess it is injured by too many allusions to incidents + that are not at all suited to satisfy the just expectations of the + general reader. One of these events is slightly touched on in the + commencement of this chapter. + +More than thirty years since a very near and dear relative of the +writer, an elder sister and a second mother, was killed by a fall from +a horse in a ride among the very mountains mentioned in this tale. +Few of her sex and years were more extensively known or more +universally beloved than the admirable woman who thus fell a victim to +the chances of the wilderness. +“I do not forget thy kindness,” said Marmaduke, “nor that we are of +one blood.” + +“But, my dear father,” cried the wondering Elizabeth, “was there +actual suffering? Where were the beautiful and fertile vales of the +Mohawk? Could they not furnish food for your wants?” + +“It was a season of scarcity; the necessities of life commanded a high +price in Europe, and were greedily sought after by the speculators. +The emigrants from the East to the West invariably passed along the +valley of the Mohawk, and swept away the means of subsistence like a +swarm of locusts, Nor were the people on the Flats in a much better +condition. They were in want themselves, but they spared the little +excess of provisions that nature did not absolutely require, with the +justice of the German character. There was no grinding of the poor. +The word speculator was then unknown to them. I have seen many a +stout man, bending under the load of the bag of meal which he was +carrying from the mills of the Mohawk, through the rugged passes of +these mountains, to feed his half-famished children, with a heart so +light, as he approached his hut, that the thirty miles he had passed +seemed nothing. Remember, my child, it was in our very infancy; we +had neither mills, nor grain, nor roads, nor often clearings; we had +nothing of increase but the mouths that were to be fed: for even at +that inauspicious moment the restless spirit of emigration was not +idle; nay, the general scarcity which extended to the East tended to +increase the number of adventurers.” + +“And how, dearest father, didst thou encounter this dreadful evil?” +said Elizabeth, unconsciously adopting the dialect of her parent in +the warmth of her sympathy. “Upon thee must have fallen the +responsibility, if not the suffering.” + +“It did, Elizabeth,” returned the Judge, pausing for a single moment, +as if musing on his former feelings. “ I had hundreds at that +dreadful time daily looking up to me for bread. The sufferings of +their families and the gloomy prospect before them had paralyzed the +enterprise and efforts of my settlers; hunger drove them to the woods +for food, but despair sent them at night, enfeebled and wan, to a +sleepless pillow. It was not a moment for in action. I purchased +cargoes of wheat from the granaries of Pennsylvania; they were landed +at Albany and brought up the Mohawk in boats; from thence it was +transported on pack-horses into the wilderness and distributed among +my people. Seines were made, and the lakes and rivers were dragged +for fish. Something like a miracle was wrought in our favor, for +enormous shoals of herrings were discovered to have wandered five +hundred miles through the windings of the impetuous Susquehanna, and +the lake was alive with their numbers. These were at length caught +and dealt out to the people, with proper portions of salt, and from +that moment we again began to prosper.” * + + * All this was literally true. + +“Yes,” cried Richard, “and I was the man who served out the fish and +salt. When the poor devils came to receive their rations, Benjamin, +who was my deputy, was obliged to keep them off by stretching ropes +around me, for they smelt so of garlic, from eating nothing but the +wild onion, that the fumes put me out often in my measurement. You +were a child then, Bess, and knew nothing of the matter, for great +care was observed to keep both you and your mother from suffering. +That year put me back dreadfully, both in the breed of my hogs and of +my turkeys.” + +“No, Bess,” cried the Judge, in a more cheerful tone, disregarding the +interruption of his cousin, “he who hears of the settlement of a +country knows but little of the toil and suffering by which it is +accomplished. Unimproved and wild as this district now seems to your +eyes, what was it when I first entered the hills? I left my party, the +morning of my arrival, near the farms of the Cherry Valley, and, +following a deer-path, rode to the summit of the mountain that I have +since called Mount Vision; for the sight that there met my eyes seemed +to me as the deceptions of a dream. The fire had run over the +pinnacle, and in a great measure laid open the view. The leaves were +fallen, and I mounted a tree and sat for an hour looking on the silent +wilderness. Not an opening was to be seen in the boundless forest +except where the lake lay, like a mirror of glass. The water was +covered by myriads of the wild-fowl that migrate with the changes in +the season; and while in my situation on the branch of the beech, I +saw a bear, with her cubs, descend to the shore to drink. I had met +many deer, gliding through the woods, in my journey ; but not the +vestige of a man could I trace during my progress, nor from my +elevated observatory. No clearing, no hut, none of the winding roads +that are now to be seen, were there; nothing but mountains rising +behind mountains ; and the valley, with its surface of branches +enlivened here and there with the faded foliage of some tree that +parted from its leaves with more than ordinary reluctance. Even the +Susquehanna was then hid by the height and density of the forest.” + +“And were you alone?” asked Elizabeth: “passed you the night in that +solitary state?” + +“Not so, my child,” returned the father. “After musing on the scene +for an hour, with a mingled feeling of pleasure and desolation, I left +my perch and descended the mountain. My horse was left to browse on +the twigs that grew within his reach, while I explored the shores of +the lake and the spot where Templeton stands. A pine of more than +ordinary growth stood where my dwelling is now placed! A wind—row had +been opened through the trees from thence to the lake, and my view was +but little impeded. Under the branches of that tree I made my +solitary dinner. I had just finished my repast as I saw smoke curling +from under the mountain, near the eastern bank of the lake. It was +the only indication of the vicinity of man that I had then seen. +After much toil I made my way to the spot, and found a rough cabin of +logs, built against the foot of a rock, and bearing the marks of a +tenant, though I found no one within it—” + +“It was the hut of Leather-Stocking,” said Edwards quickly. + +“It was; though I at first supposed it to be a habitation of the +Indians. But while I was lingering around the spot Natty made his +appearance, staggering under the carcass of a buck that he bad slain. +Our acquaintance commenced at that time; before, I had never heard +that such a being tenanted the woods. He launched his bark canoe and +set me across the foot of the lake to the place where I had fastened +my horse, and pointed out a spot where he might get a scanty browsing +until the morning; when I returned and passed the night in the cabin +of the hunter.” + +Miss Temple was so much struck by the deep attention of young Edwards +during this speech that she forgot to resume her interrogations; but +the youth himself continued the discourse by asking: + +“And how did the Leather-Stocking discharge the duties of a host sir?” + +“Why, simply but kindly, until late in the evening, when he discovered +my name and object, and the cordiality of his manner very sensibly +diminished, or, I might better say, disappeared. He considered the +introduction of the settlers as an innovation on his rights, I believe +for he expressed much dissatisfaction at the measure, though it was in +his confused and ambiguous manner. I hardly understood his objections +myself, but supposed they referred chiefly to an interruption of the +hunting.” + +“Had you then purchased the estate, or were you examining it with an +intent to buy?” asked Edwards, a little abruptly. + +“It had been mine for several years. It was with a view to People the +land that I visited the lake. Natty treated me hospitably, but +coldly, I thought, after he learned the nature of my journey. I slept +on his own bear—skin, however, and in the morning joined my surveyors +again.” + +“Said he nothing of the Indian rights, sir? The Leather-Stocking is +much given to impeach the justice of the tenure by which the whites +hold the country.” + +“I remember that he spoke of them, but I did not nearly comprehend +him, and may have forgotten what he said; for the Indian title was +extinguished so far back as the close of the old war, and if it had +not been at all, I hold under the patents of the Royal Governors, +confirmed by an act of our own State Legislature, and no court in the +country can affect my title.” +“Doubtless, sir, your title is both legal and equitable,” returned the +youth coldly, reining his horse back and remaining silent till the +subject was changed. + +It was seldom Mr. Jones suffered any conversation to continue for a +great length of time without his participation. It seems that he was +of the party that Judge Temple had designated as his surveyors; and he +embraced the opportunity of the pause that succeeded the retreat of +young Edwards to take up the discourse, and with a narration of their +further proceedings, after his own manner. As it wanted, however, the +interest that had accompanied the description of the Judge, we must +decline the task of committing his sentences to paper. + +They soon reached the point where the promised view was to be seen. +It was one of those picturesque and peculiar scenes that belong to the +Otsego, but which required the absence of the ice and the softness of +a summer’s landscape to be enjoyed in all its beauty. Marmaduke had +early forewarned his daughter of the season, and of its effect on the +prospect; and after casting a cursory glance at its capabilities, the +party returned homeward, perfectly satisfied that its beauties would +repay them for the toil of a second ride at a more propitious season. + +“The spring is the gloomy time of the American year,” said the Judge, +“and it is more peculiarly the case in these mountains. The winter +seems to retreat to the fast nesses of the hills, as to the citadel of +its dominion, and is only expelled after a tedious siege, in which +either party, at times, would seem to be gaining the victory.” + +“A very just and apposite figure, Judge Temple,” observed the sheriff; +“and the garrison under the command of Jack Frost make formidable +sorties—you understand what I mean by sorties, monsieur; sallies, in +English— and sometimes drive General Spring and his troops back again +into the low countries.” + +“Yes sair,” returned the Frenchman, whose prominent eyes were watching +the precarious footsteps of the beast he rode, as it picked its +dangerous way among the roots of trees, holes, log bridges, and +sloughs that formed the aggregate of the highway. “Je vous entends; +de low countrie is freeze up for half de year.” + +The error of Mr. Le Quoi was not noticed by the sheriff; and the rest +of the party were yielding to the influence of the changeful season, +which was already teaching the equestrians that a continuance of its +mildness was not to be expected for any length of time. Silence and +thoughtfulness succeeded the gayety and conversation that had +prevailed during the commencement of the ride, as clouds began to +gather about the heavens, apparently collecting from every quarter, in +quick motion, without the agency of a breath of air, + +While riding over one of the cleared eminencies that occurred in their +route, the watchful eye of Judge Temple pointed out to his daughter +the approach of a tempest. Flurries of snow already obscured the +mountain that formed the northern boundary of the lake, and the genial +sensation which had quickened the blood through their veins was +already succeeded by the deadening influence of an approaching +northwester. + +All of the party were now busily engaged in making the best of their +way to the village, though the badness of the roads frequently +compelled them to check the impatience of their animals, which often +carried them over places that would not admit of any gait faster than +a walk. + +Richard continued in advance, followed by Mr. Le Quoi; next to whom +rode Elizabeth, who seemed to have imbibed the distance which pervaded +the manner of young Edwards since the termination of the discourse +between the latter and her father. Marmaduke followed his daughter, +giving her frequent and tender warnings as to the management of her +horse. It was, possibly, the evident dependence that Louisa Grant +placed on his assistance which induced the youth to continue by her +side, as they pursued their way through a dreary and dark wood, where +the rays of the sun could but rarely penetrate, and where even the +daylight was obscured and rendered gloomy by the deep forests that +surrounded them. No wind had yet reached the spot where the +equestrians were in motion, but that dead silence that often precedes +a storm contributed to render their situation more irksome than if +they were already subject to the fury of the tempest. Suddenly the +voice of young Edwards was heard shouting in those appalling tones +that carry alarm to the very soul, and which curdle the blood of those +that hear them. + +“A tree! a tree! Whip—spur for your lives! a tree! a tree. “ + +“A tree! a tree!” echoed Richard, giving his horse a blow that caused +the alarmed beast to jump nearly a rod, throwing the mud and water +into the air like a hurricane. + +“Von tree! von tree!” shouted the Frenchman, bending his body on the +neck of his charger, shutting his eyes, and playing on the ribs of his +beast with his heels at a rate +that caused him to be conveyed on the crupper of the sheriff with a +marvellous speed. + +Elizabeth checked her filly and looked up, with an unconscious but +alarmed air, at the very cause of their danger, while she listened to +the crackling sounds that awoke the stillness of the forest; but the +next instant her bridlet was seized by her father, who cried, “God +protect my child!” and she felt herself hurried onward, impelled by +the vigor of his nervous arm. + +Each one of the party bowed to his saddle-bows as the tearing of +branches was succeeded by a sound like the rushing of the winds, which +was followed by a thundering report, and a shock that caused the very +earth to tremble as one of the noblest ruins of the forest fell +directly across their path. + +One glance was enough to assure Judge Temple that his daughter and +those in front of him were safe, and he turned his eyes, in dreadful +anxiety, to learn the fate of the others. Young Edwards was on the +opposite side of the tree, his form thrown back in his saddle to its +utmost distance, his left hand drawing up his bridle with +its greatest force, while the right grasped that of Miss Grant so as +to draw the head of her horse under its body. Both the animals stood +shaking in every joint with terror, and snorting fearfully. Louisa +herself had relinquished her reins, and, with her hands pressed on her +face, sat bending forward in her saddle, in an attitude of despair, +mingled strangely with resignation. + +“Are you safe?” cried the Judge, first breaking the awful silence of +the moment. + +“By God’s blessing,” returned the youth; but if there had been +branches to the tree we must have been lost—” + +He was interrupted by the figure of Louisa slowly yielding in her +saddle, and but for his arm she would have sunk to the earth. Terror, +however, was the only injury that the clergyman’s daughter had +sustained, and, with the aid of Elizabeth, she was soon restored to +her senses. After some little time was lost in recovering her +strength, the young lady was replaced in her saddle, and supported on +either side by Judge Temple and Mr. Edwards she was enabled to follow +the party in their slow progress. + +“The sudden fallings of the trees,” said Marmaduke, “are the most +dangerous accidents in the forest, for they are not to be foreseen, +being impelled by no winds, nor any extraneous or visible cause +against which we can guard.” + +“The reason of their falling, Judge Temple, is very obvious,” said the +sheriff. “The tree is old and decayed, and it is gradually weakened +by the frosts, until a line drawn from the centre of gravity falls +without its base, and then the tree comes of a certainty; and I should +like to know what greater compulsion there can be for any thing than a +mathematical certainty. I studied math—” + +“Very true, Richard,” interrupted Marmaduke; “thy reasoning is true, +and, if my memory be not over-treacherous, was furnished by myself on +a former occasion, But how is one to guard against the danger? Canst +thou go through the forests measuring the bases and calculating the +centres of the oaks? Answer me that, friend Jones, and I will say thou +wilt do the country a service.” + +“Answer thee that, friend Temple!” returned Richard; “a well-educated +man can answer thee anything, sir. Do any trees fall in this manner +but such as are decayed? Take care not to approach the roots of a +rotten tree, and you will be safe enough.” + +“That would be excluding us entirely from the forests,’ said +Marmaduke. “But, happily, the winds usually force down most of these +dangerous ruins, as their currents are admitted into the woods by the +surrounding clearings, and such a fall as this has been is very rare.” + +Louisa by this time had recovered so much strength as to allow the +party to proceed at a quicker pace, but long before they were safely +housed they were overtaken by the storm; and when they dismounted at +the door of the mansion-house, the black plumes of Miss Temple’s hat +were drooping with the weight of a load of damp snow, and the coats of +the gentlemen were powdered with the same material. + +While Edwards was assisting Louisa from her horse, the warm-hearted +girl caught his hand with fervor and whispered: + +“Now, Mr. Edwards, both father and daughter owe their lives to you.” + +A driving northwesterly storm succeeded, and before the sun was set +every vestige of spring had vanished; the lake, the mountains, the +village, and the fields being again hidden under one dazzling coat of +snow. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + + + +“Men, boys, and girls +Desert the unpeopled village; and wild crowds +Spread o’er the plain, by the sweet phrensy driven.”-Somerville. + +From this time to the close of April the weather continued to be a +succession of neat and rapid changes. One day the soft airs of spring +seemed to be stealing along the valley, and, in unison with an +invigorating sun, attempting covertly to rouse the dormant powers of +the vegetable world, while, on the next, the surly blasts from the +north would sweep across the lake and erase every impression left by +their gentle adversaries. The snow, however, finally disappeared, and +the green wheat fields were seen in every direction, spotted with the +dark and charred stumps that had, the preceding season, supported some +of the proudest trees of the forest. Ploughs were in motion, wherever +those useful implements could be used, and the smokes of the sugar- +camps were no longer seen issuing from the woods of maple. The lake +had lost the beauty of a field of ice, but still a dark and gloomy +covering concealed its waters, for the absence of currents left them +yet hidden under a porous crust, which, saturated with the fluid, +barely retained enough strength to preserve the continuity of its +parts. Large flocks of wild geese were seen passing over the country, +which hovered, for a time, around the hidden sheet of water, +apparently searching for a resting-place; and then, on finding them +selves excluded by the chill covering, would soar away to the north, +filling the air with discordant screams, as if venting their +complaints at the tardy operations of Nature. + +For a week, the dark covering of the Otsego was left to the +undisturbed possession of two eagles, who alighted on the centre of +its field, and sat eyeing their undisputed territory. During the +presence of these monarchs of the air, the flocks of migrating birds +avoided crossing the plain of ice by turning into the hills, +apparently seeking the protection of the forests, while the white and +bald heads of the tenants of the lake were turned upward, with a look +of contempt. But the time had come when even these kings of birds +were to be dispossessed. An opening had been gradually increasing at +the lower extremity of the lake, and around the dark spot where the +current of the river prevented the formation of ice during even the +coldest weather; and the fresh southerly winds, that now breathed +freely upon the valley, made an impression on the waters. Mimic waves +began to curl over the margin of the frozen field, which exhibited an +outline of crystallizations that slowly receded toward the north. At +each step the power of the winds and the waves increased, until, after +a struggle of a few hours, the turbulent little billows succeeded in +setting the whole field in motion, when it was driven beyond the reach +of the eye, with a rapidity that was as magical as the change produced +in the scene by this expulsion of the lingering remnant of winter. +Just as the last sheet of agitated ice was disappearing in the +distance, the eagles rose, and soared with a wide sweep above the +clouds, while the waves tossed their little caps of snow in the air, +as if rioting in their release from a thraldom of five minutes’ +duration. + +The following morning Elizabeth was awakened by the exhilarating +sounds of the martens, who were quarrelling and chattering around the +little boxes suspended above her windows, and the cries of Richard, +who was calling in tones animating as signs of the season itself: + +“Awake! awake! my fair lady! the gulls are hovering over the lake +already, and the heavens are alive with pigeons. You may look an hour +before you can find a hole through which to get a peep at the sun. +Awake! awake! lazy ones’ Benjamin is overhauling the ammunition, and +we only wait for our breakfasts, and away for the mountains and +pigeon-shooting.” + +There was no resisting this animated appeal, and in a few minutes Miss +Temple and her friend descended to the parlor. The doors of the hall +were thrown open, and the mild, balmy air of a clear spring morning +was ventilating the apartment, where the vigilance of the ex-steward +had been so long maintaining an artificial heat with such unremitted +diligence. The gentlemen were impatiently waiting for their morning’s +repast, each equipped in the garb of a sportsman. Mr. Jones made many +visits to the southern door, and would cry: + +“See, Cousin Bess! see, ‘Duke, the pigeon-roosts of the south have +broken up! They are growing more thick every instant, Here is a flock +that the eye cannot see the end of. There is food enough in it to +keep the army of Xerxes for a month, and feathers enough to make beds +for the whole country. Xerxes, Mr. Edwards, was a Grecian king, who— +no, he was a Turk, or a Persian, who wanted to conquer Greece, just +the same as these rascals will overrun our wheat fields, when they +come back in the fall. Away! away! Bess; I long to pepper them.” + +In this wish both Marmaduke and young Edwards seemed equally to +participate, for the sight was exhilarating to a sportsman; and the +ladies soon dismissed the party after a hasty breakfast. + +If the heavens were alive with pigeons, the whole village seemed +equally in motion with men, women, and children. Every species of +firearm, from the French ducking gun, with a barrel near six feet in +length, to the common horseman's pistol, was to be seen in the hands +of the men and boys; while bows and arrows, some made of the simple +stick of walnut sapling and others in a rude imitation of the ancient +cross-bows, were carried by many of the latter. + +The houses and the signs of life apparent in the village drove the +alarmed birds from the direct line of their flight, toward the +mountains, along the sides and near the bases of which they were +glancing in dense masses, equally wonderful by the rapidity of their +motion and their incredible numbers. + +We have already said that, across the inclined plane which fell from +the steep ascent of the mountain to the banks of the Susquehanna, ran +the highway on either side of which a clearing of many acres had been +made at a very early day. Over those clearings, and up the eastern +mountain, and along the dangerous path that was cut into its side, the +different individuals posted themselves, and in a few moments the +attack commenced. + +Among the sportsmen was the tall, gaunt form of Leather-Stocking, +walking over the field, with his rifle hanging on his arm, his dogs at +his heels; the latter now scenting the dead or wounded birds that were +beginning to tumble from the flocks, and then crouching under the legs +of their master, as if they participated in his feelings at this +wasteful and unsportsmanlike execution. + +The reports of the firearms became rapid, whole volleys rising from +the plain, as flocks of more than ordinary numbers darted over the +opening, shadowing the field like a cloud; and then the light smoke of +a single piece would issue from among the leafless bushes on the +mountain, as death was hurled on the retreat of the affrighted birds, +who were rising from a volley, in a vain effort to escape. Arrows and +missiles of every kind were in the midst of the flocks; and so +numerous were the birds, and so low did they take their flight, that +even long poles in the hands of those on the sides of the mountain +were used to strike them to the earth. + +During all this time Mr. Jones, who disdained the humble and ordinary +means of destruction used by his companions, was busily occupied, +aided by Benjamin, in making arrangements for an assault of more than +ordinarily fatal character. Among the relics of the old military +excursions, that occasionally are discovered throughout the different +districts of the western part of New York, there had been found in +Templeton, at its settlement, a small swivel, which would carry a ball +of a pound weight. It was thought to have been deserted by a war- +party of the whites in one of their inroads into the Indian +settlements, when, perhaps, convenience or their necessity induced +them to leave such an incumberance behind them in the woods. This +miniature cannon had been released from the rust, and being mounted on +little wheels was now in a state for actual service. For several +years it was the sole organ for extraordinary rejoicings used in those +mountains. On the mornings of the Fourth of July it would be heard +ringing among the hills; and even Captain Hollister, who was the +highest authority in that part of the country on all such occasions, +affirmed that, considering its dimensions, it was no despicable gun +for a salute. It was somewhat the worse for the service it had +performed, it is true, there being but a trifling difference in size +between the touch-hole and the muzzle Still, the grand conceptions of +Richard had suggested the importance of such an instrument in hurling +death at his nimble enemies. The swivel was dragged by a horse into a +part of the open space that the sheriff thought most eligible for +planning a battery of the kind, and Mr. Pump proceeded to load it. +Several handfuls of duck-shot were placed on top of the powder, and +the major-domo announced that his piece was ready for service. + +The sight of such an implement collected all the idle spectators to +the spot, who, being mostly boys, filled the air with cries of +exultation and delight The gun was pointed high, and Richard, holding +a coal of fire in a pair of tongs, patiently took his seat on a stump, +awaiting the appearance of a flock worthy of his notice. + +So prodigious was the number of the birds that the scattering fire of +the guns, with the hurling of missiles and the cries of the boys, had +no other effect than to break off small flocks from the immense masses +that continued to dart along the valley, as if the whole of the +feathered tribe were pouring through that one pass. None pretended to +collect the game, which lay scattered over the fields in such +profusion as to cover the very ground with fluttering victims. + +Leather-Stocking was a silent but uneasy spectator of all these +proceedings, but was able to keep his sentiments to himself until he +saw the introduction of the swivel into the sports. + +“This comes of settling a country!” he said. “Here have I known the +pigeon to fly for forty long years, and, till you made your clearings, +there was nobody to skeart or to hurt them, I loved to see them come +into the woods, for they were company to a body, hurting nothing +—being, as it was, as harmless as a garter-snake. But now it gives me +sore thoughts when I hear the frighty things whizzing through the air, +for I know it’s only a motion to bring out all the brats of the +village. Well, the Lord won’t see the waste of his creatures for +nothing, and right will be done to the pigeons, as well as others, by +and by. There’s Mr. Oliver as bad as the rest of them, firing into +the flocks as if he was shooting down nothing but Mingo warriors.” +Among the sportsmen was Billy Kirby, who, armed with an old musket, +was loading, and, without even looking into the air, was firing and +shouting as his victims fell even on his own person. He heard the +speech of Natty, and took upon himself to reply: + +“What! old Leather-Stocking,” he cried, “grumbling at the loss of a +few pigeons! If you had to sow your wheat twice, and three times, as I +have done, you wouldn’t be so massyfully feeling toward the divils. +Hurrah, boys! scatter the feathers! This is better than shooting at a +turkey’s head and neck, old fellow.” + +“It’s better for you, maybe, Billy Kirby,” replied the indignant old +hunter, “and all them that don’t know how to put a ball down a rifle- +barrel, or how to bring it up again with a true aim; but it’s wicked +to be shooting into flocks in this wasty manner, and none to do it who +know how to knock over a single bird. If a body has a craving for +pigeon’s flesh, why, it’s made the same as all other creatures, for +man’s eating; but not to kill twenty and eat one. When I want such a +thing I go into the woods till I find one to my liking, and then I +shoot him off the branches, without touching the feather of another, +though there might be a hundred on the same tree. You couldn’t do +such a thing, Billy Kirby—you couldn’t do it if you tried.” + +“What’s that, old corn-stalk! you sapless stub!” cried the wood- +chopper. “You have grown wordy, since the affair of the turkey; but +if you are for a single shot, here goes at that bird which comes on by +himself.” + +The fire from the distant part of the field had driven a single pigeon +below the flock to which it belonged, and, frightened with the +constant reports of the muskets, it was approaching the spot where the +disputants stood, darting first from One side and then to the other, +cutting the air with the swiftness of lightning, and making a noise +with its wings not unlike the rushing of a bullet. Unfortunately for +the wood-chopper, notwithstanding his vaunt, he did not see this bird +until it was too late to fire as it approached, and he pulled the +trigger at the unlucky moment when it was darting immediately over his +head. The bird continued its course with the usual velocity. + +Natty lowered his rifle from his arm when the challenge was made, and +waiting a moment, until the terrified victim had got in a line with +his eye, and had dropped near the bank of the lake, he raised it again +with uncommon rapidity, and fired. It might have been chance, or it +might have been skill, that produced the result; it was probably a +union of both; but the pigeon whirled over in the air, and fell into +the lake with a broken wing At the sound of his rifle, both his dogs +started from his feet, and in a few minutes the “slut” brought out the +bird, still alive. + +The wonderful exploit of Leather-Stocking was noised through the field +with great rapidity, and the sportsmen gathered in, to learn the truth +of the report. + +“What” said young Edwards,” have you really killed a pigeon on the +wing, Natty, with a single ball?” + +“Haven’t I killed loons before now, lad, that dive at the flash?” +returned the hunter. “It’s much better to kill only such as you want, +without wasting your powder and lead, than to be firing into God’s +creatures in this wicked manner. But I came out for a bird, and you +know the reason why I like small game, Mr. Oliver, and now I have got +one Twill go home, for I don’t relish to see these wasty ways that you +are all practysing, as if the least thing wasn’t made for use, and not +to destroy.” + +“Thou sayest well, Leather-Stocking,” cried Marmaduke, “and I begin to +think it time to put an end to this work of destruction.” + +“Put an ind, Judge, to your clearings. Ain’t the woods His work as +well as the pigeons? Use, but don’t waste. Wasn’t the woods made for +the beasts and birds to harbor in? and when man wanted their flesh, +their skins, or their feathers, there’s the place to seek them. But +I’ll go to the hut with my own game, for I wouldn’t touch one of the +harmless things that cover the ground here, looking up with their eyes +on me, as if they only wanted tongues to say their thoughts.” +With this sentiment in his month, Leather-Stocking threw his rifle +over his arm, and, followed by his dogs, stepped across the clearing +with great caution, taking care not to tread on one of the wounded +birds in his path. He soon entered the bushes on the margin of the +lake and was hid from view. + +Whatever impression the morality of Natty made on the Judge, it was +utterly lost on Richard. He availed himself of the gathering of the +sportsmen, to lay a plan for one “fell swoop” of destruction. The +musket-men were drawn up in battle array, in a line extending on each +side of his artillery, with orders to await the signal of firing from +himself. + +“Stand by, my lads,” said Benjamin, who acted as an aid de-camp on +this occasion, “stand by, my hearties, and when Squire Dickens heaves +out the signal to begin firing, d’ye see, you may open upon them in a +broadside. Take care and fire low, boys, and you’ll be sure to hull +the flock.” + +“Fire low!” shouted Kirby; “hear the old fool! If we fire low, we may +hit the stumps, but not ruffle a pigeon.” + +“How should you know, you lubber?” cried Benjamin, with a very +unbecoming heat for an officer on the eve of battle—” how should you +know, you grampus? Haven’t I sailed aboard of the Boadishy for five +years? and wasn’t it a standing order to fire low, and to hull your +enemy! Keep silence at your guns, boys and mind the order that is +passed.” + +The loud laughs of the musket-men were silenced by the more +authoritative voice of Richard, who called for attention and obedience +to his signals. + +Some millions of pigeons were supposed to have already passed, that +morning, over the valley of Templeton; but nothing like the flock that +was now approaching had been seen before. It extended from mountain +to mountain in one solid blue mass, and the eye looked in vain, over +the southern hills, to find its termination. The front of this living +column was distinctly marked by a line but very slightly indented, so +regular and even was the flight. Even Marmaduke forgot the morality +of Leather-Stocking as it approached, and, in common with the rest, +brought his musket to a poise. + +“Fire!” cried the sheriff, clapping a coal to the priming of the +cannon. As half of Benjamin’s charge escaped through the touch-hole, +the whole volley of the musketry preceded the report of the swivel. +On receiving this united discharge of small-arms, the front of the +flock darted upward, while, at the same instant, myriads of those in +the rear rushed with amazing rapidity into their places, so that, when +the column of white smoke gushed from the mouth of the little cannon, +an accumulated mass of objects was gliding over its point of +direction. The roar of the gun echoed along the mountains, and died +away to the north, like distant thunder, while the whole flock of +alarmed birds seemed, for a moment, thrown into one disorderly and +agitated mass. The air was filled with their irregular flight, layer +rising above layer, far above the tops of the highest pines, none +daring to advance beyond the dangerous pass; when, suddenly, some of +the headers of the feathered tribes shot across the valley, taking +their flight directly over the village, and hundreds of thousands in +their rear followed the example, deserting the eastern side of the +plain to their persecutors and the slain. + +“Victory!” shouted Richard, “victory! we have driven the enemy from +the field.” + +“Not so, Dickon,” said Marmaduke; “the field is covered with them; +and, like the Leather-Stocking, I see nothing but eyes, in every +direction, as the innocent sufferers turn their heads in terror. Full +one-half of those that have fallen are yet alive; and I think it is +time to end the sport, if sport it be.” + +“Sport!” cried the sheriff; “it is princely sport! There are some +thousands of the blue-coated boys on the ground, so that every old +woman in the village may have a pot-pie for the asking.” + +“Well, we have happily frightened the birds from this side of the +valley,” said Marmaduke, “and the carnage must of necessity end for +the present. Boys, I will give you sixpence a hundred for the +pigeons’ heads only; so go to work, and bring them into the village.” + +This expedient produced the desired effect, for every urchin on the +ground went industriously to work to wring the necks of the wounded +birds. Judge Temple retired toward his dwelling with that kind of +feeling that many a man has experienced before him, who discovers, +after the excitement of the moment has passed, that he has purchased +pleasure at the price of misery to others. Horses were loaded with +the dead; and, after this first burst of sporting, the shooting of +pigeons became a business, with a few idlers, for the remainder of the +season, Richard, however, boasted for many a year of his shot with the +“cricket;” and Benjamin gravely asserted that he thought they had +killed nearly as many pigeons on that day as there were Frenchmen +destroyed on the memorable occasion of Rodney’s victory. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + + +“Help, masters, help; here’s a fish hangs in the net, like a poor +Man’s right in the law.’—Pericles of Tyre. + +The advance of the season now became as rapid as its first approach +had been tedious and lingering. The days were uniformly mild, while +the nights, though cool, were no longer chilled by frosts. The whip- +poor-will was heard whistling his melancholy notes along the margin of +the lake, and the ponds and meadows were sending forth the music of +their thousand tenants. The leaf of the native poplar was seen +quivering in the woods; the sides of the mountains began to lose their +hue of brown, as the lively green of the different members of the +forest blended their shades with the permanent colors of the pine and +hemlock; and even the buds of the tardy oak were swelling with the +promise of the coming summer. The gay and fluttering blue-bird, the +social robin, and the industrious little wren were all to be seen +enlivening the fields with their presence and their songs; while the +soaring fish-hawk was already hovering over the waters of the Otsego, +watching with native voracity for the appearance of his prey. + +The tenants of the lake were far-famed for both their quantities and +their quality, and the ice had hardly disappeared before numberless +little boats were launched from the shores, and the lines of the +fishermen were dropped into the inmost recesses of its deepest +caverns, tempting the unwary animals with every variety of bait that +the ingenuity or the art of man had invented. But the slow though +certain adventures with hook and line were ill suited to the profusion +and impatience of the settlers. More destructive means were resorted +to; and, as the season had now arrived when the bass fisheries were +allowed by the provisions of the law that Judge Temple had procured, +the sheriff declared his intention, by availing himself of the first +dark night, to enjoy the sport in person. + +“And you shall be present, Cousin Bess,” he added, when he announced +this design, “and Miss Grant, and Mr. Edwards; and I will show you +what I call fishing not nibble, nibble, nibble, as ‘Duke does when he +goes after the salmon-trout. There he will sit for hours, in a +broiling sun or, perhaps, over a hole in the lee, in the coldest days +in winter, under the lee of a few bushes, and not a fish will he +catch, after all this mortification of the flesh. No, no—give me a +good seine that’s fifty or sixty fathoms in length, with a jolly +parcel of boatmen to crack their jokes the while, with Benjamin to +steer, and let us haul them in by thousands; I call that fishing.” + +“Ah! Dickon,” cried Marmaduke, “thou knowest but little of the +pleasure there is in playing with the hook and line, or thou wouldst +be more saving of the game. I have known thee to leave fragments +enough behind thee, when thou hast headed a night party on the lake, +to feed a dozen famishing families.” + +“I shall not dispute the matter, Judge Temple; this night will I go; +and I invite the company to attend, and then let them decide between +us.” + +Richard was busy during most of the afternoon, making his preparations +for the important occasion. Just as the light of the settling sun had +disappeared, and a new moon had begun to throw its shadows on the +earth, the fisher-men took their departure, in a boat, for a point +that was situated on the western shore of the lake, at the distance of +rather more than half a mile from the village. The ground had become +settled, and the walking was good and dry. Marmaduke, with his +daughter, her friend, and young Edwards, continued on the high grassy +banks at the outlet of the placid sheet of water, watching the dark +object that was moving across the lake, until it entered the shade of +the western hills, and was lost to the eye. The distance round by +land to the point of destination was a mile, and he observed: + +“It is time for us to be moving; the moon will be down ere we reach +the point, and then the miraculous hauls of Dickon will commence.” + +The evening was warm, and, after the long and dreary winter from which +they had just escaped, delightfully invigorating. Inspirited by the +scene and their anticipated amusement, the youthful companions of the +Judge followed his steps, as he led them along the shores of the +Otsego, and through the skirts of the village. + +“See!” said young Edwards, “they are building their fire already; it +glimmers for a moment, and dies again like the light of a firefly.” + +“Now it blazes,” cried Elizabeth; “you can perceive figures moving +around the light. Oh! I would bet my jewels against the gold beads of +Remarkable, that my impatient Cousin Dickon had an agency in raising +that bright flame; and see! it fades again, like most of his brilliant +schemes.” + +Thou hast guessed the truth, Bess,” said her father; “he has thrown an +armful of brush on the pile, which has burnt out as soon as lighted. +But it has enabled them to find a better fuel, for their fire begins +to blaze with a more steady flame. It is the true fisherman’s beacon +now; observe how beautifully it throw s its little circle of light on +the water!” + +The appearance of the fire urged the pedestrians on, for even the +ladies had become eager to witness the miraculous draught. By the +time they reached the bank, which rose above the low point where the +fishermen had landed, the moon had sunk behind the top of the western +pines, and, as most of the stars were obscured by clouds, there was +but little other light than that which proceeded from the fire. At +the suggestion of Marmaduke, his companions paused to listen to the +conversation of those below them, and examine the party for a moment +before they descended to the shore. + +The whole group were seated around the fire, with the exception of +Richard and Benjamin; the former of whom occupied the root of a +decayed stump, that had been drawn to the spot as part of their fuel, +and the latter was standing. with his arms akimbo, so near to the +flame that the smoke occasionally obscured his solemn visage, as it +waved around the pile in obedience to the night airs that swept gently +over the water. + +“Why, look you, squire, said the major-domo. You may call a lake-fish +that will weigh twenty or thirty pounds a serious matter, but to a man +who has hauled in a shovel-nosed shirk, d’ye see, it’s but a poor kind +of fishing after all.” + +“I don’t know, Benjamin,” returned the sheriff; “a haul of one +thousand Otsego bass, without counting pike, pickerel, perch, bull- +pouts, salmon-trouts, and suckers, is no bad fishing, let me tell you. +There may he sport in sticking a shark, but what is he good for after +you have got him? Now, any one of the fish that I have named is fit to +set before a king.” + +“Well, squire,” returned Benjamin, “just listen to the philosophy of +the thing. Would it stand to reason, that such a fish should live and +be catched in this here little pond of water, where it’s hardly deep +enough to drown a man, as you’ll find in the wide ocean, where, as +every body knows that is, everybody that has followed the seas, whales +and grampuses are to be seen, that are as long as one of the pine- +trees on yonder mountain?” + +“Softly, softly, Benjamin,” said the sheriff, as if he wished to save +the credit of his favorite; “why, some of the pines will measure two +hundred feet, and even more.” + +“Two hundred or two thousand, it’s all the same thing,” cried +Benjamin, with an air which manifested that he was not easily to be +bullied out of his opinion, on a subject like the present. “ Haven’t +I been there, and haven’t I seen? I have said that you fall in with +whales as long as one of them there pines: and what I have once said +I’ll stand to!” + +During this dialogue, which was evidently but the close of much longer +discussion, the huge frame of Billy Kirby was seen extended on one +side of the fire, where he was picking his teeth with splinters of the +chips near him, and occasionally shaking his head with distrust of +Benjamin’s assertions. + +“I’ve a notion,” said the wood-chopper, “ that there’s water in this +lake to swim the biggest whale that ever was invented; and, as to the +pines, I think I ought to know so’thing consarning them; I have +chopped many a one that was sixty times the length of my helve, +without counting the eye; and I believe, Benny, that if the old pine +that stands in the hollow of the Vision Mountain just over the +village—you may see the tree itself by looking up, for the moon is on +its top yet—well, now I believe, if that same tree was planted out in +the deepest part of the lake, there would be water enough for the +biggest ship that ever was built to float over it, without touching +its upper branches, I do.” + +“Did’ee ever see a ship, Master Kirby?” roared the steward, “did’ee +ever see a ship, man? or any craft bigger than a lime-scow, or a wood- +boat, on this here small bit of fresh water?” + +“Yes, I have,” said the wood-chopper stoutly; “I can say that I have, +and tell no lie.” + +“Did’ee ever see a British ship, Master Kirby? an English line-of- +battle ship, boy? Where did’ee ever fall in with a regular built +vessel, with starn-post and cutwater, gar board-streak and plank- +shear, gangways, and hatchways, and waterways, quarter-deck, and +forecastle, ay, and flush-deck?—tell me that, man, if you can; where +away did’ee ever fall in with a full-rigged, regular-built, necked +vessel?” + +The whole company were a good deal astounded with this overwhelming +question, and even Richard afterward remarked that it “was a thousand +pities that Benjamin could not read, or he must have made a valuable +officer to the British marine. It is no wonder that they overcame the +French so easily on the water, when even the lowest sailor so well +understood the different parts of a vessel.” But Billy Kirby was a +fearless wight, and had great jealousy of foreign dictation; he had +risen on his feet, and turned his back to the fire, during the voluble +delivery of this interrogatory; and when the steward ended, contrary +to all expectation, he gave the following spirited reply: + +“Where! why, on the North River, and maybe on Champlain. There’s +sloops on the river, boy, that would give a hard time on’t to the +stoutest vessel King George owns. They carry masts of ninety feet in +the clear of good solid pine, for I’ve been at the chopping of many a +one in Varmount State. I wish I was captain in one of them, and you +was in that Board-dish that you talk so much about, and we’d soon see +what good Yankee stuff is made on, and whether a Varmounter’s hide +ain’t as thick as an Englishman’s.” +The echoes from the opposite hills, which were more than half a mile +from the fishing point, sent back the discordant laugh that Benjamin +gave forth at this challenge; and the woods that covered their sides +seemed, by the noise that issued from their shades, to be full of +mocking demons. + +“Let us descend to the shore,” whispered Marmaduke, “or there will +soon be ill-blood between them. Benjamin is a fearless boaster; and +Kirby, though good-natured, is a careless son of the forest, who +thinks one American more than a match for six Englishmen. I marvel +that Dickon is silent, where there is such a trial of skill in the +superlative!” + +The appearance of Judge Temple and the ladies produced, if not a +pacification, at least a cessation of hostilities. Obedient to the +directions of Mr. Jones the fishermen prepared to launch their boat, +which had been seen in the background of the view, with the net +carefully disposed on a little platform in its stern, ready for +service. Richard gave vent to his reproaches at the tardiness of the +pedestrians, when all the turbulent passions of the party were +succeeded by a calm, as mild and as placid as that which prevailed +over the beautiful sheet of water that they were about to rifle of its +best treasures. + +The night had now become so dark as to render objects, without the +reach of the light of the fire, not only indistinct, but in most cases +invisible. For a little distance the water was discernible, +glistening, as the glare from the fire danced over its surface, +touching it here and there with red quivering streaks; but, at a +hundred feet from the shore, there lay a boundary of impenetrable +gloom. One or two stars were shining through the openings of the +clouds, and the lights were seen in the village, glimmering faintly, +as if at an immeasurable distance. At times, as the fire lowered, or +as the horizon cleared, the outline of the mountain, on the other side +of the lake, might be traced by its undulations; but its shadow was +cast, wide and dense, on the bosom of the water, rendering the +darkness in that direction trebly deep. + +Benjamin Pump was invariably the coxswain and net caster of Richard’s +boat, unless the sheriff saw fit to preside in person: and, on the +present occasion, Billy Kirby, and a youth of about half his strength, +were assigned to the oars. The remainder of the assistants were +stationed at the drag-ropes. The arrangements were speedily made, and +Richard gave the signal to “shove off.” + +Elizabeth watched the motion of the batteau as it pulled from the +shore, letting loose its rope as it went, but it soon disappeared in +the darkness, when the ear was her only guide to its evolutions. +There was great affectation of stillness during all these manoeuvers, +in order, as Richard assured them, “not to frighten the bass, who were +running into the shoal waters, and who would approach the light if not +disturbed by the sounds from the fishermen.” + +The hoarse voice of Benjamin was alone heard issuing out of the gloom, +as he uttered, in authoritative tones, “Pull larboard oar,” “Pull +starboard,” “ Give way together, boys,” and such other indicative +mandates as were necessary for the right disposition of his seine. A +long time was passed in this necessary part of the process, for +Benjamin prided himself greatly on his skill in throwing the net, and, +in fact, most of the success of the sport depended on its being done +with judgment. At length a loud splash in the water, as he threw away +the “staff,” or “stretcher,” with a hoarse call from the steward of +“Clear,” announced that the boat was returning; when Richard seized a +brand from the fire, and ran to a point as far above the centre of the +fishing-ground, as the one from which the batteau had started was +below it. + +“Stick her in dead for the squire, boys,” said the steward, “and we’ll +have a look at what grows in this here pond.” + +In place of the falling net were now to be heard the quick strokes of +the oars, and the noise of the rope running out of the boat. +Presently the batteau shot into the circle of light, and in an instant +she was pulled to the shore. Several eager hands were extended to +receive the line, and, both ropes being equally well manned, the +fishermen commenced hauling in with slow, and steady drags, Richard +standing to the centre, giving orders, first to one party, and then to +the other, to increase or slacken their efforts, as occasion required. +The visitors were posted near him, and enjoyed a fair view of the +whole operation. which was slowly advancing to an end. + +Opinions as to the result of their adventure were now freely hazarded +by all the men, some declaring that the net came in as light as a +feather, and others affirming that it seemed to be full of logs. As +the ropes were many hundred feet in length, these opposing sentiments +were thought to be of little moment by the sheriff, who would go first +to one line, and then to the other, giving each small pull, in order +to enable him to form an opinion for himself. + +“Why, Benjamin,” he cried, as he made his first effort in this way, +“you did not throw the net clear. I can move it with my little +finger. The rope slackens in my hand.” + +“Did you ever see a whale, squire?” responded the steward: “ I say +that, if that there net is foul, the devil is in the lake in the shape +of a fish, for I cast it as far as ever rigging was rove over the +quarter-deck of a flag-ship.” + +But Richard discovered his mistake, when he saw Billy Kirby before +him, standing with his feet in the water, at an angle of forty-five +degrees, inclining southward, and expending his gigantic strength in +sustaining himself in that posture. He ceased his remonstrances, and +proceeded to the party at the other line. + +“I see the ‘staffs,’” shouted Mr. Jones—” gather in,, boys, and away +with it; to shore with her!—to shore with her!” + +At this cheerful sound, Elizabeth strained her eyes and saw the ends +of the two sticks on the seine emerging from the darkness, while the +men closed near to each other, and formed a deep bag of their net. +The exertions of the fishermen sensibly increased, and the voice of +Richard was heard encouraging them to make their greatest efforts at +the present moment. + +“Now’s the time, my lads,” he cried; “let us get the ends to land, and +all we have will be our own—away with her!” + +“Away with her, it is,” echoed Benjamin!—” hurrah! ho-a-hay, ho-a-hoy, +ho-a!” + +“In with her,” shouted Kirby, exerting himself in a manner that left +nothing for those in his rear to do, but to gather up the slack of the +rope which passed through his hands. + +“Staff. ho!” shouted the steward. + +“Staff, ho!” echoed Kirby, from the other rope. +The men rushed to the water’s edge, some seizing the upper rope, and +some the lower or lead rope, and began to haul with great activity and +zeal, A deep semicircular sweep of the little balls that supported the +seine in its perpendicular position was plainly visible to the +spectators, and, as it rapidly lessened in size, the bag of the net +appeared, while an occasional flutter on the water announced the +uneasiness of the prisoners it contained. + +“Haul in, my lads,” shouted Richard—” I can see the dogs kicking to +get free. Haul in, and here’s a cast that will pay for the labor.” +Fishes of various sorts were now to be seen, entangled in the meshes +of the net, as it was passed through the hands of the laborers; and +the water, at a little distance from the shore, was alive with the +movements of the alarmed victims. Hundreds of white sides were +glancing up to the surface of the water, and glistening in the fire +light, when, frightened at the uproar and the change, the fish would +again dart to the bottom, in fruitless efforts for freedom. +Hurrah!” shouted Richard: “one or two more heavy drags, boys, and we +are safe.” + +“Cheerily, boys, cheerily!” cried Benjamin; “I see a salmon-trout that +is big enough for a chowder.” + +“Away with you, you varmint!” said Billy Kirby, plucking a bullpout +from the meshes, and casting the animal back into the lake with +contempt. “Pull, boys, pull; here’s all kinds, and the Lord condemn +me for a liar, if there ain’t a thousand bass!” + +Inflamed beyond the bounds of discretion at the sight, and forgetful +of the season, the wood-chopper rushed to his middle into the water, +and began to drive the reluctant animals before him from their native +element. + +“Pull heartily, boys,” cried Marmaduke, yielding to the excitement of +the moment, and laying his hands to the net, with no trifling addition +to the force. Edwards had preceded him; for the sight of the immense +piles of fish, that were slowly rolling over on the gravelly beach, +had impelled him also to leave the ladies and join the fishermen. + +Great care was observed in bringing the net to land, and, after much +toil, the whole shoal of victims was safely deposited in a hollow of +the bank, where they were left to flutter away their brief existence +in the new and fatal element. + +Even Elizabeth and Louisa were greatly excited and highly gratified by +seeing two thousand captives thus drawn from the bosom of the lake, +and laid prisoners at their feet. But when the feelings of the moment +were passing away, Marmaduke took in his hands a bass, that might have +weighed two pounds, and after viewing it a moment, in melancholy +musing, he turned to his daughter, and observed: + +“This is a fearful expenditure of the choicest gifts of Providence. +These fish, Bess, which thou seest lying in such piles before thee, +and which by to-morrow evening will be rejected food on the meanest +table in Templeton, are of a quality and flavor that, in other +countries, would make them esteemed a luxury on the tables of princes +or epicures. The world has no better fish than the bass of Otsego; it +unites the richness of the shad * to the firmness of the salmon.” + + * Of all the fish the writer has ever tasted, be thinks the one in + question the best. + +“But surely, dear sir,” cried Elizabeth, “they must prove a great +blessing to the country, and a powerful friend to the poor.” + +“The poor are always prodigal, my child, where there is plenty, and +seldom think of a provision against the morrow. But, if there can be +any excuse for destroying animals in this manner, it is in taking the +bass. During the winter, you know, they are entirely protected from +our assaults by the ice, for they refuse the hook; and during the hot +months they are not seen. It is supposed they retreat to the deep and +cool waters of the lake, at that season; and it is only in the spring +and autumn that, for a few days, they are to be found around the +points where they are within the reach of a seine. But, like all the +other treasures of the wilderness, they already begin to disappear +before the wasteful extravagance of man.” + +“Disappear, Duke! disappear!” exclaimed the sheriff “if you don’t call +this appearing, I know not what you will. Here are a good thousand of +the shiners, some hundreds of suckers, and a powerful quantity of +other fry. But this is always the way with you, Marmaduke: first it’s +the trees, then it’s the deer; after that it’s the maple sugar, and so +on to the end of the chapter. One day you talk of canals through a +country where there's a river or a lake every half-mile, just because +the water won’t run the way you wish it to go; and, the next, you say +some thing about mines of coal, though any man who has good eyes like +myself—I say, with good eyes—can see more wood than would keep the +city of London in fuel for fifty years; wouldn’t it, Benjamin?” + +“Why, for that, squire,” said the steward, “Lon’on is no small place. +If it was stretched an end, all the same as a town on one side of the +river, it would cover some such matter as this here lake. Thof I +dar’st to say, that the wood in sight might sarve them a good turn, +seeing that the Lon’oners mainly burn coal.” + +“Now we are on the subject of coal, Judge Temple,” interrupted the +sheriff, “I have a thing of much importance to communicate to you; but +I will defer it -until tomorrow. I know that you intend riding into +the eastern part of the Patent, and I will accompany you, and conduct +you to a spot where some of your projects may be realized. We will +say no more now, for there are listeners; but a secret has this +evening been revealed to me, ‘Duke, that is of more consequence to +your welfare than all your estate united,” + +Marmaduke laughed at the important intelligence, to which in a variety +of shapes he was accustomed, and the sheriff, with an air of great +dignity, as if pitying his want of faith, proceeded in the business +more immediately be fore them. As the labor of drawing the net had +been very great, he directed one party of his men to commence throwing +the fish into piles, preparatory to the usual division, while another, +under the superintendence of Benjamin, prepared the seine for a second +haul. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + + +“While from its margin, terrible to tell, +Three sailors with their gallant boatswain fell.” —Falconer. + +While the fishermen were employed in making the preparations for an +equitable division of the spoil, Elizabeth and her friend strolled a +short distance from the group, along the shore of the lake. After +reaching a point to which even the brightest of the occasional gleams +of the fire did not extend, they turned, and paused a moment, in +contemplation of the busy and lively party they had left, and of the +obscurity which, like the gloom of oblivion, seemed to envelop the +rest of the creation. + +“This is indeed a subject for the pencil!” exclaimed Elizabeth. +“Observe the countenance of that woodchopper, while he exults in +presenting a larger fish than common to my cousin sheriff; and see, +Louisa, how hand some and considerate my dear father looks, by the +light of that fire, where he stands viewing the havoc of the game. He +seems melancholy, as if he actually thought that a day of retribution +was to follow this hour of abundance and prodigality! Would they not +make a picture, Louisa?” + +“You know that I am ignorant of all such accomplishments, Miss +Temple.” + +“Call me by my Christian name,” interrupted Elizabeth; “this is not a +place, neither is this a scene, for forms.” + +“Well, then, if I may venture an opinion,’ said Louisa timidly, “I +should think it might indeed make a picture. The selfish earnestness +of that Kirby over his fish would contrast finely with the—the— +expression of Mr. Edwards’ face. I hardly know what to call it; but +it is—a—is— you know what I would say, dear Elizabeth.” + +“You do me too much credit, Miss Grant,” said the heiress; “I am no +diviner of thoughts, or interpreter of expressions.” + +There was certainly nothing harsh or even cold in the manner of the +speaker, but still it repressed the conversation, and they continued +to stroll still farther from the party, retaining each other’s arm, +but observing a pro found silence. Elizabeth, perhaps conscious of +the improper phraseology of her last speech, or perhaps excited by the +new object that met her gaze, was the first to break the awkward +cessation in the discourse, by exclaiming: + +“Look, Louisa! we are not alone; there are fishermen lighting a fire +on the other side of the lake, immediately opposite to us; it must be +in front of the cabin of Leather-Stocking!” + +Through the obscurity, which prevailed most immediately under the +eastern mountain, a small and uncertain light was plainly to be seen, +though, as it was occasionally lost to the eye, it seemed struggling +for existence. They observed it to move, and sensibly to lower, as it +carried down the descent of the bank to the shore. Here, in a very +short time, its flame gradually expanded, and grew brighter, until it +became of the size of a man’s head, when it continued to shine a +steady ball of fire. Such an object, lighted as it were by magic, +under the brow of the mountain, and in that retired and unfrequented +place, gave double interest to the beauty and singularity of its +appearance. It did not at all resemble the large and unsteady light +of their own fire, being much more clear and bright, and retaining its +size and shape with perfect uniformity. + +There are moments when the best-regulated minds are more or less +subjected to the injurious impressions which few have escaped in +infancy; and Elizabeth smiled at her own weakness, while she +remembered the idle tales which were circulated through the village, +at the expense of the Leather-Stocking. The same ideas seized her +companion, and at the same instant, for Louisa pressed nearer to her +friend, as she said in a low voice, stealing a timid glance toward the +bushes and trees that overhung the bank near them: + +“Did you ever hear the singular ways of this Natty spoken of, Miss +Temple? They say that, in his youth, he was an Indian warrior; or, +what is the same thing, a white man leagued with the savages; and it +is thought he has been concerned in many of their inroads, in the old +wars.” + +“The thing is not at all improbable,” returned Elizabeth; “he is not +alone in that particular.” + +“No, surely; but is it not strange that he is so cautious with his +hut? He never leaves it, without fastening it in a remarkable manner; +and in several instances, when the children, or even the men of the +village, have wished to seek a shelter there from the storms, he has +been known to drive them from his door with rudeness and threats. +That surely is singular to this country!” + +“It is certainly not very hospitable; but we must remember his +aversion to the customs of civilized life. You heard my father say, a +few days since, how kindly he was treated by him on his first visit to +his place.” Elizabeth paused, and smiled, with an expression of +peculiar arch ness, though the darkness hid its meaning from her +companion, as she continued: “Besides, he certainly admits the visits +of Mr. Edwards, whom we both know to be far from a savage.” + +To this speech Louisa made no reply, but continued gazing on the +object which had elicited her remarks. In addition to the bright and +circular flame, was now to be seen a fainter, though a vivid light, of +an equal diameter to the other at the upper end, but which, after +extending downward for many feet, gradually tapered to a point at its +lower extremity. A dark space was plainly visible between the two, +and the new illumination was placed beneath the other, the whole +forming an appearance not unlike an inverted note of admiration. It +was soon evident that the latter was nothing but the reflection, from +the water, of the former, and that the object, whatever it might be, +was advancing across, or rather over the lake, for it seemed to be +several feet above its surface, in a direct line with themselves. Its +motion was amazingly rapid, the ladies having hardly discovered that +it was moving at all, before the waving light of a flame was +discerned, losing its regular shape, while it increased in size, as it +approached. + +“It appears to be supernatural!” whispered Louisa, beginning to +retrace her steps toward the party. + +“It is beautiful!” exclaimed Elizabeth, + +A brilliant though waving flame was now plainly visible, gracefully +gliding over the lake, and throwing its light on the water in such a +manner as to tinge it slightly though in the air, so strong was the +contrast, the darkness seemed to have the distinctness of material +substances, as if the fire were imbedded in a setting of ebony. This +appearance, however, gradually wore off, and the rays from the torch +struck out, and enlightened the atmosphere in front of it, leaving the +background in a darkness that was more impenetrable than ever. + +“Ho! Natty, is that you?” shouted the sheriff. “Paddle in, old boy, +and I’ll give you a mess of fish that is fit to place before the +governor,” + +The light suddenly changed its direction, and a long and slightly +built boat hove up out of the gloom, while the red glare fell on the +weather-beaten features of the Leather-Stocking, whose tall person was +seen erect in the frail vessel, wielding, with the grace of an +experienced boatman, a long fishing-spear, which he held by its +centre, first dropping one end and then the other into the water, to +aid in propelling the little canoe of bark, we will not say through, +but over, the water. At the farther end of the vessel a form was +faintly seen, guiding its motions, and using a paddle with the ease of +one who felt there was no necessity for exertion. The Leather- +Stocking struck his spear lightly against the short staff which up +held, on a rude grating framed of old hoops of iron, the knots of pine +that composed the fuel, and the light, which glared high, for an +instant fell on the swarthy features and dark, glancing eyes of +Mohegan. + +The boat glided along the shore until it arrived opposite the fishing- +ground, when it again changed its direction and moved on to the land, +with a motion so graceful, and yet so rapid, that it seemed to possess +the power of regulating its own progress. The water in front of the +canoe was hardly ruffled by its passage and no sound betrayed the +collision, when the light fabric shot on the gravelly beach for nearly +half its length, Natty receding a step or two from its bow, in order +to facilitate the landing. + +“Approach, Mohegan,” said Marmaduke; “approach, Leather-Stocking, and +load your canoe with bass. It would be a shame to assail the animals +with the spear, when such multitudes of victims lie here, that will be +lost as food for the want of mouths to consume them.” + +No, no, Judge,” returned Natty, his tall figure stalking over the +narrow beach, and ascending to the little grassy bottom where the fish +were laid in piles; “I eat of no man’s wasty ways. I strike my spear +into the eels or the trout, when I crave the creatur’; but I wouldn’t +be helping to such a sinful kind of fishing for the best rifle that +was ever brought out from the old countries. If they had fur, like +the beaver, or you could tan their hides, like a buck, something might +be said in favor of taking them by the thousand with your nets; but as +God made them for man’s food, and for no other disarnable reason, I +call it sinful and wasty to catch more than can be eat.” + +“Your reasoning is mine; for once, old hunter, we agree in opinion; +and I heartily wish we could make a convert of the sheriff. A net of +half the size of this would supply the whole village with fish for a +week at one haul.” + +The Leather-Stocking did not relish this alliance in sentiment; and he +shook his head doubtingly as he answered; + +“No, no; we are not much of one mind, Judge, or you’d never turn good +hunting-grounds into stumpy pastures. And you fish and hunt out of +rule; but, to me, the flesh is sweeter where the creatur’ has some +chance for its life; for that reason, I always use a single ball, even +if it be at a bird or a squirrel. Besides, it saves lead; for, when a +body knows how to shoot, one piece of lead is enough for all, except +hard-lived animals.” + +The sheriff heard these opinions with great indignation; and when he +completed the last arrangement for the division, by carrying with his +own hands a trout of a large size, and placing it on four different +piles in succession, as his vacillating ideas of justice required, +gave vent to his spleen. + +“A very pretty confederacy, indeed! Judge Temple, the landlord and +owner of a township, with Nathaniel Bumppo a lawless squatter, and +professed deer-killer, in order to preserve the game of the county! +But, ‘Duke, when I fish I fish; so, away, boys, for another haul, and +we’ll send out wagons and carts in the morning to bring in our +prizes.” + +Marmaduke appeared to understand that all opposition to the will of +the sheriff would he useless, and he strolled from the fire to the +place where the canoe of the hunters lay, whither the ladies and +Oliver Edwards had already preceded him. + +Curiosity induced the females to approach this spot; but it was a +different motive that led the youth thither. Elizabeth examined the +light ashen timbers and thin bark covering of the canoe, in admiration +of its neat but simple execution, and with wonder that any human being +could he so daring as to trust his life in so frail a vessel. But the +youth explained to her the buoyant properties of the boat, and its +perfect safety when under proper management; adding, in such glowing +terms, a description of the manner in which the fish were struck with +the spear, that she changed suddenly, from an apprehension of the +danger of the excursion, to a desire to participate in its pleasures. +She even ventured a proposition to that effect to her father, laughing +at the same time at her own wish, and accusing herself of acting under +a woman’s caprice. + +“Say not so, Bess,” returned the Judge; “I would have you above the +idle fears of a silly girl. These canoes are the safest kind of boats +to those who have skill and steady nerves. I have crossed the +broadest part of the Oneida in one much smaller than this.” + +“And I the Ontary,” interrupted the Leather-Stocking; “ and that with +squaws in the canoe, too. But the Delaware women are used to the +paddle, and are good hands in a boat of this natur’, If the young lady +would like to see an old man strike a trout for his breakfast, she is +welcome to a seat. John will say the same, seeing that he built the +canoe, which was only launched yesterday; for I’m not over-curious at +such small work as brooms, and basket-making, and other like Indian +trades.” + +Natty gave Elizabeth one of his significant laughs, with a kind nod of +the head, when he concluded his invitation but Mohegan, with the +native grace of an Indian, approached, and taking her soft white hand +into his own swarthy and wrinkled palm, said: + +“Come, granddaughter of Miquon, and John will be glad. Trust the +Indian; his head is old, though his hand is not steady. The Young +Eagle will go, and see that no harm hurts his sister.” + +“Mr. Edwards,” said Elizabeth, blushing slightly, “your friend Mohegan +has given a promise for you. Do you redeem the pledge?” + +“With my life, if necessary, Miss Temple,” cried the youth, with +fervor. “ The sight is worth some little apprehension; for of real +danger there is none, I will go with you and Miss Grand, however, to +save appearances.” + +“With me!” exclaimed Louisa. “No, not with me, Mr. Edwards; nor, +surely, do you mean to trust yourself in that slight canoe.” + +“But I shall; for I have no apprehensions any longer,” said Elizabeth, +stepping into the boat, and taking a seat where the Indian directed. +“Mr. Edwards, you may remain, as three do seem to be enough for such +an egg shell.” “ + +“It shall hold a fourth,” cried the young man, springing to her side, +with a violence that nearly shook the weak fabric of the vessel +asunder. “Pardon me, Miss Temple, that I do not permit these +venerable Charons to take you to the shades unattended by your +genius.” + +“Is it a good or evil spirit?” asked Elizabeth. +“Good to you.” + +“And mine,” added the maiden, with an air that strangely blended pique +with satisfaction. But the motion of the canoe gave rise to new +ideas, and fortunately afforded a good excuse to the young man to +change the discourse. + +It appeared to Elizabeth that they glided over the water by magic, so +easy and graceful was the manner in which Mohegan guided his little +bark. A slight gesture with his spear indicated the way in which +Leather-Stocking wished to go, and a profound silence was preserved by +the whole party, as the precaution necessary to the success of their +fishery. At that point of the lake the water shoaled regularly. +differing in this particular altogether from those parts where the +mountains rose nearly in perpendicular precipices from the beach. +There the largest vessels could have lain, with their yards +interlocked with the pines; while here a scanty growth of rushes +lifted their tops above the lake, gently curling the waters, as their +bending heads waved with the passing breath of the night air. It was +at the shallow points only that the bass could he found, or the net +cast with success. + +Elizabeth saw thousands of these fish swimming in shoals along the +shallow and warm waters of the shore; for the flaring light of their +torch laid bare the mysteries of the lake, as plainly as if the limpid +sheet of the Otsego was but another atmosphere. Every instant she +expected to see the impending spear of Leather-Stocking darting into +the thronging hosts that were rushing beneath her, where it would seem +that a blow could not go amiss; and where, as her father had already +said, the prize that would be obtained was worthy any epicure. But +Natty had his peculiar habits, and, it would seem, his peculiar tastes +also. + +His tall stature, and his erect posture, enabled him to see much +farther than those who were seated in the bottom of the canoe; and he +turned his head warily in every direction, frequently bending his body +forward, and straining his vision, as if desirous of penetrating the +water that surrounded their boundary of light. At length his anxious +scrutiny was rewarded with success, and, waving his spear from the +shore, he said in a cautious tone: + +“Send her outside the bass, John; I see a laker there, that has run +out of the school. It’s seldom one finds such a creatur’ in shallow +water, where a spear can touch it.” + +Mohegan gave a wave of assent with his hand, and in the next instant +the canoe was without the “ run of the bass,” and in water nearly +twenty feet in depth. A few additional knots were laid on the +grating, and the light penetrated to the bottom, Elizabeth then saw a +fish of unusual size floating above small pieces of logs and sticks. +The animal was only distinguishable, at that distance, by a slight but +almost imperceptible motion of its fins and tail. The curiosity +excited by this unusual exposure of the secrets of the lake seemed to +be mutual between the heiress of the land and the lord of these +waters, for the “ “salmon-trout” soon announced his interest by +raising his head and body for a few degrees above a horizontal line, +and then dropping them again into a horizontal position. + +“Whist! whist!” said Natty, in a low voice, on hearing a slight sound +made by Elizabeth in bending over the side of the canoe in curiosity; +“‘tis a skeary animal, and it’s a far stroke for a spear. My handle +is hut fourteen foot, and the creator’ lies a good eighteen from the +top of the water: but I’ll try him, for he's a ten—pounder.” + +While speaking, the Leather-Stocking was poising and directing his +weapon. Elizabeth saw the bright, polished tines, as they slowly and +silently entered the water, where the refraction pointed them many +degrees from the true direction of the fish; and she thought that the +intended victim saw them also, as he seemed to increase the play of +his tail and fins, though without moving his station. At the next +instant the tall body of Natty bent to the water’s edge, and the +handle of his spear disappeared in the lake. The long, dark streak of +the gliding weapon, and the little bubbling vortex which followed its +rapid flight, were easily to be seen: but it was not until the handle +snot again into the air by its own reaction, and its master catching +it in his hand, threw its tines uppermost, that Elizabeth was +acquainted with the success of the blow. A fish of great size was +transfixed by the barbed steel, and was very soon shaken from its +impaled situation into the bottom of the canoe. + +That will do, John,” said Natty, raising his prize by one of his +fingers, and exhibiting it before the torch; “ I shall not strike +another blow to-night.” + +The Indian again waved his hand, and replied with the simple and +energetic monosyllable of: + +“Good.” + +Elizabeth was awakened from the trance created by this scene, and by +gazing in that unusual manner at the bot tom of the lake, be the +hoarse sounds of Benjamin’s voice, and the dashing of oars, as the +heavier boat of the seine-drawers approached the spot where the canoe +lay, dragging after it the folds of the net. + +“Haul off, haul off, Master Bumppo,” cried Benjamin, “your top-light +frightens the fish, who see the net and sheer off soundings. A fish +knows as much as a horse, or, for that matter, more, seeing that it’s +brought up on the water. Haul oil, Master Bumppo, haul off, I say, +and give a wide berth to the seine.” + +Mohegan guided their little canoe to a point where the movements of +the fishermen could be observed, without interruption to the business, +and then suffered it to lie quietly on the water, looking like an +imaginary vessel floating in air. There appeared to be much ill-humor +among the party in the batteau, for the directions of Benjamin were +not only frequent, but issued in a voice that partook largely of +dissatisfaction. + +“Pull larboard oar, will ye, Master Kirby?” cried the old seaman; +“pull larboard best. It would puzzle the oldest admiral in their +British fleet to cast this here net fair, with a wake like a +corkscrew. Full starboard, boy, pull starboard oar, with a will.” + +“Harkee, Mister Pump,” said Kirby, ceasing to row, and speaking with +sonic spirit; “I'm a man that likes civil language and decent +treatment, such as is right ‘twixt man and man. If you want us to go +hoy, say so, and hoy I'll go, for the benefit of the company; but I m +not used to being ordered about like dumb cattle.” + +“Who’s dumb cattle?”” echoed Benjamin, fiercely, turning his +forbidding face to the glare of light from the canoe, and exhibiting +every feature teeming with the expression of disgust. “If you want to +come aft and cun the boat round, come and be damned, and pretty +steerage you’ll make of it. There’s but another heave of the net in +the stern-sheets, and we’re clear of the thing. Give way, will ye? +and shoot her ahead for a fathom or two, and if you catch me afloat +again with such a horse-marine as your self, why, rate me a ship's +jackass, that’s all.” + +Probably encouraged by the prospect of a speedy termination to his +labor, the wood-chopper resumed his oar, and, under strong excitement, +gave a stroke that not only cleared the boat of the net but of the +steward at the same instant. Benjamin had stood on the little +platform that held the seine, in the stern of the boat, and the +violent whirl occasioned by the vigor of the wood-chopper’s arm +completely destroyed his balance. The position of the lights rendered +objects in the batteau distinguishable, both from the canoe and the +shore; and the heavy fall on the water drew all eyes to the steward, +as he lay struggling, for a moment, in sight. + +A loud burst of merriment, to which the lungs of Kirby contributed no +small part, broke out like a chorus of laughter, and ran along the +eastern mountain, in echoes, until it died away in distant, mocking +mirth, among the rocks and woods. The body of the steward was seen +slowly to disappear, as was expected; but when the light waves, which +had been raised by his fall, began to sink in calmness, and the water +finally closed over his head, unbroken and still, a very different +feeling pervaded the spectators. + +“How fare you, Benjamin?” shouted Richard from the shore. + +“The dumb devil can’t swim a stroke!” exclaimed Kirby, rising, and +beginning to throw aside his clothes. + +“Paddle up, Mohegan,” cried young Edwards, “the light will show us +where he lies, and I will dive for the body.” + +“Oh! save him! for God’s sake, save him!” exclaimed Elizabeth, bowing +her head on the side of the canoe in horror. + +A powerful and dexterous sweep of Mohegan's paddle sent the canoe +directly over the spot where the steward had fallen, and a loud shout +from the Leather-Stocking announced that he saw the body. + +“Steady the boat while I dive,” again cried Edwards. + +“Gently, lad, gently,” said Natty; “ I’ll spear the creatur’ up in +half the time, and no risk to anybody.” + +The form of Benjamin was lying about half-way to the bottom, grasping +with both hands some broken rushes. The blood of Elizabeth curdled to +her heart, as she saw the figure of a fellow-creature thus extended +under an immense sheet of water, apparently in motion by the +undulations of the dying waves, with its face and hands, viewed by +that light, and through the medium of the fluid, already colored with +hues like death. + +At the same instant, she saw the shining tines of Natty’s spear +approaching the head of the sufferer, and entwinning themselves, +rapidly and dexterously, in the hairs of his cue and the cape of his +coat. The body was now raised slowly, looking ghastly and grim as its +features turned upward to the light and approached the surface. The +arrival of the nostrils of Benjamin into their own atmosphere was +announced by a breathing that would have done credit to a porpoise. +For a moment, Natty held the steward suspended, with his head just +above the water, while his eyes slowly opened and stared about him, as +if he thought that he had reached a new and unexplored country. + +As all the parties acted and spoke together, much less time was +consumed in the occurrence of these events than in their narration. +To bring the batteau to the end of the spear, and to raise the form of +Benjamin into the boat, and for the whole party to regain the shore, +required but a minute. Kirby, aided by Richard, whose anxiety induced +him to run into the water to meet his favorite assistant, carried the +motionless steward up the bank, and seated him before the fire, while +the sheriff proceeded to order the most approved measures then in use +for the resuscitation of the drowned. + +“Run, Billy,” he cried, “to the village, and bring up the rum-hogshead +that lies before the door, in which I am making vinegar, and be quick, +boy, don’t stay to empty the vinegar, and stop at Mr. Le Quoi’s, and +buy a paper of tobacco and half a dozen pipes; and ask Remarkable for +some salt, and one of her flannel petticoats; and ask Dr. Todd to send +his lancet, and to come himself; and— ha! ‘Duke, what are you about? +would you strangle a man who is full of water, by giving him rum? Help +me to open his hand, that I may pat it.” + +All this time Benjamin sat, with his muscles fixed, his mouth shut, +and his hands clinching the rushes which he had seized in the +confusion of the moment and which, as he held fast, like a true +seaman, had been the means of preventing his body from rising again to +the surface. His eyes, however, were open, and stared wildly on the +group about the fire, while his lungs were playing like a blacksmith’s +bellows, as if to compensate themselves for the minute of inaction to +which they had been subjected. As he kept his lips compressed, with a +most inveterate determination, the air was compelled to pass through +his nostrils, and he rather snorted than breathed, and in such a +manner that nothing but the excessive agitation of the sheriff could +at all justify his precipitous orders. + +The bottle, applied to the steward’s lips by Marmaduke, acted like a +charm. His mouth opened instinctively; his hands dropped the rushes, +and seized the glass; his eyes raised from their horizontal stare to +the heavens; and the whole man was lost, for a moment, in a new +sensation. Unhappily for the propensity of the steward, breath was as +necessary after one of these draughts as after his submersion, and the +time at length arrived when he was compelled to let go the bottle. + +“Why, Benjamin!” roared the sheriff; “you amaze me! for a man of your +experience in drownings to act so foolishly! Just now, you were half +full of water, and now you are—” + +“Full of grog,” interrupted the steward, his features settling down, +with amazing flexibility, into their natural economy. “But, d’yesee, +squire, I kept my hatches chose, and it’s but little water that ever +gets into my scuttle-butt. Harkee, Master Kirby! I’ve followed the +salt-water for the better part of a man’s life, and have seen some +navigation on the fresh; but this here matter I will say in your +favor, and that is, that you’re the awk’ardest green 'un that ever +straddled a boat’s thwart. Them that likes you for a shipmate, may +sail with you and no thanks; but dam'me if I even walk on the lake +shore in your company. For why? you’d as lief drown a man as one of +them there fish; not to throw a Christian creature so much as a rope’s +end when he was adrift, and no life-buoy in sight! Natty Bumppo, give +us your fist. There’s them that says you’re an Indian, and a scalper, +but you’ve served me a good turn, and you may set me down for a +friend; thof it would have been more ship shape like to lower the +bight of a rope or running bowline below me, than to seize an old +seaman by his head-lanyard; but I suppose you are used to taking men +by the hair, and seeing you did me good instead of harm thereby, why, +it’s the same thing, d'ye see?” + +Marmaduke prevented any reply, and assuming the action of matters with +a dignity and discretion that at once silenced all opposition from his +cousin, Benjamin was dispatched to the village by land, and the net +was hauled to shore in such a manner that the fish for once escaped +its meshes with impunity. + +The division of the spoils was made in the ordinary manner, by placing +one of the party with his hack to the game, who named the owner of +each pile. Bill Kirby stretched his large frame on the grass by the +side of the fire, as sentinel until morning, over net and fish ; and +the remainder of the party embarked in the batteau, to return to the +village. + +The wood-chopper was seen broiling his supper on the coals as they +lost sight of the fire, and when the boat approached the shore, the +torch of Mohegan’s canoe was shining again under the gloom of the +eastern mountain. Its motion ceased suddenly; a scattering of brands +was in the air, and then all remained dark as the conjunction of +night, forest, and mountain could render the scene. + +The thoughts of Elizabeth wandered from the youth, who was holding a +canopy of shawls over herself and Louisa, to the hunter and the Indian +warrior; and she felt an awakening curiosity to visit a hut where men +of such different habits and temperament were drawn together as by +common impulse. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + + +“Cease all this parlance about hills and dales. +None listen to thy scenes of boyish frolic. +Fond dotard! with such tickled ears as thou dost +Come to thy tale.”—Duo. + +Mr. Jones arose on the following morning with the sun, and, ordering +his own and Marmaduke’s steeds to be saddled, he proceeded, with a +countenance big with some business of unusual moment to the apartment +of the Judge. The door was unfastened, and Richard entered, with the +freedom that characterized not only the intercourse between the +cousins, but the ordinary manners of the sheriff. + +“Well, ‘Duke, to horse,” he cried, “and I will explain to you my +meaning in the allusions I made last night. David says, in the +Psalms—no, it was Solomon, but it was all in the family—Solomon said +there was a time for all things; and, in my humble opinion, a fishing- +party is not the moment for discussing important subjects. Ha! why, +what the devil ails you, Marmaduke? Ain't you well? Let me feel your +pulse; my grandfather, you know—” + +“Quite well in the body, Richard,” interrupted the Judge, repulsing +his cousin, who was about to assume the functions that rightly +belonged to Dr. Todd; “ but ill at heart. I received letters by the +post last night, after we returned from the point, and this among the +number.” + +The sheriff took the letter, but without turning his eyes on the +writing, for he was examining the appearance of the other with +astonishment. From the face of his cousin the gaze of Richard +wandered to the table, which was covered with letters, packets, and +newspapers; then to the apartment and all it contained. On the bed +there was the impression that had been made by a human form, but the +coverings were unmoved, and everything indicated that the occupant of +the room had passed a sleepless night. The candles had burned to the +sockets, and had evidently extinguished themselves in their own +fragments Marmaduke had drawn his curtains, and opened both the +shutters and the sashes, to admit the balmy air “ of a spring +morning; but his pale cheek, his quivering lip, and his sunken eye +presented altogether so very different an appearance from the usual +calm, manly, and cheerful aspect of the Judge, that the sheriff grew +each moment more and more bewildered with astonishment. At length +Richard found time to cast his eyes on the direction of the letter, +which he still held unopened, crumpling it in his hand. + +“What! a ship-letter!” he exclaimed; “and from England, ha! ‘Duke, +there must be news of importance! indeed!” + +“Read it,” said Marmaduke, pacing the floor in excessive agitation. + +Richard, who commonly thought aloud, was unable to read a letter +without suffering part of its contents to escape him in audible +sounds. So much of the epistle as was divulged in that manner, we +shall lay before the reader, accompanied by the passing remarks of the +sheriff: + +“‘London, February 12, 1793.’ What a devil of a pas sage she had! but +the wind has been northwest for six weeks, until within the last +fortnight. Sir, your favors of August 10th, September 23d, and of +December 1st, were received in due season, and the first answered by +return of packet. Since the receipt of the last, I’ “—here a long +passage was rendered indistinct by a kind of humming noise by the +sheriff—” ‘I grieve to say that ‘—hum, hum, bad enough to be sure—’ +but trusts that a merciful Providence has seen fit’—hum, hum, hum +seems to be a good, pious sort of a man, ‘Duke; belongs to the +Established Church, I dare say; hum, hum—’ vessel sailed from Falmouth +on or about the 1st September of last year, and’—hum, hum, hum, ‘If +anything should transpire on this afflicting subject shall not fail’— +hum, hum; really a good-hearted man, for a lawyer—’but Can communicate +nothing further at present’—hum, hum. “ The national convention ‘— +hum, hum—’ unfortunate Louis’—hum, hum—’example of your Washington’—a +very sensible man, I declare, and none of your crazy democrats. Hum, +hum—’our gallant navy’—hum, hum—’under our most excellent monarch’—ay, +a good man enough, that King George, but bad advisers: hum, hum—’I beg +to conclude with assurances of my perfect respect.’—hum, hum—’Andrew +Holt. ‘—Andrew Holt, a very sensible, feeling man, this Mr. Andrew +Holt—but the writer of evil tidings. What will you do next, Cousin +Marmaduke?” + +“What can I do, Richard, but trust to time, and the will of Heaven? +Here is another letter from Connecticut, but it only repeats the +substance of the last. There is but one consoling reflection to be +gathered from the English news, which is, that my last letter was +received by him before the ship sailed,” + +“This is bad enough, indeed! ‘Duke, bad enough, indeed! and away go +all my plans, of putting wings to the house, to the devil. I had made +arrangements for a ride to introduce you to something of a very +important nature. You know how much you think of mines—” + +“Talk not of mines,” interrupted the Judge: “there is a sacred duty to +be performed, and that without delay, I must devote this day to +writing; and thou must be my assistant, Richard; it will not do to +employ Oliver in a matter of such secrecy and interest,” + +“No, no, ‘Duke,” cried the sheriff, squeezing his hand, “ I am your +man, just now; we are sister’s children, and blood, after all, is the +best cement to make friendship stick together. Well, well, there is +no hurry about the silver mine, just now; another time will do as +well. We shall want Dirky Van, I suppose?” + +Marmaduke assented to this indirect question, and the sheriff +relinquished all his intentions on the subject of the ride, and, +repairing to the breakfast parlor, he dispatched a messenger to +require the immediate presence of Dirck Van der School. + +The village of Templeton at that time supported but two lawyers, one +of whom was introduced to our readers in the bar-room of the “Bold +Dragoon.” and the other was the gentleman of whom Richard spoke by the +friendly yet familiar appellation of Dirck, or Dirky Van. Great good- +nature, a very tolerable share of skill in his profession, and, +considering the circumstances, no contemptible degree of honesty, were +the principal ingredients in the character of this man, who was known +to the settlers as Squire Van der School, and sometimes by the +flattering though anomalous title of the “Dutch” or “honest lawyer.” + +We would not wish to mislead our readers in their conceptions of any +of our characters, and we therefore feel it necessary to add that the +adjective, in the preceding agnomen of Mr. Van der School, was used in +direct reference to its substantive. Our orthodox friends need not be +told that all the merit in this world is comparative; and, once for +all, we desire to say that, where anything which involves qualities or +characters is asserted, we must be understood to mean, “under the +circumstances.” + +During the remainder of the day, the Judge was closeted with his +cousin and his lawyer; and no one else was admitted to his apartment, +excepting his daughter. The deep distress that so evidently affected +Marmaduke was in some measure communicated to Elizabeth also; for a +look of dejection shaded her intelligent features, and the buoyancy of +her animated spirits was sensibly softened. Once on that day, young +Edwards, who was a wondering and observant spectator of the sudden +alteration produced in the heads of the family, detected a tear +stealing over the cheek of Elizabeth, and suffusing her bright eyes +with a softness that did not always belong to their expression. + +“Have any evil tidings been received, Miss Temple?” he inquired, with +an interest and voice that caused Louisa Grant to raise her head from +her needlework, with a quick ness at which she instantly blushed +herself. “I would offer my services to your father, if, as I suspect, +he needs an agent in some distant place, and I thought it would give +you relief.” + +“We have certainly heard bad news,” returned Elizabeth, “ and it may +be necessary that my father should leave home for a short period; +unless I can persuade him to trust my cousin Richard with the +business, whose absence from the country, just at this time, too, +might be inexpedient.” + +The youth paused a moment, and the blood gathered slowly to his +temples as he continued: + +“If it be of a nature that I could execute-” + +“It is such as can only be confided to one we know— one of ourselves,” + +“Surely, you know me, Miss Temple!” he added, with a warmth that he +seldom exhibited, but which did some times escape him in the moments +of their frank communications. “Have I lived five months under your +roof to be a stranger?” + +Elizabeth was engaged with her needle also, and she bent her head to +one side, affecting to arrange her muslin; but her hand shook, her +color heightened, and her eyes lost their moisture in an expression of +ungovernable interest, as she said: + +“How much do we know of you, Mr. Edwards?” + +“How much!” echoed the youth, gazing from the speaker to the mild +countenance of Louisa, that was also illuminated with curiosity; “ how +much Have I been so long an inmate with you and not known?” + +The head of Elizabeth turned slowly from its affected position, and +the look of confusion that had blended so strongly with an expression +of interest changed to a smile. + +“We know you, sir, indeed; you are called Mr. Oliver Edwards. I +understand that you have informed my friend Miss Grant that you are a +native—” + +“Elizabeth!” exclaimed Louisa, blushing to thc eyes, and trembling +like an aspen ; “ you misunderstood me, dear Miss Temple; I—I—it was +only a conjecture. Besides, if Mr. Edwards is related to the natives +why should we reproach him? In what are we better? at least I, who am +the child of a poor and unsettled clergyman?” + +Elizabeth shook her head doubtingly, and even laughed, but made no +reply, until, observing the melancholy which pervaded the countenance +of her companion, who was thinking of the poverty and labors of her +father, she continued: + +“Nay, Louisa, humility carries you too far. The daughter of a +minister of the church can have no superiors. Neither I nor Mr. +Edwards is quite your equal, unless,” she added, again smiling, “he is +in secret a king “ + +“A faithful servant of the King of kings, Miss Temple, is inferior to +none on earth,” said Louisa; “but his honors are his own; I am only +the child of a poor and friendless man, and can claim no other +distinction. Why, then, should I feel myself elevated above Mr. +Edwards, because—because—perhaps he is only very, very distantly +related to John Mohegan?” + +Glances of a very comprehensive meaning were exchanged between the +heiress and the young man, as Louisa betrayed, while vindicating his +lineage, the reluctance with which she admitted his alliance with the +old warrior; but not even a smile at the simplicity of their companion +was indulged in by either. + +“On reflection, I must acknowledge that my situation here is somewhat +equivocal,” said Edwards, “though I may be said to have purchased it +with my blood.” + +“The blood, too, of one of the native lords of the soil!” cried +Elizabeth, who evidently put little faith in his aboriginal descent. + +“Do I bear the marks of my lineage so very plainly impressed on my +appearance? I am dark, but not very red—not more so than common?” + +“Rather more so, just now.” + +“I am sure, Miss Temple,” cried Louisa, “you cannot have taken much +notice of Mr. Edwards. His eyes are not so black as Mohegan’s or even +your own, nor is his hair.” + +“Very possibly, then, I can lay claim to the same de scent It would be +a great relief to my mind to think so, for I own that I grieve when I +see old Mohegan walking about these lands like the ghost of one of +their ancient possessors, and feel how small is my own right to +possess them.” + +“Do you?” cried the youth, with a vehemence that startled the ladies + +“I do, indeed,” returned Elizabeth, after suffering a moment to pass +in surprise; “but what can I do—what can my father do? Should we offer +the old man a home’ and a maintenance, his habits would compel him to +refuse us. Neither were we so silly as to wish such a thing, could we +convert these clearings and farms again into hunting grounds, as the +Leather-Stocking would wish to see them.” + +“You speak the truth, Miss Temple,” said Edwards. “What can you do +indeed? But there is one thing that I am certain you can and will do, +when you become the mistress of these beautiful valleys—use your +wealth with indulgence to the poor, and charity to the needy; indeed, +you can do no more.” + +“And That will be doing a good deal,” said Louisa, smiling in her +turn. “But there will, doubtless, be one to take the direction of +such things from her hands.” + +am not about to disclaim matrimony, like a silly girl, who dreams of +nothing else from morn till night; but I am a nun here, without the +vow of celibacy. Where shall I find a husband in these forests?” + +“There is none, Miss Temple,” said Edwards quickly; “there is none who +has a right to aspire to you, and I know that you will wait to be +sought by your equal; or die, as you live, loved, respected, and +admired by all who know you.” + +The young man seemed to think that he had said all that was required +by gallantry, for he arose, and, taking his hat, hurried from the +apartment. Perhaps Louisa thought that he had said more than was +necessary, for she sighed, with an aspiration so low that it was +scarcely audible to herself, and bent her head over her work again. +And it is possible that Miss Temple wished to hear more, for her eyes +continued fixed for a minute on the door through which the young man +had passed, then glanced quickly toward her companion, when the long +silence that succeeded manifested how much zest may be given to the +conversation of two maidens under eighteen, by the presence of a youth +of three-and-twenty. + +The first person encountered by Mr. Edwards, as he rather rushed than +walked from the house, was the little square-built lawyer, with a +large bundle of papers under his arm, a pair of green spectacles on +his nose, with glasses at the sides, as if to multiply his power of +detecting frauds by additional organs of vision. + +Mr. Van der School was a well-educated man, but of slow comprehension, +who had imbibed a wariness in his speeches and actions, from having +suffered by his collisions with his more mercurial and apt brethren +who had laid the foundations of their practice in the Eastern courts, +and who had sucked in shrewdness with their mother’s milk. The +caution of this gentleman was exhibited in his actions, by the utmost +method and punctuality, tinctured with a good deal of timidity; and in +his speeches, by a parenthetical style, that frequently left to his +auditors a long search after his meaning. + +“A good-morning to you, Mr. Van der School,” said Edwards; “it seems +to be a busy day with us at the mansion-house.” + +“Good-morning, Mr. Edwards (if that is your name [for, being a +stranger, we have no other evidence of the fact than your own +testimony], as I understand you have given it to Judge Temple), good- +morning, sir. It is, apparently a busy day (but a man of your +discretion need not be told [having, doubtless, discovered it of your +own accord], that appearances are often deceitful) up at the mansion- +house” + +“Have you papers of consequence that will require copying? Can I be of +assistance in any way?” + +“There are papers (as doubtless you see [for your eyes are young] by +the outsides) that require copying.” + +“Well, then, I will accompany you to your office, and receive such as +are most needed, and by night I shall have them done if there be much +haste.” + +“I shall always be glad to see you, sir, at my office (as in duty +bound [not that it is obligatory to receive any man within your +dwelling (unless so inclined), which is a castle], according to the +forms of politeness), or at any other place; but the papers are most +strictly confidential (and, as such, cannot be read by any one), +unless so directed (by Judge Temple’s solemn injunctions), and are +invisible to all eyes; excepting those whose duties (I mean assumed +duties) require it of them.” + +“Well, sir, as I perceive that I can be of no service, I wish you +another good-morning; but beg you will remember that I am quite idle +just now, and I wish you would intimate as much to Judge Temple, and +make him a ten der of my services in any part of the world, unless— +unless—it be far from Templeton.” + +“I will make the communication, sir, in your name (with your own +qualifications), as your agent. Good morning, sir. But stay +proceedings, Mr. Edwards (so called), for a moment. Do you wish me to +state the offer of travelling as a final contract (for which +consideration has been received at former dates [by sums advanced], +which would be binding), or as a tender of services for which +compensation is to be paid (according to future agreement between the +parties), on performance of the conditions?” + +“Any way, any way,” said Edwards; “he seems in distress, and I would +assist him.” + +“The motive is good, sir (according to appearances which are often +deceitful] on first impressions), and does you honor. I will mention +your wish, young gentleman (as you now seem), and will not fail to +communicate the answer by five o’clock P.M. of this present day (God +willing), if you give me an opportunity so to do.” + +The ambiguous nature of the situation and character of Mr. Edwards had +rendered him an object of peculiar suspicion to the lawyer, and the +youth was consequently too much accustomed to similar equivocal and +guarded speeches to feel any unusual disgust at the present dialogue. +He saw at once that it was the intention of the practitioner to +conceal the nature of his business, even from the private secretary of +Judge Temple; and he knew too well the difficulty of comprehending the +meaning of Mr. Van der School, when the gentleman most wished to be +luminous in his discourse, not to abandon all thoughts of a discovery, +when he perceived that the attorney was endeavoring to avoid anything +like an approach to a cross-examination. They parted at the gate, the +lawyer walking with an important and hurried air toward his office, +keeping his right hand firmly clinched on the bundle of papers. + +It must have been obvious to all our readers, that the youth +entertained an unusual and deeply seated prejudice against the +character of the Judge; but owing to some counteracting cause, his +sensations were now those of powerful interest in the state of his +patron’s present feelings, and in the cause of his secret uneasiness. +He remained gazing after the lawyer until the door closed on both the +bearer and the mysterious packet, when he returned slowly to the +dwelling, and endeavored to forget his curiosity in the usual +avocations of his office. + +When the Judge made his reappearance in the circles of his family, his +cheerfulness was tempered by a shade of melancholy that lingered for +many days around his manly brow; but the magical progression of the +season aroused him from his temporary apathy, and his smiles returned +with the summer. + +The heats of the days, and the frequent occurrence of balmy showers, +had completed in an incredibly short period the growth of plants which +the lingering spring had so long retarded in the germ; and the woods +presented every shade of green that the American forests know. The +stumps in the cleared fields were already hidden beneath the wheat +that was waving with every breath of the sum mer air, shining and +changing its hues like velvet. + +During the continuance of his cousin’s dejection, Mr. Jones forebore, +with much consideration, to press on his attention a business that +each hour was drawing nearer to the heart of the sheriff, and which, +if any opinion could he formed by his frequent private conferences +with the man who was introduced in these pages by the name of Jotham, +at the bar-room of the Bold Dragoon, was becoming also of great +importance. + +At length the sheriff ventured to allude again to the subject; and one +evening, in the beginning of July, Marmaduke made him a promise of +devoting the following day to the desired excursion. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + + +“Speak on, my dearest father! +Thy words are like the breezes of the west.”—Milman. + +It was a mild and soft morning, when Marmaduke and Richard mounted +their horses and proceeded on the expedition that had so long been +uppermost in the thoughts of the latter; and Elizabeth and Louisa +appeared at the same instant in the hall, attired for an excursion on +foot. + +The head of Miss Grant was covered by a neat little hat of green silk, +and her modest eyes peered from under its shade, with the soft languor +that characterized her whole appearance; but Miss Temple trod her +father’s wide apartments with the step of their mistress, holding in +her hands, dangling by one of its ribbons, the gypsy that was to +conceal the glossy locks that curled around her polished fore head in +rich profusion. + +“What? are you for a walk, Bess?” cried the Judge, suspending his +movements for a moment to smile, with a father’s fondness, at the +display of womanly grace and beauty that his child presented. +“Remember the heats of July, my daughter; nor venture further than +thou canst retrace before the meridian. Where is thy parasol, girl? +thou wilt lose tine polish of that brow, under this sun and southern +breeze, unless thou guard it with unusual care.” + +“I shall then do more honor to my connections,” returned the smiling +daughter. “Cousin Richard has a bloom that any lady might envy. At +present the resemblance between us is so trifling that no stranger +would know us to be ‘sisters’ children. ‘ “ + +“Grandchildren, you mean, Cousin Bess,” said the sheriff. “But on, +Judge Temple; time and tide wait for no man; and if you take my +counsel, sir, in twelve months from this day you may make an umbrella +for your daughter of her camel’s-hair shawl, and have its frame of +solid silver. I ask nothing for myself, ‘Duke; you have been a good +friend to me already; besides, all that I have will go to Bess there, +one of these melancholy days, so it’s as long as it’s short, whether I +or you leave it. But we have a day’s ride before us, sir; so move +forward, or dismount, and say you won’t go at once.” + +“Patience, patience, Dickon, “returned the Judge, checking his horse +and turning again to his daughter. “If thou art for the mountains, +love, stray not too deep into the forest. I entreat thee; for, though +it is done often with impunity, there is sometimes danger.” + +“Not at this season, I believe, sir,” said Elizabeth; “for, I will +confess, it is the intention of Louisa and myself to stroll among the +hills.” + +“Less at this season than in the winter, dear; but still there may be +danger in venturing too far. But though thou art resolute, Elizabeth, +thou art too much like thy mother not to be prudent.” + +The eyes of the parent turned reluctantly from his child, and the +Judge and sheriff rode slowly through the gateway, and disappeared +among the buildings of the village. + +During this short dialogue, young Edwards stood, an attentive +listener, holding in his hand a fishing-rod, the day and the season +having tempted him also to desert the house for the pleasure of +exercise in the air. As the equestrians turned through the gate, he +approached the young females, who were already moving toward the +street, and was about to address them, as Louisa paused, and said. +quickly: + +“Mr. Edwards would speak to us, Elizabeth.” + +The other stopped also, and turned to the youth, politely but with a +slight coldness in her air, that sensibly checked the freedom with +which he had approached them, + +“Your father is not pleased that you should walk unattended in the +hills, Miss Temple. If I might offer my self as a protector—” +“Does my father select Mr. Oliver Edwards as the organ of his +displeasure?” interrupted the lady. + +“Good Heaven! you misunderstood my meaning; I should have said uneasy +or not pleased. I am his servant, madam, and in consequence yours. I +repeat that, with your consent, I will change my rod for a fowling- +piece, and keep nigh you on the mountain,” + +“I thank you, Mr. Edwards; but where there is no danger, no protection +is required. We are not yet reduced to wandering among these free +hills accompanied by a body guard. If such a one is necessary there +he is, however.— Here, Brave—Brave——my noble Brave!” +The huge mastif that has been already mentioned, appeared from his +kennel, gaping and stretching himself with pampered laziness; but as +his mistress again called: + +“Come, dear Brave; once you have served your master well; let us see +how you can do your duty by his daughter”—the dog wagged his tail, as +if he understood her language, walked with a stately gait to her side, +where he seated himself, and looked up at her face, with an +intelligence but little inferior to that which beamed in her own +lovely countenance. + +She resumed her walk, but again paused, after a few steps, and added, +in tones of conciliation: + +“You can be serving us equally, and, I presume, more agreeably to +yourself, Mr. Edwards, by bringing us a string of your favorite perch +for the dinner-table,” + +When they again began to walk Miss Temple did not look back to see how +the youth bore this repulse; but the head of Louisa was turned several +times before they reached the gate on that considerate errand. + +“I am afraid, Elizabeth,” she said, “ that we have mortified Oliver. +He is still standing where we left him, leaning on his rod. Perhaps +he thinks us proud.” + +“He thinks justly,” exclaimed Miss Temple, as if awaking from a deep +musing; “he thinks justly, then. We are too proud to admit of such +particular attentions from a young man in an equivocal situation. +What! make him the companion of our most private walks! It is pride, +Louisa, but it is the pride of a woman.” + +It was several minutes before Oliver aroused himself from the +abstracted position in which he was standing when Louisa last saw him; +but when he did, he muttered something rapidly and incoherently, and, +throwing his rod over his shoulder, he strode down the walk through +the gate and along one of the streets of the village, until he reached +the lake-shore, with the air of an emperor. At this spot boats were +kept for the use of Judge Temple and his family. The young man threw +himself into a light skiff, and, seizing the oars, he sent it across +the lake toward the hut of Leather-Stocking, with a pair of vigorous +arms. By the time he had rowed a quarter of a mile, his reflections +were less bitter; and when he saw the bushes that lined the shore in +front of Natty’s habitation gliding by him, as if they possessed the +motion which proceeded from his own efforts, he was quite cooled in +mind, though somewhat heated in body. It is quite possible that the +very same reason which guided the conduct of Miss Temple suggested +itself to a man of the breeding and education of the youth; and it is +very certain that, if such were the case, Elizabeth rose instead of +falling in the estimation of Mr. Edwards. + +The oars were now raised from the water, and the boat shot close in to +the land, where it lay gently agitated by waves of its own creating, +while the young man, first casting a cautious and searching glance +around him in every direction, put a small whistle to his mouth, and +blew a long, shrill note that rang among the echoing rocks behind the +hut. At this alarm, the hounds of Natty rushed out of their bark +kennel, and commenced their long, piteous howls, leaping about as if +half frantic, though restrained by the leashes of buckskin by which +they were fastened. + +“Quiet, Hector, quiet,” said Oliver, again applying his whistle to his +mouth, and drawing out notes still more shrill than before. No reply +was made, the dogs having returned to their kennel at the sound of his +voice. + +Edwards pulled the bows of the boat on the shore, and landing, +ascended the beach and approached the door of the cabin. The +fastenings were soon undone, and he entered, closing the door after +him, when all was as silent, in that retired spot, as if the foot of +man had never trod the wilderness. The sounds of the hammers, that +were in incessant motion in the village, were faintly heard across the +water; but the dogs had crouched into their lairs, satisfied that none +but the privileged had approached the forbidden ground. + +A quarter of an hour elapsed before the youth reappeared, when he +fastened the door again, and spoke kindly to the hounds. The dogs +came out at the well-known tones, and the slut jumped upon his person, +whining and barking as if entreating Oliver to release her from +prison. But old Hector raised his nose to the light current of air, +and opened a long howl, that might have been heard for a mile. +“Ha! what do you scent, old veteran of the woods?” cried Edwards. “If +a beast, it is a bold one; and if a man, an impudent.” + +He sprang through the top of a pine that had fallen near the side of +the hut, and ascended a small hillock that sheltered the cabin to the +south, where he caught a glimpse of the formal figure of Hiram +Doolittle, as it vanished, with unusual rapidity for the architect, +amid the bushes. + +“What can that fellow be wanting here?” muttered Oliver. “He has no +business in this quarter, unless it be curiosity, which is an endemic +in these woods. But against that I will effectually guard, though the +dogs should take a liking to his ugly visage, and let him pass.” The +youth returned to the door, while giving vent to this soliloquy, and +completed the fastenings by placing a small chain through a staple, +and securing it there by a padlock. “He is a pettifogger, and surely +must know that there is such a thing as feloniously breaking into a +man’s house.” + +Apparently well satisfied with this arrangement, the youth again spoke +to the hounds; and, descending to the shore, he launched his boat, and +taking up his oars, pulled off into the lake. + +There were several places in the Otsego that were celebrated fishing- +ground for perch. One was nearly opposite to the cabin, and another, +still more famous, was near a point, at the distance of a mile and a +half above it, under the brow of the mountain, and on the same side of +the lake with the hut. Oliver Edwards pulled his little skiff to the +first, and sat, for a minute, undecided whether to continue there, +with his eyes on the door of the cabin, or to change his ground, with +a view to get superior game. While gazing about him, he saw the +light-colored bark canoe of his old companions riding on the water, at +the point we have mentioned, and containing two figures, that he at +once knew to be Mohegan and the Leather-Stocking. This decided the +matter, and the youth pulled, in a very few minutes, to the place +where his friends were fishing, and fastened his boat to the light +vessel of the Indian. + +The old men received Oliver with welcoming nods, but neither drew his +line from the water nor in the least varied his occupation. When +Edwards had secured his own boat, he baited his hook and threw it into +the lake, with out speaking. + +“Did you stop at the wigwam, lad, as you rowed past?” asked Natty. + +“Yes, and I found all safe; but that carpenter and justice of the +peace, Mr., or as they call him, Squire, Doolittle, was prowling +through the woods. I made sure of the door before I left the hut, and +I think he is too great a coward to approach the hounds.” + +“There's little to be said in favor of that man,” said Natty, while he +drew in a perch and baited his hook. “He craves dreadfully to come +into the cabin, and has as good as asked me as much to my face; but I +put him off with unsartain answers, so that he is no wiser than Solo +mon. This comes of having so many laws that such a man may be called +on to intarpret them.” + +“I fear he is more knave than fool,” cried Edwards; “he makes a tool +of, that simple man, the sheriff; and I dread that his impertinent +curiosity may yet give us much trouble.” + +“If he harbors too much about the cabin, lad, I’ll shoot the +creatur’,” said the Leather-Stocking, quite simply. + +“No, no, Natty, you must remember the law,” said Edwards, “or we shall +have you in trouble; and that, old man, would be an evil day and sore +tidings to us all.” + +“Would it, boy?’ exclaimed the hunter, raising his eyes, with a look +of friendly interest, toward the youth. “You have the true blood in +your veins, Mr. Oliver; and I’ll support it to the face of Judge +Temple or in any court in the country. How is it, John? Do I speak +the true word? Is the lad stanch, and of the right blood?” + +“He is a Delaware,” said Mohegan, “and my brother. The Young Eagle is +brave, and he will be a chief. No harm can come.” + +“Well, well,” cried the youth impatiently, “say no more about it, my +good friends; if I am not all that your partiality would make me, I am +yours through life, in prosperity as in poverty. We will talk of +other matters.” + +The old hunters yielded to his wish, which seemed to be their law. +For a short time a profound silence prevailed, during which each man +was very busy with his hook and line, but Edwards, probably feeling +that it remained with him to renew the discourse, soon observed, with +the air of one who knew not what he said: + +“How beautifully tranquil and glassy the lake is! Saw you it ever more +calm and even than at this moment, Natty?” + +“I have known the Otsego water for five-and-forty years,” said +Leather—Stocking, “ and I will say that for it, which is, that a +cleaner spring or better fishing is not to be found in the land. Yes, +yes; I had the place to myself once, and a cheerful time I had of it. +The game was plenty as heart could wish; and there was none to meddle +with the ground unless there might have been a hunting party of the +Delawares crossing the hills, or, maybe, a rifling scout of them +thieves, the Iroquois. There was one or two Frenchmen that squatted +in the flats further west, and married squaws; and some of the Scotch- +Irishers, from the Cherry Valley, would come on to the lake, and +borrow my canoe to take a mess of parch, or drop a line for salmon- +trout; but, in the main, it was a cheerful place, and I had but little +to disturb me in it. John would come, and John knows.” +Mohegan turned his dark face at this appeal; and, moving his hand +forward with graceful motion of assent, he spoke, using the Delaware +language: + +“The land was owned by my people; we gave it to my brother in council— +to the Fire-eater; and what the Delawares give lasts as long as the +waters run. Hawk-eye smoked at that council, for we loved him.” + +“No, no, John,” said Natty I was no chief, seeing that I knowed +nothing of scholarship, and had a white skin. But it was a +comfortable hunting-ground then, lad, and would have been so this day, +but for the money of Marmaduke Temple, and the twisty ways of the +law.” + +“It must have been a sight of melancholy pleasure in deed,” said +Edwards, while his eye roved along the shores and over the hills, +where the clearings, groaning with the golden corn, were cheering the +forest with the signs of life, “to have roamed over these mountains +and along this sheet of beautiful water, without a living soul to +speak to, or to thwart your humor.” + +“Haven’t I said it was cheerful?” said Leather-Stocking. “Yes, yes, +when the trees begain to be covered with leaves, and the ice was out +of the hake, it was a second paradise. I have travelled the woods for +fifty-three years, and have made them my home for more than forty, and +I can say that I have met but one place that was more to my liking; +and that was only to eyesight, and not for hunting or fishing.” + +“And where was that?” asked Edwards. + +“Where! why, up on the Catskills. I used often to go up into the +mountains after wolves’ skins and bears; once they paid me to get them +a stuffed painter, and so I often went. ‘there’s a place in them +hills that I used to climb to when I wanted to see the carryings on of +the world, that would well pay any man for a barked shin or a torn +moccasin. You know the Catskills, lad; for you must have seen them on +your left, as you followed the river up from York, looking as blue as +a piece of clear sky, and holding the clouds on their tops, as the +smoke curls over the head of an Indian chief at the council fire. +Well, there’s the High-peak and the Round-top, which lay back like a +father and mother among their children, seeing they are far above all +the other hills. But the place I mean is next to the river, where one +of the ridges juts out a little from the rest, and where the rocks +fall, for the best part of a thousand feet, so much up and down, that +a man standing on their edges is fool enough to think he can jump from +top to bottom.” + +“What see you when you get there?” asked Edwards, + +“Creation,” said Natty, dropping the end of his rod into the water, +and sweeping one hand around him in a circle, “all creation, lad. I +was on that hill when Vaughan burned ‘Sopus in the last war; and I saw +the vessels come out of the Highlands as plain as I can see that lime- +scow rowing into the Susquehanna, though one was twenty times farther +from me than the other. The river was in sight for seventy miles, +looking like a curled shaving under my feet, though it was eight long +miles to its banks. I saw the hills in the Hampshire grants, the +highlands of the river, and all that God had done, or man could do, +far as eye could reach—you know that the Indians named me for my +sight, lad ; and from the flat on the top of that mountain, I have +often found the place where Albany stands. And as for ‘Sopus, the day +the royal troops burnt the town, the smoke seemed so nigh, that I +thought I could hear the screeches of the women.” + +“It must have been worth the toil to meet with such a glorious view.” + +If being the best part of a mile in the air and having men’s farms and +houses your feet, with rivers looking like ribbons, and mountains +bigger than the ‘Vision seeming to be hay-stacks of green grass under +you, gives any satisfaction to a man, I can recommend the spot. When +I first came into the woods to live, I used to have weak spells when I +felt lonesome: and then I would go into the Catskills, and spend a few +days on that hill to look at the ways of man; but it’s now many a year +since I felt any such longings, and I am getting too old for rugged +rocks. But there’s a place, a short two miles back of that very hill, +that in late times I relished better than the mountains: for it was +more covered with the trees, and nateral.” + +“And where was that?” inquired Edwards, whose curiosity was strongly +excited by the simple description of the hunter. + +“Why, there’s a fall in the hills where the water of two little ponds. +that lie near each other, breaks out of their bounds and runs over the +rocks into the valley. The stream is, maybe, such a one as would turn +a mill, if so useless thing was wanted in the wilderness. But the +hand that made that ‘Leap’ never made a mill. There the water comes +crooking and winding among the rocks, first so slow that a trout could +swim in it, and then starting and running like a creatur’ that wanted +to make a far spring, till it gets to where the mountain divides, like +the cleft hoof of a deer, leaving a deep hollow for the brook to +tumble into. The first pitch is nigh two hundred feet, and the water +looks like flakes of driven snow afore it touches the bottom; and +there the stream gathers itself together again for a new start, and +maybe flutters over fifty feet of flat rock before it falls for +another hundred, when it jumps about from shelf to shelf, first +turning this-away and then turning that-away, striving to get out of +the hollow, till it finally comes to the plain.” + +“I have never heard of this spot before; it is not mentioned in the +books.” + +“I never read a book in my life,” said Leather-Stocking; “and how +should a man who has lived in towns and schools know anything about +the wonders of the woods? No, no, lad; there has that little stream of +water been playing among the hills since He made the world, and not a +dozen white men have ever laid eyes on it. The rock sweeps like +mason-work, in a half-round, on both sides of the fall, and shelves +over the bottom for fifty feet; so that when I’ve been sitting at the +foot of the first pitch, and my hounds have run into the caverns +behind the sheet of water, they’ve looked no bigger than so many +rabbits. To my judgment, lad, it’s the best piece of work that I’ve +met with in the woods; and none know how often the hand of God is seen +in the wilderness, but them that rove it for a man’s life,” + +“What becomes of the water? In which direction does it run? Is it a +tributary of the Delaware?” + +“Anan!” said Natty. + +“Does the water run into the Delaware?” + +“No, no; it’s a drop for the old Hudson, and a merry time it has till +it gets down off the mountain. I’ve sat on the shelving rock many a +long hour, boy, and watched the bubbles as they shot by me, and +thought how long it would be before that very water, which seemed made +for the wilderness, would be under the bottom of a vessel, and tossing +in the salt sea. It is a spot to make a man solemnize. You go right +down into the valley that lies to the east of the High Peak, where, in +the fall of the year, thousands of acres of woods are before your +eyes, in the deep hollow, and along the side of the mountain, painted +like ten thousand rainbows, by no hand of man, though without the +ordering of God’s providence.” + +“You are eloquent, Leather-Stocking,” exclaimed the youth. + +“Anan!” repeated Natty. + +“The recollection of the sight has warmed your blood, old man. How +many years is it since you saw the place?” + +The hunter made no reply; but, bending his ear near the water, he sat +holding his breath, and listening attentively as if to some distant +sound. At length he raised his head, and said: + +“If I hadn’t fastened the hounds with my own hands, with a fresh leash +of green buckskin, I’d take a Bible oath that I heard old Hector +ringing his cry on the mountain.” + +“It is impossible,” said Edwards; “it is not an hour since I saw him +in his kennel.” + +By this time the attention of Mohegan was attracted to the sounds; +but, notwithstanding the youth was both silent and attentive, he could +hear nothing but the lowing of some cattle from the western hills. He +looked at the old men, Natty sitting with his hand to his ear, like a +trumpet, and Mohegan bending forward, with an arm raised to a level +with his face, holding the forefinger elevated as a signal for +attention, and laughed aloud at what he deemed to be imaginary sounds. + +“Laugh if you will, boy,” said Leather-Stocking, “ the hounds be out, +and are hunting a deer, No man can deceive me in such a matter. I +wouldn’t have had the thing happen for a beaver’s skin. Not that I +care for the law; but the venison is lean now, and the dumb things run +the flesh off their own bones for no good. Now do you hear the +hounds?” + +Edwards started, as a full cry broke on his ear, changing from the +distant sounds that were caused by some intervening hill, to confused +echoes that rang among the rocks that the dogs were passing, and then +directly to a deep and hollow baying that pealed under the forest +under the Lake shore. These variations in the tones of the hounds +passed with amazing rapidity; and, while his eyes were glancing along +the margin of the water, a tearing of the branches of the alder and +dogwood caught his attention, at a spot near them and at the next +moment a noble buck sprang on the shore, and buried himself in the +lake. A full-mouthed cry followed, when Hector and the slut shot +through the opening in the bushes, and darted into the lake also, +bearing their breasts gallantly against the water + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + + +“Oft in the full descending flood he tries +To lose the scent, and lave his burning sides.”—Thomson. + +“I knowed it—I knowed it!” cried Natty, when both deer and hounds were +in full view; “ the buck has gone by them with the wind, and it has +been too much for the poor rogues; but I must break them of these +tricks, or they’ll give me a deal of trouble. He-ere, he-ere—shore. +with you, rascals—shore with you—will ye? Oh! off with you, old +Hector, or I'll hackle your hide with my ramrod when I get ye.” + +The dogs knew their master’s voice, and after swimming in a circle, as +if reluctant to give over the chase, and yet afraid to persevere, they +finally obeyed, and returned to the land, where they filled the air +with their cries. + +In the mean time the deer, urged by his fears, had swum over half the +distance between the shore and the boats, before his terror permitted +him to see the new danger. But at the sounds of Natty’s voice, he +turned short in his course and for a few moments seemed about to rush +back again, and brave the dogs. His retreat in this direction was, +however, effectually cut off, and, turning a second time, he urged his +course obliquely for the centre of the lake, with an intention of +landing on the western shore. As the buck swam by the fishermen, +raising his nose high into the air, curling the water before his slim +neck like the beak of a galley, the Leather-Stocking began to sit very +uneasy in his canoe. + +“‘Tis a noble creatur’!” he exclaimed; “what a pair of horns! a man +might hang up all his garments on the branches. Let me see—July is +the last month, and the flesh must be getting good.” While he was +talking, Natty had instinctively employed himself in fastening the +inner end of the bark rope, that served him for a cable, to a paddle, +and, rising suddenly on his legs, he cast this buoy away. and cried; +“Strike out, John! let her go. The creatur’s a fool to tempt a man in +this way. + +Mohegan threw the fastening of the youth’s boat from the canoe, and +with one stroke of his paddle sent the light bark over the water like +a meteor. + +“Hold!” exclaimed Edwards. “ Remember the law, my old friends. You +are in plain sight of the village, and I know that Judge Temple is +determined to prosecute all, indiscriminately, who kill deer out of +season.” + +The remonstrance came too late; the canoe was already far from the +skiff, and the two hunters were too much engaged in the pursuit to +listen to his voice. + +The buck was now within fifty yards of his pursuers, cutting the water +gallantly, and snorting at each breath with terror and his exertions, +while the canoe seemed to dance over the waves as it rose and fell +with the undulations made by its own motion. Leather-Stocking raised +his rifle and freshened the priming, but stood in suspense whether to +slay his victim or not. + +“Shall I, John or no?” he said. “It seems but a poor advantage to +take of the dumb thing, too. I won’t; it has taken to the water on +its own natur’, which is the reason that God has given to a deer, and +I’ll give it the lake play; so, John, lay out your arm, and mind the +turn of the buck; it’s easy to catch them, but they’ll turn like a +snake.” + +The Indian laughed at the conceit of his friend, but continued to send +the canoe forward with a velocity’ that proceeded much more from skill +than his strength. Both of the old men now used the language of the +Delawares when they spoke. + +“Hugh!” exclaimed Mohegan; “the deer turns his head. Hawk-eye, lift +your spear.” + +Natty never moved abroad without taking with him every implement that +might, by possibility, be of service in his pursuits. From his rifle +he never parted; and although intending to fish with the line, the +canoe was invariably furnished with all of its utensils, even to its +grate This precaution grew out of the habits of the hunter, who was +often led, by his necessities or his sports, far beyond the limits of +his original destination. A few years earlier than the date of our +tale, the Leather-Stocking had left his hut on the shores of the +Otsego, with his rifle and his hounds, for a few days’ hunting in the +hills; but before he returned he had seen the waters of Ontario. One, +two, or even three hundred miles had once been nothing to his sinews, +which were now a little stiffened by age. The hunter did as Mohegan +advised, and prepared to strike a blow with the barbed weapon into the +neck of the buck. + +“Lay her more to the left, John,” he cried, “lay her more to the left; +another stroke of the paddle and I have him.” + +While speaking he raised the spear, and darted it front him like an +arrow. At that instant the buck turned, the long pole glanced by him, +the iron striking against his horn, and buried itself harmlessly in +the lake. + +“Back water,” cried Natty, as the canoe glided over the place where +the spear had fallen; “hold water, John.” + +The pole soon reappeared, shooting up from the lake, and, as the +hunter seized it in his hand, the Indian whirled the light canoe +round, and renewed the chase. But this evolution gave the buck a +great advantage; and it also allowed time for Edwards to approach the +scene of action. + +“Hold your hand, Natty!” cried the youth, “hold your hand; remember it +is out of season.” + +This remonstrance was made as the batteau arrived close to the place +where the deer was struggling with the water, his back now rising to +the surface, now sinking beneath it, as the waves curled from his +neck, the animal still sustaining itself nobly against the odds, + +“Hurrah!” shouted Edwards, inflamed beyond prudence at the sight; +“mind him as he doubles—mind him as he doubles; sheer more to the +right, Mohegan, more to the right, and I’ll have him by the horns; +I'll throw the rope over his antlers.” + +The dark eye of the old warrior was dancing in his head with a wild +animation, and the sluggish repose in which his aged frame had been +resting in the canoe was now changed to all the rapid inflections of +practiced agility. The canoe whirled with each cunning evolution of +the chase, like a bubble floating in a whirlpool; and when the +direction of the pursuit admitted of a straight course the little bark +skimmed the lake with a velocity that urged the deer to seek its +safety in some new turn. + +It was the frequency of these circuitous movements that, by confining +the action to so small a compass, enabled the youth to keep near his +companions. More than twenty times both the pursued and the pursuer +glided by him, just without the reach of his oars, until he thought +the best way to view the sport was to remain stationary, and, by +watching a favorable opportunity, assist as much as he could in taking +the victim. + +He was not required to wait long, for no sooner had he adopted this +resolution, and risen in the boat, than he saw the deer coming bravely +toward him, with an apparent intention of pushing for a point of land +at some distance from the hounds, who were still barking and howling +on the shore. Edwards caught the painter of his skiff, and, making a +noose, cast it from him with all his force, and luckily succeeded in +drawing its knot close around one of the antlers of the buck. + +For one instant the skiff was drawn through the water, but in the next +the canoe glided before it, and Natty, bending low, passed his knife +across the throat of the animal, whose blood followed the wound, +dyeing the waters. The short time that was passed in the last +struggles of the animal was spent by the hunters in bringing their +boats together and securing them in that position, when Leather- +Stocking drew the deer from the water and laid its lifeless form in +the bottom of the canoe. He placed his hands on the ribs, and on +different parts of the body of his prize, and then, raising his head, +he laughed in his peculiar manner. + +“So much for Marmaduke Temple's law!” he said, “This warms a body’s +blood, old John: I haven’t killed a buck in the lake afore this, sin’ +many a year. I call that good venison, lad: and I know them that will +relish the creatur’s steaks for all the betterments in the land.” + +The Indian had long been drooping with his years, and perhaps under +the calamities of his race, but this invigorating and exciting sport +caused a gleam of sunshine to cross his swarthy face that had long +been absent from his features. it was evident the old man enjoyed the +chase more as a memorial of his youthful sports and deeds than with +any expectation of profiting by the success. He felt the deer, +however, lightly, his hand already trembling with the reaction of his +unusual exertions, and smiled with a nod of approbation, as he said, +in the emphatic and sententious manner of his people: + +“Good.” + +“I am afraid, Natty,” said Edwards, when the heat of the moment had +passed, and his blood began to cool, “that we have all been equally +transgressors of the law. But keep your own counsel, and there are +none here to betray us. Yet how came those dogs at large? I left them +securely fastened, I know, for I felt the thongs and examined the +knots when I was at the hunt.” + +“It has been too much for the poor things,” said Natty, “to have such +a buck take the wind of them. See, lad, the pieces of the buckskin +are hanging from their necks yet. Let us paddle up, John, and I will +call them in and look a little into the matter.” + +When the old hunter landed and examined the thongs that were yet fast +to the hounds, his countenance sensibly changed, and he shook his head +doubtingly. + +“Here has been a knife at work,” he said; “this skin was never torn, +nor is this the mark of a hound’s tooth. No, no—Hector is not in +fault, as I feared.” + +“Has the leather been cut?” cried Edwards. + +“No, no—I didn’t say it had been cut, lad; but this is a mark that was +never made by a jump or a bite.” + +“Could that rascally carpenter have dared!” + +“Ay! he durst do anything when there is no danger,” said Natty; “he is +a curious body, and loves to be helping other people on with their +consarns. But he had best not harbor so much near the wigwam!” + +In the mean time, Mohegan had been examining, with an Indian’s +sagacity, the place where the leather thong had been separated. After +scrutinizing it closely, he said, in Delaware: + +“It was cut with a knife—a sharp blade and a long handle—the man was +afraid of the dogs.” + +“How is this, Mohegan?” exclaimed Edwards; “you saw it not! how can +you know these facts?” + +“Listen, son,” said the warrior. “The knife was sharp, for the cut +was smooth; the handle was long, for a man’s arm would not reach from +this gash to the cut that did not go through the skin; he was a +coward, or he would have cut the thongs around the necks of the +hounds.” +On my life,” cried Natty, “John is on the scent! It was the carpenter; +and he has got on the rock back of the kennel and let the dogs loose +by fastening his knife to a stick. It would be an easy matter to do +it where a man is so minded.” + +“And why should he do so?” asked Edwards; “who has done him wrong, +that he should trouble two old men like you?” + +“It’s a hard matter, lad, to know men’s ways, I find, since the +settlers have brought in their new fashions, But is there nothing to +be found out in the place? and maybe he is troubled with his longings +after other people’s business, as he often is” + +“Your suspicions are just. Give me the canoe; I am young and strong. +and will get down there yet, perhaps, in time to interrupt his plans. +Heaven forbid that we should be at the mercy of such a man!” + +His proposal was accepted, the deer being placed in the skiff in order +to lighten the canoe, and in less than five minutes the little vessel +of bark was gilding over the glassy lake, and was soon hid by the +points of land as it shot close along the shore. + +Mohegan followed slowly with the skiff, while Natty called his hounds +to him, bade them keep close, and, shouldering his rifle, he ascended +the mountain, with an intention of going to the hut by land. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + + + +“Ask me not what the maiden feels, Left in that dreadful hour alone: +Perchance, her reason stoops, or reel!; +Perchance, a courage not her own +Braces her mind to desperate tone.”—Scott. + +While the chase was occurring on the lake, Miss Temple and her +companion pursued their walk on the mountain. Male attendants on such +excursions were thought to be altogether unnecessary, for none were +even known to offer insult to a female who respected herself. After +the embarrassment created by the parting discourse with Edwards had +dissipated, the girls maintained a conversation that was as innocent +and cheerful as themselves. + +The path they took led them but a short distance above the hut of +Leather-Stocking, and there was a point in the road which commanded a +bird’s-eye view of the sequestered spot. + +From a feeling that might have been, natural, and must have been +powerful, neither of the friends, in their frequent and confidential +dialogues, had ever trusted herself to utter one syllable concerning +the equivocal situation in which the young man who was now so +intimately associated with them had been found. If judge Temple had +deemed it prudent to make any inquiries on the subject, he had also +thought it proper to keep the answers to him self; though it was so +common an occurrence to find the well-educated youth of the Eastern +States in every stage of their career to wealth, that the simple +circumstance of his intelligence, connected with his poverty, would +not, at that day and in that country, have excited any very powerful +curiosity. With his breeding, it might have been different; but the +youth himself had so effectually guarded against surprise on this +subject, by his cold and even, in some cases, rude deportment, that +when his manners seemed to soften by time, the Judge, if he thought +about it at all, would have been most likely to imagine that the +improvement was the result of his late association. But women are +always more alive to such subjects than men; and what the abstraction +of the father had overlooked, the observation of the daughter had +easily detected. In the thousand little courtesies of polished life +she had early discovered that Edwards was not wanting, though his +gentleness was so often crossed by marks of what she conceived to be +fierce and uncontrollable passions. It may, perhaps, be unnecessary +to tell the reader that Louisa Grant never reasoned so much after the +fashions of the world. The gentle girl, however, had her own thoughts +on the subject, and, like others, she drew her own conclusions. + +“I would give all my other secrets, Louisa,” exclaimed Miss Temple, +laughing, and shaking back her dark locks, with a look of childish +simplicity that her intelligent face seldom expressed, “to be mistress +of all that those rude logs have heard and witnessed.” + +They were both looking at the secluded hut at the instant, and Miss +Grant raised her mild eyes as she answered: + +“I am sure they would tell nothing to the disadvantage of Mr. +Edwards.” + +“Perhaps not; but they might, at least, tell who he is.” + +“Why, dear Miss Temple, we know all that already. I have heard it all +very rationally explained by your cousin—” + +“The executive chief! he can explain anything. His ingenuity will one +day discover the philosopher’s stone. But what did he say?” + +“Say!” echoed Louisa, with a look of surprise; “why, everything that +seemed to me to be satisfactory, and I now believed it to be true. He +said that Natty Bumppo had lived most of his life in the woods and +among the Indians, by which means he had formed an acquaintance with +old John, the Delaware chief.” + +“Indeed! that was quite a matter-of-fact tale for Cousin Dickon. What +came next?” + +“I believe he accounted for their close intimacy by some story about +the Leather-Stocking saving the life of John in a battle.” + +“Nothing more likely,” said Elizabeth, a little impatiently; “but what +is all this to the purpose?” + +“Nay, Elizabeth, you must bear with my ignorance, and I will repeat +all that I remember to have overheard for the dialogue was between my +father and the sheriff, so lately as the last time they met, He then +added that the kings of England used to keep gentlemen as agents among +the different tribes of Indians, and sometimes officers in the army, +who frequently passed half their lives on the edge of the wilderness.” + +“Told with wonderful historical accuracy! And did he end there?” + +“Oh! no—then he said that these agents seldom married; and—and—they +must have been wicked men, Elizabeth! but I assure you he said so.” + +“Never mind,” said Miss Temple, blushing and smiling, though so +slightly that both were unheeded by her companion; “skip all that.” + +“Well, then, he said that they often took great pride in the education +of their children, whom they frequently sent to England, and even to +the colleges; and this is the way that he accounts for the liberal +manner in which Mr. Edwards has been taught; for he acknowledges that +he knows almost as much as your father—or mine—or even himself.” + +“Quite a climax in learning’. And so he made Mohegan the granduncle +or grandfather of Oliver Edwards.” + +“You have heard him yourself, then?” said Louisa. + +“Often; but not on this subject. Mr. Richard Jones, you know, dear, +has a theory for everything; but has he one which will explain the +reason why that hut is the only habitation within fifty miles of us +whose door is not open to every person who may choose to lift its +latch?” + +“I have never heard him say anything on this subject,” returned the +clergyman’s daughter; “but I suppose that, as they are poor, they very +naturally are anxious to keep the little that they honestly own. It +is sometimes dangerous to be rich, Miss Temple; but you cannot know +how hard it is to be very, very poor.” + +“Nor you, I trust, Louisa; at least I should hope that, in this land +of abundance, no minister of the church could be left in absolute +suffering.” + +“There cannot be actual misery,” returned the other, in a low and +humble tone, “where there is a dependence on our Maker; but there may +be such suffering as will cause the heart to ache.” + +“But not you—not you,” said the impetuous Elizabeth— “not you, dear +girl, you have never known the misery that is connected with poverty.” + +“Ah! Miss Temple, you little understand the troubles of this life, I +believe. My father has spent many years as a missionary in the new +countries, where his people were poor, and frequently we have been +without bread; unable to buy, and ashamed to beg, because we would not +disgrace his sacred calling. But how often have I seen him leave his +home, where the sick and the hungry felt, when he left them, that they +had lost their only earthly friend, to ride on a duty which could not +be neglected for domes tic evils! Oh! how hard it must be to preach +consolation to others when your own heart is bursting with anguish!” + +“But it is all over now! your father’s income must now be equal to his +wants—it must be—it shall be—” + +“It is,” replied Louisa, dropping her head on her bosom to conceal the +tears which flowed in spite of her gentle Christianity—” for there are +none left to be supplied but me.” + +The turn the conversation had taken drove from the minds of the young +maidens all other thoughts but those of holy charity; and Elizabeth +folded her friend in her arms, when the latter gave vent to her +momentary grief in audible sobs. When this burst of emotion had +subsided, Louisa raised her mild countenance, and they continued their +walk in silence. + +By this time they had gained the summit of the mountain, where they +left the highway, and pursued their course under the shade of the +stately trees that crowned the eminence. The day was becoming warm, +and the girls plunged more deeply into the forest, as they found its +invigorating coolness agreeably contrasted to the excessive heat they +had experienced in the ascent. The conversation, as if by mutual +consent, was entirely changed to the little incidents and scenes of +their walk, and every tall pine, and every shrub or flower, called +forth some simple expression of admiration. + +In this manner they proceeded along the margin of the precipice, +catching occasional glimpses of the placid Otsego, or pausing to +listen to the rattling of wheels and the sounds of hammers that rose +from the valley, to mingle the signs of men with the scenes of nature, +when Elizabeth suddenly started, and exclaimed: + +“Listen! there are the cries of a child on this mountain! Is there a +clearing near us, or can some little one have strayed from its +parents?” + +“Such things frequently happen,” returned Louisa. Let us follow the +sounds; it may be a wanderer starving on the hill.” + +Urged by this consideration, the females pursued the low, mournful +sounds, that proceeded from the forest, with quick and impatient +steps. More than once, the ardent Elizabeth was on the point of +announcing that she saw the sufferer, when Louisa caught her by the +arm, and pointing behind them, cried: + +“Look at the dog!” + +Brave had been their companion, from the time the voice of his young +mistress lured him from his kennel, to the present moment. His +advanced age had long before deprived him of his activity; and when +his companions stopped to view the scenery, or to add to their +bouquets, the mastiff would lay his huge frame on the ground and await +their movements, with his eyes closed, and a listlessness in his air +that ill accorded with the character of a protector. But when, +aroused by this cry from Louisa, Miss Temple turned, she saw the dog +with his eyes keenly set on some distant object, his head bent near +the ground, and his hair actually rising on his body, through fright +or anger. It was most probably the latter, for he was growling in a +low key, and occasionally showing his teeth, in a manner that would +have terrified his mistress, had she not so well known his good +qualities. + +“Brave!” she said, “be quiet, Brave! What do you see, fellow?” + +At the sounds of her voice, the rage of the mastiff, instead of being +at all diminished, was very sensibly increased. He stalked in front +of the ladies, and seated himself at the feet of his mistress, +growling louder than before, and occasionally giving vent to his ire +by a short, surly barking. + +“What does he see?” said Elizabeth; “there must be some animal in +sight.” + +Hearing no answer from her companion, Miss Temple turned her head and +beheld Louisa, standing with her face whitened to the color of death, +and her finger pointing upward with a sort of flickering, convulsed +motion. The quick eye of Elizabeth glanced in the direction indicated +by her friend, where she saw the fierce front and glaring eyes of a +female panther, fixed on them in horrid malignity, and threatening to +leap. + +“Let us fly,” exclaimed Elizabeth, grasping the arm of Louisa, whose +form yielded like melting snow. + +There was not a single feeling in the temperament of Elizabeth Temple +that could prompt her to desert a companion in such an extremity. She +fell on her knees by the side of the inanimate Louisa, tearing from +the person of her friend, with instinctive readiness, such parts of +her dress as might obstruct her respiration, and encouraging their +only safeguard, the dog, at the same time, by the sounds of her voice. + +“Courage, Brave!” she cried, her own tones beginning to tremble, +“courage, courage, good Brave!” + +A quarter-grown cub, that had hitherto been unseen, now appeared, +dropping from the branches of a sapling that grew under the shade of +the beech which held its dam. This ignorant but vicious creature +approached the dog, imitating the actions and sounds of its parent, +but exhibiting a strange mixture of the playfulness of a kitten with +the ferocity of its race. Standing on its hind-legs, it would rend +the bark of a tree with its fore-paws, and play the antics of a cat; +and then, by lashing itself with its tail, growling, and scratching +the earth, it would at tempt the manifestations of anger that rendered +its parent so terrific. + +All this time Brave stood firm and undaunted, his short tail erect, +his body drawn backward on its haunches, and his eyes following the +movements of both dam and cub. At every gambol played by the latter, +it approached nigher to the dog, the growling of the three becoming +more horrid at each moment, until the younger beast, over-leaping its +intended bound, fell directly before the mastiff. There was a moment +of fearful cries and struggles, but they ended almost as soon as +commenced, by the cub appearing in the air, hurled from the jaws of +Brave, with a violence that sent it against a tree so forcibly as to +render it completely senseless. Elizabeth witnessed the short +struggle, and her blood was warming with the triumph of the dog, when +she saw the form of the old panther in the air, springing twenty feet +from the branch of the beech to the back of the mastiff. No words of +ours can describe the fury of the conflict that followed. It was a +confused struggle on the dry leaves, accompanied by loud and terrific +cries. Miss Temple continued on her knees, bending over the form of +Louisa, her eyes fixed on the animals with an interest so horrid, and +yet so intense, that she almost forgot her own stake in the result. +So rapid and vigorous were the bounds of the inhabitant of the forest, +that its active frame seemed constantly in the air, while the dog +nobly faced his foe at each successive leap. When the panther lighted +on the shoulders of the mastiff, which was its constant aim, old +Brave, though torn with her talons, and stained with his own blood, +that already flowed from a dozen wounds, would shake off his furious +foe like a feather, and, rearing on his hind-legs, rush to the fray +again, with jaws distended, and a dauntless eye. But age, and his +pampered life, greatly disqualified the noble mastiff for such a +struggle. In everything but courage. he was only the vestige of what +he had once been. A higher bound than ever raised the wary and +furious beast far beyond the reach of the dog, who was making a +desperate but fruitless dash at her, from which she alighted in a +favorable position, on the back of her aged foe. For a single moment +only could the panther remain there, the great strength of the dog +returning with a convulsive effort. But Elizabeth saw, as Brave +fastened his teeth in the side of his enemy, that the collar of brass +around his neck, which had been glittering throughout the fray, was of +the color of blood, and directly that his frame was sinking to the +earth, where it soon lay prostrate and helpless. Several mighty +efforts of the wild-cat to extricate herself from the jaws of the dog +followed, but they were fruitless, until the mastiff turned on his +back, his lips collapsed, and his teeth loosened, when the short +convulsions and stillness that succeeded announced the death of poor +Brave. + +Elizabeth now lay wholly at the mercy of the beast. There is said to +be something in the front of the image of the Maker that daunts the +hearts of the inferior beings of his creation; and it would seem that +some such power, in the present instance, suspended the threatened +blow. The eyes of the monster and the kneeling maiden met for an +instant, when the former stooped to examine her fallen foe; next, to +scent her luckless cub. From the latter examination it turned, +however, with its eyes apparently emitting flashes of fire, its tail +lashing its sides furiously, and its claws projecting inches from her +broad feet. + +Miss Temple did not or could not move. Her hands were clasped in the +attitude of prayer, but her eyes were still drawn to her terrible +enemy—her cheeks were blanched to the whiteness of marble, and her +lips were slightly separated with horror. + +The moment seemed now to have arrived for the fatal termination, and +the beautiful figure of Elizabeth was bowing meekly to the stroke, +when a rustling of leaves behind seemed rather to mock the organs than +to meet her ears. + +“Hist! hist!” said a low voice, “stoop lower, gal; your bonnet hides +the creatur’s head.” + +It was rather the yielding of nature than a compliance with this +unexpected order, that caused the head of our heroine to sink on her +bosom; when she heard the report of the rifle, the whizzing of the +bullet, and the enraged cries of the beast, who was rolling over on +the earth, biting its own flesh, and tearing the twigs and branches +within its reach. At the next instant the form of the Leather- +Stocking rushed by her, and he called aloud: + +“Come in, Hector! come in, old fool; ‘tis a hard-lived animal, and may +jump agin.” + +Natty fearlessly maintained his position in front of the females, +notwithstanding the violent bounds and threatening aspect of the +wounded panther, which gave several indications of returning strength +and ferocity, until his rifle was again loaded, when he stepped up to +the enraged animal, and, placing the muzzle close to its head, every +spark of life was extinguished by the discharge. + +The death of her terrible enemy appeared to Elizabeth like a +resurrection from her own grave. There was an elasticity in the mind +of our heroine that rose to meet the pressure of instant danger, and +the more direct it had been, the more her nature had struggled to +overcome them. But still she was a woman. Had she been left to +herself in her late extremity, she would probably have used her +faculties to the utmost, and with discretion, in protecting her +person; but, encumbered with her inanimate friend, retreat was a thing +not to be attempted. Notwithstanding the fearful aspect of her foe, +the eye of Elizabeth had never shrunk from its gaze, and long after +the event her thoughts would recur to her passing sensations, and the +sweetness of her midnight sleep would be disturbed, as her active +fancy conjured, in dreams, the most trifling movements of savage fury +that the beast had exhibited in its moment of power. + +We shall leave the reader to imagine the restoration of Louisa’s +senses, and the expressions of gratitude which fell from the young +women. The former was effected by a little water, that was brought +from one of the thousand springs of those mountains, in the cap of the +Leather-Stocking; and the latter were uttered with the warmth that +might be expected from the character of Elizabeth. Natty received her +vehement protestations of gratitude with a simple expression of good- +will, and with indulgence for her present excitement, but with a +carelessness that showed how little he thought of the service he had +rendered. + +“Well, well,” he said, “be it so, gal; let it be so, if you wish it— +we'll talk the thing over another time. Come, come—let us get into +the road, for you’ve had terror enough to make you wish yourself in +your father’s house agin.” + +This was uttered as they were proceeding, at a pace that was adapted +to the weakness of Louisa, toward the highway; on reaching which the +ladies separated from their guide, declaring themselves equal to the +remainder of the walk without his assistance, and feeling encouraged +by the sight of the village which lay beneath their feet like a +picture, with its limpid lake in front, the winding stream along its +margin, and its hundred chimneys of whitened bricks. + +The reader need not be told the nature of the emotions which two +youthful, ingenuous, and well-educated girls would experience at their +escape from a death so horrid as the one which had impended over them, +while they pursued their way in silence along the track on the side of +the mountain; nor how deep were their mental thanks to that Power +which had given them their existence, and which had not deserted them +in their extremity; neither how often they pressed each other’s arms +as the assurance of their present safety came, like a healing balm, +athwart their troubled spirits, when their thoughts were recurring to +the recent moments of horror. + +Leather-Stocking remained on the hill, gazing after their retiring +figures, until they were hidden by a bend in the road, when he +whistled in his dogs, and shouldering his rifle, he returned into the +forest. + +“Well, it was a skeary thing to the young creatur’s,” said Natty, +while he retrod the path toward the plain. “It might frighten an +older woman, to see a she-painter so near her, with a dead cub by its +side. I wonder if I had aimed at the varmint’s eye, if I shouldn’t +have touched the life sooner than in the forehead; but they are hard- +lived animals, and it was a good shot, consid’ring that I could see +nothing but the head and the peak of its tail. Hah! who goes there?” + +“How goes it, Natty?” said Mr. Doolittle, stepping out of the bushes, +with a motion that was a good deal accelerated by the sight of the +rifle, that was already lowered in his direction. “What! shooting +this warm day! Mind, old man, the law don’t get hold on you.” + +“The law, squire! I have shook hands with the law these forty year,” +returned Natty; “for what has a man who lives in the wilderness to do +with the ways of the law?” + +“Not much, maybe,” said Hiram; “but you sometimes trade in venison. I +s’pose you know, Leather-Stocking, that there is an act passed to lay +a fine of five pounds currency, or twelve dollars and fifty cents, by +decimals, on every man who kills a deer betwixt January and August. +The Judge had a great hand in getting the law through.” + +“I can believe it,” returned the old hunter; “ I can believe that or +anything of a man who carries on as he does in the country.” + +“Yes, the law is quite positive, and the Judge is bent on putting it +in force—five pounds penalty. I thought I heard your hounds out on +the scent of so’thing this morning; I didn’t know but they might get +you in difficulty.” + +“They know their manners too well,” said Natty carelessly. “And how +much goes to the State’s evidence, squire?” + +“How much?” repeated Hiram, quailing under the honest but sharp look +of the hunter; “the informer gets half, I—I believe—yes, I guess it’s +half. But there’s blood on your sleeve, man—you haven’t been shooting +anything this morning?” + +“I have, though,” said the hunter, nodding his head significantly to +the other, “and a good shot I made of it.” + +“H-e-m!” ejacuated the magistrate; “and where is the game? I s’pose +it’s of a good natur’, for your dogs won’t hunt anything that isn’t +choice.” + +“They’ll hunt anything I tell them to, squire,” cried Natty, favoring +the other with his laugh. “They’ll hunt you, if I say so. He-e-e-re, +he-e-e-re, Hector—he-e-e-re, slut—come this a-way, pups—come this a- +way-—come hither.” + +“Oh! I have always heard a good character of the dogs,” returned Mr. +Doolittle, quickening his pace by raising each leg in rapid +succession, as the hounds scented around his person. “And where is +the game, Leather-Stocking?” + +During this dialogue, the speakers had been walking at a very fast +gait, and Natty swung the end of his rifle round, pointing through the +bushes, and replied: “There lies one. How do you like such meat?” + +“This!” exclaimed Hiram; “why, this is Judge Temple’s dog Brave. Take +care, Leather-Stocking, and don’t make an enemy of the Judge. I hope +you haven’t harmed the animal?” + +“Look for yourself, Mr. Doolittle,” said Natty, drawing his knife from +his girdle, and wiping it in a knowing manner, once or twice across +his garment of buckskin; “does his throat look as if I had cut it with +this knife?” + +“It is dreadfully torn! it’s an awful wound—no knife ever did this +deed. Who could have done it?” + +“The painters behind you, squire.” + +“Painters!” echoed Hiram, whirling on his heel with an agility that +would have done credit to a dancing’ master. + +“Be easy, man,” said Natty; “there’s two of the venomous things; but +the dog finished one, and I have fastened the other’s jaws for her; so +don’t be frightened, squire; they won’t hurt you.” + +“And where’s the deer?” cried Hiram, staring about him with a +bewildered air. + +“Anan? deer!” repeated Natty. +“Sartain; an’t there venison here, or didn’t you kill a buck?” + +“What! when the law forbids the thing, squire!” said the old hunter, +“I hope there’s no law agin’ killing the painters.” + +“No! there’s a bounty on the scalps—but—will your dogs hunt painters, +Natty?” + +“Anything; didn’t I tell you they would hunt a man? He-e-re, he-e-re, +pups—” + +“Yes, yes, I remember. Well, they are strange dogs, I must say—I am +quite in a wonderment.” + +Natty had seated himself on the ground, and having laid the grim head +of his late ferocious enemy in his lap, was drawing his knife with a +practiced hand around the ears, which he tore from the head of the +beast in such a manner as to preserve their connection, when he +answered; + +“What at, squire? did you never see a painter’s scalp afore? Come, you +are a magistrate, I wish you’d make me out an order for the bounty.” + +“The bounty!” repeated Hiram, holding the ears on the end of his +finger for a moment, as if uncertain how to proceed. “Well, let us go +down to your hut, where you can take the oath, and I will write out +the order, I sup pose you have a Bible? All the law wants is the four +evangelists and the Lord’s prayer.” + +“I keep no books,” said Natty, a little coldly; “not such a Bible as +the law needs.” + +“Oh! there’s but one sort of Bible that’s good in law,” returned the +magistrate, “and your’n will do as well as another’s. Come, the +carcasses are worth nothing, man; let us go down and take the oath.” + +“Softly, softly, squire,” said the hunter, lifting his trophies very +deliberately from the ground, and shouldering his rifle; “why do you +want an oath at all, for a thing that your own eyes has seen? Won’t +you believe yourself, that another man must swear to a fact that you +know to be true? You have seen me scalp the creatur’s, and if I must +swear to it, it shall be before Judge Temple, who needs an oath.” + +“But we have no pen or paper here, Leather-Stocking; we must go to the +hut for them, or how can I write the order?” + +Natty turned his simple features on the cunning magistrate with +another of his laughs, as he said: + +“And what should I be doing with scholars’ tools? I want no pens or +paper, not knowing the use of either; and I keep none. No, no, I’ll +bring the scalps into the village, squire, and you can make out the +order on one of your law-books, and it will he all the better for it. +The deuce take this leather on the neck of the dog, it will strangle +the old fool. Can you lend me a knife, squire?” + +Hiram, who seemed particularly anxious to be on good terms with his +companion, unhesitatingly complied. Natty cut the thong from the neck +of the hound, and, as he returned the knife to its owner, carelessly +remarked: + +“Tis a good bit of steel, and has cut such leather as this very same, +before now, I dare say.” + +“Do you mean to charge me with letting your hounds loose?” exclaimed +Hiram, with a consciousness that disarmed his caution. + +“Loose!” repeated the hunter—” I let them loose my self. I always let +them loose before I leave the hut.” + +The ungovernable amazement with which Mr. Doolittle listened to this +falsehood would have betrayed his agency in the liberation of the +dogs, had Natty wanted any further confirmation; and the coolness and +management of the old man now disappeared in open indignation. + +“Look you here, Mr. Doolittle,” he said, striking the breech of his +rifle violently on the ground; “ what there is in the wigwam of a poor +man like me, that one like you can crave, I don’t know; but this I +tell you to your face, that you never shall put foot under the roof of +my cabin with my consent, and that, if you harbor round the spot as +you have done lately, you may meet with treatment that you will little +relish.” + +“And let me tell you, Mr. Bumppo,” said Hiram, retreating, however, +with a quick step, “that I know you’ve broke the law, and that I’m a +magistrate, and will make you feel it too, before you are a day +older.” + +“That for you and your law, too,” cried Natty, snap ping his fingers +at the justice of the peace; “away with you, you varmint, before the +devil tempts me to give you your desarts. Take care, if I ever catch +your prowling face in the woods agin, that I don’t shoot it for an +owl.” + +There is something at all times commanding in honest indignation, and +Hiram did not stay to provoke the wrath of the old hunter to +extremities. When the intruder was out of sight, Natty proceeded to +the hut, where he found all quiet as the grave. He fastened his dogs, +and tapping at the door, which was opened by Edwards, asked; + +“Is all safe, lad?” + +“Everything,” returned the youth. “Some one attempted the lock, but +it was too strong for him.” + +“I know the creatur’,” said Natty, “but he’ll not trust himself within +the reach of my rifle very soon——” What more was uttered by the +Leather-Stocking, in his vexation, was rendered inaudible by the +closing of the door of the cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + + + +“It is noised, he hath a mass of treasure.”—Timon of Athens. + +When Marmaduke Temple and his cousin rode through the gate of the +former, the heart of the father had been too recently touched with the +best feelings of our nature, to leave inclination for immediate +discourse. There was an importance in the air of Richard, which would +not have admitted of the ordinary informal conversation of the +sheriff, without violating all the rules of consistency; and the +equestrians pursued their way with great diligence, for more than a +mile, in profound silence. At length the soft expression of parental +affection was slowly chased from the handsome features of the Judge, +and was gradually supplanted by the cast of humor and benevolence that +was usually seated on his brow. + +“Well, Dickon,” he said, since I have yielded myself so far implicitly +to your guidance, I think the moment has arrived when I am entitled to +further confidence. Why and wherefore are we journeying together in +this solemn gait?” + +The sheriff gave a loud hem, that rang far in the forest, and keeping +his eyes fixed on objects before him like a man who is looking deep +into futurity: + +“There has always been one point of difference between us, Judge +Temple, I may say, since our nativity,” he replied; not that I would +insinuate that you are at all answerable for the acts of Nature; for a +man is no more to be condemned for the misfortunes of his birth, than +he is to be commended for the natural advantages he may possess; but +on one point we may be said to have differed from our births, and +they, you know, occurred within two days of each other.” + +“I really marvel, Richard, what this one point can be, for, to my +eyes, we seem to differ so materially, and so often—” + +“Mere consequences, sir,” interrupted the sheriff; “all our minor +differences proceed from one cause, and that is, our opinions of the +universal attainments of genius.” + +“In what, Dickon?” + +“I speak plain English, I believe, Judge Temple: at least I ought; for +my father, who taught me, could speak——” + +“Greek and Latin,” interrupted Marmaduke. “I well know the +qualifications of your family in tongues, Dickon. But proceed to the +point; why are we travelling over this mountain to-day?” + +“To do justice to any subject, sir, the narrator must he suffered to +proceed in his own way,” continued the sheriff. “You are of opinion, +Judge Temple, that a man is to be qualified by nature and education to +do only one thing well, whereas I know that genius will supply the +place of learning, and that a certain sort of man can do anything and +everything.” + +“Like yourself, I suppose,” said Marmaduke, smiling. + +“I scorn personalities, sir, I say nothing of myself; but there are +three men on your Patent, of the kind that I should term talented by +nature for her general purposes though acting under the influence of +different situations.” + +“We are better off, then, than I had supposed. Who are these +triumviri?” + +“Why, sir, one is Hiram Doolittle; a carpenter by trade, as you know— +and I need only point to the village to exhibit his merits. Then he +is a magistrate, and might shame many a man, in his distribution of +justice, who has had better opportunities.” + +“Well, he is one,” said Marmaduke, with the air of a man that was +determined not to dispute the point. + +“Jotham Riddel is another.” + +“Who?” + +“Jotham Riddel.” + +“What, that dissatisfied, shiftless, lazy, speculating fellow! he who +changes his county every three years, his farm every six months, and +his occupation every season! an agriculturist yesterday, a shoemaker +to-day, and a school master to-morrow! that epitome of all the +unsteady and profitless propensities of the settlers without one of +their good qualities to counterbalance the evil! Nay, Richard. this +is too bad for even—but the third.” + +“As the third is not used to hearing such comments on his character, +Judge Temple, I shall not name him.” + +“The amount of all this, then, Dickon, is that the trio, of which you +are one, and the principal, have made some important discovery.” + +“I have not said that I am one, Judge Temple. As I told you before, +say nothing egotistical. But a discovery has been made, and you are +deeply interested in it.” + +“Proceed—I am all ears.” + +“No, no, ‘Duke, you are bad enough, I own, but not so bad as that, +either; your ears are not quite full grown.” + +The sheriff laughed heartily at his own wit, and put himself in good +humor thereby, when he gratified his patient cousin with the following +explanation: + +“You know, ‘Duke, there is a man living on your estate that goes by +the name of Natty Bumppo. Here has this man lived, by what I can +learn, for more than forty years—by himself, until lately; and now +with strange companions.” + +“Part very true, and all very probable,” said the Judge. + +“All true, sir; all true. Well, within these last few months have +appeared as his companions an old Indian chief, the last, or one of +the last of his tribe that is to be found in this part of the country, +and a young man, who is said to be the son of some Indian agent, by a +squaw.” + +“Who says that?” cried Marmaduke, with an interest; that he had not +manifested before. + +“Who? why, common sense—common report—the hue and cry. But listen +till you know all. This youth has very pretty talents—yes, what I +call very pretty talents— and has been well educated, has seen very +tolerable company, and knows how to behave himself when he has a mind +to. Now, Judge Temple, can you tell me what has brought three such +men as Indian John, Natty Bumppo, and Oliver Edwards together?” +Marmaduke turned his countenance, in evident surprise, to his cousin, +and replied quickly: + +“Thou hast unexpectedly hit on a subject, Richard, that has often +occupied my mind. But knowest thou anything of this mystery, or are +they only the crude conjectures of—” + +“Crude nothing, ‘Duke, crude nothing : but facts, stub-born facts. +You know there arc mines in these mountains; I have often heard you +say that you believed in their existence.” + +“Reasoning from analogy, Richard, but not with any certainty of the +fact.” + +“You have heard them mentioned, and have seen specimens of the ore, +sir; you will not deny that! and, reasoning from analogy, as you say, +if there be mines in South America, ought there not to be mines in +North America too?” + +“Nay, nay, I deny nothing, my cousin. I certainly have heard many +rumors of the existence of mines in these hills: and I do believe that +I have seen specimens of the precious metals that have been found +here. It would occasion me no surprise to learn that tin and silver, +or what I consider of more consequence, good coal—” + +“Damn your coal,” cried the sheriff; “ who wants to find coal in these +forests? No, no—silver, ‘Duke; silver is the one thing needful, and +silver is to be found. But listen: you are not to be told that the +natives have long known the use of gold and silver; now who so likely +to be acquainted where they are to be found as the ancient inhabitants +of a country? I have the best reasons for believing that both Mohegan +and the Leather-Stocking have been privy to the existence of a mine in +this very mountain for many years.” + +The sheriff had now touched his cousin in a sensitive spot; and +Marmaduke lent a more attentive ear to the speaker, who, after waiting +a moment to see the effect of this extraordinary development, +proceeded: + +“Yes, sir, I have my reasons, and at a proper time you shall know +them,” + +“No time is so good as the present.” + +“Well, well, be attentive,” continued Richard, looking cautiously +about him, to make certain that no eavesdropper was hid in the forest, +though they were in constant motion. “I have seen Mohegan and the +Leather-Stocking, with my own eyes—and my eyes are as good as +anybody’s eyes—I have seen them, I say, both going up the mountain and +coming down it, with spades and picks; and others have seen them +carrying things into their hut, in a secret and mysterious manner, +after dark. Do you call this a fact of importance?” + +The Judge did not reply, but his brow had contracted, with a +thoughtfulness that he always wore when much interested, and his eyes +rested on his cousin in expectation of hearing more. Richard +continued: + +“It was ore. Now, sir, I ask if you can tell me who this Mr. Oliver +Edwards is, that has made a part of your household since Christmas?” + +Marmaduke again raised his eyes, but continued silent, shaking his +head in the negative. + +“That he is a half-breed we know, for Mohegan does not scruple to call +him openly his kinsman; that he is well educated we know. But as to +his business here—do you remember that about a month before this young +man made his appearance among us, Natty was absent from home several +days? You do; for you inquired for him, as you wanted some venison to +take to your friends, when you went for Bess. Well, he was not to be +found. Old John was left in the hut alone, and when Natty did appear, +although he came on in the night, he was seen drawing one of those +jumpers that they carry their grain to mill in, and to take out +something with great care, that he had covered up under his bear- +skins. Now let me ask you, Judge Temple, what motive could induce a +man like the Leather-Stocking to make a sled, and toil with a load +over these mountains, if he had nothing but his rifle or his +ammunition to carry?” + +“They frequently make these jumpers to convey their game home, and you +say he had been absent many days.” + +“How did he kill it? His rifle was in the village, to be mended. No, +no—that he was gone to some unusual place is certain; that he brought +back some secret utensils is more certain; and that he has not allowed +a soul to approach his hut since is most certain of all.” + +“He was never fond of intruders——--” + +“I know it,” interrupted Richard; “but did he drive them from his +cabin morosely? Within a fortnight of his return, this Mr. Edwards +appears. They spend whole days in the mountains, pretending to be +shooting, but in reality exploring; the frosts prevent their digging +at that time, and he avails himself of a lucky accident to get into +good quarters. But even now, he is quite half of his time in that +hut—many hours every night. They are smelting, 'Duke they are +smelting, and as they grow rich, you grow poor.” + +“How much of this is thine own, Richard, and how much comes from +others? I would sift the wheat from the chaff.” + +“Part is my own, for I saw the jumper, though it was broken up and +burnt in a day or two. I have told you that I saw the old man with +his spades and picks. Hiram met Natty, as he was crossing the +mountain, the night of his arrival with the sled, and very good- +naturedly offered —Hiram is good-natured—to carry up part of his load, +for the old man had a heavy pull up the back of the mountain, but he +wouldn't listen to the thing, and repulsed the offer in such a manner +that the squire said he had half a mind to swear the peace against +him. Since the snow has been off, more especially after the frosts +got out of the ground, we have kept a watchful eye on the gentle +man, in which we have found Jotham useful.” +Marmaduke did not much like the associates of Richard in this +business; still he knew them to be cunning and ready expedients; and +as there was certainly something mysterious, not only in the +connection between the old hunters and Edwards, but in what his cousin +had just related, he began to revolve the subject in his own mind with +more care. On reflection, he remembered various circumstances that +tended to corroborate these suspicions, and, as the whole business +favored one of his infirmities, he yielded the more readily to their +impression. The mind of Judge Temple, at all times comprehensive, had +received from his peculiar occupations a bias to look far into +futurity, in his speculations on the improvements that posterity were +to make in his lands. To his eye, where others saw nothing but a +wilderness, towns, manufactories, bridges, canals, mines, and all the +other resources of an old country were constantly presenting +themselves, though his good sense suppressed, in some degree, the +exhibition of these expectations. + +As the sheriff allowed his cousin full time to reflect on what he had +heard, the probability of some pecuniary adventure being the +connecting link in the chain that brought Oliver Edwards into the +cabin of Leather-Stocking appeared to him each moment to be stronger. +But Marmaduke was too much in the habit of examining both sides of a +subject not to perceive the objections, and he reasoned with himself +aloud: + +“It cannot be so, or the youth would not be driven so near the verge +of poverty.” + +“What so likely to make a man dig for money as being poor?” cried the +sheriff. + +“Besides, there is an elevation of character about Oliver that +proceeds from education, which would forbid so clan- destine a +proceeding.” + +“Could an ignorant fellow smelt?” continued Richard. + +“Bess hints that he was reduced even to his last shilling when we took +him into our dwelling.” + +“He had been buying tools. And would he spend his last sixpence for a +shot at a turkey had he not known where to get more?” + +“Can I have possibly been so long a dupe? His manner has been rude to +me at times, but I attributed it to his conceiving himself injured, +and to his mistaking the forms of the world.” + +“Haven’t you been a dupe all your life, ‘Duke, and an’t what you call +ignorance of forms deep cunning, to conceal his real character?” + +“If he were bent on deception, he would have concealed his knowledge, +and passed with us for an inferior man.” + +“He cannot. I could no more pass for a fool, myself, than I could +fly. Knowledge is not to be concealed, like a candle under a bushel,” + +“Richard,” said the Judge, turning to his cousin, “there are many +reasons against the truth of thy conjectures, but thou hast awakened +suspicions which must be satisfied. But why are we travelling here?” + +“Jotham, who has been much in the mountain latterly, being kept there +by me and Hiram, has made a discovery, which he will not explain, he +says, for he is bound by an oath; but the amount is, that he knows +where the ore lies, and he has this day begun to dig. I would not +consent to the thing, ‘Duke, without your knowledge, for the land is +yours; and now you know the reason of our ride. I call this a +countermine, ha!” + +“And where is the desirable spot?” asked the Judge with an air half +comical, half serious. + +“At hand; and when we have visited that, I will show you one of the +places that we have found within a week, where our hunters have been +amusing themselves for six months past.” + +The gentlemen continued to discuss the matter, while their horses +picked their way under the branches of the trees and over the uneven +ground of the mountain. They soon arrived at the end of their +journey, where, in truth, they found Jotham already buried to his neck +in a hole that he had been digging. + +Marmaduke questioned the miner very closely as to his reasons for +believing in the existence of the precious metals near that particular +spot; but the fellow maintained an obstinate mystery in his answers. +He asserted that he had the best of reasons for what he did, and +inquired of the judge what portion of the profits would fall to his +own share, in the event of success, with an earnestness that proved +his faith. After spending an hour near the place, examining the +stones, and searching for the usual indications of the proximity of +ore, the Judge remounted and suffered his cousin to lead the way to +the place where the mysterious trio had been making their excavation. + +The spot chosen by Jotham was on the back of the mountain that +overhung the hut of Leather-Stocking, and the place selected by Natty +and his companions was on the other side of the same hill, but above +the road, and, of course, in an opposite direction to the route taken +by the ladies in their walk. + +“We shall be safe in approaching the place now,” said Richard, while +they dismounted and fastened their horses; “for I took a look with the +glass, and saw John and Leather-Stocking in their canoe fishing before +we left home, and Oliver is in the same pursuit; but these may be +nothing but shams to blind our eye; so we will be expeditious, for it +would not be pleasant to be caught here by them.” + +“Not on my own land?” said Marmaduke sternly. “If it be as you +suspect, I will know their reasons for making this excavation.” + +“Mum,” said Richard, laying a finger on his lip, and leading the way +down a very difficult descent to a sort of natural cavern, which was +found in the face of the rock, and was not unlike a fireplace in +shape. In front of this place lay a pile of earth, which had +evidently been taken from the recess, and part of which was yet fresh. +An examination of the exterior of the cavern left the Judge in doubt +whether it was one of Nature’s frolics that had thrown it into that +shape, or whether it had been wrought by the hands of man, at some +earlier period. But there could be no doubt that the whole of the +interior was of recent formation, and the marks of the pick were still +visible where the soft, lead-colored rock had opposed itself to the +progress of the miners. The whole formed an excavation of about +twenty feet in width, and nearly twice that distance in depth. The +height was much greater than was required for the ordinary purposes of +experiment, but this was evidently the effect of chance, as the roof +of the cavern was a natural stratum of rock that projected many feet +beyond the base of the pile. Immediately in front of the recess, or +cave, was a little terrace, partly formed by nature, and partly by the +earth that had been carelessly thrown aside by the laborers. The +mountain fell off precipitously in front of the terrace, and the +approach by its sides, under the ridge of the rocks, was difficult and +a little dangerous. The whole was wild, rude, and apparently +incomplete; for, while looking among the bushes, the sheriff found the +very implements that had been used in the work. + +When the sheriff thought that his cousin had examined the spot +sufficiently, he asked solemnly: + +“Judge Temple, are you satisfied?” + +“Perfectly, that there is something mysterious and perplexing in this +business. It is a secret spot, and cunningly devised, Richard; yet I +see no symptoms of ore.” + +“Do you expect, sir, to find gold and silver lying like pebbles on the +surface of the earth?—dollars and dimes ready coined to your hands? +No, no—the treasure must be sought after to be won. But let them +mine; I shall countermine.” + +The Judge took an accurate survey of the place, and noted in his +memorandum-book such marks as were necessary to find it again in the +event of Richard’s absence; when the cousins returned to their horses. + +On reaching the highway they separated, the sheriff to summon twenty- +four “good men and true,” to attend as thc inquest of the county, on +the succeeding Monday, when Marmaduke held his stated court of “common +pleas and general sessions of the peace,” and the Judge to return, +musing deeply on what he had seen and heard in the course of the +morning. + +When the horse of the latter reached the spot where the highway fell +toward the valley, the eye of Marmaduke rested, it is true, on the +same scene that had, ten minutes before, been so soothing to the +feelings of his daughter and her friend, as they emerged from the +forest; but it rested in vacancy. He threw the reins to his sure +footed beast, and suffered the animal to travel at his own gait, while +he soliloquized as follows: + +“There may be more in this than I at first supposed. I have suffered +my feelings to blind my reason, in admitting an unknown youth in this +manner to my dwelling; yet this is not the land of suspicion. I will +have Leather-Stocking before me, and, by a few direct questions, +extract the truth from the simple old man.” + +At that instant the Judge caught a glimpse of the figures of Elizabeth +and Louisa, who were slowly descending the mountain, short distance +before him. He put spurs to his horse, and riding up to them, +dismounted, and drove his steed along the narrow path. While the +agitated parent was listening to the vivid description that his +daughter gave of her recent danger, and her unexpected escape, all +thoughts of mines, vested rights, and examinations were absorbed in +emotion; and when the image of Natty again crossed his recollection, +it was not as a law Less and depredating squatter, but as the +preserver of his child. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + + + +“The court awards it, and the law doth give it.”—Merchant of Venice. + +Remarkable Pettibone, who had forgotten the wound received by her +pride, in contemplation of the ease and comforts of her situation, and +who still retained her station in the family of judge Temple, was +dispatched to the humble dwelling which Richard already styled “The +Rectory,” in attendance on Louisa, who was soon consigned to the arms +of her father. + +In the mean time, Marmaduke and his daughter were closeted for more +than an hour, nor shall we invade the sanctuary of parental love, by +relating the conversation. When the curtain rises on the reader, the +Judge is seen walking up and down the apartment, with a tender +melancholy in his air, and his child reclining on a settee, with a +flushed cheek, and her dark eyes seeming to float in crystals. + +“It was a timely rescue! it was, indeed, a timely rescue, my child!” +cried the Judge. “Then thou didst not desert thy friend, my noble +Bess?” + +“I believe I may as well take the credit of fortitude,” said +Elizabeth, “though I much doubt if flight would have availed me +anything, had I even courage to execute such an intention. But I +thought not of the expedient.” + +“Of what didst thou think, love? where did thy thoughts dwell most, at +that fearful moment?” + +“The beast! the beast!” cried Elizabeth, veiling her face with her +hand. “Oh! I saw nothing, I thought of nothing but the beast. I +tried to think of better things, but the horror was too glaring, the +danger too much before my eyes.” + +“Well, well, thou art safe, and we will converse no more on the +unpleasant subject. I did not think such an animal yet remained in +our forests; but they will stray far from their haunts when pressed by +hunger, and—” + +A loud knocking at the door of the apartment interrupted what he was +about to utter, and he bid the applicant enter. The door was opened +by Benjamin, who came in with a discontented air, as if he felt that +he had a communication to make that would be out of season. + +“Here is Squire Doolittle below, sir,” commenced the major-domo. “He +has been standing off and on in the door-yard for the matter of a +glass; and he has summat on his mind that he wants to heave up, d’ye +see; but I tells him, says I, man, would you be coming aboard with +your complaints, said I, when the judge has gotten his own child, as +it were, out of the jaws of a lion? But damn the bit of manners has +the fellow, any more than if he was one of them Guineas down in the +kitchen there; and so as he was sheering nearer, every stretch he made +toward the house, I could do no better than to let your honor know +that the chap was in the offing.” + +“He must have business of importance,” said Marmaduke: “something in +relation to his office, most probably, as the court sits so shortly.” + +“Ay, ay, you have it, sir,” cried Benjamin; “it’s summat about a +complaint that he has to make of the old Leather-Stocking, who, to my +judgment, is the better man of the two. It’s a very good sort of a +man is this Master Bumppo, and he has a way with a spear, all the same +as if he was brought up at the bow-oar of the captain’s barge, or was +born with a boat-hook in his hand.” + +“Against the Leather-Stocking!” cried Elizabeth, rising from her +reclining posture. + +“Rest easy, my child; some trifle, I pledge you; I believe I am +already acquainted with its import Trust me, Bess, your champion shall +be safe in my care. Show Mr. Doolittle in, Benjamin” + +Miss Temple appeared satisfied with this assurance, but fastened her +dark eyes on the person of the architect, who profited by the +permission, and instantly made his appearance. + +All the impatience of Hiram seemed to vanish the instant he entered +the apartment. After saluting the Judge and his daughter, he took the +chair to which Marmaduke pointed, and sat for a minute, composing his +straight black hair, with a gravity of demeanor that was in tended to +do honor to his official station. At length he said: + +“It’s likely, from what I hear, that Miss Temple had a narrow chance +with the painters, on the mountain.” + +Marmaduke made a gentle inclination of his head, by way of assent, but +continued silent. + +“I s’pose the law gives a bounty on the scalps,” continued Hiram, “in +which case the Leather-Stocking will make a good job on’t.” + +“It shall be my care to see that he is rewarded,” returned the Judge. + +“Yes, yes, I rather guess that nobody hereabouts doubts the Judge’s +generosity. Does he know whether the sheriff has fairly made up his +mind to have a reading desk or a deacon’s pew under the pulpit?” +“I have not heard my cousin speak on that subject, lately,” replied +Marmaduke. +“I think it’s likely that we will have a pretty dull court on't, from +what I can gather. I hear that Jotham Riddel and the man who bought +his betterments have agreed to leave their difference to men, and I +don’t think there’ll be more than two civil cases in the calendar.” + +“I am glad of it,” said the judge; “nothing gives me more pain than to +see my settlers wasting their time and substance in the unprofitable +struggles of the law. I hope it may prove true, sir.” + +“I rather guess ‘twill be left out to men,” added Hiram, with an air +equally balanced between doubt and assurance, but which judge Temple +understood to mean certainty; “I some think that I am appointed a +referee in the case myself; Jotham as much as told me that he should +take me. The defendant, I guess, means to take Captain Hollister, and +we two have partly agreed on Squire Jones for the third man.” + +“Are there any criminals to be tried?” asked Marmaduke. + +“There's the counterfeiters,” returned the magistrate, “as they were +caught in the act, I think it likely that they’ll be indicted, in +which case it’s probable they’ll be tried.” + +“Certainly, sir; I had forgotten those men. There are no more, I +hope.” +“Why, there is a threaten to come forward with an assault that +happened at the last independence day; but I’m not sartain that the +law'll take hold on’t. There was plaguey hard words passed, but +whether they struck or not I haven’t heard. There’s some folks talk +of a deer or two being killed out of season, over on the west side of +the Patent, by some of the squatters on the ‘Fractions.’” + +“Let a complaint be made, by all means,” said the Judge; “I am +determined to see the law executed to the letter, on all such +depredators.” + +“Why, yes, I thought the judge was of that mind; I came partly on such +a business myself.” + +“You!” exclaimed Marmaduke, comprehending in an instant how completely +he had been caught by the other’s cunning; “and what have you to say, +sir?” + +“I some think that Natty Bumppo has the carcass of a deer in his hut +at this moment, and a considerable part of my business was to get a +search-warrant to examine.” + +“You think, sir! do you know that the law exacts an oath, before I can +issue such a precept? The habitation of a citizen is not to be idly +invaded on light suspicion.” + +“I rather think I can swear to it myself,” returned the immovable +Hiram; “and Jotham is in the street, and as good as ready to come in +and make oath to the same thing.” + +“Then issue the warrant thyself; thou art a magistrate, Mr. Doolittle; +why trouble me with the matter?” + +“Why, seeing it’s the first complaint under the law, and knowing the +judge set his heart on the thing, I thought it best that the authority +to search should come from himself. Besides, as I’m much in the +woods, among the timber, I don’t altogether like making an enemy of +the Leather Stocking. Now, the Judge has a weight in the county that +puts him above fear.” + +Miss Temple turned her face to the callous Architect as she said’ “And +what has any honest person to dread from so kind a man as Bumppo?” + +“Why, it’s as easy, miss, to pull a rifle trigger on a magistrate as +on a painter. But if the Judge don’t conclude to issue the warrant, I +must go home and make it out myself.” + +“I have not refused your application, sir,” said Marmaduke, perceiving +at once that his reputation for impartiality was at stake; “go into my +office, Mr. Doolittle, where I will join you, and sign the warrant.” +Judge Temple stopped the remonstrances which Elizabeth was about to +utter, after Hiram had withdrawn, by laying his hand on her mouth, and +saying: + +“It is more terrible in sound than frightful in reality, my child. I +suppose that the Leather-Stocking has shot a deer, for the season is +nearly over, and you say that he was hunting with his dogs when he +came so timely to your assistance. But it will be only to examine his +cabin, and find the animal, when you can pay the penalty out of your +own pocket, Bess. Nothing short of the twelve dollars and a half will +satisfy this harpy, I perceive; and surely my reputation as judge is +worth that trifle.” + +Elizabeth was a good deal pacified with this assurance, and suffered +her father to leave her, to fulfil his promise to Hiram. + +When Marmaduke left his office after executing his disagreeable duty, +he met Oliver Edwards, walking up the gravelled walk in front of the +mansion-house with great strides, and with a face agitated by feeling. +On seeing judge Temple, the youth turned aside, and with a warmth in +his manner that was not often exhibited to Marmaduke, he cried: + +“I congratulate you, sir; from the bottom of my soul, I congratulate +you, Judge Temple. Oh! it would have been too horrid to have +recollected for a moment! I have just left the hut, where, after +showing me his scalps, old Natty told me of the escape of the ladies, +as the thing to be mentioned last. Indeed, indeed, sir, no words of +mine can express half of what I have felt “—the youth paused a moment, +as if suddenly recollecting that he was overstepping prescribed +limits, and concluded with a good deal of embarrassment—” what I have +felt at this danger to Miss—Grant, and—and your daughter, sir,” + +But the heart of Marmaduke was too much softened to admit his +cavilling at trifles, and, without regarding the confusion of the +other, he replied: + +“I thank thee, thank thee, Oliver; as thou sayest, it is almost too +horrid to be remembered. But come, let us hasten to Bess, for Louisa +has already gone to the rectory.” + +The young man sprang forward, and, throwing open a door, barely +permitted the Judge to precede him, when he was in the presence of +Elizabeth in a moment. + +The cold distance that often crossed the demeanor of the heiress, in +her intercourse with Edwards, was now entirely banished, and two hours +were passed by the party, in the free, unembarrassed, and confiding +manner of old and esteemed friends. Judge Temple had forgotten the +suspicions engendered during his morning’s ride, and the youth and +maiden conversed, laughed, and were sad by turns, as impulse directed. + +At length, Edwards, after repeating his intention to do so for the +third time, left the mansion-house to go to the rectory on a similar +errand of friendship. + +During this short period, a scene was passing at the hut that +completely frustrated the benevolent intentions of Judge Temple in +favor of the Leather-Stocking, and at once destroyed the short-lived +harmony between the youth and Marmaduke. + +When Hiram Doolittle had obtained his search-warrant, his first +business was to procure a proper officer to see it executed. The +sheriff was absent, summoning in person the grand inquest for the +county; the deputy who resided in the village was riding on the same +errand, in a different part of the settlement; and the regular +constable of the township had been selected for his station from +motives of charity, being lame of a leg. Hiram intended to accompany +the officer as a spectator, but he felt no very strong desire to bear +the brunt of the battle. It was, however, Saturday, and the sun was +already turning the shadows of the pines toward the east; on the +morrow the conscientious magistrate could not engage in such an +expedition at the peril of his soul and long before Monday, the +venison, and all vestiges of the death of the deer, might be secreted +or destroyed. Happily, the lounging form of Billy Kirby met his eye, +and Hiram, at all time fruitful in similar expedients, saw his way +clear at once. Jotham, who was associated in the whole business, and +who had left the mountain in consequence of a summons from his +coadjutor, but who failed, equally with Hiram, in the unfortunate +particular of nerve, was directed to summon the wood-chopper to the +dwelling of the magistrate. + +When Billy appeared, he was very kindly invited to take the chair in +which he had already seated himself, and was treated in all respects +as if he were an equal. + +“Judge Temple has set his heart on putting the deer law in force,” +said Hiram, after the preliminary civilities were over, “and a +complaint has been laid before him that a deer has been killed. He +has issued a search-warrant, and sent for me to get somebody to +execute it.” + +Kirby, who had no idea of being excluded from the deliberative part of +any affair in which he was engaged, drew up his bushy head in a +reflecting attitude, and after musing a moment, replied by asking a +few questions, + +“The sheriff has gone out of the way?” + +“Not to be found.” + +“And his deputy too?” + +“Both gone on the skirts of the Patent.” + +“But I saw the constable hobbling about town an hour ago.” + +“Yes, yes,” said Hiram, with a coaxing smile and knowing nod, “but +this business wants a man—not a cripple.” + +“Why,” said Billy, laughing, “ will the chap make fight?” “He’s a +little quarrelsome at times, and thinks he’s the best man in the +country at rough and tumble.” + +“I heard him brag once,” said Jotham, “that there wasn’t a man ‘twixt +the Mohawk Flats and the Pennsylvany line that was his match at a +close hug.” + +“Did you?” exclaimed Kirby, raising his huge frame in his seat, like a +lion stretching in his lair; “I rather guess he never felt a +Varmounter’s knuckles on his backbone-But who is the chap?” + +“Why,” said Jotham, “ it’s—” + +“It’s agin’ law to tell,” interrupted Hiram unless you’ll qualify to +sarve. You’d be the very man to take him, Bill, and I'll make out a +special deputation in a minute, when you will get the fees.” + +“What’s the fees?” said Kirby, laying his large hand on the leaves of +a statute-book that Hiram had opened in order to give dignity to his +office, which he turned over in his rough manner, as if he were +reflecting on a subject about which he had, in truth, already decided; +“will they pay a man for a broken head?” + +“They’ll be something handsome,” said Hiram. + +“Damn the fees,” said Billy, again laughing—” does the fellow think +he’s the best wrestler in the county, though? what’s his inches?” + +“He’s taller than you be,” said Jotham, “and one of the biggest—” + +Talkers, he was about to add, but the impatience of Kirby interrupted +him. The wood-chopper had nothing fierce or even brutal in his +appearance; the character of his expression was that of good-natured +vanity. It was evident he prided himself on the powers of the +physical man, like all who have nothing better to boast of; and, +stretching out his broad hand, with the palm downward, he said, +keeping his eyes fastened on his own bones and sinews: + +“Come, give us a touch of the book. I’ll swear, and you’ll see that +I’m a man to keep my oath.” + +Hiram did not give the wood-chopper time to change his mind, but the +oath was administered without unnecessary delay. So soon as this +preliminary was completed, the three worthies left the house, and +proceeded by the nearest road toward the hut. They had reached the +bank of the lake, and were diverging from the route of the highway, +before Kirby recollected that he was now entitled to the privilege of +the initiated, and repeated his question as to the name of the +offender, + +“Which way, which way, squire?” exclaimed the hardy wood-chopper; “I +thought it was to search a house that you wanted me, not the woods. +There is nobody lives on this side of the lake, for six miles, unless +you count the Leather-Stocking and old John for settlers. Come, tell +me the chap’s name, and I warrant me that I lead you to his clearing +by a straighter path than this, for I know every sapling that grows +within two miles of Templeton.” + +“This is the way,” said Hiram, pointing forward and quickening his +step, as if apprehensive that Kirby would desert, “and Bumppo is the +man.” + +Kirby stopped short, and looked from one of his companions to the +other in astonishment. He then burst into a loud laugh, and cried: + +“Who? Leather-Stocking! He may brag of his aim and his rifle, for he +has the best of both, as I will own myself, for sin’ he shot the +pigeon I knock under to him; but for a wrestle! why, I would take the +creatur’ between my finger and thumb, and tie him in a bow-knot around +my neck for a Barcelony. The man is seventy, and was never anything +particular for strength.” + +“He’s a deceiving man,” said Hiram, “like all the hunters; he is +stronger than he seems; besides, he has his rifle.” + +“That for his rifle!” cried Billy; “he’d no more hurt me with his +rifle than he’d fly. He’s a harmless creatur’, and I must say that I +think he has as good right to kill deer as any man on the Patent. +It’s his main support, and this is a free country, where a man is +privileged to follow any calling he likes.” + +“According to that doctrine,” said Jotham, “anybody may shoot a deer.” + +This is the man’s calling, I tell you,” returned Kirby, “and the law +was never made for such as he.” + +“The law was made for all,” observed Hiram, who began to think that +the danger was likely to fall to his own share, notwithstanding his +management; “and the law is particular in noticing parjury.” + +“See here, Squire Doolittle,” said the reckless woodchopper; “I don’t +care the valie of a beetlering for you and your parjury too. But as I +have come so far, I’ll go down and have a talk with the old man, and +maybe we’ll fry a steak of the deer together.” + +“Well, if you can get in peaceably, so much the better,” said the +magistrate. “To my notion, strife is very unpopular; I prefar, at all +times, clever conduct to an ugly temper.” + +As the whole party moved at a great pace, they soon reached the hut, +where Hiram thought it prudent to halt on the outside of the top of +the fallen pine, which formed a chevaux-de-frise, to defend the +approach to the fortress, on the side next the village. The delay was +little relished by Kirby, who clapped his hands to his mouth, and gave +a loud halloo that brought the dogs out of their kennel, and, almost +at the same instant, the scantily-covered head of Natty from the door. + +“Lie down, old fool,” cried the hunter; “do you think there’s more +painters about you?” + +“Ha! Leather-Stocking, I’ve an arrand with you,” cried Kirby; “here’s +the good people of the State have been writing you a small letter, and +they’ve hired me to ride +post.” + +“What would you have with me, Billy Kirby?” said Natty, stepping +across his threshold, and raising his hand over his eyes, to screen +them from the rays of the setting sun, while he took a survey of his +visitor. ‘I’ve no land to clear, and Heaven knows I would set out six +trees afore I would cut down one.—Down, Hector, I say; into your +kennel with ye.” + +“Would you, old boy?” roared Billy; “then so much the better for me. +But I must do my arrand. Here’s a letter for you, Leather-Stocking. +If you can read it, it’s all well, and if you can’t, here’s Squire +Doolittle at hand, to let you know what it means. It seems you +mistook the twentieth of July for the first of August. that’s all.” + +By this time Natty had discovered the lank person of Hiram, drawn up +under the cover of a high stump; and all that was complacent in his +manner instantly gave way to marked distrust and dissatisfaction. He +placed his head within the door of his hut, and said a few words in an +undertone, when he again appeared, and continued: + +“I’ve nothing for ye; so away, afore the Evil One tempts me to do you +harm. I owe you no spite, Billy Kirby, and what for should you +trouble an old man who has done you no harm?” + +Kirby advanced through the top of the pine, to within a few feet of +the hunter, where he seated himself on the end of a log, with great +composure, and began to examine the nose of Hector, with whom he was +familiar, from their frequently meeting in the woods, where he +sometimes fed the dog from his own basket of provisions. + +“You’ve outshot me, and I’m not ashamed to say it,” said the wood- +chopper; “but I don’t owe you a grudge for that, Natty! though it +seems that you’ve shot once too often, for the story goes that you’ve +killed a buck.” + +“I’ve fired but twice to-day, and both times at the painters,” +returned the Leather-Stocking; “see, here are the scalps! I was just +going in with them to the Judge’s to ask the bounty.” + +While Natty was speaking, he tossed the ears to Kirby, who continued +playing with them with a careless air, holding them to the dogs, and +laughing at their movements when they scented the unusual game. + +But Hiram, emboldened by the advance of the deputed constable, now +ventured to approach also, and took up the discourse with the air of +authority that became his commission. His first measure was to read +the warrant aloud, taking care to give due emphasis to the most +material parts, and concluding with the name of the Judge in very +audible and distinct tones. + +“Did Marmaduke Temple put his name to that bit of paper?” said Natty, +shaking his head; “well, well, that man loves the new ways, and his +betterments, and his lands, afore his own flesh and blood. But I +won’t mistrust the gal; she has an eye like a full-grown buck! poor +thing, she didn’t choose her father, and can’t help it. I know but +little of the law, Mr. Doolittle; what is to be done, now you’ve read +your commission?” + +“Oh! it’s nothing but form, Natty,” said Hiram, endeavoring to assume +a friendly aspect. “Let’s go in, and talk the thing over in reason; I +dare to say that the money can be easily found, and I partly conclude, +from what passed, that Judge Temple will pay it himself.” + +The old hunter had kept a keen eye on the movements of his three +visitors, from the beginning, and had maintained his position, just +without the threshold of the cabin, with a determined manner, that +showed he was not to be easily driven from his post. When Hiram drew +nigher, as if expecting his proposition would be accepted, Natty +lifted his hand, and motioned for him to retreat. + +“Haven’t I told you more than once, not to tempt me?” he said. “I +trouble no man; why can’t the law leave me to myself? Go back—go back, +and tell your Judge that he may keep his bounty; but I won’t have his +wasty ways brought into my hut.” + +This offer, however, instead of appeasing the curiosity of Hiram, +seemed to inflame it the more; while Kirby cried: + +“Well, that’s fair, squire; he forgives the county his demand, and the +county should forgive him the fine; it’s what I call an even trade, +and should be concluded on the spot. I like quick dealings, and +what’s fair ‘twixt man and man.” + +“I demand entrance into this house,” said Hiram, summoning all the +dignity he could muster to his assistance, “in the name of the people; +and by virtue of this war rant, and of my office, and with this peace +officer.” + +“Stand back, stand back, squire, and don’t tempt me,” said the +Leather-Stocking, motioning him to retire, with great earnestness. + +“Stop us at your peril,” continued Hiram. “Billy! Jotham! close up—I +want testimony.” + +Hiram had mistaken the mild but determined air of Natty for +submission, and had already put his foot on the threshold to enter, +when he was seized unexpectedly by his shoulders, and hurled over the +little bank toward the lake, to the distance of twenty feet. The +suddenness of the movement, and the unexpected display of strength on +the part of Natty, created a momentary astonishment in his invaders, +that silenced all noises; but at the next instant Billy Kirby gave +vent to his mirth in peals of laughter, that he seemed to heave up +from his very soul. + +“Well done, old stub!” he shouted; “the squire knowed you better than +I did. Come, come, here’s a green spot; take it out like men, while +Jotham and I see fair play.” + +“William Kirby, I order you to do your duty,” cried Hiram, from under +the bank; “seize that man; I order you to seize him in the name of the +people.” + +But the Leather-Stocking now assumed a more threatening attitude; his +rifle was in his hand, and its muzzle was directed toward the wood- +chopper. + +“Stand off, I bid ye,” said Natty; “you know my aim, Billy Kirby; I +don’t crave your blood, but mine and your’n both shall turn this green +grass red, afore you put foot into the hut.” + +While the affair appeared trifling, the wood-chopper seemed disposed +to take sides with the weaker party; but, when the firearms were +introduced, his manner very sensibly changed. He raised his large +frame from the log, and, facing the hunter with an open front, he +replied: + +“I didn’t come here as your enemy, Leather-Stocking; but I don’t value +the hollow piece of iron in your hand so much as a broken axe-helve; +so, squire, say the word, and keep within the law, and we’ll soon see +who’s the best main of the two.” + +But no magistrate was to be seen! The instant the rifle was produced +Hiram and Jotham vanished; and when the wood-chopper bent his eyes +about him in surprise at receiving no answer, he discovered their +retreating figures moving toward the village at a rate that +sufficiently indicated that they had not only calculated the velocity +of a rifle-bullet, but also its probable range. + +“You’ve scared the creatur’s off,” said Kirby, with great contempt +expressed on his broad features; “but you are not going to scare me; +so, Mr. Bumppo, down with your gun, or there’ll be trouble ‘twixt us.” +Natty dropped his rifle, and replied: + +“I wish you no harm, Billy Kirby; but I leave it to yourself, whether +an old man’s hut is to be run down by such varmint. I won’t deny the +buck to you, Billy, and you may take the skin in, if you please, and +show it as testimony. The bounty will pay the fine, and that ought to +satisfy any man,” + +“Twill, old boy, ‘twill,” cried Kirby, every- shade of displeasure +vanishing from his open brow at the peace-offering; “throw out the +hide, and that shall satisfy the law.” + +Natty entered the hut, and soon reappeared, bringing with him the +desired testimonial; and the wood-chopper departed, as thoroughly +reconciled to the hunter as if nothing had happened. As he paced +along the margin of the lake he would burst into frequent fits of +laughter, while he recollected the summerset of Hiram: and, on the +whole, he thought the affair a very capital joke. + +Long before Billy’ reached the village, however, the news of his +danger, and of Natty’s disrespect of the law, and of Hiram’s +discomfiture, were in circulation. A good deal was said about sending +for the sheriff; some hints were given about calling out the posse +comitatus to avenge the insulted laws; and many of the citizens were +collected, deliberating how to proceed. The arrival of Billy with the +skin, by removing all grounds for a search, changed the complexion of +things materially. Nothing now remained but to collect the fine and +assert the dignity of the people; all of which, it was unanimously +agreed, could be done as well on the succeeding Monday as on Saturday +night—a time kept sacred by large portion of the settlers. +Accordingly, all further proceedings were suspended for six-and-thirty +hours. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + + + +And dar’st thou then +To beard the lion in his den, +The Douglas in his hall “—Marmion. + +The commotion was just subsiding, and the inhabitants of the village +had begun to disperse from the little groups that had formed, each +retiring to his own home, and closing his door after him, with the +grave air of a man who consulted public feeling in his exterior +deportment, when Oliver Edwards, on his return from the dwelling of +Mr. Grant, encountered the young lawyer, who is known to the reader as +Mr. Lippet. There was very little similarity in the manners or +opinions of the two; but as they both belonged to the more intelligent +class of a very small community, they were, of course, known to each +other, and as their meeting was at a point where silence would have +been rudeness, the following conversation was the result of their +interview: + +“A fine evening, Mr. Edwards,” commenced the lawyer, whose +disinclination to the dialogue was, to say the least, very doubtful; +“we want rain sadly; that’s the worst of this climate of ours, it’s +either a drought or a deluge. It’s likely you’ve been used to a more +equal temperature?” + +“I am a native of this State,” returned Edwards, coldly. + +“Well. I’ve often heard that point disputed; but it’s so easy to get +a man naturalized, that it’s of little consequence where he was born. +I wonder what course the Judge means to take in this business of Natty +Bumppo!” +“Of Natty Bumppo!” echoed Edwards; “to what do you allude, sir?” +“Haven’t you heard!” exclaimed the other, with a look of surprise, so +naturally assumed as completely to deceive his auditor; “it may turn +out an ugly business. It seems that the old man has been out in the +hills, and has shot a buck this morning, and that, you know, is a +criminal matter in the eyes of Judge Temple.” + +“Oh! he has, has he?” said Edwards, averting his face to conceal the +color that collected in his sunburnt cheek. “Well, if that be all, he +must even pay the fine.” + +“It’s five pound currency,” said the lawyer; “could Natty muster so +much money at once?” + +“Could he!” cried the youth. “I am not rich, Mr. Lippet; far from it— +I am poor, and I have been hoarding my salary for a purpose that lies +near my heart; but, be fore that old man should lie one hour in a +jail, I would spend the last cent to prevent it. Besides, he has +killed two panthers, and the bounty will discharge the fine many times +over.” + +“Yes, yes,” said the lawyer, rubbing his hands together, with an +expression of pleasure that had no artifice about it; “we shall make +it out; I see plainly we shall make it out.” + +“Make what out, sir? I must beg an explanation.” + +“Why, killing the buck is but a small matter compared to what took +place this afternoon,” continued Mr. Lippet, with a confidential and +friendly air that won upon the youth, little as he liked the man. “It +seems that a complaint was made of the fact, and a suspicion that +there was venison in the hut was sworn to, all which is provided for +in the statute, when Judge Temple granted the search warrant.” + +“A search-warrant!” echoed Edwards, in a voice of horror, and with a +face that should have been again averted to conceal its paleness; “and +how much did they discover? What did they see + +“They saw old Bumppo’s rifle; and that is a sight which will quiet +most men’s curiosity in the woods.” + +“Did they! did they!” shouted Edwards, bursting into a convulsive +laugh; “so the old hero beat them back beat them back! did he?” +The lawyer fastened his eyes in astonishment on the youth, but, as his +wonder gave way to the thoughts that were commonly uppermost in his +mind, he replied: + +“It is no laughing matter, let me tell you, sir; the forty dollars of +bounty and your six months of salary will be much reduced before you +can get the matter fairly settled. Assaulting a magistrate in the +execution of his duty, and menacing a constable with firearms at the +same time, is a pretty serious affair, and is punishable with both +fine and imprisonment.” + +“Imprisonment!” repeated Oliver; “imprison the Leather-Stocking! no, +no, sir; it would bring the old man to his grave. They shall never +imprison the Leather-Stocking.” + +“Well, Mr. Edwards,” said Lippet, dropping all reserve from his +manner, “you are called a curious man; but if you can tell me how a +jury is to be prevented from finding a verdict of guilty, if this case +comes fairly before them, and the proof is clear, I shall acknowledge +that you know more law than I do, who have had a license in my pocket +for three years.” + +By this time the reason of Edwards was getting the ascendency of his +feelings, and, as he began to see the real difficulties of the case, +he listened more readily to the conversation of the lawyer. The +ungovernable emotion that escaped the youth, in the first moments of +his surprise, entirely passed away; and, although it was still evident +that he continued to be much agitated by what he had heard, he +succeeded in yielding forced attention to the advice which the other +uttered. + +Notwithstanding the confused state of his mind, Oliver soon discovered +that most of the expedients of the lawyer were grounded in cunning, +and plans that required a time to execute them that neither suited his +disposition nor his necessities. After, however, giving Mr. Lippet to +under stand that he retained him in the event of a trial, an assurance +that at once satisfied the lawyer, they parted, one taking his course +with a deliberate tread in the direction of the little building that +had a wooden sign over its door, with “Chester Lippet, Attorney-at- +law,” painted on it; and the other pacing over the ground with +enormous strides toward the mansion-house. We shall take leave of the +attorney for the present, and direct the attention of the reader to +the client. + +When Edwards entered the hall, whose enormous doors were opened to the +passage of the air of a mild evening, he found Benjamin engaged in +some of his domestic avocations, and in a hurried voice inquired where +Judge Temple was to be found. + +Why, the Judge has stepped into his office, with that master +carpenter, Mister Doolittle; but Miss Lizzy is in that there parlor. +I say, Master Oliver, we’d like to have had a bad job of that panther, +or painter’s work— some calls it one, and some calls it t’other—but I +know little of the beast, seeing that it is not of British growth. I +said as much as that it was in the hills the last winter for I heard +it moaning on the lake shore one evening in the fall, when I was +pulling down from the fishing-point in the skiff. Had the animal come +into open water, where a man could see where and how to work his +vessel, I would have engaged the thing myself; but looking aloft among +the trees is all the same to me as standing on the deck of one ship, +and looking at another vessel’s tops. I never can tell one rope from +another—” + +“Well, well,” interrupted Edwards; “I must see Miss Temple.” + +“And you shall see her, sir,” said the steward; “she’s in this here +room. Lord, Master Edwards, what a loss she’d have been to the Judge! +Dam’me if I know where he would have gotten such another daughter; +that is, full grown, d’ye see. I say, sir, this Master Bumppo is a +worthy man, and seems to have a handy way with him, with firearms and +boat-hooks. I’m his friend, Master Oliver, and he and you may both +set me down as the same.” + +“We may want your friendship, my worthy fellow,” cried Edwards, +squeezing his hand convulsively; “we may want your friendship, in +which case you shall know it.” + +Without waiting to hear the earnest reply that Benjamin meditated, the +youth extricated himself from the vigorous grasp of the steward, and +entered the parlor. + +Elizabeth was alone, and still reclining on the sofa, where we last +left her. A hand, which exceeded all that the ingenuity of art could +model, in shape and color, veiled her eyes; and the maiden was sitting +as if in deep communion with herself. Struck by the attitude and +loveliness of the form that met his eye, the young man checked his +impatience, and approached her with respect and caution. + +“Miss Temple—Miss Temple,” he said, “I hope I do not intrude; but I am +anxious for an interview, if it be only for a moment.” + +Elizabeth raised her face, and exhibited her dark eyes swimming in +moisture. + +Is it you, Edwards?” she said, with a sweetness in her voice, and a +softness in her air, that she often used to her father, but which, +from its novelty to himself, thrilled on every nerve of the youth; +“how left you our poor Louisa?” + +“She is with her father, happy and grateful,” said Oliver, “ I never +witnessed more feeling than she manifested, when I ventured to express +my pleasure at her escape. Miss Temple, when I first heard of your +horrid situation, my feelings were too powerful for utterance; and I +did not properly find my tongue, until the walk to Mr. Grant’s had +given me time to collect myself. I believe—I do believe, I acquitted +myself better there, for Miss Grant even wept at my silly speeches.” +For a moment Elizabeth did not reply, but again veiled her eyes with +her hand. The feeling that caused the action, however, soon passed +away, and, raising her face again to his gaze, she continued with a +smile: + +“Your friend, the Leather-Stocking, has now become my friend, Edwards; +I have been thinking how I can best serve him; perhaps you, who know +his habits and his wants so well, can tell me——” + +“I can,” cried the youth, with an impetuosity that startled his +companion. “I can, and may Heaven reward you for the wish, Natty has +been so imprudent as to for get the law, and has this day killed a +deer. Nay, I believe I must share in the crime and the penalty, for I +was an accomplice throughout. A complaint has been made to your +father, and he has granted a search—” + +“I know it all,” interrupted Elizabeth; “I know it all. The forms of +the law must be complied with, however; the search must be made, the +deer found, and the penalty paid. But I must retort your own +question. Have you lived so long in our family not to know us? Look +at me, Oliver Edwards. Do I appear like one who would permit the man +that has just saved her life to linger in a jail for so small a sum as +this fine? No, no, sir; my father is a judge, but he is a man and a +Christian. It is all under stood, and no harm shall follow.” + +“What a load of apprehension do your declarations remove!” exclaimed +Edwards: “ He shall not be disturbed again! your father will protect +him! I have assurance, Miss Temple, that he will, and I must believe +it.” + +“You may have his own, Mr. Edwards,” returned Elizabeth, “for here he +comes to make it.” + +But the appearance of Marmaduke, who entered the apartment, +contradicted the flattering anticipations of his daughter. His brow +was contracted, and his manner disturbed. Neither Elizabeth nor the +youth spoke; but the Judge was allowed to pace once or twice across +the room without interruption, when he cried: + +“Our plans are defeated, girl; the obstinacy of the Leather-Stocking +has brought down the indignation of the law on his head, and it is now +out of my power to avert it.” + +“How? in what manner?” cried Elizabeth; “the fine is nothing surely—” + +“I did not—I could not anticipate that an old, a friendless man like +him, would dare to oppose the officers of justice,” interrupted the +Judge, “I supposed that he would submit to the search, when the fine +could have been paid, and the law would have been appeased; but now he +will have to meet its rigor.” + +“And what must the punishment be, sir?” asked Ed wards, struggling to +speak with firmness. + +Marmaduke turned quickly to the spot where the youth had withdrawn, +and exclaimed: + +“You here! I did not observe you. I know not what it will be, sir; it +is not usual for a judge to decide until he has heard the testimony, +and the jury have convicted. Of one thing, however, you may be +assured, Mr. Edwards; it shall be whatever the law demands, +notwithstanding any momentary weakness I may have exhibited, because +the luckless man has been of such eminent service to my daughter.” + +“No one, I believe, doubts the sense of justice which Judge Temple +entertains!” returned Edwards bitterly. + +“But let us converse calmly, sir. Will not the years, the habits, +nay, the ignorance of my old friend, avail him any thing against this +charge?” + +“Ought they? They may extenuate, but can they ac quit? Would any +society be tolerable, young man, where the ministers of justice are to +be opposed by men armed with rifles? Is it for this that I have tamed +the wilder ness?” + +“Had you tamed the beasts that so lately threatened the life of Miss +Temple, sir, your arguments would apply better.” + +“Edwards!” exclaimed Elizabeth. + +“Peace, my child,” interrupted the father; “ the youth is unjust; but +I have not given him cause. I overlook thy remark, Oliver, for I know +thee to be the friend of Natty, and zeal in his behalf has overcome +thy discretion,” + +“Yes, he is my friend,” cried Edwards, “and I glory in the title. He +is simple, unlettered, even ignorant; prejudiced, perhaps, though I +feel that his opinion of the world is too true; but he has a heart, +Judge Temple, that would atone for a thousand faults; he knows his +friends, and never deserts them, even if it be his dog.” + +“This is a good character, Mr. Edwards,” returned Marmaduke, mildly; +“but I have never been so fortunate as to secure his esteem, for to me +he has been uniformly repulsive; yet I have endured it, as an old +man’s whim, However, when he appears before me, as his judge, he shall +find that his former conduct shall not aggravate, any more than his +recent services shall extenuate, his crime.” + +“Crime!” echoed Edwards: “is it a crime to drive a prying miscreant +from his door? Crime! Oh, no, sir; if there be a criminal involved in +this affair, it is not he.” + +“And who may it be, sir?” asked Judge Temple, facing the agitated +youth, his features settled to their usual composure. + +This appeal was more than the young man could bear. Hitherto he had +been deeply agitated by his emotions; but now the volcano burst its +boundaries. + +“Who! and this to me!” he cried; “ask your own conscience, Judge +Temple. Walk to that door, sir, and look out upon the valley, that +placid lake, and those dusky mountains, and say to your own heart, if +heart you have, whence came these riches, this vale, those hills, and +why am I their owner? I should think, sir, that the appearance of +Mohegan and the Leather-Stocking, stalking through the country, +impoverished and forlorn, would wither your sight.” + +Marmaduke heard this burst of passion, at first, with deep amazement; +but when the youth had ended, he beckoned to his impatient daughter +for silence, and replied: + +“Oliver Edwards, thou forgettest in whose presence thou standest. I +have heard, young man, that thou claimest descent from the native +owners of the soil; but surely thy education has been given thee to no +effect, if it has not taught thee the validity of the claims that have +transferred the title to the whites. These lands are mine by the very +grants of thy ancestry, if thou art so descended; and I appeal to +Heaven for a testimony of the uses I have put them to. After this +language, we must separate. I have too long sheltered thee in my +dwelling; but the time has arrived when thou must quit it. Come to my +office, and I will discharge the debt I owe thee. Neither shall thy +present intemperate language mar thy future fortunes, if thou wilt +hearken to the advice of one who is by many years thy senior.” + +The ungovernable feeling that caused the violence of the youth had +passed away, and he stood gazing after the retiring figure of +Marmaduke, with a vacancy in his eye that denoted the absence of his +mind. At length he recollected himself, and, turning his head slowly +around the apartment, he beheld Elizabeth, still seated on the sofa, +but with her head dropped on her bosom, and her face again concealed +by her hands. + +“Miss Temple,” he said—all violence had left his manner—” Miss Temple— +I have forgotten myself—forgotten you. You have heard what your +father has decreed, and this night I leave here. With you, at least, +I would part in amity.” + +Elizabeth slowly raised her face, across which a momentary expression +of sadness stole; but as she left her seat, her dark eyes lighted with +their usual fire, her cheek flushed to burning, and her whole air +seemed to belong to another nature. + +“I forgive you, Edwards, and my father will forgive you,” she said, +when she reached the door. “You do not know us, but the time may come +when your opinions shall change—” + +“Of you! never!” interrupted the youth; “I—” + +“I would speak, sir, and not listen. There is something in this +affair that I do not comprehend; but tell the Leather-Stocking he has +friends as well as judges in us. Do not let the old man experience +unnecessary uneasiness at this rupture. It is impossible that you +could increase his claims here; neither shall they be diminished by +any thing you have said. Mr. Edwards, I wish you happiness, and +warmer friends,” + +The youth would have spoken, but she vanished from the door so +rapidly, that when he reached the hall her form was nowhere to be +seen. He paused a moment, in stupor, and then, rushing from the +house, instead of following Marmaduke in his “office,” he took his way +directly for the cabin of the hunters. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + + + +“Who measured earth, described the starry spheres, +And traced the long records of lunar years. “—Pope. + +Richard did not return from the exercise of his official duties until +late in the evening of the following day. It had been one portion of +his business to superintend the arrest of part of a gang of +counterfeiters, that had, even at that early period, buried themselves +in the woods, to manufacture their base coin, which they afterward +circulated from one end of the Union to the other. The expedition had +been completely successful, and about midnight the sheriff entered the +village, at the head of a posse of deputies and constables, in the +centre of whom rode, pinioned, four of the malefactors. At the gate +of the mansion-house they separated, Mr. Jones directing his assist +ants to proceed with their charge to the county jail, while he pursued +his own way up the gravel walk, with the kind of self-satisfaction +that a man of his organization would feel, who had really for once +done a very clever thing. + +“Holla! Aggy!” shouted the sheriff, when he reached the door; “where +are you, you black dog? will you keep me here in the dark all night? +Holla! Aggy! Brave! Brave! hoy, hoy—where have you got to, Brave? Off +his watch! Everybody is asleep but myself! Poor I must keep my eyes +open, that others may sleep in safety. Brave! Brave! Well, I will say +this for the dog, lazy as he’s grown, that it is the first time I ever +knew him to let any one come to the door after dark, without having a +smell to know whether it was an honest man or not. He could tell by +his nose, almost as well as I could myself by looking at them. Holla! +you Agamemnon! where are you? Oh! here comes the dog at last.” + +By this time the sheriff had dismounted, and observed a form, which he +supposed to be that of Brave, slowly creeping out of the kennel; when, +to his astonishment, it reared itself on two legs instead of four, and +he was able to distinguish, by the starlight, the curly head and dark +visage of the negro. + +“Ha! what the devil are you doing there, you black rascal?” he cried. +“Is it not hot enough for your Guinea blood in the house this warm +night, but you must drive out the poor dog, and sleep in his straw?” + +By this time the boy was quite awake, and, with a blubbering whine, he +attempted to reply to his master. + +“Oh! masser Richard! masser Richard! such a ting! such a ting! I +nebber tink a could ‘appen! neber tink he die! Oh, Lor-a-gor! ain’t +bury—keep ‘em till masser Richard get back—got a grabe dug—” +Here the feelings of the negro completely got the mastery, and, +instead of making any intelligible explanation of the causes of his +grief, he blubbered aloud. + +“Eh! what! buried! grave! dead!” exclaimed Richard, with a tremor in +his voice; “nothing serious? Nothing has happened to Benjamin, I hope? +I know he has been bilious, but I gave him—” + +“Oh, worser ‘an dat! worser ‘an dat!” sobbed the negro. “ Oh! de Lor! +Miss 'Lizzy an’ Miss Grant—walk—mountain—poor Bravy ‘—kill a lady— +painter-—Oh, Lor, Lor!—Natty Bumppo—tare he troat open—come a see, +masser Richard—here he be—here he be.” + +As all this was perfectly inexplicable to the sheriff, he was very +glad to wait patiently until the black brought a lantern from the +kitchen, when he followed Aggy to the kennel, where he beheld poor +Brave, indeed, lying in his blood, stiff and cold, but decently +covered with the great coat of the negro. He was on the point of +demanding an explanation; but the grief of the black, who had fallen +asleep on his voluntary watch, having burst out afresh on his waking, +utterly disqualified the lad from giving one. Luckily, at this moment +the principal door of the house opened, and the coarse features of +Benjamin were thrust over the threshold, with a candle elevated above +them, shedding its dim rays around in such a manner as to exhibit the +lights and shadows of his countenance. Richard threw his bridle to +the black, and, bidding him look to the horse, he entered the hall. +What is the meaning of the dead dog?” he cried. + +“Where is Miss Temple?” + +Benjamin made one of his square gestures, with the thumb of his left +hand pointing over his right shoulder, as he answered: + +“Turned in.” + +“Judge Temple—where is he?” + +“In his berth.” + +“But explain; why is Brave dead? and what is the cause of Aggy’s +grief?” + +“Why, it’s all down, squire,” said Benjamin, pointing to a slate that +lay on the table, by the side of a mug of toddy, a short pipe in which +the tobacco was yet burning, and a prayer-book. + +Among the other pursuits of Richard, he had a passion to keep a +register of all passing events; and his diary, which was written in +the manner of a journal, or log. book, embraced not only such +circumstances as affected himself, but observations on the weather, +and all the occurrences of the family, and frequently of the village. +Since his appointment to the office of sheriff and his consequent +absences from home, he had employed Benjamin to make memoranda on a +slate, of whatever might be thought worth remembering, which, on his +return, were regularly transferred to the journal with proper +notations of the time, manner, and other little particulars. There +was, to be sure, one material objection to the clerkship of Benjamin, +which the ingenuity of no one but Richard could have overcome. The +steward read nothing but his prayer-book, and that only in particular +parts, and by the aid of a good deal of spelling, and some misnomers; +but he could not form a single letter with a pen. This would have +been an insuperable bar to journalizing with most men; but Richard +invented a kind of hieroglyphical character, which was intended to +note all the ordinary occurrences of a day, such as how the wind blew, +whether the sun shone, or whether it rained, the hours, etc. ; and +for the extraordinary, after giving certain elementary lectures on the +subject, the sheriff was obliged to trust to the ingenuity of the +major-domo. The reader will at once perceive, that it was to this +chronicle that Benjamin pointed, instead of directly answering the +sheriff’s interrogatory. + +When Mr. Jones had drunk a glass of toddy, he brought forth from its +secret place his proper journal, and, seating himself by the table, he +prepared to transfer the contents of the slate to the paper, at the +same time that he appeased his curiosity. Benjamin laid one hand on +the back of the sheriff's chair, in a familiar manner, while he kept +the other at liberty to make use of a forefinger, that was bent like +some of his own characters, as an index to point out his meaning. + +The first thing referred to by the sheriff was the diagram of a +compass, cut in one corner of the slate for permanent use. The +cardinal points were plainly marked on it, and all the usual divisions +were indicated in such a manner that no man who had ever steered a +ship could mistake them. + +“Oh!” said the sheriff, seating himself down comfort ably in his +chair, “you’d the wind southeast, I see, all last night I thought it +would have blown up rain.” + +“Devil the drop, sir,” said Benjamin; “I believe that the scuttle-butt +up aloft is emptied, for there hasn’t so much water fell in the +country for the last three weeks as would float Indian John’s canoe, +and that draws just one inch nothing, light.” + +“Well but didn’t the wind change here this morning? there was a change +where I was.” + +“To be sure it did, squire; and haven’t I logged it as a shift of +wind?” + +“I don’t see where, Benjamin—” + +“Don’t see!” interrupted the steward, a little crustily; “ain’t there +a mark agin’ east-and-by-nothe-half-nothe, with summat like a rising +sun at the end of it, to show ‘twas in the morning watch?” + +“Yes, yes, that is very legible; but where is the change noted?” + +“Where! why doesn’t it see this here tea-kettle, with a mark run from +the spout straight, or mayhap a little crooked or so, into west-and- +by-southe-half-southe? now I call this a shift of wind, squire. Well, +do you see this here boar’s head that you made for me, alongside of +the compass—” + +“Ay, ay—Boreas—-—I see. Why, you’ve drawn lines from its mouth, +extending from one of your marks to the other.” + +“It’s no fault of mine, Squire Dickens; ‘tis your d—d climate. The +wind has been at all them there marks this very day, and that’s all +round the compass, except a little matter of an Irishman’s hurricane +at meridium, which you’ll find marked right up and down. Now, I’ve +known a sow-wester blow for three weeks, in the channel, with a clean +drizzle, in which you might wash your face and hands without the +trouble of hauling in water from alongside.” + +“Very well, Benjamin,” said the sheriff, writing in his journal; “I +believe I have caught the idea. Oh! here’s a cloud over the rising +sun—so you had it hazy in the morning?” + +“Ay, ay, sir,” said Benjamin. + +“Ah it’s Sunday. and here are the marks for the length of the sermon— +one, two, three, four—what! did Mr. Grant preach forty minutes?” + +“Ay, summat like it; it was a good half-hour by my own glass, and then +there was the time lost in turning it, and some little allowance for +leeway in not being over-smart about it.” + +“Benjamin, this is as long as a Presbyterian; you never could have +been ten minutes in turning the glass!” + +“Why, do you see, Squire, the parson was very solemn, and I just +closed my eyes in order to think the better with myself, just the same +as you’d put in the dead-lights to make all snug, and when I opened +them agin I found the congregation were getting under way for home, so +I calculated the ten minutes would cover the leeway after the glass +was out. It was only some such matter as a cat’s nap.” + +“Oh, ho! Master Benjamin, you were asleep, were you? but I’ll set down +no such slander against an orthodox divine.” Richard wrote twenty-nine +minutes in his journal, and continued: “Why, what’s this you’ve got +opposite ten o’clock A.M.? A full moon! had you a moon visible by day? +I have heard of such portents before now, but—eh! what’s this +alongside of it? an hour-glass?” + +“That!” said Benjamin, looking coolly over the sheriff’s shoulder, and +rolling the tobacco about in his mouth with a jocular air; “why, +that’s a small matter of my own. It’s no moon, squire, but only Betty +Hollister’s face; for, dye see, sir, hearing all the same as if she +had got up a new cargo of Jamaiky from the river, I called in as I was +going to the church this morning—ten A.M. was it?—just the time—and +tried a glass; and so I logged it, to put me in mind of calling to pay +her like an honest man.” + +“That was it, was it?” said the sheriff, with some displeasure at this +innovation on his memoranda; “and could you not make a better glass +than this? it looks like a death’s-head and an hour-glass.” + +“Why, as I liked the stuff, squire,” returned the steward, “I turned +in, homeward bound, and took t’other glass, which I set down at the +bottom of the first, and that gives the thing the shape it has. But +as I was there again to-night, and paid for the three at once, your +honor may as well run the sponge over the whole business.” + +“I will buy you a slate for your own affairs, Benjamin,” said the +sheriff; “I don’t like to have the journal marked over in this +manner.” + +“You needn’t—you needn’t, squire; for, seeing that I was likely to +trade often with the woman while this barrel lasted. I’ve opened a +fair account with Betty, and she keeps her marks on the back of her +bar-door, and I keeps the tally on this here bit of a stick.” +As Benjamin concluded he produced a piece of wood, on which five very +large, honest notches were apparent. The sheriff cast his eyes on +this new ledger for a moment, and continued: + +“What have we here! Saturday, two P.M.—Why here’s a whole family +piece! two wine-glasses upside-down!” + +“That’s two women; the one this a-way is Miss ‘Lizzy, and t’other is +the parson’s young‘un.” + +“Cousin Bess and Miss Grant!” exclaimed the sheriff, in amazement; +“what have they to do with my journal?” + +“They’d enough to do to get out of the jaws of that there painter or +panther,” said the immovable steward. “This here thingumy, squire, +that maybe looks summat like a rat, is the beast, d’ye see; and this +here t’other thing, keel uppermost, is poor old Brave, who died nobly, +all the same as an admiral fighting for his king and country; and that +there—” + +“Scarecrow,” interrupted Richard. + +“Ay, mayhap it do look a little wild or so,” continued the steward; +“but to my judgment, squire, it’s the best image I’ve made, seeing +it’s most like the man himself; well, that’s Natty Bumppo, who shot +this here painter, that killed that there dog, who would have eaten or +done worse to them here young ladies.” + +“And what the devil does all this mean?” cried Richard, impatiently. + +“Mean!” echoed Benjamin; “it is as true as the Boadishey’s log book—” +He was interrupted by the sheriff, who put a few direct questions to +him, that obtained more intelligible answers, by which means he became +possessed of a tolerably correct idea of the truth, When the wonder, +and we must do Richard the justice to say, the feelings also, that +were created by this narrative, had in some degree subsided, the +sheriff turned his eyes again on his journal, where more inexplicable +hieroglyphics met his view. + +“What have we here?” he cried; “two men boxing! Has there been a +breach of the peace? Ah, that’s the way, the moment my back is turned— +-.” + +“That’s the Judge and young Master Edwards,” interrupted the steward, +very cavalierly. + +“How! ‘Duke fighting with Oliver! what the devil has got into you all? +More things have happened within the last thirty-six hours than in the +preceding six months.” +“Yes, it’s so indeed, squire,” returned the steward +“I’ve known a smart chase, and a fight at the tail of it”, where less +has been logged than I’ve got on that there slate. Howsomnever, they +didn’t come to facers, only passed a little jaw fore and aft.” + +“Explain! explain!” cried Richard; “it was about the mines, ha! Ay, +ay, I see it, I see it; here is a man with a pick on his shoulder. So +you heard it all, Benjamin?” + +“Why, yes, it was about their minds, I believe, squire, returned the +steward; “and, by what I can learn, they spoke them pretty plainly to +one another. Indeed, I may say that I overheard a small matter of it +myself, seeing that the windows was open, and I hard by. But this +here is no pick. but an anchor on a man’s shoulder; and here’s the +other fluke down his back, maybe a little too close, which signifies +that the lad has got under way and left his moorings.” + +“Has Edwards left the house?” + +“He has.” + +Richard pursued this advantage; and, after a long and close +examination, he succeeded in getting out of Benjamin all that he +knew, not only concerning the misunderstanding, but of the attempt to +search the hut, and Hiram’s discomfiture. The sheriff was no sooner +possessed of these facts, which Benjamin related with all possible +tenderness to the Leather-Stocking, than, snatching up his hat, and +bidding the astonished steward secure the doors and go to his bed, he +left the house. + +For at least five minutes, after Richard disappeared, Benjamin stood +with his arms akimbo, and his eyes fastened on the door; when, having +collected his astonished faculties, he prepared to execute the orders +he had received. + +It has been already said that the “court of common pleas and general +sessions of the peace,” or, as it is commonly called, the “county +court,” over which Judge Temple presided, held one of its stated +sessions on the following morning. The attendants of Richard were +officers who had come to the village, as much to discharge their usual +duties at this court, as to escort the prisoners and the sheriff knew +their habits too well, not to feel confident that he should find most, +if not all of them, in the public room of the jail, discussing the +qualities of the keeper’s liquors. Accordingly he held his way +through the silent streets of the village, directly to the small and +insecure building that contained all the unfortunate debt ors and some +of the criminals of the county, and where justice was administered to +such unwary applicants as were so silly as to throw away two dollars +in order to obtain one from their neighbors. The arrival of four +malefactors in the custody of a dozen officers was an event, at that +day, in Templeton; and, when the sheriff reached the jail, he found +every indication that his subordinates in tended to make a night of +it. + +The nod of the sheriff brought two of his deputies to the door, who in +their turn drew off six or seven of the constables. With this force +Richard led the way through the village, toward the bank of the lake, +undisturbed by any noise, except the barking of one or two curs, who +were alarmed by the measured tread of the party, and by the low +murmurs that ran through their own numbers, as a few cautious +questions and answers were exchanged, relative to the object of their +expedition. When they had crossed the little bridge of hewn logs that +was thrown over the Susquehanna, they left the highway, and struck +into that field which had been the scene of the victory over the +pigeons. From this they followed their leader into the low bushes of +pines and chestnuts which had sprung up along the shores of the lake, +where the plough had not succeeded the fall of the trees, and soon +entered the forest itself. Here Richard paused and collected his +troop around him. + +“I have required your assistance, my friends,” he cried, in a low +voice, “in order to arrest Nathaniel Bumppo, commonly called the +Leather-Stocking He has assaulted a magistrate, and resisted the +execution of a search-war rant, by threatening the life of a constable +with his rifle. In short, my friends, he has set an example of +rebellion to the laws, and has become a kind of outlaw. He is +suspected of other misdemeanors and offences against private rights; +and I have this night taken on myself. by the virtue of my office as +sheriff, to arrest the said Bumppo, and bring him to the county jail, +that he may be present and forthcoming to answer to these heavy +charges before the court to-morrow morning. In executing this duty, +friends and fellow-citizens, you are to use courage and discretion; +courage, that you may not be daunted by any lawless attempt that this +man may make with his rifle and his dogs to oppose you; and +discretion, which here means caution and prudence, that he may not +escape from this sudden attack—and for other good reasons that I need +not mention. You will form yourselves in a complete circle around his +hut, and at the word ‘advance,’ called aloud by me, you will rush +forward and, without giving the criminal time for deliberation, enter +his dwelling by force, and make him your prisoner. Spread yourselves +for this purpose, while I shall descend to the shore with a deputy, to +take charge of that point; and all communications must be made +directly to me, under the bank in front of the hut, where I shall +station myself and remain, in order to receive them.” + +This speech, which Richard had been studying during his walk, had the +effect that all similar performances produce, of bringing the dangers +of the expedition immediately before the eyes of his forces. The men +divided, some plunging deeper into the forest, in order to gain their +stations without giving an alarm, and others Continuing to advance, at +a gait that would allow the whole party to go in order; but all +devising the best plan to repulse the attack of a dog, or to escape a +rifle-bullet. It was a moment of dread expectation and interest. + +When the sheriff thought time enough had elapsed for the different +divisions of his force to arrive at their stations, he raised his +voice in the silence of the forest, and shouted the watchword. The +sounds played among the arched branches of the trees in hollow +cadences; but when the last sinking tone was lost on the ear, in place +of the expected howls of the dogs, no other noises were returned but +the crackling of torn branches and dried sticks, as they yielded +before the advancing steps of the officers. Even this soon ceased, as +if by a common consent, when the curiosity and impatience of the +sheriff getting the complete ascendency over discretion, he rushed up +the bank, and in a moment stood on the little piece of cleared +ground in front of the spot where Natty had so long lived, To his +amazement, in place of the hut he saw only its smouldering ruins. + +The party gradually drew together about the heap of ashes and the ends +of smoking logs; while a dim flame in the centre of the ruin, which +still found fuel to feed its lingering life, threw its pale light, +flickering with the passing currents of the air, around the circle—now +showing a face with eyes fixed in astonishment, and then glancing to +another countenance, leaving the former shaded in the obscurity of +night. Not a voice was raised in inquiry, nor an exclamation made in +astonishment. The transition from excitement to disappointment was +too powerful for Speech; and even Richard lost the use of an organ +that was seldom known to fail him. + +The whole group were yet in the fullness of their surprise, when a +tall form stalked from the gloom into the circle, treading down the +hot ashes and dying embers with callous feet; and, standing over the +light, lifted his cap, and exposed the bare head and weather-beaten +features of the Leather-Stocking. For a moment he gazed at the dusky +figures who surrounded him, more in sorrow than in anger before he +spoke. + +“What would ye with an old and helpless man?” he said, “You’ve driven +God’s creatur’s from the wilder ness, where His providence had put +them for His own pleasure; and you’ve brought in the troubles and +diviltries of the law, where no man was ever known to disturb another. +You have driven me, that have lived forty long years of my appointed +time in this very spot, from my home and the shelter of my head, lest +you should put your wicked feet and wasty ways in my cabin. You’ve +driven me to burn these logs, under which I’ve eaten and drunk—the +first of Heaven’s gifts, and the other of the pure springs—for the +half of a hundred years; and to mourn the ashes under my feet, as a +man would weep and mourn for the children of his body. You’ve rankled +the heart of an old man, that has never harmed you or your’n, with +bitter feelings toward his kind, at a time when his thoughts should be +on a better world; and you’ve driven him to wish that the beasts of +the forest, who never feast on the blood of their own families, was +his kindred and race; and now, when he has come to see the last brand +of his hut, before it is incited into ashes, you follow him up, at +midnight, like hungry hounds on the track of a worn-out and dying +deer. What more would ye have? for I am here—one too many. I come to +mourn, not to fight; and, if it is God’s pleasure, work your will on +me.” + +When the old man ended he stood, with the light glimmering around his +thinly covered head, looking earnestly at the group, which receded +from the pile with an involuntary movement, without the reach of the +quivering rays, leaving a free passage for his retreat into the +bushes, where pursuit in the dark would have been fruit less. Natty +seemed not to regard this advantage, but stood facing each individual +in the circle in succession, as if to see who would he the first to +arrest him. After a pause of a few moments Richard began to rally his +confused faculties, and, advancing, apologized for his duty, and made +him his prisoner. The party flow collected, and, preceded by the +sheriff, with Natty in their centre, they took their way toward the +village. + +During the walk, divers questions were put to the prisoner concerning +his reasons for burning the hut, and whither Mohegan had retreated; +but to all of them he observed a profound silence, until, fatigued +with their previous duties, and the lateness of the hour, the sheriff +and his followers reached the village, and dispersed to their several +places of rest, after turning the key of a jail on the aged and +apparently friendless Leather-Stocking. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + + + +“Fetch here the stocks, ho! +You stubborn ancient knave, +you reverend bragget, We’ll teach you.”—Lear. + +The long days and early sun of July allowed time for a gathering of +the interested, before the little bell of the academy announced that +the appointed hour had arrived for administering right to the wronged, +and punishment to the guilty. Ever since the dawn of day, the +highways and woodpaths that, issuing from the forests, and winding +among the sides of the mountains, centred in Templeton, had been +thronged with equestrians and footmen, bound to the haven of justice. +There was to be seen a well-clad yeoman, mounted on a sleek, switch- +tailed steed, rambling along the highway, with his red face elevated +in a manner that said, “I have paid for my land, and fear no man;” +while his bosom was swelling with the pride of being one of the grand +inquest for the county. At his side rode a companion, his equal in +independence of feeling, perhaps, but his inferior in thrift, as in +property and consideration. This was a professed dealer in lawsuits—a +man whose name appeared in every calendar—whose substance, gained in +the multifarious expedients of a settler’s change able habits, was +wasted in feeding the harpies of the courts. He was endeavoring to +impress the mind of the grand juror with the merits of a cause now at +issue, Along with these was a pedestrian, who, having thrown a rifle +frock over his shirt, and placed his best wool hat above his sunburnt +visage, had issued from his retreat in the woods by a footpath, and +was striving to keep company with the others, on his way to hear and +to decide the disputes of his neighbors, as a petit juror. Fifty +similar little knots of countrymen might have been seen, on that +morning, journeying toward the shire-town on the same errand. + +By ten o’clock the streets of the village were filled with busy faces; +some talking of their private concerns, some listening to a popular +expounder of political creeds; and others gaping in at the open +stores, admiring the finery, or examining scythes, axes, and such +other manufactures as attracted their curiosity or excited their +admiration. A few women were in the crowd, most carrying infants, and +followed, at a lounging, listless gait, by their rustic lords and +masters. There was one young couple, in whom connubial love was yet +fresh, walking at a respectful distance from each other; while the +swain directed the timid steps of his bride, by a gallant offering of +a thumb. + +At the first stroke of the bell, Richard issued from the door of the +“Bold Dragoon,” flourishing a sheathed sword, that he was fond of +saying his ancestors had carried in one of Cromwell’s victories, and +crying, in an authoritative tone, to “clear the way for the court.” +The order was obeyed promptly, though not servilely, the members of +the crowd nodding familiarly to the members of the procession as it +passed. A party of constables with their staves followed the sheriff, +preceding Marmaduke and four plain, grave-looking yeomen, who were his +associates on the bench. There was nothing to distinguish these +Subordinate judges from the better part of the spectators, except +gravity, which they affected a little more than common, and that one +of their number was attired in an old-fashioned military coat, with +skirts that reached no lower than the middle of his thighs, and +bearing two little silver epaulets, not half so big as a modern pair +of shoulder-knots. This gentleman was a colonel of the militia, in +attendance on a court-martial, who found leisure to steal a moment +from his military to attend to his civil jurisdiction; but this +incongruity excited neither notice nor comment. Three or four clean- +shaved lawyers followed, as meek as if they were lambs going to the +slaughter. One or two of their number had contrived to obtain an air +of scholastic gravity by wearing spectacles. The rear was brought up +by another posse of constables, and the mob followed the whole into +the room where the court held its sitting. + +The edifice was composed of a basement of squared logs, perforated +here and there with small grated windows, through which a few wistful +faces were gazing at the crowd without. Among the captives were the +guilty, downcast countenances of the counterfeiters, and the simple +but honest features of the Leather-Stocking. The dungeons were to be +distinguished, externally, from the debtors’ apartments only by the +size of the apertures, the thickness of the grates, and by the heads +of the spikes that were driven into the logs as a protection against +the illegal use of edge-tools. The upper story was of frame work, +regularly covered with boards, and contained one room decently fitted +up for the purpose of justice. A bench, raised on a narrow platform +to the height of a man above the floor, and protected in front by a +light railing. ran along one of its sides. In the centre was a seat, +furnished with rude arms, that was always filled by the presiding +judge. In front, on a level with the floor of the room, was a large +table covered with green baize, and surrounded by benches; and at +either of its ends were rows of seats, rising one over the other, for +jury-boxes. Each of these divisions was surrounded by a railing. The +remainder of the room was an open square, appropriated to the +spectators. + +When the judges were seated, the lawyers had taken possession of the +table, and the noise of moving feet had ceased in the area, the +proclamations were made in the usual form, the jurors were sworn, the +charge was given, and the court proceeded to hear the business before +them. + +We shall not detain the reader with a description of the captious +discussions that occupied the court for the first two hours, Judge +Temple had impressed on the jury, in his charge, the necessity for +dispatch on their part, recommending to their notice, from motives of +humanity, the prisoners in the jail as the first objects of their +attention. Accordingly, after the period we have mentioned had +elapsed, the cry of the officer to “clear the way for the grand jury,” +announced the entrance of that body. The usual forms were observed, +when the foreman handed up to the bench two bills, on both of which +the Judge observed, at the first glance of his eye, the name of +Nathaniel Bumppo. It was a leisure moment with the court; some low +whispering passed between the bench and the sheriff, who gave a signal +to his officers, and in a very few minutes the silence that prevailed +was interrupted by a general movement in the outer crowd, when +presently the Leather-Stocking made his appearance, ushered into the +criminal’s bar under the custody of two constables, The hum ceased, +the people closed into the open space again, and the silence soon +became so deep that the hard breathing of the prisoner was audible. + +Natty was dressed in his buckskin garments, without his coat, in place +of which he wore only a shirt of coarse linen-cheek, fastened at his +throat by the sinew of a deer, leaving his red neck and weather-beaten +face exposed and bare. It was the first time that he had ever crossed +the threshold of a court of justice, and curiosity seemed to be +strongly blended with his personal feelings. He raised his eyes to +the bench, thence to the jury-boxes, the bar, and the crowd without, +meeting everywhere looks fastened on himself. After surveying his own +person, as searching the cause of this unusual attraction, he once +more turned his face around the assemblage, and opened his mouth in +one of his silent and remarkable laughs. + +“Prisoner, remove your cap,” said Judge Temple. + +The order was either unheard or unheeded. + +“Nathaniel Bumppo, be uncovered,” repeated the Judge. + +Natty started at the sound of his name, and, raising his face +earnestly toward the bench, he said: + +“Anan!” + +Mr. Lippet arose from his seat at the table, and whispered in the ear +of the prisoner; when Natty gave him a nod of assent, and took the +deer-skin covering from his head. + +“Mr. District Attorney,” said the Judge, “the prisoner is ready; we +wait for the indictment.” + +The duties of public prosecutor were discharged by Dirck Van der +School, who adjusted his spectacles, cast a cautious look around him +at his brethren of the bar, which he ended by throwing his head aside +so as to catch one glance over the glasses, when he proceeded to read +the bill aloud. It was the usual charge for an assault and battery on +the person of Hiram Doolittle, and was couched in the ancient language +of such instruments, especial care having been taken by the scribe not +to omit the name of a single offensive weapon known to the law. When +he had done, Mr. Van der School removed his spectacles, which he +closed and placed in his pocket, seemingly for the pleasure of again +opening and replacing them on his nose, After this evolution was +repeated once or twice, he handed the bill over to Mr. Lippet, with a +cavalier air, that said as much as “Pick a hole in that if you can.” + +Natty listened to the charge with great attention, leaning forward +toward the reader with an earnestness that denoted his interest; and, +when it was ended, he raised his tall body to the utmost, and drew a +long sigh. All eyes were turned to the prisoner, whose voice was +vainly expected to break the stillness of the room. + +“You have heard the presentment that the grand jury have made, +Nathaniel Bumppo,” said the Judge; “what do you plead to the charge?” + +The old man drooped his head for a moment in a reflecting attitude, +and then, raising it, he laughed before he answered: + +“That I handled the man a little rough or so, is not to be denied; but +that there was occasion to make use of all the things that the +gentleman has spoken of is downright untrue. I am not much of a +wrestler, seeing that I'm getting old; but I was out among the Scotch- +Irishers—let me see—it must have been as long ago as the first year of +the old war—” + +“Mr. Lippet, if you are retained for the prisoner,” interrupted Judge +Temple, “instruct your client how to plead; if not, the court will +assign him counsel.” + +Aroused from studying the indictment by this appeal, the attorney got +up, and after a short dialogue with the hunter in a low voice, he +informed the court that they were ready to proceed. + +“Do you plead guilty or not guilty?” said the Judge. + +“I may say not guilty, with a clean conscience,” returned Natty; “for +there’s no guilt in doing what’s right; and I’d rather died on the +spot, than had him put foot in the hut at that moment.” + +Richard started at this declaration and bent his eyes significantly on +Hiram, who returned the look with a slight movement of his eyebrows. + +“Proceed to open the cause, Mr. District Attorney,' continued the +Judge. “Mr. Clerk, enter the plea of not guilty.” + +After a short opening address from Mr. Van der School, Hiram was +summoned to the bar to give his testimony. It was delivered to the +letter, perhaps, but with all that moral coloring which can be +conveyed under such expressions as, “thinking no harm,” “feeling it my +bounden duty as a magistrate,” and “seeing that the constable was +back’ard in the business.” When he had done, and the district attorney +declined putting any further interrogatories, Mr. Lippet arose, with +an air of keen investigation, and asked the following questions: + +“Are you a constable of this county, sir?” + +“No, sir,” said Hiram, “I’m only a justice-peace.” + +“I ask you, Mr. Doolittle, in the face of this court, put ting it to +your conscience and your knowledge of the law, whether you had any +right to enter that man’s dwelling?” + +“Hem!” said Hiram, undergoing a violent struggle between his desire +for vengeance, and his love of legal fame: “I do suppose—that in—that +is—strict law—that supposing—maybe I hadn’t a real—lawful right; but +as the case was—and Billy was so back’ard—I thought I might come +for’ard in the business.” + +“I ask you again, sir,” continued the lawyer, following up his +success, “whether this old, this friendless old man, did or did not +repeatedly forbid your entrance?” + +“Why, I must say,” said Hiram, “that he was considerable cross- +grained; not what I call clever, seeing that it was only one neighbor +wanting to go into the house of another.” + +“Oh! then you own it was only meant for a neighborly visit on your +part, and without the sanction of law. Remember, gentlemen, the words +of the witness, ‘one neighbor wanting to enter the house of another.’ +Now, sir, I ask you if Nathaniel Bumppo did not again and again order +you not to enter?” + +“There was some words passed between us,” said Hiram, “but I read the +warrant to him aloud.” + +“I repeat my question; did he tell you not to enter his habitation?” + +“There was a good deal passed betwixt us—but I’ve the warrant in my +pocket; maybe the court would wish to see it?” + +“Witness,” said Judge Temple, “answer the question directly; did or +did not the prisoner forbid your entering his hut?” + +“Why, I some think—” + +“Answer without equivocation,” continued the Judge sternly. + +“He did.” + +“And did you attempt to enter after his order?” + +“I did; but the warrant was in my hand.” + +“Proceed, Mr. Lippet, with your examination.” + +But the attorney saw that the impression was in favor of his client, +and waving his hand with a supercilious manner, as if unwilling to +insult the understanding of the jury with any further defence, he +replied: + +“No, sir; I leave it for your honor to charge; I rest my case here.” + +“Mr. District Attorney,” said the Judge, “have you anything to say?” +Mr. Van der School removed his spectacles, folded them and, replacing +them once more on his nose, eyed the other bill which he held in his +hand, and then said, looking at the bar over the top of his glasses; +I shall rest the prosecution here, if the court please.” + +Judge Temple arose and began the charge. + +“Gentlemen of the jury,” he said, “you have heard the testimony, and I +shall detain you but a moment. If an officer meet with resistance in +the execution of a process, he has an undoubted right to call any +citizen to his assistance; and the acts of such assistant come within +the protection of the law. I shall leave you to judge, gentlemen, +from the testimony, how far the witness in this prosecution can be so +considered, feeling less reluctance to submit the case thus informally +to your decision, because there is yet another indictment to be tried, +which involves heavier charges against the unfortunate prisoner.” + +The tone of Marmaduke was mild and insinuating, and, as his sentiments +were given with such apparent impartiality, they did not fail of +carrying due weight with the jury. The grave-looking yeomen who +composed this tribunal laid their heads together for a few minutes, +without leaving the box, when the foreman arose, and, after the forms +of the court were duly observed, he pronounced the prisoner to be “Not +guilty.” + +“You are acquitted of this charge, Nathaniel Bumppo,” said the Judge. + +“Anan!” said Natty. + +“You are found not guilty of striking and assaulting Mr. Doolittle.” + +“No, no, I’ll not deny but that I took him a little roughly by the +shoulders,” said Natty, looking about him with great simplicity, “and +that I—” + +“You are acquitted,” interrupted the Judge, “and there is nothing +further to be said or done in the matter.” + +A look of joy lighted up the features of the old man, who now +comprehended the case, and, placing his cap eagerly on his head again, +he threw up the bar of his little prison, and said, feelingly: + +“I must say this for you, Judge Temple, that the law has not been so +hard on me as I dreaded. I hope God will bless you for the kind +things you’ve done to me this day.” + +But the staff of the constable was opposed to his egress, and Mr. +Lippet whispered a few words in his ear, when the aged hunter sank +back into his place, and, removing his cap, stroked down the remnants +of his gray and sandy locks, with an air of mortification mingled with +submission. + +“Mr. District Attorney,” said Judge Temple, affecting to busy himself +with his minutes, “proceed with the second indictment.” + +Mr. Van der School took great care that no part of the presentment, +which he now read, should be lost on his auditors. It accused the +prisoner of resisting the execution of a search-warrant, by force of +arms, and particularized in the vague language of the law, among a +variety of other weapons, the use of the rifle. This was indeed a +more serious charge than an ordinary assault and battery, and a +corresponding degree of interest was manifested by the spectators in +its result. The prisoner was duly arraigned, and his plea again +demanded. Mr. Lippet had anticipated the answers of Natty, and in a +whisper advised him how to plead. But the feelings of the old hunter +were awakened by some of the expressions in the indictment, and, +forgetful of his caution, he exclaimed: + +“‘Tis a wicked untruth; I crave no man’s blood. Them thieves, the +Iroquois, won’t say it to any face that I ever thirsted after man’s +blood, I have fou’t as soldier that feared his Maker and his officer, +but I never pulled trigger on any but a warrior that was up and awake. +No man can say that I ever struck even a Mingo in his blanket. I +believe there’s some who thinks there’s no God in a wilder ness!” + +“Attend to your plea, Bumppo,” said the Judge; “you hear that you are +accused of using your rifle against an officer of justice? Are you +guilty or not guilty?” + +By this time the irritated feelings of Natty had found vent: and he +rested on the bar for a moment, in a musing posture, when he lifted +his face, with his silent laugh, and, pointing to where the wood- +chopper stood, he said: + +“Would Billy Kirby be standing there, d’ye think, if I had used the +rifle?” + +“Then you deny it,” said Mr. Lippet; “you plead not guilty?” + +“Sartain,” said Natty; “Billy knows that I never fired at all. Billy, +do you remember the turkey last winter? Ah me! that was better than +common firing; but I can’t shoot as I used to could.” + +“Enter the plea of not guilty,” said Judge Temple, strongly affected +by the simplicity of the prisoner. + +Hiram was again sworn, and his testimony given on the second charge. +He had discovered his former error, and proceeded more cautiously than +before. He related very distinctly and, for the man, with amazing +terseness, the suspicion against the hunter, the complaint, the +issuing of the warrant, and the swearing in of Kirby; all of which, he +affirmed, were done in due form of law. He then added the manner in +which the constable had been received; and stated, distinctly, that +Natty had pointed the rifle at Kirby, and threatened his life if he +attempted to execute his duty. All this was confirmed by Jotham, who +was observed to adhere closely to the story of the magistrate. Mr. +Lippet conducted an artful cross-examination of these two witnesses, +but, after consuming much time, was compelled to relinquish the +attempt to obtain any advantage, in despair. + +At length the District Attorney called the wood-chopper to the bar, +Billy gave an extremely confused account of the whole affair, although +he evidently aimed at the truth, until Mr. Van der School aided him, +by asking some direct questions: + +“It appears from examining the papers, that you demanded admission +into the hut legally; so you were put in bodily fear by his rifle and +threats?” + +“I didn’t mind them that, man,” said Billy, snapping his fingers; “I +should be a poor stick to mind old Leather-Stocking.” + +“But I understood you to say (referring to your previous words [as +delivered here in court] in the commencement of your testimony) that +you thought he meant to shoot you?” + +“To be sure I did; and so would you, too, squire, if you had seen a +chap dropping a muzzle that never misses, and cocking an eye that has +a natural squint by long practice I thought there would be a dust +on’t, and my back was up at once; but Leather-Stocking gi’n up the +skin, and so the matter ended.” + +“Ah! Billy,” said Natty, shaking his head, “‘twas a lucky thought in +me to throw out the hide, or there might have been blood spilt; and +I’m sure, if it had been your’n, I should have mourned it sorely the +little while I have to stay.” + +“Well, Leather-Stocking,” returned Billy, facing the prisoner with a +freedom and familiarity that utterly disregarded the presence of the +court, “as you are on the subject it may be that you’ve no—” + +“Go on with your examination, Mr. District Attorney.” + +That gentleman eyed the familiarity between his witness and the +prisoner with manifest disgust, and indicated to the court that he was +done. + +“Then you didn’t feel frightened, Mr. Kirby?” said the counsel for the +prisoner. + +“Me! no,” said Billy, casting his eyes oven his own huge frame with +evident self-satisfaction; “I’m not to be skeared so easy.” + +“You look like a hardy man; where were you born, sir?” + +“Varmount State; ‘tis a mountaynious place, but there’s a stiff soil, +and it’s pretty much wooded with beech and maple.” + +“I have always heard so,” said Mr. Lippet soothingly. “You have been +used to the rifle yourself in that country.” + +“I pull the second best trigger in this county. I knock under to +Natty Bumppo, there, sin’ he shot the pigeon.” + +Leather-Stocking raised his head, and laughed again, when he abruptly +thrust out a wrinkled hand, and said: + +“You’re young yet, Billy, and haven’t seen the matches that I have; +but here’s my hand; I bear no malice to you, I don’t.” + +Mr. Lippet allowed this conciliatory offering to be accepted, and +judiciously paused, while the spirit of peace was exercising its +influence over the two; but the Judge interposed his authority. + +“This is an improper place for such dialogues,” he said; “proceed with +your examination of this witness, Mr. Lippet, or I shall order the +next.” + +The attorney started, as if unconscious of any impropriety, and +continued: + +“So you settled the matter with Natty amicably on the spot, did you?” + +“He gi’n me the skin, and I didn’t want to quarrel with an old man; +for my part, I see no such mighty matter in shooting a buck!” + +“And you parted friends? and you would never have thought of bringing +the business up before a court, hadn’t you been subpoenaed?” + +“I don’t think I should; he gi’n the skin, and I didn’t feel a hard +thought, though Squire Doolittle got some affronted.” + +“I have done, sir,” said Mr. Lippet, probably relying on the charge of +the Judge, as he again seated himself, with the air of a main who felt +that his success was certain. + +When Mr. Van der School arose to address the jury, he commenced by +saying: + +“Gentlemen of the jury, I should have interrupted the leading +questions put by the prisoner’s counsel (by leading questions I mean +telling him what to say), did I not feel confident that the law of the +land was superior to any ad vantages (I mean legal advantages) which +he might obtain by his art. The counsel for the prisoner, gentlemen, +has endeavored to persuade you, in opposition to your own good sense, +to believe that pointing a rifle at a constable (elected or deputed) +is a very innocent affair; and that society (I mean the commonwealth, +gentlemen) shall not be endangered thereby. But let me claim your +attention, while we look over the particulars of this heinous +offence.” Here Mr. Vain der School favored the jury with an abridgment +of the testimony, recounted in such a manner as utterly to confuse the +faculties of his worthy listeners. After this exhibition he closed as +follows: “And now, gentlemen, having thus made plain to your senses +the crime of which this unfortunate man has been guilty (unfortunate +both on account of his ignorance and his guilt), I shall leave you to +your own consciences; not in the least doubting that you will see the +importance (notwithstanding the prisoner’s counsel [doubtless relying +on your former verdict] wishes to appear so confident of success) of +punishing the offender, and asserting the dignity of the laws.” + +It was now the duty of the Judge to deliver his charge. It consisted +of a short, comprehensive summary of the testimony, laying bare the +artifice of the prisoner’s counsel, and placing the facts in so +obvious a light that they could not well be misunderstood. “Living as +we do, gentlemen,” he concluded, “on the skirts of society, it becomes +doubly necessary to protect the ministers of the law. If you believe +the witnesses, in their construction of the acts of the prisoner, it +is your duty to convict him; but if you believe that the old man, who +this day appears before you, meant not to harm the constable, but was +acting more under the influence of habit than by the instigations of +malice, it will be your duty to judge him, but to do it with lenity” + +As before, the jury did not leave their box; but, after a consultation +of some little time, their foreman arose, and pronounced the prisoner +Guilty. + +There was but little surprise manifested in the courtroom at this +verdict, as the testimony, the greater part of which we have omitted, +was too clear and direct to be passed over. The judges seemed to have +anticipated this sentiment, for a consultation was passing among them +also, during the deliberation of the jury, and the preparatory +movements of the “bench” announced the coming sentence. + +“Nathaniel Bumppo,” commenced the Judge, making the customary pause. + +The old hunter, who had been musing again, with his head on the bar, +raised himself, and cried, with a prompt, military tone: + +“Here.” + +The Judge waved his hand for silence, and proceeded: + +“In forming their sentence, the court have been governed as much by +the consideration of your ignorance of the laws as by a strict sense +of the importance of punishing such outrages as this of which you have +been found guilty. They have therefore passed over the obvious +punishment of whipping on the bare back, in mercy to your years; but, +as the dignity of the law requires an open exhibition of the +consequences of your crime, it is ordered that you be conveyed from +this room to the public stocks, where you are to be confined for one +hour; that you pay a fine to the State of one hundred dollars; and +that you be imprisoned in the jail of this county for one calendar +month, and, furthermore, that your imprisonment do not cease until the +said fine shall be paid. I feel it my duty, Nathaniel Bumppo—” + +“And where should I get the money?” interrupted the Leather-Stocking +eagerly; “ where should I get the money? you’ll take away the bounty +on the painters, because I cut the throat of a deer; and how is an old +man to find so much gold or silver in the woods? No, no, Judge; think +better of it, and don’t talk of shutting me up in a jail for the +little time I have to stay.” + +“If you have anything to urge against the passing of the sentence, the +court will yet hear you,” said the Judge, mildly. + +“I have enough to say agin’ it,” cried Natty, grasping the bar on +which his fingers were working with a convulsed motion. “Where am I +to get the money? Let me out into the woods and hills, where I’ve been +used to breathe the clear air, and though I’m threescore and ten, if +you’ve left game enough in the country, I’ll travel night and day but +I’ll make you up the sum afore the season is over. Yes, yes—you see +the reason of the thing, and the wicked ness of shutting up an old man +that has spent his days, as one may say, where he could always look +into the windows of heaven.” + +“I must be governed by the law—” + +“Talk not to me of law, Marmaduke Temple,” interrupted the hunter. +“Did the beast of the forest mind your laws, when it was thirsty and +hungering for the blood of your own child? She was kneeling to her God +for a greater favor than I ask, and he heard her; and if you now say +no to my prayers, do you think he will be deaf?” + +“My private feelings must not enter into—” + +“Hear me, Marmaduke Temple,” interrupted the old man, with melancholy +earnestness, “and hear reason. I’ve travelled these mountains when +you was no judge, but an infant in your mother’s arms; and I feel as +if I had a right and a privilege to travel them agin afore I die. +Have you forgot the time that you come on to the lake shore, when +there wasn’t even a jail to lodge in: and didn’t I give you my own +bear-skin to sleep on, and the fat of a noble buck to satisfy the +cravings of your hunger? Yes, yes—you thought it no sin then to kill a +deer! And this I did, though I had no reason to love you, for you had +never done anything but harm to them that loved and sheltered me. And +now, will you shut me up in your dungeons to pay me for my kindness? A +hundred dollars! Where should I get the money? No, no—there’s them +that says hard things of you, Marmaduke Temple, but you ain’t so bad +as to wish to see an old man die in a prison, because he stood up for +the right. Come, friend, let me pass; it’s long sin’ I’ve been used +to such crowds, and I crave to be in the woods agin. Don’t fear me, +Judge— I bid you not to fear me; for if there’s beaver enough left on +the streams, or the buckskins will sell for a shilling apiece, you +shall have the last penny of the fine. Where are ye, pups? come away, +dogs, come away! we have a grievous toil to do for our years, but it +shall be done—yes, yes, I’ve promised it, and it shall be done!” + +It is unnecessary to say that the movement of the Leather-Stocking was +again intercepted by the constable; but, before he had time to speak, +a bustling in the crowd, and a loud hem, drew all eyes to another part +of the room. + +Benjamin had succeeded in edging his way through the people, and was +now seen balancing his short body, with one foot in a window and the +other on a railing of the jury-box. To the amazement of the whole +court, the steward was evidently preparing to speak. After a good +deal of difficulty, he succeeded in drawing from his pocket a small +bag, and then found utterance. + +“If-so-be,” he said, “that your honor is agreeable to trust the poor +fellow out on another cruise among the beasts, here’s a small matter +that will help to bring down the risk, seeing that there’s just +thirty-five of your Spaniards in it; and I wish, from the bottom of my +heart, that they was raal British guineas, for the sake of the old +boy. But ‘tis as it is; and if Squire Dickens will just be so good as +to overhaul this small bit of an account, and take enough from the bag +to settle the same, he’s welcome to hold on upon the rest, till such +time as the Leather-Stocking can grapple with them said beaver, or, +for that matter, forever, and no thanks asked,” + +As Benjamin concluded, he thrust out the wooden register of his +arrears to the “ Bold Dragoon” with one hand, while he offered his bag +of dollars with the other. Astonishment at this singular interruption +produced a profound stillness in the room, which was only interrupted +by the sheriff, who struck his sword on the table, and cried: +“Silence!” + +“There must be an end to this,” said the Judge, struggling to overcome +his feelings. “Constable, lead the prisoner to the stocks. Mr. +Clerk, what stands next on the calendar?” + +Natty seemed to yield to his destiny, for he sank his head on his +chest, and followed the officer from the court room in silence. The +crowd moved back for the passage of the prisoner, and when his tall +form was seen descending from the outer door, a rush of the people to +the scene of his disgrace followed. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + + + +“Ha! ha! look! he wears cruel garters!”-Lear. + +The punishments of the common law were still known, at the time of our +tale, to the people of New York; and the whipping-post, and its +companion, the stocks, were not yet supplanted by the more merciful +expedients of the public prison. Immediately in front of the jail +those relics of the older times were situated, as a lesson of +precautionary justice to the evil-doers of the settlement. + +Natty followed the constables to this spot, bowing his head in +submission to a power that he was unable to op pose, and surrounded by +the crowd that formed a circle about his person, exhibiting in their +countenances strong curiosity. A constable raised the upper part of +the stocks, and pointed with his finger to the holes where the old man +was to place his feet. Without making the least objection to the +punishment, the Leather-Stocking quietly seated himself on the ground, +and suffered his limbs to be laid in the openings, without even a +murmur; though he cast one glance about him, in quest of that sympathy +that human nature always seems to require under suffering “ but he met +no direct manifestations of pity, neither did he see any unfeeling +exultation, or hear a single reproachful epithet. The character of +the mob, if it could be called by such a name, was that of attentive +subordination. + +The constable was in the act of lowering the upper plank, when +Benjamin, who had pressed close to the side of the prisoner, said, in +his hoarse tone, as if seeking for some cause to create a quarrel: + +“Where away, master constable, is the use of clapping a man in them +here bilboes? It neither stops his grog nor hurts his back; what for +is it that you do the thing?” + +“‘Tis the sentence of the court, Mr. Penguillium, and there’s law for +it, I s’pose.” + +“Ay, ay, I know that there’s law for the thing; but where away do you +find the use, I say? it does no harm, and it only keeps a man by the +heels for the small matter of two glasses” + +“Is it no harm, Benny Pump,” said Natty, raising his eyes with a +piteous look in the face of the steward—” is it no harm to show off a +man in his seventy-first year, like a tame bear, for the settlers to +look on? Is it no harm to put an old soldier, that has served through +the war of ‘fifty-six, and seen the enemy in the ‘seventy-six +business, into a place like this, where the boys can point at him and +say, I have known the time when he was a spectacle for the county? Is +it no harm to bring down the pride of an honest man to be the equal of +the beasts of the forest?” + +Benjamin stared about him fiercely, and could he have found a single +face that expressed contumely, he would have been prompt to quarrel +with its owner; but meeting everywhere with looks of sobriety, and +occasionally of commiseration, he very deliberately seated himself by +the side of the hunter, and, placing his legs in the two vacant holes +of the stocks, he said: + +“Now lower away, master constable, lower away, I tell ye! If-so-be +there’s such a thing hereabouts, as a man that wants to see a bear, +let him look and be d—d, and he shall find two of them, and mayhap one +of the same that can bite as well as growl.” + +“But I have no orders to put you in the stocks, Mr. Pump,” cried the +constable; “you must get up and let me do my duty.” + +“You’ve my orders, and what do you need better to meddle with my own +feet? so lower away, will ye, and let me see the man that chooses to +open his mouth with a grin on it.” + +“There can’t be any harm in locking up a creatur’ that will enter the +pound,” said the constable, laughing, and closing the stocks on them +both. + +It was fortunate that this act was executed with decision, for the +whole of the spectators, when they saw Benjamin assume the position he +took, felt an inclination for merriment, which few thought it worth +while to suppress. The steward struggled violently for his liberty +again, with an evident intention of making battle on those who stood +nearest to him; but the key was already turned, and all his efforts +were vain. + +“Hark ye, master constable,” he cried, “just clear away your bilboes +for the small matter of a log-glass, will ye, and let me show some of +them there chaps who it is they are so merry about” + +“No, no, you would go in, and you can’t come out,” returned the +officer, “until the time has expired that the Judge directed for the +keeping of the prisoner.” + +Benjamin, finding that his threats and his struggles were useless, had +good sense enough to learn patience from the resigned manner of his +companion, and soon settled himself down by the side of Natty, with a +contemptuousness expressed in his hard features, that showed he had +substituted disgust for rage. When the violence of the steward’s +feelings had in some measure subsided, he turned to his fellow- +sufferer, and, with a motive that might have vindicated a worse +effusion, he attempted the charitable office of consolation, + +“Taking it by and large, Master Bump-ho, it’s but a small matter after +all,” he said. “Now, I’ve known very good sort of men, aboard of the +Boadishey, laid by the heels, for nothing, mayhap, but forgetting that +they’d drunk their allowance already, when a glass of grog has come in +their way. This is nothing more than riding with two anchors ahead, +waiting for a turn in the tide, or a shift of wind, d’ye see, with a +soft bottom and plenty of room for the sweep of your hawse. Now I’ve +seen many a man, for over-shooting his reckoning, as I told ye moored +head and starn, where he couldn’t so much as heave his broadside +round, and mayhap a stopper clapped on his tongue too, in the shape of +a pump-bolt lashed athwartship his jaws, all the same as an outrigger +along side of a taffrel-rail.” + +The hunter appeared to appreciate the kind intentions of the other, +though he could not understand his eloquence, and, raising his humbled +countenance, he attempted a smile, as he said: + +“Anan!” + +“‘Tis nothing, I say, but a small matter of a squall that will soon +blow over,” continued Benjamin. “ To you that has such a length of +keel, it must be all the same as nothing; thof, seeing that I am +little short in my lower timbers, they’ve triced my heels up in such a +way as to give me a bit of a cant. But what cares I, Master Bump-ho, +if the ship strains a little at her anchor? it’s only for a dog-watch, +and dam’me but she’ll sail with you then on that cruise after them +said beaver. I'm not much used to small arms, seeing that I was +stationed at the ammunition- boxes, being summat too low-rigged to see +over the ham- mock-cloths; but I can carry the game, dye see, and +mayhap make out to lend a hand with the traps; and if- so-be you’re +any way so handy with them as ye be with your boat-hook, ‘twill be but +a short cruise after all, I've squared the yards with Squire Dickens +this morning, and I shall send him word that he needn’t bear my name +on the books again till such time as the cruise is over.” + +“You’re used to dwell with men, Benny,” said Leather-Stocking, +mournfully, “ and the ways of the woods would be hard on you, if——” + +“Not a bit—not a bit,” cried the steward; “I’m none of your fair- +weather chaps, Master Bump-ho, as sails only in smooth water. When I +find a friend, I sticks by him, dye see. Now, there’s no better man +a-going than Squire Dickens, and I love him about the same as I loves +Mistress Hollister’s new keg of Jamaiky.” The steward paused, and +turning his uncouth visage on the hunter, he surveyed him with a +roguish leer of his eye, and gradually suffered the muscles of his +hard features to relax, until his face was illuminated by the display +of his white teeth, when he “ dropped his voice, and added; “I say, +Master Leather- + +Stocking, ‘tis fresher and livelier than any Hollands you’ll get in +Garnsey. But we’ll send a hand over and ask the woman for a taste, +for I’m so jammed in these here bilboes that I begin to want summat to +lighten my upper works.” + +Natty sighed, and gazed about him on the crowd, that already began to +disperse, and which had now diminished greatly, as its members +scattered in their various pursuits. He looked wistfully at Benjamin, +but did not reply; a deeply-seated anxiety seeming to absorb every +other sensation, and to throw a melancholy gloom over his wrinkled +features, which were working with the movements of his mind. + +The steward was about to act on the old principle, that silence gives +consent, when Hiram Doolittle, attended by Jotham, stalked out of the +crowd, across the open space, and approached the stocks. The +magistrate passed by the end where Benjamin was seated, and posted +himself, at a safe distance from the steward, in front of the Leather- +Stocking. Hiram stood, for a moment, cowering before the keen looks +that Natty fastened on him, and suffering under an embarrassment that +was quite new; when having in some degree recovered himself, he looked +at the heavens, and then at the smoky atmosphere, as if it were only +an ordinary meeting with a friend, and said in his formal, hesitating +way: + +“Quite a scurcity of rain, lately; I some think we shall have a long +drought on’t.” + +Benjamin was occupied in untying his bag of dollars, and did not +observe the approach of the magistrate, while Natty turned his face, +in which every muscle was working, away from him in disgust, without +answering. Rather encouraged than daunted by this exhibition of +dislike, Hiram, after a short pause, continued: + +“The clouds look as if they’d no water in them, and the earth is +dreadfully parched. To my judgment, there’ll be short crops this +season, if the rain doesn’t fail quite speedily.” + +The air with which Mr. Doolittle delivered this prophetical opinion +was peculiar to his species. It was a jesuitical, cold, unfeeling, +and selfish manner, that seemed to say, “I have kept within the law,” +to the man he had so cruelly injured. It quite overcame the restraint +that the old hunter had been laboring to impose on himself, and he +burst out in a warm glow of indignation. + +“Why should the rain fall from the clouds,” he cried, “when you force +the tears from the eyes of the old, the sick, and the poor! Away with +ye—away with ye! you may be formed in the image of the Maker, but +Satan dwells in your heart. Away with ye, I say! I am mournful, and +the sight of ye brings bitter thoughts.” + +Benjamin ceased thumbing his money, and raised his head at the instant +that Hiram, who was thrown off his guard by the invectives of the +hunter, unluckily trusted his person within reach of the steward, who +grasped one of his legs with a hand that had the grip of a vise, and +whirled the magistrate from his feet, before he had either time to +collect his senses or to exercise the strength he did really possess. +Benjamin wanted neither proportions nor manhood in his head, +shoulders, and arms, though all the rest of his frame appeared to be +originally intended for a very different sort of a man. He exerted +his physical powers on the present occasion, with much discretion; +and, as he had taken his antagonist at a great disadvantage, the +struggle resulted very soon in Benjamin getting the magistrate fixed +in a posture somewhat similar to his own, and manfully placed face to +face. + +“You’re a ship’s cousin, I tell ye, Master Doo-but-little,” roared the +steward; “some such matter as a ship’s cousin, sir. I know you, I do, +with your fair-weather speeches to Squire Dickens, to his face, and +then you go and sarve out your grumbling to all the old women in the +town, do ye? Ain’t it enough for any Christian, let him harbor never +so much malice, to get an honest old fellow laid by the heels in this +fashion, without carrying sail so hard on the poor dog, as if you +would run him down as he lay at his anchors? But I’ve logged many a +hard thing against your name, master, and now the time’s come to foot +up the day’s work, d’ye see; so square yourself, you lubber, square +yourself, and we’ll soon know who’s the better man.” + +“Jotham!” cried the frightened magistrate—” Jotham! call in the +constables. Mr. Penguillium, I command the peace—I order you to keep +the peace.” + +“There's been more peace than love atwixt us, master,” cried the +steward, making some very unequivocal demonstrations toward hostility; +“so mind yourself! square your self, I say! do you smell this here bit +of a sledge-hammer?” + +“Lay hands on me if you dare!” exclaimed Hiram, as well as he could, +under the grasp which the steward held on his throttle—” lay hands on +me if you dare!” + +“If you call this laying, master, you are welcome to the eggs,” roared +the steward. + +It becomes our disagreeable duty to record here, that the acts of +Benjamin now became violent; for he darted his sledge-hammer violently +on the anvil of Mr. Doolittle’s countenance, and the place became in +an instant a scene of tumult and confusion. The crowd rushed in a +dense circle around the spot, while some ran to the court room to give +the alarm, and one or two of the more juvenile part of the multitude +had a desperate trial of speed to see who should be the happy man to +communicate the critical situation of the magistrate to his wife. + +Benjamin worked away, with great industry and a good deal of skill, at +his occupation, using one hand to raise up his antagonist, while he +knocked him over with the other; for he would have been disgraced in +his own estimation, had he struck a blow on a fallen adversary. By +this considerate arrangement he had found means to hammer the visage +of Hiram out of all shape, by the time Richard succeeded in forcing +his way through the throng to the point of combat. The sheriff +afterward declared that, independently of his mortification as +preserver of the peace of the county, at this interruption to its +harmony, he was never so grieved in his life as when he saw this +breach of unity between his favorites. Hiram had in some degree +become necessary to his vanity, and Benjamin, strange as it may +appear, he really loved. This attachment was exhibited in the first +words that he uttered. + +“Squire Doolittle! Squire Doolittle! I am ashamed to see a man of your +character and office forget himself so much as to disturb the peace, +insult the court, and beat poor Benjamin in this manner!” + +At the sound of Mr. Jones’ voice, the steward ceased his employment, +and Hiram had an opportunity of raising his discomfited visage toward +the mediator. Emboldened by the sight of the sheriff, Mr. Doolittle +again had recourse to his lungs. + +“I’ll have law on you for this,” he cried desperately; “I’ll have the +law on you for this. I call on you, Mr. Sheriff, to seize this man, +and I demand that you take his body into custody.” + +By this time Richard was master of the true state of the case, and, +turning to the steward, he said reproach fully: + +“Benjamin, how came you in the stocks? I always thought you were mild +and docile as a lamb. It was for your docility that I most esteemed +you. Benjamin! Benjamin! you have not only disgraced yourself, but +your friends, by this shameless conduct, Bless me! bless me! Mr. +Doolittle, he seems to have knocked your face all of one side.” + +Hiram by this time had got on his feet again, and with out the reach +of the steward, when he broke forth in violent appeals for vengeance. +The offence was too apparent to be passed over, and the sheriff, +mindful of the impartiality exhibited by his cousin in the recent +trial of the Leather-Stocking, came to the painful conclusion that it +was necessary to commit his major-domo to prison. As the time of +Natty’s punishment was expired, and Benjamin found that they were to +be confined, for that night at least, in the same apartment, he made +no very strong objection to the measure, nor spoke of bail, though, as +the sheriff preceded the party of constables that conducted them to +the jail, he uttered the following remonstrance: + +“As to being berthed with Master Bump-ho for a night or so, it’s but +little I think of it, Squire Dickens, seeing that I calls him an +honest man, and one as has a handy way with boat-hooks and rifles; but +as for owning that a man desarves anything worse than a double +allowance, for knocking that carpenters face a-one-side, as you call +it, I’ll maintain it’s agin’ reason and Christianity. If there’s a +bloodsucker in this 'ere county, it’s that very chap. Ay! I know him! +and if he hasn’t got all the same as dead wood in his headworks, he +knows summat of me. Where’s the mighty harm, squire, that you take it +so much to heart? It’s all the same as any other battle, d’ye see sir, +being broadside to broadside, only that it was foot at anchor, +which was what we did in Port Pray a roads, when Suff’ring came in +among us; and a suff’ring time he had of it before he got out again.” + +Richard thought it unworthy of him to make any reply to this speech, +but when his prisoners were safely lodged in an outer dungeon, +ordering the bolts to be drawn and the key turned, he withdrew. + +Benjamin held frequent and friendly dialogues with different people, +through the iron gratings, during the afternoon; but his companion +paced their narrow’ limits, in his moccasins, with quick, impatient +treads, his face hanging on his breast in dejection, or when lifted, +at moments, to the idlers at the window, lighted, perhaps, for an +instant, with the childish aspect of aged forgetfulness, which would +vanish directly in an expression of deep and obvious anxiety. + +At the close of the day, Edwards was seen at the window, in earnest +dialogue with his friend; and after he de parted it was thought that +he had communicated words of comfort to the hunter, who threw himself +on his pallet and was soon in a deep sleep. The curious spectators +had exhausted the conversation of the steward, who had drunk good +fellowship with half of his acquaintance, and, as Natty was no longer +in motion, by eight o’clock, Billy Kirby, who was the last lounger at +the window, retired into the “Templeton Coffee-house,” when Natty rose +and hung a blanket before the opening, and the prisoners apparently +retired for the night. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + + + +“And to avoid the foe’s pursuit, +With spurring put their cattle to’t; +And till all four were out of wind, +And danger too, neer looked behind.”—Hudibras. + +As the shades of evening approached, the jurors, wit nesses, and other +attendants on the court began to disperse, and before nine o’clock the +village was quiet, and its streets nearly deserted. At that hour +Judge Temple and his daughter, followed at a short distance by Louisa +Grant, walked slowly down the avenue, under the slight shadows of the +young poplars, holding the following discourse: + +“You can best soothe his wounded spirit, my child,” said Marmaduke; +“but it will be dangerous to touch on the nature of his offence; the +sanctity of the laws must be respected.” + +“Surely, sir,” cried the impatient Elizabeth, “those laws that condemn +a man like the Leather-Stocking to so severe a punishment, for an +offence that even I must think very venial, cannot be perfect in +themselves.” + +“Thou talkest of what thou dost not understand, Elizabeth,” returned +her father. “Society cannot exist without wholesome restraints. +Those restraints cannot be inflicted without security and respect to +the persons of those who administer them; and it would sound ill +indeed to report that a judge had extended favor to a convicted +criminal, because he had saved the life of his child.” + +“I see—I see the difficulty of your situation, dear sir,” cried the +daughter; “but, in appreciating the offence of poor Natty, I cannot +separate the minister of the law from the man.” + +“There thou talkest as a woman, child; it is not for an assault on +Hiram Doolittle, but for threatening the life of a constable, who was +in the performance of—” + +“It is immaterial whether it be one or the other,” interrupted Miss +Temple, with a logic that contained more feeling than reason; “I know +Natty to be innocent, and thinking so I must think all wrong who +oppress him.” + +“His judge among the number! thy father, Elizabeth?” + +“Nay, nay, nay; do not put such questions to me; give me my +commission, father, and let me proceed to execute it.” + +The Judge paused a moment, smiling fondly on his child, and then +dropped his hand affectionately on her shoulder, as he answered: + +“Thou hast reason, Bess, and much of it, too, but thy heart lies too +near thy head, But listen; in this pocketbook are two hundred dollars. +Go to the prison—there are none in this pace to harm thee—give this +note to the jailer, and, when thou seest Bumppo, say what thou wilt to +the poor old man; give scope to the feeling of thy warm heart; but try +to remember, Elizabeth, that the laws alone remove us from the +condition of the savages; that he has been criminal, and that his +judge was thy father.” + +Miss Temple made no reply, but she pressed the hand that held the +pocket-book to her bosom, and, taking her friend by the arm, they +issued together from the inclosure into the principal street of the +village. + +As they pursued their walk in silence, under the row of houses, where +the deeper gloom of the evening effectually concealed their persons, +no sound reached them, excepting the slow tread of a yoke of oxen, +with the rattling of j a cart, that were moving along the street in +the same direction with themselves, The figure of the teamster was +just discernible by the dim light, lounging by the side of his cattle +with a listless air, as if fatigued by the toil of the day. At the +corner, where the jail stood, the progress of the ladies was impeded, +for a moment, by the oxen, who were turned up to the side of the +building, and given a lock of hay, which they had carried on their +necks, as a reward for their patient labor, The whole of this was so +natural, and so common, that Elizabeth saw nothing to induce a second +glance at the team, until she heard the teamster speaking to his +cattle in a low voice: + +“Mind yourself, Brindle; will you, sir! will you!” The language itself +was so unusual to oxen, with which all who dwell in a new country are +familiar; but there was something in the voice, also, that startled +Miss Temple On turning the corner, she necessarily approached the man, +and her look was enabled to detect the person of Oliver Edwards, +concealed under the coarse garb of a teamster. Their eyes met at the +same instant, and, not- t withstanding the gloom, and the enveloping +cloak of Elizabeth, the recognition was mutual. + +“Miss Temple!” “Mr. Edwards!” were exclaimed simultaneously, though a +feeling that seemed common to both rendered the words nearly +inaudible. + +“Is it possible!” exclaimed Edwards, after the moment of doubt had +passed; “do I see you so nigh the jail! but you are going to the +rectory: I beg pardon, Miss Grant, I believe; I did not recognize you +at first.” + +The sigh which Louisa tittered was so faint, that it was only heard by +Elizabeth, who replied quickly, “We are going not only to the jail, +Mr. Edwards' but into it. We wish to show the Leather-Stocking that +we do not forget his services, and that at the same time we must be +just, we are also grateful. I suppose you are on a similar errand; +but let me beg that you will give us leave to precede you ten minutes. +Good-night, sir; I— I—am quite sorry, Mr. Edwards, to see you reduced +to such labor; I am sure my father would—” + +“I shall wait your pleasure, madam,” interrupted the youth coldly. +“May I beg that you will not mention my being here?” + +“Certainly,” said Elizabeth, returning his bow by a slight inclination +of her head, and urging the tardy Louisa forward. As they entered the +jailer’s house, however, Miss Grant found leisure to whisper: + +“Would it not be well to offer part of your money to Oliver? half of +it will pay the fine of Bumppo; and he is so unused to hardships! I am +sure my father will subscribe much of his little pittance, to place +him in a station that is more worthy of him.” + +The involuntary smile that passed over the features of Elizabeth was +blended with an expression of deep and heartfelt pity. She did not +reply, however, and the appearance of the jailer soon recalled the +thoughts of both to the object of their visit. + +The rescue of the ladies, and their consequent interest in his +prisoner, together with the informal manners that prevailed in the +country, all united to prevent any surprise on the part of the jailer, +at their request for admission to Bumppo. The note of Judge Temple, +however, would have silenced all objections, if he had felt them and +he led the way without hesitation to the apartment that held the +prisoners. The instant the key was put into the lock, the hoarse +voice of Benjamin was heard, demanding: + +“Yo hoy! who comes there?” + +“Some visitors that you’ll be glad to see,” returned the jailer. +“What have you done to the lock, that it won’t turn” + +“Handsomely, handsomely, master,” cried the steward: +“I have just drove a nail into a berth alongside of this here bolt, as +a stopper, d’ye see, so that Master Doo-but little can’t be running in +and breezing up another fight atwixt us: for, to my account, there’ll +be but a han-yan with me soon, seeing that they’ll mulct me of my +Spaniards, all the same as if I’d over-flogged the lubber. Throw your +ship into the wind, and lay by for a small matter, will ye? and I’ll +soon clear a passage.” + +The sounds of hammering gave an assurance that the steward was in +earnest, and in a short time the lock yielded, when the door was +opened. + +Benjamin had evidently been anticipating the seizure of his money, for +he had made frequent demands on the favorite cask at the “Bold +Dragoon,” during the afternoon and evening, and was now in that state +which by marine imagery is called “half-seas-over.” It was no easy +thing to destroy the balance of the old tar by the effects of liquor, +for, as he expressed it himself, “he was too low-rigged not to carry +sail in all weathers;” but he was precisely in that condition which is +so expressively termed “muddy.” When he perceived who the visitors +were, he retreated to the side of the room where his pallet lay, and, +regardless of the presence of his young mistress, seated himself on it +with an air of great sobriety, placing his back firmly against the +wall. + +“If you undertake to spoil my locks in this manner, Mr. Pump,” said +the jailer, “I shall put a stopper, as you call it, on your legs, and +tie you down to your bed.” + +“What for should ye, master?” grumbled Benjamin; “I’ve rode out one +squall to-day anchored by the heels, and I wants no more of them. +Where’s the harm o’ doing all the same as yourself? Leave that there +door free out board, and you’ll find no locking inboard, I’ll promise +ye.” + +“I must shut up for the night at nine,” said the jailer, “and it’s now +forty-two minutes past eight.” He placed the little candle on a rough +pine table, and withdrew. + +“Leather-Stocking!” said Elizabeth, when the key of the door was +turned on them again, “my good friend, Leather-Stocking! I have come +on a message of gratitude. Had you submitted to the search, worthy +old man, the death of the deer would have been a trifle, and all would +have been well———” + +“Submit to the sarch!” interrupted Natty, raising his face from +resting on his knees, without rising from the corner where he had +seated himself; “d’ye think gal, I would let such a varmint into my +hut? No, no—I wouldn’t have opened the door to your own sweet +countenance then. But they are welcome to search among the coals and +ashes now; they’ll find only some such heap as is to be seen at every +pot-ashery in the mountains.” + +The old man dropped his face again on one hand, and seemed to be lost +in melancholy. + +“The hut can be rebuilt, and made better than before,” returned Miss +Temple;” and it shall be my office to see it done, when your +imprisonment is ended.” + +Can ye raise the dead, child?” said Natty, in a sorrowful voice: “can +ye go into the place where you’ve laid your fathers, and mothers, and +children, and gather together their ashes, and make the same men and +women of them as afore? You do not know what ‘tis to lay your head for +more than forty years under the cover of the same logs, and to look at +the same things for the better part of I a man’s life. You are young +yet, child, but you are one of the most precious of God’s creatures. +I had hoped for ye that it might come to pass, but it’s all over now; +this, put to that, will drive the thing quite out of his mind for +ever.” + +Miss Temple must have understood the meaning of the old man better +than the other listeners; for while Louisa stood innocently by her +side, commiserating the griefs of the hunter, she bent her head aside, +so as to conceal her features. The action and the feeling that caused +it lasted but a moment. + +“Other logs, and better, though, can be had, and shall be found for +you, my old defender,” she continued. “Your confinement will soon +be over, and, before that time arrives, I shall have a house prepared +for you, where I you may spend the close of your long and harmless +life in ease and plenty.” + +“Ease and plenty! house!” repeated Natty, slowly. “You mean well, you +mean well, and I quite mourn that it cannot be; but he has seen me a +sight and a laughing-stock for—” + +“Damn your stocks,” said Benjamin, flourishing his bottle with one +hand, from which he had been taking hasty and repeated draughts, +while he made gestures of disdain with the other: “who cares for his +bilboes? There’s a leg that been stuck up on end like a jibboom for an +hour. d’ye see, and what’s it the worse for’t, ha? canst tell me, +what’s it the worser, ha?” + +“I believe you forget, Mr. Pump, in whose presence you are,” said +Elizabeth. + +“Forget you, Miss Lizzy?” returned the steward; “if I do, dam’me; you +are not to be forgot, like Goody Pretty-bones, up at the big house +there. I say, old sharpshooter, she may have pretty bones, but I +can’t say so much for her flesh, d’ye see, for she looks somewhat like +anatomy with another man’s jacket on. Now for the skin of her face, +it’s all the same as a new topsail with a taut bolt-rope, being snug +at the leeches, but all in a bight about the inner cloths,” + +“Peace—I command you to be silent, sir!” said Elizabeth. + +“Ay, ay, ma’am,” returned the steward. “You didn’t say I shouldn’t +drink, though.” + +“We will not speak of what is to become of others,” said Miss Temple, +turning again to the hunter—” but of your own fortunes, Natty. It +shall be my care to see that you pass the rest of your days in ease +and plenty.” + +“Ease and plenty!” again repeated the Leather-Stocking; “what ease can +there be to an old man, who must walk a mile across the open fields, +before he can find a shade to hide him from a scorching sun! or what +plenty is there where you hunt a day, and not start a buck, or see +anything bigger than a mink, or maybe a stray fox! Ah! I shall have a +hard time after them very beavers, for this fine. I must go low +toward the Pennsylvania line in search of the creatures, maybe a +hundred mile; for they are not to be got here-away. No, no—your +betterments and clearings have druv the knowing things out of the +country, and instead of beaver-dams, which is the nater of the animal, +and according to Providence, you turn back the waters over the low +grounds with your mill-dams, as if ‘twas in man to stay the drops from +going where He wills them to go—Benny, unless you stop your hand from +going so often to your mouth, you won’t be ready to start when the +time comes. + +“Hark’ee, Master Bump-ho,” said the steward; “don’t you fear for Ben, +When the watch is called, set me of my legs and give me the bearings +and the distance of where you want me to steer, and I’ll carry sail +with the best of you, I will.” + +“The time has come now,” said the hunter, listening; “I hear the horns +of the oxen rubbing agin’ the side of the jail.” + +“Well, say the word, and then heave ahead, shipmate,” said Benjamin. + +“You won’t betray us, gal?” said Natty, looking simply into the face +of Elizabeth—” you won’t betray an old man, who craves to breathe the +clear air of heaven? I mean no harm; and if the law says that I must +pay the hundred dollars, I’ll take the season through, but it shall be +forthcoming; and this good man will help me.” + +“You catch them,” said Benjamin, with a sweeping gesture of his arm, +“and if they get away again, call me a slink, that’s all.” + +“But what mean you?” cried thc wondering Elizabeth. “ Here you must +stay for thirty days; but I have the money for your fine in this +purse. Take it; pay it in the morning, and summon patience for your +mouth. I will come often to see you, with my friend; we will make up +your clothes with our own hands; indeed, indeed, you shall be +comfortable.” + +“Would ye, children?” said Natty, advancing across the floor with an +air of kindness, and taking the hand of Elizabeth, “would ye be so +kearful of an old man, and just for shooting a beast which cost him +nothing? Such things doesn’t run in the blood, I believe, for you seem +not to forget a favor. Your little fingers couldn’t do much on a +buckskin, nor be you used to push such a thread as sinews. But if he +hasn’t got past hearing, he shalt hear it and know it, that he may +see, like me, there is some who know how to remember a kindness,” + +“Tell him nothing,” cried Elizabeth, earnestly; “if you love me, if +you regard my feelings, tell him nothing. It is of yourself only I +would talk, and for yourself only I act. I grieve, Leather-Stocking, +that the law requires that you should be detained here so long; but, +after all, it will be only a short month, and——” + +“A month?” exclaimed Natty, opening his mouth with his usual laugh, +“not a day, nor a night, nor an hour, gal. Judge Temple may sintence, +but he can’t keep without a better dungeon than this. I was taken +once by the French, and they put sixty-two of us in a block-house, +nigh hand to old Frontinac; but ‘twas easy to cut through a pine log +to them that was used to timber.” The hunter paused, and looked +cautiously around the room, when, laughing again, he shoved the +steward gently from his post, and removing the bedclothes, discovered +a hole recently cut in the logs with a mallet and chisel. “It’s only +a kick, and the outside piece is off, and then—” + +“Off! ay, off!” cried Benjamin, rising from his stupor; “well, here’s +off. Ay! ay! you catch ‘em, and I'll hold on to them said beaver- +hats,” + +“I fear this lad will trouble me much,” said Natty; “‘twill be a hard +pull for the mountain, should they take the scent soon, and he is not +in a state of mind to run.” + +“Run!” echoed the steward; “no, sheer alongside, and let’s have a +fight of it.” + +“Peace!” ordered Elizabeth. + +“Ay, ay, ma’am.” + +“You will not leave us, surely, Leather-Stocking,” continued Miss +Temple; “I beseech you, reflect that you will be driven to the woods +entirely, and that you are fast getting old. Be patient for a little +time, when you can go abroad openly, and with honor.” + +“Is there beaver to be catched here, gal?” + +“If not, here is money to discharge the fine, and in a month you are +free. See, here it is in gold.” + +“Gold!” said Natty, with a kind of childish curiosity; “it’s long sin’ +I’ve seen a gold-piece. We used to get the broad joes, in the old +war, as plenty as the bears be now. I remember there was a man in +Dieskau’s army, that was killed, who had a dozen of the shining things +sewed up in his shirt. I didn’t handle them myself, but I seen them +cut out with my own eyes; they was bigger and brighter than them be.” + +“These are English guineas, and are yours,” said Elizabeth; “an +earnest of what shall be done for you.” + +“Me! why should you give me this treasure!” said Natty, looking +earnestly at the maiden. + +“Why! have you not saved my life? Did you not rescue me from the jaws +of the beast?” exclaimed Elizabeth, veiling her eyes, as if to hide +some hideous object from her view. + +The hunter took the money, and continued turning it in his hand for +some time, piece by piece, talking aloud during the operation. + +“There’s a rifle, they say, out on the Cherry Valley, that will carry +a hundred rods and kill. I’ve seen good guns in my day, but none +quite equal to that. A hundred rods with any sartainty is great +shooting! Well, well— I’m old, and the gun I have will answer my time. +Here, child, take back your gold. But the hour has come; I hear him +talking to the cattle, and I must be going. You won’t tell of us, +gal—you won’t tell of us, will ye?” + +“Tell of you!” echoed Elizabeth. “But take the money, old man; take +the money, even if you go into the mountains.” + +“No, no,” said Natty, shaking his head kindly; “I would not rob you so +for twenty rifles. But there’s one thing you can do for me, if ye +will, that no other is at hand to do. + +“Name it—name it.” + +“Why, it’s only to buy a canister of powder—’twill cost two silver +dollars. Benny Pump has the money ready, but we daren’t come into the +town to get it. Nobody has it but the Frenchman. 'Tis of the best, +and just suits a rifle. Will you get it for me, gal?—say, will you +get it for me?” + +“Will I? I will bring it to you, Leather-Stocking, though I toil a day +in quest of you through the woods. But where shall I find you, and +how?” + +“Where?” said Natty, musing a moment—” to-morrow on the Vision; on the +very top of the Vision, I’ll meet you, child, just as the sun gets +over our heads. See that it’s the fine grain; you’ll know it by the +gloss and the price.” + +“I will do it,” said Elizabeth, firmly. + +Natty now seated himself, and placing his feet in the hole, with a +slight effort he opened a passage through into the street. The ladies +heard the rustling of hay, and well understood the reason why Edwards +was in the capacity of a teamster. + +“Come, Benny,” said the hunter: “‘twill be no darker to-night, for the +moon will rise in an hour.” + +“Stay!” exclaimed Elizabeth; “it should not be said that you escaped +in the presence of the daughter of Judge Temple. Return, Leather- +Stocking, and let us retire be fore you execute your plan.” + +Natty was about to reply, when the approaching footsteps of the jailer +announced the necessity of his immediate return. He had barely time +to regain his feet, and to conceal the hole with the bedclothes, +across which Benjamin very opportunely fell, before the key was +turned, and the door of the apartment opened. + +“Isn’t Miss Temple ready to go?” said the civil jailer; “ it’s the +usual hour for locking up.” + +“I follow you, sir,” returned Elizabeth “good-night, Leather- +Stocking.” + +“It’s a fine grain, gal, and I think twill carry lead further than +common. I am getting old, and can’t follow up the game with the step +I used to could,” + +Miss Temple waved her hand for silence, and preceded Louisa and the +keeper from the apartment. The man turned the key once, and observed +that he would return and secure his prisoners, when he had lighted the +ladies to the street. Accordingly they parted at the door of the +building, when the jailer retired to his dungeons, and the ladies +walked, with throbbing hearts, toward the corner. + +“Now the Leather-Stocking refuses the money,” whispered Louisa, “it +can all be given to Mr. Edwards, and that added to—” + +“Listen!” said Elizabeth; “ I hear the rustling of the hay; they are +escaping at this moment. Oh! they will be detected instantly!” + +By this time they were at the corner, where Edwards and Natty were in +the act of drawing the almost helpless body of Benjamin through the +aperture. The oxen had started back from their hay, and were standing +with their heads down the street, leaving room for the party to act +in. + +“Throw the hay into the cart,” said Edwards, “or they will suspect how +it has been done. Quick, that they may not see it.” + +Natty had just returned from executing this order, when the light of +the keeper’s candle shone through the hole, and instantly his voice +was heard in the jail exclaiming for his prisoners. + +“What is to be done now?” said Edwards; “this drunken fellow will +cause our detection, and we have not a moment to spare.” + +“Who’s drunk, ye lubber?” muttered the steward. + +“A break-jail! a break-jail!” shouted five or six voices from within. + +“We must leave him,” said Edwards. + +“‘Twouldn’t be kind, lad,” returned Natty; “he took half the disgrace +of the stocks on himself to-day, and the creatur’ has feeling.” + +At this moment two or three men were heard issuing from the door of +the “Bold Dragoon,” and among them the voice of Billy Kirby. + +“There’s no moon yet,” cried the wood-chopper; “but it’s a clear +night. Come, who’s for home? Hark! what a rumpus they’re kicking up +in the jail—here’s go and see what it’s about.” + +“We shall be lost,” said Edwards, “if we don’t drop this man.” + +At that instant Elizabeth moved close to him, and said rapidly, in a +low voice: + +“Lay him in the cart, and start the oxen; no one will look there.” + +“There’s a woman’s quickness in the thought,” said the youth. + +The proposition was no sooner made than executed. The steward was +seated on the hay, and enjoined to hold his peace and apply the goad +that was placed in his hand, while the oxen were urged on. So soon as +this arrangement was completed, Edwards and the hunter stole along the +houses for a short distance, when they disappeared through an opening +that led into the rear of the buildings. + +The oxen were in brisk motion, and presently the cries of pursuit were +heard in the street. The ladies quickened their pace, with a wish to +escape the crowd of constables and idlers that were approaching, some +execrating, and some laughing at the exploit of the prisoners. In the +confusion, the voice of Kirby was plainly distinguishable above all +the others, shouting and swearing that he would have the fugitives, +threatening to bring back Natty in one pocket, and Benjamin in the +other. + +“Spread yourselves, men,” he cried, as he passed the ladies, his heavy +feet sounding along the street like the tread of a dozen; “spread +yourselves; to the mountains; they’ll be in the mountains in a quarter +of an hour, and then look out for a long rifle.” + +His cries were echoed from twenty mouths, for not only the jail but +the taverns had sent forth their numbers, some earnest in the pursuit, +and others joining it as in sport. + +As Elizabeth turned in at her father’s gate she saw the wood-chopper +stop at the cart, when she gave Benjamin up for lost. While they were +hurrying up the walk, two figures, stealing cautiously but quickly +under the shades of the trees, met the eyes of the ladies, and in a +moment Edwards and the hunter crossed their path. + +“Miss Temple, I may never see you again,” exclaimed the youth; “let me +thank you for all your kindness; you do not, cannot know my motives.” + +“Fly! fly!” cried Elizabeth; “the village is alarmed. Do not be found +conversing with me at such a moment, and in these grounds.” + +“Nay, I must speak, though detection were certain,” + +“Your retreat to the bridge is already cut off; before you can gain +the wood your pursuers will be there. If—” + +“If what?” cried the youth. “Your advice has saved me once already; I +will follow it to death.” + +“The street is now silent and vacant,” said Elizabeth, after a pause; +“cross it, and you will find my father’s boat in the lake. It would +be easy to land from it where you please in the hills.” + +“But Judge Temple might complain of the trespass.” + +“His daughter shall be accountable, sir.” + +The youth uttered something in a low voice, that was heard only by +Elizabeth, and turned to execute what she had suggested. As they were +separating, Natty approached the females, and said: + +“You’ll remember the canister of powder, children. Them beavers must +be had, and I and the pups be getting old; we want the best of +ammunition.” + +“Come, Natty,” said Edwards, impatiently. + +“Coming, lad, coming. God bless you, young ones, both of ye, for ye +mean well and kindly to the old man.” + +The ladies paused until they had lost sight of the retreating figures, +when they immediately entered the mansion-house. + +While this scene was passing in the walk, Kirby had overtaken the +cart, which was his own, and had been driven by Edwards, without +asking the owner, from the place where the patient oxen usually stood +at evening, waiting the pleasure of their master. + +“Woa—come hither, Golden,” he cried; “why, how come you off the end of +the bridge, where I left you, dummies?” + +“Heave ahead,” muttered Benjamin, giving a random blow with his lash, +that alighted on the shoulder of the other. + +“Who the devil be you?” cried Billy, turning round in surprise, but +unable to distinguish, in the dark, the hard visage that was just +peering over the cart-rails. + +“Who be I? why, I’m helmsman aboard of this here craft d’ye see, and a +straight wake I’m making of it. Ay, ay! I’ve got the bridge right +ahead, and the bilboes dead aft: I calls that good steerage, boy. +Heave ahead.” + +“Lay your lash in the right spot, Mr. Benny Pump,” said the wood- +chopper, “or I’ll put you in the palm of my hand and box your ears. +Where be you going with my team?” + +“Team!” + +“Ay. my cart and oxen,” + +“Why, you must know, Master Kirby, that the Leather-Stocking and I— +that’s Benny Pump—you knows Ben?— well, Benny and I—no, me and Benny; +dam’me if I know how ‘tis; but some of us are bound after a cargo of +beaver-skins, d’ye see, so we’ve pressed the cart to ship them ‘ome +in. I say, Master Kirby, what a lubberly oar you pull—you handle an +oar, boy, pretty much as a cow would a musket, or a lady would a +marling-spike.” + +Billy had discovered the state of the steward’s mind, and he walked +for some time alongside of the cart, musing with himself, when he took +the goad from Benjamin (who fell back on the hay and was soon asleep) +and drove his cattle down the street, over the bridge, and up the +mountain, toward a clearing in which he was to work the next day, +without any other interruption than a few hasty questions from parties +of the constables. + +Elizabeth stood for an hour at the window of her room, and saw the +torches of the pursuers gliding along the side of the mountain, and +heard their shouts and alarms; but, at the end of that time, the last +party returned, wearied and disappointed, and the village became as +still as when she issued from the gate on her mission to the jail. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + + + +“And I could weep “—th’ Oneida chief +His descant wildly thus begun—” +But that I may not stain with grief +The death-song of my father’s son.”—Gertrude OF Wyoming. + +It was yet early on the following morning, when Elizabeth and Louisa +met by appointment, and proceeded to the store of Monsieur Le Quoi, in +order to redeem the pledge the former had given to the Leather- +Stocking. The people were again assembling for the business of the +day, but the hour was too soon for a crowd, and the ladies found the +place in possession of its polite owner, Billy Kirby, one female +customer, and the boy who did the duty of helper or clerk. + +Monsieur Le Quoi was perusing a packet of letters with manifest +delight, while the wood-chopper, with one hand thrust in his bosom, +and the other in the folds of his jacket, holding an axe under his +right arm, stood sympathizing in the Frenchman’s pleasure with good- +natured interest. The freedom of manners that prevailed in the new +settlements commonly levelled all difference in rank, and with it, +frequently, all considerations of education and intelligence. At the +time the ladies entered the store, they were unseen by the owner, who +was saying to Kirby: + +“Ah! ha! Monsieur Beel, dis lettair mak me de most happi of mans. Ah! +ma chére France! I vill see you again.” + +“I rejoice, monsieur, at anything that contributes to your happiness,” +said Elizabeth, “ but hope we are not going to lose you entirely.” + +The complaisant shopkeeper changed the language to French and +recounted rapidly to Elizabeth his hopes of being permitted to return +to his own country. Habit had, however, so far altered the manners of +this pliable person age, that he continued to serve the wood-chopper, +who was in quest of some tobacco, while he related to his more gentle +visitor the happy change that had taken place in the dispositions of +his own countrymen. + +The amount of it all was, that Mr. Le Quoi, who had fled from his own +country more through terror than because he was offensive to the +ruling powers in France, had succeeded at length in getting an +assurance that his return to the West Indies would be unnoticed; and +the Frenchman, who had sunk into the character of a country shopkeeper +with so much grace, was about to emerge again from his obscurity into +his proper level in society. + +We need not repeat the civil things that passed between the parties on +this occasion, nor recount the endless repetitions of sorrow that the +delighted Frenchman expressed at being compelled to quit the society +of Miss Temple. Elizabeth took an opportunity, during this +expenditure of polite expressions, to purchase the powder privately of +the boy, who bore the generic appellation of Jonathan. Be fore they +parted, however, Mr. Le Quoi, who seemed to think that he had not said +enough, solicited the honor of a private interview with the heiress, +with a gravity in his air that announced the importance of the +subject. After conceding the favor, and appointing a more favorable +time for the meeting, Elizabeth succeeded in getting out of the store, +into which the countrymen now began to enter, as usual, where they met +with the same attention and bien seance as formerly. + +Elizabeth and Louisa pursued their walk as far as the bridge in +profound silence; but when they reached that place the latter stopped, +and appeared anxious to utter something that her diffidence +suppressed. + +“Are you ill, Louisa?” exclaimed Miss Temple; “had we not better +return, and seek another opportunity to meet the old man?” + +“Not ill, but terrified. Oh! I never, never can go on that hill again +with you only. I am not equal to it, in deed I am not.” + +This was an unexpected declaration to Elizabeth, who, although she +experienced no idle apprehension of a danger that no longer existed, +felt most sensitively all the delicacy of maiden modesty. She stood +for some time, deeply reflecting within herself; but, sensible it was +a time for action instead of reflection, she struggled to shake off +her hesitation, and replied, firmly: + +“Well, then it must be done by me alone. There is no other than +yourself to be trusted, or poor old Leather-Stocking will be +discovered. Wait for me in the edge of these woods, that at least I +may not be seen strolling in the hills by myself just now, One would +not wish to create remarks, Louisa—if—if— You will wait for me, dear +girl?” + +“A year, in sight of the village, Miss Temple,’ returned the agitated +Louisa, “but do not, do not ask me to go on that hill.” + +Elizabeth found that her companion was really unable to proceed, and +they completed their arrangement by posting Louisa out of the +observation of the people who occasionally passed, but nigh the road, +and in plain view of the whole valley. Miss Temple then proceeded +alone. She ascended the road which has been so often mentioned in our +narrative, with an elastic and firm step, fearful that the delay in +the store of Mr. Le Quoi, and the time necessary for reaching the +summit, would prevent her being punctual to the appointment Whenever +she pressed an opening in the bushes, she would pause for breath, or, +per haps, drawn from her pursuit by the picture at her feet, would +linger a moment to gaze at the beauties of the valley. The long +drought had, however, changed its coat of verdure to a hue of brown, +and, though the same localities were there, the view wanted the lively +and cheering aspect of early summer. Even the heavens seemed to share +in the dried appearance of the earth, for the sun was concealed by a +haziness in the atmosphere, which looked like a thin smoke without a +particle of moisture, if such a thing were possible. The blue sky was +scarcely to be seen, though now, and then there was a faint lighting +up in spots through which masses of rolling vapor could be discerned +gathering around the horizon, as if nature were struggling to collect +her floods for the relief of man. The very atmosphere that Elizabeth +inhaled was hot and dry, and by the time she reached the point where +the course led her from the highway she experienced a sensation like +suffocation. But, disregarding her feelings, she hastened to execute +her mission, dwelling on nothing but the disappointment, and even the +helplessness, the hunter would experience without her aid. + +On the summit of the mountain which Judge Temple had named the +“Vision,” a little spot had been cleared, in order that a better view +might he obtained of the village and the valley. At this point +Elizabeth understood the hunter she was to meet him; and thither she +urged her way, as expeditiously as the difficulty of the ascent, and +the impediment of a forest, in a state of nature, would admit. +Numberless were the fragments of rocks, trunks of fallen trees, and +branches, with which she had to contend; but every difficulty vanished +before her resolution, and, by her own watch, she stood on the desired +spot several minutes before the appointed hour. + +After resting a moment on the end of a log, Miss Temple cast a glance +about her in quest of her old friend, but he was evidently not in the +clearing; she arose and walked around its skirts, examining every +place where she thought it probable Natty might deem it prudent to +conceal him self. Her search was fruitless; and, after exhausting not +only herself, but her conjectures, in efforts to discover or imagine +his situation, she ventured to trust her voice in that solitary place. + +“Natty! Leather-Stocking! old man!” she called aloud, in every +direction; but no answer was given, excepting the reverberations of +her own clear tones, as they were echoed in the parched forest. + +Elizabeth approached the brow of the mountain, where a faint cry, like +the noise produced by striking the hand against the mouth, at the same +time that the breath is strongly exhaled, was heard answering to her +own voice. Not doubting in the least that it was the Leather-Stocking +lying in wait for her, and who gave that signal to indicate the place +where he was to be found, Elizabeth descended for near a hundred feet, +until she gained a little natural terrace, thinly scattered with +trees, that grew in the fissures of the rocks, which were covered by a +scanty soil. She had advanced to the edge of this platform, and was +gazing over the perpendicular precipice that formed its face, when a +rustling among the dry leaves near her drew her eyes in another +direction. Our heroine certainly was startled by the object that she +then saw, but a moment restored her self-possession, and she advanced +firmly, and with some interest in her manner, to the spot. + +Mohegan was seated on the trunk of a fallen oak, with his tawny visage +turned toward her, and his eyes fixed on her face with an expression +of wildness and fire, that would have terrified a less resolute +female. His blanket had fallen from his shoulders, and was lying in +folds around him, leaving his breast, arms, and most of his body bare. +‘The medallion of Washington reposed on his chest, a badge of +distinction that Elizabeth well knew he only produced on great and +solemn occasions. But the whole appearance of the aged chief was more +studied than common, and in some particulars it was terrific. The +long black hair was plaited on his head, failing away, so as to expose +his high forehead and piercing eyes. In the enormous incisions of his +ears were entwined ornaments of silver, beads, and porcupine’s quills, +mingled in a rude taste, and after the Indian fashions. A large drop, +composed of similar materials, was suspended from the cartilage of his +nose, and, falling below his lips, rested on his chin. Streaks of red +paint crossed his wrinkled brow, and were traced down his cheeks, with +such variations in the lines as caprice or custom suggested. His body +was also colored in the same manner; the whole exhibiting an Indian +warrior prepared for some event of more than usual moment. + +“John! how fare you, worthy John?” said Elizabeth, as she approached +him; “you have long been a stranger in the village. You promised me a +willow basket, and I have long had a shirt of calico in readiness for +you.” + +The Indian looked steadily at her for some time without answering, and +then, shaking his head, he replied, in his low, guttural tones: + +“John’s hand can make baskets no more—he wants no shirt.” + +But if he should, he will know where to come for it,” returned Miss +Temple. “Indeed old John. I feel as if you had a natural right to +order what you will from us.” + +“Daughter,” said the Indian, “listen : Six times ten hot summers have +passed since John was young tall like a pine; straight like the bullet +of Hawk-eye, strong as all buffalo; spry as the cat of the mountain. +He was strong, and a warrior like the Young Eagle. If his tribe +wanted to track the Maquas for many suns, the eye of Chingachgook +found the print of their moccasins. If the people feasted and were +glad, as they counted the scalps of their enemies, it was on his pole +they hung. If the squaws cried because there was no meat for their +children, he was the first in the chase. His bullet was swifter than +the deer. Daughter, then Chingachgook struck his tomahawk into the +trees; it was to tell the lazy ones where to find him and the Mingoes— +but he made no baskets.” + +“Those times have gone by, old warrior,” returned Elizabeth ; “ since +then your people have disappeared, and, in place of chasing your +enemies, you have learned to fear God and to live at peace.” + +“Stand here, daughter, where you can see the great spring, the wigwams +of your father, and the land on the crooked river. John was young +when his tribe gave away the country, in council, from where the blue +mountain stands above the water, to where the Susquehanna is hid by +the trees. All this, and all that grew in it, and all that walked +over it, and all that fed there, they gave to the Fire-eater——for they +loved him. He was strong, and they were women, and he helped them. +No Delaware would kill a deer that ran in his woods, nor stop a bird +that flew over his land; for it was his. Has John lived in peace? +Daughter, since John was young, he has seen the white man from +Frontinac come down on his white brothers at Albany and fight. Did +they fear God? He has seen his English and his American fathers +burying their tomahawks in each other’s brains, for this very land. +Did they fear God, and live in peace? He has seen the land pass away +from the Fire-eater, and his children, and the child of his child, and +a new chief set over the country. Did they live in peace who did +this? did they fear God?” + +“Such is the custom of the whites, John. Do not the Delawares fight, +and exchange their lands for powder, and blankets, and merchandise?” + +The Indian turned his dark eyes on his companion, and kept them there +with a scrutiny that alarmed her a little. + +“Where are the blankets and merchandise that bought the right of the +Fire-eater?” he replied in a more animated voice; “are they with him +in his wigwam? Did they say to him, Brother, sell us your land, and +take this gold, this silver, these blankets, these rifles, or even +this rum? No; they tore it front him, as a scalp is torn from an +enemy; and they that did it looked not behind them, to see whether he +lived or died. Do such men live in peace and fear the Great Spirit?” + +“But you hardly understand the circumstances,” said Elizabeth, more +embarrassed than she would own, even to herself. “If you knew our +laws and customs better, you would Judge differently of our acts. Do +not believe evil of my father, old Mohegan, for he is just and good.” + +“The brother of Miquon is good, and he will do right. I have said it +to Hawk-eye---I have said it to the Young Eagle that the brother of +Miquon would do justice.” + +“Whom call you the Young Eagle?” said Elizabeth, averting her face +from the gaze of the Indian, as she asked the question; “whence comes +he, and what are his rights?” + +“Has my daughter lived so long with him to ask this question?” +returned the Indian warily. “Old age freezes up the blood, as the +frosts cover the great spring in winter; but youth keeps the streams +of the blood open like a sun in the time of blossoms. The Young Eagle +has eyes; had he no tongue?” + +The loveliness to which the old warrior alluded was in no degree +diminished by his allegorical speech; for the blushes of the maiden +who listened covered her burning cheeks till her dark eyes seemed to +glow with their reflection; but, after struggling a moment with shame, +she laughed, as if unwilling to understand him seriously, and replied +in pleasantry: + +“Not to make me the mistress of his secret. He is too much of a +Delaware to tell his secret thoughts to a woman.” + +“Daughter, the Great Spirit made your father with a white skin, and he +made mine with a red; but he colored both their hearts with blood. +When young, it is swift and warm; but when old, it is still and cold. +Is there difference below the skin? No. Once John had a woman. She +was the mother of so many sons”—he raised his hand with three fingers +elevated—” and she had daughters that would have made the young +Delawares happy. She was kind, daughter, and what I said she did. +You have different fashions; but do you think John did not love the +wife of his youth—the mother of his children?” + +“And what has become of your family, John—your wife and your +children?” asked Elizabeth, touched by the Indian’s manner. + +“Where is the ice that covered the great spring? It is melted, and +gone with the waters. John has lived till all his people have left +him for the land of spirits; his time has come, and he is ready.” + +Mohegan dropped his head in his blanket, and sat in silence. Miss +Temple knew not what to say. She wished to draw the thoughts of the +old warrior from his gloomy recollections, but there was a dignity in +his sorrow, and in his fortitude, that repressed her efforts to speak. +After a long pause, however, she renewed the discourse by asking: + +“Where is the Leather-Stocking, John? I have brought this canister of +powder at his request; but he is nowhere to he seen. Will you take +charge of it, and see it delivered?” + +The Indian raised his head slowly and looked earnestly at the gift, +which she put into his hand. + +“This is the great enemy of my nation. Without this, when could the +white man drive the Delawares? Daughter, the Great Spirit gave your +fathers to know how to make guns and powder, that they might sweep the +Indians from the land. There will soon be no red-skin in the country. +When John has gone, the last will leave these hills, and his family +will be dead.” The aged warrior stretched his body forward, leaning an +elbow on his knee, and appeared to be taking a parting look at the +objects of the vale, which were still visible through the misty +atmosphere, though the air seemed to thicken at each moment around +Miss Temple, who became conscious of an increased difficulty of +respiration. The eye of Mohegan changed gradually from its sorrowful +expression to a look of wildness that might be supposed to border on +the inspiration of a prophet, as he continued: “But he will go on to +the country where his fathers have met. The game shall be plenty as +the Ash in the lakes. No woman shall cry for meat: no Mingo can ever +come The chase shall be for children; and all just red men shall live +together as brothers.” + +“John! this is not the heaven of a Christian,” cried Miss Temple; “you +deal now in the superstition of your forefathers.” + +“Fathers! sons!” said Mohegan, with firmness.—” all gone—all gone!—! +have no son but the Young Eagle, and he has the blood of a white man.” + +“Tell me, John,” said Elizabeth, willing to draw his thoughts to other +subjects, and at the same time yielding to her own powerful interest +in the youth; “who is this Mr. Edwards? why are you so fond of him, +and whence does he come ?” + +The Indian started at the question, which evidently recalled his +recollection to earth. Taking her hand, he drew Miss Temple to a seat +beside him, and pointed to the country beneath them. + +“See, daughter,” he said, directing her looks toward the north; “as +far as your young eyes can see, it was the land of his. But immense +volumes of smoke at that moment rolled over their heath, and, whirling +in the eddies formed by the mountains, interposed a barrier to their +sight, while he was speaking. Startled by this circumstance, Miss +Temple sprang to her feet, and, turning her eyes toward the summit of +the mountain, she beheld It covered by a similar canopy, while a +roaring sound was heard in the forest above her like the rushing of +winds. + +“What means it, John?” she exclaimed: “we are enveloped in smoke, and +I feel a heat like the glow of a furnace.” + +Before the Indian could reply, a voice was heard crying In the woods: +“John! where are you, old Mohegan! the woods are on fire, and you have +but a minute for escape.” + +The chief put his hand before his mouth, and, making it lay on his +lips, produced the kind of noise that had attracted Elizabeth to the +place, when a quick and hurried step was heard dashing through the +dried underbrush and bushes, and presently Edwards rushed to his side, +with horror an every feature. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + + + +“Love rules the court, the camp, the grove.”—Lay of the Last Minstrel. + +“IT would have been sad, indeed, to lose you in such manner, my old +friend,” said Oliver, catching his breath for utterance. “Up and +away! even now we may be too late; the flames are circling round the +point of the rock below, and, unless we can pass there, our only +chance must be over the precipice. Away! away! shake off your apathy, +John; now is the time of need.” + +Mohegan pointed toward Elizabeth, who, forgetting her danger, had sunk +back to a projection of the rock as soon as she recognized the sounds +of Edwards’ voice, and said with something like awakened animation: + +“Save her—leave John to die.” + +“Her! whom mean you?” cried the youth, turning quickly to the place +the other indicated; but when he saw the figure of Elizabeth bending +toward him in an attitude that powerfully spoke terror, blended with +reluctance to meet him in such a place, the shock deprived him of +speech. + +“Miss Temple!” he cried, when he found words; “ you here! is such a +death reserved for you!” + +“No, no, no—no death, I hope, for any of us, Mr. Edwards,” she +replied, endeavoring to speak calmly; there is smoke, but no fire to +harm us. Let us endeavor to retire.” + +“Take my arm,” said Edwards; “there must he an opening in some +direction for your retreat. Are you equal to the effort?” + +“Certainly. You surely magnify the danger, Mr. Ed wards. Lead me out +the way you came.” + +“I will—I will,” cried the youth, with a kind of hysterical utterance. +“No, no—there is no danger—I have alarmed you unnecessarily.” + +“But shall we leave the Indian—can we leave him, as be says, to die?” + +An expression of painful emotion crossed the face of the young man; he +stopped and cast a longing look at Mohegan but, dragging his companion +after him, even against her will, he pursued his way with enormous +strides toward the pass by which he had just entered the circle of +flame. + +“Do not regard him, “ he said, in those tones that de note a desperate +calmness; “he is used to the woods, and such scenes; and he will +escape up the mountain—over the rock—or he can remain where he is in +safety.” + +“You thought not so this moment, Edwards! Do not leave him there to +meet with such a death,” cried Elizabeth, fixing a look on the +countenance of her conductor that seemed to distrust his sanity. + +“An Indian born! who ever heard of an Indian dying by fire? An Indian +cannot burn; the idea is ridiculous. Hasten, hasten, Miss Temple, or +the smoke may incommodate you.” + +“Edwards! your look, your eye, terrifies me! Tell me the danger; is it +greater than it seems? I am equal to any trial.” + +“If we reach the point of yon rock before that sheet of fire, we are +safe, Miss Temple,” exclaimed the young man in a voice that burst +without the bounds of his forced composure. “ Fly! the struggle is +for life!” + +The place of the interview between Miss Temple and the Indian has +already been described as one of those plat forms of rock, which form +a sort of terrace in the mountains of that country, and the face of +it, we have said, was both high and perpendicular. Its shape was +nearly a natural arc, the ends of which blended with the mountain, at +points where its sides were less abrupt in their descent. It was +round one of these terminations of the sweep of the rock that Edwards +had ascended, and it was toward the same place that he urged Elizabeth +to a desperate exertion of speed. + +Immense clouds of white smoke had been pouring over the summit of the +mountain, and had concealed the approach and ravages of the element; +but a crackling sound drew the eyes of Miss Temple, as she flew over +the ground supported by the young man, toward the outline of smoke +where she already perceived the waving flames shooting forward from +the vapor, now flaring high in the air, and then bending to the earth, +seeming to light into combustion every stick and shrub on which they +breathed. The sight aroused them to redoubled efforts; but, +unfortunately, a collection of the tops of trees, old and dried, lay +directly across their course; and at the very moment when both had +thought their safety insured, the warm current of the air swept a +forked tongue of flame across the pile, which lighted at the touch; +and when they reached the spot, the flying pair were opposed by the +surly roaring of a body of fire, as if a furnace were glowing in their +path. They recoiled from the heat, and stood on a point of the rock, +gazing in a stupor at the flames which were spreading rap idly down +the mountain, whose side, too, became a sheet of living fire. It was +dangerous for one clad in the light and airy dress of Elizabeth to +approach even the vicinity of the raging element; and those flowing +robes, that gave such softness and grace to her form, seemed now to be +formed for the instruments of her destruction. + +The villagers were accustomed to resort to that hill, in quest of +timber and fuel; in procuring which, it was their usage to take only +the bodies of the trees, leaving the tops and branches to decay under +the operations of the weather. Much of the hill was, consequently, +covered with such light fuel, which, having been scorched under the +sun for the last two months, was ignited with a touch. Indeed, in +some cases, there did not appear to be any contact between the fire +and these piles, but the flames seemed to dart from heap to heap, as +the fabulous fire of the temple is represented to reillumine its +neglected lamp. + +There was beauty as well as terror in the sight, and Edwards and +Elizabeth stood viewing the progress of the desolation, with a strange +mixture of horror and interest. The former, however, shortly roused +himself to new exertions, and, drawing his companion after him, they +skirted the edge of the smoke, the young man penetrating frequently +into its dense volumes in search of a passage, but in every instance +without success. In this manner they proceeded in a semicircle around +the upper part of the terrace, until arriving at the verge of the +precipice opposite to the point where Edwards had ascended, the horrid +conviction burst on both, at the same instant, that they were +completely encircled by fire. So long as a single pass up or down the +mountain was unexplored, there was hope: but when retreat seemed to be +absolutely impracticable, the horror of their situation broke upon +Elizabeth as powerfully as if she had hitherto considered the danger +light. + +“This mountain is doomed to be fatal to me!” she whispered;” we shall +find our graves on it!” + +“Say not so, Miss Temple; there is yet hope,” returned the youth, in +the same tone, while the vacant expression of his eye contradicted his +words; “let us return to the point of the rock—there is—there must be— +some place about it where we can descend. + +“Lead me there,” exclaimed Elizabeth; “let us leave no effort +untried.” She did not wait for his compliance, but turning, retraced +her steps to the brow of the precipice, murmuring to herself, in +suppressed, hysterical sobs, My father! my poor, my distracted +father!” + +Edwards was by her side in an instant, and with aching eyes he +examined every fissure in the crags in quest of some opening that +might offer facilities for flight. But the smooth, even surface of +the rocks afforded hardly a resting-place for a foot, much less those +continued projections which would have been necessary for a descent of +nearly a hundred feet. Edwards was not slow in feeling the conviction +that this hope was also futile, and, with a kind of feverish despair +that still urged him to action, he turned to some new expedient. + +“There is nothing left, Miss Temple,” he said, “but to lower you from +this place to the rock beneath. If Natty were here, or even that +Indian could be roused, their ingenuity and long practice would easily +devise methods to do it; but I am a child at this moment in everything +but daring. Where shall I find means? This dress of mine is so light, +and there is so little of it—then the blanket of Mohegan; we must try— +we must try—anything is better than to see you a victim to such a +death!” + +“And what will become of you?” said Elizabeth. “In deed, indeed, +neither you nor John must be sacrificed to my safety.” + +He heard her not, for he was already by the side of Mohegan, who +yielded his blanket without a question, retaining his seat with Indian +dignity and composure, though his own situation was even more critical +than that of the others. The blanket was cut into shreds, and the +fragments fastened together: the loose linen jacket of the youth and +the light muslin shawl of Elizabeth were attached to them, and the +whole thrown over the rocks with the rapidity of lightning; but the +united Pieces did not reach half-way to the bottom. + +“It will not do—it will not do!” cried Elizabeth; “ for me there is no +hope! The fire comes slowly, but certainly. See, it destroys the very +earth before it!” + +Had the flames spread on that rock with half the quick ness with which +they leaped from bush to tree in other parts of the mountain, our +painful task would have soon ended; for they would have consumed +already the captives they inclosed. But the peculiarity of their +situation afforded Elizabeth and her companion the respite of which +they had availed themselves to make the efforts we have recorded. + +The thin covering of earth on the rock supported but a scanty and +faded herbage, and most of the trees that had found root in the +fissures had already died, during the in tense heats of preceding +summers. Those which still retained the appearance of life bore a few +dry and withered leaves, while the others were merely the wrecks of +pines, oaks, and maples. No better materials to feed the fire could +be found, had there been a communication with the flames; but the +ground was destitute of the brush that led the destructive element, +like a torrent, over the remainder of the hill. As auxiliary to this +scarcity of fuel, one of the large springs which abound in that +country gushed out of the side of the ascent above, and, after +creeping sluggishly along the level land, saturating the mossy +covering of the rock with moisture, it swept around the base of the +little cone that formed the pinnacle of the mountain, and, entering +the canopy of smoke near one of the terminations of the terrace, found +its way to the lake, not by dashing from rock to rock, but by the +secret channels of the earth. It would rise to the surface, here and +there, in the wet seasons, but in the droughts of summer it was to be +traced only by the bogs and moss that announced the proximity of +water. When the fire reached this barrier, it was compelled to pause, +until a concentration of its heat could overcome the moisture, like an +army awaiting the operations of a battering train, to open its way to +desolation. + +That fatal moment seemed now to have arrived, for the hissing steams +of the spring appeared to be nearly exhausted, and the moss of the +rocks was already curling under the intense heat, while fragments of +bark, that yet clung to the dead trees, began to separate from their +trunks, and fall to the ground in crumbling masses. The air seemed +quivering with rays of heat, which might be seen playing along the +parched stems of the trees. There were moments when dark clouds of +smoke would sweep along the little terrace; and, as the eye lost its +power, the other senses contributed to give effect to the fearful +horror of the scene. At such moments, the roaring of the flames, the +crackling of the furious element, with the tearing of falling +branches, and occasionally the thundering echoes of some falling tree, +united to alarm the victims. Of the three, however, the youth +appeared much the most agitated. Elizabeth, having relinquished +entirely the idea of escape, was fast obtaining that resigned +composure with which the most delicate of her sex are sometimes known +to meet unavoidable evils; while Mohegan, who was much nearer to the +danger, maintained his seat with the invincible resignation of an +Indian warrior. Once or twice the eye of the aged chief, which was +ordinarily fixed in the direction of the distant hills, turned toward +the young pair, who seemed doomed to so early a death, with a slight +indication of pity crossing his composed features, but it would +immediately revert again to its former gaze, as if already looking +into the womb of futurity. Much of the time he was chanting a kind of +low dirge in the Delaware tongue, using the deep and remarkable +guttural tones of his people. + +“At such a moment, Mr. Edwards, all earthly distinctions end,” +whispered Elizabeth; “persuade John to move nearer to us—let us die +together.” + +“I cannot—he will not stir,” returned the youth, in the same horridly +still tones. “ He considers this as the happiest moment of his life, +he is past seventy, and has been decaying rapidly for some time; he +received some injury in chasing that unlucky deer, too, on the lake, +Oh! Miss Temple, that was an unlucky chase, indeed! it has led, I +fear, to this awful scene.” + +The smile of Elizabeth was celestial. “Why name such a trifle now?—at +this moment the heart is dead to all earthly emotions!” + +“If anything could reconcile a man to this death,” cried the youth, +“it would be to meet it in such company!” + +“Talk not so, Edwards; talk not so,” interrupted Miss Temple. “I am +unworthy of it, and it is unjust to your self. We must die; yes—yes— +we must die—it is the will of God, and let us endeavor to submit like +his own children.” + +“Die!” the youth rather shrieked than exclaimed, “no —no—no—there must +yet be hope—you, at least, must-not, shall not die.” + +“In what way can we escape?” asked Elizabeth, pointing with a look of +heavenly composure toward the fire “Observe! the flame is crossing the +barrier of wet ground—it comes slowly, Edwards, but surely. Ah! see! +the tree! the tree is already lighted!” + +Her words were too true. The heat of the conflagration had at length +overcome the resistance of the spring, and the fire was slowly +stealing along the half-dried moss; while a dead pine kindled with the +touch of a forked flame, that, for a moment, wreathed around the stem +of the tree, as it whined, in one of its evolutions, under the +influence of the air. The effect was instantaneous, The flames danced +along the parched trunk of the pine like lightning quivering on a +chain, and immediately a column of living fire was raging on the +terrace. It soon spread from tree to tree, and the scene was +evidently drawing to a close. The log on which Mohegan was seated +lighted at its further end, and the Indian appeared to be surrounded +by fire. Still he was unmoved. As his body was unprotected, his +sufferings must have been great; but his fortitude was superior to +all. His voice could yet be heard even in the midst of these horrors. +Elizabeth turned her head from the sight, and faced the valley Furious +eddies of wind were created by the heat, and, just at the moment, the +canopy of fiery smoke that overhung the valley was cleared away, +leaving a distinct view of the peaceful village beneath them, +My father!—--my lather!” shrieked Elizabeth “Oh! this—surely might +have been spared me—but I submit.” + +The distance was not so great but the figure of Judge Temple could be +seen, standing in his own grounds, and apparently contemplating, in +perfect unconsciousness of the danger of his child, the mountain in +flames. This sight was still more painful than the approaching +danger; and Elizabeth again faced the hill. + +“My intemperate warmth has done this!” cried Edwards, in the accents +of despair. “If I had possessed but a moiety of your heavenly +resignation, Miss Temple, all might yet have been well.” + +“Name it not—name it not,” she said. “It is now of no avail. We must +die, Edwards, we must die—let us do so as Christians. But—no—you may +yet escape, perhaps. Your dress is not so fatal as mine. Fly! Leave +me, An opening may yet be found for you, possibly—certainly it is +worth the effort. Fly! leave me—but stay! You will see my father! my +poor, my bereaved father! Say to him, then, Edwards, say to him, all +that can appease his anguish. Tell him that I died happy and +collected; that I have gone to my beloved mother; that the hours of +this life are nothing when balanced in the scales of eternity. Say +how we shall meet again. And say,” she continued, dropping her voice, +that had risen with her feelings, as if conscious of her worldly +weakness, “how clear, how very dear, was my love for him; that it was +near, too near, to my love for God.” + +The youth listened to her touching accents, but moved not. In a +moment he found utterance, and replied: + +“And is it me that you command to leave you! to leave you on the edge +of the grave? Oh! Miss Temple, how little have you known me!” he +cried, dropping on his knees at her feet, and gathering her flowing +robe in his arms as if to shield her from the flames. “I have been +driven to the woods in despair, but your society has tamed the lion +within me. If I have wasted my time in degradation, ‘twas you that +charmed me to it. If I have forgotten my name and family, your form +supplied the place of memory. If I have forgotten my wrongs, ‘twas +you that taught me charity. No—no—dearest Elizabeth, I may die with +you, but I can never leave you!” + +Elizabeth moved not, nor answered. It was plain that her thoughts had +been raised from the earth, The recollection of her father, and her +regrets at their separation, had been mellowed by a holy sentiment, +that lifted her above the level of earthly things, and she was fast +losing the weakness of her sex in the near view of eternity. But as +she listened to these words she became once more woman. She struggled +against these feelings, and smiled, as she thought she was shaking off +the last lingering feeling of nature, when the world, and all its +seductions, rushed again to her heart, with the sounds of a human, +voice, crying in piercing tones: + +“Gal! where he ye, gal! gladden the heart of an old man, if ye yet +belong to ‘arth!” + +“Hist!” said Elizabeth; “ ‘tis the Leather-Stocking; he seeks me!” + +“Tis Natty!” shouted Edwards, “and we may yet be saved!” + +A wide and circling flame glared on their eyes for a moment, even +above the fire of the woods, and a loud report followed. + +“'Tis the canister, ‘tis the powder,” cried the same voice, evidently +approaching them. “ ‘Tis the canister, and the precious child is +lost.” + +At the next instant Natty rushed through the steams of the spring, and +appeared on the terrace, without his deerskin cap, his hair burnt to +his head, his shirt, of country check, black and filled with holes, +and his red features of a deeper color than ever, by the heat he had +encountered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + + + +“Even from the land of shadows, now +My father’s awful ghost appears.”—Gertrude Of Wyoming. + +For an hour after Louisa Grant was left by Miss Temple, in the +situation already mentioned, she continued in feverish anxiety, +awaiting the return of her friend. But as the time passed by without +the reappearance of Elizabeth, the terror of Louisa gradually +increased, until her alarmed fancy had conjured every species of +danger that appertained to the woods, excepting the one that really +existed. The heavens had become obscured by degrees, and vast volumes +of smoke were pouring over the valley; but the thoughts of Louisa were +still recurring to beasts, without dreaming of the real cause for +apprehension. She was stationed in the edge of the low pines and +chestnuts that succeed the first or large growth of the forest, and +directly above the angle where the highway turned from the straight +course to the village, and ascended the mountain laterally. +Consequently, she commanded a view, not only of the valley, but of the +road beneath her. The few travellers that passed, she observed, were +engaged in earnest conversation, and frequently raised their eyes to +the hill, and at length she saw the people leaving the court house, +and gazing upward also. While under the influence of the alarm +excited by such unusual movements, reluctant to go, and yet fearful to +remain, Louisa was startled by the low, cracking, but cautious treads +of some one approaching through the bushes. She was on the eve of +flight, when Natty emerged from the cover, and stood at her side. The +old man laughed as he shook her kindly by a hand that was passive with +fear. + +“I am glad to meet you here, child,” he said; “for the back of the +mountain is a-fire, and it would be dangerous to go up it now, till it +has been burnt over once, and the dead wood is gone. There’s a +foolish man, the comrade of that varmint who has given me all this +trouble, digging for ore on the east side. I told him that the +kearless fellows, who thought to catch a practysed hunter in the woods +after dark, had thrown the lighted pine-knots in the brush, and that +‘twould kindle like tow, and warned him to leave the hill. But he was +set upon his business, and nothing short of Providence could move him. +if he isn’t burnt and buried in a grave of his own digging, he’s made +of salamanders. Why, what ails the child? You look as skeary as if +you’d seed more painters. I wish there were more to be found! they’d +count up faster than the beaver. But where’s the good child with a +bad father? Did she forget her promise to the old man?” + +“The hill! the hill!” shrieked Louisa; “she seeks you on the hill with +the powder!” + +Natty recoiled several feet at this unexpected intelligence. + +“The Lord of Heaven have mercy on her! She’s on the Vision, and that’s +a sheet of fire agin’ this. Child, if ye love the dear one, and hope +to find a friend when ye need it most, to the village, and give the +alarm. The men are used to fighting fire, and there may be a chance +left, Fly! I bid ye fly! nor stop even for breath.” + +The Leather-Stocking had no sooner uttered this injunction, than he +disappeared in the bushes, and, when last seen by Louisa, was rushing +up the mountain, with a speed that none but those who were accustomed +to the toil could attain. + +“Have I found ye!” the old man exclaimed, when he burst out of the +smoke; “God be praised that I have found ye; but follow—there’s no +time for talking.” + +“My dress!” said Elizabeth; “ it would be fatal to trust myself nearer +to the flames in it.” + +“I bethought me of your flimsy things,” cried Natty, throwing loose +the folds of a covering buckskin that he carried on his arm, and +wrapping her form in it, in such a manner as to envelop her whole +person; “ now follow, for it’s a matter of life and death to us all.” + +“But John! what will become of John?” cried Edwards; “can we leave the +old warrior here to perish?” + +The eyes of Natty followed the direction of Edwards’ finger, where he +beheld the Indian still seated as before, with the very earth under +his feet consuming with fire. Without delay the hunter approached the +spot, and spoke in Delaware: + +“Up and away, Chingachgook! will ye stay here to burn, like a Mingo at +the stake? The Moravians have teached ye better, I hope; the Lord +preserve me if the powder hasn’t flashed atween his legs, and the skin +of his back is roasting. Will ye come, I say; will ye follow me?” + +“Why should Mohegan go?” returned the Indian, gloomily. “He has seen +the days of an eagle, and his eye grows dim He looks on the valley; he +looks on the water; he looks in the hunting-grounds—but he sees no +Delawares. Every one has a white skin. My fathers say, from the far- +off land, Come. My women, my young warriors, my tribe, say, Come. +The Great Spirit says, Come. Let Mohegan die.” + +“But you forget your friend,” cried Edwards, + +“‘Tis useless to talk to an Indian with the death-fit on him, lad,” +interrupted Natty, who seized the strips of the blanket, and with +wonderful dexterity strapped the passive chieftain to his own back; +when he turned, and with a strength that seemed to bid defiance, not +only to his years, but to his load, he led the way to the point whence +he had issued. As they crossed the little terrace of rock, one of the +dead trees, that had been tottering for several minutes, fell on the +spot where they had stood, and filled the air with its cinders. + +Such an event quickened the steps of the party, who followed the +Leather-Stocking with the urgency required by the occasion. + +“Tread on the soft ground,” he cried, when they were in a gloom where +sight availed them but little, “and keep in the white smoke; keep the +skin close on her, lad; she’s a precious one—another will be hard to +be found.” + +Obedient to the hunter’s directions, they followed his steps and +advice implicitly; and, although the narrow pas sage along the winding +of the spring led amid burning logs and falling branches, they happily +achieved it in safety. No one but a man long accustomed to the woods +could have traced his route through the smoke, in which respiration +was difficult, and sight nearly useless; but the experience of Natty +conducted them to an opening through the rocks, where, with a little +difficulty, they soon descended to another terrace, and emerged at +once into a tolerably clear atmosphere. + +The feelings of Edwards and Elizabeth at reaching this spot may be +imagined, though not easily described. No one seemed to exult more +than their guide, who turned, with Mohegan still lashed to his back, +and, laughing in his own manner, said: + +“I knowed ‘twa the Frenchman’s powder, gal; it went so all together; +your coarse grain will squib for a minute. The Iroquois had none of +the best powder when I went agin’ the Canada tribes, under Sir +William. Did I ever tell you the story, lad, consarning the scrimmage +with—” + +“For God’s sake, tell me nothing now, Natty, until we are entirely +safe. Where shall we go next?” + +“Why, on the platform of rock over the cave, to be sure; you will be +safe enough there, or we’ll go Into It, if you be so minded.” +The young man started, and appeared agitated; but, Looking around him +with an anxious eye, said quickly: + +“Shalt we be safe on the rock? cannot the fire reach us there, too?” + +“Can’t the boy see?” said Natty, with the coolness of one accustomed +to the kind of danger he had just encountered. “Had ye stayed in the +place above ten minutes longer, you would both have been in ashes, but +here you may stay forever, and no fire can touch you, until they burn +the rocks as well as the woods.” + +With this assurance, which was obviously true, they proceeded to the +spot, and Natty deposited his load, placing the Indian on the ground +with his back against a fragment of the rocks. Elizabeth sank on the +ground, and buried her face in her hands, while her heart was swelling +with a variety of conflicting emotions. + +“Let me urge you to take a restorative, Miss Temple,” said Edwards +respectfully; “your frame will sink else.” + +“Leave me, leave me,” she said, raising her beaming eyes for a moment +to his; “I feel too much for words! I am grateful, Oliver, for this +miraculous escape; and next to my God to you.” + +Edwards withdrew to the edge of the rock, and shouted: + +“Benjamin! where are you, Benjamin?” + +A hoarse voice replied, as if from the bowels of the earth: + +“Hereaway, master; stowed in this here bit of a hole, which is all the +time as hot as the cook’s coppers. I’m tired of my berth, d’ye see, +and if-so-be that Leather Stocking has got much overhauling to do +before he sails after them said beaver I’ll go into dock again, and +ride out my quarantine, till I can get prottick from the law, and so +hold on upon the rest of my ‘spaniolas.” + +“Bring up a glass of water from the spring,” continued Edwards, “and +throw a little wine in it; hasten, I entreat you!” + +“I knows but little of your small drink, Master Oliver,” returned the +steward, his voice issuing out of the cave into the open air, “and the +Jamaikey held out no longer than to take a parting kiss with Billy +Kirby, when he anchored me alongside the highway last night, where you +run me down in the chase. But here’s summat of a red color that may +suit a weak stomach, mayhap. That Master Kirby is no first-rate in a +boat; but he’ll tack a cart among the stumps, all the same as a Lon’on +pilot will back and fill, through the colliers in the Pool.” + +As the steward ascended while talking, by the time he had ended his +speech he appeared on the rock with the desired restoratives, +exhibiting the worn-out and bloated features of a man who had run deep +in a debauch, and that lately. + +Elizabeth took from the hands of Edwards the liquor which he offered +and then motioned to be left again to herself. + +The youth turned at her bidding, and observed Natty kindly assiduous +around the person of Mohegan. When their eyes met, the hunter said +sorrowfully: + +“His time has come, lad; see it in his eyes—when an Indian fixes his +eye, he means to go but to one place; and what the wilful creatures +put their minds on, they’re sure to do.” + +A quick tread prevented the reply, and in a few moments, to the +amazement of the whole party, Mr. Grant was seen clinging to the side +of the mountain, and striving to reach the place where they stood. +Oliver sprang to his assistance, and by their united efforts the +worthy divine was soon placed safely among them. + +“How came you added to our number?” cried Edwards. “Is the hill alive +with people at a time like this?” + +The hasty but pious thanksgivings of the clergyman were soon +ejaculated, and, when he succeeded in collecting his bewildered +senses, he replied: + +“I heard that my child was seen coming to the mountain; and, when the +fire broke over its summit, my uneasiness drew me up the road, where I +found Louisa, in terror for Miss Temple. It was to seek her that I +came into this dangerous place; and I think, but for God’s mercy, +through the dogs of Natty, I should have perished in the flames +myself.” + +“Ay! follow the hounds, and if there’s an opening they’ll scent it +out,” said Natty; “their noses be given them the same as man’s +reason.” + +“I did so, and they led me to this place; but, praise be to God that I +see you all safe and well.” + +“No, no,” returned the hunter; “safe we be, but as for well, John +can’t be called in a good way, unless you’ll say that for a man that’s +taking his last look at ‘arth.” + +“He speaks the truth!” said the divine, with the holy awe with which +he ever approached the dying; “I have been by too many death-beds, not +to see that the hand of the tyrant is laid on this old warrior. Oh! +how consoling it is to know that he has not rejected the offered mercy +in the hour of his strength and of worldly temptations! The offspring +of a race of heathens, he has in truth been ‘as a brand plucked from +the burning.’” + +“No, no,” returned Natty, who alone stood with him by the side of the +dying warrior; “it is no burning that ails him, though his Indian +feelings made him scorn to move, unless it be the burning of man’s +wicked thoughts for near fourscore years; but it’s natur’ giving out +in a chasm that’s run too long.—Down with ye, Hector! down, I say! +Flesh Isn’t iron, that a man can live forever, and see his kith and +kin driven to a far country, and he left to mourn, with none to keep +him company.” + +“John,” said the divine, tenderly, “do you hear me? do you wish the +prayers appointed by the church, at this trying moment?” + +The Indian turned his ghastly face toward the speaker, and fastened +his dark eyes on him, steadily, but vacantly. + +No sign of recognition was made: and in a moment he moved his head +again slowly toward the vale, and began to sing, using his own +language, in those low, guttural tones, that have been so often +mentioned, his notes rising with his theme, till they swelled so loud +as to be distinct. + +“I will come! I will come! to the land of the just I will come! The +Maquas I have slain! I have slain the Maquas! and the Great Spirit +calls to his son. I will come! I will come to the land of the just! I +will come!” + +“What says he, Leather-Stocking?” Inquired the priest, with tender +interest; “sings he the Redeemer’s praise?” “No, no—’tis his own +praise that he speaks now,” said Natty, turning in a melancholy manner +from the sight of his dying friend; “and a good right he has to say it +all, for I know every word to be true.” + +“May heaven avert such self-righteousness from his heart! Humility and +penitence are the seals of Christianity; and, without feeling them +deeply seated in the soul, all hope is delusive, and leads to vain +expectations. Praise himself when his whole soul and body should +unite to praise his Maker! John! you have enjoyed the blessings of a +gospel ministry, and have been called from out a multitude of sinners +and pagans, and, I trust. for a wise and gracious purpose. Do you +now feel what it is to be justified by our Saviour’s death, and reject +all weak and idle dependence on good works, that spring from man’s +pride and vainglory?” + +The Indian did not regard his interrogator, but he raised his head +again, and said in a low, distinct voice: + +“Who can say that the Maqous know the back of the Mohegan? What enemy +that trusted in him did not see the morning? What Mingo that he chased +ever sang the song of triumph? Did Mohegan ever he? No; the truth +lived in him, and none else could come out of him. In his youth he +was a warrior, and his moccasins left the stain of blood. In his age +he was wise; his words at the council fire did not blow away with the +winds. “ + +“Ah! he has abandoned that vain relic of paganism, his songs,” cried +the divine; “ what says he now? is he sensible of his lost state?” + +“Lord!! man,” said Natty, “he knows his end is at hand as well as you +or I; but, so far from thinking it a loss, he believes it to be a +great gain. He is old and stiff, and you have made the game so scarce +and shy, that better shots than him find it hard to get a livelihood. +Now he thinks he shall travel where it will always be good hunting ; +Where no wicked or unjust Indians can go; and where he shall meet all +his tribe together agin. There’s not much loss in that, to a man +whose hands are hardly fit for basket-making Loss! if there be any +loss, ‘twill be to me. I’m sure after he’s gone, there will be but +little left for me but to follow.” + +“His example and end, which, I humbly trust, shall yet be made +glorious,” returned Mr. Grant, “should lead your mind to dwell on the +things of another life. But I feel it to be my duty to smooth the way +for the parting spirit. This is the moment, John, when the reflection +that you did not reject the mediation of the Redeemer, will bring balm +to your soul. Trust not to any act of former days, but lay the burden +of your sins at his feet, and you have his own blessed assurance that +he will not desert you.” + +“Though all you say be true, and you have scriptur' gospels for it, +too,” said Natty, “you will make nothing of the Indian. He hasn’t +seen a Moravian p sin’ the war; and it’s hard to keep them from going +hack to their native ways. I should think ‘twould be as well to let +the old man pass in peace. He's happy now; I know it by his eye; and +that’s more than I would say for the chief, sin’ the time the +Delawares broke up from the head waters of their river and went west. +Ah’s me! ‘tis a grevous long time that, and many dark days have we +seen together sin’ it.” + +“Hawk-eye!” said Mohegan, rousing with the last glimmering of life. “ +Hawk-eye! listen to the words of your brother.” + +“Yes, John,” said the hunter, in English, strongly affected by the +appeal, and drawing to his side, we have been brothers; and more so +than it means in the Indian tongue. What would ye have with me, +Chingachgook?” + +“Hawk-eye! my fathers call me to the happy hunting grounds. The path +is clear, and the eyes of Mohegan grow young. I look—but I see no +white-skins ; there are none to be seen but just and brave Indians. +Farewell, Hawk-eye—you shall go with the Fire-eater and the Young +Eagle to the white man’s heaven; but I go after my fathers. Let the +bow, and tomahawk, and pipe, and the wampum of Mohegan he laid in his +grave; for when he starts 'twil be in the night, like a warrior on a +war-party, and he can not stop to seek them.” + +“What says he, Nathaniel?” cried Mr. Grant, earnestly, and with +obvious anxiety; “does he recall the promises of the mediation? and +trust his salvation to the Rock of Ages?” + +Although the faith of the hunter was by no means clear, yet the fruits +of early instruction had not entirely fallen in the wilderness. He +believed in one Cod, and one heaven; and when the strong feeling +excited by the leave-taking of his old companion, which was exhibited +by the powerful working of every muscle in his weather-beaten face, +suffered him to speak, he replied: + +“No—no—he trusts only to the Great Spirit of the savages, and to his +own good deeds. He thinks, like all his people, that he is to be +young agin, and to hunt, and be happy to the end of etarnity. its +pretty much the same with all colors, parson. I could never bring +myself to think that I shall meet with these hounds, or my piece, in +another world; though the thought of leaving them forever sometimes +brings hard feelings over me, and makes me cling to life with a +greater craving than beseems three-Score-and-ten.” + +“The Lord in his mercy avert such a death from one who has been sealed +with the sign of the cross!” cried the minister, in holy fervor. +John—” + +He paused for the elements. During the period occupied by the events +which we have related, the dark clouds in the horizon had continued to +increase in numbers and multitude; and the awful stillness that now +pervaded the air, announced a crisis in the state of the atmosphere. +The flames, which yet continued to rage along the sides of the +mountain, no longer whirled in uncertain currents of their own eddies, +but blazed high and steadily toward the heavens. There was even a +quietude in the ravages of the destructive element, as if it foresaw +that a hand greater titan even its own desolating power, was about to +stay its progress. The piles of smoke which lay above the valley +began to rise, and were dispelling rapidly; and streaks of livid +lightning were dancing through the masses of clouds that impended over +the western hills. While Mr. Grant was speaking, a flash, which sent +its quivering light through the gloom, laying bare the whole opposite +horizon, was followed by a loud crash of thunder, that rolled away +among the hills, seeming to shake the foundations of the earth to +their centre. Mohegan raised him self, as if in obedience to a signal +for his departure, and stretched his wasted arm toward the west. His +dark face lighted with a look of joy; which, with all other +expressions, gradually disappeared; the muscles stiffening as they +retreated to a state of rest; a slight convulsion played, for a single +instant, about his lips; and his arm slowly dropped by his side, +leaving the frame of the dead warrior reposing against the rock with +its glassy eyes open, and fixed on the distant hills, as if the +deserted shell were tracing the flight of the spirit to its new abode. + +All this Mr. Grant witnessed in silent awe; but when the last echoes +of the thunder died away he clasped his bands together, with pious +energy, and repeated, in the full, rich tones of assured faith; + +“Lord! how unsearchable are Thy judgments; and Thy ways past finding +out! ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the +latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin, worms destroy +this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for my +self, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.” + +As the divine closed this burst of devotion, he bowed his head meekly +to his bosom, and looked all the dependence and humility that the +inspired language expressed. + +When Mr. Grant retired from the body, the hunter approached, and +taking the rigid hand of his friend, looked him wistfully in the face +for some time without speaking, when he gave vent to his feelings by +saying, in the mournful voice of one who felt deeply: + +“Red skin or white, it’s all over now! he's to be judged by a +righteous Judge, and by no laws that’s made to suit times, and new +ways. Well, there’s only one more death, and the world will be left +to me and the hounds, Ah’s me! a man must wait the time of God's +pleasure, but I begin to weary of life. There is scarcely a tree +standing that I know, and it’s hard to find a face that I was ac- +quainted with in my younger days.” + +Large drops of rain now began to fall, and diffuse them selves over +the dry rock, while the approach of the thunder shower was rapid and +certain. ‘the body of the Indian was hastily removed into the cave +beneath, followed by the whining hounds, who missed and moaned for the +look of intelligence that had always met their salutations to the +chief. + +Edwards made some hasty and confused excuse for not taking Elizabeth +into the same place, which was now completely closed in front with +logs and bark, saying some-thing that she hardly understood about its +darkness, and the unpleasantness of being with the dead body. Miss +Temple, however, found a sufficient shelter against the torrent of +rain that fell, under the projection of a rock which overhung them, +But long before the shower was over, the sounds of voices were heard +below them crying aloud for Elizabeth, and men soon appeared beating +the dying embers of the bushes, as they worked their way cautiously +among the unextinguished brands. + +At the first short cessation in the rain, Oliver conducted Elizabeth +to the road, where he left her. Before parting, however, he found +time to say, in a fervent manner that his companion was now at no loss +to interpret. + +“The moment of concealment is over, Miss Temple. By this time to- +morrow, I shall remove a veil that perhaps it has been weakness to +keep around me and my allaus so long. But I have had romantic and +foolish wishes and weakness; and who has not, that is young and torn +by conflicting passions? God bless you! I hear your father's voice; he +is coming up the road, and I would not, just now, subject myself to +detention. Thank Heaven, you are safe again; that alone removes the +weight of a world from my spirit!” + +He waited for no answer, but sprang into the woods. Elizabeth, +notwithstanding she heard the cries of her father as he called upon +her name, paused until he was concealed among the smoking trees, when +she turned, and in a moment rushed into the arms of her half- +distracted Parent. + +A carriage had been provided, into which Miss Temple hastily entered; +when the cry was passed along the hill, that the lost one was found, +and the people returned to the village wet and dirty, but elated with +the thought that the daughter of their landlord had escaped from so +horrid and untimely an end.* + + * The probability of a fire in the woods similar to that here described + has been questioned. The writer can only say that he once witnessed a + fire in another part of New York that compelled a man to desert his + wagon and horses in the highway, and in which the latter were + destroyed. In order to estimate the probability of such an event, it + is necessary to remember the effects of a long drought in that climate + and the abundance of dead wood which is found in a forest like that + described, The fires in the American forests frequently rage to such + an extent as to produce a sensible effect on the atmosphere at a + distance of fifty miles. Houses, barns, and fences are quite commonly + swept away in their course. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + + + +“Selictar! unsheathe then our chief’s scimetar; Tambourgi! thy 'larum +gives promise of war; Ye mountains! that see us descend to the shore, +Shall view us as victors, or view us no more.”-Byron. + +The heavy showers that prevailed during the remainder of the day +completely stopped the progress of the flames; though glimmering fires +were observed during the night, on different parts of the hill, +wherever there was a collection of fuel to feed the element. The next +day the woods for ‘many miles were black and smoking, and were +stripped of every vestige of brush and dead wood; but the pines and +hemlocks still reared their heads proudly among the hills, and even +the smaller trees of the forest retained a feeble appearance of life +and vegetation. + +The many tongues of rumor were busy in exaggerating the miraculous +escape of Elizabeth; and a report was generally credited, that Mohegan +had actually perished in the flames. This belief became confirmed, +and was indeed rendered probable, when the direful intelligence +reached the village that Jotham Riddel, the miner, was found in his +hole, nearly dead with suffocation, and burnt to such a degree that no +hopes were entertained of his life. + +The public attention became much alive to the events of the last few +days ; and, just at this crisis, the convicted counterfeiters took the +hint from Natty, and, on the night succeeding the fire, found means to +cut through their log prison also, and to escape unpunished. When +this news began to circulate through the village, blended with the +fate of Jotham, and the exaggerated and tortured reports of the events +on the hill, the popular opinion was freely expressed, as to the +propriety of seizing such of the fugitives as remained within reach. +Men talked of the cave as a secret receptacle of guilt; and, as the +rumor of ores and metals found its way into the confused medley of +conjectures, counterfeiting, and everything else that was wicked and +dangerous to the peace of society, suggested themselves to the busy +fancies of the populace. + +While the public mind was in this feverish state, it was hinted that +the wood had been set on fire by Edwards and the Leather—Stocking, and +that, consequently, they alone were responsible for the damages. This +opinion soon gained ground, being most circulated by those who, by +their own heedlessness, had caused the evil; and there was one +irresistible burst of the common sentiment that an attempt should he +made to punish the offenders. Richard was by no means deaf to this +appeal, and by noon he set about in earnest to see the laws executed. + +Several stout young men were selected, and taken apart with an +appearance of secrecy, where they received some important charge from +the sheriff, immediately under the eyes, but far removed from the +ears, of all in the village. Possessed of a knowledge of their duty, +these youths hurried into the hills, with a bustling manner, as if the +fate of the world depended on their diligence, and, at the same time, +with an air of mystery as great as if they were engaged on secret +matters of the state. + +At twelve precisely a drum beat the “long roll ' before the” Bold +Dragoon,” and Richard appeared, accompanied by Captain Hollister, who +was clad in Investments as commander of the “Templeton Light +Infantry,” when the former demanded of the latter the aid of the posse +comitatus in enforcing the laws of the country. We have not room to +record the speeches of the two gentlemen on this occasion, but they +are preserved in the columns of the little blue newspaper, which is +yet to be found on the file, and are said to be highly creditable to +the legal formula of one of the parties, and to the military precision +of the other. Everything had been previously arranged, and, as the +red-coated drummer continued to roll out his clattering notes, some +five-and-twenty privates appeared in the ranks, and arranged +themselves in the order of battle. + +As this corps was composed of volunteers, and was commanded by a man +who had passed the first five-and-thirty years of his life in camps +and garrisons, it was the non-parallel of military science in that +country, and was confidently pronounced by the judicious part of the +Templeton community, to be equal in skill and appearance to any troops +in the known world; in physical endowments they were, certainly, much +superior! To this assertion there were but three dissenting voices, +and one dissenting opinion. The opinion belonged to Marmaduke, who, +however, saw no necessity for its promulgation. Of the voices, one, +and that a pretty loud one’, came from the spouse of the commander +himself, who frequently reproached her husband for condescending to +lead such an irregular band of warriors, after he had filled the +honorable station of sergeant-major to a dashing corps of Virginia +cavalry through much of the recent war. + +Another of these skeptical sentiments was invariably expressed by Mr. +Pump, whenever the company paraded generally in some such terms as +these, which were uttered with that sort of meekness that a native of +the island of our forefathers is apt to assume when he condescends to +praise the customs or character of her truant progeny: + +“It’s mayhap that they knows summat about loading and firing, d'ye +see, but as for working ship? why, a corporal’s guard of the +Boadishey's marines would back and fill on their quarters in such a +manner as to surround and captivate them all in half a glass.” As +there was no one to deny this assertion, the marines of the Boadicea +were held in a corresponding degree of estimation. + +The third unbeliever was Monsieur Le Quoi, who merely whispered to the +sheriff, that the corps was one of the finest he had ever seen second +only to the Mousquetaires of Le Boa Louis! However, as Mrs. Hollister +thought there was something like actual service in the present +appearances, and was, in consequence, too busily engaged with certain +preparations of her own, to make her comments; as Benjamin was absent, +and Monsieur Le Quoi too happy to find fault with anything, the corps +escaped criticism and comparison altogether on this momentous day, +when they certainly had greater need of self-confidence than on any +other previous occasion. Marmaduke was said to be again closeted with +Mr. Van der School and no interruption was offered to the movements of +the troops. At two o’clock precisely the corps shouldered arms, +beginning on the right wing, next to the veteran, and carrying the +motion through to the left with great regularity. When each +musket was quietly fixed in its proper situation, the order was given +to wheel to the left, and march. As this was bringing raw troops, at +once, to face their enemy, it is not to be supposed that the manoeuver +was executed with their usual accuracy; but as the music struck up the +inspiring air of Yankee-doodle, and Richard, accompanied by Mr. +Doolittle preceded the troops boldly down the street, Captain +Hollister led on, with his head elevated to forty-five degrees, with a +little, low cocked hat perched on his crown, carrying a tremendous +dragoon sabre at a poise, and trailing at his heels a huge steel +scabbard, that had war in its very clattering. There was a good deal +of difficulty in getting all the platoons (there were six) to look the +same way; but, by the time they reached the defile of the bridge, the +troops were in sufficiently compact order. In this manner they +marched up the hill to the summit of the mountain, no other alteration +taking place in the disposition of the forces, excepting that a mutual +complaint was made, by the sheriff and the magistrate, of a failure in +wind, which gradually’ brought these gentlemen to the rear. It will +be unnecessary to detail the minute movements that succeeded. We +shall briefly say, that the scouts came in and reported, that, so far +from retreating, as had been anticipated, the fugitives had evidently +gained a knowledge of the attack, and were fortifying for a desperate +resistance. This intelligence certainly made a material change, not +only in the plans of the leaders, but in the countenances of the +soldiery also. The men looked at one another with serious faces, and +Hiram and Richard began to consult together, apart. + +At this conjuncture, they were joined by Billy Kirby, who came along +the highway, with his axe under his arm, as much in advance of his +team as Captain Hollister had been of his troops in the ascent. The +wood-chopper was amazed at the military array, but the sheriff eagerly +availed himself of this powerful reinforcement, and commanded his +assistance in putting the laws in force. Billy held Mr. Jones in too +much deference to object; and it was finally arranged that he should +be the bearer of a summons to the garrison to surrender before they +proceeded to extremities. The troops now divided, one party being led +by the captain, over the Vision, and were brought in on the left of +the cave, while the remainder advanced upon its right, under the +orders of the lieutenant. Mr. Jones and Dr. Todd—for the surgeon was +in attendance also—appeared on the platform of rock, immediately over +the heads of the garrison, though out of their sight. Hiram thought +this approaching too near, and he therefore accompanied Kirby along +the side of the hill to within a safe distance of the fortifications, +where he took shelter behind a tree. Most of the men discovered great +accuracy of eye in bringing some object in range between them and +their enemy, and the only two of the besiegers, who were left in plain +sight of the besieged, were Captain Hollister on one side, and the +wood-chopper on the other. The veteran stood up boldly to the front, +supporting his heavy sword in one undeviating position, with his eye +fixed firmly on his enemy, while the huge form of Billy was placed in +that kind of quiet repose, with either hand thrust into his bosom, +bearing his axe under his right arm, which permitted him, like his own +oxen, to rest standing. So far, not a word had been exchanged between +the belligerents. The besieged had drawn together a pile of black +logs and branches of trees, which they had formed into a chevaux-de- +frise, making a little circular abatis in front of the entrance to the +cave. As the ground was steep and slippery in every direction around +the place, and Benjamin appeared behind the works on one side, and +Natty on the other, the arrangement was by no means contemptible, +especially as the front was sufficiently guarded by the difficulty of +the approach. By this time, Kirby had received his orders, and he +advanced coolly along the mountain, picking his way with the same +indifference as if he were pursuing his ordinary business. When he +was within a hundred feet of the works, the long and much-dreaded +rifle of the Leather-Stocking was seen issuing from the parapet, and +his voice cried aloud: + +“Keep off! Billy Kirby, keep off! I wish ye no harm; but if a man of +ye all comes a step nigher, there’ll be blood spilt atwixt us. God +forgive the one that draws it first, but so it must be.” + +“Come, old chap,” said Billy, good-naturedly, “don’t be crabb’d, but +hear what a man has got to say I’ve no consarn in the business, only +to see right ‘twixt man and man; and I don’t kear the valie of a +beetle-ring which gets the better; but there’s Squire Doolittle, +yonder be hind the beech sapling, he has invited me to come in and ask +you to give up to the law—that’s all.” + +“I see the varmint! I see his clothes!” cried the indignant Natty: +“and if he’ll only show so much flesh as will bury a rifle bullet, +thirty to the pound, I’ll make him feel me. Go away, Billy, I bid ye; +you know my aim, and I bear you no malice.” + +“You over-calculate your aim, Natty,” said the other, as he stepped +behind a pine that stood near him, “if you think to shoot a man +through a tree with a three-foot butt. I can lay this tree right +across you in ten minutes by any man's watch, and in less time, too; +so be civil—I want no more than what’s right.” + +There was a simple seriousness in the countenance of Natty, that +showed he was much in earnest; but it was also evident that he was +reluctant to shed human blood. He answered the taunt of the wood- +chopper, by saying: + +“I know you drop a tree where you will, Billy Kirby; but if you show a +hand, or an arm, in doing it, there’ll be bones to be set, and blood +to staunch. If it’s only to get into the cave that ye want, wait till +a two hours’ sun, and you may enter it in welcome; but come in now you +shall not. There’s one dead body already, lying on the cold rocks, +and there’s another in which the life can hardly be said to stay. If +you will come in, there’ll be dead with out as well as within.” + +The wood-chopper stepped out fearlessly from his cover, and cried: + +“That’s fair; and what’s fair is right. He wants you to stop till +it’s two hours to sundown; and I see reason in the thing. A man can +give up when he’s wrong, if you don’t crowd him too hard; but you +crowd a man, and he gets to be like a stubborn ox—the more you beat, +the worse he kicks.” + +The sturdy notions of independence maintained by Billy neither suited +the emergency nor the impatience of Mr. Jones, who was burning with a +desire to examine the hid den mysteries of the cave. He therefore +interrupted this amicable dialogue with his own voice; + +“I command you Nathaniel Bumppo, by my authority, to surrender your +person to the law,” he cried. “And I command you, gentlemen, to aid +me in performing my duty. Benjamin Penguillan I arrest you, and order +you to follow me to the jail of the county, by virtue of this +warrant.” + +“I’d follow ye, Squire Dickens,” said Benjamin, removing the pipe from +his month (for during the whole scene the ex-major-domo had been very +composedly smoking); ay! I’d sail in your wake, to the end of the +world, if-so— be that there was such a place, where there isn’t, +seeing that it’s round. Now mayhap, Master Hollister, having lived +all your life on shore, you isn’t acquainted that the world, d’ye see” + +“Surrender!” interrupted the veteran, in a voice that startled his +hearers, and which actually caused his own forces to recoil several +paces; surrender, Benjamin Pengullan, or expect no quarter.’” + +“Damn your quarter!” said Benjamin, rising from the log on which he +was seated, and taking a squint along the barrel of the swivel, which +had been brought on the hill during the night, and now formed the +means of defence on his side of the works. “ Look you, master or +captain, thof I questions if ye know the name of a rope, except the +one that’s to hang ye, there’s no need of singing out, as if ye was +hailing a deaf man on a topgallant yard. May-hap you think you’ve got +my true name in your sheep skin; but what British sailor finds it +worth while to sail in these seas, without a sham on his stern, in +case of need, d’ye see. If you call me Penguillan, you calls me by +the name of the man on whose hand, dye see, I hove into daylight; and +he was a gentleman ; and that’s more than my worst enemy will say of +any of the family of Benjamin Stubbs.” + +“Send the warrant round to me, and I’ll put in an alias,” cried Hiram, +from behind his cover. + +“Put in a jackass, and you’ll put in yourself, Mister Doo-but-little,” +shouted Benjamin, who kept squinting along his little iron tube, with +great steadiness. + +“I give you but one moment to yield,” cried Richard. “Benjamin! +Benjamin! this is not the gratitude I expected from you.” + +“I tell you, Richard Jones,” said Natty, who dreaded the sheriff’s +influence over his comrade; “ though the canister the gal brought be +lost, there’s powder enough in the cave to lift the rock you stand on. +I’ll take off my roof if you don’t hold your peace.” + +“I think it beneath the dignity of my office to parley further with +the prisoners,” the sheriff observer to his companion, while they both +retired with a precipitancy that Captain Hollister mistook for the +signal to advance. + +“Charge baggonet!” shouted the veteran; “ march!” + +Although this signal was certainly expected, it took the assailed a +little by surprise, and the veteran approached the works, crying, “ +Courage, my brave lads! give them no quarter unless they surrender;” +and struck a furious blow upward with his sabre, that would have +divided the steward into moieties by subjecting him to the process of +decapitation, but for the fortunate interference of the muzzle of the +swivel. As it was, the gun was dismounted at the critical moment that +Benjamin was applying his pipe to the priming, and in consequence some +five or six dozen of rifle bullets were projected into the air, in +nearly a perpendicular line. Philosophy teaches us that the atmos- +phere will not retain lead; and two pounds of the metal, moulded into +bullets of thirty to the pound, after describing an ellipsis in their +journey, returned to the earth rattling among the branches of the +trees directly over the heads of the troops stationed in the rear of +their captain. Much of the success of an attack, made by irregular +soldiers, depends on the direction in which they are first got in +motion. In the present instance it was retrograde, and in less than a +minute after the bellowing report of the swivel among the rocks and +caverns, the whole weight of the attack from the left rested on the +prowess of the single arm of the veteran. Benjamin received a severe +contusion from the recoil of his gun, which produced a short stupor, +during which period the ex-steward was prostrate on the ground. +Captain Hollister availed himself of this circumstance to scramble +ever the breastwork and obtain a footing in the bastion—for such was +the nature of the fortress, as connected with the cave. The moment +the veteran found himself within the works of his enemy, he rushed to +the edge of the fortification, and, waving his sabre over his head, +shouted: + +“Victory! come on, my brave boys, the work’s our own!” + +All this was perfectly military, and was such an example as a gallant +officer was in some measure bound to exhibit to his men but the outcry +was the unlucky cause of turning the tide of success. Natty, who had +been keeping a vigalent eye on the wood-chopper, and the enemy +immediately before him, wheeled at this alarm, and was appalled at +beholding his comrade on the ground, and the veteran standing on his +own bulwark, giving forth the cry of victory! The muzzle of the long +rifle was turned instantly toward the captain. There was a moment +when the life of the old soldier was in great jeopardy but the object +to shoot at was both too large and too near for the Leather-Stocking, +who, instead of pulling his trigger, applied the gun to the rear of +his enemy, and by a powerful shove sent him outside of the works with +much greater rapidity than he had entered them. The spot on which +Captain Hollister alighted was directly in front, where, as his feet +touched the ground, so steep and slippery was the side of the +mountain, it seemed to recede from under them. His motion was swift, +and so irregular as utterly to confuse the faculties of the old +soldier. During its continuance, he supposed himself to be mounted, +and charging through the ranks of his enemy. At every tree he made a +blow, of course, as at a foot-soldier; and just as he was making the +cut “St. George” at a half burnt sapling he landed in the highway, +and, to his utter amazement, at the feet of his own spouse. When Mrs. +Hollister, who was toiling up the hill, followed by at least twenty +curious boys, leaning with one hand on the staff with which she +ordinarily walked, and bearing in the other an empty bag, witnessed +this exploit of her husband, indignation immediately got the better, +not only of her religion, but of her philosophy. + +“Why, sargeant! is it flying ye are?” she cried—” that I should live +to see a husband of mine turn his hack to an inimy! and such a one! +Here I have been telling the b’ys, as we come along, all about the +saige of Yorrektown, and how ye was hurted; and how ye’d be acting the +same agin the day; and I mate ye retraiting jist as the first gun is +fired. Och! I may trow away the bag! for if there’s plunder, ‘twill +not be the wife of sich as yerself that will be privileged to be +getting the same. They do say, too, there is a power of goold and +silver in the place—the Lord forgive me for setting my heart on +woorldly things; but what falls in the battle, there’s scriptur’ for +believing, is the just property of the victor,” + +“Retreating!” exclaimed the amazed veteran; “where’s my horse? he has +been shot under me—I——” + +“Is the man mad?” interrupted his wife—” devil the horse do ye own, +sargeant, and ye’re nothing but a shabby captain of malaishy. Oh! if +the ra’al captain was here, tis the other way ye’d be riding, dear, or +you would not follow your laider!” + +While this worthy couple were thus discussing events, the battle began +to rage more violently than ever above them. When Leather-Stocking +saw his enemy fairly under headway, as Benjamin would express it, he +gave his attention to the right wing of the assailants. It would have +been easy for Kirby, with his powerful frame, to have seized the +moment to scale the bastion, and, with his great strength, to have +sent both of its defenders in pursuit of the veteran; but hostility +appeared to he the passion that the wood-chopper indulged the least in +at that moment, for, in a voice that was heard by the retreating left +wing, he shouted: + +“Hurrah well done, captain! keep it up! how he handles his bush-hook! +he makes nothing of a sapling!” and such other encouraging +exclamations to the flying veteran, until, overcome by mirth, the +good-natured fellow seated himself on the ground, kicking the earth +with delight, and giving vent to peal after peal of laughter. + +Natty stood all this time in a menacing attitude, with his rifle +pointed over the breastwork, watching with a quick and cautions eye +the least movement of the assail ants. The outcry unfortunately +tempted the ungovernable curiosity of Hiram to take a peep from behind +his cover at the state of the battle. Though this evolution was +performed with great caution, in protecting his front, he left, like +many a better commander, his rear exposed to the attacks of his enemy. +Mr. Doolittle belonged physically to a class of his countrymen, to +whom Nature has denied, in their formation, the use of curved lines. +Every thing about him was either straight or angular. But his tailor +was a woman who worked, like a regimental contractor, by a set of +rules that gave the same configuration to the whole human species. +Consequently, when Mr. Doolittle leaned forward in the manner +described, a loose drapery appeared behind the tree, at which the +rifle of Natty was pointed with the quickness of lightning. A less +experienced man would have aimed at the flowing robe, which hung like +a festoon half-way to the earth ; but the Leather-Stocking knew both +the man and his female tailor better; and when the smart report of the +rifle was heard, Kirby, who watched the whole manoeuvre in breath less +expectation. saw the bark fly from the beech and the cloth, at some +distance above the loose folds, wave at the same instant. No battery +was ever unmasked with more promptitiude than Hiram advanced from +behind the tree at this summons. + +He made two or three steps, with great precision, to the front and, +placing one hand on the afflicted part, stretched forth the other with +a menacing air toward Natty, and cried aloud: + +“Gawl darn ye: this shan’t he settled so easy; I’ll follow it up from +the ‘common pleas’ to the ‘court of errors.’” + +Such a shocking imprecation, from the mouth of so orderly a man as +Squire Doolittle, with the fearless manner in which he exposed +himself, together with, perhaps, the knowledge that Natty’s rifle was +unloaded, encouraged the troops in the rear, who gave a loud shout, +and fired a volley into the tree-tops, after the contents of the +swivel. Animated by their own noise, the men now rushed on in +earnest; and Billy Kirby, who thought the joke, good as it was, had +gone far enough, was in the act of scaling the works, when Judge +Temple appeared on the opposite side, exclaiming: + +“Silence and peace! why do I see murder and blood shed attempted? Is +not the law sufficient to protect itself, that armed bands must be +gathered, as in rebellion and war, to see justice performed?” + +“‘Tis the posse comitatus,” shouted the sheriff, from a distant rock, +“who-” + +“Say rather a posse of demons. I command the peace.” “Hold shied not +blood!” cried a voice from the top of the Vision. “ Hold, for the +sake of Heaven, fire no more! all shall be yielded! you shall enter +the cave!” + +Amazement produced the desired effect. Natty, who had reloaded his +piece, quietly seated himself on the logs, and rested his head on his +hands, while the “ Light Infantry” ceased their military movements, +and waited the issue in suspense. + +In less than a minute Edwards came rushing down the hill, followed by +Major Hartman, with a velocity that was surprising for his years. +They reached the terrace in an instant, from which the youth led the +way, by the hollow in the rock, to the mouth of the cave, into which +they both entered, leaving all without silent, and gazing after them +with astonishment. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + + + +“I am dumb. +Were you the doctor, and I knew you not?”-Shakespeare. + +During the five or six minutes that elapsed before the youth and Major +reappeared. Judge Temple and the sheriff together with most of the +volunteers, ascended to the terrace, where the latter began to express +their conjectures of the result, and to recount their individual +services in the conflict. But the sight of the peace-makers ascending +the ravine shut every mouth. + +On a rude chair, covered with undressed deer-skins, they supported a +human being, whom they seated carefully and respectfully in the midst +of the assembly. His head was covered by long, smooth locks of the +color of snow. His dress, which was studiously neat and clean, was +composed of such fabrics as none but the wealthiest classes wear, but +was threadbare and patched ; and on his feet were placed a pair of +moccasins, ornamented in the best manner of Indian ingenuity. The +outlines of his face were grave and dignified, though his vacant eye, +which opened and turned slowly to the faces of those around him in +unmeaning looks, too surely’ announced that the period had arrived +when age brings the mental imbecility of childhood. + +Natty had followed the supporters of this unexpected object to the top +of the cave, and took his station at a little distance behind him, +leaning no his rifle, in the midst of his pursuers, with a +fearlessness that showed that heavier interests than those which +affected himself were to be decided. Major Hartmann placed himself +beside the aged man, uncovered, with his whole soul beaming through +those eyes which so commonly danced with frolic and humor. Edwards +rested with one hand familiarly but affectionately on the chair, +though his heart was swelling with emotions that denied him utterance. + +All eyes were gazing intently, but each tongue continued mute. At +length the decrepit stranger, turning his vacant looks from face to +face, made a feeble attempt to rise, while a faint smile crossed his +wasted face, like an habitual effort at courtesy, as he said, in a +hollow, tremulous voice: + +“Be pleased to be seated, gentlemen. The council will open +immediately. Each one who loves a good and virtuous king will wish to +see these colonies continue loyal. Be seated—I pray you, be seated, +gentlemen. The troops shall halt for the night.” + +“This is the wandering of insanity!” said Marmaduke: “who will explain +this scene.” + +“No, sir,” said Edwards firmly, “‘tis only the decay of nature; who is +answerable for its pitiful condition, remains to be shown.” + +“Will the gentlemen dine with us, my son?” said the old stranger, +turning to a voice that he both knew and loved. “Order a repast +suitable for his Majesty’s officers. You know we have the best of +game always at command,” + +“Who is this man?” asked Marmaduke, in a hurried voice, in which the +dawnings of conjecture united with interest to put the question. + +“This man,” returned Edwards calmly, his voice, how ever, gradually +rising as he proceeded; “this man, sir, whom you behold hid in +caverns, and deprived of every-thing that can make life desirable, was +once the companion and counsellor of those who ruled your country. +This man, whom you see helpless and feeble, was once a warrior, so +brave and fearless, that even the intrepid natives gave him the name +of the Fire-eater. This man, whom you now see destitute of even the +ordinary comfort of a cabin, in which to shelter his head, was once +the owner of great riches—and, Judge Temple, he was the rightful +proprietor of this very soil on which we stand. This man was the +father of———” + +“This, then,” cried Marmaduke, with a powerful emotion, “this, then, +is the lost Major Effingham!” + +“Lost indeed,” said the youth, fixing a piercing eye on the other. + +“And you! and you!” continued the Judge, articulating with difficulty. + +“I am his grandson.” + +A minute passed in profound silence. All eyes were fixed on the +speakers, and even the old German appeared to wait the issue in deep +anxiety. But the moment of agitation soon passed. Marmaduke raised +his head from his bosom, where it had sunk, not in shame, but in +devout mental thanksgivings, and, as large tears fell over his fine, +manly face, he grasped the hand of the youth warmly, and said: + +“Oliver, I forgive all thy harshness—all thy suspicions. I now see it +all. I forgive thee everything, but suffering this aged man to dwell +in such a place, when not only my habitation, but my fortune, were at +his and thy command.” + +“He’s true as ter steel!” shouted Major Hartmann; “ titn’t I tell you, +lat, dat Marmatuke Temple vas a friend dat woult never fail in ter +dime as of neet?” + +“It is true, Judge Temple, that my opinions of your conduct have been +staggered by what this worthy gentle man has told me. When I found it +impossible to convey my grandfather back whence the enduring love of +this old man brought him, without detection and exposure, I went to +the Mohawk in quest of one of his former comrades, in whose justice I +had dependence. He is your friend, Judge Temple, but, if what he says +be true, both my father and myself may have judged you harshly.” + +“You name your father!” said Marmaduke tenderly— “was he, indeed, lost +in the packet?” + +“He was. He had left me, after several years of fruit less +application and comparative poverty, in Nova Scotia, to obtain the +compensation for his losses which the British commissioners had at +length awarded. After spending a year in England, he was returning to +Halifax, on his way to a government to which he had been appointed, in +the West Indies, intending to go to the place where my grand father +had sojourned during and since the war, and take him with us.” + +“But thou!” said Marmaduke, with powerful interest; “I had thought +that thou hadst perished with him.” + +A flush passed over the cheeks of the young man, who gazed about him +at the wondering faces of the volunteers, and continued silent. +Marmaduke turned to the veteran captain, who just then rejoined his +command, and said: + +“March thy soldiers back again, and dismiss them, the zeal of the +sheriff has much mistaken his duty.—Dr. Todd, I will thank you to +attend to the injury which Hiram Doolittle has received in this +untoward affair,—Richard, you will oblige me by sending up the +carriage to the top of the hill.—Benjamin, return to your duty in my +family.” + +Unwelcome as these orders were to most of the auditors, the suspicion +that they had somewhat exceeded the whole some restraints of the law, +and the habitual respect with which all the commands of the Judge were +received, induced a prompt compliance. + +When they were gone, and the rock was left to the parties most +interested in an explanation, Marmaduke, pointing to the aged Major +Effingham, said to his grand son: + +“Had we not better remove thy parent from this open place until my +carriage can arrive?” + +“Pardon me, sir, the air does him good, and he has taken it whenever +there was no dread of a discovery. I know not how to act, Judge +Temple; ought I, can I suffer Major Effingham to become an inmate of +your family?” + +“Thou shalt he thyself the judge,” said Marmaduke. Thy father was my +early friend, He intrusted his fortune to my care. When we separated +he had such confidence in me that he wished on security, no evidence +of the trust, even had there been time or convenience for exacting it. +This thou hast heard?” + +“Most truly, sir,” said Edwards, or rather Effingham as we must now +call him. + +“We differed in politics. If the cause of this country was +successful, the trust was sacred with me, for none knew of thy +father’s interest, if the crown still held its sway, it would he easy +to restore the property of so loyal a subject as Colonel Effingham. +Is not this plain?‘“ + +“The premises are good, sir,” continued the youth, with the same +incredulous look as before. + +“Listen—listen, poy,” said the German, “Dere is not a hair as of ter +rogue in ter het of Herr Tchooge.” + +“We all know the issue of the struggle,” continued Marmaduke, +disregarding both. “Thy grandfather was left in Connecticut, +regularly supplied by thy father with the means of such a subsistence +as suited his wants. This I well knew, though I never had intercourse +with him, even in our happiest days. Thy father retired with the +troops to prosecute his claims on England. At all events, his losses +must be great, for his real estates were sold, and I became the lawful +purchaser. It was not unnatural to wish that he might have no bar to +its just recovery.” + +“There was none, but the difficulty of providing for so many +claimants.” + +“But there would have been one, and an insuperable one, and I +announced to the world that I held these estates, multiplied by the +times and my industry, a hundredfold in value, only as his trustee. +Thou knowest that I supplied him with considerable sums immediately +after the war.” + +“You did, until—” + +“My letters were returned unopened. Thy father had much of thy own +spirit, Oliver; he was sometimes hasty and rash.” The Judge continued, +in a self-condemning manner; “ Perhaps my fault lies the other way: I +may possibly look too far ahead, and calculate too deeply. It +certainly was a severe trial to allow the man whom I most loved, to +think ill of me for seven years, in order that he might honestly apply +for his just remunerations. But, had he opened my last letters, thou +wouldst have learned the whole truth. Those I sent him to England, by +what my agent writes me, he did read. He died, Oliver, knowing all, +he died my friend, and I thought thou hadst died with him” + +“Our poverty would not permit us to pay for two passages,” said the +youth, with the extraordinary emotion with which he ever alluded to +the degraded state of his family ; “ I was left in the Province to +wait for his return, and, when the sad news of his loss reached me, I +was nearly penniless.” + +“And what didst thou, boy?” asked Marmaduke in a faltering voice. + +“I took my passage here in search of my grandfather; for I well knew +that his resources were gone, with the half pay of my father. On +reaching his abode, I learned that he had left it in secret; though +the reluctant hireling, who had deserted him in his poverty, owned to +my urgent en treaties, that he believed he had been carried away by an +-old man who had formerly been his servant. I knew at +once it was Natty, for my father often—” + +“Was Natty a servant of thy grandfather?” exclaimed the Judge. + +“Of that too were you ignorant?” said the youth in evident surprise. + +“How should I know it? I never met the Major, nor was the name of +Bumppo ever mentioned to me. I knew him only as a man of the woods, +and one who lived by hunting. Such men are too common to excite +surprise.” + +“He was reared in the family of my grandfather; served him for many +years during their campaigns at the West, where he became attached to +the woods; and he was left here as a kind of locum tenens on the lands +that old Mohegan (whose life my grandfather once saved) induced the +Delawares to grant to him when they admitted him as an honorary member +of their tribe. + +“This, then, is thy Indian blood?” + +“I have no other,” said Edwards, smiling—” Major Effingham was adopted +as the son of Mohegan, who at that time was the greatest man in his +nation; and my father, who visited those people when a boy, received +the name of the Eagle from them, on account of the shape of his face, +as I understand. They have extended his title to me, I have no other +Indian blood or breeding; though I have seen the hour, Judge Temple, +when I could wish that such had been my lineage and education.” + +“Proceed with thy tale,” said Marmaduke. + +“I have but little more to say, sir, I followed to the lake where I +had so often been told that Natty dwelt, and found him maintaining his +old master in secret; for even he could not bear to exhibit to the +world, in his poverty and dotage, a man whom a whole people once +looked up to with respect.” + +“And what did you?” + +“What did I? I spent my last money in purchasing a rifle, clad myself +in a coarse garb, and learned to be a hunter by the side of Leather- +Stocking. You know the rest, Judge Temple.” + +“Ant vere vas olt Fritz Hartmann?” said the German, reproachfully; +“didst never hear a name as of olt Fritz Hartmann from ter mout of ter +fader, lat?” + +“I may have been mistaken, gentlemen,” returned the youth, ‘but I had +pride, and could not submit to such an exposure as this day even has +reluctantly brought to light. I had plans that might have been +visionary; but, should my parent survive till autumn, I purposed +taking him with me to the city, where we have distant relatives, who +must have learned to forget the Tory by this time. He decays +rapidly,” he continued mournfully, “and must soon lie by the side of +old Mohegan.” + +The air being pure, and the day fine, the party continued conversing +on the rock, until the wheels of Judge Temple’s carriage were heard +clattering up the side of the mountain, during which time the +conversation was maintained with deep interest, each moment clearing +up some doubtful action, and lessening the antipathy of the youth to +Marmaduke. He no longer objected to the removal of his grand father, +who displayed a childish pleasure when he found himself seated once +more in a carriage. When placed in the ample hall of the mansion- +house, the eyes of the aged veteran turned slowly to the objects in +the apartment, and a look like the dawn of intellect would, for +moments flit across his features, when he invariably offered some use +less courtesies to those near him, wandering painfully in his +subjects. The exercise and the change soon produced an exhaustion +that caused them to remove him to his bed, where he lay for hours, +evidently sensible of the change in his comforts, and exhibiting that +mortifying picture of human nature, which too plainly shows that the +propensities of the animal continue even after the nobler part of the +creature appears to have vanished. + +Until his parent was placed comfortably in bed, with Natty seated at +his side, Effingham did not quit him. He then obeyed a summons to the +library of the Judge, where he found the latter, with Major Hartmann, +waiting for him. + +“Read this paper, Oliver,” said Marmaduke to him, as he entered, “and +thou wilt find that, so far from intending thy family wrong during +life, it has been my care to see that justice should be done at even a +later day.” + +The youth took the paper, which his first glance told him was the will +of the Judge. Hurried and agitated as he was, he discovered that the +date corresponded with the time of the unusual depression of +Marmaduke. As he proceeded, his eyes began to moisten, and the hand +which held the instrument shook violently. + +The will commenced with the usual forms, spun out by the ingenuity of +Mr. Van der School: but, after this subject was fairly exhausted, the +pen of Marmaduke became plainly visible. In clear, distinct, manly, +and even eloquent language, he recounted his obligations to Colonel +Effingham, the nature of their connection, and the circumstances in +which they separated. He then proceeded to relate the motives of his +silence, mentioning, however, large sums that he had forwarded to his +friend, which had been returned with the letters unopened. After +this, he spoke of his search for the grandfather who unaccountably +disappeared, and his fears that the direct heir of the trust was +buried in the ocean with his father. + +After, in short, recounting in a clear narrative, the events which our +readers must now he able to connect, he proceeded to make a fair and +exact statement of the sums left in his care by Colonel Effingham. A +devise of his whole estate to certain responsible trustees followed; +to hold the same for the benefit, in equal moieties, of his daughter, +on one part, and of Oliver Effingham, formerly a major in the army of +Great Britain, and of his son Ed ward Effingham, and of his son Edward +Oliver Effingham, or to the survivor of them, and the descendants of +such survivor, forever, on the other part. The trust was to endure +until 1810, when, if no person appeared, or could be found, after +sufficient notice, to claim the moiety so devised, then a certain sum, +calculating the principal and interest of his debt to Colonel +Effingham, was to be paid to the heirs-at-law of the Effingham family, +and the bulk of his estate was to be conveyed in fee to his daughter, +or her heirs. + +The tears fell from the eyes of the young man, as he read this +undeniable testimony of the good faith of Marmaduke, and his +bewildered gaze was still fastened on the paper, when a voice, that +thrilled on every nerve, spoke near him, saying: + +“Do you yet doubt us, Oliver?” + +“I have never doubted you!” cried the youth, recovering his +recollection and his voice, as he sprang to seize the hand of +Elizabeth ; “no, not one moment has my faith in you wavered.” + +“And my father—” + +“God bless him!” + +“I thank thee, my son,” said the Judge, exchanging a warm pressure of +the hand with the youth ; “but we have both erred: thou hast been too +hasty, and I have been too slow. One-half of my estates shall be +thine as soon as they can be conveyed to thee; and, if what my +suspicions tell me be true, I suppose the other must follow speedily.” +He took the hand which he held, and united it with that of his +daughter, and motioned toward the door to the Major. + +“I telt yon vat, gal!” said the old German, good-humoredly ; “if I vas +as I vas ven I servit mit his grand-fader on ter lakes, ter lazy tog +shouldn’t vin ter prize as for nottin’.” + +“Come, come, old Fritz,” said the Judge; “you are seventy, not +seventeen; Richard waits for you with a bowl of eggnog, in the hall.” + +“Richart! ter duyvel!” exclaimed the other, hastening out of the room; +“he makes ter nog as for ter horse. vilt show ter sheriff mit my own +hants! Ter duyvel! I pelieve he sweetens mit ter Yankee melasses!” + +Marmaduke smiled and nodded affectionately at the young couple, and +closed the door after them. If any of our readers expect that we are +going to open it again, for their gratification, they are mistaken. + +The tete-a-tete continued for a very unreasonable time—-how long we +shall not say; but it was ended by six o’clock in the evening, for at +that hour Monsieur Le Quoi made his appearance agreeably to the +appointment of the preceding day, and claimed the ear of Miss Temple. +He was admitted ; when he made an offer of his hand, with much +suavity, together with his “amis beeg and leet’, his père, his mere +and his sucreboosh.” Elizabeth might, possibly, have previously +entered into some embarrassing and binding engagements with Oliver, +for she declined the tender of all, in terms as polite, though perhaps +a little more decided, than those in which they were made. + +The Frenchman soon joined the German and the sheriff in the hall, who +compelled him to take a seat with them at the table, where, by the aid +of punch, wine, and egg nog, they soon extracted from the complaisant +Monsieur Le Quoi the nature of his visit, it was evident that he had +made the offer, as a duty which a well- bred man owed to a lady in +such a retired place, before he had left the country, and that his +feelings were but very little, if at all, interested in the matter. +After a few potations, the waggish pair persuaded the exhilarated +Frenchman that there was an inexcusable partiality in offering to one +lady, and not extending a similar courtesy to another. Consequently, +about nine, Monsieur Le Quoi sallied forth to the rectory, on a +similar mission to Miss Grant, which proved as successful as his first +effort in love. + +When he returned to the mansion-house, at ten, Richard and the Major +were still seated at the table. They at tempted to persuade the Gaul, +as the sheriff called him, that he should next try Remarkable +Pettibone. But, though stimulated by mental excitement and wine, two +hours of abstruse logic were thrown away on this subject; for he +declined their advice, with a pertinacity truly astonishing in so +polite a man. + +When Benjamin lighted Monsieur Le Quoi from the door, he said, at +parting: + +“If-so-be, Mounsheer, you’d run alongside Mistress Pettybones, as the +Squire Dickens was bidding ye, ‘tis my notion you’d have been +grappled; in which case, d’ye see, you mought have been troubled in +swinging clear agin in a handsome manner; for thof Miss Lizzy and the +parson’s young ‘un be tidy little vessels, that shoot by a body on a +wind, Mistress Remarkable is summat of a galliot fashion: when you +once takes ‘em in tow, they doesn’t like to be cast off agin.” + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + + + +“Yes, sweep ye on!—We will not leave, +For them who triumph those who grieve. +With that armada gay +Be laughter loud, and jocund shout— +—But with that skill +Abides the minstrel tale. “—Lord of the Isles. + +The events of our tale carry us through the summer; and after making +nearly the circle of the year, we must conclude our labors in the +delightful month of October. Many important incidents had, however, +occurred in the intervening period; a few of which it may be necessary +to recount. + +The two principal were the marriage of Oliver and Elizabeth, and the +death of Major Effingham. They both took place early in September; +and the former preceded the latter only a few days. The old man +passed away like the last glimmering of a taper; and, though his death +cast a melancholy over the family, grief could not follow such an end. +One of the chief concerns of Marmaduke was to reconcile the even +conduct of a magistrate with the course that his feelings dictated to +the criminals. The day succeeding the discovery at the cave, however, +Natty and Benjamin re-entered the jail peaceably, where they +continued, well fed and comfortable, until the return of an express to +Albany, who brought the governor’s pardon to the Leather-Stocking. In +the mean time, proper means were employed to satisfy Hiram for the +assaults on his person ; and on the same day the two comrades issued +together into society again, with their characters not at all affected +by the imprisonment. + +Mr. Doolittle began to discover that neither architecture nor his law +was quite suitable to the growing wealth and intelligence of the +settlement; and after exacting the last cent that was attainable in +his compromise, to use the language of the country he “pulled up +stakes,” and proceeded farther west, scattering his professional +science and legal learning through the land; vestiges of both of which +are to be discovered there even to the present hour. + +Poor Jotham, whose life paid the forfeiture of his folly, +acknowledged, before he died, that his reasons for believing in a mine +were extracted from the lips of a sibyl, who, by looking in a magic +glass, was enabled to discover the hidden treasures of the earth. +Such superstition was frequent in the new settlements; and, after the +first surprise was over, the better part of the community forgot the +subject. But, at the same time that it removed from the breast of +Richard a lingering suspicion of the acts of the three hunter, it +conveyed a mortifying lesson to him, which brought many quiet hours, +in future, to his cousin Marmaduke. It may be remembered that the +sheriff confidently pronounced this to be no “ visionary “scheme, and +that word was enough to shut his lips, at any time within the next ten +years. + +Monsieur Le Quoi, who has been introduced to our readers because no +picture of that country would be faithful without some such character, +found the island of Martinique, and his “sucreboosh,” in possession of +the English but Marmaduke and his family were much gratified in soon +hearing that he had returned to his bureau, in Paris; where he +afterward issued yearly bulletins of his happiness, and of his +gratitude to his friends in America. + +With this brief explanation, we must return to our narrative. Let the +American reader imagine one of our mildest October mornings, when the +sun seems a ball of silvery fire, and the elasticity of the air is +felt while it is inhaled, imparting vigor and life to the whole system +; the weather, neither too warm nor too cold, but of that happy +temperature which stirs the blood, without bringing the lassitude of +spring. It was on such a morning, about the middle of the month, that +Oliver entered the hall where Elizabeth was issuing her usual orders +for the day, and requesting her to join him in a short excursion to +the lakeside. The tender melancholy in the manner of her husband +caught the attention of Elizabeth, who instantly abandoned her +concerns, threw a light shawl across her shoulders, and, concealing +her raven hair under a gypsy hat, and took his arm, and submitted +herself, without a question, to his guidance. They crossed the +bridge, and had turned from the highway, along the margin of the lake, +before a word was exchanged. Elizabeth well knew, by the direction, +the object of the walk, and respected the feelings of her companion +too much to indulge in untimely conversation. But when they gained +the open fields, and her eye roamed over the placid lake, covered with +wild fowl already journeying from the great northern waters to seek a +warmer sun, but lingering to play in the limpid sheet of the Otsego, +and to the sides of the mountain, which were gay with the thou- sand +dyes of autumn, as if to grace their bridal, the swelling heart of the +young wife burst out in speech. + +“This is not a time for silence, Oliver!” she said, clinging more +fondly to his arm; “everything in Nature seems to speak the praises of +the Creator; why should we, who have so much to be grateful for, be +silent?” + +“Speak on!” said her husband, smiling; “I love the sounds of your +voice. You must anticipate our errand hither: I have told you my +plans: how do you like them?” + +“I must first see them,” returned his wife. “But I have had my plans, +too; it is time I should begin to divulge them.” + +“You! It is something for the comfort of my old friend, Natty, I +know.” + +“Certainly of Natty; but we have other friends besides the Leather- +Stocking to serve. Do you forget Louisa and her father?” + +“No, surely; have I not given one of the best farms in the county to +the good divine? As for Louisa, I should wish you to keep her always +near us.” + +“You do!” said Elizabeth, slightly compressing her lips; “but poor +Louisa may have other views for herself; she may wish to follow my +example, and marry.” + +“I don’t think it,” said Effingham, musing a moment, really don’t +know any one hereabouts good enough for her.” + +“Perhaps not her; but there are other places besides Templeton, and +other churches besides ‘New St. Paul’s.’” + +“Churches, Elizabeth! you would not wish to lose Mr. Grant, surely! +Though simple, he is an excellent man I shall never find another who +has half the veneration for my orthodoxy. You would humble me from a +saint to a very common sinner.” + +“It must be done, sir,” returned the lady, with a half-concealed +smile, “though it degrades you from an angel to a man.” + +“But you forget the farm?” + +“He can lease it, as others do. Besides, would you have a clergyman +toil in the fields?” + +“Where can he go? You forget Louisa.” + +“No, I do not forget Louisa,” said Elizabeth, again compressing her +beautiful lips. “You know, Effingham, that my father has told you +that I ruled him, and that I should rule you. I am now about to exert +my power.” + +“Anything, anything, dear Elizabeth, but not at the expense of us all: +not at the expense of your friend.” + +“How do you know, sir, that it will be so much at the expense of my +friend?” said the lady, fixing her eyes with a searching look on his +countenance, where they met only the unsuspecting expression of manly +regret. + +“How do I know it? Why, it is natural that she should regret us.” +It is our duty to struggle with our natural feelings,” returned the +lady; “and there is but little cause to fear that such a spirit as +Louisa’s will not effect it.” + +“But what is your plan?” + +“Listen, and you shall know. My father has procured a call for Mr. +Grant, to one of the towns on the Hudson where he can live more at his +ease than in journeying through these woods; where he can spend the +evening of his life in comfort and quiet; and where his daughter may +meet with such society, and form such a connection, as may be proper +for one of her years and character.” + +“Bess! you amaze me! I did not think you had been such a manager!” + +“Oh! I manage more deeply than you imagine, sir,” said the wife, +archly smiling again; “ but it is thy will and it is your duty to +submit—for a time at least.” + +Effingham laughed; but, as they approached the end of their walk, the +subject was changed by common consent. + +The place at which they arrived was the little spot of level ground +where the cabin of the Leather-Stocking had so long stood. Elizabeth +found it entirely cleared of rubbish, and beautifully laid down in +turf, by the removal of sods, which, in common with the surrounding +country, had grown gay, under the influence of profuse showers, as if +a second spring had passed over the land. This little place was +surrounded by a circle of mason-work, and they entered by a small +gate, near which, to the surprise of both, the rifle of Natty was +leaning against the wall. Hector and the slut reposed on the grass by +its side, as if conscious that, however altered, they were lying on +the ground and were surrounded by objects with which they were +familiar. The hunter himself was stretched on the earth, before a +head-stone of white marble, pushing aside with his fingers the long +grass that had already sprung up from the luxuriant soil around its +base, apparently to lay bare the inscription. By the side of this +stone, which was a simple slab at the head of a grave, stood a rich +monument, decorated with an urn and ornamented with the chisel. + +Oliver and Elizabeth approached the graves with a light tread, unheard +by the old hunter, whose sunburnt face was working, and whose eyes +twinkled as if something impeded their vision. After some little time +Natty raised himself slowly from the ground, and said aloud: + +“Well, well—I’m bold to say it’s all right! There’s something that I +suppose is reading; but I can’t make anything of it; though the pipe +and the tomahawk, and the moccasins, be pretty well—pretty well, for a +man that, I dares to say, never seed ‘ither of the things. Ah’s me! +there they lie, side by side, happy enough! Who will there be to put +me in the ‘arth when my time comes?” + +“When that unfortunate hour arrives, Natty, friends shall not be +wanting to perform the last offices for you,” said Oliver, a little +touched at the hunter’s soliloquy. + +The old man turned, without manifesting surprise, for he had got the +Indian habits in this particular, and, running his hand under the +bottom of his nose, seemed to wipe away his sorrow with the action. + +“You’ve come out to see the graves, children, have ye?” he said; “ +well, well, they’re wholesome sights to young as well as old.” + +“I hope they are fitted to your liking,” said Effingham, “no one has a +better right than yourself to be consulted in the matter.” + +“Why, seeing that I ain’t used to fine graves,” returned the old man, +“it is but little matter consarning my taste. Ye laid the Major’s +head to the west, and Mohegan’s to the east, did ye, lad?” + +“At your request it was done,” + +“It’s so best,” said the hunter; “they thought they had to journey +different ways, children: though there is One greater than all, who’ll +bring the just together, at His own time, and who’ll whiten the skin +of a blackamoor, and place him on a footing with princes.” + +“There is but little reason to doubt that,” said Elizabeth, whose +decided tones were changed to a soft, melancholy voice; “I trust we +shall all meet again, and be happy together.” + +“Shall we, child, shall we?” exclaimed the hunter, with unusual +fervor, “there’s comfort in that thought too. But before I go, I +should like to know what 'tis you tell these people, that be flocking +into the country like pigeons in the spring, of the old Delaware, and +of the bravest white man that ever trod the hills?” + +Effingham and Elizabeth were surprised at the manner of the Leather- +Stocking, which was unusually impressive and solemn; but, attributing +it to the scene, the young man turned to the monument, and read aloud: + +“Sacred to the memory of Oliver Effingham Esquire, formally a Major in +his B. Majesty’s 60th Foot; a soldier of tried valor; a subject of +chivalrous loyalty; and a man of honesty. To these virtues he added +the graces of a Christian. The morning of his life was spent in +honor, wealth, and power; but its evening was obscured by poverty, +neglect, and disease, which were alleviated only by the tender care of +his old, faithful, and upright friend and attendant Nathaniel Bumppo. +His descendants rest this stone to the virtues of the master, and to +the enduring gratitude of the servant.” + +The Leather-Stocking started at the sound of his own name, and a smile +of joy illuminated his wrinkled features, as he said: + +“And did ye say It, lad? have you then got the old man’s name cut in +the stone, by the side of his master’s! God bless ye, children! ‘twas +a kind thought, and kindness goes to the heart as Life shortens.” + +Elizabeth turned her back to the speakers. Effingham made a fruitless +effort before he succeeded in saying: + +“It is there cut in plain marble; but it should have been written in +letters of gold!” + +“Show me the name, boy,” said Natty, with simple eagerness; “let me +see my own name placed in such honor. ‘Tis a gin’rous gift to a man +who leaves none of his name and family behind him in a country where +he has tarried so long.” + +Effingham guided his finger to the spot, and Natty followed the +windings of the letters to the end with deep interest, when he raised +himself from the tomb, and said: + +“I suppose it’s all right; and it’s kindly thought, and kindly done! +But what have ye put over the red-skin” + +“You shall hear: This stone is raised to the memory of an Indian Chief +of the Delaware tribe, who was known by the several names of John +Mohegan Mohican———’” + +“Mo-hee-can, lad, they call theirselves! ‘hecan.” + +“Mohican; and Chingagook—” + +“‘Gach, boy; ‘gach-gook; Chingachgook, which interpreted, means Big- +sarpent. The name should he set down right, for an Indian’s name has +always some meaning in it.” + +“I will see it altered. ‘He was the last of his people who continued +to inhabit this country; and it may he said of him that his faults +were those of an Indian, and his virtues those of a man.’” + +“You never said truer word, Mr. Oliver; ah’s me! if you had knowed him +as I did, in his prime, in that very battle where the old gentleman, +who sleeps by his side saved his life, when them thieves, the +Iroquois, had him at the stake, you’d have said all that, and more +too. I cut the thongs with this very hand, and gave him my own +tomahawk and knife, seeing that the rifle was always my fav'rite +weapon. He did lay about him like a man! I met him as I was coming +home from the trail, with eleven Mingo scalps on his pole. You +needn’t shudder, Madam Effingham, for they was all from shaved heads +and warriors. When I look about me, at these hills, where I used to +could count sometimes twenty smokes, curling over the tree-tops, from +the Delaware camps, it raises mournful thoughts, to think that not a +red-skin is left of them all; unless it be a drunken vagabond from the +Oneidas, or them Yankee Indians, who, they say, be moving up from the +seashore; and who belong to none of Gods creatures, to my seeming, +being, as it were, neither fish nor flesh—neither white man nor +savage. Well, well! the time has come at last, and I must go——” + +“Go!” echoed Edwards, “ whither do you go?” + +The Leather-Stocking; who had imbibed unconsciously, many of the +Indian qualities, though he always thought of himself as of a +civilized being, compared with even the Delawares, averted his face to +conceal the workings of his muscles, as he stooped to lift a large +pack from behind the tomb, which he placed deliberately on his +shoulders. + +“Go!” exclaimed Elizabeth, approaching him with a hurried step; “you +should not venture so far in the woods alone, at your time of life, +Natty; indeed, it Is Imprudent, He is bent, Effingham, on some distant +hunting.” + +“What Mrs. Effingham tells you is true, Leather-Stocking’ said +Edwards; “there can be no necessity for your submitting to such +hardships now. So throw aside your pack, and confine your hunt to the +mountains near us, if you will go.” + +“Hardship! ‘tis a pleasure, children, and the greatest that is left me +on this side the grave.” + +“No, no; you shall not go to such a distance,” cried Elizabeth, laying +her white hand on his deer-skin pack—” I am right! I feel his camp- +kettle, and a canister of powder! He must not be suffered to wander so +far from us, Oliver; remember how suddenly Mohegan dropped away.” + +“I knowed the parting would come hard, children—I knowed it would!” +said Natty, “and so I got aside to look at the graves by myself, and +thought if I left ye the keep sake which the Major gave me, when we +first parted in the woods, ye wouldn’t take it unkind, but would know +that, let the old man’s body go where it might, his feelings stayed +behind him.” + +“This means something more than common,” exclaimed the youth. “Where +is it, Natty, that you purpose going?” + +The hunter drew nigh him with a confident, reasoning air, as If what +he had to say would silence all objections, and replied: + +“Why, lad, they tell me that on the big lakes there’s the best of +hunting, and a great range without a white man on it unless it may be +one like myself. I’m weary of living in clearings, and where the +hammer is sounding in my ears from sunrise to sundown. And though I’m +much bound to ye both, children—I wouldn’t say it if It was not true—I +crave to go into the woods agin—I do.” + +“Woods!” echoed Elizabeth, trembling with her feelings; “do you not +call these endless forests woods?” + +“Ah! child, these be nothing to a man that’s used to the wilderness. +I have took but little comfort sin’ your father come on with his +settlers; but I wouldn’t go far, while the life was in the body that +lies under the sod there. But now he’s gone, and Chingachgook Is +gone; and you be both young and happy. Yes! the big house has rung +with merriment this month past! And now I thought was the time to get +a little comfort in the close of my days. Woods! indeed! I doesn’t +call these woods, Madam Effingham, where I lose myself every day of my +life in the clearings.” + +“If there be anything wanting to your comfort, name it, Leather- +Stocking; if it be attainable it is yours.” + +“You mean all for the best, lad, I know; and so does madam, too; but +your ways isn’t my ways. ‘Tis like the dead there, who thought, when +the breath was in them, that one went east, and one went west, to find +their heavens; but they’ll meet at last, and so shall we, children. +Yes, and as you’ve begun, and we shall meet in the land of the just at +last.” + +“This is so new! so unexpected!” said Elizabeth, in almost breathless +excitement; “I had thought you meant to live with us and die with us, +Natty.” + +“Words are of no avail,” exclaimed her husband: “the habits of forty +years are not to he dispossessed by the ties of a day. I know you too +well to urge you further, Natty; unless you will let me build you a +hut on one of the distant hills, where we can sometimes see you, and +know that you are comfortable.” + +“Don’t fear for the Leather-Stocking, children; God will see that his +days be provided for, and his ind happy. I know you mean all for the +best, but our ways doesn't agree. I love the woods, and ye relish the +face of man; I eat when hungry, and drink when a-dry; and ye keep +stated hours and rules; nay, nay, you even over-feed the dogs, lad, +from pure kindness; and hounds should be gaunty to run well. The +meanest of God’s creatures be made for some use, and I’m formed for +the wilderness, If ye love me, let me go where my soul craves to be +agin!” + +The appeal was decisive; and not another word of en treaty for him to +remain was then uttered; but Elizabeth bent her head to her bosom and +wept, while her husband dashed away the tears from his eyes; and, with +hands that almost refused to perform their office, he procured his +pocket-book, and extended a parcel of bank-notes to the hunter. + +“Take these,” he said, “at least take these; secure them about your +person, and in the hour of need they will do you good service.” + +The old man took the notes, and examined them with curious eye. + +“This, then, is some of the new-fashioned money that they’ve been +making at Albany, out of paper! It can't be worth much to they that +hasn’t larning! No, no, lad-——take back the stuff; it will do me no +sarvice, I took kear to get all the Frenchman’s powder afore he broke +up, and they say lead grows where I’m going. it isn’t even fit for +wads, seeing that I use none but leather!—Madam Effingham, let an old +man kiss your hand, and wish God’s choicest blessings on you and +your’n” + +“Once more let me beseech you, stay!” cried Elizabeth. Do not, +Leather-Stocking, leave me to grieve for the man who has twice rescued +me from death, and who has served those I love so faithfully. For my +sake, if not for your own, stay. I shall see you in those frightful +dreams that still haunt my nights, dying in poverty and age, by the +side of those terrific beasts you slew. There will be no evil, that +sickness, want, and solitude can inflict, that my fancy will not +conjure as your fate. Stay with us, old man, if not for your own +sake, at least for ours.” + +“Such thoughts and bitter dreams, Madam Effingham,” returned the +hunter, solemnly, “ will never haunt an innocent parson long. They’ll +pass away with God’s pleasure. And if the cat-a-mounts be yet brought +to your eyes in sleep, tis not for my sake, but to show you the power +of Him that led me there to save you. Trust in God, madam, and your +honorable husband, and the thoughts for an old man like me can never +be long nor bitter. I pray that the Lord will keep you in mind—the +Lord that lives in clearings as well as in the wilderness—and bless +you, and all that belong to you, from this time till the great day +when the whites shall meet the red-skins in judgement, and justice +shall be the law, and not power.” + +Elizabeth raised her head, and offered her colorless cheek to his +salute, when he lifted his cap and touched it respectfully. His hand +was grasped with convulsive fervor by the youth, who continued silent. +The hunter prepared himself for his journey, drawing his belt tighter, +and wasting his moments in the little reluctant movements of a +sorrowful departure. Once or twice he essayed to speak, but a rising +in his throat prevented it. At length he shouldered his rifle, and +cried with a clear huntsman’s call that echoed through the woods: +He-e-e-re, he-e-e-re, pups—away, dogs, away!—ye'll be footsore afore +ye see the end of the journey!” + +The hounds leaped from the earth at this cry, and scenting around the +grave and silent pair, as if conscious of their own destination, they +followed humbly at the heels of their master. A short pause +succeeded, during which even the youth concealed his face on his +grandfather’s tomb. When the pride of manhood, however, had sup +pressed the feelings of nature, he turned to renew his en treaties, +but saw that the cemetery was occupied only by himself and his wife. + +“He is gone!” cried Effingham. + +Elizabeth raised her face, and saw the old hunter standing looking +back for a moment, on the verge of the wood. As he caught their +glances, he drew his hard hand hastily across his eyes again, waved it +on high for an adieu, and, uttering a forced cry to his dogs, who were +crouching at his feet, he entered the forest. + +This was the last they ever saw of the Leather-Stocking, whose rapid +movements preceded the pursuit which Judge Temple both ordered and +conducted. He had gone far toward the setting sun—the foremost in +that band of pioneers who are opening the way for the march of the +nation across the continent. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of The Pioneers, by James Fenimore Cooper + diff --git a/old/2000-08-tpnrs10.zip b/old/2000-08-tpnrs10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d63a519 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2000-08-tpnrs10.zip diff --git a/old/2275-h.htm.2019-12-30 b/old/2275-h.htm.2019-12-30 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bceb843 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2275-h.htm.2019-12-30 @@ -0,0 +1,20603 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + The Pioneers, by J. Fenimore Cooper + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pioneers, by James Fenimore Cooper + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Pioneers + Or, The Sources of the Susquehanna + +Author: James Fenimore Cooper + +Release Date: August, 2000 [EBook #2275] +Last Updated: March 11, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIONEERS *** + + + + +Produced by Gary Rezny and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <div style="height: 8em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h1> + THE PIONEERS + </h1> + <h2> + Or, The Sources of the Susquehanna + </h2> + <h3> + A Descriptive Tale + </h3> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By J. Fenimore Cooper + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_INTR"> INTRODUCTION </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0001"> CHAPTER I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0002"> CHAPTER II </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0003"> CHAPTER III </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0004"> CHAPTER IV </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0005"> CHAPTER V </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0006"> CHAPTER VI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0007"> CHAPTER VII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0008"> CHAPTER VIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0009"> CHAPTER IX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0010"> CHAPTER X. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0011"> CHAPTER XI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0012"> CHAPTER XII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0013"> CHAPTER XIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0014"> CHAPTER XIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0015"> CHAPTER XV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0016"> CHAPTER XVI </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0017"> CHAPTER XVII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0018"> CHAPTER XVIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0019"> CHAPTER XIX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0020"> CHAPTER XX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0021"> CHAPTER XXI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0022"> CHAPTER XXII </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0023"> CHAPTER XXIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0024"> CHAPTER XXIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0025"> CHAPTER XXV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0026"> CHAPTER XXVI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0027"> CHAPTER XXVII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0028"> CHAPTER XXVIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0029"> CHAPTER XXIX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0030"> CHAPTER XXX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0031"> CHAPTER XXXI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0032"> CHAPTER XXXII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0033"> CHAPTER XXXIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0034"> CHAPTER XXXIV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0035"> CHAPTER XXXV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0036"> CHAPTER XXXVI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0037"> CHAPTER XXXVII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0038"> CHAPTER XXXVIII. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0039"> CHAPTER XXXIX. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0040"> CHAPTER XL. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2HCH0041"> CHAPTER XLI. </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_INTR" id="link2H_INTR"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + INTRODUCTION + </h2> + <p> + As this work professes, in its title-page, to be a descriptive tale, they + who will take the trouble to read it may be glad to know how much of its + contents is literal fact, and how much is intended to represent a general + picture. The author is very sensible that, had he confined himself to the + latter, always the most effective, as it is the most valuable, mode of + conveying knowledge of this nature, he would have made a far better book. + But in commencing to describe scenes, and perhaps he may add characters, + that were so familiar to his own youth, there was a constant temptation to + delineate that which he had known, rather than that which he might have + imagined. This rigid adhesion to truth, an indispensable requisite in + history and travels, destroys the charm of fiction; for all that is + necessary to be conveyed to the mind by the latter had better be done by + delineations of principles, and of characters in their classes, than by a + too fastidious attention to originals. + </p> + <p> + New York having but one county of Otsego, and the Susquehanna but one + proper source, there can be no mistake as to the site of the tale. The + history of this district of country, so far as it is connected with + civilized men, is soon told. + </p> + <p> + Otsego, in common with most of the interior of the province of New York, + was included in the county of Albany previously to the war of the + separation. It then became, in a subsequent division of territory, a part + of Montgomery; and finally, having obtained a sufficient population of its + own, it was set apart as a county by itself shortly after the peace of + 1783. It lies among those low spurs of the Alleghanies which cover the + midland counties of New York, and it is a little east of a meridional line + drawn through the centre of the State. As the waters of New York flow + either southerly into the Atlantic or northerly into Ontario and its + outlet, Otsego Lake, being the source of the Susquehanna, is of necessity + among its highest lands. The face of the country, the climate as it was + found by the whites, and the manners of the settlers, are described with a + minuteness for which the author has no other apology than the force of his + own recollections. + </p> + <p> + Otsego is said to be a word compounded of Ot, a place of meeting, and + Sego, or Sago, the ordinary term of salutation used by the Indians of this + region. There is a tradition which says that the neighboring tribes were + accustomed to meet on the banks of the lake to make their treaties, and + otherwise to strengthen their alliances, and which refers the name to this + practice. As the Indian agent of New York had a log dwelling at the foot + of the lake, however, it is not impossible that the appellation grew out + of the meetings that were held at his council fires; the war drove off the + agent, in common with the other officers of the crown; and his rude + dwelling was soon abandoned. The author remembers it, a few years later, + reduced to the humble office of a smoke-house. + </p> + <p> + In 1779 an expedition was sent against the hostile Indians, who dwelt + about a hundred miles west of Otsego, on the banks of the Cayuga. The + whole country was then a wilderness, and it was necessary to transport the + baggage of the troops by means of the rivers—a devious but + practicable route. One brigade ascended the Mohawk until it reached the + point nearest to the sources of the Susquehanna, whence it cut a lane + through the forest to the head of the Otsego. The boats and baggage were + carried over this “portage,” and the troops proceeded to the other + extremity of the lake, where they disembarked and encamped. The + Susquehanna, a narrow though rapid stream at its source, was much filled + with “flood wood,” or fallen trees; and the troops adopted a novel + expedient to facilitate their passage. The Otsego is about nine miles in + length, varying in breadth from half a mile to a mile and a half. The + water is of great depth, limpid, and supplied from a thousand springs. At + its foot the banks are rather less than thirty feet high the remainder of + its margin being in mountains, intervals, and points. The outlet, or the + Susquehanna, flows through a gorge in the low banks just mentioned, which + may have a width of two hundred feet. This gorge was dammed and the waters + of the lake collected: the Susquehanna was converted into a rill. + </p> + <p> + When all was ready the troops embarked, the damn was knocked away, the + Otsego poured out its torrent, and the boats went merrily down with the + current. + </p> + <p> + General James Clinton, the brother of George Clinton, then governor of New + York, and the father of De Witt Clinton, who died governor of the same + State in 1827, commanded the brigade employed on this duty. During the + stay of the troops at the foot of the Otsego a soldier was shot for + desertion. The grave of this unfortunate man was the first place of human + interment that the author ever beheld, as the smoke-house was the first + ruin! The swivel alluded to in this work was buried and abandoned by the + troops on this occasion, and it was subsequently found in digging the + cellars of the authors paternal residence. + </p> + <p> + Soon after the close of the war, Washington, accompanied by many + distinguished men, visited the scene of this tale, it is said with a view + to examine the facilities for opening a communication by water with other + points of the country. He stayed but a few hours. + </p> + <p> + In 1785 the author's father, who had an interest in extensive tracts of + land in this wilderness, arrived with a party of surveyors. The manner in + which the scene met his eye is described by Judge Temple. At the + commencement of the following year the settlement began; and from that + time to this the country has continued to flourish. It is a singular + feature in American life that at the beginning of this century, when the + proprietor of the estate had occasion for settlers on a new settlement and + in a remote county, he was enabled to draw them from among the increase of + the former colony. + </p> + <p> + Although the settlement of this part of Otsego a little preceded the birth + of the author, it was not sufficiently advanced to render it desirable + that an event so important to himself should take place in the wilderness. + Perhaps his mother had a reasonable distrust of the practice of Dr Todd, + who must then have been in the novitiate of his experimental acquirements. + Be that as it may, the author was brought an infant into this valley, and + all his first impressions were here obtained. He has inhabited it ever + since, at intervals; and he thinks he can answer for the faithfulness of + the picture he has drawn. Otsego has now become one of the most populous + districts of New York. It sends forth its emigrants like any other old + region, and it is pregnant with industry and enterprise. Its manufacturers + are prosperous, and it is worthy of remark that one of the most ingenious + machines known in European art is derived from the keen ingenuity which is + exercised in this remote region. + </p> + <p> + In order to prevent mistake, it may be well to say that the incidents of + this tale are purely a fiction. The literal facts are chiefly connected + with the natural and artificial objects and the customs of the + inhabitants. Thus the academy, and court-house, and jail, and inn, and + most similar things, are tolerably exact. They have all, long since, given + place to other buildings of a more pretending character. There is also + some liberty taken with the truth in the description of the principal + dwelling; the real building had no “firstly” and “lastly.” It was of + bricks, and not of stone; and its roof exhibited none of the peculiar + beauties of the “composite order.” It was erected in an age too primitive + for that ambitious school of architecture. But the author indulged his + recollections freely when he had fairly entered the door. Here all is + literal, even to the severed arm of Wolfe, and the urn which held the + ashes of Queen Dido.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Though forests still crown the mountains of Otsego, the bear, the + wolf, and the panther are nearly strangers to them. Even the innocent + deer is rarely seen bounding beneath their arches; for the rifle and + the activity of the settlers have driven them to other haunts. To + this change (which in some particulars is melancholy to one who knew + the country in its infancy), it may be added that the Otsego is + beginning to be a niggard of its treasures. +</pre> + <p> + The author has elsewhere said that the character of Leather-Stocking is a + creation, rendered probable by such auxiliaries as were necessary to + produce that effect. Had he drawn still more upon fancy, the lovers of + fiction would not have so much cause for their objections to his work. + Still, the picture would not have been in the least true without some + substitutes for most of the other personages. The great proprietor + resident on his lands, and giving his name to instead of receiving it from + his estates as in Europe, is common over the whole of New York. The + physician with his theory, rather obtained from than corrected by + experiments on the human constitution; the pious, self-denying, laborious, + and ill-paid missionary; the half-educated, litigious, envious, and + disreputable lawyer, with his counterpoise, a brother of the profession, + of better origin and of better character; the shiftless, bargaining, + discontented seller of his “betterments;” the plausible carpenter, and + most of the others, are more familiar to all who have ever dwelt in a new + country. + </p> + <p> + It may be well to say here, a little more explicitly, that there was no + real intention to describe with particular accuracy any real characters in + this book. It has been often said, and in published statements, that the + heroine of this book was drawn after the sister of the writer, who was + killed by a fall from a horse now near half a century since. So ingenious + is conjecture that a personal resemblance has been discovered between the + fictitious character and the deceased relative! It is scarcely possible to + describe two females of the same class in life who would be less alike, + personally, than Elizabeth Temple and the sister of the author who met + with the deplorable fate mentioned. In a word, they were as unlike in this + respect as in history, character, and fortunes. + </p> + <p> + Circumstances rendered this sister singularly dear to the author. After a + lapse of half a century, he is writing this paragraph with a pain that + would induce him to cancel it, were it not still more painful to have it + believed that one whom he regarded with a reverence that surpassed the + love of a brother was converted by him into the heroine of a work of + fiction. + </p> + <p> + From circumstances which, after this Introduction, will be obvious to all, + the author has had more pleasure in writing “The Pioneers” than the book + will probably ever give any of its readers. He is quite aware of its + numerous faults, some of which he has endeavored to repair in this + edition; but as he has—in intention, at least—done his full + share in amusing the world, he trusts to its good-nature for overlooking + this attempt to please himself. + </p> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0001" id="link2HCH0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h2> + CHAPTER I. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “See, Winter comes, to rule the varied years, + Sullen and sad, with all his rising train; + Vapors, and clouds, and storms.”—Thomson. +</pre> + <p> + Near the centre of the State of New York lies an extensive district of + country whose surface is a succession of hills and dales, or, to speak + with greater deference to geographical definitions, of mountains and + valleys. It is among these hills that the Delaware takes its rise; and + flowing from the limpid lakes and thousand springs of this region the + numerous sources of the Susquehanna meander through the valleys until, + uniting their streams, they form one of the proudest rivers of the United + States. The mountains are generally arable to the tops, although instances + are not wanting where the sides are jutted with rocks that aid greatly in + giving to the country that romantic and picturesque character which it so + eminently possesses. The vales are narrow, rich, and cultivated, with a + stream uniformly winding through each. Beautiful and thriving villages are + found interspersed along the margins of the small lakes, or situated at + those points of the streams which are favorable for manufacturing; and + neat and comfortable farms, with every indication of wealth about them, + are scattered profusely through the vales, and even to the mountain tops. + Roads diverge in every direction from the even and graceful bottoms of the + valleys to the most rugged and intricate passes of the hills. Academies + and minor edifices of learning meet the eye of the stranger at every few + miles as he winds his way through this uneven territory, and places for + the worship of God abound with that frequency which characterize a moral + and reflecting people, and with that variety of exterior and canonical + government which flows from unfettered liberty of conscience. In short, + the whole district is hourly exhibiting how much can be done, in even a + rugged country and with a severe climate, under the dominion of mild laws, + and where every man feels a direct interest in the prosperity of a + commonwealth of which he knows himself to form a part. The expedients of + the pioneers who first broke ground in the settlement of this country are + succeeded by the permanent improvements of the yeoman who intends to leave + his remains to moulder under the sod which he tills, or perhaps of the + son, who, born in the land, piously wishes to linger around the grave of + his father. Only forty years * have passed since this territory was a + wilderness. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Our tale begins in 1793, about seven years after the commencement of + one of the earliest of those settlements which have conduced to effect + that magical change in the power and condition of the State to which + we have alluded. +</pre> + <p> + Very soon after the establishment of the independence of the States by the + peace of 1783, the enterprise of their citizens was directed to a + development of the natural advantages of their widely extended dominions. + Before the war of the Revolution, the inhabited parts of the colony of New + York were limited to less than a tenth of its possessions, A narrow belt + of country, extending for a short distance on either side of the Hudson, + with a similar occupation of fifty miles on the banks of the Mohawk, + together with the islands of Nassau and Staten, and a few insulated + settlements on chosen land along the margins of streams, composed the + country, which was then inhabited by less than two hundred thousand souls. + Within the short period we have mentioned, the population has spread + itself over five degrees of latitude and seven of longitude, and has + swelled to a million and a half of inhabitants, who are maintained in + abundance, and can look forward to ages before the evil day must arrive + when their possessions shall become unequal to their wants. + </p> + <p> + It was near the setting of the sun, on a clear, cold day in December, when + a sleigh was moving slowly up one of the mountains in the district we have + described. The day had been fine for the season, and but two or three + large clouds, whose color seemed brightened by the light reflected from + the mass of snow that covered the earth, floated in a sky of the purest + blue. The road wound along the brow of a precipice, and on one side was + upheld by a foundation of logs piled one upon the other, while a narrow + excavation in the mountain in the opposite direction had made a passage of + sufficient width for the ordinary travelling of that day. But logs, + excavation, and every thing that did not reach several feet above the + earth lay alike buried beneath the snow. A single track, barely wide + enough to receive the sleigh, * denoted the route of the highway, and this + was sunk nearly two feet below the surrounding surface. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Sleigh is the word used in every part of the United States to denote + a traineau. It is of local use in the west of England, whence it is + most probably derived by the Americans. The latter draw a distinction + between a sled, or sledge, and a sleigh, the sleigh being shod with + metal. Sleighs are also subdivided into two-horse and one-horse + sleighs. Of the latter, there are the cutter, with thills so arranged + as to permit the horse to travel in the side track; the “pung,” or + “tow-pung” which is driven with a pole; and the “gumper,” a rude + construction used for temporary purposes in the new countries. Many + of the American sleighs are elegant though the use of this mode of + conveyance is much lessened with the melioration of the climate + consequent to the clearing of the forests. +</pre> + <p> + In the vale, which lay at a distance of several hundred feet lower, there + was what, in the language of the country, was called a clearing, and all + the usual improvements of a new settlement; these even extended up the + hill to the point where the road turned short and ran across the level + land, which lay on the summit of the mountain; but the summit itself + remained in the forest. There was glittering in the atmosphere, as if it + was filled with innumerable shining particles; and the noble bay horses + that drew the sleigh were covered, in many parts with a coat of + hoar-frost. The vapor from their nostrils was seen to issue like smoke; + and every object in the view, as well as every arrangement of the + travellers, denoted the depth of a winter in the mountains. The harness, + which was of a deep, dull black, differing from the glossy varnishing of + the present day, was ornamented with enormous plates and buckles of brass, + that shone like gold in those transient beams of the sun which found their + way obliquely through the tops of the trees. Huge saddles, studded with + nails and fitted with cloth that served as blankets to the shoulders of + the cattle, supported four high, square-topped turrets, through which the + stout reins led from the mouths of the horses to the hands of the driver, + who was a negro, of apparently twenty years of age. His face, which nature + had colored with a glistening black, was now mottled with the cold, and + his large shining eyes filled with tears; a tribute to its power that the + keen frosts of those regions always extracted from one of his African + origin. Still, there was a smiling expression of good-humor in his happy + countenance, that was created by the thoughts of home and a Christmas + fireside, with its Christmas frolics. The sleigh was one of those large, + comfortable, old-fashioned conveyances, which would admit a whole family + within its bosom, but which now contained only two passengers besides the + driver. The color of its outside was a modest green, and that of its + inside a fiery red, The latter was intended to convey the idea of heat in + that cold climate. Large buffalo-skins trimmed around the edges with red + cloth cut into festoons, covered the back of the sleigh, and were spread + over its bottom and drawn up around the feet of the travellers—one + of whom was a man of middle age and the other a female just entering upon + womanhood. The former was of a large stature; but the precautions he had + taken to guard against the cold left but little of his person exposed to + view. A great-coat, that was abundantly ornamented by a profusion of furs, + enveloped the whole of his figure excepting the head, which was covered + with a cap of marten-skins lined with morocco, the sides of which were + made to fall, if necessary, and were now drawn close over the ears and + fastened beneath his chin with a black ribbon. The top of the cap was + surmounted with the tail of the animal whose skin had furnished the rest + of the materials, which fell back, not ungracefully, a few inches behind + the head. From beneath this mask were to be seen part of a fine, manly + face, and particularly a pair of expressive large blue eyes, that promised + extraordinary intellect, covert humor, and great benevolence. The form of + his companion was literally hid beneath the garments she wore. There were + furs and silks peeping from under a large camlet cloak with a thick + flannel lining, that by its cut and size was evidently intended for a + masculine wearer. A huge hood of black silk, that was quilted with down, + concealed the whole of her head, except at a small opening in front for + breath, through which occasionally sparkled a pair of animated jet-black + eyes. + </p> + <p> + Both the father and daughter (for such was the connection between the two + travellers) were too much occupied with their reflections to break a + stillness that derived little or no interruption from the easy gliding of + the sleigh by the sound of their voices. The former was thinking of the + wife that had held this their only child to her bosom, when, four years + before, she had reluctantly consented to relinquish the society of her + daughter in order that the latter might enjoy the advantages of an + education which the city of New York could only offer at that period. A + few months afterward death had deprived him of the remaining companion of + his solitude; but still he had enough real regard for his child not to + bring her into the comparative wilderness in which he dwelt, until the + full period had expired to which he had limited her juvenile labors. The + reflections of the daughter were less melancholy, and mingled with a + pleased astonishment at the novel scenery she met at every turn in the + road. + </p> + <p> + The mountain on which they were journeying was covered with pines that + rose without a branch some seventy or eighty feet, and which frequently + doubled that height by the addition of the tops. Through the innumerable + vistas that opened beneath the lofty trees, the eye could penetrate until + it was met by a distant inequality in the ground, or was stopped by a view + of the summit of the mountain which lay on the opposite side of the valley + to which they were hastening. The dark trunks of the trees rose from the + pure white of the snow in regularly formed shafts, until, at a great + height, their branches shot forth horizontal limbs, that were covered with + the meagre foliage of an evergreen, affording a melancholy contrast to the + torpor of nature below. To the travellers there seemed to be no wind; but + these pines waved majestically at their topmost boughs, sending forth a + dull, plaintive sound that was quite in consonance with the rest of the + melancholy scene. + </p> + <p> + The sleigh had glided for some distance along the even surface, and the + gaze of the female was bent in inquisitive and, perhaps, timid glances + into the recesses of the forest, when a loud and continued howling was + heard, pealing under the long arches of the woods like the cry of a + numerous pack of hounds. The instant the sounds reached the ear of the + gentleman he cried aloud to the black: + </p> + <p> + “Hol up, Aggy; there is old Hector; I should know his bay among ten + thousand! The Leather-Stocking has put his hounds into the hills this + clear day, and they have started their game. There is a deer-track a few + rods ahead; and now, Bess, if thou canst muster courage enough to stand + fire, I will give thee a saddle for thy Christmas dinner.” + </p> + <p> + The black drew up, with a cheerful grin upon his chilled features, and + began thrashing his arms together in order to restore the circulation of + his fingers, while the speaker stood erect and, throwing aside his outer + covering, stepped from the sleigh upon a bank of snow which sustained his + weight without yielding. + </p> + <p> + In a few moments the speaker succeeded in extricating a double-barrelled + fowling-piece from among a multitude of trunks and bandboxes. After + throwing aside the thick mittens which had encased his hands, there now + appeared a pair of leather gloves tipped with fur; he examined his + priming, and was about to move forward, when the light bounding noise of + an animal plunging through the woods was heard, and a fine buck darted + into the path a short distance ahead of him. The appearance of the animal + was sudden, and his flight inconceivably rapid; but the traveller appeared + to be too keen a sportsman to be disconcerted by either. As it came first + into view he raised the fowling-piece to his shoulder and, with a + practised eye and steady hand, drew a trigger. The deer dashed forward + undaunted, and apparently unhurt. Without lowering his piece, the + traveller turned its muzzle toward his victim, and fired again. Neither + discharge, however, seemed to have taken effect, + </p> + <p> + The whole scene had passed with a rapidity that confused the female, who + was unconsciously rejoicing in the escape of the buck, as he rather darted + like a meteor than ran across the road, when a sharp, quick sound struck + her ear, quite different from the full, round reports of her father's gun, + but still sufficiently distinct to be known as the concussion produced by + firearms. At the same instant that she heard this unexpected report, the + buck sprang from the snow to a great height in the air, and directly a + second discharge, similar in sound to the first, followed, when the animal + came to the earth, failing head long and rolling over on the crust with + its own velocity. A loud shout was given by the unseen marksman, and a + couple of men instantly appeared from behind the trunks of two of the + pines, where they had evidently placed themselves in expectation of the + passage of the deer. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Natty, had I known you were in ambush, I should not have fired,” + cried the traveller, moving toward the spot where the deer lay—near + to which he was followed by the delighted black, with his sleigh; “but the + sound of old Hector was too exhilarating to be quiet; though I hardly + think I struck him, either.” + </p> + <p> + “No—no——Judge,” returned the hunter, with an inward + chuckle, and with that look of exultation that indicates a consciousness + of superior skill, “you burnt your powder only to warm your nose this cold + evening. Did ye think to stop a full-grown buck, with Hector and the slut + open upon him within sound, with that pop-gun in your hand! There's plenty + of pheasants among the swamps; and the snow-birds are flying round your + own door, where you may feed them with crumbs, and shoot them at pleasure, + any day; but if you're for a buck, or a little bear's meat, Judge, you'll + have to take the long rifle, with a greased wadding, or you'll waste more + powder than you'll fill stomachs, I'm thinking.” + </p> + <p> + As the speaker concluded he drew his bare hand across the bottom of his + nose, and again opened his enormous mouth with a kind of inward laugh. + </p> + <p> + “The gun scatters well, Natty, And it has killed a deer before now,” said + the traveller, smiling good-humoredly. “One barrel was charged with + buckshot, but the other was loaded for birds only. Here are two hurts; one + through the neck, and the other directly through the heart. It is by no + means certain, Natty, but I gave him one of the two. + </p> + <p> + “Let who will kill him.” said the hunter, rather surily. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose the creature is to be eaten.” So saying, he drew a large knife + from a leathern sheath, which was stuck through his girdle, or sash, and + cut the throat of the animal, “If there are two balls through the deer, I + would ask if there weren't two rifles fired—besides, who ever saw + such a ragged hole from a smooth-bore as this through the neck? And you + will own yourself, Judge, that the buck fell at the last shot, which was + sent from a truer and a younger hand than your'n or mine either; but, for + my part, although I am a poor man I can live without the venison, but I + don't love to give up my lawful dues in a free country. Though, for the + matter of that, might often makes right here, as well as in the old + country, for what I can see.” + </p> + <p> + An air of sullen dissatisfaction pervaded the manner of the hunter during + the whole of his speech; yet he thought it prudent to utter the close of + the sentence in such an undertone as to leave nothing audible but the + grumbling sounds of his voice. + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Natty,” rejoined the traveller, with undisturbed good-humor, “it is + for the honor that I contend. A few dollars will pay for the venison; but + what will requite me for the lost honor of a buck's tail in my cap? Think, + Natty, how I should triumph over that quizzing dog, Dick Jones, who has + failed seven times already this season, and has only brought in one + woodchuck and a few gray squirrels.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! The game is becoming hard to find, indeed, Judge, with your clearings + and betterments,” said the old hunter, with a kind of compelled + resignation. “The time has been when I have shot thirteen deer without + counting the fa'ns standing in the door of my own hut; and for bear's + meat, if one wanted a ham or so, he had only to watch a-nights, and he + could shoot one by moonlight, through the cracks of the logs, no fear of + his oversleeping himself neither, for the howling of the wolves was sartin + to keep his eyes open. There's old Hector”—patting with affection a + tall hound of black and yellow spots, with white belly and legs, that just + then came in on the scent, accompanied by the slut he had mentioned; “see + where the wolves bit his throat, the night I druv them from the venison + that was smoking on the chimney top—that dog is more to be trusted + than many a Christian man; for he never forgets a friend, and loves the + hand that gives him bread.” + </p> + <p> + There was a peculiarity in the manner of the hunter that attracted the + notice of the young female, who had been a close and interested observer + of his appearance and equipments, from the moment he came into view. He + was tall, and so meagre as to make him seem above even the six feet that + he actually stood in his stockings. On his head, which was thinly covered + with lank, sandy hair, he wore a cap made of fox-skin, resembling in shape + the one we have already described, although much inferior in finish and + ornaments. His face was skinny and thin al most to emaciation; but yet it + bore no signs of disease—on the contrary, it had every indication of + the most robust and enduring health. The cold and exposure had, together, + given it a color of uniform red. His gray eyes were glancing under a pair + of shaggy brows, that over hung them in long hairs of gray mingled with + their natural hue; his scraggy neck was bare, and burnt to the same tint + with his face; though a small part of a shirt-collar, made of the country + check, was to be seen above the overdress he wore. A kind of coat, made of + dressed deer-skin, with the hair on, was belted close to his lank body by + a girdle of colored worsted. On his feet were deer-skin moccasins, + ornamented with porcupines' quills, after the manner of the Indians, and + his limbs were guarded with long leggings of the same material as the + moccasins, which, gartering over the knees of his tarnished buckskin + breeches, had obtained for him among the settlers the nickname of + Leather-Stocking. Over his left shoulder was slung a belt of deer-skin, + from which depended an enormous ox-horn, so thinly scraped as to discover + the powder it contained. The larger end was fitted ingeniously and + securely with a wooden bottom, and the other was stopped tight by a little + plug. A leathern pouch hung before him, from which, as he concluded his + last speech, he took a small measure, and, filling it accurately with + powder, he commenced reloading the rifle, which as its butt rested on the + snow before him reached nearly to the top of his fox-skin cap. + </p> + <p> + The traveller had been closely examining the wounds during these + movements, and now, without heeding the ill-humor of the hunter's manner, + he exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “I would fain establish a right, Natty, to the honor of this death; and + surely if the hit in the neck be mine it is enough; for the shot in the + heart was unnecessary—what we call an act of supererogation, + Leather-Stocking.” + </p> + <p> + “You may call it by what larned name you please, Judge,” said the hunter, + throwing his rifle across his left arm, and knocking up a brass lid in the + breech, from which he took a small piece of greased leather and, wrapping + a bail in it, forced them down by main strength on the powder, where he + continued to pound them while speaking. “It's far easier to call names + than to shoot a buck on the spring; but the creatur came by his end from a + younger hand than either your'n or mine, as I said before.” + </p> + <p> + “What say you, my friend,” cried the traveller, turning pleasantly to + Natty's companion; “shall we toss up this dollar for the honor, and you + keep the silver if you lose; what say you, friend?” + </p> + <p> + “That I killed the deer,” answered the young man, with a little + haughtiness, as he leaned on another long rifle similar to that of Natty. + </p> + <p> + “Here are two to one, indeed,” replied the Judge with a smile; “I am + outvoted—overruled, as we say on the bench. There is Aggy, he can't + vote, being a slave; and Bess is a minor—so I must even make the + best of it. But you'll send me the venison; and the deuce is in it, but I + make a good story about its death.” + </p> + <p> + “The meat is none of mine to sell,” said Leather-Stocking, adopting a + little of his companion's hauteur; “for my part, I have known animals + travel days with shots in the neck, and I'm none of them who'll rob a man + of his rightful dues.” + </p> + <p> + “You are tenacious of your rights, this cold evening, Natty,” returned the + Judge with unconquerable good-nature; “but what say you, young man; will + three dollars pay you for the buck?” + </p> + <p> + “First let us determine the question of right to the satisfaction of us + both,” said the youth firmly but respect fully, and with a pronunciation + and language vastly superior to his appearance: “with how many shot did + you load your gun?” + </p> + <p> + “With five, sir,” said the Judge, a little struck with the other's manner; + “are they not enough to slay a buck like this?” + </p> + <p> + “One would do it; but,” moving to the tree from be hind which he had + appeared, “you know, sir, you fired in this direction—here are four + of the bullets in the tree.” + </p> + <p> + The Judge examined the fresh marks in the bark of the pine, and, shaking + his head, said with a laugh: + </p> + <p> + “You are making out the case against yourself, my young advocate; where is + the fifth?” + </p> + <p> + “Here,” said the youth, throwing aside the rough overcoat that he wore, + and exhibiting a hole in his under-garment, through which large drops of + blood were oozing. + </p> + <p> + “Good God!” exclaimed the Judge, with horror; “have I been trifling here + about an empty distinction, and a fellow-creature suffering from my hands + without a murmur? But hasten—quick—get into my sleigh—it + is but a mile to the village, where surgical aid can be obtained—all + shall be done at my expense, and thou shalt live with me until thy wound + is healed, ay, and forever afterward.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you for your good intention, but I must decline your offer. I + have a friend who would be uneasy were he to hear that I am hurt and away + from him. The injury is but slight, and the bullet has missed the bones; + but I believe, sir, you will now admit me title to the venison.” + </p> + <p> + “Admit it!” repeated the agitated Judge; “I here give thee a right to + shoot deer, or bears, or anything thou pleasest in my woods, forever. + Leather-Stocking is the only other man that I have granted the same + privilege to; and the time is coming when it will be of value. But I buy + your deer—here, this bill will pay thee, both for thy shot and my + own.” + </p> + <p> + The old hunter gathered his tall person up into an air of pride during + this dialogue, but he waited until the other had done speaking. + </p> + <p> + “There's them living who say that Nathaniel Bumppo's right to shoot on + these hills is of older date than Marmaduke Temple's right to forbid him,” + he said. “But if there's a law about it at all, though who ever heard of a + law that a man shouldn't kill deer where he pleased!—but if there is + a law at all, it should be to keep people from the use of smooth-bores. A + body never knows where his lead will fly, when he pulls the trigger of one + of them uncertain firearms.” + </p> + <p> + Without attending to the soliloquy of Natty, the youth bowed his head + silently to the offer of the bank-note, and replied: + </p> + <p> + “Excuse me: I have need of the venison.” + </p> + <p> + “But this will buy you many deer,” said the Judge; “take it, I entreat + you;” and, lowering his voice to a whisper, he added, “It is for a hundred + dollars.” + </p> + <p> + For an instant only the youth seemed to hesitate, and then, blushing even + through the high color that the cold had given to his cheeks, as if with + inward shame at his own weakness, he again declined the offer. + </p> + <p> + During this scene the female arose, and regardless of the cold air, she + threw back the hood which concealed her features, and now spoke, with + great earnestness. + </p> + <p> + “Surely, surely—young man—sir—you would not pain my + father so much as to have him think that he leaves a fellow-creature in + this wilderness whom his own hand has injured. I entreat you will go with + us, and receive medical aid.” + </p> + <p> + Whether his wound became more painful, or there was something irresistible + in the voice and manner of the fair pleader for her father's feelings, we + know not; but the distance of the young man's manner was sensibly softened + by this appeal, and he stood in apparent doubt, as if reluctant to comply + with and yet unwilling to refuse her request. The Judge, for such being + his office must in future be his title, watched with no little interest + the display of this singular contention in the feelings of the youth; and, + advancing, kindly took his hand, and, as he pulled him gently toward the + sleigh, urged him to enter it. + </p> + <p> + “There is no human aid nearer than Templeton,” he said, “and the hut of + Natty is full three miles from this—come, come, my young friend, go + with us, and let the new doctor look to this shoulder of thine. Here is + Natty will take the tidings of thy welfare to thy friend; and shouldst + thou require it, thou shalt return home in the morning.” The young man + succeeded in extricating his hand from the warm grasp of the Judge, but he + continued to gaze on the face of the female, who, regardless of the cold, + was still standing with her fine features exposed, which expressed feeling + that eloquently seconded the request of her father. Leather-Stocking + stood, in the meantime, leaning upon his long rifle, with his head turned + a little to one side, as if engaged in sagacious musing; when, having + apparently satisfied his doubts, by revolving the subject in his mind, he + broke silence. “It may be best to go, lad, after all; for, if the shot + hangs under the skin, my hand is getting too old to be cutting into human + flesh, as I once used to, Though some thirty years agone, in the old war, + when I was out under Sir William, I travelled seventy miles alone in the + howling wilderness, with a rifle bullet in my thigh, and then cut it out + with my own jack-knife. Old Indian John knows the time well. I met him + with a party of the Delawares, on the trail of the Iroquois, who had been + down and taken five scalps on the Schoharie. But I made a mark on the + red-skin that I'll warrant he'll carry to his grave! I took him on the + posteerum, saving the lady's presence, as he got up from the ambushment, + and rattled three buckshot into his naked hide, so close that you might + have laid a broad joe upon them all”—here Natty stretched out his + long neck, and straightened his body, as he opened his mouth, which + exposed a single tusk of yellow bone, while his eyes, his face, even his + whole frame seemed to laugh, although no sound was emitted except a kind + of thick hissing, as he inhaled his breath in quavers. “I had lost my + bullet-mould in crossing the Oneida outlet, and had to make shift with the + buckshot; but the rifle was true, and didn't scatter like your two-legged + thing there, Judge, which don't do, I find, to hunt in company with.” + </p> + <p> + Natty's apology to the delicacy of the young lady was unnecessary, for, + while he was speaking, she was too much employed in helping her father to + remove certain articles of baggage to hear him. Unable to resist the kind + urgency of the travellers any longer, the youth, though still with an + unaccountable reluctance, suffered himself to be persuaded to enter the + sleigh. The black, with the aid of his master, threw the buck across the + baggage and entering the vehicle themselves, the Judge invited the hunter + to do so likewise. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” said the old roan, shaking his head; “I have work to do at home + this Christmas eve—drive on with the boy, and let your doctor look + to the shoulder; though if he will only cut out the shot, I have yarbs + that will heal the wound quicker than all his foreign 'intments.” He + turned, and was about to move off, when, suddenly recollecting himself, he + again faced the party, and added: “If you see anything of Indian John, + about the foot of the lake, you had better take him with you, and let him + lend the doctor a hand; for, old as he is, he is curious at cuts and + bruises, and it's likelier than not he'll be in with brooms to sweep your + Christmas ha'arths.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop, stop,” cried the youth, catching the arm of the black as he + prepared to urge his horses forward; “Natty—you need say nothing of + the shot, nor of where I am going—remember, Natty, as you love me.” + </p> + <p> + “Trust old Leather-Stocking,” returned the hunter significantly; “he + hasn't lived fifty years in the wilderness, and not larnt from the savages + how to hold his tongue—trust to me, lad; and remember old Indian + John.” + </p> + <p> + “And, Natty,” said the youth eagerly, still holding the black by the arm. + “I will just get the shot extracted, and bring you up to-night a quarter + of the buck for the Christmas dinner.” + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by the hunter, who held up his finger with an + expressive gesture for silence. He then moved softly along the margin of + the road, keeping his eyes steadfastly fixed on the branches of a pine. + When he had obtained such a position as he wished, he stopped, and, + cocking his rifle, threw one leg far behind him, and stretching his left + arm to its utmost extent along the barrel of his piece, he began slowly to + raise its muzzle in a line with the straight trunk of the tree. The eyes + of the group in the sleigh naturally preceded the movement of the rifle, + and they soon discovered the object of Natty's aim. On a small dead branch + of the pine, which, at the distance of seventy feet from the ground, shot + out horizontally, immediately beneath the living members of the tree, sat + a bird, that in the vulgar language of the country was indiscriminately + called a pheasant or a partridge. In size, it was but little smaller than + a common barn-yard fowl. The baying of the dogs, and the conversation that + had passed near the root of the tree on which it was perched, had alarmed + the bird, which was now drawn up near the body of the pine, with a head + and neck so erect as to form nearly a straight line with its legs. As soon + as the rifle bore on the victim, Natty drew his trigger, and the partridge + fell from its height with a force that buried it in the snow. + </p> + <p> + “Lie down, you old villain,” exclaimed Leather-Stocking, shaking his + ramrod at Hector as he bounded toward the foot of the tree, “lie down, I + say.” The dog obeyed, and Natty proceeded with great rapidity, though with + the nicest accuracy, to reload his piece. When this was ended, he took up + his game, and, showing it to the party without a head, he cried: “Here is + a tidbit for an old man's Christmas—never mind the venison, boy, and + remember Indian John; his yarbs are better than all the foreign 'intments. + Here, Judge,” holding up the bird again, “do you think a smooth-bore would + pick game off their roost, and not ruffle a feather?” The old man gave + another of his remarkable laughs, which partook so largely of exultation, + mirth, and irony, and, shaking his head, he turned, with his rifle at a + trail, and moved into the forest with steps that were between a walk and a + trot. At each movement he made his body lowered several inches, his knees + yielding with an inclination inward; but, as the sleigh turned at a bend + in the road, the youth cast his eyes in quest of his old companion, and he + saw that he was already nearly concealed by the trunks of the tree; while + his dogs were following quietly in his footsteps, occasionally scenting + the deer track, that they seemed to know instinctively was now of no + further use to them. Another jerk was given to the sleigh, and + Leather-Stocking was hid from view. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0002" id="link2HCH0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER II + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + All places that the eye of heaven visits + Are to a wise man ports and happy havens: + Think not the king did banish thee: + But thou the king.—Richard II +</pre> + <p> + An ancestor of Marmaduke Temple had, about one hundred and twenty years + before the commencement of our tale, come to the colony of Pennsylvania, a + friend and co-religionist of its great patron. Old Marmaduke, for this + formidable prenomen was a kind of appellative to the race, brought with + him, to that asylum of the persecuted an abundance of the good things of + this life. He became the master of many thousands of acres of uninhabited + territory, and the supporter of many a score of dependents. He lived + greatly respected for his piety, and not a little distinguished as a + sectary; was intrusted by his associates with many important political + stations; and died just in time to escape the knowledge of his own + poverty. It was his lot to share the fortune of most of those who brought + wealth with them into the new settlements of the middle colonies. + </p> + <p> + The consequence of an emigrant into these provinces was generally to be + ascertained by the number of his white servants or dependents, and the + nature of the public situations that he held. Taking this rule as a guide, + the ancestor of our Judge must have been a man of no little note. + </p> + <p> + It is, however, a subject of curious inquiry at the present day, to look + into the brief records of that early period, and observe how regular, and + with few exceptions how inevitable, were the gradations, on the one hand, + of the masters to poverty, and on the other, of their servants to wealth. + Accustomed to ease, and unequal to the struggles incident to an infant + society, the affluent emigrant was barely enabled to maintain his own rank + by the weight of his personal superiority and acquirements; but, the + moment that his head was laid in the grave, his indolent and comparatively + uneducated offspring were compelled to yield precedency to the more active + energies of a class whose exertions had been stimulated by necessity. This + is a very common course of things, even in the present state of the Union; + but it was peculiarly the fortunes of the two extremes of society, in the + peaceful and unenterprising colonies of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, + </p> + <p> + The posterity of Marmaduke did not escape the common lot of those who + depend rather on their hereditary possessions than on their own powers; + and in the third generation they had descended to a point below which, in + this happy country, it is barely possible for honesty, intellect and + sobriety to fall. The same pride of family that had, by its self-satisfied + indolence, conduced to aid their fail, now became a principle to stimulate + them to endeavor to rise again. The feeling, from being morbid, was + changed to a healthful and active desire to emulate the character, the + condition, and, peradventure, the wealth of their ancestors also. It was + the father of our new acquaintance, the Judge, who first began to reascend + in the scale of society; and in this undertaking he was not a little + assisted by a marriage, which aided in furnishing the means of educating + his only son in a rather better manner than the low state of the common + schools of Pennsylvania could promise; or than had been the practice in + the family for the two or three preceding generations. + </p> + <p> + At the school where the reviving prosperity of his father was enabled to + maintain him, young Marmaduke formed an intimacy with a youth whose years + were about equal to his own. This was a fortunate connection for our + Judge, and paved the way to most of his future elevation in life. + </p> + <p> + There was not only great wealth but high court interest among the + connections of Edward Effingham. They were one of the few families then + resident in the colonies who thought it a degradation to its members to + descend to the pursuits of commerce; and who never emerged from the + privacy of domestic life unless to preside in the councils of the colony + or to bear arms in her defense. The latter had from youth been the only + employment of Edward's father. Military rank under the crown of Great + Britain was attained with much longer probation, and by much more toilsome + services, sixty years ago than at the present time. Years were passed + without murmuring, in the sub ordinate grades of the service; and those + soldiers who were stationed in the colonies felt, when they obtained the + command of a company, that they were entitled to receive the greatest + deference from the peaceful occupants of the soil. Any one of our readers + who has occasion to cross the Niagara may easily observe not only the self + importance, but the real estimation enjoyed by the hum blest + representative of the crown, even in that polar region of royal sunshine. + Such, and at no very distant period, was the respect paid to the military + in these States, where now, happily, no symbol of war is ever seen, unless + at the free and tearless voice of their people. When, therefore, the + father of Marmaduke's friend, after forty years' service, retired with the + rank of major, maintaining in his domestic establishment a comparative + splendor, he be came a man of the first consideration in his native colony + which was that of New York. He had served with fidelity and courage, and + having been, according to the custom of the provinces, intrusted with + commands much superior to those to which he was entitled by rank, with + reputation also. When Major Effingham yielded to the claims of age, he + retired with dignity, refusing his half-pay or any other compensation for + services that he felt he could no longer perform. + </p> + <p> + The ministry proffered various civil offices which yielded not only honor + but profit; but he declined them all, with the chivalrous independence and + loyalty that had marked his character through life. The veteran soon + caused this set of patriotic disinterestedness to be followed by another + of private munificence, that, however little it accorded with prudence, + was in perfect conformity with the simple integrity of his own views. + </p> + <p> + The friend of Marmaduke was his only child; and to this son, on his + marriage with a lady to whom the father was particularly partial, the + Major gave a complete conveyance of his whole estate, consisting of money + in the funds, a town and country residence, sundry valuable farms in the + old parts of the colony, and large tracts of wild land in the new—in + this manner throwing himself upon the filial piety of his child for his + own future maintenance. Major Effingham, in declining the liberal offers + of the British ministry, had subjected himself to the suspicion of having + attained his dotage, by all those who throng the avenues to court + patronage, even in the remotest corners of that vast empire; but, when he + thus voluntarily stripped himself of his great personal wealth, the + remainder of the community seemed instinctively to adopt the conclusion + also that he had reached a second childhood. This may explain the fact of + his importance rapidly declining; and, if privacy was his object, the + veteran had soon a free indulgence of his wishes. Whatever views the world + might entertain of this act of the Major, to himself and to his child it + seemed no more than a natural gift by a father of those immunities which + he could no longer enjoy or improve, to a son, who was formed, both by + nature and education, to do both. The younger Effingham did not object to + the amount of the donation; for he felt that while his parent reserved a + moral control over his actions, he was relieving himself of a fatiguing + burden: such, indeed, was the confidence existing between them, that to + neither did it seem anything more than removing money from one pocket to + another. + </p> + <p> + One of the first acts of the young man, on coming into possession of his + wealth, was to seek his early friend, with a view to offer any assistance + that it was now in his power to bestow. + </p> + <p> + The death of Marmaduke's father, and the consequent division of his small + estate, rendered such an offer extremely acceptable to the young + Pennsylvanian; he felt his own powers, and saw, not only the excellences, + but the foibles in the character of his friend. Effingham was by nature + indolent, confiding, and at times impetuous and indiscreet; but Marmaduke + was uniformly equable, penetrating, and full of activity and enterprise. + To the latter therefore, the assistance, or rather connection that was + proffered to him, seemed to produce a mutual advantage. It was cheerfully + accepted, and the arrangement of its conditions was easily completed. A + mercantile house was established in the metropolis of Pennsylvania, with + the avails of Mr. Effingham's personal property; all, or nearly all, of + which was put into the possession of Temple, who was the only ostensible + proprietor in the concern, while, in secret, the other was entitled to an + equal participation in the profits. This connection was thus kept private + for two reasons, one of which, in the freedom of their intercourse, was + frankly avowed to Marmaduke, while the other continued profoundly hid in + the bosom of his friend, The last was nothing more than pride. To the + descend ant of a line of soldiers, commerce, even in that indirect manner, + seemed a degrading pursuit; but an insuperable obstacle to the disclosure + existed in the prejudices of his father. + </p> + <p> + We have already said that Major Effingham had served as a soldier with + reputation. On one occasion, while in command on the western frontier of + Pennsylvania against a league of the French and Indians, not only his + glory, but the safety of himself and his troops were jeoparded by the + peaceful policy of that colony. To the soldier, this was an unpardonable + offence. He was fighting in their defense—he knew that the mild + principles of this little nation of practical Christians would be + disregarded by their subtle and malignant enemies; and he felt the in jury + the more deeply because he saw that the avowed object of the colonists, in + withholding their succors, would only have a tendency to expose his + command, without preserving the peace. The soldier succeeded, after a + desperate conflict, in extricating himself, with a handful of his men, + from their murderous enemy; but he never for gave the people who had + exposed him to a danger which they left him to combat alone. It was in + vain to tell him that they had no agency in his being placed on their + frontier at all; it was evidently for their benefit that he had been so + placed, and it was their “religious duty,” so the Major always expressed + it, “it was their religions duty to have supported him.” + </p> + <p> + At no time was the old soldier an admirer of the peaceful disciples of + Fox. Their disciplined habits, both of mind and body, had endowed them + with great physical perfection; and the eye of the veteran was apt to scan + the fair proportions and athletic frames of the colonists with a look that + seemed to utter volumes of contempt for their moral imbecility, He was + also a little addicted to the expression of a belief that, where there was + so great an observance of the externals of religion, there could not be + much of the substance. It is not our task to explain what is or what ought + to be the substance of Christianity, but merely to record in this place + the opinions of Major Effingham. + </p> + <p> + Knowing the sentiments of the father in relation to this people, it was no + wonder that the son hesitated to avow his connection with, nay, even his + dependence on the integrity of, a Quaker. + </p> + <p> + It has been said that Marmaduke deduced his origin from the contemporaries + and friends of Penn. His father had married without the pale of the church + to which he belonged, and had, in this manner, forfeited some of the + privileges of his offspring. Still, as young Marmaduke was educated in a + colony and society where even the ordinary intercourse between friends was + tinctured with the aspect of this mild religion, his habits and language + were some what marked by its peculiarities. His own marriage at a future + day with a lady without not only the pale, but the influence, of this sect + of religionists, had a tendency, it is true, to weaken his early + impressions; still he retained them in some degree to the hour of his + death, and was observed uniformly, when much interested or agitated, to + speak in the language of his youth. But this is anticipating our tale. + </p> + <p> + When Marmaduke first became the partner of young Effingham, he was quite + the Quaker in externals; and it was too dangerous an experiment for the + son to think of encountering the prejudices of the father on this subject. + The connection, therefore, remained a profound secret to all but those who + were interested in it. + </p> + <p> + For a few years Marmaduke directed the commercial operations of his house + with a prudence and sagacity that afforded rich returns. He married the + lady we have mentioned, who was the mother of Elizabeth, and the visits of + his friend were becoming more frequent. There was a speedy prospect of + removing the veil from their intercourse, as its advantages became each + hour more apparent to Mr. Effingham, when the troubles that preceded the + war of the Revolution extended themselves to an alarming degree. + </p> + <p> + Educated in the most dependent loyalty, Mr. Effingham had, from the + commencement of the disputes between the colonists and the crown, warmly + maintained what he believed to be the just prerogatives of his prince; + while, on the other hand, the clear head and independent mind of Temple + had induced him to espouse the cause of the people. Both might have been + influenced by early impressions; for, if the son of the loyal and gallant + soldier bowed in implicit obedience to the will of his sovereign, the + descendant of the persecuted followers of Penn looked back with a little + bitterness to the unmerited wrongs that had been heaped upon his + ancestors. + </p> + <p> + This difference in opinion had long been a subject of amicable dispute + between them: but, Latterly, the contest was getting to be too important + to admit of trivial discussions on the part of Marmaduke, whose acute + discernment was already catching faint glimmerings of the important events + that were in embryo. The sparks of dissension soon kindled into a blaze; + and the colonies, or rather, as they quickly declared themselves, THE + STATES, became a scene of strife and bloodshed for years. + </p> + <p> + A short time before the battle of Lexington, Mr. Effingham, already a + widower, transmitted to Marmaduke, for safe-keeping, all his valuable + effects and papers; and left the colony without his father. The war had, + however, scarcely commenced in earnest, when he reappeared in New York, + wearing the Livery of his king; and, in a short time, he took the field at + the head of a provincial corps. In the mean time Marmaduke had completely + committed himself in the cause, as it was then called, of the rebel lion. + Of course, all intercourse between the friends ceased—on the part of + Colonel Effingham it was unsought, and on that of Marmaduke there was a + cautious reserve. It soon became necessary for the latter to abandon the + capital of Philadelphia; but he had taken the precaution to remove the + whole of his effects beyond the reach of the royal forces, including the + papers of his friend also. There he continued serving his country during + the struggle, in various civil capacities, and always with dignity and + usefulness. While, however, he discharged his functions with credit and + fidelity, Marmaduke never seemed to lose sight of his own interests; for, + when the estates of the adherents of the crown fell under the hammer, by + the acts of confiscation, he appeared in New York, and became the + purchaser of extensive possessions at comparatively low prices. + </p> + <p> + It is true that Marmaduke, by thus purchasing estates that had been + wrested by violence from others, rendered himself obnoxious to the + censures of that Sect which, at the same time that it discards its + children from a full participation in the family union, seems ever + unwilling to abandon them entirely to the world. But either his success, + or the frequency of the transgression in others, soon wiped off this + slight stain from his character; and, although there were a few who, + dissatisfied with their own fortunes, or conscious of their own demerits, + would make dark hints concerning the sudden prosperity of the unportioned + Quaker, yet his services, and possibly his wealth, soon drove the + recollection of these vague conjectures from men's minds. When the war + ended, and the independence of the States was acknowledged, Mr. Temple + turned his attention from the pursuit of commerce, which was then + fluctuating and uncertain, to the settlement of those tracts of land which + he had purchased. Aided by a good deal of money, and directed by the + suggestions of a strong and practical reason, his enterprise throve to a + degree that the climate and rugged face of the country which he selected + would seem to forbid. His property increased in a tenfold ratio, and he + was already ranked among the most wealthy and important of his countrymen. + To inherit this wealth he had but one child—the daughter whom we + have introduced to the reader, and whom he was now conveying from school + to preside over a household that had too long wanted a mistress. + </p> + <p> + When the district in which his estates lay had become sufficiently + populous to be set off as a county, Mr. Temple had, according to the + custom of the new settlements, been selected to fill its highest judicial + station. This might make a Templar smile; but in addition to the apology + of necessity, there is ever a dignity in talents and experience that is + commonly sufficient, in any station, for the protection of its possessor; + and Marmaduke, more fortunate in his native clearness of mind than the + judge of King Charles, not only decided right, but was generally able to + give a very good reason for it. At all events, such was the universal + practice of the country and the times; and Judge Temple, so far from + ranking among the lowest of his judicial contemporaries in the courts of + the new counties, felt himself, and was unanimously acknowledged to be, + among the first. + </p> + <p> + We shall here close this brief explanation of the history and character of + some of our personages leaving them in future to speak and act for + themselves. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0003" id="link2HCH0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER III + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “All that thou see'st is Natures handiwork; + Those rocks that upward throw their mossy brawl + Like castled pinnacles of elder times; + These venerable stems, that slowly rock + Their towering branches in the wintry gale; + That field of frost, which glitters in the sun, + Mocking the whiteness of a marble breast! + Yet man can mar such works with his rude taste, + Like some sad spoiler of a virgin's fame.” + —Duo. +</pre> + <p> + Some little while elapsed ere Marmaduke Temple was sufficiently recovered + from his agitation to scan the person of his new companion. He now + observed that he was a youth of some two or three and twenty years of age, + and rather above the middle height. Further observation was prevented by + the rough overcoat which was belted close to his form by a worsted sash, + much like the one worn by the old hunter. The eyes of the Judge, after + resting a moment on the figure of the stranger, were raised to a scrutiny + of his countenance. There had been a look of care visible in the features + of the youth, when he first entered the sleigh, that had not only + attracted the notice of Elizabeth, but which she had been much puzzled to + interpret. His anxiety seemed the strongest when he was enjoining his old + companion to secrecy; and even when he had decided, and was rather + passively suffering himself to be conveyed to the village, the expression + of his eyes by no means indicated any great degree of self-satisfaction at + the step. But the lines of an uncommonly prepossessing countenance were + gradually becoming composed; and he now sat silent, and apparently musing. + The Judge gazed at him for some time with earnestness, and then smiling, + as if at his own forgetfulness, he said: + </p> + <p> + “I believe, my young friend, that terror has driven you from my + recollection; your face is very familiar, and yet, for the honor of a + score of bucks' tails in my cap, I could not tell your name.” + </p> + <p> + “I came into the country but three weeks since,” returned the youth + coldly, “and I understand you have been absent twice that time.” + </p> + <p> + “It will be five to-morrow. Yet your face is one that I have seen; though + it would not be strange, such has been my affright, should I see thee in + thy winding-sheet walking by my bedside to-night. What say'st thou, Bess? + Am I compos mentis or not? Fit to charge a grand jury, or, what is just + now of more pressing necessity, able to do the honors of Christmas eve in + the hall of Templeton?” + </p> + <p> + “More able to do either, my dear father.” said a playful voice from under + the ample inclosures of the hood, “than to kill deer with a smooth-bore.” + A short pause followed, and the same voice, but in a different accent, + continued. “We shall have good reasons for our thanksgiving to night, on + more accounts than one.” + </p> + <p> + The horses soon reached a point where they seemed to know by instinct that + the journey was nearly ended, and, bearing on the bits as they tossed + their heads, they rapidly drew the sleigh over the level land which lay on + the top of the mountain, and soon came to the point where the road + descended suddenly, but circuitously, into the valley. + </p> + <p> + The Judge was roused from his reflections, when he saw the four columns of + smoke which floated above his own chimneys. As house, village, and valley + burst on his sight, he exclaimed cheerfully to his daughter: + </p> + <p> + “See, Bess, there is thy resting-place for life! And thine too, young man, + if thou wilt consent to dwell with us.” + </p> + <p> + The eyes of his auditors involuntarily met; and, if the color that + gathered over the face of Elizabeth was contradicted by the cold + expression of her eye, the ambiguous smile that again played about the + lips of the stranger seemed equally to deny the probability of his + consenting to form one of this family group. The scene was one, however, + which might easily warm a heart less given to philanthropy than that of + Marmaduke Temple. + </p> + <p> + The side of the mountain on which our travellers were journeying, though + not absolutely perpendicular, was so steep as to render great care + necessary in descending the rude and narrow path which, in that early day, + wound along the precipices. The negro reined in his impatient steeds, and + time was given Elizabeth to dwell on a scene which was so rapidly altering + under the hands of man, that it only resembled in its outlines the picture + she had so often studied with delight in childhood. Immediately beneath + them lay a seeming plain, glittering without in equality, and buried in + mountains. The latter were precipitous, especially on the side of the + plain, and chiefly in forest. Here and there the hills fell away in long, + low points, and broke the sameness of the outline, or setting to the long + and wide field of snow, which, without house, tree, fence, or any other + fixture, resembled so much spot less cloud settled to the earth. A few + dark and moving spots were, however, visible on the even surface, which + the eye of Elizabeth knew to be so many sleighs going their several ways + to or from the village. On the western border of the plain, the mountains, + though equally high, were less precipitous, and as they receded opened + into irregular valleys and glens, or were formed into terraces and hollows + that admitted of cultivation. Although the evergreens still held dominion + over many of the hills that rose on this side of the valley, yet the + undulating outlines of the distant mountains, covered with forests of + beech and maple, gave a relief to the eye, and the promise of a kinder + soil. Occasionally spots of white were discoverable amidst the forests of + the opposite hills, which announced, by the smoke that curled over the + tops of the trees, the habitations of man and the commencement of + agriculture. These spots were sometimes, by the aid of united labor, + enlarged into what were called settlements, but more frequently were small + and insulated; though so rapid were the changes, and so persevering the + labors of those who had cast their fortunes on the success of the + enterprise, that it was not difficult for the imagination of Elizabeth to + conceive they were enlarging under her eye while she was gazing, in mute + wonder, at the alterations that a few short years had made in the aspect + of the country. The points on the western side of this remarkable plain, + on which no plant had taken root, were both larger and more numerous than + those on its eastern, and one in particular thrust itself forward in such + a manner as to form beautifully curved bays of snow on either side. On its + extreme end an oak stretched forward, as if to overshadow with its + branches a spot which its roots were forbidden to enter. It had released + itself from the thraldom that a growth of centuries had imposed on the + branches of the surrounding forest trees, and threw its gnarled and + fantastic arms abroad, in the wildness of liberty. A dark spot of a few + acres in extent at the southern extremity of this beautiful flat, and + immediately under the feet of our travellers, alone showed by its rippling + surface, and the vapors which exhaled from it, that what at first might + seem a plain was one of the mountain lakes, locked in the frosts of + winter. A narrow current rushed impetuously from its bosom at the open + place we have mentioned, and was to be traced for miles, as it wound its + way toward the south through the real valley, by its borders of hemlock + and pine, and by the vapor which arose from its warmer surface into the + chill atmosphere of the hills. The banks of this lovely basin, at its + outlet, or southern end, were steep, but not high; and in that direction + the land continued, far as the eye could reach, a narrow but graceful + valley, along which the settlers had scattered their humble habitations, + with a profusion that bespoke the quality of the soil and the comparative + facilities of intercourse, Immediately on the bank of the lake and at its + foot, stood the village of Templeton. It consisted of some fifty + buildings, including those of every description, chiefly built of wood, + and which, in their architecture, bore no great marks of taste, but which + also, by the unfinished appearance of most of the dwellings, indicated the + hasty manner of their construction, To the eye, they presented a variety + of colors. A few were white in both front and rear, but more bore that + expensive color on their fronts only, while their economical but ambitious + owners had covered the remaining sides of the edifices with a dingy red. + One or two were slowly assuming the russet of age; while the uncovered + beams that were to be seen through the broken windows of their second + stories showed that either the taste or the vanity of their proprietors + had led them to undertake a task which they were unable to accomplish. The + whole were grouped in a manner that aped the streets of a city, and were + evidently so arranged by the directions of one who looked to the wants of + posterity rather than to the convenience of the present incumbents. Some + three or four of the better sort of buildings, in addition to the + uniformity of their color, were fitted with green blinds, which, at that + season at least, were rather strangely contrasted to the chill aspect of + the lake, the mountains, the forests, and the wide fields of snow. Before + the doors of these pretending dwellings were placed a few saplings, either + without branches or possessing only the feeble shoots of one or two + summers' growth, that looked not unlike tall grenadiers on post near the + threshold of princes. In truth, the occupants of these favored habitations + were the nobles of Templeton, as Marmaduke was its king. They were the + dwellings of two young men who were cunning in the law; an equal number of + that class who chaffered to the wants of the community under the title of + storekeepers; and a disciple of Aesculapius, who, for a novelty, brought + more subjects into the world than he sent out of it. In the midst of this + incongruous group of dwellings rose the mansion of the Judge, towering + above all its neighbors. It stood in the centre of an inclosure of several + acres, which was covered with fruit-trees. Some of the latter had been + left by the Indians, and began already to assume the moss and inclination + of age, therein forming a very marked contrast to the infant plantations + that peered over most of the picketed fences of the village. In addition + to this show of cultivation were two rows of young Lombardy poplars, a + tree but lately introduced into America, formally lining either side of a + pathway which led from a gate that opened on the principal street to the + front door of the building. The house itself had been built entirely under + the superintendence of a certain Mr. Richard Jones, whom we have already + mentioned, and who, from his cleverness in small matters, and an entire + willingness to exert his talents, added to the circumstance of their being + sisters' children, ordinarily superintended all the minor concerns of + Marmaduke Temple. Richard was fond of saying that this child of invention + consisted of nothing more nor less than what should form the groundwork of + every clergyman's discourse, viz., a firstly and a lastly. He had + commenced his labors, in the first year of their residence, by erecting a + tall, gaunt edifice of wood, with its gable toward the highway. In this + shelter for it was little more, the family resided three years. By the end + of that period, Richard had completed his design. He had availed himself, + in this heavy undertaking, of the experience of a certain wandering + eastern mechanic, who, by exhibiting a few soiled plates of English + architecture, and talking learnedly of friezes, entablatures, and + particularly of the composite order, had obtained a very undue influence + over Richard's taste in everything that pertained to that branch of the + fine arts. Not that Mr. Jones did not affect to consider Hiram Doolittle a + perfect empiric in his profession, being in the constant habit of + listening to his treatises on architecture with a kind of indulgent smile; + yet, either from an inability to oppose them by anything plausible from + his own stores of learning or from secret admiration, Richard generally + submitted to the arguments of his co-adjutor. Together, they had not only + erected a dwelling for Marmaduke, but they had given a fashion to the + architecture of the whole county. The composite order, Mr. Doolittle would + contend, was an order composed of many others, and was intended to be the + most useful of all, for it admitted into its construction such alterations + as convenience or circumstances might require. To this proposition Richard + usually assented; and when rival geniuses who monopolize not only all the + reputation but most of the money of a neighborhood, are of a mind, it is + not uncommon to see them lead the fashion, even in graver matters. In the + present instance, as we have already hinted, the castle, as Judge + Templeton's dwelling was termed in common parlance, came to be the model, + in some one or other of its numerous excellences, for every aspiring + edifice within twenty miles of it. + </p> + <p> + The house itself, or the “lastly,” was of stone: large, square, and far + from uncomfortable. These were four requisites, on which Marmaduke had + insisted with a little more than his ordinary pertinacity. But everything + else was peaceably assigned to Richard and his associate. These worthies + found the material a little too solid for the tools of their workmen, + which, in General, were employed on a substance no harder than the white + pine of the adjacent mountains, a wood so proverbially soft that it is + commonly chosen by the hunters for pillows. But for this awkward dilemma, + it is probable that the ambitious tastes of our two architects would have + left us much more to do in the way of description. Driven from the faces + of the house by the obduracy of the material, they took refuge in the + porch and on the roof. The former, it was decided, should be severely + classical, and the latter a rare specimen of the merits of the Composite + order. + </p> + <p> + A roof, Richard contended, was a part of the edifice that the ancients + always endeavored to conceal, it being an excrescence in architecture that + was only to be tolerated on account of its usefulness. Besides, as he + wittily added, a chief merit in a dwelling was to present a front on + whichever side it might happen to be seen; for, as it was exposed to all + eyes in all weathers, there should be no weak flank for envy or + unneighborly criticism to assail. It was therefore decided that the roof + should be flat, and with four faces. To this arrangement, Marmaduke + objected the heavy snows that lay for months, frequently covering the + earth to a depth of three or four feet. Happily the facilities of the + composite order presented themselves to effect a compromise, and the + rafters were lengthened, so as to give a descent that should carry off the + frozen element. But, unluckily, some mistake was made in the admeasurement + of these material parts of the fabric; and, as one of the greatest + recommendations of Hiram was his ability to work by the “square rule,” no + opportunity was found of discovering the effect until the massive timbers + were raised on the four walls of the building. Then, indeed, it was soon + seen that, in defiance of all rule, the roof was by far the most + conspicuous part of the whole edifice. Richard and his associate consoled + themselves with the relief that the covering would aid in concealing this + unnatural elevation; but every shingle that was laid only multiplied + objects to look at. Richard essayed to remedy the evil with paint, and + four different colors were laid on by his own hands. The first was a + sky-blue, in the vain expectation that the eye might be cheated into the + belief it was the heavens themselves that hung so imposingly over + Marmaduke's dwelling; the second was what he called a “cloud-color,” being + nothing more nor less than an imitation of smoke; the third was what + Richard termed an invisible green, an experiment that did not succeed + against a background of sky. Abandoning the attempt to conceal, our + architects drew upon their invention for means to ornament the offensive + shingles. + </p> + <p> + After much deliberation and two or three essays by moonlight, Richard + ended the affair by boldly covering the whole beneath a color that he + christened “sunshine,” a cheap way, as he assured his cousin the Judge, of + always keeping fair weather over his head. The platform, as well as the + caves of the house, were surmounted by gaudily painted railings, and the + genius of Hiram was exerted in the fabrication of divers urns and + mouldings, that were scattered profusely around this part of their labors. + Richard had originally a cunning expedient, by which the chimneys were + intended to be so low, and so situated, as to resemble ornaments on the + balustrades; but comfort required that the chimneys should rise with the + roof, in order that the smoke might be carried off, and they thus became + four extremely conspicuous objects in the view. + </p> + <p> + As this roof was much the most important architectural undertaking in + which Mr. Jones was ever engaged, his failure produced a correspondent + degree of mortification At first, he whispered among his acquaintances + that it proceeded from ignorance of the square rule on the part of Hiram; + but, as his eye became gradually accustomed to the object, he grew better + satisfied with his labors, and instead of apologizing for the defects, he + commenced praising the beauties of the mansion-house; he soon found + hearers, and, as wealth and comfort are at all times attractive, it was, + as has been said, made a model for imitation on a small scale. In less + than two years from its erection, he had the pleasure of standing on the + elevated platform, and of looking down on three humble imitators of its + beauty. Thus it is ever with fashion, which even renders the faults of the + great subjects of admiration. + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke bore this deformity in his dwelling with great good-nature, and + soon contrived, by his own improvements, to give an air of respectability + and comfort to his place of residence. Still, there was much of in + congruity, even immediately about the mansion-house. Although poplars had + been brought from Europe to ornament the grounds, and willows and other + trees were gradually springing up nigh the dwelling, yet many a pile of + snow betrayed the presence of the stump of a pine; and even, in one or two + instances, unsightly remnants of trees that had been partly destroyed by + fire were seen rearing their black, glistening columns twenty or thirty + feet above the pure white of the snow, These, which in the language of the + country are termed stubs, abounded in the open fields adjacent to the + village, and were accompanied, occasionally, by the ruin of a pine or a + hemlock that had been stripped of its bark, and which waved in melancholy + grandeur its naked limbs to the blast, a skeleton of its former glory. But + these and many other unpleasant additions to the view were unseen by the + delighted Elizabeth, who, as the horses moved down the side of the + mountain, saw only in gross the cluster of houses that lay like a map at + her feet; the fifty smokes that were curling from the valley to the + clouds; the frozen lake as it lay imbedded in mountains of evergreen, with + the long shadows of the pines on its white surface, lengthening in the + setting sun; the dark ribbon of water that gushed from the outlet and was + winding its way toward the distant Chesapeake—the altered, though + still remembered, scenes of her child hood. + </p> + <p> + Five years had wrought greater changes than a century would produce in + countries where time and labor have given permanency to the works of man. + To our young hunter and the Judge the scene had less novelty; though none + ever emerge from the dark forests of that mountain, and witness the + glorious scenery of that beauteous valley, as it bursts unexpectedly upon + them, without a feeling of delight. The former cast one admiring glance + from north to south, and sank his face again beneath the folds of his + coat; while the latter contemplated, with philanthropic pleasure, the + prospect of affluence and comfort that was expanding around him; the + result of his own enterprise, and much of it the fruits of his own + industry. + </p> + <p> + The cheerful sound of sleigh-bells, however, attracted the attention of + the whole party, as they came jingling up the sides of the mountain, at a + rate that announced a powerful team and a hard driver. The bushes which + lined the highway interrupted the view, and the two sleighs were close + upon each other before either was seen. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0004" id="link2HCH0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IV + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “How now? whose mare's dead? what's the matter?” + —Falstaff +</pre> + <p> + A large lumber sleigh, drawn by four horses, was soon seen dashing through + the leafless bushes which fringed the road. The leaders were of gray, and + the pole-horses of a jet-black. Bells innumerable were suspended from + every part of the harness where one of the tinkling balls could be placed, + while the rapid movement of the equipage, in defiance of the steep ascent, + announced the desire of the driver to ring them to the utmost. The first + glance at this singular arrangement acquainted the Judge with the + character of those in the sleigh. It contained four male figures. On one + of those stools that are used at writing desks, lashed firmly to the sides + of the vehicle, was seated a little man, enveloped in a great-coat fringed + with fur, in such a manner that no part of him was visible, except a face + of an unvarying red color. There was an habitual upward look about the + head of this gentleman, as if dissatisfied with its natural proximity to + the earth; and the expression of his countenance was that of busy care, He + was the charioteer, and he guided the mettled animals along the precipice + with a fearless eye and a steady hand, Immediately behind him, with his + face toward the other two, was a tall figure, to whose appearance not even + the duplicate overcoats which he wore, aided by the corner of a + horse-blanket, could give the appearance of strength. His face was + protruding from beneath a woollen night cap; and, when he turned to the + vehicle of Marmaduke as the sleighs approached each other, it seemed + formed by nature to cut the atmosphere with the least possible resistance. + The eyes alone appeared to create any obstacle, for from either side of + his forehead their light-blue, glassy balls projected. The sallow of his + countenance was too permanent to be affected even by the intense cold of + the evening. Opposite to this personage sat a solid, short, and square + figure. No part of his form was to be discovered through his overdress, + but a face that was illuminated by a pair of black eyes that gave the lie + to every demure feature in his countenance. A fair, jolly wig furnished a + neat and rounded outline to his visage, and he, well as the other two, + wore marten-skin caps. The fourth was a meek-looking, long-visaged man, + without any other protection from the cold than that which was furnished + by a black surcoat, made with some little formality, but which was rather + threadbare and rusty. He wore a hat of extremely decent proportions, + though frequent brushing had quite destroyed its nap. His face was pale, + and withal a little melancholy, or what might be termed of a studious + complexion. The air had given it, just now, a light and somewhat feverish + flush, The character of his whole appearance, especially contrasted to the + air of humor in his next companion, was that of habitual mental care. No + sooner had the two sleighs approached within speaking distance, than the + driver of this fantastic equipage shouted aloud, + </p> + <p> + “Draw up in the quarry—draw up, thou king of the Greeks; draw into + the quarry, Agamemnon, or I shall never be able to pass you. Welcome home, + Cousin 'Duke—welcome, welcome, black-eyed Bess. Thou seest, Marina + duke that I have taken the field with an assorted cargo, to do thee honor. + Monsieur Le Quoi has come out with only one cap; Old Fritz would not stay + to finish the bottle; and Mr. Grant has got to put the 'lastly' to his + sermon, yet. Even all the horses would come—by the-bye, Judge, I + must sell the blacks for you immediately; they interfere, and the nigh one + is a bad goer in double harness. I can get rid of them to—” + </p> + <p> + “Sell what thou wilt, Dickon,” interrupted the cheerful voice of the + Judge, “so that thou leavest me my daughter and my lands. And Fritz, my + old friend, this is a kind compliment, indeed, for seventy to pay to + five-and-forty. Monsieur Le Quoi, I am your servant. Mr. Grant,” lifting + his cap, “I feel indebted to your attention. Gentlemen, I make you + acquainted with my child. Yours are names with which she is very + familiar.” + </p> + <p> + “Velcome, velcome Tchooge,” said the elder of the party, with a strong + German accent. “Miss Petsy vill owe me a kiss.” + </p> + <p> + “And cheerfully will I pay It, my good sir,” cried the soft voice of + Elizabeth; which sounded, in the clear air of the hills. Like tones of + silver, amid the loud cries of Richard. “I have always a kiss for my old + friend. Major Hartmann.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the gentleman in the front seat, who had been addressed as + Monsieur Le Quoi, had arisen with some difficulty, owing to the impediment + of his overcoats, and steadying himself by placing one hand on the stool + of the charioteer, with the other he removed his cap, and bowing politely + to the Judge and profoundly to Elizabeth, he paid his compliments. + </p> + <p> + “Cover thy poll, Gaul, cover thy poll,” cried the driver, who was Mr. + Richard Jones; “cover thy poll, or the frost will pluck out the remnant of + thy locks. Had the hairs on the head of Absalom been as scarce as thine, + he might have been living to this day.” The jokes of Richard never failed + of exciting risibility, for he uniformly did honor to his own wit; and he + enjoyed a hearty laugh on the present occasion, while Mr. Le Quoi resumed + his seat with a polite reciprocation in his mirth. The clergyman, for such + was the office of Mr. Grant, modestly, though quite affectionately, + exchanged his greetings with the travellers also, when Richard prepared to + turn the heads of his horses homeward. + </p> + <p> + It was in the quarry alone that he could effect this object, without + ascending to the summit of the mountain. A very considerable excavation + had been made in the side of the hill, at the point where Richard had + succeeded in stopping the sleighs, from which the stones used for building + in the village were ordinarily quarried, and in which he now attempted to + turn his team. Passing itself was a task of difficulty, and frequently of + danger, in that narrow road; but Richard had to meet the additional risk + of turning his four-in-hand. The black civilly volunteered his services to + take off the leaders, and the Judge very earnestly seconded the measure + with his advice. Richard treated both proposals with great disdain. + </p> + <p> + “Why, and wherefore. Cousin 'Duke?” he exclaimed, a little angrily; “the + horses are gentle as lambs. You know that I broke the leaders myself, and + the pole-horses are too near my whip to be restive. Here is Mr. Le Quoi, + now, who must know something about driving, because he has rode out so + often with me; I will leave it to Mr. Le Quoi whether there is any + danger.” + </p> + <p> + It was not in the nature of the Frenchman to disappoint expectations so + confidently formed; although he cat looking down the precipice which + fronted him, as Richard turned his leaders into the quarry, with a pair of + eyes that stood out like those of lobsters. The German's muscles were + unmoved, but his quick sight scanned each movement. Mr. Grant placed his + hands on the side of the sleigh, in preparation for a spring, but moral + timidity deterred him from taking the leap that bodily apprehension + strongly urged him to attempt. + </p> + <p> + Richard, by a sudden application of the whip, succeeded in forcing the + leaders into the snow-bank that covered the quarry; but the instant that + the impatient animals suffered by the crust, through which they broke at + each step, they positively refused to move an inch farther in that + direction. On the contrary, finding that the cries and blows of their + driver were redoubled at this juncture, the leaders backed upon the + pole-horses, who in their turn backed the sleigh. Only a single log lay + above the pile which upheld the road on the side toward the valley, and + this was now buried in the snow. The sleigh was easily breed across so + slight an impediment, and before Richard became conscious of his danger + one-half of the vehicle Was projected over a precipice, which fell + perpendicularly more than a hundred feet. The Frenchman, who by his + position had a full view of their threatened flight, instinctively threw + his body as far forward as possible, and cried, + </p> + <p> + “Oh! mon cher Monsieur Deeck! mon Dieu! que faites vous!” + </p> + <p> + “Donner und blitzen, Richart!” exclaimed the veteran German, looking over + the side of the sleigh with unusual emotion, “put you will preak ter + sleigh and kilt ter horses!” + </p> + <p> + “Good Mr. Jones,” said the clergyman, “be prudent, good sir—be + careful.” + </p> + <p> + “Get up, obstinate devils!” cried Richard, catching a bird's-eye view of + his situation, and in his eagerness to move forward kicking the stool on + which he sat—“get up, I say—Cousin 'Duke, I shall have to sell + the grays too; they are the worst broken horses—Mr. Le Quoi” Richard + was too much agitated to regard his pronunciation, of which he was + commonly a little vain: “Monsieur La Quoi, pray get off my leg; you hold + my leg so tight that it's no wonder the horses back.” + </p> + <p> + “Merciful Providence!” exclaimed the Judge; “they will be all killed!” + Elizabeth gave a piercing shriek, and the black of Agamemnon's face + changed to a muddy white. + </p> + <p> + At this critical moment, the young hunter, who during the salutations of + the parties had sat in rather sullen silence, sprang from the sleigh of + Marmaduke to the heads of the refractory leaders. The horses, which were + yet suffering under the injudicious and somewhat random blows of Richard, + were dancing up and down with that ominous movement that threatens a + sudden and uncontrollable start, still pressing backward. The youth gave + the leaders a powerful jerk, and they plunged aside, and re-entered the + road in the position in which they were first halted. The sleigh was + whirled from its dangerous position, and upset, with the runners outward. + The German and the divine were thrown, rather unceremoniously, into the + highway, but without danger to their bones. Richard appeared in the air, + describing the segment of a circle, of which the reins were the radii, and + landed, at the distance of some fifteen feet, in that snow-bank which the + horses had dreaded, right end uppermost. Here, as he instinctively grasped + the reins, as drowning men seize at straws, he admirably served the + purpose of an anchor. The Frenchman, who was on his legs, in the act of + springing from the sleigh, took an aerial flight also, much in the + attitude which boys assume when they play leap-frog, and, flying off in a + tangent to the curvature of his course, came into the snow-bank + head-foremost, where he remained, exhibiting two lathy legs on high, like + scarecrows waving in a corn-field. Major Hartmann, whose self-possession + had been admirably preserved during the whole evolution, was the first of + the party that gained his feet and his voice. + </p> + <p> + “Ter deyvel, Richart!” he exclaimed in a voice half serious, half-comical, + “put you unload your sleigh very hautily!” + </p> + <p> + It may be doubtful whether the attitude in which Mr. Grant continued for + an instant after his overthrow was the one into which he had been thrown, + or was assumed, in humbling himself before the Power that he reverenced, + in thanksgiving at his escape. When he rose from his knees, he began to + gaze about him, with anxious looks, after the welfare of his companions, + while every joint in his body trembled with nervous agitation. There was + some confusion in the faculties of Mr. Jones also: but as the mist + gradually cleared from before his eyes, he saw that all was safe, and, + with an air of great self-satisfaction, he cried, “Well—that was + neatly saved, anyhow!—it was a lucky thought in me to hold on to the + reins, or the fiery devils would have been over the mountain by this time. + How well I recovered myself, 'Duke! Another moment would have been too + late; but I knew just the spot where to touch the off-leader; that blow + under his right flank, and the sudden jerk I gave the rein, brought them + round quite in rule, I must own myself.” * + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The spectators, from immemorial usage, have a right to laugh at the + casualties of a sleigh ride; and the Judge was no sooner certain that + no one was done than he made full use of the privilege. +</pre> + <p> + “Thou jerk! thou recover thyself, Dickon!” he said; “but for that brave + lad yonder, thou and thy horses, or rather mine, would have been dashed to + pieces—but where is Monsieur Le Quoi?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! mon cher Juge! mon ami!” cried a smothered voice, “praise be God, I + live; vill you, Mister Agamemnon, be pleas come down ici, and help me on + my leg?” + </p> + <p> + The divine and the negro seized the incarcerated Gaul by his legs and + extricated him from a snow-bank of three feet in depth, whence his voice + had sounded as from the tombs. The thoughts of Mr. Le Quoi, immediately on + his liberation, were not extremely collected; and, when he reached the + light, he threw his eyes upward, in order to examine the distance he had + fallen. His good-humor returned, however, with a knowledge of his safety, + though it was some little time before he clearly comprehended the case. + </p> + <p> + “What, monsieur,” said Richard, who was busily assisting the black in + taking off the leaders; “are you there? I thought I saw you flying toward + the top of the mountain just now.” + </p> + <p> + “Praise be God, I no fly down into the lake,” returned the Frenchman, with + a visage that was divided between pain, occasioned by a few large + scratches that he had received in forcing his head through the crust, and + the look of complaisance that seemed natural to his pliable features. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! mon cher Mister Deeck, vat you do next?—dere be noting you no + try.” + </p> + <p> + “The next thing, I trust, will be to learn to drive,” said the Judge, who + bad busied himself in throwing the buck, together with several other + articles of baggage, from his own sleigh into the snow; “here are seats + for you all, gentlemen; the evening grows piercingly cold, and the hour + approaches for the service of Mr. Grant; we will leave friend Jones to + repair the damages, with the assistance of Agamemnon, and hasten to a warm + fire. Here, Dickon, are a few articles of Bess' trumpery, that you can + throw into your sleigh when ready; and there is also a deer of my taking, + that I will thank you to bring. Aggy! remember that there will be a visit + from Santa Claus * to-night.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The periodical visits of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, as he is + termed, were never forgotten among the inhabitants of New York, until + the emigration from New England brought in the opinions and usages of + the Puritans, like the “bon homme de Noel.” he arrives at each + Christmas. +</pre> + <p> + The black grinned, conscious of the bribe that was offered him for silence + on the subject of the deer, while Richard, without in the least waiting + for the termination of his cousin's speech, began his reply: + </p> + <p> + “Learn to drive, sayest thou, Cousin 'Duke? Is there a man in the county + who knows more of horse-flesh than myself? Who broke in the filly, that no + one else dare mount, though your coachman did pretend that he had tamed + her before I took her in hand; but anybody could see that he lied—he + was a great liar, that John—what's that, a buck?” Richard abandoned + the horses, and ran to the spot where Marmaduke had thrown the deer, “It + is a buck! I am amazed! Yes, here are two holes in him, he has fired both + barrels, and hit him each time, Egod! how Marmaduke will brag! he is a + prodigious bragger about any small matter like this now; well, to think + that 'Duke has killed a buck before Christmas! There will be no such thing + as living with him—they are both bad shots though, mere chance—mere + chance—now, I never fired twice at a cloven foot in my life—it + is hit or miss with me—dead or run away-had it been a bear, or a + wild-cat, a man might have wanted both barrels. Here! you Aggy! how far + off was the Judge when this buck was shot?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! massa Richard, maybe a ten rod,” cried the black, bending under one + of the horses, with the pretence of fastening a buckle, but in reality to + conceal the grin that opened a mouth from ear to ear. + </p> + <p> + “Ten rod!” echoed the other; “way, Aggy, the deer I killed last winter + 'was at twenty—yes! if anything it was nearer thirty than twenty. I + wouldn't shoot at a deer at ten rod: besides, you may remember, Aggy, I + only fired once.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, massa Richard, I 'member 'em! Natty Bumppo fire t'oder gun. You + know, sir, all 'e folks say Natty kill him.” + </p> + <p> + “The folks lie, you black devil!” exclaimed Richard in great heat. “I have + not shot even a gray squirrel these four years, to which that old rascal + has not laid claim, or some one else for him. This is a damned envious + world that we live in—people are always for dividing the credit at a + thing, in order to bring down merit to their own level. Now they have a + story about the Patent,* that Hiram Doolittle helped to plan the steeple + to St. Paul's; when Hiram knows that it is entirely mine; a little taken + front a print of his namesake in London, I own; but essentially, as to all + points of genius, my own.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The grants of land, made either by the crown or the state, were but + letters patent under the great seal, and the term “patent” is usually + applied to any district of extent thus conceded; though under the + crown, manorial rights being often granted with the soil, in the + older counties the word “manor” is frequently used. There are many + manors in New York though all political and judicial rights have + ceased. +</pre> + <p> + “I don't know where he come from,” said the black, losing every mark of + humor in an expression of admiration, “but eb'rybody say, he wounerful + handsome.” + </p> + <p> + “And well they may say so, Aggy,” cried Richard, leaving the buck and + walking up to the negro with the air of a man who has new interest + awakened within him, “I think I may say, without bragging, that it is the + handsomest and the most scientific country church in America. I know that + the Connecticut settlers talk about their West Herfield meeting-house; but + I never believe more than half what they say, they are such unconscionable + braggers. Just as you have got a thing done, if they see it likely to be + successful, they are always for interfering; and then it's tea to one but + they lay claim to half, or even all of the credit. You may remember, Aggy, + when I painted the sign of the bold dragoon for Captain Hollister there + was that fellow, who was about town laying brick-dust on the houses, came + one day and offered to mix what I call the streaky black, for the tail and + mane; and then, because it looks like horse-hair, he tells everybody that + the sign was painted by himself and Squire Jones. If Marmaduke don't send + that fellow off the Patent, he may ornament his village with his own hands + for me,” Here Richard paused a moment, and cleared his throat by a loud + hem, while the negro, who was all this time busily engaged in preparing + the sleigh, proceeded with his work in respectful silence. Owing to the + religious scruples of the Judge, Aggy was the servant of Richard, who had + his services for a time,* and who, of course, commanded a legal claim to + the respect of the young negro. But when any dispute between his lawful + and his real master occurred, the black felt too much deference for both + to express any opinion. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The manumission of the slaves in New York has been gradual. When + public opinion became strong in their favor, then grew up a custom of + buying the services of a slave, for six or eight years, with a + condition to liberate him at the end of the period. Then the law + provided that all born after a certain day should be free, the males + at twenty—eight and the females at twenty-five. After this the owner + was obliged to cause his servants to be taught to read and write + before they reached the age of eighteen, and, finally, the few that + remained were all unconditionally liberated in 1826, or after the + publication of this tale. It was quite usual for men more or less + connected with the Quakers, who never held slaves to adopt the first + expedient. +</pre> + <p> + In the mean while, Richard continued watching the negro as he fastened + buckle after buckle, until, stealing a look of consciousness toward the + other, he continued: “Now, if that young man who was in your sleigh is a + real Connecticut settler, he will be telling everybody how he saved my + horses, when, if he had let them alone for half a minute longer, I would + have brought them in much better, without upsetting, with the whip amid + rein—it spoils a horse to give him his heal, I should not wonder if + I had to sell the whole team, just for that one jerk he gave them,” + Richard paused and hemmed; for his conscience smote him a little for + censuring a man who had just saved his life. “Who is the lad, Aggy—I + don't remember to have seen him before?” + </p> + <p> + The black recollected the hint about Santa Claus; and, while he briefly + explained how they had taken up the person in question on the top of the + mountain, he forbore to add anything concerning the accident or the wound, + only saying that he believed the youth was a stranger. It was so usual for + men of the first rank to take into their sleighs any one they found + toiling through the snow, that Richard was perfectly satisfied with this + explanation. He heard Aggy with great attention, and then remarked: “Well, + if the lad has not been spoiled by the people in Templeton he may be a + modest young man, and, as he certainly meant well, I shall take some + notice of him—perhaps he is land-hunting—I say, Aggy, maybe he + is out hunting?” + </p> + <p> + “Eh! yes, massa Richard,” said the black, a little confused; for, as + Richard did all the flogging, he stood in great terror of his master, in + the main—“Yes, sir, I b'lieve he be.” + </p> + <p> + “Had he a pack and an axe?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir, only he rifle.” + </p> + <p> + “Rifle!” exclaimed Richard, observing the confusion of the negro, which + now amounted to terror. “By Jove, he killed the deer! I knew that + Marmaduke couldn't kill a buck on the jump—how was it, Aggy? Tell me + all about it, and I'll roast 'Duke quicker than he can roast his saddle—how + was it, Aggy? the lad shot the buck, and the Judge bought it, ha! and he + is taking the youth down to get the pay?” + </p> + <p> + The pleasure of this discovery had put Richard in such a good humor, that + the negro's fears in some measure vanished, and he remembered the stocking + of Santa Claus. After a gulp or two, he made out to reply; + </p> + <p> + “You forgit a two shot, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Don't lie, you black rascal!” cried Richard, stepping on the snow-bank to + measure the distance from his lash to the negro's back; “speak truth, or I + trounce you.” While speaking, the stock was slowly rising in Richard's + right hand, and the lash drawing through his left, in the scientific + manner with which drummers apply the cat; and Agamemnon, after turning + each side of himself toward his master, and finding both equally unwilling + to remain there, fairly gave in. In a very few words he made his master + acquainted with the truth, at the same time earnestly conjuring Richard to + protect him from the displeasure of the lodge “I'll do it, boy, I'll do + it,” cried the other, rubbing his hands with delight; “say nothing, but + leave me to manage Duke. I have a great mind to leave the deer on the + hill, and to make the fellow send for his own carcass; but no, I will let + Marmaduke tell a few bounces about it before I come out upon him. Come, + hurry in, Aggy, I must help to dress the lad's wound; this Yankee* doctor + knows nothing of surgery—I had to hold out Milligan's leg for him, + while he cut it off.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * In America the term Yankee is of local meaning. It is thought to be + derived from the manner in which the Indians of New England pronounced + the word “English,” or “Yengeese.” New York being originally a Dutch + province, the term of course was not known there, and Farther south + different dialects among the natives themselves probably produced a + different pronunciation Marmaduke and his cousin, being Pennsylvanians + by birth, were not Yankees in the American sense of the word. +</pre> + <p> + Richard was now seated on the stool again, and, the black taking the hind + seat, the steeds were put in motion toward home, As they dashed down the + hill on a fast trot, the driver occasionally turned his face to Aggy, and + continued speaking; for, notwithstanding their recent rupture, the most + perfect cordiality was again existing between them, “This goes to prove + that I turned the horses with the reins, for no man who is shot in the + right shoulder can have strength enough to bring round such obstinate + devils. I knew I did it from the first; but I did not want to multiply + words with Marmaduke about it.—Will you bite, you villain?—hip, + boys, hip! Old Natty, too, that is the best of it!—Well, well—'Duke + will say no more about my deer—and the Judge fired both barrels, and + hit nothing but a poor lad who was behind a pine-tree. I must help that + quack to take out the buckshot for the poor fellow.” In this manner + Richard descended the mountain; the bells ringing, and his tongue going, + until they entered the village, when the whole attention of the driver was + devoted to a display of his horsemanship, to the admiration of all the + gaping women and children who thronged the windows to witness the arrival + of their landlord and his daughter. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0005" id="link2HCH0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER V + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Nathaniel's coat, sir, was not fully made, + And Gabriel's pumps were all unpink'd i' th' heel; + There was no link to color Peter's hat, + And Walter's dagger was not come from sheathing; + There were none fine, but Adam, Ralph, and Gregory.” + —Shakespeare. +</pre> + <p> + After winding along the side of the mountain, the road, on reaching the + gentle declivity which lay at the base of the hill, turned at a right + angle to its former course, and shot down an inclined plane, directly into + the village of Templeton. The rapid little stream that we have already + mentioned was crossed by a bridge of hewn timber, which manifested, by its + rude construction and the unnecessary size of its framework, both the + value of Labor and the abundance of materials. This little torrent, whose + dark waters gushed over the limestones that lined its bottom, was nothing + less than one of the many sources of the Susquehanna; a river to which the + Atlantic herself has extended an arm in welcome. It was at this point that + the powerful team of Mr. Jones brought him up to the more sober steeds of + our travellers. A small hill was risen, and Elizabeth found herself at + once amidst the incongruous dwellings of the village. The street was of + the ordinary width, notwithstanding the eye might embrace, in one view, + thousands and tens of thousands of acres, that were yet tenanted only by + the beasts of the forest. But such had been the will of her father, and + such had also met the wishes of his followers. To them the road that made + the most rapid approaches to the condition of the old, or, as they + expressed it, the down countries, was the most pleasant; and surely + nothing could look more like civilization than a city, even if it lay in a + wilderness! The width of the street, for so it was called, might have been + one hundred feet; but the track for the sleighs was much more limited. On + either side of the highway were piled huge heaps of logs, that were daily + increasing rather than diminishing in size, notwithstanding the enormous + fires that might be seen through every window. + </p> + <p> + The last object at which Elizabeth gazed when they renewed their journey, + after their encountre with Richard, was the sun, as it expanded in the + refraction of the horizon, and over whose disk the dark umbrage of a pine + was stealing, while it slowly sank behind the western hills. But his + setting rays darted along the openings of the mountain he was on, and + lighted the shining covering of the birches, until their smooth and glossy + coats nearly rivalled the mountain sides in color. The outline of each + dark pine was delineated far in the depths of the forest, and the rocks, + too smooth and too perpendicular to retain the snow that had fallen, + brightened, as if smiling at the leave-taking of the luminary. But at each + step as they descended, Elizabeth observed that they were leaving the day + behind them. Even the heartless but bright rays of a December sun were + missed as they glided into the cold gloom of the valley. Along the summits + of the mountains in the eastern range, it is true, the light still + lingered, receding step by step from the earth into the clouds that were + gathering with the evening mist, about the limited horizon, but the frozen + lake lay without a shadow on its bosom; the dwellings were becoming + already gloomy and indistinct, and the wood-cutters were shouldering their + axes and preparing to enjoy, throughout the long evening before them, the + comforts of those exhilarating fires that their labor had been supplying + with fuel. They paused only to gaze at the passing sleighs, to lift their + caps to Marmaduke, to exchange familiar nods with Richard, and each + disappeared in his dwelling. The paper curtains dropped behind our + travellers in every window, shutting from the air even the firelight of + the cheerful apartments, and when the horses of her father turned with a + rapid whirl into the open gate of the mansion-house, and nothing stood + before her but the cold dreary stone walls of the building, as she + approached them through an avenue of young and leafless poplars, Elizabeth + felt as if all the loveliness of the mountain-view had vanished like the + fancies of a dream. Marmaduke retained so much of his early habits as to + reject the use of bells, but the equipage of Mr. Jones came dashing + through the gate after them, sending its jingling sounds through every + cranny of the building, and in a moment the dwelling was in an uproar. + </p> + <p> + On a stone platform, of rather small proportions, considering the size of + the building, Richard and Hiram had, conjointly, reared four little + columns of wood, which in their turn supported the shingled roofs of the + portico—this was the name that Mr. Jones had thought proper to give + to a very plain, covered entrance. The ascent to the platform was by five + or six stone steps, somewhat hastily laid together, and which the frost + had already begun to move from their symmetrical positions, But the evils + of a cold climate and a superficial construction did not end here. As the + steps lowered the platform necessarily fell also, and the foundations + actually left the superstructure suspended in the air, leaving an open + space of a foot between the base of the pillars and the stones on which + they had originally been placed. It was lucky for the whole fabric that + the carpenter, who did the manual part of the labor, had fastened the + canopy of this classic entrance so firmly to the side of the house that, + when the base deserted the superstructure in the manner we have described, + and the pillars, for the want of a foundation, were no longer of service + to support the roof, the roof was able to uphold the pillars. Here was, + indeed, an unfortunate gap left in the ornamental part of Richard's + column; but, like the window in Aladdin's palace, it seemed only left in + order to prove the fertility of its master's resources. The composite + order again offered its advantages, and a second edition of the base was + given, as the booksellers say, with additions and improvements. It was + necessarily larger, and it was properly ornamented with mouldings; still + the steps continued to yield, and, at the moment when Elizabeth returned + to her father's door, a few rough wedges were driven under the pillars to + keep them steady, and to prevent their weight from separating them from + the pediment which they ought to have supported. + </p> + <p> + From the great door which opened into the porch emerged two or three + female domestics, and one male. The latter was bareheaded, but evidently + more dressed than usual, and on the whole was of so singular a formation + and attire as to deserve a more minute description. He was about five feet + in height, of a square and athletic frame, with a pair of shoulders that + would have fitted a grenadier. His low stature was rendered the more + striking by a bend forward that he was in the habit of assuming, for no + apparent reason, unless it might be to give greater freedom to his arms, + in a particularly sweeping swing, that they constantly practised when + their master was in motion. His face was long, of a fair complexion, burnt + to a fiery red; with a snub nose, cocked into an inveterate pug; a mouth + of enormous dimensions, filled with fine teeth; and a pair of blue eyes, + that seemed to look about them on surrounding objects with habitual + contempt. His head composed full one-fourth of his whole length, and the + cue that depended from its rear occupied another. He wore a coat of very + light drab cloth, with buttons as large as dollars, bearing the impression + of a “foul anchor.” The skirts were extremely long, reaching quite to the + calf, and were broad in proportion. Beneath, there were a vest and + breeches of red plush, somewhat worn and soiled. He had shoes with large + buckles, and stockings of blue and white stripes. + </p> + <p> + This odd-looking figure reported himself to be a native of the county of + Cornwall, in the island of Great Britain. His boyhood had passed in the + neighborhood of the tin mines, and his youth as the cabin-boy of a + smuggler, between Falmouth and Guernsey. From this trade he had been + impressed into the service of his king, and, for the want of a better, had + been taken into the cabin, first as a servant, and finally as steward to + the captain. Here he acquired the art of making chowder, lobster, and one + or two other sea-dishes, and, as he was fond of saying, had an opportunity + of seeing the world. With the exception of one or two outports in France, + and an occasional visit to Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Deal, he had in + reality seen no more of mankind, however, than if he had been riding a + donkey in one of his native mines. But, being discharged from the navy at + the peace of '83, he declared that, as he had seen all the civilized parts + of the earth, he was inclined to make a trip to the wilds of America We + will not trace him in his brief wanderings, under the influence of that + spirit of emigration that some times induces a dapper Cockney to quit his + home, and lands him, before the sound of Bow-bells is out of his ears, + within the roar of the cataract of Niagara; but shall only add that at a + very early day, even before Elizabeth had been sent to school, he had + found his way into the family of Marmaduke Temple, where, owing to a + combination of qualities that will be developed in the course of the tale, + he held, under Mr. Jones, the office of major-domo. The name of this + worthy was Benjamin Penguillan, according to his own pronunciation; but, + owing to a marvellous tale that he was in the habit of relating, + concerning the length of time he had to labor to keep his ship from + sinking after Rodney's victory, he had universally acquired the nick name + of Ben Pump. + </p> + <p> + By the side of Benjamin, and pressing forward as if a little jealous of + her station, stood a middle-aged woman, dressed in calico, rather + violently contrasted in color with a tall, meagre, shapeless figure, sharp + features, and a somewhat acute expression of her physiognomy. Her teeth + were mostly gone, and what did remain were of a tight yellow. The skin of + her nose was drawn tightly over the member, to hang in large wrinkles in + her cheeks and about her mouth. She took snuff in such quantities as to + create the impression that she owed the saffron of her lips and the + adjacent parts to this circumstance; but it was the unvarying color of her + whole face. She presided over the female part of the domestic + arrangements, in the capacity of housekeeper; was a spinster, and bore the + name of Remarkable Pettibone. To Elizabeth she was an entire stranger, + having been introduced into the family since the death of her mother. + </p> + <p> + In addition to these, were three or four subordinate menials, mostly + black, some appearing at the principal door, and some running from the end + of the building, where stood the entrance to the cellar-kitchen. + </p> + <p> + Besides these, there was a general rush from Richard's kennel, accompanied + with every canine tone from the howl of the wolf-dog to the petulant bark + of the terrier. The master received their boisterous salutations with a + variety of imitations from his own throat, when the dogs, probably from + shame of being outdone, ceased their out-cry. One stately, powerful + mastiff, who wore round his neck a brass collar, with “M. T.” engraved in + large letters on the rim, alone was silent. He walked majestically, amid + the confusion, to the side of the Judge, where, receiving a kind pat or + two, he turned to Elizabeth, who even stooped to kiss him, as she called + him kindly by the name of “Old Brave.” The animal seemed to know her, as + she ascended the steps, supported by Monsieur Le Quoi and her father, in + order to protect her from falling on the ice with which they were covered. + He looked wistfully after her figure, and when the door closed on the + whole party, he laid himself in a kennel that was placed nigh by, as if + conscious that the house contained some thing of additional value to + guard. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth followed her father, who paused a moment to whisper a message to + one of his domestics, into a large hall, that was dimly lighted by two + candles, placed in high, old-fashioned, brass candlesticks. The door + closed, and the party were at once removed from an atmosphere that was + nearly at zero, to one of sixty degrees above. In the centre of the hall + stood an enormous stove, the sides of which appeared to be quivering with + heat; from which a large, straight pipe, leading through the ceiling + above, carried off the smoke. An iron basin, containing water, was placed + on this furnace, for such only it could be called, in order to preserve a + proper humidity in the apartment. The room was carpeted, and furnished + with convenient, substantial furniture, some of which was brought from the + city, the remainder having been manufactured by the mechanics of + Templeton. There was a sideboard of mahogany, inlaid with ivory, and + bearing enormous handles of glittering brass, and groaning under the piles + of silver plate. Near it stood a set of prodigious tables, made of the + wild cherry, to imitate the imported wood of the sideboard, but plain and + without ornament of any kind. Opposite to these stood a smaller table, + formed from a lighter-colored wood, through the grains of which the wavy + lines of the curled maple of the mountains were beautifully undulating. + Near to this, in a corner, stood a heavy, old-fashioned, brass-faced + clock, incased in a high box, of the dark hue of the black walnut from the + seashore. An enormous settee, or sofa, covered with light chintz, + stretched along the walls for nearly twenty feet on one side of the hail; + and chairs of wood, painted a light yellow, with black lines that were + drawn by no very steady hand, were ranged opposite, and in the intervals + between the other pieces of furniture. A Fahrenheit's thermometer in a + mahogany case, and with a barometer annexed, was hung against the wall, at + some little distance from the stove, which Benjamin consulted, every half + hour, with prodigious exactitude. Two small glass chandeliers were + suspended at equal distances between the stove and outer doors, one of + which opened at each end of the hall, and gilt lustres were affixed to the + frame work of the numerous side-doors that led from the apartment. Some + little display in architecture had been made in constructing these frames + and casings, which were surmounted with pediments, that bore each a little + pedestal in its centre; on these pedestals were small busts in blacked + plaster-of-Paris. The style of the pedestals as well as the selection of + the busts were all due to the taste of Mr. Jones. On one stood Homer, a + most striking likeness, Richard affirmed, “as any one might see, for it + was blind,” Another bore the image of a smooth-visaged gentleman with a + pointed beard, whom he called Shakespeare. A third ornament was an urn, + which; from its shape, Richard was accustomed to say, intended to + represent itself as holding the ashes of Dido. A fourth was certainly old + Franklin, in his cap and spectacles. A fifth as surely bore the dignified + composure of the face of Washington. A sixth was a nondescript, + representing “a man with a shirt-collar open,” to use the language of + Richard, “with a laurel on his head-it was Julius Caesar or Dr. Faustus; + there were good reasons for believing either.” + </p> + <p> + The walls were hung with a dark lead-colored English paper that + represented Britannia weeping over the tomb of Wolfe, The hero himself + stood at a little distance from the mourning goddess, and at the edge of + the paper. Each width contained the figure, with the slight exception of + one arm of the general, which ran over on the next piece, so that when + Richard essayed, with his own hands, to put together this delicate + outline, some difficulties occurred that prevented a nice conjunction; and + Britannia had reason to lament, in addition to the loss of her favorite's + life, numberless cruel amputations of his right arm. + </p> + <p> + The luckless cause of these unnatural divisions now announced his presence + in the halt by a loud crack of his whip. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Benjamin! you Ben Pump! is this the manner in which you receive the + heiress?” he cried. “Excuse him, Cousin Elizabeth. The arrangements were + too intricate to be trusted to every one; but now I am here, things will + go on better.—Come, light up, Mr. Penguillan, light up, light up, + and let us see One another's faces. Well, 'Duke, I have brought home your + deer; what is to be done with it, ha?” + </p> + <p> + “By the Lord, squire,” commenced Benjamin, in reply, first giving his + mouth a wipe with the back of his hand, “if this here thing had been + ordered sum'at earlier in the day, it might have been got up, d'ye see, to + your liking. I had mustered all hands and was exercising candles, when you + hove in sight; but when the women heard your bells they started an end, as + if they were riding the boat swain's colt; and if-so-be there is that man + in the house who can bring up a parcel of women when they have got headway + on them, until they've run out the end of their rope, his name is not + Benjamin Pump. But Miss Betsey here must have altered more than a + privateer in disguise, since she has got on her woman's duds, if she will + take offence with an old fellow for the small matter of lighting a few + candles.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth and her father continued silent, for both experienced the same + sensation on entering the hall. The former had resided one year in the + building before she left home for school, and the figure of its lamented + mistress was missed by both husband and child. + </p> + <p> + But candles had been placed in the chandeliers and lustres, and the + attendants were so far recovered from surprise as to recollect their use; + the oversight was immediately remedied, and in a minute the apartment was + in a blaze of light. + </p> + <p> + The slight melancholy of our heroine and her father was banished by this + brilliant interruption; and the whole party began to lay aside the + numberless garments they had worn in the air. + </p> + <p> + During this operation Richard kept up a desultory dialogue with the + different domestics, occasionally throwing out a remark to the Judge + concerning the deer; but as his conversation at such moments was much like + an accompaniment on a piano, a thing that is heard without being attended + to, we will not undertake the task of recording his diffuse discourse, + </p> + <p> + The instant that Remarkable Pettibone had executed her portion of the + labor in illuminating, she returned to a position near Elizabeth, with the + apparent motive of receiving the clothes that the other threw aside, but + in reality to examine, with an air of curiosity—not unmixed with + jealousy—the appearance of the lady who was to supplant her in the + administration of their domestic economy. The housekeeper felt a little + appalled, when, after cloaks, coats, shawls, and socks had been taken off + in succession, the large black hood was removed, and the dark ringlets, + shining like the raven's wing, fell from her head, and left the sweet but + commanding features of the young lady exposed to view. Nothing could be + fairer and more spotless than the forehead of Elizabeth, and preserve the + appearance of life and health. Her nose would have been called Grecian, + but for a softly rounded swell, that gave in character to the feature what + it lost in beauty. Her mouth, at first sight, seemed only made for love; + but, the instant that its muscles moved, every expression that womanly + dignity could utter played around it with the flexibility of female grace. + It spoke not only to the ear, but to the eye. So much, added to a form of + exquisite proportions, rather full and rounded for her years, and of the + tallest medium height, she inherited from her mother. Even the color of + her eye, the arched brows, and the long silken lashes, came from the same + source; but its expression was her father's. Inert and composed, it was + soft, benevolent, and attractive; but it could be roused, and that without + much difficulty. At such moments it was still beautiful, though it was a + little severe. As the last shawl fell aside, and she stood dressed in a + rich blue riding-habit, that fitted her form with the nicest exactness; + her cheeks burning with roses, that bloomed the richer for the heat of the + hall, and her eyes lightly suffused with moisture that rendered their + ordinary beauty more dazzling, and with every feature of her speaking + countenance illuminated by the lights that flared around her, Remarkable + felt that her own power had ended. + </p> + <p> + The business of unrobing had been simultaneous. Marmaduke appeared in a + suit of plain, neat black; Monsieur Le Quoi in a coat of snuff-color, + covering a vest of embroidery, with breeches, and silk stockings, and + buckles—that were commonly thought to be of paste. Major Hartmann + wore a coat of sky-blue, with large brass buttons, a club wig, and boots; + and Mr. Richard Jones had set off his dapper little form in a frock of + bottle-green, with bullet-buttons, by one of which the sides were united + over his well-rounded waist, opening above, so as to show a jacket of red + cloth, with an undervest of flannel, faced with green velvet, and below, + so as to exhibit a pair of buckskin breeches, with long, soiled, white + top-boots, and spurs; one of the latter a little bent, from its recent + attacks on the stool. + </p> + <p> + When the young lady had extricated herself from her garments, she was at + liberty to gaze about her, and to examine not only the household over + which she was to preside, but also the air and manner in which the + domestic arrangements were conducted. Although there was much incongruity + in the furniture and appearance of the hall, there was nothing mean. The + floor was carpeted, even in its remotest corners. The brass candlesticks, + the gilt lustres, and the glass chandeliers, whatever might be their + keeping as to propriety and taste, were admirably kept as to all the + purposes of use and comfort. They were clean and glittering in the strong + light of the apartment. + </p> + <p> + Compared with the chill aspect of the December night without, the warmth + and brilliancy of the apartment produced an effect that was not unlike + enchantment. Her eye had not time to detect, in detail, the little errors + which in truth existed, but was glancing around her in delight, when an + object arrested her view that was in strong contrast to the smiling faces + and neatly attired person ages who had thus assembled to do honor to the + heiress of Templeton. + </p> + <p> + In a corner of the hall near the grand entrance stood the young hunter, + unnoticed, and for the moment apparently forgotten. But even the + forgetfulness of the Judge, which, under the influence of strong emotion, + had banished the recollection of the wound of this stranger, seemed + surpassed by the absence of mind in the youth himself. On entering the + apartment, he had mechanically lifted his cap, and exposed a head covered + with hair that rivalled, in color and gloss, the locks of Elizabeth. + Nothing could have wrought a greater transformation than the single act of + removing the rough fox-skin cap. If there was much that was prepossessing + in the countenance of the young hunter, there was something even noble in + the rounded outlines of his head and brow. The very air and manner with + which the member haughtily maintained itself over the coarse and even wild + attire in which the rest of his frame was clad, bespoke not only + familiarity with a splendor that in those new settlements was thought to + be unequalled, but something very like contempt also. + </p> + <p> + The hand that held the cap rested lightly on the little ivory-mounted + piano of Elizabeth, with neither rustic restraint nor obtrusive vulgarity. + A single finger touched the instrument, as if accustomed to dwell on such + places. His other arm was extended to its utmost length, and the hand + grasped the barrel of his long rifle with something like convulsive + energy. The act and the attitude were both involuntary, and evidently + proceeded from a feeling much deeper than that of vulgar surprise. His + appearance, connected as it was with the rough exterior of his dress, + rendered him entirely distinct from the busy group that were moving across + the other end of the long hall, occupied in receiving the travellers and + exchanging their welcomes; and Elizabeth continued to gaze at him in + wonder. The contraction of the stranger's brows in creased as his eyes + moved slowly from one object to another. For moments the expression of his + countenance was fierce, and then again it seemed to pass away in some + painful emotion. The arm that was extended bent and brought the hand nigh + to his face, when his head dropped upon it, and concealed the wonderfully + speaking lineaments. + </p> + <p> + “We forget, dear sir, the strange gentleman” (for her life Elizabeth could + not call him otherwise) “whom we have brought here for assistance, and to + whom we owe every attention.” + </p> + <p> + All eyes were instantly turned in the direction of those of the speaker, + and the youth rather proudly elevated his head again, while he answered: + </p> + <p> + “My wound is trifling, and I believe that Judge Temple sent for a + physician the moment we arrived.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said Marmaduke: “I have not forgotten the object of thy + visit, young man, nor the nature of my debt. + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” exclaimed Richard, with something of a waggish leer, “thou owest the + lad for the venison, I suppose that thou killed, Cousin 'Duke! Marmaduke! + Marmaduke! That was a marvellous tale of thine about the buck! Here, young + man, are two dollars for the deer, and Judge Temple can do no less than + pay the doctor. I shall charge you nothing for my services, but you shall + not fare the worst for that. Come, come, 'Duke, don't be down hearted + about it; if you missed the buck, you contrived to shoot this poor fellow + through a pine-tree. Now I own that you have beat me; I never did such a + thing in all my life.” + </p> + <p> + “And I hope never will,” returned the Judge, “if you are to experience the + uneasiness that I have suffered; but be of good cheer, my young friend, + the injury must be small, as thou movest thy arm with apparent freedom. + </p> + <p> + “Don't make the matter worse, 'Duke, by pretending to talk about surgery,” + interrupted Mr. Jones, with a contemptuous wave of the hand: “it is a + science that can only be learned by practice. You know that my grandfather + was a doctor, but you haven't got a drop of medical blood in your veins. + These kind of things run in families. All my family by my father's side + had a knack at physic. 'There was my uncle that was killed at Brandywine—he + died as easy again as any other man the regiment, just from knowing how to + hold his breath naturally. Few men know how to breathe naturally.” + </p> + <p> + “I doubt not, Dickon,” returned the Judge, meeting the bright smile which, + in spite of himself, stole over the stranger's features, “that thy family + thoroughly understand the art of letting life slip through their + lingers.” + </p> + <p> + Richard heard him quite coolly, and putting a hand in either pocket of his + surcoat, so as to press forward the skirts, began to whistle a tune; but + the desire to reply overcame his philosophy, and with great heat he + exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “You may affect to smile, Judge Temple, at hereditary virtues, if you + please; but there is not a man on your Patent who don't know better. Here, + even this young man, who has never seen anything but bears, and deer, and + woodchucks, knows better than to believe virtues are not transmitted in + families. Don't you, friend?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe that vice is not,” said the stranger abruptly; his eye glancing + from the father to the daughter. + </p> + <p> + “The squire is right, Judge,” observed Benjamin, with a knowing nod of his + head toward Richard, that bespoke the cordiality between them, “Now, in + the old country, the king's majesty touches for the evil, and that is a + disorder that the greatest doctor in the fleet, or for the matter of that + admiral either: can't cure; only the king's majesty or a man that's been + hanged. Yes, the squire is right; for if-so-be that he wasn't, how is it + that the seventh son always is a doctor, whether he ships for the cockpit + or not? Now when we fell in with the mounsheers, under De Grasse, d'ye + see, we hid aboard of us a doctor—” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Benjamin,” interrupted Elizabeth, glancing her eyes from the + hunter to Monsieur Le Quoi, who was most politely attending to what fell + from each individual in succession, “you shall tell me of that, and all + your entertaining adventures together; just now, a room must be prepared, + in which the arm of this gentleman can be dressed.” + </p> + <p> + “I will attend to that myself, Cousin Elizabeth,” observed Richard, + somewhat haughtily. “The young man will not suffer because Marmaduke + chooses to be a little obstinate. Follow me, my friend, and I will examine + the hurt myself.” + </p> + <p> + “It will be well to wait for the physician,” said the hunter coldly; “he + cannot be distant.” + </p> + <p> + Richard paused and looked at the speaker, a little astonished at the + language, and a good deal appalled at the refusal. He construed the latter + into an act of hostility, and, placing his hands in the pockets again, he + walked up to Mr. Grant, and, putting his face close to the countenance of + the divine, said in an undertone: + </p> + <p> + “Now, mark my words—there will be a story among the settlers, that + all our necks would have been broken but for that fellow—as if I did + not know how to drive. Why, you might have turned the horses yourself, + sir; nothing was easier; it was only pulling hard on the nigh rein, and + touching the off flank of the leader. I hope, my dear sir, you are not at + all hurt by the upset the lad gave us?” + </p> + <p> + The reply was interrupted by the entrance of the village physician. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0006" id="link2HCH0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And about his shelves, + A beggarly account of empty boxes, + Green earthen pots, bladders, and musty seeds. + Remnants of packthread, and old cakes of roses, + Were thinly scattered to make up a show.” + —Shakespeare. +</pre> + <p> + Doctor Elnathan Todd, for such was the name of the man of physic, was + commonly thought to be, among the settlers, a gentleman of great mental + endowments, and he was assuredly of rare personal proportions. In height + he measured, without his shoes, exactly six feet and four inches. His + hands, feet, and knees corresponded in every respect with this formidable + stature; but every other part of his frame appeared to have been intended + for a man several sizes smaller, if we except the length of the limbs. His + shoulders were square, in one sense at least, being in a right line from + one side to the other; but they were so narrow, that the long dangling + arms they supported seemed to issue out of his back. His neck possessed, + in an eminent degree, the property of length to which we have alluded, and + it was topped by a small bullet-head that exhibited on one side a bush of + bristling brown hair and on the other a short, twinkling visage, that + appeared to maintain a constant struggle with itself in order to look + wise. He was the youngest son of a farmer in the western part of + Massachusetts, who, being in some what easy circumstances, had allowed + this boy to shoot up to the height we have mentioned, without the ordinary + interruptions of field labor, wood-chopping, and such other toils as were + imposed on his brothers. Elnathan was indebted for this exemption from + labor in some measure to his extraordinary growth, which, leaving him + pale, inanimate, and listless, induced his tender mother to pronounce him + “a sickly boy, and one that was not equal to work, but who might earn a + living comfortably enough by taking to pleading law, or turning minister, + or doctoring, or some such like easy calling.' Still, there was great + uncertainty which of these vocations the youth was best endowed to fill; + but, having no other employment, the stripling was constantly lounging + about the homestead,” munching green apples and hunting for sorrel; when + the same sagacious eye that had brought to light his latent talents seized + upon this circumstance as a clew to his future path through the turmoils + of the world. “Elnathan was cut out for a doctor, she knew, for he was + forever digging for herbs, and tasting all kinds of things that grow'd + about the lots. Then again he had a natural love for doctor-stuff, for + when she had left the bilious pills out for her man, all nicely covered + with maple sugar just ready to take, Nathan had come in and swallowed them + for all the world as if they were nothing, while Ichabod (her husband) + could never get one down without making such desperate faces that it was + awful to look on.” + </p> + <p> + This discovery decided the matter. Elnathan, then about fifteen, was, much + like a wild colt, caught and trimmed by clipping his bushy locks; dressed + in a suit of homespun, dyed in the butternut bark; furnished with a “New + Testament” and a “Webster's Spelling Book,” and sent to school. As the boy + was by nature quite shrewd enough, and had previously, at odd times, laid + the foundations of reading, writing, and arithmetic, he was soon + conspicuous in the school for his learning. The delighted mother had the + gratification of hearing, from the lips of the master, that her son was a + “prodigious boy, and far above all his class.” He also thought that “the + youth had a natural love for doctoring, as he had known him frequently + advise the smaller children against eating to much; and, once or twice, + when the ignorant little things had persevered in opposition to Elnathan's + advice, he had known her son empty the school-baskets with his own mouth, + to prevent the consequences.” + </p> + <p> + Soon after this comfortable declaration from his school master, the lad + was removed to the house of the village doctor, a gentleman whose early + career had not been unlike that of our hero where he was to be seen + sometimes watering a horse, at others watering medicines, blue, yellow, + and red: then again he might be noticed lolling under an apple-tree, with + Ruddiman's Latin Grammar in his hand, and a corner of Denman's Midwifery + sticking out of a pocket; for his instructor held it absurd to teach his + pupil how to dispatch a patient regularly from this world, before he knew + how to bring him into it. + </p> + <p> + This kind of life continued for a twelvemonth, when he suddenly appeared + at a meeting in a long coat (and well did it deserve the name!) of black + homespun, with little bootees, bound with an uncolored calf-skin for the + want of red morocco. + </p> + <p> + Soon after he was seen shaving with a dull razor. Three or four months had + scarce elapsed before several elderly ladies were observed hastening + toward the house of a poor woman in the village, while others were running + to and fro in great apparent distress. One or two boys were mounted, + bareback, on horses, and sent off at speed in various directions. Several + indirect questions were put concerning the place where the physician was + last seen; but all would not do; and at length Elnathan was seen issuing + from his door with a very grave air, preceded by a little white-headed + boy, out of breath, trotting before him. The following day the youth + appeared in the street, as the highway was called, and the neighborhood + was much edified by the additional gravity of his air. The same week he + bought a new razor; and the succeeding Sunday he entered the meeting-house + with a red silk handkerchief in his hand, and with an extremely demure + countenance. In the evening he called upon a young woman of his own class + in life, for there were no others to be found, and, when he was left alone + with the fair, he was called, for the first time in his life, Dr. Todd, by + her prudent mother. The ice once broken in this manner, Elnathan was + greeted from every mouth with his official appellation. + </p> + <p> + Another year passed under the superintendence of the same master, during + which the young physician had the credit of “riding with the old doctor,” + although they were generally observed to travel different roads. At the + end of that period, Dr. Todd attained his legal majority. He then took a + jaunt to Boston to purchase medicines, and, as some intimated, to walk the + hospital; we know not how the latter might have been, but, if true, he + soon walked through it, for he returned within a fortnight, bringing with + him a suspicious-looking box, that smelled powerfully of brimstone. + </p> + <p> + The next Sunday he was married, and the following morning he entered a + one-horse sleigh with his bride, having before him the box we have + mentioned, with another filled with home-made household linen, a + paper-covered trunk with a red umbrella lashed to it, a pair of quite new + saddle-bags, and a handbox. The next intelligence that his friends + received of the bride and bridegroom was, that the latter was “settled in + the new countries, and well to do as a doctor in Templeton, in York + State!” + </p> + <p> + If a Templar would smile at the qualifications of Marmaduke to fill the + judicial seat he occupied, we are certain that a graduate of Leyden or + Edinburgh would be extremely amused with this true narration of the + servitude of Elnathan in the temple of Aesculapius. But the same + consolation was afforded to both the jurist and the leech, for Dr. Todd + was quite as much on a level with his own peers of the profession in that + country, as was Marmaduke with his brethren on the bench. + </p> + <p> + Time and practice did wonders for the physician. He was naturally humane, + but possessed of no small share of moral courage; or, in other words, he + was chary of the lives of his patients, and never tried uncertain + experiments on such members of society as were considered useful; but, + once or twice, when a luckless vagrant had come under his care, he was a + little addicted to trying the effects of every phial in his saddle-bags on + the strangers constitution. Happily their number was small, and in most + cases their natures innocent. By these means Elnathan had acquired a + certain degree of knowledge in fevers and agues, and could talk with + judgment concerning intermittents, remittents, tertians, quotidians, etc. + In certain cutaneous disorders very prevalent in new settlements, he was + considered to be infallible; and there was no woman on the Patent but + would as soon think of becoming a mother without a husband as without the + assistance of Dr. Todd. In short, he was rearing, on this foundation of + sand a superstructure cemented by practice, though composed of somewhat + brittle materials. He however, occasionally renewed his elementary + studies, and, with the observation of a shrewd mind, was comfort ably + applying his practice to his theory. + </p> + <p> + In surgery, having the least experience, and it being a business that + spoke directly to the senses, he was most apt to distrust his own powers; + but he had applied oils to several burns, cut round the roots of sundry + defective teeth, and sewed up the wounds of numberless wood choppers, with + considerable éclat, when an unfortunate jobber suffered a fracture of his + leg by the tree that he had been felling. It was on this occasion that our + hero encountered the greatest trial his nerves and moral feeling had ever + sustained. In the hour of need, however, he was not found wanting. Most of + the amputations in the new settlements, and they were quite frequent, were + per formed by some one practitioner who, possessing originally a + reputation, was enabled by this circumstance to acquire an experience that + rendered him deserving of it; and Elnathan had been present at one or two + of these operations. But on the present occasion the man of practice was + not to be obtained, and the duty fell, as a matter of course, to the share + of Mr. Todd. He went to work with a kind of blind desperation, observing, + at the same time, all the externals of decent gravity and great skill, The + sufferer's name was Milligan, and it was to this event that Richard + alluded, when he spoke of assisting the doctor at an amputation by holding + the leg! The limb was certainly cut off, and the patient survived the + operation. It was, however, two years before poor Milligan ceased to + complain that they had buried the leg in so narrow a box that it was + straitened for room; he could feel the pain shooting up from the inhumed + fragment into the living members. Marmaduke suggested that the fault might + lie in the arteries and nerves; but Richard, considering the amputation as + part of his own handiwork, strongly repelled the insinuation, at the same + time declaring that he had often heard of men who could tell when it was + about to rain, by the toes of amputated limbs, After two or three years, + notwithstanding, Milligan's complaints gradually diminished, the leg was + dug up, and a larger box furnished, and from that hour no one had heard + the sufferer utter another complaint on the subject. This gave the public + great confidence in Dr. Todd, whose reputation was hourly increasing, and, + luckily for his patients, his information also. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding Dr. Todd's practice, and his success with the leg, he was + not a little appalled on entering the hall of the mansion-house. It was + glaring with the light of day; it looked so imposing, compared with the + hastily built and scantily furnished apartments which he frequented in his + ordinary practice, and contained so many well-dressed persons and anxious + faces, that his usually firm nerves were a good deal discomposed. He had + heard from the messenger who summoned him, that it was a gun-shot wound, + and had come from his own home, wading through the snow, with his + saddle-bags thrown over his arm, while separated arteries, penetrated + lungs, and injured vitals were whirling through his brain, as if he were + stalking over a field of battle, instead of Judge Temple's peaceable in + closure. + </p> + <p> + The first object that met his eye, as he moved into the room, was + Elizabeth in her riding-habit, richly laced with gold cord, her fine form + bending toward him, and her face expressing deep anxiety in every one of + its beautiful features. The enormous knees of the physician struck each + other with a noise that was audible; for, in the absent state of his mind, + he mistook her for a general officer, perforated with bullets, hastening + from the field of battle to implore assistance. The delusion, however, was + but momentary, and his eye glanced rapidly from the daughter to the + earnest dignity of the father's countenance; thence to the busy strut of + Richard, who was cooling his impatience at the hunter's indifference to + his assistance, by pacing the hall and cracking his whip; from him to the + Frenchman, who had stood for several minutes unheeded with a chair for the + lady; thence to Major Hartmann, who was very coolly lighting a pipe three + feet long by a candle in one of the chandeliers; thence to Mr. Grant, who + was turning over a manuscript with much earnestness at one of the lustres; + thence to Remarkable, who stood, with her arms demurely folded before her, + surveying, with a look of admiration and envy, the dress and beauty of the + young lady; and from her to Benjamin, who, with his feet standing wide + apart, and his arms akimbo, was balancing his square little body with the + indifference of one who is accustomed to wounds and bloodshed. All of + these seemed to be unhurt, and the operator began to breathe more freely; + but, before he had time to take a second look, the Judge, advancing, shook + him kindly by the hand, and spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Thou art welcome, my good sir, quite welcome, indeed; here is a youth + whom I have unfortunately wounded in shooting a deer this evening, and who + requires some of thy assistance.” + </p> + <p> + “Shooting at a deer, 'Duke,” interrupted Richard—“shooting at a + deer. Who do you think can prescribe, unless he knows the truth of the + case? It is always so with some people; they think a doctor can be + deceived with the same impunity as another man.” + </p> + <p> + “Shooting at a deer, truly,” returned the Judge, smiling, “although it is + by no means certain that I did not aid in destroying the buck; but the + youth is injured by my hand, be that as it may; and it is thy skill that + must cure him, and my pocket shall amply reward thee for it.” + </p> + <p> + “Two ver good tings to depend on,” observed Monsieur Le Quoi, bowing + politely, with a sweep of his head to the Judge and to the practitioner. + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, monsieur,” returned the Judge; “but we keep the young man in + pain. Remarkable, thou wilt please to provide linen for lint and + bandages.” + </p> + <p> + This remark caused a cessation of the compliments, and induced the + physician to turn an inquiring eye in the direction of his patient. During + the dialogue the young hunter had thrown aside his overcoat, and now stood + clad in a plain suit of the common, light-colored homespun of the country, + that was evidently but recently made. His hand was on the lapels of his + coat, in the attitude of removing the garment, when he suddenly suspended + the movement, and looked toward the commiserating Elizabeth, who was + standing in an unchanged posture, too much absorbed with her anxious + feelings to heed his actions. A slight color appeared on the brow of the + youth. + </p> + <p> + “Possibly the sight of blood may alarm the lady; I will retire to another + room while the wound is dressing.” + </p> + <p> + “By no means.” said Dr. Todd, who, having discovered that his patient was + far from being a man of importance, felt much emboldened to perform the + duty. “The strong light of these candles is favorable to the operation, + and it is seldom that we hard students enjoy good eyesight.” + </p> + <p> + While speaking, Elnathan placed a pair of large iron-rimmed spectacles on + his face, where they dropped, as it were by long practice, to the + extremity of his slim pug nose; and, if they were of no service as + assistants to his eyes, neither were they any impediment to his vision; + for his little gray organs were twinkling above them like two stars + emerging from the envious cover of a cloud. The action was unheeded by all + but Remarkable, who observed to Benjamin: + </p> + <p> + “Dr. Todd is a comely man to look on, and despu't pretty. How well he + seems in spectacles! I declare, they give a grand look to a body's face. I + have quite a great mind to try them myself.” + </p> + <p> + The speech of the stranger recalled the recollection of Miss Temple, who + started as if from deep abstraction, and, coloring excessively, she + motioned to a young woman who served in the capacity of maid, and retired + with an air of womanly reserve. + </p> + <p> + The field was now left to the physician and his patient, while the + different personages who remained gathered around the latter, with faces + expressing the various degrees of interest that each one felt in his + condition. Major Hartmann alone retained his seat, where he continued to + throw out vast quantities of smoke, now rolling his eyes up to the + ceiling, as if musing on the uncertainty of life, and now bending them on + the wounded man, with an expression that bespoke some consciousness of his + situation. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time Elnathan, to whom the sight of a gun shot wound was a + perfect novelty, commenced his preparations with a solemnity and care that + were worthy of the occasion. An old shirt was procured by Benjamin, and + placed in the hand of the other, who tore divers bandages from it, with an + exactitude that marked both his own skill and the importance of the + operation. + </p> + <p> + When this preparatory measure was taken, Dr. Todd selected a piece of the + shirt with great care, and handing to Mr. Jones, without moving a muscle, + said: “Here, Squire Jones, you are well acquainted with these things; will + you please to scrape the lint? It should be fine and soft, you know, my + dear sir; and be cautious that no cotton gets in, or it may p'izen the + wound. The shirt has been made with cotton thread, but you can easily pick + it out.” + </p> + <p> + Richard assumed the office, with a nod at his cousin, that said quite + plainly, “You see this fellow can't get along without me;” and began to + scrape the linen on his knee with great diligence. + </p> + <p> + A table was now spread with phials, boxes of salve, and divers surgical + instruments. As the latter appeared in succession, from a case of red + morocco, their owner held up each implement to the strong light of the + chandelier, near to which he stood, and examined it with the nicest care. + A red silk handkerchief was frequently applied to the glittering steel, as + if to remove from the polished surfaces the least impediment which might + exist to the most delicate operation. After the rather scantily furnished + pocket-case which contained these instruments was exhausted, the physician + turned to his saddle-bags, and produced various phials, filled with + liquids of the most radiant colors. These were arranged in due order by + the side of the murderous saws, knives, and scissors, when Elnathan + stretched his long body to its utmost elevation, placing his hand on the + small of his back as if for support, and looked about him to discover + what effect this display of professional skill was likely to produce on + the spectators. + </p> + <p> + “Upon my wort, toctor,” observed Major Hartmann, with a roguish roll of + his little black eyes, but with every other feature of his face in a state + of perfect rest, “put you have a very pretty pocket-book of tools tere, + and your toctor-stuff glitters as if it was petter for ter eyes as for ter + pelly.” + </p> + <p> + Elnathan gave a hem—one that might have been equally taken for that + kind of noise which cowards are said to make in order to awaken their + dormant courage, or for a natural effort to clear the throat; if for the + latter it was successful; for, turning his face to the veteran German, he + said: + </p> + <p> + “Very true, Major Hartmann, very true, sir; a prudent man will always + strive to make his remedies agreeable to the eyes, though they may not + altogether suit the stomach. It is no small part of our art, sir,” and he + now spoke with the confidence of a man who understood his subject, “to + reconcile the patient to what is for his own good, though at the same time + it may be unpalatable.” + </p> + <p> + “Sartain! Dr. Todd is right,” said Remarkable, “and has Scripter for what + he says. The Bible tells us how things may be sweet to the mouth, and + bitter to the inwards.” + </p> + <p> + “True, true,” interrupted the Judge, a little impatiently; “but here is a + youth who needs no deception to lure him to his own benefit. I see, by his + eye, that he fears nothing more than delay.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger had, without assistance, bared his own shoulder, when the + slight perforation produced by the pas sage of the buckshot was plainly + visible. The intense cold of the evening had stopped the bleeding, and Dr. + Todd, casting a furtive glance at the wound, thought it by no means so + formidable an affair as he had anticipated. Thus encouraged, he approached + his patient, and made some indication of an intention to trace the route + that had been taken by the lead. + </p> + <p> + Remarkable often found occasions, in after days, to recount the minutiae + of that celebrated operation; and when she arrived at this point she + commonly proceeded as follows: “And then the doctor tuck out of the pocket + book a long thing, like a knitting-needle, with a button fastened to the + end on't; and then he pushed it into the wound and then the young man + looked awful; and then I thought I should have swaned away—I felt in + sitch a dispu't taking; and then the doctor had run it right through his + shoulder, and shoved the bullet out on tother side; and so Dr. Todd cured + the young man—Of a ball that the Judge had shot into him—for + all the world as easy as I could pick out a splinter with my + darning-needle.” + </p> + <p> + Such were the impressions of Remarkable on the subject; and such doubtless + were the opinions of most of those who felt it necessary to entertain a + species of religious veneration for the skill of Elnathan; but such was + far from the truth. + </p> + <p> + When the physician attempted to introduce the instrument described by + Remarkable, he was repulsed by the stranger, with a good deal of decision, + and some little contempt, in his manner. + </p> + <p> + “I believe, sir,” he said, “that a probe is not necessary; the shot has + missed the bone, and has passed directly through the arm to the opposite + side, where it remains but skin deep, and whence, I should think, it might + be easily extracted.” + </p> + <p> + “The gentleman knows best,” said Dr. Todd, laying down the probe with the + air of a man who had assumed it merely in compliance with forms; and, + turning to Richard, he fingered the lint with the appearance of great care + and foresight. “Admirably well scraped, Squire Jones: it is about the best + lint I have ever seen. I want your assistance, my good sir, to hold the + patient's arm while I make an incision for the ball. Now, I rather guess + there is not another gentleman present who could scrape the lint so well + as Squire Jones!” + </p> + <p> + “Such things run in families,” observed Richard, rising with alacrity to + render the desired assistance. “My father, and my grandfather before him, + were both celebrated for their knowledge of surgery; they were not, like + Marmaduke here, puffed up with an accidental thing, such as the time when + he drew in the hip-joint of the man who was thrown from his horse; that + was the fall before you came into the settlement, doctor; but they were + men who were taught the thing regularly, spending half their lives in + learning those little niceties; though, for the matter of that, my + grandfather was a college-bred physician, and the best in the colony, too—that + is, in his neighborhood.” + </p> + <p> + “So it goes with the world, squire,” cried Benjamin; “if so be that a man + wants to walk the quarter-deck with credit, d'ye see, and with regular + built swabs on his shoulders, he mustn't think to do it by getting in at + the cabin windows. There are two ways to get into a top, besides the + lubber-holes. The true way to walk aft is to begin forrard; tho'f it be + only in a humble way, like myself, d'ye see, which was from being only a + hander of topgallant sails, and a stower of the flying-jib, to keeping the + key of the captain's locker.” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin speaks quite to the purpose,' continued Richard, “I dare say that + he has often seen shot extracted in the different ships in which he has + served; suppose we get him to hold the basin; he must be used to the sight + of blood.” + </p> + <p> + “That he is, squire, that he is,” interrupted the cidevant steward; + “many's the good shot, round, double-headed, and grape, that I've seen the + doctors at work on. For the matter of that, I was in a boat, alongside the + ship, when they cut out the twelve-pound shot from the thigh of the + captain of the Foodyrong, one of Mounsheer Ler Quaw's countrymen!” * + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * It is possible that the reader may start at this declaration of + Benjamin, but those who have lived in the new settlements of America + are too much accustomed to hear of these European exploits to doubt + it. +</pre> + <p> + “A twelve-pound ball from the thigh of a human being:” exclaimed Mr. + Grant, with great simplicity, dropping the sermon he was again reading, + and raising his spectacles to the top of his forehead. + </p> + <p> + “A twelve-pounder!” echoed Benjamin, staring around him with much + confidence; “a twelve-pounder! ay! a twenty-four-pound shot can easily be + taken from a man's body, if so be a doctor only knows how, There's Squire + Jones, now, ask him, sir; he reads all the books; ask him if he never fell + in with a page that keeps the reckoning of such things.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, more important operations than that have been performed,” + observed Richard; “the encyclopaedia mentions much more incredible + circumstances than that, as, I dare say, you know, Dr. Todd.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, there are incredible tales told in the encyclopaedias,” + returned Elnathan, “though I cannot say that I have ever seen, myself, + anything larger than a musket ball extracted.” + </p> + <p> + During this discourse an incision had been made through the skin of the + young hunter's shoulder, and the lead was laid bare. Elnathan took a pair + of glittering forceps, and was in the act of applying them to the wound, + when a sudden motion of the patient caused the shot to fall out of itself, + The long arm and broad hand of the operator were now of singular service; + for the latter expanded itself, and caught the lead, while at the same + time an extremely ambiguous motion was made by its brother, so as to leave + it doubtful to the spectators how great was its agency in releasing the + shot, Richard, however, put the matter at rest by exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + “Very neatly done, doctor! I have never seen a shot more neatly extracted; + and I dare say Benjamin will say the same.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, considering,” returned Benjamin, “I must say that it was ship-shape + and Brister-fashion. Now all that the doctor has to do, is to clap a + couple of plugs in the holes, and the lad will float in any gale that + blows in these here hills.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, sir, for what you have done,” said the youth, with a little + distance; “but here is a man who will take me under his care, and spare + you all, gentlemen, any further trouble on my account.” + </p> + <p> + The whole group turned their heads in surprise, and beheld, standing at + one of the distant doors of the hall, the person of Indian John. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0007" id="link2HCH0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “From Sesquehanna's utmost springs, + Where savage tribes pursue their game, + His blanket tied with yellow strings, + The shepherd of the forest came.”—Freneau. +</pre> + <p> + Before the Europeans, or, to use a more significant term, the Christians, + dispossessed the original owners of the soil, all that section of country + which contains the New England States, and those of the Middle which lie + east of the mountains, was occupied by two great nations of Indians, from + whom had descended numberless tribes. But, as the original distinctions + between these nations were marked by a difference in language, as well as + by repeated and bloody wars, they were never known to amalgamate, until + after the power and inroads of the whites had reduced some of the tribes + to a state of dependence that rendered not only their political, but, + considering the wants and habits of a savage, their animal existence also, + extremely precarious. + </p> + <p> + These two great divisions consisted, on the one side, of the Five, or, as + they were afterward called, the Six Nations, and their allies; and, on the + other, of the Lenni Lenape, or Delawares, with the numerous and powerful + tribes that owned that nation as their grandfather The former was + generally called, by the Anglo-Americans Iroquois, or the Six Nations, and + sometimes Mingoes. Their appellation among their rivals, seems generally + to have been the Mengwe, or Maqua. They consisted of the tribes or, as + their allies were fond of asserting, in order to raise their consequence, + of the several nations of the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, + Cayugas, and Senecas; who ranked, in the confederation in the order in + which they are named. The Tuscaroras were admitted to this union near a + century after its foundation, and thus completed the number of six. + </p> + <p> + Of the Lenni Lenape, or as they were called by the whites, from the + circumstances of their holding their great council-fire on the banks of + that river, the Delaware nation, the principal tribes, besides that which + bore the generic name, were the Mahicanni, Mohicans, or Mohegans, and the + Nanticokes, or Nentigoes. Of these the latter held the country along the + waters of the Chesapeake and the seashore; while the Mohegans occupied the + district between the Hudson and the ocean, including much of New England. + Of course these two tribes were the first who were dispossessed of their + lands by the Europeans. + </p> + <p> + The wars of a portion of the latter are celebrated among us as the wars of + King Philip; but the peaceful policy of William Penn, or Miquon, as he was + termed by the natives, effected its object with less difficulty, though + not with less certainty. As the natives gradually disappeared from the + country of the Mohegans, some scattering families sought a refuge around + the council-fire of the mother tribe, or the Delawares. + </p> + <p> + This people had been induced to suffer themselves to be called women by + their old enemies, the Mingoes, or Iroquois. After the latter, having in + vain tried the effects of hostility, had recourse in artifice in order to + prevail over their rivals. According to this declaration, the Delawares + were to cultivate the arts of peace, and to intrust their defence entirely + to the men, or warlike tribes of the Six Nations. + </p> + <p> + This state of things continued until the war of the Revolution. When the + Lenni Lenape formally asserted their independence, and fearlessly declared + that they were again men. But, in a government so peculiarly republican as + the Indian polity, it was not at all times an easy task to restrain its + members within the rules of the nation. Several fierce and renowned + warriors of the Mohegans, finding the conflict with the whites to be in + vain, sought a refuge with their grandfather, and brought with them the + feelings and principles that had so long distinguished them in their own + tribe. These chieftains kept alive, in some measure, the martial spirit of + the Delawares; and would, at times, lead small parties against their + ancient enemies, or such other foes as incurred their resentment. + </p> + <p> + Among these warriors was one race particularly famous for their prowess, + and for those qualities that render an Indian hero celebrated. But war, + time, disease, and want had conspired to thin their number; and the sole + representative of this once renowned family now stood in the hall of + Marmaduke Temple. He had for a long time been an associate of the white + men, particularly in their wars, and having been, at the season when his + services were of importance, much noticed and flattered, he had turned + Christian and was baptized by the name of John. He had suffered severely + in his family during the recent war, having had every soul to whom he was + allied cut off by an inroad of the enemy; and when the last lingering + remnant of his nation extinguished their fires, among the hills of the + Delaware, he alone had remained, with a determination of laying his hones + in that country where his fathers had so long lived and governed. + </p> + <p> + It was only, however, within a few months, that he had appeared among the + mountains that surrounded Templeton. To the hut of the old hunter he + seemed peculiarly welcome; and, as the habits of the Leather-Stocking were + so nearly assimilated to those of the savages, the conjunction of their + interests excited no surprise. They resided in the same cabin, ate of the + same food, and were chiefly occupied in the same pursuits. + </p> + <p> + We have already mentioned the baptismal name of this ancient chief; but in + his conversation with Natty, held in the language of the Delawares, he was + heard uniformly to call himself Chingachgook, which, interpreted, means + the “Great Snake.” This name he had acquired in his youth, by his skill + and prowess in war; but when his brows began to wrinkle with time, and he + stood alone, the last of his family, and his particular tribe, the few + Delawares, who yet continued about the head-waters of their river, gave + him the mournful appellation of Mohegan. Perhaps there was something of + deep feeling excited in the bosom of this inhabitant of the forest by the + sound of a name that recalled the idea of his nation in ruins, for he + seldom used it himself—never, indeed, excepting on the most solemn + occasions; but the settlers had united, according to the Christian custom, + his baptismal with his national name, and to them he was generally known + as John Mohegan, or, more familiarly, as Indian John. + </p> + <p> + From his long association with the white men, the habits of Mohegan were a + mixture of the civilized and savage states, though there was certainly a + strong preponderance in favor of the latter. In common with all his + people, who dwelt within the influence of the Anglo-Americans, he had + acquired new wants, and his dress was a mixture of his native and European + fashions. Notwithstanding the in tense cold without, his head was + uncovered; but a profusion of long, black, coarse hair concealed his + forehead, his crown, and even hung about his cheeks, so as to convey the + idea, to one who knew his present amid former conditions, that he + encouraged its abundance, as a willing veil to hide the shame of a noble + soul, mourning for glory once known. His forehead, when it could be seen, + appeared lofty, broad, and noble. His nose was high, and of the kind + called Roman, with nostrils that expanded, in his seventieth year, with + the freedom that had distinguished them in youth. His mouth was large, but + compressed, and possessing a great share of expression and character, and, + when opened, it discovered a perfect set of short, strong, and regular + teeth. His chin was full, though not prominent; and his face bore the + infallible mark of his people, in its square, high cheek-bones. The eyes + were not large, but their black orbs glittered in the rays of the candles, + as he gazed intently down the hall, like two balls of fire. + </p> + <p> + The instant that Mohegan observed himself to be noticed by the group + around the young stranger, he dropped the blanket which covered the upper + part of his frame, from his shoulders, suffering it to fall over his + leggins of untanned deer-skin, where it was retained by a belt of bark + that confined it to his waist. + </p> + <p> + As he walked slowly down the long hail, the dignified and deliberate tread + of the Indian surprised the spectators. + </p> + <p> + His shoulders, and body to his waist, were entirely bare, with the + exception of a silver medallion of Washington, that was suspended from his + neck by a thong of buckskin, and rested on his high chest, amid many + scars. His shoulders were rather broad and full; but the arms, though + straight and graceful, wanted the muscular appearance that labor gives to + a race of men. The medallion was the only ornament he wore, although + enormous slits in the rim of either ear, which suffered the cartilages to + fall two inches below the members, had evidently been used for the + purposes of decoration in other days in his hand he held a small basket of + the ash-wood slips, colored in divers fantastical conceits, with red and + black paints mingled with the white of the wood. + </p> + <p> + As this child of the forest approached them, the whole party stood aside, + and allowed him to confront the object of his visit. He did not speak, + however, but stood fixing his glowing eyes on the shoulder of the young + hunter, and then turning them intently on the countenance of the Judge. + The latter was a good deal astonished at this unusual departure from the + ordinarily subdued and quiet manner of the Indian; but he extended his + hand, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Thou art welcome, John. This youth entertains a high opinion of thy + skill, it seems, for he prefers thee to dress his wound even to our good + friend, Dr. Todd.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan now spoke in tolerable English, but in a low, monotonous, guttural + tone; + </p> + <p> + “The children of Miquon do not love the sight of blood; and yet the Young + Eagle has been struck by the hand that should do no evil!” + </p> + <p> + “Mohegan! old John!” exclaimed the Judge, “thinkest thou that my hand has + ever drawn human blood willingly? For shame! for shame, old John! thy + religion should have taught thee better.” + </p> + <p> + “The evil spirit sometimes lives in the best heart,” returned John, “but + my brother speaks the truth; his hand has never taken life, when awake; + no! not even when the children of the great English Father were making the + waters red with the blood of his people.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely John,” said Mr. Grant, with much earnestness, “you remember the + divine command of our Saviour, 'Judge not, lest ye be judged.' What motive + could Judge Temple have for injuring a youth like this; one to whom he is + unknown, and from whom he can receive neither in jury nor favor?” + </p> + <p> + John listened respectfully to the divine, and, when he had concluded, he + stretched out his arm, and said with energy: + </p> + <p> + “He is innocent. My brother has not done this.” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke received the offered hand of the other with a smile, that + showed, however he might be astonished at his suspicion, he had ceased to + resent it; while the wounded youth stood, gazing from his red friend to + his host, with interest powerfully delineated in his countenance. + </p> + <p> + No sooner was this act of pacification exchanged, than John proceeded to + discharge the duty on which he had come. Dr. Todd was far from manifesting + any displeasure at this invasion of his rights, but made way for the new + leech with an air that expressed a willingness to gratify the humors of + his patient, now that the all-important part of the business was so + successfully performed, and nothing remained to be done but what any child + might effect, indeed, he whispered as much to Monsieur Le Quoi, when he + said: + </p> + <p> + “It was fortunate that the ball was extracted before this Indian came in; + but any old woman can dress the wound. The young man, I hear, lives with + John and Natty Bumppo, and it's always best to humor a patient, when it + can be done discreetly—I say, discreetly, monsieur.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainement,” returned the Frenchman; “you seem ver happy, Mister Todd, + in your pratice. I tink the elder lady might ver well finish vat you so + skeelfully begin.” + </p> + <p> + But Richard had, at the bottom, a great deal of veneration for the + knowledge of Mohegan, especially in external wounds; and, retaining all + his desire for a participation in glory, he advanced nigh the Indian, and + said: “Sago, sago, Mohegan! sago my good fellow I am glad you have come; + give me a regular physician, like Dr. Todd to cut into flesh, and a native + to heal the wound. Do you remember, John, the time when I and you set the + bone of Natty Bumppo's little finger, after he broke it by falling from + the rock, when he was trying to get the partridge that fell on the cliffs? + I never could tell yet whether it was I or Natty who killed that bird: he + fired first, and the bird stooped, and then it was rising again as I + pulled trigger. I should have claimed it for a certainty, but Natty said + the hole was too big for shot, and he fired a single ball from his rifle; + but the piece I carried then didn't scatter, and I have known it to bore a + hole through a board, when I've been shooting at a mark, very much like + rifle bullets. Shall I help you, John? You know I have a knack at these + things.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan heard this disquisition quite patiently, and, when Richard + concluded, he held out the basket which contained his specifics, + indicating, by a gesture, that he might hold it. Mr. Jones was quite + satisfied with this commission; and ever after, in speaking of the event, + was used to say that “Dr. Todd and I cut out the bullet, and I and Indian + John dressed the wound.” + </p> + <p> + The patient was much more deserving of that epithet while under the hands + of Mohegan, than while suffering under the practice of the physician. + Indeed, the Indian gave him but little opportunity for the exercise of a + forbearing temper, as he had come prepared for the occasion. His dressings + were soon applied, and consisted only of some pounded bark, moistened with + a fluid that he had expressed from some of the simples of the woods. + </p> + <p> + Among the native tribes of the forest there were always two kinds of + leeches to be met with. The one placed its whole dependence on the + exercise of a supernatural power, and was held in greater veneration than + their practice could at all justify; but the other was really endowed with + great skill in the ordinary complaints of the human body, and was more + particularly, as Natty had intimated, “curous” in cuts and bruises. + </p> + <p> + While John and Richard were placing the dressings on the wound, Elnathan + was acutely eyeing the contents of Mohegan's basket, which Mr. Jones, in + his physical ardor had transferred to the doctor, in order to hold himself + one end of the bandages. Here he was soon enabled to detect sundry + fragments of wood and bark, of which he quite coolly took possession, very + possibly without any intention of speaking at all upon the subject; but, + when he beheld the full blue eye of Marmaduke watching his movements, he + whispered to the Judge: + </p> + <p> + “It is not to be denied, Judge Temple, but what the savages are knowing in + small matters of physic. They hand these things down in their traditions. + Now in cancers and hydrophoby they are quite ingenious. I will just take + this bark home and analyze it; for, though it can't be worth sixpence to + the young man's shoulder, it may be good for the toothache, or rheumatism, + or some of them complaints. A man should never be above learning, even if + it be from an Indian.” + </p> + <p> + It was fortunate for Dr. Todd that his principles were so liberal, as, + coupled with his practice, they were the means by which he acquired all + his knowledge, and by which he was gradually qualifying himself for the + duties of his profession. The process to which he subjected the specific + differed, however, greatly from the ordinary rules of chemistry; for + instead of separating he afterward united the component parts of Mohegan's + remedy, and was thus able to discover the tree whence the Indian had taken + it. + </p> + <p> + Some ten years after this event, when civilization and its refinements had + crept, or rather rushed, into the settlements among these wild hills, an + affair of honor occurred, and Elnathan was seen to apply a salve to the + wound received by one of the parties, which had the flavor that was + peculiar to the tree, or root, that Mohegan had used. Ten years later + still, when England and the United States were again engaged in war, and + the hordes of the western parts of the State of New York were rushing to + the field, Elnathan, presuming on the reputation obtained by these two + operations, followed in the rear of a brigade of militia as its surgeon! + </p> + <p> + When Mohegan had applied the bark, he freely relinquished to Richard the + needle and thread that were used in sewing the bandages, for these were + implements of which the native but little understood the use: and, step + ping back with decent gravity, awaited the completion of the business by + the other. + </p> + <p> + “Reach me the scissors,” said Mr. Jones, when he had finished, and + finished for the second time, after tying the linen in every shape and + form that it could be placed; “reach me the scissors, for here is a thread + that must be cut off, or it might get under the dressings, and inflame the + wound. See, John, I have put the lint I scraped between two layers of the + linen; for though the bark is certainly best for the flesh, yet the lint + will serve to keep the cold air from the wound. If any lint will do it + good, it is this lint; I scraped it myself, and I will not turn my back at + scraping lint to any man on the Patent. I ought to know how, if anybody + ought, for my grandfather was a doctor, and my father had a natural turn + that way.” + </p> + <p> + “Here, squire, is the scissors,” said Remarkable, producing from beneath + her petticoat of green moreen a pair of dull-looking shears; “well, upon + my say-so, you have sewed on the rags as well as a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “As well as a woman!” echoed Richard with indignation; “what do women know + of such matters? and you are proof of the truth of what I say. Who ever + saw such a pair of shears used about a wound? Dr. Todd, I will thank you + for the scissors from the case, Now, young man, I think you'll do. The + shot has been neatly taken out, although, perhaps, seeing I had a hand in + it, I ought not to say so; and the wound is admirably dressed. You will + soon be well again; though the jerk you gave my leaders must have a + tendency to inflame the shoulder, yet you will do, you will do, You were + rather flurried, I suppose, and not used to horses; but I forgive the + accident for the motive; no doubt you had the best of motives; yes, now + you will do.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, gentlemen,” said the wounded stranger, rising, and resuming his + clothes, “it will be unnecessary for me to trespass longer on your time + and patience. There remains but one thing more to be settled, and that is, + our respective rights to the deer, Judge Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “I acknowledge it to be thine,” said. Marmaduke; “and much more deeply am + I indebted to thee than for this piece of venison. But in the morning thou + wilt call here, and we can adjust this, as well as more important matters + Elizabeth”—for the young lady, being apprised that the wound was + dressed, had re-entered the hall—“thou wilt order a repast for this + youth before we proceed to the church; and Aggy will have a sleigh + prepared to convey him to his friend.” + </p> + <p> + “But, sir, I cannot go without a part of the deer,” returned the youth, + seemingly struggling with his own feelings; “I have already told you that + I needed the venison for myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, we will not be particular,” exclaimed Richard; “the Judge will pay + you in the morning for the whole deer; and, Remarkable, give the lad all + the animal excepting the saddle; so, on the whole, I think you may + consider yourself as a very lucky young man—you have been shot + without being disabled; have had the wound dressed in the best possible + manner here in the woods, as well as it would have been done in the + Philadelphia hospital, if not better; have sold your deer at a high price, + and yet can keep most of the carcass, with the skin in the bargain. + 'Marky, tell Tom to give him the skin too, and in the morning bring the + skin to me and I will give you half a dollar for it, or at least + three-and-sixpence. I want just such a skin to cover the pillion that I am + making for Cousin Bess.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, sir, for your liberality, and, I trust, am also thankful for + my escape,” returned the stranger; “but you reserve the very part of the + animal that I wished for my own use. I must have the saddle myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Must!” echoed Richard; “must is harder to be swallowed than the horns of + the buck.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, must,” repeated the youth; when, turning his head proudly around + him, as if to see who would dare to controvert his rights, he met the + astonished gaze of Elizabeth, and proceeded more mildly: “That is, if a + man is allowed the possession of that which his hand hath killed, and the + law will protect him in the enjoyment of his own.” + </p> + <p> + “The law will do so,” said Judge Temple, with an air of mortification + mingled with surprise. “Benjamin, see that the whole deer is placed in the + sleigh; and have this youth conveyed to the hut of Leather Stocking. But, + young man thou hast a name, and I shall see you again, in order to + compensate thee for the wrong I have done thee?” + </p> + <p> + “I am called Edwards,” returned the hunter; “Oliver Edwards, I am easily + to be seen, sir, for I live nigh by, and am not afraid to show my face, + having never injured any man.” + </p> + <p> + “It is we who have injured you, sir,” said Elizabeth; “and the knowledge + that you decline our assistance would give my father great pain. He would + gladly see you in the morning.” + </p> + <p> + The young hunter gazed at the fair speaker until his earnest look brought + the blood to her temples; when, recollecting himself, he bent his head, + dropping his eyes to the carpet, and replied: + </p> + <p> + “In the morning, then, will I return, and see Judge Temple; and I will + accept his offer of the sleigh in token of amity.” + </p> + <p> + “Amity!” repeated Marmaduke; “there was no malice in the act that injured + thee, young man; there should be none in the feelings which it may + engender.” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” + observed Mr. Grant, “is the language used by our Divine Master himself, + and it should be the golden rule with us, his humble followers.” + </p> + <p> + The stranger stood a moment lost in thought, and then, glancing his dark + eyes rather wildly around the hall, he bowed low to the divine, and moved + from the apartment with an air that would not admit of detention. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis strange that one so young should harbor such feelings of + resentment,” said Marmaduke, when the door closed behind the stranger; + “but while the pain is recent, and the sense of the injury so fresh, he + must feel more strongly than in cooler moments. I doubt not we shall see + him in the morning more tractable.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth, to whom this speech was addressed, did not reply, but moved + slowly up the hall by herself, fixing her eyes on the little figure of the + English ingrain carpet that covered the floor; while, on the other hand, + Richard gave a loud crack with his whip, as the stranger disappeared, and + cried: + </p> + <p> + “Well, 'Duke, you are your own master, but I would have tried law for the + saddle before I would have given it to the fellow. Do you not own the + mountains as well as the valleys? are not the woods your own? what right + has this chap, or the Leather-Stocking, to shoot in your woods without + your permission? Now, I have known a farmer in Pennsylvania order a + sportsman off his farm with as little ceremony as I would order Benjamin + to put a log in the stove—By-the-bye, Benjamin, see how the + thermometer stands.—Now, if a man has a right to do this on a farm + of a hundred acres, what power must a landlord have who owns sixty + thousand—ay, for the matter of that, including the late purchases, a + hundred thousand? There is Mohegan, to be sure, he may have some right, + being a native; but it's little the poor fellow can do now with his rifle. + How is this managed in France, Monsieur Le Quoi? Do you let everybody run + over your land in that country helter-skelter, as they do here, shooting + the game, so that a gentleman has but little or no chance with his gun?” + </p> + <p> + “Bah! diable, no, Meester Deeck,” replied the Frenchman; “we give, in + France, no liberty except to the ladi.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, to the women, I know,” said Richard, “that is your Salic law. I + read, sir, all kinds of books; of France, as well as England; of Greece, + as well as Rome. But if I were in 'Duke's place, I would stick up + advertisements to-morrow morning, forbidding all persons to shoot, or + trespass in any manner, on my woods. I could write such an advertisement + myself, in an hour, as would put a stop to the thing at once.” + </p> + <p> + “Richart,” said Major Hartmann, very coolly knocking the ashes from his + pipe into the spitting-box by his side, “now listen; I have livet + seventy-five years on ter Mohawk, and in ter woots. You had better mettle + as mit ter deyvel, as mit ter hunters, Tey live mit ter gun, and a rifle + is better as ter law.” + </p> + <p> + “Ain't Marmaduke a judge?” said Richard indignantly. “Where is the use of + being a judge, or having a judge, if there is no law? Damn the fellow! I + have a great mind to sue him in the morning myself, before Squire + Doolittle, for meddling with my leaders. I am not afraid of his rifle. I + can shoot, too. I have hit a dollar many a time at fifty rods. + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast missed more dollars than ever thou hast hit, Dickon,” exclaimed + the cheerful voice of the Judge. “But we will now take our evening's + repast, which I perseive, by Remarkable's physiognomy, is ready. Monsieur + Le Quoi, Miss Temple has a hand at your service. Will you lead the way, my + child?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! ma chere mam'selle, comme je suis enchante!” said the Frenchman. “Il + ne manque que les dames de faire un paradis de Templeton.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Grant and Mohegan continued in the hall, while the remainder of the + party withdrew to an eating parlor, if we except Benjamin, who civilly + remained to close the rear after the clergyman and to open the front door + for the exit of the Indian. + </p> + <p> + “John,” said the divine, when the figure of Judge Temple disappeared, the + last of the group, “to-morrow is the festival of the nativity of our + blessed Redeemer, when the church has appointed prayers and thanksgivings + to be offered up by her children, and when all are invited to partake of + the mystical elements. As you have taken up the cross, and become a + follower of good and an eschewer of evil, I trust I shall see you before + the altar, with a contrite heart and a meek spirit.” + </p> + <p> + “John will come,” said the Indian, betraying no surprise; though he did + not understand all the terms used by the other. + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” continued Mr. Grant, laying his hand gently on the tawny shoulder + of the aged chief, “but it is not enough to be there in the body; you must + come in the spirit and in truth. The Redeemer died for all, for the poor + Indian as well as for the white man. Heaven knows no difference in color; + nor must earth witness a separation of the church. It is good and + profitable, John, to freshen the understanding, and support the wavering, + by the observance of our holy festivals; but all form is but stench in the + nostrils of the Holy One, unless it be accompanied by a devout and humble + spirit.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian stepped back a little, and, raising his body to its utmost + powers of erection, he stretched his right arm on high, and dropped his + forefinger downward, as if pointing from the heavens; then, striking his + other band on his naked breast, he said, with energy: + </p> + <p> + “The eye of the Great Spirit can see from the clouds—the bosom of + Mohegan is bare!” + </p> + <p> + “It is well, John, and I hope you will receive profit and consolation from + the performance of this duty. The Great Spirit overlooks none of his + children; and the man of the woods is as much an object of his care as he + who dwells in a palace. I wish you a good-night, and pray God to bless + you.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian bent his head, and they separated—the one to seek his + hut, and the other to join his party at the supper-table. While Benjamin + was opening the door for the passage of the chief, he cried, in a tone + that was meant to be encouraging: + </p> + <p> + “The parson says the word that is true, John. If so be that they took + count of the color of the skin in heaven, why, they might refuse to muster + on their books a Christian-born, like myself, just for the matter of a + little tan, from cruising in warm latitudes; though, for the matter of + that, this damned norwester is enough to whiten the skin of a blackamore. + Let the reef out of your blanket, man, or your red hide will hardly + weather the night with out a touch from the frost.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0008" id="link2HCH0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER VIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “For here the exile met from every clime, + And spoke, in friendship, every distant tongue.” + —Campbell. +</pre> + <p> + We have made our readers acquainted with some variety in character and + nations, in introducing the most important personages of this legend to + their notice; but, in order to establish the fidelity of our narrative, we + shall briefly attempt to explain the reason why we have been obliged to + present so motley a dramatis personae. + </p> + <p> + Europe, at the period of our tale, was in the commencement of that + commotion which afterward shook her political institutions to the centre. + Louis the Sixteenth had been beheaded, and a nation once esteemed the most + refined among the civilized people of the world was changing its + character, and substituting cruelty for mercy, and subtlety and ferocity + for magnanimity and courage. Thousands of Frenchmen were compelled to + seek protection in distant lands. Among the crowds who fled from France + and her islands, to the United States of America, was the gentleman whom + we have already mentioned as Monsieur Le Quoi. He had been recommended to + the favor of Judge Temple by the head of an eminent mercantile house in + New York, with whom Marmaduke was in habits of intimacy, and accustomed to + exchange good offices. At his first interview with the Frenchman, our + Judge had discovered him to be a man of breeding, and one who had seen + much more prosperous days in his own country. From certain hints that had + escaped him, Monsieur Le Quoi was suspected of having been a West-India + planter, great numbers of whom had fled from St. Domingo and the other + islands, and were now living in the Union, in a state of comparative + poverty, and some in absolute want The latter was not, however, the lot of + Monsieur Le Quoi. He had but little, he acknowledged; but that little was + enough to furnish, in the language of the country, an assortment for a + store. + </p> + <p> + The knowledge of Marmaduke was eminently practical, and there was no part + of a settler's life with which he was not familiar. Under his direction, + Monsieur Le Quoi made some purchases, consisting of a few cloths; some + groceries, with a good deal of gunpowder and tobacco; a quantity of + iron-ware, among which was a large proportion of Barlow's jack-knives, + potash-kettles, and spiders; a very formidable collection of crockery of + the coarsest quality and most uncouth forms; together with every other + common article that the art of man has devised for his wants, not + forgetting the luxuries of looking-glasses and Jew's-harps. With this + collection of valuables, Monsieur Le Quoi had stepped behind a counter, + and, with a wonderful pliability of temperament, had dropped into his + assumed character as gracefully as he had ever moved in any other. The + gentleness and suavity of his manners rendered him extremely popular; + besides this, the women soon discovered that he had taste. His calicoes + were the finest, or, in other words, the most showy, of any that were + brought into the country, and it was impossible to look at the prices + asked for his goods by “so pretty a spoken man,” Through these conjoint + means, the affairs of Monsieur Le Quoi were again in a prosperous + condition, and he was looked up to by the settlers as the second best man + on the “Patent.” * + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The term “Patent” which we have already used, and for which we may + have further occasion, meant the district of country that had been + originally granted to old Major Effingham by the “king's letters + patent,” and which had now become, by purchase under the act of + confiscation, the property of Marmaduke Temple. It was a term in + common use throughout the new parts of the State; and was usually + annexed to the landlord's name, as “Temple's or Effingham's Patent.” + </pre> + <p> + Major Hartmann was a descendant of a man who, in company with a number of + his countrymen, had emigrated with their families from the banks of the + Rhine to those of the Mohawk. This migration had occurred as far back as + the reign of Queen Anne; and their descendants were now living, in great + peace and plenty, on the fertile borders of that beautiful stream. + </p> + <p> + The Germans, or “High Dutchers,” as they were called, to distinguish them + from the original or Low Dutch colonists, were a very peculiar people. + They possessed all the gravity of the latter, without any of their phlegm; + and like them, the “High Dutchers” were industrious, honest, and + economical, Fritz, or Frederick Hartmann, was an epitome of all the vices + and virtues, foibles and excellences, of his race. He was passionate + though silent, obstinate, and a good deal suspicious of strangers; of + immovable courage, in flexible honesty, and undeviating in his + friendships. In deed there was no change about him, unless it were from + grave to gay. He was serious by months, and jolly by weeks. He had, early + in their acquaintance, formed an attachment for Marmaduke Temple, who was + the only man that could not speak High Dutch that ever gained his entire + confidence Four times in each year, at periods equidistant, he left his + low stone dwelling on the banks of the Mohawk, and travelled thirty miles, + through the hills, to the door of the mansion-house in Templeton. Here he + generally stayed a week; and was reputed to spend much of that time in + riotous living, greatly countenanced by Mr. Richard Jones. But every one + loved him, even to Remarkable Pettibone, to whom he occasioned some + additional trouble, he was so frank, so sincere, and, at times, so + mirthful. He was now on his regular Christmas visit, and had not been in + the village an hour when Richard summoned him to fill a seat in the sleigh + to meet the landlord and his daughter. + </p> + <p> + Before explaining the character and situation of Mr. Grant, it will be + necessary to recur to times far back in the brief history of the + settlement. + </p> + <p> + There seems to be a tendency in human nature to endeavor to provide for + the wants of this world, before our attention is turned to the business of + the other. Religion was a quality but little cultivated amid the stumps of + Temple's Patent for the first few years of its settlement; but, as most of + its inhabitants were from the moral States of Connecticut and + Massachusetts, when the wants of nature were satisfied they began + seriously to turn their attention to the introduction of those customs and + observances which had been the principal care of their fore fathers. There + was certainly a great variety of opinions on the subject of grace and + free-will among the tenantry of Marmaduke; and, when we take into + consideration the variety of the religious instruction which they + received, it can easily be seen that it could not well be otherwise. + </p> + <p> + Soon after the village had been formally laid out into the streets and + blocks that resembled a city, a meeting of its inhabitants had been + convened, to take into consideration the propriety of establishing an + academy. This measure originated with Richard, who, in truth, was much + disposed to have the institution designated a university, or at least a + college. Meeting after meeting was held, for this purpose, year after + year. The resolutions of these as sembiages appeared in the most + conspicuous columns of a little blue-looking newspaper, that was already + issued weekly from the garret of a dwelling-house in the village, and + which the traveller might as often see stuck into the fissure of a stake, + erected at the point where the footpath from the log-cabin of some settler + entered the highway, as a post-office for an individual. Sometimes the + stake supported a small box, and a whole neighborhood received a weekly + supply for their literary wants at this point, where the man who “rides + post” regularly deposited a bundle of the precious commodity. To these + flourishing resolutions, which briefly recounted the general utility of + education, the political and geographical rights of the village of + Templeton to a participation in the favors of the regents of the + university, the salubrity of the air, and wholesomeness of the water, + together with the cheapness of food and the superior state of morals in + the neighbor hood, were uniformly annexed, in large Roman capitals, the + names of Marmaduke Temple as chairman and Richard Jones as secretary. + </p> + <p> + Happily for the success of this undertaking, the regents were not + accustomed to resist these appeals to their generosity, whenever there was + the smallest prospect of a donation to second the request. Eventually + Judge Temple concluded to bestow the necessary land, and to erect the + required edifice at his own expense. The skill of Mr., or, as he was now + called, from the circumstance of having received the commission of a + justice of the peace, Squire Doolittle, was again put in requisition; and + the science of Mr. Jones was once more resorted to. + </p> + <p> + We shall not recount the different devices of the architects on the + occasion; nor would it be decorous so to do, seeing that there was a + convocation of the society of the ancient and honorable fraternity “of the + Free and Accepted Masons,” at the head of whom was Richard, in the + capacity of master, doubtless to approve or reject such of the plans as, + in their wisdom, they deemed to be for the best. The knotty point was, + however, soon decided; and, on the appointed day, the brotherhood marched + in great state, displaying sundry banners and mysterious symbols, each man + with a little mimic apron before him, from a most cunningly contrived + apartment in the garret of the “Bold Dragoon,” an inn kept by one Captain + Hollister, to the site of the intended edifice. Here Richard laid the + corner stone, with suitable gravity, amidst an assemblage of more than + half the men, and all the women, within ten miles of Templeton. + </p> + <p> + In the course of the succeeding week there was another meeting of the + people, not omitting swarms of the gentler sex, when the abilities of + Hiram at the “square rule” were put to the test of experiment. The frame + fitted well; and the skeleton of the fabric was reared without a single + accident, if we except a few falls from horses while the laborers were + returning home in the evening. From this time the work advanced with great + rapidity, and in the course of the season the Labor was completed; the + edifice Manding, in all its beauty and proportions, the boast of the + village, the study of young aspirants for architectural fame, and the + admiration of every settler on the Patent. + </p> + <p> + It was a long, narrow house of wood, painted white, and more than half + windows; and, when the observer stood at the western side of the building, + the edifice offered but a small obstacle to a full view of the rising sun. + It was, in truth, but a very comfortless open place, through which the + daylight shone with natural facility. On its front were divers ornaments + in wood, designed by Richard and executed by Hiram; but a window in the + centre of the second story, immediately over the door or grand entrance, + and the “steeple” were the pride of the building. The former was, we + believe, of the composite order; for it included in its composition a + multitude of ornaments and a great variety of proportions. It consisted of + an arched compartment in the centres with a square and small division on + either side, the whole incased in heavy frames, deeply and laboriously + moulded in pine-wood, and lighted with a vast number of blurred and + green-looking glass of those dimensions which are commonly called “eight + by ten.” Blinds, that were intended to be painted green, kept the window + in a state of preservation, and probably might have contributed to the + effect of the whole, had not the failure in the public funds, which seems + always to be incidental to any undertaking of this kind, left them in the + sombre coat of lead-color with which they had been originally clothed. The + “steeple” was a little cupola, reared on the very centre of the roof, on + four tall pillars of pine that were fluted with a gouge, and loaded with + mouldings. On the tops of the columns was reared a dome or cupola, + resembling in shape an inverted tea-cup without its bottom, from the + centre of which projected a spire, or shaft of wood, transfixed with two + iron rods, that bore on their ends the letters N. S. E. and W, in the same + metal. The whole was surmounted by an imitation of one of the finny tribe, + carved in wood by the hands of Richard, and painted what he called a + “scale-color.” This animal Mr. Jones affirmed to be an admirable + resemblance of a great favorite of the epicures in that country, which + bore the title of “lake-fish,” and doubtless the assertion was true; for, + although intended to answer the purposes of a weathercock, the fish was + observed invariably to look with a longing eye in the direction of the + beautiful sheet of water that lay imbedded in the mountains of Templeton. + </p> + <p> + For a short time after the charter of the regents was received, the + trustees of this institution employed a graduate of one of the Eastern + colleges to instruct such youth as aspired to knowledge within the walls + of the edifice which we have described. The upper part of the building was + in one apartment, and was intended for gala-days and exhibitions; and the + lower contained two rooms that were intended for the great divisions of + education, viz., the Latin and the English scholars. The former were never + very numerous; though the sounds of “nominative, pennaa—genitive, + penny,” were soon heard to issue from the windows of the room, to the + great delight and manifest edification of the passenger. + </p> + <p> + Only one laborer in this temple of Minerva, however, was known to get so + far as to attempt a translation of Virgil. He, indeed, appeared at the + annual exhibition, to the prodigious exultation of all his relatives, a + farmer's family in the vicinity, and repeated the whole of the first + eclogue from memory, observing the intonations of the dialogue with much + judgment and effect. The sounds, as they proceeded from his mouth, of + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Titty-ree too patty-lee ree-coo-bans sub teg-mi-nee faa-gy + Syl-ves-trem ten-oo-i moo-sam, med-i-taa-ris, aa-ve-ny.” + </pre> + <p> + were the last that had been heard in that building, as probably they were + the first that had ever been heard, in the same language, there or + anywhere else. By this time the trustees discovered that they had + anticipated the age and the instructor, or principal, was superseded by a + master, who went on to teach the more humble lesson of “the more haste the + worst speed,” in good plain English. + </p> + <p> + From this time until the date of our incidents, the academy was a common + country school, and the great room of the building was sometimes used as a + court-room, on extraordinary trials; sometimes for conferences of the + religious and the morally disposed, in the evening; at others for a ball + in the afternoon, given under the auspices of Richard; and on Sundays, + invariably, as a place of public worship. + </p> + <p> + When an itinerant priest of the persuasion of the Methodists, Baptists, + Universalists, or of the more numerous sect of the Presbyterians, was + accidentally in the neighborhood, he was ordinarily invited to officiate, + and was commonly rewarded for his services by a collection in a hat, + before the congregation separated. When no such regular minister offered, + a kind of colloquial prayer or two was made by some of the more gifted + members, and a sermon was usually read, from Sterne, by Mr. Richard Jones. + </p> + <p> + The consequence of this desultory kind of priesthood was, as we have + already intimated, a great diversity of opinion on the more abstruse + points of faith. Each sect had its adherents, though neither was regularly + organized and disciplined. Of the religious education of Marmaduke we have + already written, nor was the doubtful character of his faith completely + removed by his marriage. The mother of Elizabeth was an Episcopalian, as + indeed, was the mother of the Judge himself; and the good taste of + Marmaduke revolted at the familiar colloquies which the leaders of the + conferences held with the Deity, in their nightly meetings. In form, he + was certainly an Episcopalian, though not a sectary of that denomination. + On the other hand, Richard was as rigid in the observance of the canons of + his church as he was inflexible in his opinions. Indeed, he had once or + twice essayed to introduce the Episcopal form of service, on the Sundays + that the pulpit was vacant; but Richard was a good deal addicted to + carrying things to an excess, and then there was some thing so papal in + his air that the greater part of his hearers deserted him on the second + Sabbath—on the third his only auditor was Ben Pump, who had all the + obstinate and enlightened orthodoxy of a high churchman. + </p> + <p> + Before the war of the Revolution, the English Church was supported in the + colonies, with much interest, by some of its adherents in the mother + country, and a few of the congregations were very amply endowed. But, for + the season, after the independence of the States was established, this + sect of Christians languished for the want of the highest order of its + priesthood. Pious and suitable divines were at length selected, and sent + to the mother country, to receive that authority which, it is understood, + can only be transmitted directly from one to the other, and thus obtain, + in order to reserve, that unity in their churches which properly belonged + to a people of the same nation. But unexpected difficulties presented + themselves, in the oaths with which the policy of England had fettered + their establishment; and much time was spent before a conscientious sense + of duty would permit the prelates of Britain to delegate the authority so + earnestly sought. Time, patience, and zeal, however, removed every + impediment, and the venerable men who had been set apart by the American + churches at length returned to their expecting dioceses, endowed with the + most elevated functions of their earthly church. Priests and deacons were + ordained, and missionaries provided, to keep alive the expiring flame of + devotion in such members as were deprived of the ordinary administrations + by dwelling in new and unorganized districts. + </p> + <p> + Of this number was Mr. Grant. He had been sent into the county of which + Templeton was the capital, and had been kindly invited by Marmaduke, and + officiously pressed by Richard, to take up his abode in the village. A + small and humble dwelling was prepared for his family, and the divine had + made his appearance in the place but a few days previously to the time of + his introduction to the reader, As his forms were entirely new to most of + the inhabitants, and a clergyman of another denomination had previously + occupied the field, by engaging the academy, the first Sunday after his + arrival was allowed to pass in silence; but now that his rival had passed + on, like a meteor filling the air with the light of his wisdom, Richard + was empowered to give notice that “Public worship, after the forms of the + Protestant Episcopal Church, would be held on the night before Christmas, + in the long room of the academy in Templeton, by the Rev. Mr. Grant.” + </p> + <p> + This annunciation excited great commotion among the different sectaries. + Some wondered as to the nature of the exhibition; others sneered; but a + far greater part, recollecting the essays of Richard in that way, and + mindful of the liberality, or rather laxity, of Marmaduke's notions on the + subject of sectarianism, thought it most prudent to be silent. + </p> + <p> + The expected evening was, however, the wonder of the hour; nor was the + curiosity at all diminished when Richard and Benjamin, on the morning of + the eventful day, were seen to issue from the woods in the neighborhood of + the village, each bearing on his shoulders a large bunch of evergreens. + This worthy pair was observed to enter the academy, and carefully to + fasten the door, after which their proceedings remained a profound secret + to the rest of the village; Mr. Jones, before he commenced this mysterious + business, having informed the school-master, to the great delight of the + white-headed flock he governed, that there could be no school that day. + Marmaduke was apprised of all these preparations by letter, and it was + especially arranged that he and Elizabeth should arrive in season to + participate in the solemnities of the evening. + </p> + <p> + After this digression, we shall return to our narrative. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0009" id="link2HCH0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER IX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Now all admire, in each high-flavored dish + The capabilities of flesh—fowl—fish; + In order due each guest assumes his station, + Throbs high his breast with fond anticipation, + And prelibates the joys of mastication.” + —Heliogabaliad. +</pre> + <p> + The apartment to which Monsieur Le Quoi handed Elizabeth communicated with + the hall, through the door that led under the urn which was supposed to + contain the ashes of Dido. The room was spacious, and of very just + proportions; but in its ornaments and furniture the same diversity of + taste and imperfection of execution were to be observed as existed in the + hall. Of furniture, there were a dozen green, wooden arm-chairs, with + cushions of moreen, taken from the same piece as the petticoat of + Remarkable. The tables were spread, and their materials and workmanship + could not be seen; but they were heavy and of great size, An enormous + mirror, in a gilt frame, hung against the wall, and a cheerful fire, of + the hard or sugar maple, was burning on the hearth. The latter was the + first object that struck the attention of the Judge, who on beholding it + exclaimed, rather angrily, to Richard: + </p> + <p> + “How often have I forbidden the use of the sugar maple in my dwelling! The + sight of that sap, as it exudes with the heat, is painful to me, Richard, + Really, it behooves the owner of woods so extensive as mine, to be + cautious what example he sets his people, who are already felling the + forests as if no end could be found to their treasures, nor any limits to + their extent. If we go on in this way, twenty years hence we shall want + fuel.” + </p> + <p> + “Fuel in these hills, Cousin 'Duke!” exclaimed Richard, in derision—“fuel! + why, you might as well predict that the fish will die for the want of + water in the lake, because I intend, when the frost gets out of the + ground, to lead one or two of the spring; through logs, into the village. + But you are always a little wild on such subject; Marmaduke.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it wildness,” returned the Judge earnestly, “to condemn a practice + which devotes these jewels of the forest, these precious gifts of nature, + these mines of corn, forest and wealth, to the common uses of a fireplace? + But I must, and will, the instant the snow is off the earth, send out a + party into the mountains to explore for coal.” + </p> + <p> + “Coal!” echoed Richard. “Who the devil do you think will dig for coal + when, in hunting for a bushel he would have to rip up more of trees than + would keep him in fuel for a twelvemonth? Poh! poh! Marmaduke: you should + leave the management of these things to me, who have a natural turn that + way. It was I that ordered this fire, and a noble one it is, to warm the + blood of my pretty Cousin Bess.” + </p> + <p> + “The motive, then, must be your apology, Dick,” said the Judge.—“But, + gentlemen, we are waiting.—Elizabeth, my child, take the head of the + table; Richard, I see, means to spare me the trouble of carving, by + sitting opposite to you.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I do,” cried Richard. “Here is a turkey to carve; and I + flatter myself that I understand carving a turkey, or, for that matter, a + goose, as well as any man alive.—Mr. Grant! Where's Mr. Grant? Will + you please to say grace, sir? Everything in getting cold. Take a thing + from the fire this cold weather, and it will freeze in five minutes. Mr. + Grant, we want you to say grace. 'For what we are about to receive, the + Lord make, us thankful Come, sit down, sit down. Do you eat wing or + breast, Cousin Bess?” + </p> + <p> + But Elizabeth had not taken her seat, nor Was she in readiness to receive + either the wing or breast. Her Laughing eyes were glancing at the + arrangements of the table, and the quality and selection of the food. The + eyes of the father soon met the wondering looks of his daughter, and he + said, with a smile: + </p> + <p> + “You perceive, my child, how much we are indebted to Remarkable for her + skill in housewifery. She has indeed provided a noble repast—such as + well might stop the cravings of hunger.” + </p> + <p> + “Law!” said Remarkable, “I'm glad if the Judge is pleased; but I'm + notional that you'll find the sa'ce over done. I thought, as Elizabeth was + coming home, that a body could do no less than make things agreeable.” + </p> + <p> + “My daughter has now grown to woman's estate, and is from this moment + mistress of my house,” said the Judge; “it is proper that all who live + with me address her as Miss Temple. + </p> + <p> + “Do tell!” exclaimed Remarkable, a little aghast; “well, who ever heerd of + a young woman's being called Miss? If the Judge had a wife now, I + shouldn't think of calling her anything but Miss Temple; but—” + </p> + <p> + “Having nothing but a daughter you will observe that style to her, if you + please, in future,” interrupted Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + As the Judge looked seriously displeased, and, at such moments, carried a + particularly commanding air with him, the wary housekeeper made no reply; + and, Mr. Grant entering the room, the whole party were seated at the + table. As the arrangements of this repast were much in the prevailing + taste of that period and country, we shall endeavor to give a short + description of the appearance of the banquet. + </p> + <p> + The table-linen was of the most beautiful damask, and the plates and + dishes of real china, an article of great luxury at this early period of + American commerce. The knives and forks were of exquisitely polished + steel, and were set in unclouded ivory. So much, being furnished by the + wealth of Marmaduke, was not only comfortable but even elegant. The + contents of the several dishes, and their positions, however, were the + result of the sole judgment of Remarkable. Before Elizabeth was placed an + enormous roasted turkey, and before Richard one boiled, in the centre of + the table stood a pair of heavy silver casters, surrounded by four dishes: + one a fricassee that consisted of gray squirrels; another of fish fried; a + third of fish boiled; the last was a venison steak. Between these dishes + and the turkeys stood, on the one side, a prodigious chine of roasted + bear's meat, and on the other a boiled leg of delicious mutton. + Interspersed among this load of meats was every species of vegetables that + the season and country afforded. The four corners were garnished with + plates of cake. On one was piled certain curiously twisted and complicated + figures, called “nut-cakes,” On another were heaps of a black-looking substance, which, receiving its hue from molasses, was properly termed + “sweet-cake;” a wonderful favorite in the coterie of Remarkable, A third + was filled, to use the language of the housekeeper, with “cards of + gingerbread;” and the last held a “plum-cake,” so called from the number + of large raisins that were showing their black heads in a substance of + suspiciously similar color. At each corner of the table stood saucers, + filled with a thick fluid of some what equivocal color and consistence, + variegated with small dark lumps of a substance that resembled nothing but + itself, which Remarkable termed her “sweetmeats.” At the side of each + plate, which was placed bottom upward, with its knife and fork most + accurately crossed above it, stood another, of smaller size, containing a + motley-looking pie, composed of triangular slices of apple, mince, pump + kin, cranberry, and custard so arranged as to form an entire whole, + Decanters of brandy, rum, gin, and wine, with sundry pitchers of cider, + beer, and one hissing vessel of “flip,” were put wherever an opening would + admit of their introduction. Notwithstanding the size of the tables, there + was scarcely a spot where the rich damask could be seen, so crowded were + the dishes, with their associated bottles, plates, and saucers. The object + seemed to be profusion, and it was obtained entirely at the expense of + order and elegance. + </p> + <p> + All the guests, as well as the Judge himself, seemed perfectly familiar + with this description of fare, for each one commenced eating, with an + appetite that promised to do great honor to Remarkable's taste and skill. + What rendered this attention to the repast a little surprising, was the + fact that both the German and Richard had been summoned from another table + to meet the Judge; but Major Hartmann both ate and drank without any rule, + when on his excursions; and Mr. Jones invariably made it a point to + participate in the business in hand, let it be what it would. The host + seemed to think some apology necessary for the warmth he had betrayed on + the subject of the firewood, and when the party were comfortably seated, + and engaged with their knives and forks, he observed: + </p> + <p> + “The wastefulness of the settlers with the noble trees of this country is + shocking, Monsieur Le Quoi, as doubt less you have noticed. I have seen a + man fell a pine, when he has been in want of fencing stuff, and roll his + first cuts into the gap, where he left it to rot, though its top would + have made rails enough to answer his purpose, and its butt would have sold + in the Philadelphia market for twenty dollars.” + </p> + <p> + “And how the devil—I beg your pardon, Mr. Grant,” interrupted + Richard: “but how is the poor devil to get his logs to the Philadelphia + market, pray? put them in his pocket, ha! as you would a handful of + chestnuts, or a bunch of chicker-berries? I should like to see you walking + up High Street, with a pine log in each pocket!—Poh! poh! Cousin + 'Duke, there are trees enough for us all, and some to spare. Why, I can + hardly tell which way the wind blows, when I'm out in the clearings, they + are so thick and so tall; I couldn't at all, if it wasn't for the clouds, + and I happen to know all the points of the compass, as it were, by heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! ay! squire,” cried Benjamin, who had now entered and taken his place + behind the Judge's chair, a little aside withal, in order to be ready for + any observation like the present; “look aloft, sir, look aloft. The old + seamen say, 'that the devil wouldn't make a sailor, unless he looked + aloft' As for the compass, why, there is no such thing as steering without + one. I'm sure I never lose sight of the main-top, as I call the squire's + lookout on the roof, but I set my compass, d'ye see, and take the bearings + and distance of things, in order to work out my course, if so be that it + should cloud up, or the tops of the trees should shut out the light of + heaven. The steeple of St. Paul's, now that we have got it on end, is a + great help to the navigation of the woods, for, by the Lord Harry! as was—” + </p> + <p> + “It is well, Benjamin,” interrupted Marmaduke, observing that his daughter + manifested displeasure at the major-domo's familiarity; “but you forget + there is a lady in company, and the women love to do most of the talking + themselves.” + </p> + <p> + “The Judge says the true word,” cried Benjamin, with one of his discordant + laughs. “Now here is Mistress Remarkable Pettibones; just take the stopper + off her tongue, and you'll hear a gabbling worse like than if you should + happen to fall to leeward in crossing a French privateer, or some such + thing, mayhap, as a dozen monkeys stowed in one bag.” + </p> + <p> + It were impossible to say how perfect an illustration of the truth of + Benjamin's assertion the housekeeper would have furnished, if she had + dared; but the Judge looked sternly at her, and unwilling to incur his + resentment, yet unable to contain her anger, she threw herself out of the + room with a toss of the body that nearly separated her frail form in the + centre. + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” said Marmaduke, observing that his displeasure had produced the + desired effect, “can you inform me of anything concerning the youth whom I + so unfortunately wounded? I found him on the mountain hunting in company + with the Leather-Stocking, as if they were of the same family; but there + is a manifest difference in their manners. The youth delivers himself in + chosen language, such as is seldom heard in these hills, and such as + occasions great surprise to me, how one so meanly clad, and following so + lowly a pursuit, could attain. Mohegan also knew him. Doubtless he is a + tenant of Natty's hut. Did you remark the language of the lad. Monsieur Le + Quoi?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainement, Monsieur Temple,” returned the French man, “he deed + convairse in de excellent Anglaise.” + </p> + <p> + “The boy is no miracle,” exclaimed Richard; “I've known children that were + sent to school early, talk much better before they were twelve years old. + There was Zared Coe, old Nehemiah's son, who first settled on the + beaver-dam meadow, he could write almost as good hand as myself, when he + was fourteen; though it's true, I helped to teach him a little in the + evenings. But this shooting gentleman ought to be put in the stocks, if he + ever takes a rein in his hand again. He is the most awkward fellow about a + horse I ever met with. I dare say he never drove anything but oxen in his + life.” + </p> + <p> + “There, I think, Dickon, you do the lad injustice,” said the Judge; “he + uses much discretion in critical moments. Dost thou not think so, Bess?” + </p> + <p> + There was nothing in this question particularly to excite blushes, but + Elizabeth started from the revery into which she had fallen, and colored + to her forehead as she answered: + </p> + <p> + “To me, dear sir, he appeared extremely skilful, and prompt, and + courageous; but perhaps Cousin Richard will say I am as ignorant as the + gentleman himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Gentleman!” echoed Richard; “do you call such chaps gentlemen, at school, + Elizabeth?” + </p> + <p> + “Every man is a gentleman that knows how to treat a woman with respect and + consideration,” returned the young lady promptly, and a little smartly. + </p> + <p> + “So much for hesitating to appear before the heiress in his + shirt-sleeves,” cried Richard, winking at Monsieur Le Quoi, who returned + the wink with one eye, while he rolled the other, with an expression of + sympathy, toward the young lady. “Well, well, to me he seemed anything but + a gentleman. I must say, however, for the lad, that he draws a good + trigger, and has a true aim. He's good at shooting a buck, ha! Marmaduke?” + </p> + <p> + “Richart,” said Major Hartmann, turning his grave countenance toward the + gentleman he addressed, with much earnestness, “ter poy is goot. He savet + your life, and my life, and ter life of i'ominie Grant, and ter life of + ter Frenchman; and, Richard, he shall never vant a pet to sleep in vile + olt Fritz Hartmann has a shingle to cover his het mit.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, as you please, old gentleman,” returned Mr. Jones, + endeavoring to look indifferent; “put him into your own stone house, if + you will, Major. I dare say the lad never slept in anything better than a + bark shanty in his life, unless it was some such hut as the cabin of + Leather-Stocking. I prophesy you will soon spoil him; any one could see + how proud he grew, in a short time, just because he stood by my horses' + heads while I turned them into the highway.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, my old friend,” cried Marmaduke, “it shall be my task to provide + in some manner for the youth; I owe him a debt of my own, besides the + service he has done me through my friends. And yet I anticipate some + little trouble in inducing him to accept of my services. He showed a + marked dislike, I thought, Bess, to my offer of a residence within these + walls for life.” + </p> + <p> + “Really, dear sir,” said Elizabeth, projecting her beautiful under-lip, “I + have not studied the gentleman so closely as to read his feelings in his + countenance. I thought he might very naturally feel pain from his wound, + and therefore pitied him; but”—and as she spoke she glanced her eye, + with suppressed curiosity, toward the major-domo—“I dare say, sir, + that Benjamin can tell you something about him, he cannot have been in the + village, and Benjamin not have seen him often.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! I have seen the boy before,” said Benjamin, who wanted little + encouragement to speak; “he has been backing and filling in the wake of + Natty Bumppo, through the mountains, after deer, like a Dutch long-boat in + tow of an Albany sloop. He carries a good rifle, too, 'the + Leather-Stocking said, in my hearing, before Betty Hollister's bar-room + fire, no later than the Tuesday night, that the younger was certain death + to the wild beasts. If so be he can kill the wild-cat that has been heard + moaning on the lake-side since the hard frosts and deep snows have driven + the deer to herd, he will be doing the thing that is good. Your wild-cat + is a bad shipmate, and should be made to cruise out of the track of + Christian men.” + </p> + <p> + “Lives he in the hut of Bumppo?” asked Marmaduke, with some interest. + </p> + <p> + “Cheek by jowl; the Wednesday will be three weeks since he first hove in + sight, in company with Leather-Stocking. They had captured a wolf between + them, and had brought in his scalp for the bounty. That Mister Bump-ho has + a handy turn with him in taking off a scalp; and there's them, in this + here village, who say he l'arnt the trade by working on Christian men. If + so be that there is truth in the saying, and I commanded along shore here, + as your honor does, why, d'ye see, I'd bring him to the gangway for it, + yet. There's a very pretty post rigged alongside of the stocks; and for + the matter of a cat, I can fit one with my own hands; ay! and use it too, + for the want of a better.” + </p> + <p> + “You are not to credit the idle tales you hear of Natty; he has a kind of + natural right to gain a livelihood in these mountains; and if the idlers + in the village take it into their heads to annoy him, as they sometimes do + reputed rogues, they shall find him protected by the strong arm of the + law.” + </p> + <p> + “Ter rifle is petter as ter law,” said the Major sententiously. + </p> + <p> + “That for his rifle!” exclaimed Richard, snapping his fingers; “Ben is + right, and I—” He was stopped by the sound of a common ship-bell, + that had been elevated to the belfry of the academy, which now announced, + by its incessant ringing, that the hour for the appointed service had + arrived. “'For this and every other instance of his goodness—' I beg + pardon, Mr. Grant, will you please to return thanks, sir? It is time we + should be moving, as we are the only Episcopalians in the neighborhood; + that is, I and Benjamin, and Elizabeth; for I count half—breeds, + like Marmaduke as bad as heretics.” + </p> + <p> + The divine arose and performed the office meekly and fervently, and the + whole party instantly prepared themselves for the church—or rather + academy. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0010" id="link2HCH0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER X. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And calling sinful man to pray, + Loud, long, and deep the bell had tolled.” + —Scotts Burgher +</pre> + <p> + While Richard and Monsieur Le Quoi, attended by Benjamin, proceeded to the + academy by a foot-path through the snow, the judge, his daughter, the + divine, and the Major took a more circuitous route to the same place by + the streets of the village. + </p> + <p> + The moon had risen, and its orb was shedding a flood of light over the + dark outline of pines which crowned the eastern mountain. In many climates + the sky would have been thought clear and lucid for a noontide. The stars + twinkled in the heavens, like the last glimmerings of distant fire, so + much were they obscured by the overwhelming radiance of the atmosphere; + the rays from the moon striking upon the smooth, white surfaces of the + lake and fields, reflecting upward a light that was brightened by the + spotless color of the immense bodies of snow which covered the earth. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth employed herself with reading the signs, one of which appeared + over almost every door; while the sleigh moved steadily, and at an easy + gait, along the principal street. Not only new occupations, but names that + were strangers to her ears, met her gaze at every step they proceeded. The + very houses seemed changed. This had been altered by an addition; that had + been painted; another had been erected on the site of an old acquaintance, + which had been banished from the earth almost as soon as it made its + appearance on it. All were, however, pouring forth their inmates, who + uniformly held their way toward the point where the expected exhibition of + the conjoint taste of Richard and Benjamin was to be made. + </p> + <p> + After viewing the buildings, which really appeared to some advantage under + the bright but mellow light of the moon, our heroine turned her eyes to a + scrutiny of the different figures they passed, in search of any form that + she knew. But all seemed alike, as muffled in cloaks, hoods, coats, or + tippets, they glided along the narrow passages in the snow which led under + the houses, half hid by the bank that had been thrown up in excavating the + deep path in which they trod. Once or twice she thought there was a + stature or a gait that she recollected; but the person who owned it + instantly disappeared behind one of those enormous piles of wood that lay + before most of the doors, It was only as they turned from the main street + into another that intersected it at right angles, and which led directly + to the place of meeting, that she recognized a face and building that she + knew. + </p> + <p> + The house stood at one of the principal corners in the village; and by its + well-trodden doorway, as well as the sign that was swinging with a kind of + doleful sound in the blasts that occasionally swept down the lake, was + clearly one of the most frequented inns in the place. The building was + only of one story; but the dormer-windows in the roof, the paint, the + window-shutters, and the cheerful fire that shone through the open door, + gave it an air of comfort that was not possessed by many of its neighbors. + The sign was suspended from a common ale-house post, and represented the + figure of a horseman, armed with sabre and pistols, and surmounted by a + bear-skin cap, with a fiery animal that he bestrode “rampant.” All these + particulars were easily to be seen by the aid of the moon, together with a + row of somewhat illegible writing in black paint, but in which Elizabeth, + to whom the whole was familiar, read with facility, “The Bold Dragoon.” + </p> + <p> + A man and a woman were issuing from the door of this habitation as the + sleigh was passing, The former moved with a stiff, military step, that was + a good deal heightened by a limp in one leg; but the woman advanced with a + measure and an air that seemed not particularly regardful of what she + might encounter. The light of the moon fell directly upon her full, broad, + and red visage, exhibiting her masculine countenance, under the mockery of + a ruffled cap that was intended to soften the lineamints of features that + were by no means squeamish. A small bonnet of black silk, and of a + slightly formal cut, was placed on the back of her head, but so as not to + shade her visage in the least. The face, as it encountered the rays of the + moon from the east, seemed not unlike sun rising in the west. She advanced + with masculine strides to intercept the sleigh; and the Judge, directing + the namesake of the Grecian king, who held the lines, to check his horse, + the parties were soon near to each other. + </p> + <p> + “Good luck to ye, and a welcome home, Jooge,” cried the female, with a + strong Irish accent; “and I'm sure it's to me that ye're always welcome. + Sure! and there's Miss Lizzy, and a fine young woman she is grown. What a + heart-ache would she be giving the young men now, if there was sich a + thing as a rigiment in the town! Och! but it's idle to talk of sich + vanities, while the bell is calling us to mateing jist as we shall be + called away unexpictedly some day, when we are the laist calkilating. + Good-even, Major; will I make the bowl of gin toddy the night, or it's + likely ye'll stay at the big house the Christmas eve, and the very night + of yer getting there?” + </p> + <p> + “I am glad to see you, Mrs. Hollister,” returned Elizabeth. “I have been + trying to find a face that I knew since we left the door of the + mansion-house; but none have I seen except your own. Your house, too, is + unaltered, while all the others are so changed that, but for the places + where they stand, they would be utter strangers. I observe you also keep + the dear sign that I saw Cousin Richard paint; and even the name at the + bottom, about which, you may remember, you had the disagreement.” + </p> + <p> + “It is the bould dragoon, ye mane? And what name would he have, who niver + was known by any other, as my husband here, the captain, can testify? He + was a pleasure to wait upon, and was ever the foremost in need. Och! but + he had a sudden end! but it's to be hoped that he was justified by the + cause, And it's not Parson Grant there who'll gainsay that same. Yes, yes; + the squire would paint, and so I thought that we might have his face up + there, who had so often shared good and evil wid us. The eyes is no so + large nor so fiery as the captain's Own; but the whiskers and the cap is + as two paes. Well, well, I'll not keep ye in the cowld, talking, but will + drop in the morrow after sarvice, and ask ye how ye do. It's our bounden + duty to make the most of this present, and to go to the house which is + open to all; so God bless ye, and keep ye from evil! Will I make the + gin-twist the night, or no, Major?” + </p> + <p> + To this question the German replied, very sententiously, in the + affirmative; and, after a few words had passed between the husband of the + fiery-faced hostess and the Judge, the sleigh moved on. It soon reached + the door of the academy, where the party alighted and entered the + building. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Mr. Jones and his two companions, having a much shorter + distance to journey, had arrived before the appointed place some minutes + sooner than the party in the sleigh. Instead of hastening into the room in + order to enjoy the astonishment of the settlers, Richard placed a hand in + either pocket of his surcoat, and affected to walk about, in front of the + academy, like one to whom the ceremonies were familiar. + </p> + <p> + The villagers proceeded uniformly into the building, with a decorum and + gravity that nothing could move, on such occasions; but with a haste that + was probably a little heightened by curiosity. Those who came in from the + adjacent country spent some little time in placing certain blue and white + blankets over their horses before they proceeded to indulge their desire + to view the interior of the house. Most of these men Richard approached, + and inquired after the health and condition of their families. The + readiness with which he mentioned the names of even the children, showed + how very familiarly acquainted he was with their circumstances; and the + nature of the answers he received proved that he was a general favorite. + </p> + <p> + At length one of the pedestrians from the village stopped also, and fixed + an earnest gaze at a new brick edifice that was throwing a long shadow + across the fields of snow, as it rose, with a beautiful gradation of light + and shade, under the rays of a full moon. In front of the academy was a + vacant piece of ground, that was intended for a public square. On the side + opposite to Mr. Jones, the new and as yet unfinished church of St. Paul's + was erected, This edifice had been reared during the preceding summer, by + the aid of what was called a subscription; though all, or nearly all, of + the money came from the pockets of the landlord. It had been built under a + strong conviction of the necessity of a more seemly place of worship than + “the long room of the academy,” and under an implied agreement that, after + its completion, the question should be fairly put to the people, that they + might decide to what denomination it should belong. Of course, this + expectation kept alive a strong excitement in some few of the sectaries + who were interested in its decision; though but little was said openly on + the subject. Had Judge Temple espoused the cause of any particular sect, + the question would have been immediately put at rest, for his influence + was too powerful to be opposed; but he declined interference in the + matter, positively refusing to lend even the weight of his name on the + side of Richard, who had secretly given an assurance to his diocesan that + both the building and the congregation would cheerfully come within the + pale of the Protestant Episcopal Church. But, when the neutrality of the + Judge was clearly ascertained, Mr. Jones discovered that he had to contend + with a stiff necked people. His first measure was to go among them and + commence a course of reasoning, in order to bring them round to his own + way of thinking. They all heard him patiently, and not a man uttered a + word in reply in the way of argument, and Richard thought, by the time + that he had gone through the settlement, the point was conclusively + decided in his favor. Willing to strike while the iron was hot, he called + a meeting, through the newspaper, with a view to decide the question by a + vote at once. Not a soul attended; and one of the most anxious afternoons + that he had ever known was spent by Richard in a vain discussion with Mrs. + Hollister, who strongly contended that the Methodist (her own) church was + the best entitled to and most deserving of, the possession of the new + tabernacle. Richard now perceived that he had been too sanguine, and had + fallen into the error of all those who ignorantly deal with that wary and + sagacious people. He assumed a disguise himself—that is, as well as + he knew how, and proceeded step by step to advance his purpose. + </p> + <p> + The task of erecting the building had been unanimously transferred to Mr. + Jones and Hiram Doolittle. Together they had built the mansion-house, the + academy, and the jail, and they alone knew how to plan and rear such a + structure as was now required. Early in the day, these architects had made + an equitable division of their duties. To the former was assigned the duty + of making all the plans, and to the latter the labor of superintending the + execution. + </p> + <p> + Availing himself of this advantage, Richard silently determined that the + windows should have the Roman arch; the first positive step in effecting + his wishes. As the building was made of bricks, he was enabled to conceal + his design until the moment arrived for placing the frames; then, indeed, + it became necessary to act. He communicated his wishes to Hiram with great + caution; and, without in the least adverting to the spiritual part of his + project, he pressed the point a little warmly on the score of + architectural beauty. Hiram heard him patiently, and without + contradiction, but still Richard was unable to discover the views of his + coadjutor on this interesting subject. As the right to plan was duly + delegated to Mr. Jones, no direct objection was made in words. but + numberless unexpected difficulties arose in the execution. At first there + was a scarcity in the right kind of material necessary to form the frames; + but this objection was instantly silenced by Richard running his pencil + through two feet of their length at one stroke. Then the expense was + mentioned; but Richard reminded Hiram that his cousin paid, and that he + was treasurer. This last intimation had great weight, and after a silent + and protracted, but fruitless opposition, the work was suffered to proceed + on the original plan. + </p> + <p> + The next difficulty occurred in the steeple, which Richard had modelled + after one of the smaller of those spires that adorn the great London + cathedral. The imitation was somewhat lame, it was true, the proportions + being but in differently observed; but, after much difficulty, Mr. Jones + had the satisfaction of seeing an object reared that bore in its outlines, + a striking resemblance to a vinegar-cruet. There was less opposition to + this model than to the windows; for the settlers were fond of novelty, and + their steeple was without a precedent. + </p> + <p> + Here the labor ceased for the season, and the difficult question of the + interior remained for further deliberation. Richard well knew that, when + he came to propose a reading-desk and a chancel, he must unmask; for these + were arrangements known to no church in the country but his own. + Presuming, however, on the advantages he had already obtained, he boldly + styled the building St. Paul's, and Hiram prudently acquiesced in this + appellation, making, however, the slight addition of calling it “New St. + Paul's,” feeling less aversion to a name taken from the English cathedral + than from the saint. + </p> + <p> + The pedestrian whom we have already mentioned, as pausing to contemplate + this edifice, was no other than the gentleman so frequently named as Mr. + or Squire Doolittle. He was of a tall, gaunt formation, with rather sharp + features, and a face that expressed formal propriety mingled with low + cunning. Richard approached him, followed by Monsieur Le Quoi and the + major-domo. + </p> + <p> + “Good-evening, squire,” said Richard, bobbing his head, but without moving + his hands from his pockets. + </p> + <p> + “Good-evening, squire,” echoed Hiram, turning his body in order to turn + his head also. + </p> + <p> + “A cold night, Mr. Doolittle, a cold night, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “Coolish; a tedious spell on't.” + </p> + <p> + “What, looking at our church, ha! It looks well, by moonlight; how the tin + of the cupola glistens! I warrant you the dome of the other St. Paul's + never shines so in the smoke of London.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a pretty meeting-house to look on,” returned Hiram, “and I believe + that Monshure Ler Quow and Mr. Penguilliam will allow it.” + </p> + <p> + “Sairtainlee!” exclaimed the complaisant Frenchman, “it ees ver fine.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought the monshure would say so. The last molasses that we had was + excellent good. It isn't likely that you have any more of it on hand?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! oui; ees, sair,” returned Monsieur Le Quoi, with a slight shrug of + his shoulder, and a trifling grimace, “dere is more. I feel ver happi dat + you love eet. I hope dat Madame Doleet' is in good 'ealth.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, so as to be stirring,” said Hiram. “The squire hasn't finished the + plans for the inside of the meeting house yet?” + </p> + <p> + “No—no—no,” returned Richard, speaking quickly, but making a + significant pause between each negative—.. “it requires reflection. + There is a great deal of room to fill up, and I am afraid we shall not + know how to dispose of it to advantage. There will be a large vacant spot + around the pulpit, which I do not mean to place against the wall, like a + sentry-box stuck up on the side of a fort.” + </p> + <p> + “It is ruleable to put the deacons' box under the pulpit,” said Hiram; and + then, as if he had ventured too much, he added, “but there's different + fashions in different Countries.” + </p> + <p> + “That there is,” cried Benjamin; “now, in running down the coast of Spain + and Portingall, you may see a nunnery stuck out on every headland, with + more steeples and outriggers such as dog-vanes and weathercocks, than + you'll find aboard of a three-masted schooner. If so be that a well-built + church is wanting, old England, after all, is the country to go to after + your models and fashion pieces. As to Paul's, thof I've never seen it, + being that it's a long way up town from Radcliffe Highway and the docks, + yet everybody knows that it's the grandest place in the world Now, I've no + opinion but this here church over there is as like one end of it as a + grampus is to a whale; and that's only a small difference in bulk. + Mounsheer Ler Quaw, here, has been in foreign parts; and thof that is not + the same as having been at home, yet he must have seen churches in France + too, and can form a small idee of what a church should be; now I ask the + mounsheer to his face if it is not a clever little thing, taking it by and + large.” + </p> + <p> + “It ees ver apropos of saircumstance,” said the Frenchman—“ver + judgment—but it is in the catholique country dat dey build de—vat + you call—ah a ah-ha—la grande cathédrale—de big church. + St. Paul, Londre, is ver fine; ver belle; ver grand—vat you call + beeg; but, Monsieur Ben, pardonnez-moi, it is no vort so much as Notre + Dame.” + </p> + <p> + “Ha! mounsheer, what is that you say?” cried Benjamin; “St. Paul's church + is not worth so much as a damn! Mayhap you may be thinking too that the + Royal Billy isn't so good a ship as the Billy de Paris; but she would have + licked two of her any day, and in all weathers.” + </p> + <p> + As Benjamin had assumed a very threatening kind of attitude, flourishing + an arm with a bunch at the end of it that was half as big as Monsieur Le + Quoi's head, Richard thought it time to interpose his authority. + </p> + <p> + “Hush, Benjamin, hush,” he said; “you both misunderstand Monsieur Le Quoi + and forget yourself. But here comes Mr. Grant, and the service will + commence. Let us go in.” + </p> + <p> + The Frenchman, who received Benjamin's reply with a well-bred good-humor + that would not admit of any feeling but pity for the other's ignorance, + bowed in acquiescence and followed his companion. + </p> + <p> + Hiram and the major-domo brought up the rear, the latter grumbling as he + entered the building: + </p> + <p> + “If so be that the king of France had so much as a house to live in that + would lay alongside of Paul's, one might put up with their jaw. It's more + than flesh and blood can bear to hear a Frenchman run down an English + church in this manner. Why, Squire Doolittle, I've been at the whipping of + two of them in one day—clean built, snug frigates with standing + royals and them new-fashioned cannonades on their quarters—such as, + if they had only Englishmen aboard of them, would have fout the devil.” + </p> + <p> + With this ominous word in his mouth Benjamin entered the church. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0011" id="link2HCH0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And fools who came to scoff, remained to pray.” + —Goldsmith. +</pre> + <p> + Notwithstanding the united labors of Richard and Benjamin, the “long room” + was but an extremely inartificial temple. Benches; made in the coarsest + manner, and entirely with a view to usefulness, were arranged in rows for + the reception of the Congregation; while a rough, unpainted box was placed + against the wall, in the centre of the length of the apartment, as an + apology for a pulpit. Something like a reading-desk was in front of this + rostrum; and a small mahogany table from the mansion-house, covered with a + spotless damask cloth, stood a little on one side, by the way of an altar. + Branches of pines and hemlocks were stuck in each of the fissures that + offered in the unseasoned and hastily completed woodwork of both the + building and its furniture; while festoons and hieroglyphics met the eye + in vast profusion along the brown sides of the scratch-coated walls. As + the room was only lighted by some ten or fifteen miserable candles, and + the windows were without shutters, it would have been but a dreary, + cheerless place for the solemnities of a Christmas eve, had not the large + fire that was crackling at each end of the apartment given an air of + cheerfulness to the scene, by throwing an occasional glare of light + through the vistas of bushes and faces. + </p> + <p> + The two sexes were separated by an area in the centre of the room + immediately before the pulpit; amid a few benches lined this space, that + were occupied by the principal personages of the village and its vicinity. + This distinction was rather a gratuitous concession made by the poorer and + less polished part of the population than a right claimed by the favored + few. One bench was occupied by the party of Judge Temple, including his + daughter, and, with the exception of Dr. Todd, no one else appeared + willing to incur the imputation of pride, by taking a seat in what was, + literally, the high place of the tabernacle. + </p> + <p> + Richard filled the chair that was placed behind another table, in the + capacity of clerk; while Benjamin, after heaping sundry logs on the fire, + posted himself nigh by, in reserve for any movement that might require + co-operation. + </p> + <p> + It would greatly exceed our limits to attempt a description of the + congregation, for the dresses were as various as the individuals. Some one + article of more than usual finery, and perhaps the relic of other days, + was to be seen about most of the females, in connection with the coarse + attire of the woods. This wore a faded silk, that had gone through at + least three generations, over coarse, woollen black stockings; that, a + shawl, whose dyes were as numerous as those of the rainbow, over an + awkwardly fitting gown of rough brown “woman's wear.” In short, each one + exhibited some favorite article, and all appeared in their best, both men + and women; while the ground-works in dress, in either sex, were the coarse + fabrics manufactured within their own dwellings. One man appeared in the + dress of a volunteer company of artillery, of which he had been a member + in the “down countries,” precisely for no other reason than because it was + the best suit he had. Several, particularly of the younger men, displayed + pantaloons of blue, edged with red cloth down the seams part of the + equipments of the “Templeton Light Infantry,” from a little vanity to be + seen in “boughten clothes.” There was also one man in a “rifle frock,” + with its fringes and folds of spotless white, striking a chill to the + heart with the idea of its coolness, although the thick coat of brown + “home-made” that was concealed beneath preserved a proper degree of + warmth. + </p> + <p> + There was a marked uniformity of expression in Countenance, especially in + that half of the congregation who did not enjoy the advantages of the + polish of the village. A sallow skin, that indicated nothing but exposure, + was common to all, as was an air of great decency and attention, mingled, + generally, with an expression of shrewdness, and in the present instance + of active curiosity. Now and then a face and dress were to be seen among + the congregation, that differed entirely from this description. If + pock-marked and florid, with gartered legs, and a coat that snugly fitted + the person of the wearer, it was surely an English emigrant, who had bent + his steps to this retired quarter of the globe. If hard-featured and + without color, with high cheek-bones, it was a native of Scotland, in + similar circumstances. + </p> + <p> + The short, black-eyed man, with a cast of the swarthy Spaniard in his + face, who rose repeatedly to make room for the belles of the village as + they entered, was a son of Erin, who had lately left off his pack, and + become a stationary trader in Templeton. In short, half the nations in the + north of Europe had their representatives in this assembly, though all had + closely assimilated themselves to the Americans in dress and appearance, + except the English man. He, indeed, not only adhered to his native customs + in attire and living, but usually drove his plough among the stumps in the + same manner as he had before done on the plains of Norfolk, until + dear-bought experience taught him the useful lesson that a sagacious + people knew what was suited to their circumstances better than a casual + observer, or a sojourner who was, perhaps, too much prejudiced to compare + and, peradventure, too conceited to learn. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth soon discovered that she divided the attention of the + congregation with Mr. Grant. Timidity, therefore, confined her observation + of the appearances which we have described to stoles glances; but, as the + stamping of feet was now becoming less frequent, and even the coughing, + and other little preliminaries of a congregation settling themselves down + into reverential attention, were ceasing, she felt emboldened to look + around her. Gradually all noises diminished, until the suppressed cough + denoted that it was necessary to avoid singularity, and the most profound + stillness pervaded the apartment. The snapping of the fires, as they threw + a powerful heat into the room, was alone heard, and each face and every + eye were turned on the divine. + </p> + <p> + At this moment, a heavy stamping of feet was heard in the passage below, + as if a new-comer was releasing his limbs from the snow that was + necessarily clinging to the legs of a pedestrian. It was succeeded by no + audible tread; but directly Mohegan, followed by the Leather-Stocking and + the young hunter, made his appearance. + </p> + <p> + Their footsteps would not have been heard, as they trod the apartment in + their moccasins, but for the silence which prevailed. + </p> + <p> + The Indian moved with great gravity across the floor, and, observing a + vacant seat next to the Judge, he took it, in a manner that manifested his + sense of his own dignity. Here, drawing his blanket closely around him so + as partly to conceal his countenance, he remained during the service + immovable, but deeply attentive. Natty passed the place that was so freely + taken by his red companion, and seated himself on one end of a log that + was lying near the fire, where he continued, with his rifle standing + between his legs, absorbed in reflections seemingly of no very pleasing + nature. The youth found a seat among the congregation, and another silence + prevailed. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Grant now arose and commenced his service with the sublime declaration + of the Hebrew prophet: “The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth + keep silence before Him.” The example of Mr. Jones was unnecessary to + teach the congregation to rise; the solemnity of the divine effected this + as by magic. After a short pause, Mr. Grant proceeded with the solemn and + winning exhortation of his service. Nothing was heard but the deep though + affectionate tones of the reader, as he went slowly through this exordium; + until, something unfortunately striking the mind of Richard as incomplete, + he left his place and walked on tiptoe from the room. + </p> + <p> + When the clergyman bent his knees in prayer and confession, the + congregation so far imitated his example as to resume their seats; whence + no succeeding effort of the divine, during the evening, was able to remove + them in a body. Some rose at times; but by far the larger part continued + unbending; observant, it is true, but it was the kind of observation that + regarded the ceremony as a spectacle rather than a worship in which they + were to participate. Thus deserted by his clerk Mr. Grant continued to + read; but no response was audible. The short and solemn pause that + succeeded each petition was made; still no voice repeated the eloquent + language of the prayer. + </p> + <p> + The lips of Elizabeth moved, but they moved in vain and accustomed as she + was to the service of the churches of the metropolis, she was beginning to + feel the awkwardness of the circumstance most painfully when a soft, low + female voice repeated after the priest, “We have left undone those things + which we ought to have done.” Startled at finding one of her own sex in + that place who could rise superior to natural timidity, Miss Temple turned + her eyes in the direction of the penitent. She observed a young female on + her knees, but a short distance from her, with her meek face humbly bent + over her book. + </p> + <p> + The appearance of this stranger, for such she was, entirely, to Elizabeth, + was light and fragile. Her dress was neat and becoming; and her + countenance, though pale and slightly agitated, excited deep interest by + its sweet and melancholy expression. A second and third response was made + by this juvenile assistant, when the manly sounds of a male voice + proceeded from the opposite part of the room, Miss Temple knew the tones + of the young hunter instantly, and struggling to overcome her own + diffidence she added her low voice to the number. + </p> + <p> + All this time Benjamin stood thumbing the leaves of a prayer-book with + great industry; but some unexpected difficulties prevented his finding the + place. Before the divine reached the close of the confession, however, + Richard reappeared at the door, and, as he moved lightly across the room, + he took up the response, in a voice that betrayed no other concern than + that of not being heard. In his hand he carried a small open box, with the + figures “8 by 10” written in black paint on one of its sides; which, + having placed in the pulpit, apparently as a footstool for the divine, he + returned to his station in time to say, sonorously, “Amen.” The eyes of + the congregation, very naturally, were turned to the windows, as Mr. Jones + entered with his singular load; and then, as if accustomed to his “general + agency,” were again bent on the priest, in close and curious attention. + </p> + <p> + The long experience of Mr. Grant admirably qualified him to perform his + present duty. He well understood the character of his listeners, who were + mostly a primitive people in their habits; and who, being a good deal + addicted to subtleties and nice distinctions in their religious opinions, + viewed the introduction of any such temporal assistance as form into their + spiritual worship not only with jealousy, but frequently with disgust. He + had acquired much of his knowledge from studying the great book of human + nature as it lay open in the world; and, knowing how dangerous it was to + contend with ignorance, uniformly endeavored to avoid dictating where his + better reason taught him it was the most prudent to attempt to lead, His + orthodoxy had no dependence on his cassock; he could pray with fervor and + with faith, if circumstances required it, without the assistance of his + clerk; and he had even been known to preach a most evangelical sermon, in + the winning manner of native eloquence, without the aid of a cambric + handkerchief. + </p> + <p> + In the present instance he yielded, in many places, to the prejudices of + his congregation; and when he had ended, there was not one of his new + hearers who did not think the ceremonies less papal and offensive, and + more conformant to his or her own notions of devout worship, than they had + been led to expect from a service of forms, Richard found in the divine, + during the evening, a most powerful co-operator in his religious schemes. + In preaching, Mr. Grant endeavored to steer a middle course between the + mystical doctrines of those sublimated creeds which daily involve their + professors in the most absurd contradictions, and those fluent roles of + moral government which would reduce the Saviour to a level with the + teacher of a school of ethics. Doctrine it was necessary to preach, for + nothing less would have satisfied the disputatious people who were his + listeners, and who would have interpreted silence on his part into a tacit + acknowledgment of the superficial nature of his creed. We have already + said that, among the endless variety of religious instructors, the + settlers were accustomed to hear every denomination urge its own + distinctive precepts, and to have found one indifferent to this + Interesting subject would have been destructive to his influence. But Mr. + Grant so happily blended the universally received opinions of the + Christian faith with the dogmas of his own church that, although none were + entirely exempt from the influence of his reasons, very few took any alarm + at the innovation. + </p> + <p> + “When we consider the great diversity of the human character, influenced + as it is by education, by opportunity, and by the physical and moral + conditions of the creature, my dear hearers,” he earnestly concluded “it + can excite no surprise that creeds so very different in their tendencies + should grow out of a religion revealed, it is true, but whose revelations + are obscured by the lapse of ages, and whose doctrines were, after the + fashion of the countries in which they were first promulgated, frequently + delivered in parables, and in a language abounding in metaphors and loaded + with figures. On points where the learned have, in purity of heart, been + compelled to differ, the unlettered will necessarily be at variance. But, + happily for us, my brethren, the fountain of divine love flows from a + source too pure to admit of pollution in its course; it extends, to those + who drink of its vivifying waters, the peace of the righteous, and life + everlasting; it endures through all time, and it pervades creation. If + there be mystery in its workings, it is the mystery of a Divinity. With a + clear knowledge of the nature, the might, and the majesty of God, there + might be conviction, but there could be no faith. If we are required to + believe in doctrines that seem not in conformity with the deductions of + human wisdom, let us never forget that such is the mandate of a wisdom + that is infinite. It is sufficient for us that enough is developed to + point our path aright, and to direct our wandering steps to that portal + which shall open on the light of an eternal day. Then, indeed, it may be + humbly hoped that the film which has been spread by the subtleties of + earthly arguments will be dissipated by the spiritual light of Heaven; and + that our hour of probation, by the aid of divine grace, being once passed + in triumph, will be followed by an eternity of intelligence and endless + ages of fruition. All that is now obscure shall become plain to our + expanded faculties; and what to our present senses may seem irreconcilable + to our limited notions of mercy, of justice, and of love, shall stand + irradiated by the light of truth, confessedly the suggestions of + Omniscience, and the acts of an All-powerful Benevolence.” + </p> + <p> + “What a lesson of humility, my brethren, might not each of us obtain from + a review of his infant hours, and the recollection of his juvenile + passions! How differently do the same acts of parental rigor appear in the + eyes of the suffering child and of the chastened man! When the sophist + would supplant, with the wild theories of his worldly wisdom, the positive + mandates of inspiration, let him remember the expansion of his own feeble + intellects, and pause—let him feel the wisdom of God in what is + partially concealed as well as that which is revealed; in short, let him + substitute humility for pride of reason—let him have faith, and + live!” + </p> + <p> + “The consideration of this subject is full of consolation, my hearers, and + does not fail to bring with it lessons of humility and of profit, that, + duly improved, would both chasten the heart and strengthen the + feeble-minded man in his course. It is a blessed consolation to be able to + lay the misdoubtings of our arrogant nature at the threshold of the + dwelling-place of the Deity, from whence they shall be swept away, at the + great opening of the portal, like the mists of the morning before the + rising sun. It teaches us a lesson of humility, by impressing us with the + imperfection of human powers, and by warning us of the many weak points + where we are open to the attack of the great enemy of our race; it proves + to us that we are in danger of being weak, when our vanity would fain + soothe us into the belief that we are most strong; it forcibly points out + to us the vainglory of intellect, and shows us the vast difference between + a saving faith and the corollaries of a philosophical theology; and it + teaches us to reduce our self-examination to the test of good works. By + good works must be understood the fruits of repentance, the chiefest of + which is charity. Not that charity only which causes us to help the needy + and comfort the suffering, but that feeling of universal philanthropy + which, by teaching us to love, causes us to judge with lenity all men; + striking at the root of self-righteousness, and warning us to be sparing + of our condemnation of others, while our own salvation is not yet secure.” + </p> + <p> + “The lesson of expediency, my brethren, which I would gather from the + consideration of this subject, is most strongly inculcated by humility. On + the heading and essential points of our faith, there is but little + difference among those classes of Christians who acknowledge the + attributes of the Saviour, and depend on his mediation. But heresies have + polluted every church, and schisms are the fruit of disputation. In order + to arrest these dangers, and to insure the union of his followers, it + would seem that Christ had established his visible church and delegated + the ministry. Wise and holy men, the fathers of our religion, have + expended their labors in clearing what was revealed from the obscurities + of language, and the results of their experience and researches have been + embodied in the form of evangelical discipline That this discipline must + be salutary, is evident from the view of the weakness of human nature that + we have already taken; and that it may be profitable to us, and all who + listen to its precepts and its liturgy, may God, in his infinite wisdom, + grant!—And now to,” etc. + </p> + <p> + With this ingenious reference to his own forms and ministry, Mr. Grant + concluded his discourse. The most profound attention had been paid to the + sermon during the whole of its delivery, although the prayers had not been + received with so perfect demonstration of respect. This was by no means an + intended slight of that liturgy to which the divine alluded, but was the + habit of a people who owed their very existence, as a distinct nation, to + the doctrinal character of their ancestors. Sundry looks of private + dissatisfaction were exchanged between Hiram and one or two of the leading + members of the conference, but the feeling went no further at that time; + and the congregation, after receiving the blessing of Mr. Grant., + dispersed in Silence, and with great decorum. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0012" id="link2HCH0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Your creeds and dogmas of a learned church + May build a fabric, fair with moral beauty; + But it would seem that the strong hand of God + Can, only, 'rase the devil from the heart.” + —Duo. +</pre> + <p> + While the congregation was separating, Mr. Grant approached the place + where Elizabeth and her father were seated, leading the youthful female + whom we have mentioned in the preceding chapter, and presented her as his + daughter. Her reception was as cordial and frank as the manners of the + country and the value of good society could render it; the two young women + feeling, instantly, that they were necessary to the comfort of each other, + The Judge, to whom the clergyman's daughter was also a stranger, was + pleased to find one who, from habits, sex, and years, could probably + contribute largely to the pleasures of his own child, during her first + privations on her removal from the associations of a city to the solitude + of Templeton; while Elizabeth, who had been forcibly struck with the + sweetness and devotion of the youthful suppliant, removed the slight + embarrassment of the timid stranger by the ease of her own manners. They + were at once acquainted; and, during the ten minutes that the “academy” + was clearing, engagements were made between the young people, not only for + the succeeding day, but they would probably have embraced in their + arrangements half of the winter, had not the divine interrupted them by + saying: + </p> + <p> + “Gently, gently, my dear Miss Temple, or you will make my girl too + dissipated. You forget that she is my housekeeper, and that my domestic + affairs must remain unattended to, should Louisa accept of half the kind + offers you are so good as to make her.” + </p> + <p> + “And why should they not be neglected entirely, sir?” interrupted + Elizabeth. “There are but two of you; and certain I am that my father's + house will not only contain you both, but will open its doors + spontaneously to receive such guests. Society is a good not to be rejected + on account of cold forms, in this wilderness, sir; and I have often heard + my father say, that hospitality is not a virtue in a new country, the + favor being conferred by the guest.” + </p> + <p> + “The manner in which Judge Temple exercises its rites would confirm this + opinion; but we must not trespass too freely. Doubt not that you will see + us often, my child, particularly during the frequent visits that I shall + be compelled to make to the distant parts of the country. But to obtain an + influence with such a people,” he continued, glancing his eyes toward the + few who were still lingering, curious observers of the interview, “a + clergyman most not awaken envy or distrust by dwelling under so splendid a + roof as that of Judge Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “You like the roof, then, Mr. Grant,” cried Richard, who had been + directing the extinguishment of the fires and other little necessary + duties, and who approached in time to hear the close of the divine's + speech. “I am glad to find one man of taste at last. Here's 'Duke now, + pretends to call it by every abusive name he can invent; but though 'Duke + is a tolerable judge, he is a very poor carpenter, let me tell him. Well, + sir, well, I think we may say, without boasting, that the service was as + well per formed this evening as you often see; I think, quite as well as I + ever knew it to be done in old Trinity—that is, if we except the + organ. But there is the school-master leads the psalm with a very good + air. I used to lead myself, but latterly I have sung nothing but bass. + There is a good deal of science to be shown in the bass, and it affords a + fine opportunity to show off a full, deep voice. Benjamin, too, sings a + good bass, though he is often out in the words. Did you ever hear Benjamin + sing the 'Bay of Biscay,'?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe he gave us part of it this evening,” said Marmaduke, laughing. + “There was, now and then, a fearful quaver in his voice, and it seems that + Mr. Penguillian is like most others who do one thing particularly well; he + knows nothing else. He has, certainly, a wonderful partiality to one tune, + and he has a prodigious self-confidence in that one, for he delivers + himself like a northwester sweeping across the lake. But come, gentlemen, + our way is clear, and the sleigh waits. Good-evening, Mr. Grant. + Good-night, young lady—remember you dine beneath the Corinthian + roof, to-morrow, with Elizabeth.” + </p> + <p> + The parties separated, Richard holding a close dissertation with Mr. Le + Quoi, as they descended the stairs, on the subject of psalmody, which he + closed by a violent eulogium on the air of the “Bay of Biscay, O,” as + particularly connected with his friend Benjamin's execution. + </p> + <p> + During the preceding dialogue, Mohegan retained his seat, with his head + shrouded in his blanket, as seemingly inattentive to surrounding objects + as the departing congregation was itself to the presence of the aged + chief, Natty, also, continued on the log where he had first placed + himself, with his head resting on one of his hands, while the other held + the rifle, which was thrown carelessly across his lap. His countenance + expressed uneasiness, and the occasional unquiet glances that he had + thrown around him during the service plainly indicated some unusual causes + for unhappiness. His continuing seated was, how ever, out of respect to + the Indian chief to whom he paid the utmost deference on all occasions, + although it was mingled with the rough manner of a hunter. + </p> + <p> + The young companion of these two ancient inhabitants of the forest + remained also standing before the extinguished brands, probably from an + unwillingness to depart without his comrades. The room was now deserted by + all but this group, the divine, and his daughter. As the party from the + mansion-house disappeared, John arose, and, dropping the blanket from his + head, he shook back the mass of black hair from his face, and, approaching + Mr. Grant, he extended his hand, and said solemnly: + </p> + <p> + “Father, I thank you. The words that have been said, since the rising + moon, have gone upward, and the Great Spirit is glad. What you have told + your children, they will remember, and be good.” He paused a moment, and + then, elevating himself with the grandeur of an Indian chief, he added: + “If Chingachgook lives to travel toward the setting sun, after his tribe, + and the Great Spirit carries him over the lakes and mountains with the + breath of his body, he will tell his people the good talk he has heard; + and they will believe him; for who can say that Mohegan has ever lied?” + </p> + <p> + “Let him place his dependence on the goodness of Divine mercy,” said Mr. + Grant, to whom the proud consciousness of the Indian sounded a little + heterodox, “and it never will desert him. When the heart is filled with + love to God, there is no room for sin. But, young man, to you I owe not + only an obligation, in common with those you saved this evening on the + mountain, but my thanks for your respectable and pious manner in assisting + in the service at a most embarrassing moment. I should be happy to see you + sometimes at my dwelling, when, perhaps, my conversation may strengthen + you in the path which you appear to have chosen. It is so unusual to find + one of your age and appearance, in these woods, at all acquainted with our + holy liturgy, that it lessens at once the distance between us, and I feel + that we are no longer strangers. You seem quite at home in the service; I + did not perceive that you had even a book, although good Mr. Jones, had + laid several in different parts of the room.” + </p> + <p> + “It would be strange if I were ignorant of the service of our church, + sir,” returned the youth modestly; “for I was baptized in its communion + and I have never yet attended public worship elsewhere. For me to use the + forms of any other denomination would be as singular as our own have + proved to the people here this evening.” + </p> + <p> + “You give me great pleasure, my dear sir,” cried the divine, seizing the + other by the hand, and shaking it cordially. “You will go home with me now—indeed + you must—my child has yet to thank you for saving my life. I + will-listen to no apologies. This worthy Indian, and your friend, there, + will accompany us. Bless me! to think that' he has arrived at manhood in + this country, without entering a dissenting * meeting-house!” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The divines of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United States + commonly call other denominations Dissenters, though there never was + an established church in their own country! +</pre> + <p> + “No, no,” interrupted the Leather-Stocking, “I must away to the wigwam; + there's work there that mustn't be forgotten for all your churchings and + merry-makings. Let the lad go with you in welcome; he is used to keeping + company with ministers, and talking of such matters; so is old John, who + was christianized by the Moravians abouts the time of the old war. But I + am a plain unlarned man, that has sarved both the king and his country, in + his day, agin' the French and savages, but never so much as looked into a + book, or larnt a letter of scholarship, in my born days. I've never seen + the use of much in-door work, though I have lived to be partly bald, and + in my time have killed two hundred beaver in a season, and that without + counting the other game. If you mistrust what I am telling you, you can + ask Chingachgook there, for I did it in the heart of the Delaware country, + and the old man is knowing to the truth of every word I say.” + </p> + <p> + “I doubt not, my friend, that you have been both a valiant soldier and + skilful hunter in your day,” said the divine; “but more is wanting to + prepare you for that end which approaches. You may have heard the maxim, + that 'young men may die, but that old men must'.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm sure I never was so great a fool as to expect to live forever,” said + Natty, giving one of his silent laughs; “no man need do that who trails + the savages through the woods, as I have done, and lives, for the hot + months, on the lake streams. I've a strong constitution, I must say that + for myself, as is plain to be seen; for I've drunk the Onondaga water a + hundred times, while I've been watching the deer-licks, when the + fever-an'-agy seeds was to be seen in it as plain and as plenty as you can + see the rattle snakes on old Crumhorn. But then I never expected to hold + out forever; though there's them living who have seen the German flats a + wilderness; ay! and them that's larned, and acquainted with religion, too; + though you might look a week, now, and not find even the stump of a pine + on them; and that's a wood that lasts in the ground the better part of a + hundred years after the tree is dead.” + </p> + <p> + “This is but time, my good friend,” returned Mr. Grant, who began to take + an interest in the welfare of his new acquaintance, “but I would have you + prepare for eternity. It is incumbent on you to attend places of public + worship, as I am pleased to see that you have done this evening. Would it + not be heedless in you to start on a day's toil of hard hunting, and leave + your ramrod and flint behind?” + </p> + <p> + “It must be a young hand in the woods,” interrupted Natty, with another + laugh, “that didn't know how to dress a rod out of an ash sapling or find + a fire-stone in the mountains. No, no, I never expected to live forever; + but I see, times be altering in these mountains from what they was thirty + years ago, or, for that matter, ten years. But might makes right, and the + law is stronger than an old man, whether he is one that has much laming, + or only like me, that is better now at standing at the passes than in + following the hounds, as I once used to could. Heigh-ho! I never know'd + preaching come into a settlement but it made game scarce, and raised the + price of gunpowder; and that's a thing that's not as easily made as a + ramrod or an Indian flint.” + </p> + <p> + The divine, perceiving that he had given his opponent an argument by his + own unfortunate selection of a comparison, very prudently relinquished the + controversy; although he was fully determined to resume it at a more happy + moment, Repeating his request to the young hunter with great earnestness, + the youth and Indian consented to accompany him and his daughter to the + dwelling that the care of Mr. Jones had provided for their temporary + residence. Leather-Stocking persevered in his intention of returning to + the hut, and at the door of the building they separated. + </p> + <p> + After following the course of one of the streets of the village a short + distance. Mr. Grant, who led the way, turned into a field, through a pair + of open bars, and entered a footpath, of but sufficient width to admit one + person to walk in at a time. The moon had gained a height that enabled her + to throw her rays perpendicularly on the valley; and the distinct shadows + of the party flitted along on the banks of the silver snow, like the + presence of aerial figures, gliding to their appointed place of meeting. + The night still continued intensely cold, although not a breath of wind + was felt. The path was beaten so hard that the gentle female, who made one + of the party, moved with ease along its windings; though the frost emitted + a low creaking at the impression of even her light footsteps. + </p> + <p> + The clergyman in his dark dress of broadcloth, with his mild, benevolent + countenance occasionally turned toward his companions, expressing that + look of subdued care which was its characteristic, presented the first + object in this singular group. Next to him moved the Indian, his hair + falling about his face, his head uncovered, and the rest of his form + concealed beneath his blanket. As his swarthy visage, with its muscles + fixed in rigid composure, was seen under the light of the moon, which + struck his face obliquely, he seemed a picture of resigned old age, on + whom the storms of winter had beaten in vain for the greater part of a + century; but when, in turning his head, the rays fell directly on his + dark, fiery eyes, they told a tale of passions unrestrained, and of + thoughts free as air. The slight person of Miss Grant, which followed + next, and which was but too thinly clad for the severity of the season, + formed a marked contrast to the wild attire and uneasy glances of the + Delaware chief; and more than once during their walk, the young hunter, + himself no insignificant figure in the group, was led to consider the + difference in the human form, as the face of Mohegan and the gentle + countenance of Miss Grant, with eyes that rivalled the soft hue of the + sky, met his view at the instant that each turned to throw a glance at the + splendid orb which lighted their path. Their way, which led through fields + that lay at some distance in the rear of the houses, was cheered by a + conversation that flagged or became animated with the subject. The first + to speak was the divine. + </p> + <p> + “Really,” he said, “it is so singular a circumstance to meet with one of + your age, that has not been induced by idle curiosity to visit any other + church than the one in which he has been educated, that I feel a strong + curiosity to know the history of a life so fortunately regulated. Your + education must have been excellent; as indeed is evident from your manners + and language. Of which of the States are you a native, Mr. Edwards? for + such, I believe, was the name that you gave Judge Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “Of this.” + </p> + <p> + “Of this! I was at a loss to conjecture, from your dialect, which does not + partake, particularly, of the peculiarities of any country with which I am + acquainted. You have, then, resided much in the cities, for no other part + of this country is so fortunate as to possess the constant enjoyment of + our excellent liturgy.” + </p> + <p> + The young hunter smiled, as he listened to the divine while he so clearly + betrayed from what part of the country he had come himself; but, for + reasons probably connected with his present situation, he made no answer. + </p> + <p> + “I am delighted to meet with you, my young friend, for I think an + ingenuous mind, such as I doubt not yours must be, will exhibit all the + advantages of a settled doctrine and devout liturgy. You perceive how I + was compelled to bend to the humors of my hearers this evening. Good Mr. + Jones wished me to read the communion, and, in fact, all the morning + service; but, happily, the canons do not require this of an evening. It + would have wearied a new congregation; but to-morrow I purpose + administering the sacrament, Do you commune, my young friend?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe not, sir,” returned the youth, with a little embarrassment, + that was not at all diminished by Miss Grant's pausing involuntarily, and + turning her eyes on him in surprise; “I fear that I am not qualified; I + have never yet approached the altar; neither would I wish to do it while I + find so much of the world clinging to my heart.” + </p> + <p> + “Each must judge for himself,” said Mr. Grant; “though I should think that + a youth who had never been blown about by the wind of false doctrines, and + who has enjoyed the advantages of our liturgy for so many years in its + purity, might safely come. Yet, sir, it is a solemn festival, which none + should celebrate until there is reason to hope it is not mockery. I + observed this evening, in your manner to Judge Temple, a resentment that + bordered on one of the worst of human passions, We will cross this brook + on the ice; it must bear us all, I think, in safety. Be careful not to + slip, my child.” While speaking, he descended a little bank by the path, + and crossed one of the small streams that poured their waters into the + lake; and, turning to see his daughter pass, observed that the youth had + advanced, and was kindly directing her footsteps. When all were safely + over, he moved up the opposite bank, and continued his discourse. “It was + wrong, my dear sir, very wrong, to suffer such feelings to rise, under any + circumstances, and especially in the present, where the evil was not + intended.” + </p> + <p> + “There is good in the talk of my father,” said Mohegan, stopping short, + and causing those who Were behind him to pause also; “it is the talk of + Miquon. The white man may do as his fathers have told him; but the 'Young + Eagle' has the blood of a Delaware chief in his veins; it is red, and the + stain it makes can only be washed out with the blood of a Mingo.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Grant was surprised by the interruption of the Indian, and, stopping, + faced the speaker. His mild features were confronted to the fierce and + determined looks of the chief, and expressed the horror he felt at hearing + such sentiments from one who professed the religion of his Saviour. + Raising his hands to a level with his head, he exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “John, John! is this the religion that you have learned from the + Moravians? But no—I will not be so uncharitable as to suppose it. + They are a pious, a gentle, and a mild people, and could never tolerate + these passions. Listen to the language of the Redeemer: 'But I say unto + you, love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that + hate you; pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you.' This + is the command of God, John, and, without striving to cultivate such + feelings, no man can see Him.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian heard the divine with attention; the unusual fire of his eye + gradually softened, and his muscles relaxed into their ordinary composure; + but, slightly shaking his head, he motioned with dignity for Mr. Grant to + resume his walk, and followed himself in silence, The agitation of the + divine caused him to move with unusual rapidity along the deep path, and + the Indian, without any apparent exertion, kept an equal pace; but the + young hunter observed the female to linger in her steps, until a trifling + distance intervened between the two former and the latter. Struck by the + circumstance, and not perceiving any new impediment to retard her + footstep, the youth made a tender of his assistance. + </p> + <p> + “You are fatigued, Miss Grant,” he said; “the snow yields to the foot, and + you are unequal to the strides of us men. Step on the crust, I entreat + you, and take the help of my arm, Yonder light is, I believe, the house of + your father; but it seems yet at some distance.” + </p> + <p> + “I am quite equal to the walk,” returned a low, tremulous voice; “but I am + startled by the manner of that Indian, Oh! his eye was horrid, as he + turned to the moon, in speaking to my father. But I forgot, sir; he is + your friend, and by his language may be your relative; and yet of you I do + not feel afraid.” + </p> + <p> + The young man stepped on the bank of snow, which firmly sustained his + weight, and by a gentle effort induced his companion to follow. Drawing + her arm through his own, he lifted his cap from his head, allowing the + dark locks to flow in rich curls over his open brow, and walked by her + side with an air of conscious pride, as if inviting an examination of his + utmost thoughts. Louisa took but a furtive glance at his person, and moved + quietly along, at a rate that was greatly quickened by the aid of his arm. + </p> + <p> + “You are but little acquainted with this peculiar people, Miss Grant,” he + said, “or you would know that revenge is a virtue with an Indian. They are + taught, from infancy upward, to believe it a duty never to allow an injury + to pass unrevenged; and nothing but the stronger claims of hospitality can + guard one against their resentments where they have power.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, sir,” said Miss Grant, involuntarily withdrawing her arm from + his, “you have not been educated with such unholy sentiments?” + </p> + <p> + “It might be a sufficient answer to your excellent father to say that I + was educated in the church,” he returned; “but to you I will add that I + have been taught deep and practical lessons of forgiveness. I believe + that, on this subject, I have but little cause to reproach myself; it + shall be my endeavor that there yet be less.” + </p> + <p> + While speaking, he stopped, and stood with his arm again proffered to her + assistance. As he ended, she quietly accepted his offer, and they resumed + their walk. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Grant and Mohegan had reached the door of the former's residence, and + stood waiting near its threshold for the arrival of their young + companions. The former was earnestly occupied in endeavoring to correct, + by his precepts, the evil propensities that he had discovered in the + Indian during their conversation; to which the latter listened in Profound + but respectful attention. On the arrival of the young hunter and the lady, + they entered the building. The house stood at some distance from the + village, in the centre of a field, surrounded by stumps that were peering + above the snow, bearing caps of pure white, nearly two feet in thickness. + Not a tree nor a shrub was nigh it; but the house, externally, exhibited + that cheer less, unfurnished aspect which is so common to the hastily + erected dwellings of a new country. The uninviting character of its + outside was, however, happily relieved by the exquisite neatness and + comfortable warmth within. + </p> + <p> + They entered an apartment that was fitted as a parlor, though the large + fireplace, with its culinary arrangements, betrayed the domestic uses to + which it was occasionally applied. The bright blaze from the hearth + rendered the light that proceeded from the candle Louisa produced + unnecessary; for the scanty furniture of the room was easily seen and + examined by the former. The floor was covered in the centre by a carpet + made of rags, a species of manufacture that was then, and yet continues to + be, much in use in the interior; while its edges, that were exposed to + view, were of unspotted cleanliness. There was a trifling air of better + life in a tea-table and work-stand, as well as in an old-fashioned + mahogany bookcase; but the chairs, the dining-table, and the rest of the + furniture were of the plainest and cheapest construction, Against the + walls were hung a few specimens of needle-work and drawing, the former + executed with great neatness, though of somewhat equivocal merit in their + designs, while the latter were strikingly deficient in both. + </p> + <p> + One of the former represented a tomb, with a youthful female weeping over + it, exhibiting a church with arched windows in the background. On the tomb + were the names, with the dates of the births and deaths, of several + individuals, all of whom bore the name of Grant. An extremely cursory + glance at this record was sufficient to discover to the young hunter the + domestic state of the divine. He there read that he was a widower; and + that the innocent and timid maiden, who had been his companion, was the + only survivor of six children. The knowledge of the dependence which each + of these meek Christians had on the other for happiness threw an + additional charm around the gentle but kind attentions which the daughter + paid to the father. + </p> + <p> + These observations occurred while the party were seating themselves before + the cheerful fire, during which time there was a suspension of discourse. + But, when each was comfortably arranged, and Louisa, after laying aside a + thin coat of faded silk, and a gypsy hat, that was more becoming to her + modest, ingenuous countenance than appropriate to the season, had taken a + chair between her father and the youth, the former resumed the + conversation. + </p> + <p> + “I trust, my young friend,” he said, “that the education you have received + has eradicated most of those revengeful principles which you may have + inherited by descent, for I understand from the expressions of John that + you have some of the blood of the Delaware tribe. Do not mistake me, I + beg, for it is not color nor lineage that constitutes merit; and I know + not that he who claims affinity to the proper owners of this soil has not + the best right to tread these hills with the lightest conscience.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan turned solemnly to the speaker, and, with the peculiarly + significant gestures of an Indian, he spoke: + </p> + <p> + “Father, you are not yet past the summer of life; your limbs are young. Go + to the highest hill, and look around you. All that you see, from the + rising to the setting sun, from the head-waters of the great spring, to + where the 'crooked river' * is hid by the hills, is his. He has Delaware + blood, and his right is strong. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The Susquehannah means crooked river; “hannah,” or “hannock,” meant + river in many of the native dialects. Thus we find Rappahannock as + far south as Virginia. +</pre> + <p> + “But the brother of Miquon is just; he will cut the country in two parts, + as the river cuts the lowlands, and will say to the 'Young Eagle,' 'Child + of the Delawares! take it—keep it; and be a chief in the land of + your fathers.'” + </p> + <p> + “Never!” exclaimed the young hunter, with a vehemence that destroyed the + rapt attention with which the divine and his daughter were listening to + the Indian. “The wolf of the forest is not more rapacious for his prey + than that man is greedy of gold; and yet his glidings into wealth are + subtle as the movements of a serpent.” + </p> + <p> + “Forbear, forbear, my son, forbear,” interrupted Mr. Grant. “These angry + passions most be subdued. The accidental injury you have received from + Judge Temple has heightened the sense of your hereditary wrongs. But + remember that the one was unintentional, and that the other is the effect + of political changes, which have, in their course, greatly lowered the + pride of kings, and swept mighty nations from the face of the earth. Where + now are the Philistines, who so often held the children of Israel in + bondage? or that city of Babylon, which rioted in luxury and vice, and who + styled herself the Queen of Nations in the drunkenness of her pride? + Remember the prayer of our holy litany, where we implore the Divine Power—'that + it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, + and to turn their hearts. The sin of the wrongs which have been done to + the natives is shared by Judge Temple only in common with a whole people, + and your arm will speedily be restored to its strength.” + </p> + <p> + “This arm!” repeated the youth, pacing the floor in violent agitation. + “Think you, sir, that I believe the man a murderer? Oh, no! he is too + wily, too cowardly, for such a crime. But let him and his daughter riot in + their wealth—a day of retribution will come. No, no, no,” he + continued, as he trod the floor more calmly—“it is for Mohegan to + suspect him of an intent to injure me; but the trifle is not worth a + second thought.” He seated himself, and hid his face between his hands, as + they rested on his knees. + </p> + <p> + “It is the hereditary violence of a native's passion, my child,” said Mr. + Grant in a low tone to his affrighted daughter, who was clinging in terror + to his arm. “He is mixed with the blood of the Indians, you have heard; + and neither the refinements of education nor the advantages of our + excellent liturgy have been able entirely to eradicate the evil. But care + and time will do much for him yet.” + </p> + <p> + Although the divine spoke in a low tone, yet what he uttered was heard by + the youth, who raised his head, with a smile of indefinite expression, and + spoke more calmly: + </p> + <p> + “Be not alarmed, Miss Grant, at either the wildness of my manner or that + of my dress. I have been carried away by passions that I should struggle + to repress. I must attribute it, with your father, to the blood in my + veins, although I would not impeach my lineage willingly; for it is all + that is left me to boast of. Yes! I am proud of my descent from a Delaware + chief, who was a warrior that ennobled human nature. Old Mohegan was his + friend, and will vouch for his virtues.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Grant here took up the discourse, and, finding the young man more + calm, and the aged chief attentive, he entered into a full and theological + discussion of the duty of forgiveness. The conversation lasted for more + than an hour, when the visitors arose, and, after exchanging good wishes + with their entertainers, they departed. At the door they separated, + Mohegan taking the direct route to the village, while the youth moved + toward the lake. The divine stood at the entrance of his dwelling, + regarding the figure of the aged chief as it glided, at an astonishing + gait for his years, along the deep path; his black, straight hair just + visible over the bundle formed by his blanket, which was sometimes blended + with the snow, under the silvery light of the moon. From the rear of the + house was a window that overlooked the lake; and here Louisa was found by + her father, when he entered, gazing intently on some object in the + direction of the eastern mountain. He approached the spot, and saw the + figure of the young hunter, at the distance of half a mile, walking with + prodigious steps across the wide fields of frozen snow that covered the + ice, toward the point where he knew the hut inhabited by the + Leather-Stocking was situated on the margin of the lake, under a rock that + was crowned by pines and hemlocks. At the next instant, the wild looking + form entered the shadow cast from the over-hanging trees, and was lost to + view. + </p> + <p> + “It is marvellous how long the propensities of the savage continue in that + remarkable race,” said the good divine; “but if he perseveres as he has + commenced, his triumph shall yet be complete. Put me in mind, Louisa, to + lend him the homily 'against peril of idolatry,' at his next visit.” + </p> + <p> + “Surety, father, you do not think him in danger of relapsing into the + worship of his ancestors?” + </p> + <p> + “No, my child,” returned the clergyman, laying his hand affectionately on + her flaxen locks, and smiling; “his white blood would prevent it; but + there is such a thing as the idolatry of our passions.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0013" id="link2HCH0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And I'll drink out of the quart pot— + Here's a health to the barley mow. + “—Drinking Song. +</pre> + <p> + On one of the corners, where the two principal streets of Templeton + intersected each other, stood, as we have already mentioned, the inn + called the “Bold Dragoon”. In the original plan it was ordained that the + village should stretch along the little stream that rushed down the + valley; and the street which led from the lake to the academy was intended + to be its western boundary. But convenience frequently frustrates the + best-regulated plans. The house of Mr., or as, in consequence of + commanding the militia of that vicinity, he was called, Captain Hollister, + had, at an early day, been erected directly facing the main street, and + ostensibly interposed a barrier to its further progress. Horsemen, and + subsequently teamsters, however, availed themselves of an opening, at the + end of the building, to shorten their passage westward, until in time the + regular highway was laid out along this course, and houses were gradually + built on either side, so as effectually to prevent any subsequent + correction of the evil. + </p> + <p> + Two material consequences followed this change in the regular plans of + Marmaduke. The main street, after running about half its length, was + suddenly reduced for precisely that difference in its width; and “Bold + Dragoon” became, next to the mansion-house, by far the most conspicuous + edifice in the place. + </p> + <p> + This conspicuousness, aided by the characters of the host and hostess, + gave the tavern an advantage over all its future competitors that no + circumstances could conquer. An effort was, however, made to do so; and at + the corner diagonally opposite, stood a new building that was in tended, + by its occupants, to look down all opposition. It was a house of wood, + ornamented in the prevailing style of architecture, and about the roof and + balustrades was one of the three imitators of the mansion-house. The upper + windows were filled with rough boards secured by nails, to keep out the + cold air—for the edifice was far from finished, although glass was + to be seen in the lower apartments, and the light of the powerful fires + within de noted that it was already inhabited. The exterior was painted + white on the front and on the end which was exposed to the street; but in + the rear, and on the side which was intended to join the neighboring + house, it was coarsely smeared with Spanish brown. Before the door stood + two lofty posts, connected at the top by a beam, from which was suspended + an enormous sign, ornamented around its edges with certain curious + carvings in pine boards, and on its faces loaded with Masonic emblems. + Over these mysterious figures was written, in large letters, “The + Templeton Coffee-house, and Traveller's Hotel,” and beneath them, “By + Habakkuk Foote and Joshua Knapp.” This was a fearful rival to the “Bold + Dragoon,” as our readers will the more readily perceive when we add that + the same sonorous names were to be seen over a newly erected store in the + village, a hatter's shop, and the gates of a tan-yard. But, either because + too much was attempted to be executed well, or that the “Bold Dragoon” had + established a reputation which could not be easily shaken, not only Judge + Temple and his friends, but most of the villagers also, who were not in + debt to the powerful firm we have named, frequented the inn of Captain + Hollister on all occasions where such a house was necessary. + </p> + <p> + On the present evening the limping veteran and his consort were hardly + housed after their return from the academy, when the sounds of stamping + feet at their threshold announced the approach of visitors, who were + probably assembling with a view to compare opinions on the subject of the + ceremonies they had witnessed. + </p> + <p> + The public, or as it was called, the “bar-room,” of the “Bold Dragoon,” + was a spacious apartment, lined on three sides with benches and on the + fourth by fireplaces. Of the latter there were two of such size as to + occupy, with their enormous jambs, the whole of that side of the apartment + where they were placed, excepting room enough for a door or two, and a + little apartment in one corner, which was protected by miniature + palisades, and profusely garnished with bottles and glasses. In the + entrance to this sanctuary Mrs. Hollister was seated, with great gravity + in her air, while her husband occupied himself with stirring the fires, + moving the logs with a large stake burnt to a point at one end. + </p> + <p> + “There, sargeant, dear,” said the landlady, after she thought the veteran + had got the logs arranged in the most judicious manner, “give over poking, + for it's no good ye'll be doing, now that they burn so convaniently. + There's the glasses on the table there, and the mug that the doctor was + taking his cider and ginger in, before the fire here—just put them + in the bar, will ye? for we'll be having the jooge, and the Major, and Mr. + Jones down the night, without reckoning Benjamin Poomp, and the lawyers; + so yell be fixing the room tidy; and put both flip irons in the coals; and + tell Jude, the lazy black baste, that if she's no be cleaning up the + kitchen I'll turn her out of the house, and she may live wid the jontlemen + that kape the 'Coffee house,' good luck to 'em. Och! sargeant, sure it's a + great privilege to go to a mateing where a body can sit asy, without + joomping up and down so often, as this Mr. Grant is doing that same.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a privilege at all times, Mrs. Hollister, whether we stand or be + seated; or, as good Mr. Whitefleld used to do after he had made a + wearisome day's march, get on our knees and pray, like Moses of old, with + a flanker to the right and left to lift his hands to heaven,” returned her + husband, who composedly performed what she had directed to be done. “It + was a very pretty fight, Betty, that the Israelites had on that day with + the Amalekites, It seams that they fout on a plain, for Moses is mentioned + as having gone on the heights to overlook the battle, and wrestle in + prayer; and if I should judge, with my little larning, the Israelites + depended mainly on their horse, for it was written 'that Joshua cut up the + enemy with the edge of the sword; from which I infer, not only that they + were horse, but well diseiplyned troops. Indeed, it says as much as that + they were chosen men; quite likely volunteers; for raw dragoons seldom + strike with the edge of their swords, particularly if the weapon be any + way crooked.” + </p> + <p> + “Pshaw! why do ye bother yourself wid texts, man, about so small a + matter?” interrupted the landlady; “sure, it was the Lord who was with + 'em; for he always sided with the Jews, before they fell away; and it's + but little matter what kind of men Joshua commanded, so that he was doing + the right bidding. Aven them cursed millaishy, the Lord forgive me for + swearing, that was the death of him, wid their cowardice, would have + carried the day in old times. There's no rason to be thinking that the + soldiers were used to the drill.” + </p> + <p> + “I must say, Mrs. Hollister, that I have not often seen raw troops fight + better than the left flank of the militia, at the time you mention. They + rallied handsomely, and that without beat of drum, which is no easy thing + to do under fire, and were very steady till he fell. But the Scriptures + contain no unnecessary words; and I will maintain that horse, who know how + to strike with the edge of the sword, must be well disoiplyned. Many a + good sarmon has been preached about smaller matters than that one word! If + the text was not meant to be particular, why wasn't it written with the + sword, and not with the edge? Now, a back-handed stroke, on the edge, + takes long practice. Goodness! what an argument would Mr. Whitefield make + of that word edge! As to the captain, if he had only called up the guard + of dragoons when he rallied the foot, they would have shown the inimy what + the edge of a sword was; for, although there was no commissioned officer + with them, yet I think I must say,” the veteran continued, stiffening his + cravat about his throat, and raising himself up with the air of a + drill-sergeant, “they were led by a man who knowed how to bring them on, + in spite of the ravine.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it lade on ye would,” cried the landlady, “when ye know yourself, Mr. + Hollister, that the baste he rode was but little able to joomp from one + rock to another, and the animal was as spry as a squirrel? Och! but it's + useless to talk, for he's gone this many a year. I would that he had lived + to see the true light; but there's mercy for a brave sowl, that died in + the saddle, fighting for the liberty. It is a poor tombstone they have + given him, anyway, and many a good one that died like himself; but the + sign is very like, and I will be kapeing it up, while the blacksmith can + make a hook for it to swing on, for all the 'coffee-houses' betwane this + and Albany.” + </p> + <p> + There is no saying where this desultory conversation would have led the + worthy couple, had not the men, who were stamping the snow off their feet + on the little platform before the door, suddenly ceased their occupation, + and entered the bar-room. + </p> + <p> + For ten or fifteen minutes the different individuals, who intended either + to bestow or receive edification before the fires of the “Bold Dragoon” on + that evening, were collecting, until the benches were nearly filled with + men of different occupations. Dr. Todd and a slovenly-looking, + shabby-genteel young man, who took tobacco profusely, wore a coat of + imported cloth cut with something like a fashionable air, frequently + exhibited a large French silver watch, with a chain of woven hair and a + silver key, and who, altogether, seemed as much above the artisans around + him as he was himself inferior to the real gentle man, occupied a + high-back wooden settee, in the most comfortable corner in the apartment. + </p> + <p> + Sundry brown mugs, containing cider or beer, were placed between the heavy + andirons, and little groups were found among the guests as subjects arose + or the liquor was passed from one to the other. No man was seen to drink + by himself, nor in any instance was more than one vessel considered + necessary for the same beverage; but the glass or the mug was passed from + hand to hand until a chasm in the line or a regard to the rights of + ownership would regularly restore the dregs of the potation to him who de + frayed the cost. + </p> + <p> + Toasts were uniformly drunk; and occasionally some one who conceived + himself peculiarly endowed by Nature to shine in the way of wit would + attempt some such sentiment as “hoping that he” who treated “might make a + better man than his father;” or “live till all his friends wished him + dead;” while the more humble pot-companion contented himself by saying, + with a most composing gravity in his air, “Come, here's luck,” or by + expressing some other equally comprehensive desire. In every instance the + veteran landlord was requested to imitate the custom of the cupbearers to + kings, and taste the liquor he presented, by the invitation of “After you + is manners,” with which request he ordinarily complied by wetting his + lips, first expressing the wish of “Here's hoping,” leaving it to the + imagination of the hearers to fill the vacuum by whatever good each + thought most desirable. During these movements the landlady was busily + occupied with mixing the various compounds required by her customers, with + her own hands, and occasionally exchanging greetings and inquiries + concerning the conditions of their respective families, with such of the + villagers as approached the bar. + </p> + <p> + At length the common thirst being in some measure assuaged, conversation + of a more general nature became the order of the hour. The physician and + his companion, who was one of the two lawyers of the village, being + considered the best qualified to maintain a public discourse with credit, + were the principal speakers, though a remark was hazarded, now and then, + by Mr. Doolittle, who was thought to be their inferior only in the + enviable point of education. A general silence was produced on all but the + two speakers, by the following observation from the practitioner of the + law: + </p> + <p> + “So, Dr. Todd, I understand that you have been per forming an important + operation this evening by cutting a charge of buckshot from the shoulder + of the son of Leather-Stocking?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” returned other, elevating his little head with an air of + importance. “I had a small job up at the Judge's in that way; it was, + however, but a trifle to what it might have been, had it gone through the + body. The shoulder is not a very vital part; and I think the young man + will soon be well. But I did not know that the patient was a son of + Leather-Stocking; it is news to me to hear that Natty had a wife.” + </p> + <p> + “It is by no means a necessary consequence,” returned the other, winking, + with a shrewd look around the bar room; “there is such a thing, I suppose + you know, in law as a filius nullius.” + </p> + <p> + “Spake it out, man,” exclaimed the landlady; “spake it out in king's + English; what for should ye be talking Indian in a room full of Christian + folks, though it is about a poor hunter, who is but little better in his + ways than the wild savages themselves? Och! it's to be hoped that the + missionaries will, in his own time, make a conversion of the poor devils; + and then it will matter little of what color is the skin, or wedder there + be wool or hair on the head.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! it is Latin, not Indian, Miss Hollister!” returned the lawyer, + repeating his winks and shrewd looks; “and Dr. Todd understands Latin, or + how would he read the labels on his gallipots and drawers? No, no, Miss + Hollis ter, the doctor understands me; don't you, doctor?” + </p> + <p> + “Hem—why, I guess I am not far out of the way,” returned Elnathan, + endeavoring to imitate the expression of the other's countenance, by + looking jocular. “Latin is a queer language, gentlemen; now I rather guess + there is no one in the room, except Squire Lippet, who can believe that + 'Far. Av.' means oatmeal, in English.” + </p> + <p> + The lawyer in his turn was a good deal embarrassed by this display of + learning; for, although he actually had taken his first degree at one of + the eastern universities, he was somewhat puzzled with the terms used by + his companion. It was dangerous, however, to appear to be out done in + learning in a public bar-room, and before so many of his clients; he + therefore put the best face on the matter, and laughed knowingly as if + there were a good joke concealed under it, that was understood only by the + physician and himself. All this was attentively observed by the listeners, + who exchanged looks of approbation; and the expressions of “tonguey mati,” + and “I guess Squire Lippet knows if anybody does,” were heard in different + parts of the room, as vouchers for the admiration of his auditors. Thus + encouraged, the lawyer rose from his chair, and turning his back to the + fire, and facing the company, he continued: + </p> + <p> + “The son of Natty, or the son of nobody, I hope the young man is not going + to let the matter drop. This is a country of law; and I should like to see + it fairly tried, whether a man who owns, or says he owns, a hundred + thousand acres of land, has any more right to shoot a body than another. + What do you think of it, Dr. Todd?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir, I am of opinion that the gentleman will soon be well, as I said + before; the wound isn't in a vital part; and as the ball was extracted so + soon, and the shoulder was what I call well attended to, I do not think + there is as much danger as there might have been.” + </p> + <p> + “I say, Squire Doolittle,” continued the attorney, raising his voice, “you + are a magistrate, and know what is law and what is not law. I ask you, + sir, if shooting a man is a thing that is to be settled so very easily? + Suppose, sir, that the young man had a wife and family; and suppose that + he was a mechanic like yourself, sir; and suppose that his family + depended on him for bread; and suppose that the ball, instead of merely + going through the flesh, had broken the shoulder-blade, and crippled him + forever; I ask you all, gentlemen, supposing this to be the case, whether + a jury wouldn't give what I call handsome damages?” + </p> + <p> + As the close of this supposititious case was addressed to the company + generally, Hiram did not at first consider himself called on for a reply; + but finding the eyes of the listeners bent on him in expectation, he + remembered his character for judicial discrimination, and spoke, observing + a due degree of deliberation and dignity. + </p> + <p> + “Why, if a man should shoot another,” he said, “and if he should do it on + purpose and if the law took notice on't, and if a jury should find him + guilty, it would be likely to turn out a state-prison matter.” + </p> + <p> + “It would so, sir,” returned the attorney. “The law, gentlemen, is no + respecter of persons in a free country. It is one of the great blessings + that has been handed down to us from our ancestors, that all men are equal + in the eye of the laws, as they are by nater. Though some may get + property, no one knows how, yet they are not privileged to transgress the + laws any more than the poorest citizen in the State. This is my notion, + gentlemen: and I think that it a man had a mind to bring this matter up, + something might be made out of it that would help pay for the salve—ha! + doctor!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir,” returned the physician, who appeared a little uneasy at the + turn the conversation was taking, “I have the promise of Judge Temple + before men—not but what I would take his word as soon as his note of + hand—but it was before men. Let me see—there was Mounshier Ler + Quow, and Squire Jones, and Major Hartmann, and Miss Pettibone, and one or + two of the blacks by, when he said that his pocket would amply reward me + for what I did.” + </p> + <p> + “Was the promise made before or after the service was performed?” asked + the attorney. + </p> + <p> + “It might have been both,” returned the discreet physician; “though I'm + certain he said so before I undertook the dressing.” + </p> + <p> + “But it seems that he said his pocket should reward you, doctor,” observed + Hiram. “Now I don't know that the law will hold a man to such a promise; + he might give you his pocket with sixpence in't, and tell you to take your + pay out on't.” + </p> + <p> + “That would not be a reward in the eye of the law,” interrupted the + attorney—“not what is called a 'quid pro quo;' nor is the pocket to + be considered as an agent, but as part of a man's own person, that is, in + this particular. I am of opinion that an action would lie on that promise, + and I will undertake to bear him out, free of costs, if he don't recover.” + </p> + <p> + To this proposition the physician made no reply; but he was observed to + cast his eyes around him, as if to enumerate the witnesses, in order to + substantiate this promise also, at a future day, should it prove + necessary. A subject so momentous as that of suing Judge Temple was not + very palatable to the present company in so public a place; and a short + silence ensued, that was only interrupted by the opening of the door, and + the entrance of Natty himself. + </p> + <p> + The old hunter carried in his hand his never-failing companion, the rifle; + and although all of the company were uncovered excepting the lawyer, who + wore his hat on one side, with a certain dam'me air, Natty moved to the + front of one of the fires without in the least altering any part of his + dress or appearance. Several questions were addressed to him, on the + subject of the game he had killed, which he answered readily, and with + some little interest; and the landlord, between whom and Natty there + existed much cordiality, on account of their both having been soldiers in + youth, offered him a glass of a liquid which, if we might judge from its + reception, was no unwelcome guest. When the forester had got his potation + also, he quietly took his seat on the end of one of the logs that lay nigh + the fires, and the slight interruption produced by his entrance seemed to + be forgotten. + </p> + <p> + “The testimony of the blacks could not be taken, sir,” continued the + lawyer, “for they are all the property of Mr. Jones, who owns their time. + But there is a way by which Judge Temple, or any other man, might be made + to pay for shooting another, and for the cure in the bargain. There is a + way, I say, and that without going into the 'court of errors,' too.” + </p> + <p> + “And a mighty big error ye would make of it, Mister Todd,” cried the + landlady, “should ye be putting the matter into the law at all, with + Joodge Temple, who has a purse as long as one of them pines on the hill, + and who is an asy man to dale wid, if yees but mind the humor of him. He's + a good man is Joodge Temple, and a kind one, and one who will be no the + likelier to do the pratty thing, becase ye would wish to tarrify him wid + the law. I know of but one objaction to the same, which is an + over-careless ness about his sowl. It's neither a Methodie, nor a Papish, + nor Parsbetyrian, that he is, but just nothing at all; and it's hard to + think that he, 'who will not fight the good fight, under the banners of a + rig'lar church, in this world, will be mustered among the chosen in + heaven,' as my husband, the captain there, as ye call him, says—though + there is but one captain that I know, who desarves the name. I hopes, + Lather-Stocking, ye'll no be foolish, and putting the boy up to try the + law in the matter; for 'twill be an evil day to ye both, when ye first + turn the skin of so paceable an animal as a sheep into a bone of + contention, The lad is wilcome to his drink for nothing, until his + shoulther will bear the rifle agin.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, that's gin'rous,” was heard from several mouths at once, for this + was a company in which a liberal offer was not thrown away; while the + hunter, instead 'of expressing any of that indignation which he might be + supposed to feel, at hearing the hurt of his young companion alluded to, + opened his mouth, with the silent laugh for which he was so remarkable; + and after he had indulged his humor, made this reply: + </p> + <p> + “I knowed the Judge would do nothing with his smooth bore when he got out + of his sleigh. I never saw but one smooth-bore that would carry at all, + and that was a French ducking-piece, upon the big lakes; it had a barrel + half as long agin as my rifle, and would throw fine shot into a goose at + one hundred yards; but it made dreadful work with the game, and you wanted + a boat to carry it about in. When I went with Sir William agin' the + French, at Fort Niagara, all the rangers used the rifle; and a dreadful + weapon it is, in the hands of one who knows how to charge it, and keep a + steady aim. The captain knows, for he says he was a soldier in Shirley's; + and, though they were nothing but baggonet-men, he must know how we cut up + the French and Iroquois in the skrimmages in that war. Chingachgook, which + means 'Big Sarpent' in English, old John Mohegan, who lives up at the hut + with me, was a great warrior then, and was out with us; he can tell all + about it, too; though he was overhand for the tomahawk, never firing more + than once or twice, before he was running in for the scalps. Ah! times is + dreadfully altered since then. Why, doctor, there was nothing but a foot + path, or at the most a track for pack-horses, along the Mohawk, from the + Jarman Flats up to the forts. Now, they say, they talk of running one of + them wide roads with gates on it along the river; first making a road, and + then fencing it up! I hunted one season back of the Kaatskills, nigh-hand + to the settlements, and the dogs often lost the scent, when they came to + them highways, there was so much travel on them; though I can't say that + the brutes was of a very good breed. Old Hector will wind a deer, in the + fall of the year, across the broadest place in the Otsego, and that is a + mile and a half, for I paced it my self on the ice, when the tract was + first surveyed, under the Indian grant.” + </p> + <p> + “It sames to me, Natty, but a sorry compliment to call your comrad after + the evil one,” said the landlady; “and it's no much like a snake that old + John is looking now, Nimrod would be a more becoming name for the lad, and + a more Christian, too, seeing that it conies from the Bible. The sargeant + read me the chapter about him, the night before my christening, and a + mighty asement it was to listen to anything from the book.” + </p> + <p> + “Old John and Chingachgook were very different men to look on,” returned + the hunter, shaking his head at his melancholy recollections. “In the + 'fifty-eighth war' he was in the middle of manhood, and taller than now by + three inches. If you had seen him, as I did, the morning we beat Dieskau, + from behind our log walls, you would have called him as comely a redskin + as ye ever set eyes on. He was naked all to his breech-cloth and leggins; + and you never seed a creatur' so handsomely painted. One side of his face + was red and the other black. His head was shaved clean, all to a few hairs + on the crown, where he wore a tuft of eagle's feathers, as bright as if + they had come from a peacock's tail. He had colored his sides so that they + looked like anatomy, ribs and all, for Chingachgook had a great taste in + such things, so that, what with his bold, fiery countenance, his knife, + and his tomahawk, I have never seen a fiercer warrior on the ground. He + played his part, too, like a man, for I saw him next day with thirteen + scalps on his pole. And I will say this for the 'Big Snake,' that he + always dealt fair, and never scalped any that he didn't kill with his own + hands.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well!” cried the landlady, “fighting is fighting anyway, and there + is different fashions in the thing; though I can't say that I relish + mangling a body after the breath is out of it; neither do I think it can + be uphild by doctrine. I hope, sargeant, ye niver was helping in sich evil + worrek.” + </p> + <p> + “It was my duty to keep my ranks, and to stand or fall by the baggonet or + lead,” returned the veteran. “I was then in the fort, and seldom leaving + my place, saw but little of the savages, who kept on the flanks or in + front, skrimmaging. I remember, howsomever, to have heard mention made of + the 'Great Snake,' as he was called, for he was a chief of renown; but + little did I ever expect to see him enlisted in the cause of Christianity, + and civilized like old John.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! he was Christianized by the Moravians, who were always over-intimate + with the Delawares,” said Leather-Stocking. “It's my opinion that, had + they been left to themselves, there would be no such doings now about the + head-waters of the two rivers, and that these hills mought have been kept + as good hunting-ground by their right owner, who is not too old to carry a + rifle, and whose sight is as true as a fish-hawk hovering—” + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by more stamping at the door, and presently the party + from the mansion-house entered, followed by the Indian himself. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0014" id="link2HCH0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “There's quart-pot, pint-pot. + Mit-pint, Gill-pot, half-gill, nipperkin. + And the brown bowl— + Here's a health to the barley mow, + My brave boys, + Here's a health to the barley mow.” + —Drinking Song. +</pre> + <p> + Some little commotion was produced by the appearance of the new guests, + during which the lawyer slunk from the room. Most of the men approached + Marmaduke, and shook his offered hand, hoping “that the Judge was well;” + while Major Hartmann having laid aside his hat and wig, and substituted + for the latter a warm, peaked woollen nightcap, took his seat very quietly + on one end of the settee, which was relinquished by its former occupant. + His tobacco-box was next produced, and a clean pipe was handed him by the + landlord. When he had succeeded in raising a smoke, the Major gave a long + whiff, and, turning his head toward the bar, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Petty, pring in ter toddy.” + </p> + <p> + In the mean time the Judge had exchanged his salutations with most of the + company, and taken a place by the side of the Major, and Richard had + bustled himself into the most comfortable seat in the room. Mr. Le Quoi + was the last seated, nor did he venture to place his chair finally, until + by frequent removals he had ascertained that he could not possibly + intercept a ray of heat front any individual present. Mohegan found a + place on an end of one of the benches, and somewhat approximated to the + bar. + </p> + <p> + When these movements had subsided, the Judge remarked pleasantly: “Well, + Betty, I find you retain your popularity through all weathers, against all + rivals, and among all religions. How liked you the sermon?” + </p> + <p> + “Is it the sarmon?” exclaimed the landlady. “I can't say but it was + rasonable; but the prayers is mighty unasy. It's no small a matter for a + body in their fifty-nint' year to be moving so much in church. Mr. Grant + sames a godly man, any way, and his garrel a hommble on; and a devout. + Here, John, is a mug of cider, laced with whiskey. An Indian will drink + cider, though he niver be athirst.” + </p> + <p> + “I must say,” observed Hiram, with due deliberation, “that it was a + tongney thing; and I rather guess that it gave considerable satisfaction, + There was one part, though, which might have been left out, or something + else put in; but then I s'pose that, as it was a written discourse, it is + not so easily altered as where a minister preaches without notes.” + </p> + <p> + “Ày! there's the rub, Joodge,” cried the landlady. “How can a man stand up + and be preaching his word, when all that he is saying is written down, and + he is as much tied to it as iver a thaving dragoon was to the pickets?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” cried Marmaduke, waving his hand for silence, “there is + enough said; as Mr. Grant told us, there are different sentiments on such + subjects, and in my opinion he spoke most sensibly. So, Jotham, I am told + you have sold your betterments to a new settler, and have moved into the + village and opened a school. Was it cash or dicker?” + </p> + <p> + The man who was thus addressed occupied a seat immediately behind + Marmaduke, and one who was ignorant of the extent of the Judge's + observation might have thought he would have escaped notice. He was of a + thin, shapeless figure, with a discontented expression of countenance, and + with something extremely shiftless in his whole air, Thus spoken to, after + turning and twisting a little, by way of preparation, he made a reply: + </p> + <p> + “Why part cash and part dicker. I sold out to a Pumfietman who was + so'thin' forehanded. He was to give me ten dollar an acre for the + clearin', and one dollar an acre over the first cost on the woodland, and + we agreed to leave the buildin's to men. So I tuck Asa Montagu, and he + tuck Absalom Bement, and they two tuck old Squire Napthali Green. And so + they had a meetin', and made out a vardict of eighty dollars for the + buildin's. There was twelve acres of clearin' at ten dollars, and + eighty-eight at one, and the whole came to two hundred and eighty-six + dollars and a half, after paying the men.” + </p> + <p> + “Hum,” said Marmaduke, “what did you give for the place?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, besides what's comin' to the Judge, I gi'n my brother Tim a hundred + dollars for his bargain; but then there's a new house on't, that cost me + sixty more, and I paid Moses a hundred dollars for choppin', and loggin', + and sowin', so that the whole stood to me in about two hundred and sixty + dollars. But then I had a great crop oft on't, and as I got twenty-six + dollars and a half more than it cost, I conclude I made a pretty good + trade on't.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, but you forgot that the crop was yours without the trade, and you + have turned yourself out of doors for twenty-six dollars.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! the Judge is clean out,” said the man with a look of sagacious + calculation; “he turned out a span of horses, that is wuth a hundred and + fifty dollars of any man's money, with a bran-new wagon; fifty dollars in + cash, and a good note for eighty more; and a side-saddle that was valued + at seven and a half—so there was jist twelve shillings betwixt us. I + wanted him to turn out a set of harness, and take the cow and the sap + troughs. He wouldn't—but I saw through it; he thought I should have + to buy the tacklin' afore I could use the wagon and horses; but I knowed a + thing or two myself; I should like to know of what use is the tacklin' to + him! I offered him to trade back agin for one hundred and fifty-five. But + my woman said she wanted to churn, so I tuck a churn for the change.” + </p> + <p> + “And what do you mean to do with your time this winter? You must remember + that time is money.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, as master has gone down country to see his mother, who, they say, is + going to make a die on't, I agreed to take the school in hand till he + comes back, It times doesn't get worse in the spring, I've some notion of + going into trade, or maybe I may move off to the Genesee; they say they + are carryin' on a great stroke of business that-a-way. If the wust comes + to the wust, I can but work at my trade, for I was brought up in a shoe + manufactory.” + </p> + <p> + It would seem that Marmaduke did not think his society of sufficient value + to attempt inducing him to remain where he was, for he addressed no + further discourse to the man, but turned his attention to other subjects. + After a short pause, Hiram ventured a question: + </p> + <p> + “What news does the Judge bring us from the Legislature? It's not likely + that Congress has done much this session; or maybe the French haven't fit + any more battles lately?” + </p> + <p> + “The French, since they have beheaded their king, have done nothing but + fight,” returned the Judge. “The character of the nation seems changed. I + knew many French gentlemen during our war, and they all appeared to me to + be men of great humanity and goodness of heart; but these Jacobins are as + blood thirsty as bull-dogs.” + </p> + <p> + “There was one Roshambow wid us down at Yorrektown,” cried the landlady “a + mighty pratty man he was too; and their horse was the very same. It was + there that the sargeant got the hurt in the leg from the English + batteries, bad luck to 'em.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! mon pauvre Roi” muttered Monsieur Le Quoi. + </p> + <p> + “The Legislature have been passing laws,” continued Marmaduke, “that the + country much required. Among others, there is an act prohibiting the + drawing of seines, at any other than proper seasons, in certain of our + streams and small lakes; and another, to prohibit the killing of deer in + the teeming months. These are laws that were loudly called for by + judicious men; nor do I despair of getting an act to make the unlawful + felling of timber a criminal offence.” + </p> + <p> + The hunter listened to this detail with breathless attention, and, when + the Judge had ended, he laughed in open derision. + </p> + <p> + “You may make your laws, Judge,” he cried, “but who will you find to watch + the mountains through the long summer days, or the lakes at night? Game is + game, and he who finds may kill; that has been the law in these mountains + for forty years to my sartain knowledge; and I think one old law is worth + two new ones. None but a green one would wish to kill a doe with a fa'n by + its side, unless his moccasins were getting old, or his leggins ragged, + for the flesh is lean and coarse. But a rifle rings among the rocks along + the lake shore, sometimes, as if fifty pieces were fired at once—it + would be hard to tell where the man stood who pulled the trigger.” + </p> + <p> + “Armed with the dignity of the law, Mr. Bumppo,” returned the Judge, + gravely, “a vigilant magistrate can prevent much of the evil that has + hitherto prevailed, and which is already rendering the game scarce. I hope + to live to see the day when a man's rights in his game shall be as much + respected as his title to his farm.” + </p> + <p> + “Your titles and your farms are all new together,” cried Natty; “but laws + should be equal, and not more for one than another. I shot a deer, last + Wednesday was a fort night, and it floundered through the snow-banks till + it got over a brush fence; I catched the lock of my rifle in the twigs in + following, and was kept back, until finally the creature got off. Now I + want to know who is to pay me for that deer; and a fine buck it was. If + there hadn't been a fence I should have gotten another shot into it; and I + never drawed upon anything that hadn't wings three times running, in my + born days. No, no, Judge, it's the farmers that makes the game scarce, and + not the hunters.” + </p> + <p> + “Ter teer is not so plenty as in tee old war, Pumppo,” said the Major, who + had been an attentive listener, amid clouds of smoke; “put ter lant is not + mate as for ter teer to live on, put for Christians.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Major, I believe you're a friend to justice and the right, though + you go so often to the grand house; but it's a hard case to a man to have + his honest calling for a livelihood stopped by laws, and that, too, when, + if right was done, he mought hunt or fish on any day in the week, or on + the best flat in the Patent, if he was so minded.” + </p> + <p> + “I unterstant you, Letter-Stockint,” returned the Major, fixing his black + eyes, with a look of peculiar meaning, on the hunter: “put you didn't use + to be so prutent as to look ahet mit so much care.” + </p> + <p> + “Maybe there wasn't so much occasion,” said the hunter, a little sulkily; + when he sank into a silence from which he was not roused for some time. + </p> + <p> + “The Judge was saying so'thin' about the French,” Hiram observed when the + pause in the conversation had continued a decent time. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir,” returned Marmaduke, “the Jacobins of France seem rushing from + one act of licentiousness to an other, They continue those murders which + are dignified by the name of executions. You have heard that they have + added the death of their queen to the long list of their crimes.” + </p> + <p> + “Les monstres!” again murmured Monsieur Le Quoi, turning himself suddenly + in his chair, with a convulsive start. + </p> + <p> + “The province of La Vendée is laid waste by the troops of the republic, + and hundreds of its inhabitants, who are royalists in their sentiments, + are shot at a time. La Vendée is a district in the southwest of France, + that continues yet much attached to the family of the Bourbons; doubtless + Monsieur Le Quoi is acquainted with it, and can describe it more + faithfully.” + </p> + <p> + “Non, non, non, mon cher ami,” returned the Frenchman in a suppressed + voice, but speaking rapidly, and gesticulating with his right hand, as if + for mercy, while with his left he concealed his eyes. + </p> + <p> + “There have been many battles fought lately,” continued Marmaduke, “and + the infuriated republicans are too often victorious. I cannot say, + however, that I am sorry that they have captured Toulon from the English, + for it is a place to which they have a just right.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah—ha!” exclaimed Monsieur Le Quoi, springing on his feet and + flourishing both arms with great animation; “ces Anglais!” + </p> + <p> + The Frenchman continued to move about the room with great alacrity for a + few minutes, repeating his exclamations to himself; when overcome by the + contrary nature of his emotions, he suddenly burst out of the house, and + was seen wading through the snow toward his little shop, waving his arms + on high, as if to pluck down honor from the moon. His departure excited + but little surprise, for the villagers were used to his manner; but Major + Hartmann laughed outright, for the first during his visit, as he lifted + the mug, and observed: + </p> + <p> + “Ter Frenchman is mat—put he is goot as for noting to trink: he is + trunk mit joy.” + </p> + <p> + “The French are good soldiers,” said Captain Hollis ter; “they stood us in + hand a good turn at Yorktown; nor do I think, although I am an ignorant + man about the great movements of the army, that his excellency would have + been able to march against Cornwallis without their reinforcements.” + </p> + <p> + “Ye spake the trot', sargeant,” interrupted his wife, “and I would iver + have ye be doing the same. It's varry pratty men is the French; and jist + when I stopt the cart, the time when ye was pushing on in front it was, to + kape the riglers in, a rigiment of the jontlemen marched by, and so I + dealt them out to their liking. Was it pay I got? Sure did I, and in good + solid crowns; the divil a bit of continental could they muster among them + all, for love nor money. Och! the Lord forgive me for swearing and + spakeing of such vanities; but this I will say for the French, that they + paid in good silver; and one glass would go a great way wid 'em, for they + gin'rally handed it back wid a drop in the cup; and that's a brisk trade, + Joodge, where the pay is good, and the men not over-partic'lar.” + </p> + <p> + “A thriving trade, Mrs. Hollister,” said Marmaduke. “But what has become + of Richard? he jumped up as soon as seated, and has been absent so long + that I am really fearful he has frozen.” + </p> + <p> + “No fear of that, Cousin 'Duke,” cried the gentleman himself; “business + will sometimes keep a man warm the coldest night that ever snapt in the + mountains. Betty, your husband told me, as we came out of church, that + your hogs were getting mangy, and so I have been out to take a look at + them, and found it true. I stepped across, doctor, and got your boy to + weigh me out a pound of salts, and have been mixing it with their swill. + I'll bet a saddle of venison against a gray squirrel that they are better + in a week. And now, Mrs. Hollister, I'm ready for a hissing mug of flip.” + </p> + <p> + “Sure I know'd ye'd be wanting that same,” said the landlady; “it's fixt + and ready to the boiling. Sargeant, dear, be handing up the iron, will ye?—no, + the one on the far fire, it's black, ye will see. Ah! you've the thing + now; look if it's not as red as a cherry.” The beverage was heated, and + Richard took that kind of draught which men are apt to indulge in who + think that they have just executed a clever thing, especially when they + like the liquor. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! you have a hand. Betty, that was formed to mix flip,” cried Richard, + when he paused for breath. “The very iron has a flavor in it. Here, John, + drink, man, drink! I and you and Dr. Todd have done a good thing with the + shoulder of that lad this very night. 'Duke, I made a song while you were + gone—one day when I had nothing to do; so I'll sing you a verse or + two, though I haven't really determined on the tune yet. + </p> + <p> + “What is life but a scene of care, Where each one must toil in his way? + Then let us be jolly, and prove that we are A set of good fellows, who + seem very rare, And can laugh and sing all the day. Then let us be jolly + And cast away folly, For grief turns a black head to gray.” + </p> + <p> + “There, 'Duke, what do you think of that? There is another verse of it, + all but the last line. I haven't got a rhyme for the last line yet. Well, + old John, what do you think of the music? as good as one of your + war-songs, ha?” + </p> + <p> + “Good!” said Mohegan, who had been sharing deeply in the potations of the + landlady, besides paying a proper respect to the passing mugs of the Major + and Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + “Bravo! pravo! Richart,” cried the Major, whose black eyes were beginning + to swim in moisture; “pravisimo his a goot song; put Natty Pumppo has a + petter. Letter-Stockint, vilt sing? say, olt poy, vilt sing ter song as + apout ter wools?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Major,” returned the hunter, with a melancholy shake of the head, + “I have lived to see what I thought eyes could never behold in these + hills, and I have no heart left for singing. If he that has a right to be + master and ruler here is forced to squinch his thirst, when a-dry, with + snow-Water, it ill becomes them that have lived by his bounty to be making + merry, as if there was nothing in the world but sunshine and summer.” + </p> + <p> + When he had spoken, Leather-Stocking again dropped his head on his knees, + and concealed his hard and wrinkled features with his hands. The change + from the excessive cold without to the heat of the bar-room, coupled with + the depth and frequency of Richard's draughts, had already levelled + whatever inequality there might have existed between him and the other + guests, on the score of spirits; and he now held out a pair of swimming + mugs of foaming flip toward the hunter, as he cried: + </p> + <p> + “Merry! ay! merry Christmas to you, old boy! Sun shine and summer! no! you + are blind, Leather-Stocking, 'tis moonshine and winter—take these + spectacles, and open your eyes— + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + So let us be jolly, + And cast away folly, + For grief turns a black head to gray. +</pre> + <p> + —Hear how old John turns his quavers. What damned dull music an + Indian song is, after all, Major! I wonder if they ever sing by note.” + </p> + <p> + While Richard was singing and talking, Mohegan was uttering dull, + monotonous tones, keeping time by a gentle motion of his head and body. He + made use of but few words, and such as he did utter were in his native + language, and consequently only understood by himself and Natty. Without + heeding Richard, he continued to sing a kind of wild, melancholy air, that + rose, at times, in sudden and quite elevated notes, and then fell again + into the low, quavering sounds that seemed to compose the character of his + music. + </p> + <p> + The attention of the company was now much divided, the men in the rear + having formed themselves into little groups, where they were discussing + various matters; among the principal of which were the treatment of mangy + hogs and Parson Grant's preaching; while Dr. Todd was endeavoring to + explain to Marmaduke the nature of the hurt received by the young hunter. + Mohegan continued to sing, while his countenance was becoming vacant, + though, coupled with his thick, bushy hair, it was assuming an expression + very much like brutal ferocity. His notes were gradually growing louder, + and soon rose to a height that caused a general cessation in the + discourse. The hunter now raised his head again, and addressed the old + warrior warmly in the Delaware language, which, for the benefit of our + readers, we shall render freely into English. + </p> + <p> + “Why do you sing of your battles, Chingachgook, and of the warriors you + have slain, when the worst enemy of all is near you, and keeps the Young + Eagle from his rights? I have fought in as many battles as any warrior in + your tribe, but cannot boast of my deeds at such a time as this.” + </p> + <p> + “Hawk-eye,” said the Indian, tottering with a doubtful step from his + place, “I am the Great Snake of the Delawares; I can track the Mingoes + like an adder that is stealing on the whip-poor-will's eggs, and strike + them like the rattlesnake dead at a blow. The white man made the tomahawk + of Chingachgook bright as the waters of Otsego, when the last sun is + shining; but it is red with the blood of the Maquas.” + </p> + <p> + “And why have you slain the Mingo warriors? Was it not to keep these + hunting-grounds and lakes to your father's children? and were they not + given in solemn council to the Fire-eater? and does not the blood of a + warrior run in the veins of a young chief, who should speak aloud where + his voice is now too low to be heard?” + </p> + <p> + The appeal of the hunter seemed in some measure to recall the confused + faculties of the Indian, who turned his face toward the listeners and + gazed intently on the Judge. He shook his head, throwing his hair back + from his countenance, and exposed eyes that were glaring with an + expression of wild resentment. But the man was not himself. His hand + seemed to make a fruitless effort to release his tomahawk, which was + confined by its handle to his belt, while his eyes gradually became + vacant. Richard at that instant thrusting a mug before him, his features + changed to the grin of idiocy, and seizing the vessel with both hands, he + sank backward on the bench and drank until satiated, when he made an + effort to lay aside the mug with the helplessness of total inebriety. + </p> + <p> + “Shed not blood!” exclaimed the hunter, as he watched the countenance of + the Indian in its moment of ferocity; “but he is drunk and can do no harm. + This is the way with all the savages; give them liquor, and they make dogs + of themselves. Well, well—the day will come when right will be done; + and we must have patience.” + </p> + <p> + Natty still spoke in the Delaware language, and of course was not + understood. He had hardly concluded before Richard cried: + </p> + <p> + “Well, old John is soon sewed up. Give him a berth, captain, in the barn, + and I will pay for it. I am rich to night, ten times richer than 'Duke, + with all his lands, and military lots, and funded debts, and bonds, and + mortgages, + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + 'Come, let us be jolly, + And cast away folly, For grief—-' +</pre> + <p> + “Drink, King Hiram—drink, Mr. Doo-nothing—-drink, sir, I say. + This is a Christmas eve, which comes, you know, but once a year.” + </p> + <p> + “He! he! he! the squire is quite moosical to-night,” said Hiram, whose + visage began to give marvellous signs of relaxation. “I rather guess we + shall make a church on't yet, squire?” + </p> + <p> + “A church, Mr. Doolittle! we will make a cathedral of it! bishops, + priests, deacons, wardens, vestry, and choir; organ, organist, amid + bellows! By the Lord Harry, as Benjamin says, we will clap a steeple on + the other end of it, and make two churches of it. What say you, 'Duke, + will you pay? ha! my cousin Judge, wilt pay?” + </p> + <p> + “Thou makest such a noise, Dickon,” returned Marmaduke, “it is impossible + that I can hear what Dr. Todd is saying. I think thou observedst, it is + probable the wound will fester, so as to occasion danger to the limb in + this cold weather?” + </p> + <p> + “Out of nater, sir, quite out of nater,” said Elnathan, attempting to + expectorate, but succeeding only in throwing a light, frothy substance, + like a flake of snow, into the fire—“quite out of nater that a wound + so well dressed, and with the ball in my pocket, should fester. I s'pose, + as the Judge talks of taking the young man into his house, it will be most + convenient if I make but one charge on't.” + </p> + <p> + “I should think one would do,” returned Marmaduke, with that arch smile + that so often beamed on his face; leaving the beholder in doubt whether he + most enjoyed the character of his companion or his own covert humor. The + landlord had succeeded in placing the Indian on some straw in one of his + outbuildings, where, covered with his own blanket, John continued for the + remainder of the night. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Major Hartmann began to grow noisy and jocular; glass + succeeded glass, and mug after mug was introduced, until the carousal had + run deep into the night, or rather morning; when the veteran German + expressed an inclination to return to the mansion-house. Most of the party + had already retired, but Marmaduke knew the habits of his friend too well + to suggest an earlier adjournment. So soon, however, as the proposal was + made, the Judge eagerly availed himself of it, and the trio prepared to + depart. Mrs. Hollister attended them to the door in person, cautioning her + guests as to the safest manner of leaving her premises. + </p> + <p> + “Lane on Mister Jones, Major,” said she “he's young and will be a support + to ye. Well, it's a charming sight to see ye, anyway, at the Bould + Dragoon; and sure it's no harm to be kaping a Christmas eve wid a light + heart, for it's no telling when we may have sorrow come upon us. So + good-night, Joodge, and a merry Christmas to ye all tomorrow morning.” + </p> + <p> + The gentlemen made their adieus as well as they could, and taking the + middle of the road, which was a fine, wide, and well-beaten path, they did + tolerably well until they reached the gate of the mansion-house: but on + entering the Judge's domains they encountered some slight difficulties. We + shall not stop to relate them, but will just mention that in the morning + sundry diverging paths were to be seen in the snow; and that once during + their progress to the door, Marmaduke, missing his companions, was enabled + to trace them by one of these paths to a spot where he discovered them + with nothing visible but their heads, Richard singing in a most vivacious + strain: + </p> + <p> + “Come, let us be jolly, And cast away folly, For grief turns a black head + to gray.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0015" id="link2HCH0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “As she lay, on that day, in the Bay of Biscay, O!” + </pre> + <p> + Previously to the occurrence of the scene at the “Bold Dragoon,” Elizabeth + had been safely reconducted to the mansion-house, where she was left as + its mistress, either to amuse or employ herself during the evening as best + suited her own inclinations. Most of the lights were extinguished; but as + Benjamin adjusted with great care and regularity four large candles, in as + many massive candlesticks of brass, in a row on the sideboard, the hall + possessed a peculiar air of comfort and warmth, contrasted with the + cheerless aspect of the room she had left in the academy. + </p> + <p> + Remarkable had been one of the listeners to Mr. Grant, and returned with + her resentment, which had been not a little excited by the language of the + Judge, somewhat softened by reflection and the worship. She recollected + the youth of Elizabeth, and thought it no difficult task, under present + appearances, to exercise that power indirectly which hitherto she had + enjoyed undisputed. The idea of being governed, or of being compelled to + pay the deference of servitude, was absolutely intolerable; and she had + already determined within herself, some half dozen times, to make an + effort that should at once bring to an issue the delicate point of her + domestic condition. But as often as she met the dark, proud eye of + Elizabeth, who was walking up and down the apartment, musing on the scenes + of her youth and the change in her condition, and perhaps the events of + the day, the housekeeper experienced an awe that she would not own to + herself could be excited by anything mortal. It, however, checked her + advances, and for some time held her tongue-tied. At length she determined + to commence the discourse by entering on a subject that was apt to level + all human distinctions, and in which she might display her own abilities. + </p> + <p> + “It was quite a wordy sarmon that Parson Grant gave us to-night,” said + Remarkable. “The church ministers be commonly smart sarmonizers, but they + write down their idees, which is a great privilege. I don't think that, by + nater, they are as tonguey speakers, for an off-hand discourse, as the + standing-order ministers.” + </p> + <p> + “And what denomination do you distinguish as the standing-order?” inquired + Miss Temple, with some surprise. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the Presbyter'ans and Congregationals, and Baptists, too, for-til' + now; and all sitch as don't go on their knees to prayer.” + </p> + <p> + “By that rule, then, you would call those who belong' to the persuasion of + my father, the sitting-order,” observed Elizabeth. “I'm sure I've never + heard 'em spoken of by any other' name than Quakers, so called,” returned + Remarkable, betraying a slight uneasiness; “I should be the last to call + them otherwise, for I never in my life used a disparaging' tarm of the + Judge, or any of his family. I've always set store by the Quakers, they + are so pretty-spoken, clever people, and it's a wonderment to me how your + father come to marry into a church family; for they are as contrary in + religion as can be. One sits still, and, for the most part; says nothing, + while the church folks practyse all kinds of ways, so that I sometimes + think it quite moosical to see them; for I went to a church-meeting once + before, down country.” + </p> + <p> + “You have found an excellence in the church liturgy that has hitherto + escaped me. I will thank you to inquire whether the fire in my room burns; + I feel fatigued with my journey, and will retire.” + </p> + <p> + Remarkable felt a wonderful inclination to tell the young mistress of the + mansion that by opening a door she might see for herself; but prudence got + the better of resentment, and after pausing some little time, as a salve + to her dignity, she did as desired. The report was favorable, and the + young lady, wishing Benjamin, who was filling the stove with wood, and the + housekeeper, each a good-night, withdrew. + </p> + <p> + The instant the door closed on Miss Temple, Remarkable commenced a sort + of mysterious, ambiguous discourse, that was neither abusive nor + commendatory of the qualities of the absent personage, but which seemed to + be drawing nigh, by regular degrees, to a most dissatisfied description. + The major-domo made no reply, but continued his occupation with great + industry, which being happily completed, he took a look at the + thermometer, and then opening a drawer of the sideboard, he produced a + supply of stimulants that would have served to keep the warmth in his + system without the aid of the enormous fire he had been building. A small + stand was drawn up near the stove, and the bottles and the glasses + necessary for convenience were quietly arranged. Two chairs were placed by + the side of this comfortable situation, when Benjamin, for the first time, + appeared to observe his companion. + </p> + <p> + “Come,” he cried, “come, Mistress Remarkable, bring yourself to an anchor + on this chair. It's a peeler without, I can tell you, good woman; but what + cares I? blow high or blow low, d'ye see, it's all the same thing to Ben. + The niggers are snug stowed below before a fire that would roast an ox + whole. The thermometer stands now at fifty-five, but if there's any vartue + in good maple wood, I'll weather upon it, before one glass, as much as ten + points more, so that the squire, when he comes home from Betty Hollister's + warm room, will feel as hot as a hand that has given the rigging a lick + with bad tar. Come, mistress, bring up in this here chair, and tell me how + you like our new heiress.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, to my notion, Mr. Penguillum——” + </p> + <p> + “Pump, Pump,” interrupted Benjamin; “it's Christmas eve, Mistress + Remarkable, and so, d'ye see, you had better call me Pump. It's a shorter + name, and as I mean to pump this here decanter till it sucks, why, you may + as well call me Pump.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever!” cried Remarkable, with a laugh that seemed to unhinge + every joint in her body. “You're a moosical creature, Benjamin, when the + notion takes you. But, as I was saying, I rather guess that times will be + altered now in this house.” + </p> + <p> + “Altered!” exclaimed the major-domo, eyeing the bottle, that was assuming + the clear aspect of cut glass with astonishing rapidity; “it don't matter + much, Mistress Remarkable, so long as I keep the keys of the lockers in my + pocket.” + </p> + <p> + “I can't say,” continued the housekeeper, “but there's good eatables and + drinkables enough in the house for a body's content—a little more + sugar, Benjamin, in the glass—for Squire Jones is an excellent + provider. But new lords, new laws; and I shouldn't wonder if you and I had + an unsartain time on't in footer.” + </p> + <p> + “Life is as unsartain as the wind that blows,” said Benjamin, with a + moralizing air; “and nothing is more varible than the wind, Mistress + Remarkable, unless you happen to fall in with the trades, d'ye see, and + then you may run for the matter of a month at a time, with studding-sails + on both sides, alow and aloft, and with the cabin-boy at the wheel.” + </p> + <p> + “I know that life is disp'ut unsartain,” said Remarkable, compressing her + features to the humor of her companion; “but I expect there will be great + changes made in the house to rights; and that you will find a young man + put over your head, as there is one that wants to be over mine; and after + having been settled as long as you have, Benjamin, I should judge that to + be hard.” + </p> + <p> + “Promotion should go according to length of sarvice,” said the major-domo; + “and if-so-be that they ship a hand for my berth, or place a new steward + aft, I shall throw up my commission in less time than you can put a + pilot-boat in stays. The Squire Dickon”—this was a common misnomer + with Benjamin—“is a nice gentleman, and as good a man to sail with + as heart could wish, yet I shall tel the squire, d'ye see, in plain + English, and that's my native tongue, that if-so-be he is thinking of + putting any Johnny Raw over my head, why, I shall resign. I began forrard, + Mistress Prettybones, and worked my way aft, like a man. I was six months + aboard a Garnsey lugger, hauling in the slack of the lee-sheet and coiling + up rigging. From that I went a few trips in a fore-and-after, in the same + trade, which, after all, was but a blind kind of sailing in the dark, + where a man larns but little, excepting how to steer by the stars. Well, + then, d'ye see, I larnt how a topmast should be slushed, and how a + topgallant-sail was to be becketted; and then I did small jobs in the + cabin, such as mixing the skipper's grog. 'Twas there I got my taste, + which, you must have often seen, is excel lent. Well, here's better + acquaintance to us.” Remarkable nodded a return to the compliment, and + took a sip of the beverage before her; for, provided it was well + sweetened, she had no objection to a small potation now and then, After + this observance of courtesy between the worthy couple, the dialogue + proceeded. + </p> + <p> + “You have had great experiences in life, Benjamin; for, as the Scripter + says, 'They that go down to the sea in ships see the works of the Lord.'” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! for that matter, they in brigs and schooners, too; and it mought say, + the works of the devil. The sea, Mistress Remarkable, is a great advantage + to a man, in the way of knowledge, for he sees the fashions of nations and + the shape of a country. Now, I suppose, for myself here, who is but an + unlarned man to some that follows the seas, I suppose that, taking the + coast from Cape Ler Hogue as low down as Cape Finish-there, there isn't so + much as a headland, or an island, that I don't know either the name of it + or something more or less about it. Take enough, woman, to color the + water. Here's sugar. It's a sweet tooth, that fellow that you hold on upon + yet, Mistress Prettybones. But, as I was saying, take the whole coast + along, I know it as well as the way from here to the Bold Dragoon; and a + devil of acquaintance is that Bay of Biscay. Whew! I wish you could but + hear the wind blow there. It sometimes takes two to hold one man's hair on + his head. Scudding through the bay is pretty much the same thing as + travelling the roads in this country, up one side of a mountain and down + the other.” + </p> + <p> + “Do tell!” exclaimed Remarkable; “and does the sea run as high as + mountains, Benjamin?” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I will tell; but first let's taste the grog. Hem! it's the right + kind of stuff, I must say, that you keep in this country; but then you're + so close aboard the West Indies, you make but a small run of it. By the + Lord Harry, woman, if Garnsey only lay somewhere between Cape Hatteras and + the bite of Logann, but you'd see rum cheap! As to the seas, they runs + more in uppers in the Bay of Biscay, unless it may be in a sow-wester, + when they tumble about quite handsomely; thof it's not in the narrow sea + that you are to look for a swell; just go off the Western Islands, in a + westerly blow, keeping the land on your larboard hand, with the ship's + head to the south'ard, and bring to, under a close-reefed topsail; or, + mayhap, a reefed foresail, with a fore-topmast-staysail and mizzen + staysail to keep her up to the sea, if she will bear it; and ay there for + the matter of two watches, if you want to see mountains. Why, good woman, + I've been off there in the Boadishey frigate, when you could see nothing + but some such matter as a piece of sky, mayhap, as big as the main sail; + and then again, there was a hole under your lee-quarter big enough to hold + the whole British navy.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! for massy's sake! and wa'n't you afeard, Benjamin? and how did you + get off?” + </p> + <p> + “Afeard! who the devil do you think was to be frightened at a little salt + water tumbling about his head? As for getting off, when we had enough of + it, and had washed our decks down pretty well, we called all hands, for, + d'ye see, the watch below was in their hammocks, all the same as if they + were in one of your best bedrooms; and so we watched for a smooth time, + clapt her helm hard a weather, let fall the foresail, and got the tack + aboard; and so, when we got her afore it, I ask you, Mistress Prettybones, + if she didn't walk? didn't she? I'm no liar, good woman, when I say that I + saw that ship jump from the top of one sea to another, just like one of + these squirrels that can fly jumps from tree to tree.” + </p> + <p> + “What! clean out of the water?” exclaimed Remarkable, lifting her two + lank arms, with their bony hands spread in astonishment. + </p> + <p> + “It was no such easy matte: to get out of the water, good woman; for the + spray flew so that you couldn't tell which was sea or which was cloud. So + there we kept her afore it for the matter of two glasses. The first + lieutenant he cun'd the ship himself, and there was four quarter masters + at the wheel, besides the master with six forecastle men in the gun-room + at the relieving tackles. But then she behaved herself so well! Oh! she + was a sweet ship, mistress! That one frigate was well worth more, to live + in, than the best house in the island. If I was king of England I'd have + her hauled up above Lon'on bridge, and fit her up for a palace; because + why? if anybody can afford to live comfortably, his majesty can.” + </p> + <p> + “Well! but, Benjamin,” cried the listener, who was in an ecstasy of + astonishment at this relation of the steward's dangers, “what did you do?” + </p> + <p> + “Do! why, we did our duty like hearty fellows. Now if the countrymen of + Monnsheer Ler Quaw had been aboard of her, they would have just struck her + ashore on some of them small islands; but we run along the land until we + found her dead to leeward off the mountains of Pico, and dam'me if I know + to this day how we got there—whether we jumped over the island or + hauled round it; but there we was, and there we lay, under easy sail, + fore-reaching first upon one tack and then upon t'other, so as to poke her + nose out now and then and take a look to wind'ard till the gale blowed its + pipe out.” + </p> + <p> + “I wonder, now!” exclaimed Remarkable, to whom most of the terms used by + Benjamin were perfectly unintelligible, but who had got a confused idea of + a raging tempest. “It must be an awful life, that going to sea! and I + don't feel astonishment that you are so affronted with the thoughts, of + being forced to quit a comfortable home like this. Not that a body cares + much for't, as there's more houses than one to live in. Why, when the + Judge agreed with me to come and live with him, I'd no more notion of + stopping any time than anything. I happened in just to see how the family + did, about a week after Mrs. Temple died, thinking to be back home agin' + night; but the family was in such a distressed way that I couldn't but + stop awhile and help em on. I thought the situation a good one, seeing + that I was an unmarried body, and they were so much in want of help; so I + tarried.” + </p> + <p> + “And a long time you've left your anchors down in the same place, + mistress. I think yo' must find that the ship rides easy.” + </p> + <p> + “How you talk, Benjamin! there's no believing a word you say. I must say + that the Judge and Squire Jones have both acted quite clever, so long; but + I see that now we shall have a specimen to the contrary. I heern say thats + the Judge was gone a great 'broad, and that he meant to bring his darter + hum, but I didn't calculate on sich carrins on. To my notion, Benjamin, + she's likely to turn out a desp'ut ugly gal.” + </p> + <p> + “Ugly!” echoed the major-domo, opening eyes that were beginning to close + in a very suspicious sleepiness, in wide amazement. “By the Lord Harry, + woman, I should as soon think of calling the Boadishey a clumsy frigate. + What the devil would you have? Arn't her eyes as bright as the morning and + evening stars? and isn't her hair as black and glistening as rigging that + has just had a lick of tar? doesn't she move as stately as a first-rate in + smooth water, on a bowline? Why, woman, the figure-head of the Boadishey + was a fool to her, and that, as I've often heard the captain say, was an + image of a great queen; and arn't queens always comely, woman? for who do + you think would be a king, and not choose a handsome bedfellow?” + </p> + <p> + “Talk decent, Benjamin,” said the housekeeper, “Or I won't keep your + company. I don't gainsay her being comely to look on, but I will maintain + that she's likely to show poor conduct. She seems to think herself too + good to talk to a body. From what Squire Jones had telled me, I some + expected to be quite captivated by her company. Now, to my reckoning, + Lowizy Grant is much more pritty behaved than Betsey Temple. She wouldn't + so much as hold discourse with me when I wanted to ask her how she felt on + coming home and missing her mammy.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps she didn't understand you, woman; you are none of the best + linguister; and then Miss Lizzy has been exercising the king's English + under a great Lon'on lady, and, for that matter, can talk the language + almost as well as myself, or any native-born British subject. You've + forgot your schooling, and the young mistress is a great scollard.” + </p> + <p> + “Mistress!” cried Remarkable; “don't make one out to be a nigger, + Benjamin. She's no mistress of mine, and never will be. And as to speech, + I hold myself as second to nobody out of New England. I was born and + raised in Essex County; and I've always heern say that the Bay State was + provarbal for pronounsation!” + </p> + <p> + “I've often heard of that Bay of State,” said Benjamin, “but can't say + that I've ever been in it, nor do I know exactly whereaway it is that it + lays; but I suppose there is good anchorage in it, and that it's no bad + place for the taking of ling; but for size it can't be so much as a yawl + to a sloop of war compared with the Bay of Biscay, or, mayhap, Torbay. And + as for language, if you want to hear the dictionary overhauled like a + log-line in a blow, you must go to Wapping and listen to the Lon'oners as + they deal out their lingo. Howsomever, I see no such mighty matter that + Miss Lizzy has been doing to you, good woman; so take another drop of your + brews and forgive and forget, like an honest soul.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed! and I shan't do sitch a thing, Benjamin. This treatment is a + newity to me, and what I won't put up with. I have a hundred and fifty + dollars at use, besides a bed and twenty sheep, to good; and I don't crave + to live in a house where a body mustn't call a young woman by her given + name to her face. I will call her Betsey as much as I please; it's a free + country, and no one can stop me. I did intend to stop while summer, but I + shall quit to-morrow morning; and I will talk just as I please.” + </p> + <p> + “For that matter, Mistress Remarkable,” said Benjamin, “there's none here + who will contradict you; for I'm of opinion that it would be as easy to + stop a hurricane with a Barcelony handkerchy as to bring up your tongue + when the stopper is off. I say, good woman, do they grow many monkeys + along the shores of that Bay of State?” + </p> + <p> + “You're a monkey yourself, Mr. Penguillum,” cried the enraged housekeeper, + “or a bear—a black, beastly bear! and ain't fit for a decent woman + to stay with. I'll never, keep your company agin, sir, if I should live + thirty years with the Judge. Sitch talk is more befitting the kitchen than + the keeping-room of a house of one who is well-to-do in the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Look you, Mistress Pitty—Patty———Prettybones, + mayhap I'm some such matter as a bear, as they will find who come to + grapple with me; but dam'me if I'm a monkey—a thing that chatters + without knowing a word of what it says—a parrot; that will hold a + dialogue, for what an honest man knows, in a dozen languages; mayhap in + the Bay of State lingo; mayhap in Greek or High Dutch. But dost it know + what it means itself? canst answer me that, good woman? Your midshipman + can sing out, and pass the word, when the captain gives the order, but + just send him adrift by himself, and let him work the ship of his own + head, and stop my grog if you don't find all the Johnny Raws laughing at + him.” + </p> + <p> + “Stop your grog, indeed!” said Remarkable, rising with great indignation, + and seizing a candle; “you're groggy now, Benjamin and I'll quit the room + before I hear any misbecoming words from you.” The housekeeper retired, + with a manner but little less dignified, as she thought, than the air of + the heiress, muttering as she drew the door after her, with a noise like + the report of a musket, the opprobrious terms of “drunkard,” “sot,” and + “beast.” + </p> + <p> + “Who's that you say is drunk?” cried Benjamin fiercely, rising and making + a movement toward Remarkable. “You talk of mustering yourself with a lady + you're just fit to grumble and find fault. Where the devil should you larn + behavior and dictionary? in your damned Bay of State, ha?” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin here fell back in his chair, and soon gave vent to certain + ominous sounds, which resembled not a little the growling of his favorite + animal the bear itself. Before, however, he was quite locked—to use + the language that would suit the Della-cruscan humor of certain refined + minds of the present day—“in the arms of Morpheus,” he spoke aloud, + observing due pauses between his epithets, the impressive terms of + “monkey,” “parrot,” “picnic,” “tar pot,” and “linguisters” + </p> + <p> + We shall not attempt to explain his meaning nor connect his sentences; and + our readers must be satisfied with our informing them that they were + expressed with all that coolness of contempt that a man might well be + supposed to feel for a monkey. + </p> + <p> + Nearly two hours passed in this sleep before the major domo was awakened + by the noisy entrance of Richard, Major Hartmann, and the master of the + mansion. Benjamin so far rallied his confused faculties as to shape the + course of the two former to their respective apartments, when he + disappeared himself, leaving the task of securing the house to him who was + most interested in its safety. Locks and bars were but little attended to + in the early days of that settlement, and so soon as Marmaduke had given + an eye to the enormous fires of his dwelling he retired. With this act of + prudence closes the first night of our tale. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0016" id="link2HCH0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVI + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Watch (aside). + Some treason, masters— + Yet stand close.” + —Much Ado About Nothing. +</pre> + <p> + It was fortunate for more than one of the bacchanalians who left the “Bold + Dragoon” late in the evening that the severe cold of the season was + becoming rapidly less dangerous as they threaded the different mazes + through the snow-banks that led to their respective dwellings. Then + driving clouds began toward morning to flit across the heavens, and the + moon set behind a volume of vapor that was impelled furiously toward the + north, carrying with it the softer atmosphere from the distant ocean. The + rising sun was obscured by denser and increasing columns of clouds, while + the southerly wind that rushed up the valley brought the never-failing + symptoms of a thaw. + </p> + <p> + It was quite late in the morning before Elizabeth, observing the faint + glow which appeared on the eastern mountain long after the light of the + sun had struck the opposite hills, ventured from the house, with a view to + gratify her curiosity with a glance by daylight at the surrounding objects + before the tardy revellers of the Christmas eve should make their + appearance at the breakfast-table. While she was drawing the folds of her + pelisse more closely around her form, to guard against a cold that was yet + great though rapidly yielding, in the small inclosure that opened in the + rear of the house on a little thicket of low pines that were springing up + where trees of a mightier growth had lately stood, she was surprised at + the voice of Mr. Jones. + </p> + <p> + “Merry Christmas, merry Christmas to you, Cousin Bess,” he shouted. “Ah, + ha! an early riser, I see; but I knew I should steal a march on you. I + never was in a house yet where I didn't get the first Christmas greeting + on every soul in it, man, woman, and child—great and small—black, + white, and yellow. But stop a minute till I can just slip on my coat. You + are about to look at the improvements, I see, which no one can explain so + well as I, who planned them all. It will be an hour before 'Duke and the + Major can sleep off Mrs. Hollister's confounded distillations, and so I'll + come down and go with you.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth turned and observed her cousin in his night cap, with his head + out of his bedroom window, where his zeal for pre-eminence, in defiance of + the weather, had impelled him to thrust it. She laughed, and promising to + wait for his company re-entered the house, making her appearance again, + holding in her hand a packet that was secured by several large and + important seals, just in time to meet the gentleman. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Bessy, come,” he cried, drawing one of her arms through his own; + “the snow begins to give, but it will bear us yet. Don't you snuff old + Pennsylvania in the very air? This is a vile climate, girl; now at sunset, + last evening, it was cold enough to freeze a man's zeal, and that, I can + tell you, takes a thermometer near zero for me; then about nine or ten it + began to moderate; at twelve it was quite mild, and here all the rest of + the night I have been so hot as not to bear a blanket on the bed.—Holla! + Aggy—merry Christmas, Aggy—I say, do you hear me, you black + dog! there's a dollar for you; and if the gentle men get up before I come + back, do you come out and let me know. I wouldn't have 'Duke get the start + of me for the worth of your head.” + </p> + <p> + The black caught the money from the snow, and promising a due degree of + watchfulness, he gave the dollar a whirl of twenty feet in the air, and + catching it as it fell in the palm of his hand, he withdrew to the + kitchen, to exhibit his present, with a heart as light as his face was + happy in its expression. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, rest easy, my dear coz,” said the young lady; “I took a look in at my + father, who is likely to sleep an hour; and by using due vigilance you + will secure all the honors of the season.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, Duke is your father, Elizabeth; but 'Duke is a man who likes to be + foremost, even in trifles. Now, as for myself, I care for no such things, + except in the way of competition; for a thing which is of no moment in + itself may be made of importance in the way of competition. So it is with + your father—he loves to be first; but I only; struggle with him as a + competitor.” + </p> + <p> + “It's all very clear, sir,” said Elizabeth; “you would not care a fig for + distinction if there were no one in the world but yourself; but as there + happens to be a great many others, why, you must struggle with them all—in + the way of competition.” + </p> + <p> + “Exactly so; I see you are a clever girl, Bess, and one who does credit to + her masters. It was my plan to send you to that school; for when your + father first mentioned the thing, I wrote a private letter for advice to a + judicious friend in the city, who recommended the very school you went to. + 'Duke was a little obstinate at first, as usual, but when he heard the + truth he was obliged to send you.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, a truce to 'Duke's foibles, sir; he is my father, and if you knew + what he has been doing for you while we were in Albany, you would deal + more tenderly with his character.” + </p> + <p> + “For me!” cried Richard, pausing a moment in his walk to reflect. “Oh! he + got the plans of the new Dutch meeting-house for me, I suppose; but I care + very little about it, for a man of a certain kind of talent is seldom + aided by any foreign suggestions; his own brain is the best architect.” + </p> + <p> + “No such thing,” said Elizabeth, looking provokingly knowing. + </p> + <p> + “No! let me see—perhaps he had my name put in the bill for the new + turnpike, as a director.” + </p> + <p> + “He might possibly; but it is not to such an appointment that I allude.” + </p> + <p> + “Such an appointment!” repeated Mr. Jones, who began to fidget with + curiosity; “then it is an appointment. If it is in the militia, I won't + take it. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, it is not in the militia,” cried Elizabeth, showing the packet in + her hand, and then drawing it back with a coquettish air; “it is an office + of both honor and emolument.” + </p> + <p> + “Honor and emolument!” echoed Richard, in painful suspense; “show me the + paper, girl. Say, is it an office where there is anything to do?” + </p> + <p> + “You have hit it, Cousin Dickon; it is the executive office of the county; + at least so said my father when he gave me this packet to offer you as a + Christmas-box. Surely, if anything will please Dickon,' he said, 'it will + be to fill the executive chair of the county.'” + </p> + <p> + “Executive chair! what nonsense!” cried the impatient gentleman, snatching + the packet from her hand; “there is no such office in the county. Eh! + what! it is, I declare, a commission, appointing Richard Jones, Esquire, + sheriff of the county. Well, this is kind in 'Duke, positively. I must say + 'Duke has a warm heart, and never forgets his friends. Sheriff! High + Sheriff of—! it sounds well, Bess, but it shall execute better. + 'Duke is a judicious man after all, and knows human nature thoroughly, I'm + much obliged to him,” continued Richard, using the skirt of his coat + unconsciously to wipe his eyes; “though I would do as much for him any + day, as he shall see, if I have an opportunity to perform any of the + duties of my office on him. It shall be done, Cousin Bess——it + shall be done, I say. How this cursed south wind makes one's eyes water!” + </p> + <p> + “Now, Richard,” said the laughing maiden, “now I think you will find + something to do. I have often heard you complain of old that there was + nothing to do in this new country, while to my eyes it seemed as if + everything remained to be done.” + </p> + <p> + “Do!” echoed Richard, who blew his nose, raised his little form to its + greatest elevation, and looked serious. “Everything depends on system, + girl. I shall sit down this afternoon and systematize the county. I must + have deputies, you know. I will divide the county into districts, over + which I will place my deputies; and I will have one for the village, which + I will call my home department. Let me see—ho! Benjamin! yes, + Benjamin will make a good deputy; he has been naturalized, and would + answer admirably if he could only ride on horseback.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Mr. Sheriff,” said his companion; “and as he understands ropes so + well, he would be very expert, should occasion happen for his services in + another way.” + </p> + <p> + “No,” interrupted the other; “I flatter myself that no man could hang a + man better than—that is—ha!—oh! yes, Benjamin would do + extremely well in such an unfortunate dilemma, if he could be persuaded to + attempt it. But I should despair of the thing. I never could induce him to + hang, or teach him to ride on horseback. I must seek another deputy.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, as you have abundant leisure for all these important affairs, + I beg that you will forget that you are high sheriff, and devote some + little of your time to gallantry. Where are the beauties and improvements + which you were to show me?” + </p> + <p> + “Where? why, everywhere! Here I have laid out some new streets; and when + they are opened, and the trees felled, and they are all built up, will + they not make a fine town? Well, 'Duke is a liberal-hearted fellow, with + all his stubbornness. Yes, yes; I must have at least four deputies, + besides a jailer.” + </p> + <p> + “I see no streets in the direction of our walk,” said Elizabeth, “unless + you call the short avenues through these pine bushes by that name. Surely + you do not contemplate building houses, very soon, in that forest before + us, and in those swamps.” + </p> + <p> + “We must run our streets by the compass, coz, and disregard trees, hills, + ponds, stumps, or, in fact, anything but posterity. Such is the will of + your father, and your father, you know——” + </p> + <p> + “Had you made sheriff, Mr. Jones,” interrupted the lady, with a tone that + said very plainly to the gentleman that he was touching a forbidden + subject. + </p> + <p> + “I know it, I know it,” cried Richard; “and if it were in my power, I'd + make 'Duke a king. He is a noble hearted fellow, and would make an + excellent king; that is, if he had a good prime minister. But who have we + here? voices in the bushes—a combination about mischief, I'll wager + my commission. Let us draw near and examine a little into the matter.” + </p> + <p> + During this dialogue, as the parties had kept in motion, Richard and his + cousin advanced some distance from the house into the open space in the + rear of the village, where, as may be gathered from the conversation, + streets were planned and future dwellings contemplated; but where, in + truth, the only mark of improvement that was to be seen was a neglected + clearing along the skirt of a dark forest of mighty pines, over which the + bushes or sprouts of the same tree had sprung up to a height that + interspersed the fields of snow with little thickets of evergreen. The + rushing of the wind, as it whistled through the tops of these mimic trees, + prevented the footsteps of the pair from being heard, while the branches + concealed their persons. Thus aided, the listeners drew nigh to a spot + where the young hunter, Leather-Stocking, and the Indian chief were + collected in an earnest consultation. The former was urgent in his manner, + and seemed to think the subject of deep importance, while Natty appeared + to listen with more than his usual attention to what the other was saying. + Mohegan stood a little on one side, with his head sunken on his chest, his + hair falling forward so as to conceal most of his features, and his whole + attitude expressive of deep dejection, if not of shame. “Let us withdraw,” + whispered Elizabeth; “we are intruders, and can have no right to listen to + the secrets of these men.” + </p> + <p> + “No right!” returned Richard a little impatiently, in the same tone, and + drawing her arm so forcibly through his own as to prevent her retreat; + “you forget, cousin, that it is my duty to preserve the peace of the + county and see the laws executed, these wanderers frequently commit + depredations, though I do not think John would do anything secretly. Poor + fellow! he was quite boozy last night, and hardly seems to be over it yet. + Let us draw nigher and hear what they say.” + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the lady's reluctance, Richard, stimulated doubtless by + his sense of duty, prevailed; and they were soon so near as distinctly to + hear sounds. + </p> + <p> + “The bird must be had,” said Natty, “by fair means or foul. Heigho! I've + known the time, lad, when the wild turkeys wasn't over-scarce in the + country; though you must go into the Virginia gaps if you want them now. + 'to be sure, there is a different taste to a partridge and a well-fatted + turkey; though, to my eating, beaver's tail and bear's ham make the best + of food. But then every one has his own appetite. I gave the last + farthing, all to that shilling, to the French trader, this very morning, + as I came through the town, for powder; so, as you have nothing, we can + have but one shot for it. I know that Billy Kirby is out, and means to + have a pull of the trigger at that very turkey. John has a true eye for a + single fire, and, some how, my hand shakes so whenever I have to do + anything extrawnary, that I often lose my aim. Now, when I killed the + she-bear this fall, with her cubs, though they were so mighty ravenous, I + knocked them over one at a shot, and loaded while I dodged the trees in + the bargain; but this is a very different thing, Mr. Oliver.” + </p> + <p> + “This,” cried the young man, with an accent that sounded as if he took a + bitter pleasure in his poverty, while he held a shilling up before his + eyes, “this is all the treasure that I possess—this and my rifle! + Now, indeed, I have become a man of the woods, and must place my sole + dependence on the chase. Come, Natty, let us stake the last penny for the + bird; with your aim, it cannot fail to be successful.” + </p> + <p> + “I would rather it should be John, lad; my heart jumps into my mouth, + because you set your mind so much out; and I'm sartain that I shall miss + the bird. Them Indians can shoot one time as well as another; nothing ever + troubles them. I say, John, here's a shilling; take my rifle, and get a + shot at the big turkey they've put up at the stump. Mr. Oliver is + over-anxious for the creatur', and I'm sure to do nothing when I have + over-anxiety about it.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian turned his head gloomily, and after looking keenly for a + moment, in profound silence, at his companions, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “When John was young, eyesight was not straighter than his bullet. The + Mingo squaws cried out at the sound of his rifle. The Mingo warriors were + made squaws. When did he ever shoot twice? The eagle went above the clouds + when he passed the wigwam of Chingachgook; his feathers were plenty with + the women. But see,” he said, raising his voice from the low, mournful + tones in which he had spoken to a pitch of keen excitement, and stretching + forth both hands, “they shake like a deer at the wolf's howl. Is John old? + When was a Mohican a squaw with seventy winters? No! the white man brings + old age with him—rum is his tomahawk!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, then, do you use it, old man?” exclaimed the young hunter; “why will + one, so noble by nature, aid the devices of the devil by making himself a + beast?” + </p> + <p> + “Beast! is John a beast?” replied the Indian slowly; “yes; you say no lie, + child of the Fire-eater! John is a beast. The smokes were once few in + these hills, The deer would lick the hand of a white man and the birds + rest on his head. They were strangers to him. My fathers came from the + shores of the salt lake. They fled before rum. They came to their + grandfather, and they lived in peace; or, when they did raise the hatchet, + it was to strike it into the brain of a Mingo. They gathered around the + council fire, and what they said was done. Then John was a man. But + warriors and traders with light eyes followed them. One brought the long + knife and one brought rum. They were more than the pines on the mountains; + and they broke up the councils and took the lands, The evil spirit was in + their jugs, and they let him loose. Yes yes—you say no lie, Young + Eagle; John is a Christian beast.” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive me, old warrior,” cried the youth, grasping his hand; “I should + be the last to reproach you. The curses of Heaven light on the cupidity + that has destroyed such a race. Remember, John, that I am of your family, + and it is now my greatest pride.” + </p> + <p> + The muscles of Mohegan relaxed a little, and he said, more mildly: + </p> + <p> + “You are a Delaware, my son; your words are not heard—John cannot + shoot.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought that lad had Indian blood in him,” whispered Richard, “by the + awkward way he handled my horses last night. You see, coz, they never use + harness. But the poor fellow shall have two shots at the turkey, if he + wants it, for I'll give him another shilling myself; though, perhaps, I + had better offer to shoot for him. They have got up their Christmas + sports, I find, in the bushes yonder, where you hear the laughter—though + it is a queer taste this chap has for turkey; not but what it is good + eating, too.” + </p> + <p> + “Hold, Cousin Richard,” exclaimed Elizabeth, clinging to his arm; “would + it be delicate to offer a shilling to that gentleman?” + </p> + <p> + “Gentleman, again! Do you think a half-breed, like him, will refuse money? + No, no, girl, he will take the shilling; ay! and even rum too, + notwithstanding he moralizes so much about it, But I'll give the lad a + chance for his turkey; for that Billy Kirby is one of the best marksmen in + the country; that is, if we except the—the gentleman.” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” said Elizabeth, who found her strength unequal to her will, “then, + sir, I will speak.” She advanced, with an air of determination, in front + of her cousin, and entered the little circle of bushes that surrounded the + trio of hunters. Her appearance startled the youth, who at first made an + unequivocal motion toward retiring, but, recollecting himself, bowed, by + lifting his cap, and resumed his attitude of leaning on his rifle. Neither + Natty nor Mohegan betrayed any emotion, though the appearance of Elizabeth + was so entirely unexpected. + </p> + <p> + “I find,” she said, “that the old Christmas sport of shooting the turkey + is yet in use among you. I feel inclined to try my chance for a bird. + Which of you will take this money, and, after paying my fee, give me the + aid of his rifle?” + </p> + <p> + “Is this a sport for a lady?” exclaimed the young hunter, with an emphasis + that could not well be mistaken, and with a rapidity that showed he spoke + without consulting anything but feeling. “Why not, sir? If it be inhuman + the sin is not confined to one sex only. But I have my humor as well as + others. I ask not your assistance, but”—turning to Natty, and + dropping a dollar in his hand—“this old veteran of the forest will + not be so ungallant as to refuse one fire for a lady.” + </p> + <p> + Leather-Stocking dropped the money into his pouch, and throwing up the end + of his rifle he freshened his priming; and first laughing in his usual + manner, he threw the piece over his shoulder, and said: + </p> + <p> + “If Billy Kirby don't get the bird before me, and the Frenchman's powder + don't hang fire this damp morning, you'll see as fine a turkey dead, in a + few minutes, as ever was eaten in the Judge's shanty. I have knowed the + Dutch women, on the Mohawk and Schoharie, count greatly on coming to the + merry-makings; and so, lad, you shouldn't be short with the lady. Come, + let us go forward, for if we wait the finest bird will be gone.” + </p> + <p> + “But I have a right before you, Natty, and shall try on my own luck first. + You will excuse me, Miss Temple; I have much reason to wish that bird, and + may seem ungallant, but I must claim my privileges.” + </p> + <p> + “Claim anything that is justly your own, sir,” returned the lady; “we are + both adventurers; and this is my knight. I trust my fortune to his hand + and eye. Lead on, Sir Leather-Stocking, and we will follow.” + </p> + <p> + Natty, who seemed pleased with the frank address of the young and + beauteous Elizabeth, who had so singularly intrusted him with such a + commission, returned the bright smile with which she had addressed him, by + his own peculiar mark of mirth, and moved across the snow toward the spot + whence the sounds of boisterous mirth proceeded, with the long strides of + a hunter. His companions followed in silence, the youth casting frequent + and uneasy glances toward Elizabeth, who was detained by a motion from + Richard. + </p> + <p> + “I should think, Miss Temple,” he said, so soon as the others were out of + hearing, “that if you really wished a turkey, you would not have taken a + stranger for the office, and such a one as Leather-Stocking. But I can + hardly believe that you are serious, for I have fifty, at this moment, + shut up in the coops, in every stage of fat, so that you might choose any + quality you pleased. There are six that I am trying an experiment on, by + giving them brick-bats with—” + </p> + <p> + “Enough, Cousin Dickon,” interrupted the lady; “I do wish the bird, and it + is because I so wish that I commissioned this Mr. Leather-Stocking.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever hear of the great shot that I made at the wolf, Cousin + Elizabeth, who was carrying off your father's sheep?” said Richard, + drawing himself up with an air of displeasure. “He had the sheep on his + hack; and, had the head of the wolf been on the other side, I should have + killed him dead; as it was—” + </p> + <p> + “You killed the sheep—I know it all, dear coz. But would it have + been decorous for the High Sheriff of—to mingle in such sports as + these?” “Surely you did not think that I intended actually to fire with my + own hands?” said Mr. Jones. “But let us follow, and see the shooting. + There is no fear of anything unpleasant occurring to a female in this new + country, especially to your father's daughter, and in my presence.” + </p> + <p> + “My father's daughter fears nothing, sir, more especially when escorted by + the highest executive officer in the county.” + </p> + <p> + She took his arm, and he led her through the mazes of the bushes to the + spot where most of the young men of the village were collected for the + sports of shooting a Christmas match, and whither Natty and his Companions + had already preceded them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0017" id="link2HCH0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I guess, by all this quaint array, + The burghers hold their sports to-day.” + —Scott. +</pre> + <p> + The ancient amusement of shooting the Christmas turkey is one of the few + sports that the settlers of a new country seldom or never neglect to + observe. It was connected with the daily practices of a people who often + laid aside the axe or the scythe to seize the rifle, as the deer glided + through the forests they were felling, or the bear entered their rough + meadows to scent the air of a clearing, and to scan, with a look of + sagacity, the progress of the invader. + </p> + <p> + On the present occasion, the usual amusement of the day had been a little + hastened, in order to allow a fair opportunity to Mr. Grant, whose + exhibition was not less a treat to the young sportsmen than the one which + engaged their present attention. The owner of the birds was a free black, + who had prepared for the occasion a collection of game that was admirably + qualified to inflame the appetite of an epicure, and was well adapted to + the means and skill of the different competitors, who were of all ages. He + had offered to the younger and more humble marks men divers birds of an + inferior quality, and some shooting had already taken place, much to the + pecuniary advantage of the sable owner of the game. The order of the + sports was extremely simple, and well understood. The bird was fastened by + a string to the stump of a large pine, the side of which, toward the point + where the marksmen were placed, had been flattened with an axe, in order + that it might serve the purpose of a target, by which the merit of each + individual might be ascertained. The distance between the stump and + shooting-stand was one hundred measured yards; a foot more or a foot less + being thought an invasion of the right of one of the parties. The negro + affixed his own price to every bird, and the terms of the chance; but, + when these were once established, he was obliged, by the strict principles + of public justice that prevailed in the country, to admit any adventurer + who might offer. + </p> + <p> + The throng consisted of some twenty or thirty young men, most of whom had + rifles, and a collection of all the boys in the village. The little + urchins, clad in coarse but warm garments, stood gathered around the more + distinguished marksmen, with their hands stuck under their waistbands, + listening eagerly to the boastful stories of skill that had been exhibited + on former occasions, and were already emulating in their hearts these + wonderful deeds in gunnery. + </p> + <p> + The chief speaker was the man who had been mentioned by Natty as Billy + Kirby. This fellow, whose occupation, when he did labor, was that of + clearing lands, or chopping jobs, was of great stature, and carried in his + very air the index of his character. He was a noisy, boisterous, reckless + lad, whose good-natured eye contradicted the bluntness and bullying tenor + of his speech. For weeks he would lounge around the taverns of the county, + in a state of perfect idleness, or doing small jobs for his liquor and his + meals, and cavilling with applicants about the prices of his labor; + frequently preferring idleness to an abatement of a little of his + independence, or a cent in his wages. But, when these embarrassing points + were satisfactorily arranged, he would shoulder his axe and his rifle, + slip his arms through the straps of his pack, and enter the woods with the + tread of a Hercules. His first object was to learn his limits, round which + he would pace, occasionally freshening, with a blow of his axe, the marks + on the boundary trees; and then he would proceed, with an air of great + deliberation, to the centre of his premises, and, throwing aside his + superfluous garments, measure, with a knowing eye, one or two of the + nearest trees that were towering apparently into the very clouds as he + gazed upward. Commonly selecting one of the most noble for the first trial + of his power, he would approach it with a listless air, whistling a low + tune; and wielding his axe with a certain flourish, not unlike the salutes + of a fencing-master, he would strike a light blow into the bark, and + measure his distance. The pause that followed was ominous of the fall of + the forest which had flourished there for centuries. The heavy and brisk + blows that he struck were soon succeeded by the thundering report of the + tree, as it came, first cracking and threatening with the separation of + its own last ligaments, then threshing and tearing with its branches the + tops of its surrounding brethren, and finally meeting the ground with a + shock but little inferior to an earthquake. From that moment the sounds of + the axe were ceaseless, while the failing of the trees was like a distant + cannonading; and the daylight broke into the depths of the woods with the + suddenness of a winter morning. + </p> + <p> + For days, weeks, nay months, Billy Kirby would toil with an ardor that + evinced his native spirit, and with an effect that seemed magical, until, + his chopping being ended, his stentorian lungs could be heard emitting + sounds, as he called to his patient oxen, which rang through the hills + like the cries of an alarm. He had been often heard, on a mild summer' + evening, a long mile across the vale of Templeton; when the echoes from + the mountains would take up his cries, until they died away in the feeble + sounds from the distant rocks that overhung the lake. His piles, or, to + use the language of the country, his logging ended, with a dispatch that + could only accompany his dexterity and herculean strength, the jobber + would collect together his implements of labor, light the heaps of timber, + and march away under the blaze of the prostrate forest, like the conqueror + of some city who, having first prevailed over his adversary, applies the + torch as the finishing blow to his conquest. For a long time Billy Kirby + would then be seen sauntering around the taverns, the rider of scrub + races, the bully of cock-fights, and not infrequently the hero of such + sports as the one in hand. + </p> + <p> + Between him and the Leather-Stocking there had long existed a jealous + rivalry on the point of skill with the rifle. Notwithstanding the long + practice of Natty, it was commonly supposed that the steady nerves and the + quick eye of the wood-chopper rendered him his equal. The competition had, + however, been confined hitherto to boasting, and comparisons made from + their success in various hunting excursions; but this was the first time + they had ever come in open collision. A good deal of higgling about the + price of the choicest bird had taken place between Billy Kirby and its + owner before Natty and his companions rejoined the sportsmen It had, + however, been settled at one shilling * a shot, which was the highest sum + ever exacted, the black taking care to protect himself from losses, as + much as possible, by the conditions of the sport. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Before the Revolution, each province had its own money of account + though neither coined any but copper pieces. In New York the Spanish + dollar was divided into eight shillings, each of the value of a + fraction more than sixpence sterling. At present the Union has + provided a decimal system, with coins to represent it. +</pre> + <p> + The turkey was already fastened at the “mark,” but its body was entirely + hid by the surrounding snow, nothing being visible but its red swelling + head and its long neck. If the bird was injured by any bullet that struck + below the snow, it was to continue the property of its present owner; but + if a feather was touched in a visible part, the animal became the prize of + the successful adventurer. + </p> + <p> + These terms were loudly proclaimed by the negro, who was seated in the + snow, in a somewhat hazardous vicinity to his favorite bird, when + Elizabeth and her cousin approached the noisy sportsmen. The sounds of + mirth and contention sensibly lowered at this unexpected visit; but, after + a moment's pause, the curious interest exhibited in the face of the young + lady, together with her smiling air, restored the freedom of the morning; + though it was somewhat chastened, both in language and vehemence, by the + presence of such a spectator. + </p> + <p> + “Stand out of the way there, boys!” cried the wood-chopper, who was + placing himself at the shooting-point—stand out of the way, you + little rascals, or I will shoot through you. Now, Brom, take leave of your + turkey. + </p> + <p> + “Stop!” cried the young hunter; “I am a candidate for a chance. Here is my + shilling, Brom; I wish a shot too.” + </p> + <p> + “You may wish it in welcome,” cried Kirby, “but if I ruffle the gobbler's + feathers, how are you to get it? Is money so plenty in your deer-skin + pocket, that you pay for a chance that you may never have?” + </p> + <p> + “How know you, sir, how plenty money is in my pocket?” said the youth + fiercely. “Here is my shilling, Brom, and I claim a right to shoot.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be crabbed, my boy,” said the other, who was very coolly fixing his + flint. “They say you have a hole in your left shoulder yourself, so I + think Brom may give you a fire for half-price. It will take a keen one to + hit that bird, I can tell you, my lad, even if I give you a chance, which + is what I have no mind to do.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't be boasting, Billy Kirby,” said Natty, throwing the breech of his + rifle into the snow, and leaning on its barrel; “you'll get but one shot + at the creatur', for if the lad misses his aim, which wouldn't be a wonder + if he did, with his arm so stiff and sore, you'll find a good piece and an + old eye coming a'ter you. Maybe it's true that I can't shoot as I used to + could, but a hundred yards is a short distance for a long rifle.” + </p> + <p> + “What, old Leather-Stocking, are you out this morning?” cried his reckless + opponent. “Well, fair play's a jewel. I've the lead of you, old fellow; so + here goes for a dry throat or a good dinner.” + </p> + <p> + The countenance of the negro evinced not only all the interest which his + pecuniary adventure might occasion, but also the keen excitement that the + sport produced in the others, though with a very different wish as to the + result. While the wood-chopper was slowly and steadily raising his rifle, + he bawled; + </p> + <p> + “Fair play, Billy Kirby—stand back—make 'em stand back, boys—gib + a nigger fair play—poss-up,—gobbler; shake a head, fool; don't + you see 'em taking aim?” + </p> + <p> + These cries, which were intended as much to distract the attention of the + marksman as for anything else, were fruitless. + </p> + <p> + The nerves of the wood-chopper were not so easily shaken, and he took his + aim with the utmost deliberation. Stillness prevailed for a moment, and he + fired. The head of the turkey was seen to dash on one side, and its wings + were spread in momentary fluttering; but it settled itself down calmly + into its bed of snow, and glanced its eyes uneasily around. For a time + long enough to draw a deep breath, not a sound was heard. The silence was + then broken by the noise of the negro, who laughed, and shook his body + with all kinds of antics, rolling over in the snow in the excess of + delight. + </p> + <p> + “Well done, a gobbler,” he cried, jumping up and affecting to embrace his + bird; “I tell 'em to poss-up, and you see 'em dodge. Gib anoder shillin', + Billy, and halb anoder shot.” + </p> + <p> + “No—the shot is mine,” said the young hunter; “you have my money + already. Leave the mark, and let me try my luck.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! it's but money thrown away, lad,” said Leather-Stocking. “A turkey's + head and neck is but a small mark for a new hand and a lame shoulder. + You'd best let me take the fire, and maybe we can make some settlement + with the lady about the bird.” + </p> + <p> + “The chance is mine,” said the young hunter. “Clear the ground, that I may + take it.” + </p> + <p> + The discussions and disputes concerning the last shot were now abating, it + having been determined that if the turkey's head had been anywhere but + just where it was at that moment, the bird must certainly have been + killed. There was not much excitement produced by the preparations of the + youth, who proceeded in a hurried manner to take his aim, and was in the + act of pulling the trigger, when he was stopped by Natty. + </p> + <p> + “Your hand shakes, lad,” he said, “and you seem over eager. Bullet-wounds + are apt to weaken flesh, and to my judgment you'll not shoot so well as in + common. If you will fire, you should shoot quick, before there is time to + shake off the aim.” + </p> + <p> + “Fair play,” again shouted the negro; “fair play—gib a nigger fair + play. What right a Nat Bumppo advise a young man? Let 'em shoot—clear + a ground.” + </p> + <p> + The youth fired with great rapidity, but no motion was made by the turkey; + and, when the examiners for the ball returned from the “mark,” they + declared that he had missed the stump. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth observed the change in his countenance, and could not help + feeling surprise that one so evidently superior to his companions should + feel a trifling loss so sensibly. But her own champion was now preparing + to enter the lists. + </p> + <p> + The mirth of Brom, which had been again excited, though in a much smaller + degree than before, by the failure of the second adventurer, vanished the + instant Natty took his stand. His skin became mottled with large brown + spots, that fearfully sullied the lustre of his native ebony, while his + enormous lips gradually compressed around two rows of ivory that had + hitherto been shining in his visage like pearls set in jet. His nostrils, + at all times the most conspicuous feature of his face, dilated until they + covered the greater part of the diameter of his countenance; while his + brown and bony hands unconsciously grasped the snow-crust near him, the + excitement of the moment completely overcoming his native dread of cold. + </p> + <p> + While these indications of apprehension were exhibited in the sable owner + of the turkey, the man who gave rise to this extraordinary emotion was as + calm and collected as if there was not to be a single spectator of his + skill. + </p> + <p> + “I was down in the Dutch settlements on the Schoharie,” said Natty, + carefully removing the leather guard from the lock of his rifle, “just + before the breaking out of the last war, and there was a shooting-match + among the boys; so I took a hand. I think I opened a good many Dutch eyes + that day; for I won the powder-horn, three bars of lead, and a pound of as + good powder as ever flashed in pan. Lord! how they did swear in Jarman! + They did tell me of one drunken Dutchman who said he'd have the life of me + before I got back to the lake agin. But if he had put his rifle to his + shoulder with evil intent God would have punished him for it; and even if + the Lord didn't, and he had missed his aim, I know one that would have + given him as good as he sent, and better too, if good shooting could come + into the 'count.” By this time the old hunter was ready for his business, + and throwing his right leg far behind him, and stretching his left arm + along the barrel of his piece, he raised it toward the bird, Every eye + glanced rapidly from the marks man to the mark; but at the moment when + each ear was expecting the report of the rifle, they were disappointed by + the ticking sound of the flint. + </p> + <p> + “A snap, a snap!” shouted the negro, springing from his crouching posture + like a madman, before his bird. “A snap good as fire—Natty Bumppo + gun he snap—Natty Bumppo miss a turkey!” + </p> + <p> + “Natty Bumppo hit a nigger,” said the indignant old hunter, “if you don't + get out of the way, Brom. It's contrary to the reason of the thing, boy, + that a snap should count for a fire, when one is nothing more than a + fire-stone striking a steel pan, and the other is sudden death; so get out + of my way, boy, and let me show Billy Kirby how to shoot a Christmas + turkey.” + </p> + <p> + “Gib a nigger fair play!” cried the black, who continued resolutely to + maintain his post, and making that appeal to the justice of his auditors + which the degraded condition of his caste so naturally suggested. + “Eberybody know dat snap as good as fire. Leab it to Massa Jone—leab + it to lady.” + </p> + <p> + “Sartain,” said the wood-chopper; “it's the law of the game in this part + of the country, Leather-Stocking. If you fire agin you must pay up the + other shilling. I b'lieve I'll try luck once more myself; so, Brom, here's + my money, and I take the next fire.” + </p> + <p> + “It's likely you know the laws of the woods better than I do, Billy + Kirby,” returned Natty. “You come in with the settlers, with an ox-goad in + your hand, and I come in with moccasins on my feet, and with a good rifle + on my shoulders, so long back as afore the old war. Which is likely to + know the best? I say no man need tell me that snapping is as good as + firing when I pull the trigger.” + </p> + <p> + “Leab it to Massa Jone,” said the alarmed negro; “he know eberyting.” This + appeal to the knowledge of Richard was too flattering to be unheeded. He + therefore advanced a little from the spot whither the delicacy of + Elizabeth had induced her to withdraw, and gave the following opinion, + with the gravity that the subject and his own rank demanded: + </p> + <p> + “There seems to be a difference in opinion,” he said, “on the subject of + Nathaniel Bumppo's right to shoot at Abraham Freeborn's turkey without the + said Nathaniel paying one shilling for the privilege.” The fact was too + evident to be denied, and after pausing a moment, that the audience might + digest his premises, Richard proceeded: “It seems proper that I should + decide this question, as I am bound to preserve the peace of the county; + and men with deadly weapons in their hands should not be heedlessly left + to contention and their own malignant passions. It appears that there was + no agreement, either in writing or in words, on the disputed point; + therefore we must reason from analogy, which is, as it were, comparing one + thing with another. Now, in duels, where both parties shoot, it is + generally the rule that a snap is a fire; and if such is the rule where + the party has a right to fire back again, it seems to me unreasonable to + say that a man may stand snapping at a defenceless turkey all day. I + therefore am of the opinion that Nathaniel Bumppo has lost his chance, and + must pay another shilling before he renews his right.” + </p> + <p> + As this opinion came from so high a quarter, and was delivered with + effect, it silenced all murmurs—for the whole of the spectators had + begun to take sides with great warmth—except from the + Leather-Stocking himself. + </p> + <p> + “I think Miss Elizabeth's thoughts should be taken,” said Natty. “I've + known the squaws give very good counsel when the Indians had been + dumfounded. If she says that I ought to lose, I agree to give it up.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I adjudge you to be a loser for this time,” said Miss Temple; “but + pay your money and renew your chance; unless Brom will sell me the bird + for a dollar. I will give him the money, and save the life of the poor + victim.” + </p> + <p> + This proposition was evidently but little relished by any of the + listeners, even the negro feeling the evil excitement of the chances. In + the mean while, as Billy Kirby was preparing himself for another shot, + Natty left the stand, with an extremely dissatisfied manner, muttering: + </p> + <p> + “There hasn't been such a thing as a good flint sold at the foot of the + lake since the Indian traders used to come into the country; and, if a + body should go into the flats along the streams in the hills to hunt for + such a thing, it's ten to one but they will be all covered up with the + plough. Heigho! it seems to me that just as the game grows scarce, and a + body wants the best ammunition to get a livelihood, everything that's bad + falls on him like a judgment. But I'll change the stone, for Billy Kirby + hasn't the eye for such a mark, I know.” + </p> + <p> + The wood-chopper seemed now entirely sensible that his reputation depended + on his care; nor did he neglect any means to insure success. He drew up + his rifle, and renewed his aim again and again, still appearing reluctant + to fire, No sound was heard from even Brom, during these portentous + movements, until Kirby discharged his piece, with the same want of success + as before. Then, indeed, the shouts of the negro rang through the bushes + and sounded among the trees of the neighboring forest like the outcries of + a tribe of Indians. He laughed, rolling his head first on one side, then + on the other, until nature seemed exhausted with mirth. He danced until + his legs were wearied with motion in the snow; and, in short, he exhibited + all that violence of joy that characterizes the mirth of a thoughtless + negro. + </p> + <p> + The wood-chopper had exerted all his art, and felt a proportionate degree + of disappointment at the failure. He first examined the bird with the + utmost attention, and more than once suggested that he had touched its + feathers; but the voice of the multitude was against him, for it felt + disposed to listen to the often-repeated cries of the black to “gib a + nigger fair play.” + </p> + <p> + Finding it impossible to make out a title to the bird, Kirby turned + fiercely to the black and said: + </p> + <p> + “Shut your oven, you crow! Where is the man that can hit a turkey's head + at a hundred yards? I was a fool for trying. You needn't make an uproar + like a falling pine-tree about it. Show me the man who can do it.” + </p> + <p> + “Look this a-way, Billy Kirby,” said Leather-Stocking, “and let them clear + the mark, and I'll show you a man who's made better shots afore now, and + that when he's been hard pressed by the savages and wild beasts.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps there is one whose rights come before ours, Leather-Stocking,” + said Miss Temple. “If so, we will waive our privilege.” + </p> + <p> + “If it be me that you have reference to,” said the young hunter, “I shall + decline another chance. My shoulder is yet weak, I find.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth regarded his manner, and thought that she could discern a tinge + on his cheek that spoke the shame of conscious poverty. She said no more, + but suffered her own champion to make a trial. Although Natty Bumppo had + certainly made hundreds of more momentous shots at his enemies or his + game, yet he never exerted himself more to excel. He raised his piece + three several times: once to get his range; once to calculate his + distance; and once because the bird, alarmed by the death-like stillness, + turned its head quickly to examine its foes. But the fourth time he fired. + The smoke, the report, and the momentary shock prevented most of the + spectators from instantly knowing the result; but Elizabeth, when she saw + her champion drop the end of his rifle in the snow and open his mouth in + one of its silent laughs, and then proceed very coolly to recharge his + piece, knew that he had been successful. The boys rushed to the mark, and + lifted the turkey on high, lifeless, and with nothing but the remnant of a + head. “Bring in the creatur',” said Leather-Stocking, “and put it at the + feet of the lady. I was her deputy in the matter, and the bird is her + property.” + </p> + <p> + “And a good deputy you have proved yourself,” returned Elizabeth—“so + good, Cousin Richard, that I would advise you to remember his qualities.” + She paused, and the gayety that beamed on her face gave place to a more + serious earnestness. She even blushed a little as she turned to the young + hunter, and with the charm of a woman's manner added: “But it was only to + see an exhibition of the far-famed skill of Leather-Stocking, that I tried + my fortunes. Will you, sir, accept the bird as a small peace offering for + the hurt that prevented your own success?” + </p> + <p> + The expression with which the youth received this present was + indescribable, He appeared to yield to the blandishment of her air, in + opposition to a strong inward impulse to the contrary. He bowed, and + raised the victim silently from her feet, but continued silent. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth handed the black a piece of silver as a remuneration for his + loss, which had some effect in again unbending his muscles, and then + expressed to her companion her readiness to return homeward. + </p> + <p> + “Wait a minute, Cousin Bess,” cried Richard; “there is an uncertainty + about the rules of this sport that it is proper I should remove. If you + will appoint a committee, gentlemen, to wait on me this morning, I will + draw up in writing a set of regulations—' He stopped, with some + indignation, for at that instant a hand was laid familiarly on the + shoulder of the High Sheriff of—. + </p> + <p> + “A merry Christmas to you, Cousin Dickon,” said Judge Temple, who had + approached the party unperceived: “I must have a vigilant eye to my + daughter, sir, if you are to be seized daily with these gallant fits. I + admire the taste which would introduce a lady to such scenes!” + </p> + <p> + “It is her own perversity, 'Duke,” cried the disappointed sheriff, who + felt the loss of the first salutation as grievously as many a man would a + much greater misfortune; “and I must say that she comes honestly by it. I + led her out to show her the improvements, but away she scampered, through + the snow, at the first sound of fire-arms, the same as if she had been + brought up in a camp, instead of a first-rate boarding-school. I do think, + Judge Temple, that such dangerous amusements should be suppressed, by + statute; nay, I doubt whether they are not already indictable at common + law.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, as you are sheriff of the county, it becomes your duty to + examine into the matter,” returned the smiling Marmaduke, “I perceive that + Bess has executed her commission, and I hope it met with a favorable + reception.” Richard glanced his eye at the packet which he held in his + hand, and the slight anger produced by disappointment vanished instantly. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! 'Duke, my dear cousin,” he said, “step a little on one side; I have + something I would say to you.” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke complied, and the sheriff led him to a little distance in the + bushes, and continued: “First, 'Duke, let me thank you for your friendly + interest with the Council and the Governor, without which I am confident + that the greatest merit would avail but little. But we are sisters' + children—we are sisters' children, and you may use me like one of + your horses; ride me or drive me, 'Duke, I am wholly yours. But in my + humble opinion, this young companion of Leather-Stocking requires looking + after. He has a very dangerous propensity for turkey.” + </p> + <p> + “Leave him to my management, Dickon,” said the Judge, “and I will cure his + appetite by indulgence. It is with him that I would speak. Let us rejoin + the sportsmen.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0018" id="link2HCH0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XVIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Poor wretch! the mother that him bare, + If she had been in presence there, + In his wan face, and sunburnt hair, + She had not known her child.” + —Scott. +</pre> + <p> + It diminished, in no degree, the effect produced by the conversation which + passed between Judge Temple and the I young hunter, that the former took + the arm of his daughter and drew it through his own, when he advanced from + the spot whither Richard had led him to that where the youth was standing, + leaning on his rifle, and contemplating the dead bird at his feet. The + presence of Marmaduke did not interrupt the sports, which were resumed by + loud and clamorous disputes concerning the conditions of a chance that + involved the life of a bird of much inferior quality to the last. + Leather-Stocking and Mohegan had alone drawn aside to their youthful + companion; and, although in the immediate vicinity of such a throng, the + following conversation was heard only by those who were interested in it. + </p> + <p> + “I have greatly injured you, Mr. Edwards,” said the Judge; but the sudden + and inexplicable start with which the person spoken to received this + unexpected address, caused him to pause a moment. As no answer was given, + and the strong emotion exhibited in the countenance of the youth gradually + passed away, he continued: “But fortunately it is in some measure in my + power to compensate you for what I have done. My kinsman, Richard Jones, + has received an appointment that will, in future, deprive me of his + assistance, and leave me, just now, destitute of one who might greatly aid + me with his pen. Your manner, notwithstanding appearances, is a sufficient + proof of your education, nor will thy shoulder suffer thee to labor, for + some time to come.” (Marmaduke insensibly relapsed into the language of + the Friends as he grew warm.) “My doors are open to thee, my young friend, + for in this infant country we harbor no suspicions; little offering to + tempt the cupidity of the evil-disposed. Be come my assistant, for at + least a season, and receive such compensation as thy services will + deserve.” + </p> + <p> + There was nothing in the manner of the offer of the Judge to justify the + reluctance, amounting nearly to loathing, with which the youth listened to + his speech; but, after a powerful effort for self-command, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “I would serve you, sir, or any other man, for an honest support, for I do + not affect to conceal that my necessities are very great, even beyond what + appearances would indicate; but I am fearful that such new duties would + interfere too much with more important business; so that I must decline + your offer, and depend on my rifle, as before, for subsistence.” + </p> + <p> + Richard here took occasion to whisper to the young lady, who had shrunk a + little from the foreground of the picture: + </p> + <p> + “This, you see, Cousin Bess, is the natural reluctance of a half-breed to + leave the savage state. Their attachment to a wandering life is, I verily + believe, unconquerable.” + </p> + <p> + “It is a precarious life,” observed Marmaduke, without hearing the + sheriff's observation, “and one that brings more evils with it than + present suffering. Trust me, young friend, my experience is greater than + thine, when I tell thee that the unsettled life of these hunters is of + vast disadvantage for temporal purposes, and it totally removes one from + the influence of more sacred things.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Judge,” interrupted the Leather-Stocking, who was hitherto + unseen, or disregarded; “take him into your shanty in welcome, but tell + him truth. I have lived in the woods for forty long years, and have spent + five at a time without seeing the light of a clearing bigger than a window + in the trees; and I should like to know where you'll find a man, in his + sixty-eighth year, who can get an easier living, for all your betterments + and your deer laws; and, as for honesty, or doing what's right between man + and man, I'll not turn my back to the longest-winded deacon on your + Patent.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou art an exception, Leather-Stocking,” returned the Judge, nodding + good-naturedly at the hunter; “for thou hast a temperance unusual in thy + class, and a hardihood exceeding thy years. But this youth is made of + materials too precious to be wasted in the forest—I entreat thee to + join my family, if it be but till thy arm is healed. My daughter here, who + is mistress of my dwelling, wilt tell thee that thou art welcome.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said Elizabeth, whose earnestness was a little checked by + female reserve. “The unfortunate would be welcome at any time, but doubly + so when we feel that we have occasioned the evil ourselves,” “Yes,” said + Richard, “and if you relish turkey, young man, there are plenty in the + coops, and of the best kind, I can assure you.” + </p> + <p> + Finding himself thus ably seconded, Marmaduke pushed his advantage to the + utmost. He entered into a detail of the duties that would attend the + situation, and circumstantially mentioned the reward, and all those points + which are deemed of importance among men of business. The youth listened + in extreme agitation. There was an evident contest in his feelings; at + times he appeared to wish eagerly for the change, and then again the + incomprehensible expression of disgust would cross his features, like a + dark cloud obscuring a noonday sun. + </p> + <p> + The Indian, in whose manner the depression of self-abasement was most + powerfully exhibited, listened to the offers of the Judge with an interest + that increased with each syllable. Gradually he drew nigher to the group + and when, with his keen glance, he detected the most marked evidence of + yielding in the countenance of his young companion, he changed at once + from his attitude and look of shame to the front of an Indian warrior, and + moving, with great dignity, closer to the parties, he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Listen to your father,” he said; “his words are old. Let the Young Eagle + and the Great Land Chief eat together; let them sleep, without fear, near + each other. The children of Miquon love not blood: they are just, and will + do right. The sun must rise and set often, Before men can make one + family; it is not the work of a day, but of many winters. The Mingoes and + the Delawares are born enemies; their blood can never mix in the wigwam; + it never will run in the same stream in the battle. What makes the brother + of Miquon and the Young Eagle foes? They are of the same tribe; their + fathers and mothers are one. Learn to wait, my son, you are a Delaware, + and an Indian warrior knows how to be patient.” + </p> + <p> + This figurative address seemed to have great weight with the young man, + who gradually yielded to the representations of Marmaduke, and eventually + consented to his proposal. It was, however, to be an experiment only; and, + if either of the parties thought fit to rescind the engagement, it was + left at his option so to do. The remarkable and ill-concealed reluctance + of the youth to accept of an offer, which most men in his situation would + consider as an unhoped-for elevation, occasioned no little surprise in + those to whom he was a stranger; and it left a slight impression to his + disadvantage. When the parties separated, they very naturally made the + subject the topic of a conversation, which we shall relate; first + commencing with the Judge, his daughter, and Richard, who were slowly + pursuing the way back to the mansion-house. + </p> + <p> + “I have surely endeavored to remember the holy man dates of our Redeemer, + when he bids us 'love them who despitefully use you,' in my intercourse + with this incomprehensible boy,” said Marmaduke. “I know not what there is + in my dwelling to frighten a lad of his years, unless it may he thy + presence and visage, Bess.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” said Richard, with great simplicity, “it is not Cousin Bess. But + when did you ever know a half-breed, 'Duke, who could bear civilization? + For that matter, they are worse than the savages themselves! Did you + notice how knock-kneed he stood, Elizabeth, and what a wild look he had in + his eyes?” + </p> + <p> + “I heeded not his eyes, nor his knees, which would be all the better for a + little humbling. Really, my dear sir, I think you did exercise the + Christian virtue of patience to the utmost. I was disgusted with his airs, + long before he consented to make one of our family. Truly we are much + honored by the association! In what apartment is he to be placed, sir; and + at what table is he to receive his nectar and ambrosia?” + </p> + <p> + “With Benjamin and Remarkable,” interrupted Mr. Jones; “you sorely would + not make the youth eat with the blacks! He is part Indian, it is true; but + the natives hold the negroes in great contempt. No, no; he would starve + before he would break a crust with the negroes.” + </p> + <p> + “I am but too happy, Dickon, to tempt him to eat with ourselves,” said + Marmaduke, “to think of offering even the indignity you propose.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, sir,” said Elizabeth, with an air that was slightly affected, as if + submitting to her father's orders in opposition to her own will, “it is + your pleasure that he be a gentleman.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly; he is to fill the station of one. Let him receive the + treatment that is due to his place, until we find him unworthy of it.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, 'Duke,” cried the sheriff, “you will find it no easy matter + to make a gentleman of him. The old proverb says that 'it takes three + generations to make a gentleman.' There was my father whom everybody knew + my grandfather was an M.D., and his father a D.D.; and his father came + from England, I never could come at the truth of his origin; but he was + either a great mer chant in London, or a great country lawyer, or the + youngest son of a bishop.” + </p> + <p> + “Here is a true American genealogy for you,” said Marmaduke, laughing. “It + does very well till you get across the water, where, as everything is + obscure, it is certain to deal in the superlative. You are sure that your + English progenitor was great, Dickon, whatever his profession might have + been?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I am,” returned the other. “I have heard my old aunt talk of + him by the month. We are of a good family, Judge Temple, and have never + filled any but honorable stations in life.” + </p> + <p> + “I marvel that you should be satisfied with so scanty a provision of + gentility in the olden time, Dickon. Most of the American genealogists + commence their traditions like the stories for children, with three + brothers, taking especial care that one of the triumvirate shall be the + progenitor of any of the same name who may happen to be better furnished + with worldly gear than themselves. But, here, all are equal who know how + to conduct themselves with propriety; and Oliver Edwards comes into my + family on a footing with both the high sheriff and the judge.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, 'Duke, I call this democracy, not republicanism; but I say nothing; + only let him keep within the law, or I shall show him that the freedom of + even this country is under wholesome restraint.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, Dickon, you will not execute till I condemn! But what says Bess + to the new inmate? We must pay a deference to the ladies in this matter, + after all.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, sir!” returned Elizabeth, “I believe I am much like a certain Judge + Temple in this particular—not easily to be turned from my opinion. + But, to be serious, although I must think the introduction of a + demi-savage into the family a somewhat startling event, whomsoever you + think proper to countenance may be sure of my respect.” + </p> + <p> + The Judge drew her arm more closely in his own and smiled, while Richard + led the way through the gate of the little court-yard in the rear of the + dwelling, dealing out his ambiguous warnings with his accustomed + loquacity. + </p> + <p> + On the other hand, the foresters—for the three hunters, + notwithstanding their difference in character, well deserved this common + name—pursued their course along the skirts of the village in + silence. It was not until they had reached the lake, and were moving over + its frozen surface toward the foot of the mountain, where the hut stood, + that the youth exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Who could have foreseen this a month since! I have consented to serve + Marmaduke Temple—to be an inmate in the dwelling of the greatest + enemy of my race; yet what better could I do? The servitude cannot be + long; and, when the motive for submitting to it ceases to exist, I will + shake it off like the dust from my feet.” + </p> + <p> + “Is he a Mingo, that you will call him enemy?” said Mohegan. “The Delaware + warrior sits still, and waits the time of the Great Spirit. He is no + woman, to cry out like a child.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, I'm mistrustful, John,” said Leather-Stocking, in whose air there + had been, during the whole business, a strong expression of doubt and + uncertainty. “They say that there's new laws in the land, and I'm sartin + that there's new ways in the mountains. One hardly knows the lakes and + streams, they've altered the country so much. I must say I'm mistrustful + of such smooth speakers; for I've known the whites talk fair when they + wanted the Indian lands most. This I will say, though I'm a white myself, + and was born nigh York, and of honest parents, too.” + </p> + <p> + “I will submit,” said the youth; “I will forget who I am. Cease to + remember, old Mohegan, that I am the descendant of a Delaware chief, who + once was master of these noble hills, these beautiful vales, and of this + water, over which we tread. Yes, yes; I will become his bonds man—his + slave, Is it not an honorable servitude, old man?” + </p> + <p> + “Old man!” repeated the Indian solemnly, and pausing in his walk, as + usual, when much excited; “yes, John is old. Son of my brother! if Mohegan + was young, when would his rifle be still? Where would the deer hide, and + he not find him? But John is old; his hand is the hand of a squaw; his + tomahawk is a hatchet; brooms and baskets are his enemies—he strikes + no other. Hunger and old age come together. See Hawk-eye! when young, he + would go days and eat nothing; but should he not put the brush on the fire + now, the blaze would go out. Take the son of Miquon by the hand, and he + will help you.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm not the man I was, I'll own, Chingachgook,” returned the + Leather-Stocking; “but I can go without a meal now, on occasion. When we + tracked the Iroquois through the 'Beech-woods,' they drove the game afore + them, for I hadn't a morsel to eat from Monday morning come Wednesday + sundown, and then I shot as fat a buck, on the Pennsylvany line, as ever + mortal laid eyes on. It would have done your heart good to have seen the + Delaware eat; for I was out scouting and skrimmaging with their tribe at + the time. Lord! The Indians, lad, lay still, and just waited till + Providence should send them their game, but I foraged about, and put a + deer up, and put him down too, afore he had made a dozen jumps. I was too + weak and too ravenous to stop for his flesh, so I took a good drink of his + blood, and the Indians ate of his meat raw. John was there, and John + knows. But then starvation would be apt to be too much for me now, I will + own, though I'm no great eater at any time.” + </p> + <p> + “Enough is said, my friend,” cried the youth. “I feel that everywhere the + sacrifice is required at my hands, and it shall be made; but say no more, + I entreat you; I can not bear this subject now.” + </p> + <p> + His companions were silent; and they soon reached the hut, which they + entered, after removing certain complicated and ingenious fastenings, that + were put there apparently to guard a property of but very little value. + Immense piles of snow lay against the log walls of this secluded + habitation on one side; while fragments of small trees, and branches of + oak and chestnut, that had been torn from their parent stems by the winds, + were thrown into a pile on the other. A small column of smoke rose through + a chimney of sticks, cemented with clay, along the side of the rock, and + had marked the snow above with its dark tinges, in a wavy line, from the + point of emission to an other, where the hill receded from the brow of a + precipice, and held a soil that nourished trees of a gigantic growth, that + overhung the little bottom beneath. + </p> + <p> + The remainder of the day passed off as such days are commonly spent in a + new country. The settlers thronged to the academy again, to witness the + second effort of Mr. Grant; and Mohegan was one of his hearers. But, not + withstanding the divine fixed his eyes intently on the Indian when he + invited his congregation to advance to the table, the shame of last + night's abasement was yet too keen in the old chief to suffer him to move. + </p> + <p> + When the people were dispersing, the clouds that had been gathering all + the morning were dense and dirty, and before half of the curious + congregation had reached their different cabins, that were placed in every + glen and hollow of the mountains, or perched on the summits of the hills + themselves, the rain was falling in torrents. The dark edges of the stumps + began to exhibit themselves, as the snow settled rapidly; the fences of + logs and brush, which before had been only traced by long lines of white + mounds, that ran across the valley and up the mountains, peeped out from + their covering, and the black stubs were momentarily becoming more + distinct, as large masses of snow and ice fell from their sides, under the + influence of the thaw. + </p> + <p> + Sheltered in the warm hall of her father's comfortable mansion, Elizabeth, + accompanied by Louisa Grant, looked abroad with admiration at the + ever-varying face of things without. Even the village, which had just + before been glittering with the color of the frozen element, reluctantly + dropped its mask, and the houses exposed their dark roofs and smoked + chimneys. The pines shook off the covering of snow, and everything seemed + to be assuming its proper hues with a transition that bordered on the + supernatural. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0019" id="link2HCH0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XIX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And yet, poor Edwin was no vulgar boy.” + —Beattie. +</pre> + <p> + The close of Christmas Day, A.D. 1793, was tempestuous, but comparatively + warm. When darkness had again hid the objects in the village from the gaze + of Elizabeth, she turned from the window, where she had remained while the + least vestige of light lingered over the tops of the dark pines, with a + curiosity that was rather excited than appeased by the passing glimpses of + woodland scenery that she had caught during the day. + </p> + <p> + With her arm locked in that of Miss Grant, the young mistress of the + mansion walked slowly up and down the hall, musing on scenes that were + rapidly recurring to her memory, and possibly dwelling, at times, in the + sanctuary of her thoughts, on the strange occurrences that had led to the + introduction to her father's family of one whose Manners so singularly + contradicted the inferences to be drawn from his situation. The expiring + heat of the apartment—for its great size required a day to reduce + its temperature—had given to her cheeks a bloom that exceeded their + natural color, while the mild and melancholy features of Louisa were + brightened with a faint tinge, that, like the hectic of disease, gave a + painful interest to her beauty. + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the gentlemen, who were yet seated around the rich wines of + Judge Temple, frequently wandered from the table, that was placed at one + end of the hall, to the forms that were silently moving over its length. + Much mirth, and that, at times, of a boisterous kind, proceeded from the + mouth of Richard; but Major Hartmann was not yet excited to his pitch of + merriment, and Marmaduke respected the presence of his clerical guest too + much to indulge in even the innocent humor that formed no small ingredient + in his character. + </p> + <p> + Such were, and such continued to be, the pursuits of the party, for half + an hour after the shutters were closed, and candles were placed in various + parts of the hall, as substitutes for departing daylight. The appearance + of Benjamin, staggering under the burden of an armful of wood, was the + first interruption to the scene. + </p> + <p> + “How now, Master Pump!” roared the newly appointed sheriff; “is there not + warmth enough in 'Duke's best Madeira to keep up the animal heat through + this thaw? Remember, old boy, that the Judge is particular with his beech + and maple, beginning to dread already a scarcity of the precious articles. + Ha! ha! ha! 'Duke, you are a good, warm-hearted relation, I will own, as + in duty bound, but you have some queer notions about you, after all. + 'Come, let us be jolly, and cast away folly.” + </p> + <p> + The notes gradually sank into a hum, while the major-domo threw down his + load, and, turning to his interrogator with an air of earnestness, + replied: + </p> + <p> + “Why, look you, Squire Dickon, mayhap there's a warm latitude round about + the table there, thof it's not the stuff to raise the heat in my body, + neither; the raal Jamaiky being the only thing to do that, besides good + wood, or some such matter as Newcastle coal. But, if I know anything of + the weather, d'ye see, it's time to be getting all snog, and for putting + the ports in and stirring the fires a bit. Mayhap I've not followed the + seas twenty-seven years, and lived another seven in these here woods, for + nothing, gemmen.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, does it bid fair for a change in the weather, Benjamin?” inquired + the master of the house. + </p> + <p> + “There's a shift of wind, your honor,” returned the steward; “and when + there's a shift of wind, you may look for a change in this here climate. I + was aboard of one of Rodney's fleet, d'ye see, about the time we licked De + Grasse, Mounsheer Lor Quaw's countryman, there; and the wind was here at + the south'ard and east'ard; and I was below, mixing a toothful of hot + stuff for the captain of marines, who dined, d'ye see, in the cabin, that + there very same day; and I suppose he wanted to put out the captain's fire + with a gun-room ingyne; and so, just as I got it to my own liking, after + tasting pretty often, for the soldier was difficult to please, slap came + the foresail agin' the mast, whiz went the ship round on her heel, like a + whirligig. And a lucky thing was it that our helm was down; for as she + gathered starnway she paid off, which was more than every ship in the + fleet did, or could do. But she strained herself in the trough of the sea, + and she shipped a deal of water over her quarter. I never swallowed so + much clear water at a time in my life as I did then, for I was looking up + the after-hatch at the instant.” + </p> + <p> + “I wonder, Benjamin, that you did not die with a dropsy!” said Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + “I mought, Judge,” said the old tar, with a broad grin; “but there was no + need of the medicine chest for a cure; for, as I thought the brew was + spoilt for the marine's taste, and there was no telling when another sea + might come and spoil it for mine. I finished the mug on the spot. So then + all hands was called to the pumps, and there we began to ply the pumps—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, but the weather?” interrupted Marmaduke; “what of the weather + without doors?” + </p> + <p> + “Why here the wind has been all day at the south, and now there's a lull, + as if the last blast was out of the bellows; and there's a streak along + the mountains, to the northard, that, just now, wasn't wider than the + bigness of your hand; and then the clouds drive afore it as you'd brail a + mainsail, and the stars are heaving in sight, like so many lights and + beacons, put there to warn us to pile on the wood; and, if so be that I'm + a judge of weather, it's getting to be time to build on a fire, or you'll + have half of them there porter bottles, and them dimmyjohns of wine, in + the locker here, breaking with the frost, afore the morning watch is + called.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou art a prudent sentinel,” said the Judge. “Act thy pleasure with the + forests, for this night at feast.” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin did as he was ordered; nor had two hours elapsed, before the + prudence of his precautions became very visible. The south wind had, + indeed, blown itself out, and it was succeeded by the calmness that + usually gave warning of a serious change in the weather. Long before the + family retired to rest, the cold had become cuttingly severe; and when + Monsieur Le Quoi sallied forth under a bright moon, to seek his own + abode, he was compelled to beg a blanket, in which he might envelop c his + form, in addition to the numerous garments that his sagacity had provided + for the occasion. The divine and his daughter remained as inmates of the + mansion-house during the night, and the excess of last night's merriment + induced the gentlemen to make an early retreat to their several + apartments. Long before midnight, the whole family were invisible. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth and her friend had not yet lost their senses in sleep, and the + howlings of the northwest wind were heard around the buildings, and + brought with them that exquisite sense of comfort that is ever excited + under such circumstances, in an apartment where the fire has not yet + ceased to glimmer, and curtains, and shutters, and feathers unite to + preserve the desired temperature. Once, just as her eyes had opened, + apparently in the last stage of drowsiness, the roaring winds brought with + them a long and plaintive howl, that seemed too wild for a dog, and yet + resembled the cries of that faithful animal, when night awakens his + vigilance, and gives sweetness and solemnity to its charms. The form of + Louis Grant instinctively pressed nearer to that of the young heiress, + who, finding her companion was yet awake, said in a low tone, as if afraid + to break a charm with her voice: + </p> + <p> + “Those distant cries are plaintive, and even beautiful. Can they be the + hounds from the hut of Leather-Stocking?” + </p> + <p> + “They are wolves, who have ventured from the mountain, on the lake,” + whispered Louisa, “and who are only kept from the village by the lights. + One night, since we have been here, hunger drove them to our very door. + Oh, what a dreadful night it was! But the riches of Judge Temple have + given him too many safeguards, to leave room for fear in this house.” + </p> + <p> + “The enterprise of Judge Temple is taming the very forests!” exclaimed + Elizabeth, throwing off the covering, and partly rising in the bed. “How + rapidly is civilization treading on the foot of Nature!” she continued, as + her eye glanced over not only the comforts, but the luxuries of her + apartment, and her ear again listened to the distant, but often repeated + howls from the lake. Finding, how-ever, that the timidity of her companion + rendered the sounds painful to her, Elizabeth resumed her place, and soon + forgot the changes in the country, with those in her own condition, in a + deep sleep. + </p> + <p> + The following morning, the noise of the female servant, who entered the + apartment to light the fire, awoke the females. They arose, and finished + the slight preparations of their toilets in a clear, cold atmosphere, + that penetrated through all the defences of even Miss Temple's warm room. + When Elizabeth was attired, she approached a window and drew its curtain, + and throwing open its shutters she endeavored to look abroad on the + village and the lake. But a thick covering of frost on the glass, while it + admitted the light, shut out the view. She raised the sash, and then, + indeed, a glorious scene met her delighted eye. + </p> + <p> + The lake had exchanged its covering of unspotted snow for a face of dark + ice, that reflected the rays of the rising sun like a polished mirror. The + houses clothed in a dress of the same description, but which, owing to its + position, shone like bright steel; while the enormous icicles that were + pendent from every roof caught the brilliant light, apparently throwing it + from one to the other, as each glittered, on the side next the luminary, + with a golden lustre that melted away, on its opposite, into the dusky + shades of a background. But it was the appearance of the boundless forests + that covered the hills as they rose in the distance, one over the other, + that most attracted the gaze of Miss Temple. The huge branches of the + pines and hemlocks bent with the weight of the ice they supported, while + their summits rose above the swelling tops of the oaks, beeches, and + maples, like spires of burnished silver issuing from domes of the same + material. The limits of the view, in the west, were marked by an + undulating outline of bright light, as if, reversing the order of nature, + numberless suns might momentarily he expected to heave above the horizon. + In the foreground of the picture, along the shores of the lake, and near + to the village, each tree seemed studded with diamonds. Even the sides of + the mountains where the rays of the sun could not yet fall, were decorated + with a glassy coat, that presented every gradation of brilliancy, from the + first touch of the luminary to the dark foliage of the hemlock, glistening + through its coat of crystal. In short, the whole view was one scene of + quivering radiancy, as lake, mountains, village, and woods, each emitted a + portion of light, tinged with its peculiar hue, and varied by its position + and its magnitude. + </p> + <p> + “See!” cried Elizabeth; “see, Louisa; hasten to the window, and observe + the miraculous change!” + </p> + <p> + Miss Grant complied; and, after bending for a moment in silence from the + opening, she observed, in a low tone, as if afraid to trust the sound of + her voice: + </p> + <p> + “The change is indeed wonderful! I am surprised that he should be able to + effect it so soon.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth turned in amazement, to hear so skeptical a sentiment from one + educated like her companion; but was surprised to find that, instead of + looking at the view, the mild blue eyes of Miss Grant were dwelling on the + form of a well-dressed young man, who was standing before the door of the + building, in earnest conversation with her father. A second look was + necessary before she was able to recognize the person of the young hunter + in a plain, but assuredly the ordinary, garb of a gentleman. + </p> + <p> + “Everything in this magical country seems to border on the marvellous,” + said Elizabeth; “and, among all the changes, this is certainly not the + least wonderful, The actors are as unique as the scenery.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Grant colored and drew in her head. + </p> + <p> + “I am a simple country girl, Miss Temple, and I am afraid you will find me + but a poor companion,” she said. “I—I am not sure that I understand + all you say. But I really thought that you wished me to notice the + alteration in Mr. Edwards, Is it not more wonderful when we recollect his + origin? They say he is part Indian.” + </p> + <p> + “He is a genteel savage; but let us go down, and give the sachem his tea; + for I suppose he is a descendant of King Philip, if not a grandson of + Pocahontas.” + </p> + <p> + The ladies were met in the hall by Judge Temple, who took his daughter + aside to apprise her of that alteration in the appearance of their new + inmate, with which she was already acquainted. + </p> + <p> + “He appears reluctant to converse on his former situation,” continued + Marmaduke “but I gathered from his discourse, as is apparent from his + manner, that he has seen better days; and I am really inclining to the + opinion of Richard, as to his origin; for it was no unusual thing for the + Indian agents to rear their children in a laudable manner, and—” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, my dear sir,” interrupted his daughter, laughing and averting + her eyes; “it is all well enough, I dare say; but, as I do not understand + a word of the Mohawk language he must be content to speak English; and as + for his behavior, I trust to your discernment to control it.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! but, Bess,” cried the judge, detaining her gently by the hand, + “nothing must be said to him of his past life. This he has begged + particularly of me, as a favor, He is, perhaps, a little soured, just now, + with his wounded arm; the injury seems very light, and another time he may + be more communicative.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I am not much troubled, sir, with that laudable thirst after + knowledge that is called curiosity. I shall believe him to be the child of + Corn-stalk, or Corn-planter, or some other renowned chieftain; possibly of + the Big Snake himself; and shall treat him as such until he sees fit to + shave his good-looking head, borrow some half-dozen pair of my best + earrings, shoulder his rifle again, and disappear as suddenly as he made + his entrance. So come, my dear sir, and let us not forget the rites of + hospitality, for the short time he is to remain with us.” + </p> + <p> + Judge Temple smiled at the playfulness of his child, and taking her arm + they entered the breakfast parlor, where the young hunter was seated with + an air that showed his determination to domesticate himself in the family + with as little parade as possible. + </p> + <p> + Such were the incidents that led to this extraordinary increase in the + family of Judge Temple, where, having once established the youth, the + subject of our tale requires us to leave him for a time, to pursue with + diligence and intelligence the employments that were assigned him by + Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + Major Hartmann made his customary visit, and took his leave of the party + for the next three months. Mr. Grant was compelled to be absent most of + his time, in remote parts of the country, and his daughter became almost a + constant visitor at the mansion-house. Richard entered, with his + constitutional eagerness, on the duties of his new office; and, as + Marmaduke was much employed with the constant applications of adventures + for farms, the winter passed swiftly away. The lake was the principal + scene for the amusements of the young people; where the ladies, in their + one-horse cutter, driven by Richard, and attended, when the snow would + admit of it, by young Edwards on his skates, spent many hours taking the + benefit of exercise in the clear air of the hills. The reserve of the + youth gradually gave way to time and his situation, though it was still + evident, to a close observer, that he had frequent moments of bitter and + intense feeling. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth saw many large openings appear in the sides of the mountains + during the three succeeding months, where different settlers had, in the + language of the country “made their pitch,” while the numberless sleighs + that passed through the village, loaded with wheat and barrels of + potashes, afforded a clear demonstration that all these labors were not + undertaken in vain. In short, the whole country was exhibiting the bustle + of a thriving settlement, where the highways were thronged with sleighs, + bearing piles of rough household furniture, studded, here and there, with + the smiling faces of women and children, happy in the excitement of + novelty; or with loads of produce, hastening to the common market at + Albany, that served as so many snares to induce the emigrants to enter + into those wild mountains in search of competence and happiness. + </p> + <p> + The village was alive with business, the artisans increasing in wealth + with the prosperity of the country, and each day witnessing some nearer + approach to the manners and usages of an old-settled town. The man who + carried the mail or “the post,” as he was called, talked much of running a + stage, and, once or twice during the winter, he was seen taking a single + passenger, in his cutter, through the snow-banks, toward the Mohawk, along + which a regular vehicle glided, semi-weekly, with the velocity of + lightning, and under the direction of a knowing whip from the “down + countries,” Toward spring, divers families, who had been into the “old + States” to see their relatives, returned in time to save the snow, + frequently bringing with them whole neighborhoods, who were tempted by + their representations to leave the farms of Connecticut and Massachusetts, + to make a trial of fortune in the woods. + </p> + <p> + During all this time, Oliver Edwards, whose sudden elevation excited no + surprise in that changeful country, was earnestly engaged in the service + of Marmaduke, during the days; but his nights were often spent in the hut + of Leather-Stocking. The intercourse between the three hunters was + maintained with a certain air of mystery, it is true, but with much zeal + and apparent interest to all the parties. Even Mohegan seldom came to the + mansion-house, and Natty never; but Edwards sought every leisure moment to + visit his former abode, from which he would often return in the gloomy + hours of night through the snow, or, if detained beyond the time at which + the family retired to rest, with the morning sun. These visits certainly + excited much speculation in those to whom they were known, but no comments + were made, excepting occasionally in whispers from Richard, who would say: + </p> + <p> + “It is not at all remarkable; a half-breed can never be weaned from the + savage ways—and, for one of his lineage, the boy is much nearer + civilization than could, in reason, be expected.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0020" id="link2HCH0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Away! nor let me loiter in my song, + For we have many a mountain-path to tread.” + —Byron. +</pre> + <p> + As the spring gradually approached, the immense piles of snow that, by + alternate thaws and frosts, and repeated storms, had obtained a firmness + which threatened a tiresome durability, began to yield to the influence of + milder breezes and a warmer sun. The gates of heaven at times seemed to + open, and a bland air diffused itself over the earth, when animate and + inanimate nature would awaken, and, for a few hours, the gayety of spring + shone in every eye and smiled on every field. But the shivering blasts + from the north would carry their chill influence over the scene again, and + the dark and gloomy clouds that intercepted the rays of the sun were not + more cold and dreary than the reaction. These struggles between the + seasons became daily more frequent, while the earth, like a victim to + contention, slowly lost the animated brilliancy of winter, without + obtaining the aspect of spring. + </p> + <p> + Several weeks were consumed in this cheerless manner, during which the + inhabitants of the country gradually changed their pursuits from the + social and bustling movements of the time of snow to the laborious and + domestic engagements of the coming season, The village was no longer + thronged with visitors; the trade that had enlivened the shops for several + months, began to disappear; the highways lost their shining coats of + beaten snow in impassable sloughs, and were deserted by the gay and noisy + travellers who, in sleighs, had, during the winter, glided along their + windings; and, in short, everything seemed indicative of a mighty change, + not only in the earth, but in those who derived their sources of comfort + and happiness from its bosom. + </p> + <p> + The younger members of the family in the mansion house, of which Louisa + Grant was now habitually one, were by no means indifferent observers of + these fluctuating and tardy changes. While the snow rendered the roads + passable, they had partaken largely in the amusements of the winter, which + included not only daily rides over the mountains, and through every valley + within twenty miles of them, but divers ingenious and varied sources of + pleasure on the bosom of their frozen lake. There had been excursions in + the equipage of Richard, when with his four horses he had outstripped the + winds, as it flew over the glassy ice which invariably succeeded a thaw. + Then the exciting and dangerous “whirligig” would be suffered to possess + its moment of notice. Cutters, drawn by a single horse, and handsleds, + impelled by the gentlemen on skates, would each in turn be used; and, in + short, every source of relief against the tediousness of a winter in the + mountains was resorted to by the family, Elizabeth was compelled to + acknowledge to her father, that the season, with the aid of his library, + was much less irksome than she had anticipated. + </p> + <p> + As exercise in the open air was in some degree necessary to the habits of + the family, when the constant recurrence of frosts and thaws rendered the + roads, which were dangerous at the most favorable times, utterly + impassable for wheels, saddle-horses were used as substitutes for other + conveyances. Mounted on small and sure-footed beasts, the ladies would + again attempt the passages of the mountains and penetrate into every + retired glen where the enterprise of a settler had induced him to + establish himself. In these excursions they were attended by some one or + all of the gentlemen of the family, as their different pursuits admitted. + Young Edwards was hourly becoming more familiarized to his situation, and + not infrequently mingled in the parties with an unconcern and gayety that + for a short time would expel all unpleasant recollections from his mind. + Habit, and the buoyancy of youth, seemed to be getting the ascendency over + the secret causes of his uneasiness; though there were moments when the + same remarkable expression of disgust would cross his intercourse with + Marmaduke, that had distinguished their conversations in the first days of + their acquaintance. + </p> + <p> + It was at the close of the month of March, that the sheriff succeeded in + persuading his cousin and her young friend to accompany him in a ride to a + hill that was said to overhang the lake in a manner peculiar to itself. + </p> + <p> + “Besides, Cousin Bess,” continued the indefatigable Richard, “we will stop + and see the 'sugar bush' of Billy Kirby; he is on the east end of the + Ransom lot, making sugar for Jared Ransom. There is not a better hand over + a kettle in the county than that same Kirby. You remember, 'Duke, that I + had him his first season in our camp; and it is not a wonder that he knows + something of his trade.” + </p> + <p> + “He's a good chopper, is Billy,” observed Benjamin, who held the bridle of + the horse while the sheriff mounted; “and he handles an axe much the same + as a forecastleman does his marling-spike, or a tailor his goose. They say + he'll lift a potash-kettle off the arch alone, though I can't say that + I've ever seen him do it with my own eyes; but that is the say. And I've + seen sugar of his making, which, maybe, wasn't as white as an old + topgallant sail, but which my friend, Mistress Pettibones, within there, + said had the true molasses smack to it; and you are not the one, Squire + Dickens, to be told that Mistress Remarkable has a remarkable tooth for + sweet things in her nut-grinder.” + </p> + <p> + The loud laugh that succeeded the wit of Benjamin, and in which he + participated with no very harmonious sounds himself, very fully + illustrated the congenial temper which existed between the pair. Most of + its point was, however, lost on the rest of the party, who were either + mounting their horses or assisting the ladies at the moment. When all were + safely in their saddles, they moved through the village in great order. + They paused for a moment before the door of Monsieur Le Quoi, until he + could bestride his steed, and then, issuing from the little cluster of + houses, they took one of the principal of those highways that centred in + the village. + </p> + <p> + As each night brought with it a severe frost, which the heat of the + succeeding day served to dissipate, the equestrians were compelled to + proceed singly along the margin of the road, where the turf, and firmness + of the ground, gave the horses a secure footing. Very trifling indications + of vegetation were to be seen, the surface of the earth presenting a cold, + wet, and cheerless aspect that chilled the blood. The snow yet lay + scattered over most of those distant clearings that were visible in + different parts of the mountains; though here and there an opening might + be seen where, as the white covering yielded to the season, the bright and + lively green of the wheat served to enkindle the hopes of the husbandman. + Nothing could be more marked than the contrast between the earth and the + heavens; for, while the former presented the dreary view that we have + described, a warm and invigorating sun was dispensing his heats from a sky + that contained but a solitary cloud, and through an atmosphere that + softened the colors of the sensible horizon until it shone like a sea of + blue. + </p> + <p> + Richard led the way on this, as on all other occasions that did not + require the exercise of unusual abilities; and as he moved along, he + essayed to enliven the party with the sounds of his experienced voice. + </p> + <p> + “This is your true sugar weather, 'Duke,” he cried; “a frosty night and a + sunshiny day. I warrant me that the sap runs like a mill-tail up the + maples this warm morning. It is a pity, Judge, that you do not introduce a + little more science into the manufactory of sugar among your tenants. It + might be done, sir, without knowing as much as Dr. Franklin—it might + be done, Judge Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “The first object of my solicitude, friend Jones,” returned Marmaduke, “is + to protect the sources of this great mine of comfort and wealth from the + extravagance of the people themselves. When this important point shall be + achieved, it will be in season to turn our attention to an improvement in + the manufacture of the article, But thou knowest, Richard, that I have + already subjected our sugar to the process of the refiner, and that the + result has produced loaves as white as the snow on yon fields, and + possessing the saccharine quality in its utmost purity.” + </p> + <p> + “Saccharine, or turpentine, or any other 'ine, Judge Temple, you have + never made a loaf larger than a good-sized sugar-plum,” returned the + sheriff. “Now, sir, I assert that no experiment is fairly tried, until it + be reduced to practical purposes. If, sir, I owned a hundred, or, for that + matter, two hundred thousand acres of land, as you do. I would build a + sugar house in the village; I would invite learned men to an investigation + of the subject—and such are easily to be found, sir; yes, sir, they + are not difficult to find—men who unite theory with practice; and I + would select a wood of young and thrifty trees; and, instead of making + loaves of the size of a lump of candy, dam'me, 'Duke, but I'd have them as + big as a haycock.” + </p> + <p> + “And purchase the cargo of one of those ships that they say are going to + China,” cried Elizabeth; “turn your potash-kettles into teacups, the + scows on the lake into saucers, bake your cake in yonder lime-kiln, and + invite the county to a tea-party. How wonderful are the projects of + genius! Really, sir, the world is of opinion that Judge Temple has tried + the experiment fairly, though he did not cause his loaves to be cast in + moulds of the magnitude that would suit your magnificent conceptions.” + </p> + <p> + “You may laugh, Cousin Elizabeth—you may laugh, madam,” retorted + Richard, turning himself so much in his saddle as to face the party, and + making dignified gestures with his whip; “but I appeal to common sense, + good sense, or, what is of more importance than either, to the sense of + taste, which is one of the five natural senses, whether a big loaf of + sugar is not likely to contain a better illustration of a proposition than + such a lump as one of your Dutch women puts under her tongue when she + drinks her tea. There are two ways of doing everything, the right way and + the wrong way. You make sugar now, I will admit, and you may, possibly, + make loaf-sugar; but I take the question to be, whether you make the best + possible sugar, and in the best possible loaves.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou art very right, Richard,” observed Marmaduke, with a gravity in his + air that proved how much he was interested in the subject. “It is very + true that we manufacture sugar, and the inquiry is quite useful, how much? + and in what manner? I hope to live to see the day when farms and + plantations shall be devoted to this branch of business. Little is known + concerning the properties of the tree itself, the source of all this + wealth; how much it may be improved by cultivation, by the use of the hoe + and plough.” + </p> + <p> + “Hoe and plough!” roared the sheriff; “would you set a man hoeing round + the root of a maple like this?” pointing to one of the noble trees that + occur so frequently in that part of the country. “Hoeing trees! are you + mad, 'Duke? This is next to hunting for coal! Poh! poh! my dear cousin, + hear reason, and leave the management of the sugar-bush to me. Here is Mr. + Le Quoi—he has been in the West Indies, and has seen sugar made. Let + him give an account of how it is made there, and you will hear the + philosophy of the thing. Well, monsieur, how is it that you make sugar in + the West Indies; anything in Judge Temples fashion?” + </p> + <p> + The gentleman to whom this query was put was mounted on a small horse, of + no very fiery temperament, and was riding with his stirrups so short as to + bring his knees, while the animal rose a small ascent in the wood-path + they were now travelling, into a somewhat hazardous vicinity to his chin. + There was no room for gesticulation or grace in the delivery of his reply, + for the mountain was steep and slippery; and, although the Frenchman had + an eye of uncommon magnitude on either side of his face, they did not seem + to be half competent to forewarn him of the impediments of bushes, twigs, + and fallen trees, that were momentarily crossing his path. With one hand + employed in averting these dangers, and the other grasping his bridle to + check an untoward speed that his horse was assuming, the native of France + responded as follows: + </p> + <p> + “Sucre! dey do make sucre in Martinique; mais—mais ce n'est pas one + tree—ah—ah—vat you call—je voudrois que ces + chemins fussent au diable—vat you call—steeck pour la + promenade?” + </p> + <p> + “Cane,” said Elizabeth, smiling at the imprecation which the wary + Frenchman supposed was understood only by himself. “Oui, mam'selle, cane.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes,” cried Richard, “cane is the vulgar name for it, but the real + term is saccharum officinarum; and what we call the sugar, or hard maple, + is acer saccharinum. These are the learned names, monsieur, and are such + as, doubtless, you well understand.” + </p> + <p> + “Is this Greek or Latin, Mr. Edwards?” whispered Elizabeth to the youth, + who was opening a passage for herself and her companions through the + bushes, “or perhaps it is a still more learned language, for an + interpretation of which we must look to you.” + </p> + <p> + The dark eye of the young man glanced toward the speaker, but its + resentful expression changed in a moment. + </p> + <p> + “I shall remember your doubts, Miss Temple, when next I visit my old + friend Mohegan, and either his skill, or that of Leather-Stocking, shall + solve them.” + </p> + <p> + “And are you, then, really ignorant of their language?” + </p> + <p> + “Not absolutely; but the deep learning of Mr. Jones is more familiar to + me, or even the polite masquerade of Monsieur Le Quoi.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you speak French?” said the lady, with quickness. + </p> + <p> + “It is a common language with the Iroquois, and through the Canadas,” he + answered, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “Ah! but they are Mingoes, and your enemies.” + </p> + <p> + “It will be well for me if I have no worse,” said the youth, dashing ahead + with his horse, and putting an end to the evasive dialogue. + </p> + <p> + The discourse, however, was maintained with great vigor by Richard, until + they reached an open wood on the summit of the mountain, where the + hemlocks and pines totally disappeared, and a grove of the very trees that + formed the subject of debate covered the earth with their tall, straight + trunks and spreading branches, in stately pride. The underwood had been + entirely removed from this grove, or bush, as, in conjunction with the + simple arrangements for boiling, it was called, and a wide space of many + acres was cleared, which might be likened to the dome of a mighty temple, + to which the maples formed the columns, their tops composing the capitals + and the heavens the arch. A deep and careless incision had been made into + each tree, near its root, into which little spouts, formed of the bark + of the alder, or of the sumach, were fastened; and a trough, roughly dug + out of the linden, or basswood, was lying at the root of each tree, to + catch the sap that flowed from this extremely wasteful and inartificial + arrangement. + </p> + <p> + The party paused a moment, on gaining the flat, to breathe their horses, + and, as the scene was entirely new to several of their number, to view the + manner of collecting the fluid. A fine, powerful voice aroused them from + their momentary silence, as it rang under the branches of the trees, + singing the following words of that inimitable doggerel, whose verses, if + extended, would reach from the Caters of the Connecticut to the shores of + Ontario. The tune was, of course, a familiar air which, although it is + said to have been first applied to this nation in derision, circumstances + have since rendered so glorious that no American ever hears its jingling + cadence without feeling a thrill at his heart: + </p> + <p> + “The Eastern States be full of men, The Western Full of woods, sir, The + hill be like a cattle-pen, The roads be full of goods, sir! Then flow + away, my sweety sap, And I will make you boily; Nor catch a wood man's + hasty nap, For fear you should get roily. The maple-tree's a precious one, + 'Tis fuel, food, and timber; And when your stiff day's work is done, Its + juice will make you limber, Then flow away, etc. + </p> + <p> + “And what's a man without his glass. His wife without her tea, sir? But + neither cup nor mug will pass, Without his honey-bee, sir! Then flow + away,” etc. + </p> + <p> + During the execution of this sonorous doggerel, Richard kept time with his + whip on the mane of his charger, accompanying the gestures with a + corresponding movement of his head and body. Toward the close of the song, + he was overheard humming the chorus, and, at its last repetition, to + strike in at “sweety sap,” and carry a second through, with a prodigious + addition to the “effect” of the noise, if not to that of the harmony. + </p> + <p> + “Well done us!” roared the sheriff, on the same key with the tune; “a very + good song, Billy Kirby, and very well sung. Where got you the words, lad? + Is there more of it, and can you furnish me with a copy?” The + sugar-boiler, who was busy in his “camp,” at a short distance from the + equestrians, turned his head with great indifference, and surveyed the + party, as they approached, with admirable coolness. To each individual, as + he or she rode close by him, he gave a nod that was extremely good-natured + and affable, but which partook largely of the virtue of equality, for not + even to the ladies did he in the least vary his mode of salutation, by + touching the apology for a hat that he wore, or by any other motion than + the one we have mentioned. + </p> + <p> + “How goes it, how goes it, sheriff?” said the wood-chopper; “what's the + good word in the village?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, much as usual, Billy,” returned Richard. “But how is this? where are + your four kettles, and your troughs, and your iron coolers? Do you make + sugar in this slovenly way? I thought you were one of the best + sugar-boilers in the county.” + </p> + <p> + “I'm all that, Squire Jones,” said Kirby, who continued his occupation; + “I'll turn my back to no man in the Otsego hills for chopping and logging, + for boiling down the maple sap, for tending brick-kiln, splitting out + rails, making potash, and parling too, or hoeing corn; though I keep + myself pretty much to the first business, seeing that the axe comes most + natural to me.” + </p> + <p> + “You be von Jack All-trade, Mister Beel,” said Monsieur Le Quoi. + </p> + <p> + “How?” said Kirby, looking up with a simplicity which, coupled with his + gigantic frame and manly face, was a little ridiculous, “if you be for + trade, mounsher, here is some as good sugar as you'll find the season + through. It's as clear from dirt as the Jarman Flats is free from stumps, + and it has the raal maple flavor. Such stuff would sell in York for + candy.” + </p> + <p> + The Frenchman approached the place where Kirby had deposited his cake of + sugar, under the cover of a bark roof, and commenced the examination of + the article with the eye of one who well understood its value. Marmaduke + had dismounted, and was viewing the works and the trees very closely, and + not without frequent expressions of dissatisfaction at the careless manner + in which the manufacture was conducted. + </p> + <p> + “You have much experience in these things, Kirby,” he said; “what course + do you pursue in making your sugar? I see you have but two kettles.” + </p> + <p> + “Two is as good as two thousand, Judge. I'm none of your polite + sugar-makers, that boils for the great folks; but if the raal sweet maple + is wanted, I can answer your turn. First, I choose, and then I tap my + trees; say along about the last of February, or in these mountains maybe + not afore the middle of March; but anyway, just as the sap begins to + cleverly run—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, in this choice,” interrupted Marmaduke, “are you governed by any + outward signs that prove the quality of the tree?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, there's judgment in all things,” said Kirby, stirring the liquor in + his kettles briskly. “There's some thing in knowing when and how to stir + the pot. It's a thing that must be larnt. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor + for that matter Templeton either, though it may be said to be a + quick-growing place. I never put my axe into a stunty tree, or one that + hasn't a good, fresh-looking bark: for trees have disorders, like + creatur's; and where's the policy of taking a tree that's sickly, any more + than you'd choose a foundered horse to ride post, or an over heated ox to + do your logging?” + </p> + <p> + “All that is true. But what are the signs of illness? how do you + distinguish a tree that is well from one that is diseased?” + </p> + <p> + “How does the doctor tell who has fever and who colds?” interrupted + Richard. “By examining the skin, and feeling the pulse, to be sure.” + </p> + <p> + “Sartain,” continued Billy; “the squire ain't far out of the way. It's by + the look of the thing, sure enough. Well, when the sap begins to get a + free run, I hang over the kettles, and set up the bush. My first boiling I + push pretty smartly, till I get the virtue of the sap; but when it begins + to grow of a molasses nater, like this in the kettle, one mustn't drive + the fires too hard, or you'll burn the sugar; and burny sugar is bad to + the taste, let it be never so sweet. So you ladle out from one kettle into + the other till it gets so, when you put the stirring-stick into it, that + it will draw into a thread—when it takes a kerful hand to manage it. + There is a way to drain it off, after it has grained, by putting clay into + the pans; bitt it isn't always practised; some doos and some doosn't. + Well, mounsher, be we likely to make a trade?” + </p> + <p> + “I will give you, Mister Etel, for von pound, dix sous.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I expect cash for it; I never dicker my sugar, But, seeing that it's + you, mounsher,” said Billy, with a Coaxing smile, “I'll agree to receive a + gallon of rum, and cloth enough for two shirts if you'll take the molasses + in the bargain. It's raal good. I wouldn't deceive you or any man and to + my drinking it's about the best molasses that come out of a sugar-bush.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Le Quoi has offered you ten pence,” said young Edwards. + </p> + <p> + The manufacturer stared at the speaker with an air of great freedom, but + made no reply. + </p> + <p> + “Oui,” said the Frenchman, “ten penny. Jevausraner cie, monsieur: ah! mon + Anglois! je l'oublie toujours.” + </p> + <p> + The wood-chopper looked from one to the other with some displeasure; and + evidently imbibed the opinion that they were amusing themselves at his + expense. He seized the enormous ladle, which was lying on one of his + kettles, and began to stir the boiling liquid with great diligence. After + a moment passed in dipping the ladle full, and then raising it on high, as + the thick rich fluid fell back into the kettle, he suddenly gave it a + whirl, as if to cool what yet remained, and offered the bowl to Mr. Le + Quoi, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Taste that, mounsher, and you will say it is worth more than you offer. + The molasses itself would fetch the money.” + </p> + <p> + The complaisant Frenchman, after several timid efforts to trust his lips + in contact with the howl of the ladle, got a good swallow of the scalding + liquid. He clapped his hands on his breast, and looked most piteously at + the ladies, for a single instant; and then, to use the language of Billy, + when he afterward recounted the tale, “no drumsticks ever went faster on + the skin of a sheep than the Frenchman's legs, for a round or two; and + then such swearing and spitting in French you never saw. But it's a + knowing one, from the old countries, that thinks to get his jokes smoothly + over a wood-chopper.” + </p> + <p> + The air of innocence with which Kirby resumed the occupation of stirring + the contents of his kettles would have completely deceived the spectators + as to his agency in the temporary sufferings of Mr. Le Quoi, had not the + reckless fellow thrust his tongue into his cheek, and cast his eyes over + the party, with a simplicity of expression that was too exquisite to be + natural. Mr. Le Quoi soon recovered his presence of mind and his decorum; + and he briefly apologized to the ladies for one or two very intemperate + expressions that had escaped him in a moment of extraordinary excitement, + and, remounting his horse, he continued in the background during the + remainder of the visit, the wit of Kirby putting a violent termination, at + once, to all negotiations on the subject of trade. During all this time, + Marmaduke had been wandering about the grove, making observations on his + favorite trees, and the wasteful manner in which the wood-chopper + conducted his manufacture. + </p> + <p> + “It grieves me to witness the extravagance that pervades this country,” + said the Judge, “where the settlers trifle with the blessings they might + enjoy, with the prodigality of successful adventurers. You are not exempt + from the censure yourself, Kirby, for you make dreadful wounds in these + trees where a small incision would effect the same object. I earnestly beg + you will remember that they are the growth of centuries, and when once + gone none living will see their loss remedied.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I don't know, Judge,” returned the man he ad dressed; “it seems to + me, if there's plenty of anything in this mountaynious country, it's the + trees. If there's any sin in chopping them, I've a pretty heavy account to + settle; for I've chopped over the best half of a thousand acres, with my + own hands, counting both Varmount and York States; and I hope to live to + finish the whull, before I lay up my axe. Chopping comes quite natural to + me, and I wish no other employment; but Jared Ransom said that he thought + the sugar was likely to be source this season, seeing that so many folks + was coming into the settlement, and so I concluded to take the 'bush' on + sheares for this one spring. What's the best news, Judge, consarning + ashes? do pots hold so that a man can live by them still? I s'pose they + will, if they keep on fighting across the water.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou reasonest with judgment, William,” returned Marmaduke. “So long as + the Old Worm is to be convulsed with wars, so long will the harvest of + America continue.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, it's an ill wind, Judge, that blows nobody any good. I'm sure the + country is in a thriving way; and though I know you calkilate greatly on + the trees, setting as much store by them as some men would by their + children, yet to my eyes they are a sore sight any time, unless I'm + privileged to work my will on them: in which case I can't say but they are + more to my liking. I have heard the settlers from the old countries say + that their rich men keep great oaks and elms, that would make a barrel of + pots to the tree, standing round their doors and humsteds and scattered + over their farms, just to look at. Now, I call no country much improved + that is pretty well covered with trees. Stumps are a different thing, for + they don't shade the land; and, besides, you dig them—they make a + fence that will turn anything bigger than a hog, being grand for breachy + cattle.” + </p> + <p> + “Opinions on such subjects vary much in different countries,” said + Marmaduke; “but it is not as ornaments that I value the noble trees of + this country; it is for their usefulness We are stripping the forests, as + if a single year would replace what we destroy. But the hour approaches + when the laws will take notice of not only the woods, but the game they + contain also.” + </p> + <p> + With this consoling reflection, Marmaduke remounted, and the equestrians + passed the sugar-camp, on their way to the promised landscape of Richard. + The wood-chop-per was left alone, in the bosom of the forest, to pursue + his labors. Elizabeth turned her head, when they reached the point where + they were to descend the mountain, and thought that the slow fires that + were glimmering under his enormous kettles, his little brush shelter, + covered with pieces of hemlock bark, his gigantic size, as he wielded his + ladle with a steady and knowing air, aided by the back-ground of stately + trees, with their spouts and troughs, formed, altogether, no unreal + picture of human life in its first stages of civilization. Perhaps + whatever the scene possessed of a romantic character was not injured by + the powerful tones of Kirby's voice ringing through the woods as he again + awoke his strains to another tune, which was but little more scientific + than the former. All that she understood of the words were: + </p> + <p> + “And when the proud forest is falling, To my oxen cheerfully calling, From + morn until night I am bawling, Whoa, back there, and haw and gee; Till our + labor is mutually ended, By my strength and cattle befriended, And against + the mosquitoes defended By the bark of the walnut-trees. Away! then, you + lads who would buy land; Choose the oak that grows on the high land, or + the silvery pine on the dry land, it matters but little to me.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0021" id="link2HCH0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Speed! Malise, speed! such cause of haste + Thine active sinews never braced.” + —Scott. +</pre> + <p> + The roads of Otsego, if we except the principal high ways, were, at the + early day of our tale, but little better than wood-paths. The high trees + that were growing on the very verge of the wheel-tracks excluded the sun's + rays, unless at meridian; and the slowness of the evaporation, united with + the rich mould of vegetable decomposition that covered the whole country + to the depth of several inches, occasioned but an indifferent foundation + for the footing of travellers. Added to these were the inequalities of a + natural surface, and the constant recurrence of enormous and slippery + roots that were laid bare by the removal of the light soil, together with + stumps of trees, to make a passage not only difficult but dangerous. Yet + the riders among these numerous obstructions, which were such as would + terrify an unpracticed eye, gave no demonstrations of uneasiness as their + horses toiled through the sloughs or trotted with uncertain paces along + the dark route. In many places the marks on the trees were the only + indications of a road, with perhaps an occasional remnant of a pine that, + by being cut close to the earth, so as to leave nothing visible but its + base of roots, spreading for twenty feet in every direction, was + apparently placed there as a beacon to warn the traveller that it was the + centre of a highway. + </p> + <p> + Into one of these roads the active sheriff led the way, first striking out + of the foot-path, by which they had descended from the sugar-bush, across + a little bridge, formed of round logs laid loosely on sleepers of pine, in + which large openings of a formidable width were frequent. The nag of + Richard, when it reached one of these gaps, laid its nose along the logs + and stepped across the difficult passage with the sagacity of a man; but + the blooded filly which Miss Temple rode disdained so humble a movement. + She made a step or two with an unusual caution, and then, on reaching the + broadest opening, obedient to the curt and whip of her fearless mistress, + she bounded across the dangerous pass with the activity of a squirrel. + </p> + <p> + “Gently, gently, my child,” said Marmaduke, who was following in the + manner of Richard; “this is not a country for equestrian feats. Much + prudence is requisite to journey through our rough paths with safety. Thou + mayst practise thy skill in horsemanship on the plains of New Jersey with + safety; but in the hills of Otsego they may be suspended for a time.” + </p> + <p> + “I may as well then relinquish my saddle at once, dear sir,” returned his + daughter; “for if it is to be laid aside until this wild country be + improved, old age will overtake me, and put an end to what you term my + equestrian feats.” + </p> + <p> + “Say not so, my child,” returned her father; “but if thou venturest again + as in crossing this bridge, old age will never overtake thee, but I shall + be left to mourn thee, cut off in thy pride, my Elizabeth. If thou hadst + seen this district of country, as I did, when it lay in the sleep of + nature, and had witnessed its rapid changes as it awoke to supply the + wants of man, thou wouldst curb thy impatience for a little time, though + thou shouldst not check thy steed.” + </p> + <p> + “I recollect hearing you speak of your first visit to these woods, but the + impression is faint, and blended with the confused images of childhood. + Wild and unsettled as it may yet seem, it must have been a thousand times + more dreary then. Will you repeat, dear sir, what you then thought of your + enterprise, and what you felt?” + </p> + <p> + During this speech of Elizabeth, which was uttered with the fervor of + affection, young Edwards rode more closely to the side of the Judge, and + bent his dark eyes on his countenance with an expression that seemed to + read his thoughts. + </p> + <p> + “Thou wast then young, my child, but must remember when I left thee and + thy mother, to take my first survey of these uninhabited mountains,” said + Marmaduke. “But thou dost not feel all the secret motives that can urge a + man to endure privations in order to accumulate wealth. In my case they + have not been trifling, and God has been pleased to smile on my efforts. + If I have encountered pain, famine, and disease in accomplishing the + settlement of this rough territory, I have not the misery of failure to + add to the grievances.” + </p> + <p> + “Famine!” echoed Elizabeth; “I thought this was the land of abundance! Had + you famine to contend with?” + </p> + <p> + “Even so, my child,” said her father. “Those who look around them now, and + see the loads of produce that issue out of every wild path in these + mountains during the season of travelling, will hardly credit that no more + than five years have elapsed since the tenants of these woods were + compelled to eat the scanty fruits of the forest to sustain life, and, + with their unpracticed skill, to hunt the beasts as food for their + starving families.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay!” cried Richard, who happened to overhear the last of this speech + between the notes of the wood-chopper's song, which he was endeavoring to + breathe aloud; “that was the starving-time,* Cousin Bess. I grew as lank + as a weasel that fall, and my face was as pale as one of your + fever-and-ague visages. Monsieur Le Quoi, there, fell away like a pumpkin + in drying; nor do I think you have got fairly over it yet, monsieur. + Benjamin, I thought, bore it with a worse grace than any of the family; + for he swore it was harder to endure than a short allowance in the calm + latitudes. Benjamin is a sad fellow to swear if you starve him ever so + little. I had half a mind to quit you then, 'Duke, and to go into + Pennsylvania to fatten; but, damn it, thinks I, we are sisters' children, + and I will live or die with him, after all.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The author has no better apology for interrupting the interest of a + work of fiction by these desultory dialogues than that they have ref- + erence to facts. In reviewing his work, after so many years, he is + compelled to confess it is injured by too many allusions to incidents + that are not at all suited to satisfy the just expectations of the + general reader. One of these events is slightly touched on in the + commencement of this chapter. +</pre> + <p> + More than thirty years since a very near and dear relative of the writer, + an elder sister and a second mother, was killed by a fall from a horse in + a ride among the very mountains mentioned in this tale. Few of her sex and + years were more extensively known or more universally beloved than the + admirable woman who thus fell a victim to the chances of the wilderness. + “I do not forget thy kindness,” said Marmaduke, “nor that we are of one + blood.” + </p> + <p> + “But, my dear father,” cried the wondering Elizabeth, “was there actual + suffering? Where were the beautiful and fertile vales of the Mohawk? Could + they not furnish food for your wants?” + </p> + <p> + “It was a season of scarcity; the necessities of life commanded a high + price in Europe, and were greedily sought after by the speculators. The + emigrants from the East to the West invariably passed along the valley of + the Mohawk, and swept away the means of subsistence like a swarm of + locusts, Nor were the people on the Flats in a much better condition. They + were in want themselves, but they spared the little excess of provisions + that nature did not absolutely require, with the justice of the German + character. There was no grinding of the poor. The word speculator was then + unknown to them. I have seen many a stout man, bending under the load of + the bag of meal which he was carrying from the mills of the Mohawk, + through the rugged passes of these mountains, to feed his half-famished + children, with a heart so light, as he approached his hut, that the thirty + miles he had passed seemed nothing. Remember, my child, it was in our very + infancy; we had neither mills, nor grain, nor roads, nor often clearings; + we had nothing of increase but the mouths that were to be fed: for even at + that inauspicious moment the restless spirit of emigration was not idle; + nay, the general scarcity which extended to the East tended to increase + the number of adventurers.” + </p> + <p> + “And how, dearest father, didst thou encounter this dreadful evil?” said + Elizabeth, unconsciously adopting the dialect of her parent in the warmth + of her sympathy. “Upon thee must have fallen the responsibility, if not + the suffering.” + </p> + <p> + “It did, Elizabeth,” returned the Judge, pausing for a single moment, as + if musing on his former feelings. “I had hundreds at that dreadful time + daily looking up to me for bread. The sufferings of their families and the + gloomy prospect before them had paralyzed the enterprise and efforts of my + settlers; hunger drove them to the woods for food, but despair sent them + at night, enfeebled and wan, to a sleepless pillow. It was not a moment + for in action. I purchased cargoes of wheat from the granaries of + Pennsylvania; they were landed at Albany and brought up the Mohawk in + boats; from thence it was transported on pack-horses into the wilderness + and distributed among my people. Seines were made, and the lakes and + rivers were dragged for fish. Something like a miracle was wrought in our + favor, for enormous shoals of herrings were discovered to have wandered + five hundred miles through the windings of the impetuous Susquehanna, and + the lake was alive with their numbers. These were at length caught and + dealt out to the people, with proper portions of salt, and from that + moment we again began to prosper.” * + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * All this was literally true. +</pre> + <p> + “Yes,” cried Richard, “and I was the man who served out the fish and salt. + When the poor devils came to receive their rations, Benjamin, who was my + deputy, was obliged to keep them off by stretching ropes around me, for + they smelt so of garlic, from eating nothing but the wild onion, that the + fumes put me out often in my measurement. You were a child then, Bess, and + knew nothing of the matter, for great care was observed to keep both you + and your mother from suffering. That year put me back dreadfully, both in + the breed of my hogs and of my turkeys.” + </p> + <p> + “No, Bess,” cried the Judge, in a more cheerful tone, disregarding the + interruption of his cousin, “he who hears of the settlement of a country + knows but little of the toil and suffering by which it is accomplished. + Unimproved and wild as this district now seems to your eyes, what was it + when I first entered the hills? I left my party, the morning of my + arrival, near the farms of the Cherry Valley, and, following a deer-path, + rode to the summit of the mountain that I have since called Mount Vision; + for the sight that there met my eyes seemed to me as the deceptions of a + dream. The fire had run over the pinnacle, and in a great measure laid + open the view. The leaves were fallen, and I mounted a tree and sat for an + hour looking on the silent wilderness. Not an opening was to be seen in + the boundless forest except where the lake lay, like a mirror of glass. + The water was covered by myriads of the wild-fowl that migrate with the + changes in the season; and while in my situation on the branch of the + beech, I saw a bear, with her cubs, descend to the shore to drink. I had + met many deer, gliding through the woods, in my journey; but not the + vestige of a man could I trace during my progress, nor from my elevated + observatory. No clearing, no hut, none of the winding roads that are now + to be seen, were there; nothing but mountains rising behind mountains; and + the valley, with its surface of branches enlivened here and there with the + faded foliage of some tree that parted from its leaves with more than + ordinary reluctance. Even the Susquehanna was then hid by the height and + density of the forest.” + </p> + <p> + “And were you alone?” asked Elizabeth: “passed you the night in that + solitary state?” + </p> + <p> + “Not so, my child,” returned the father. “After musing on the scene for an + hour, with a mingled feeling of pleasure and desolation, I left my perch + and descended the mountain. My horse was left to browse on the twigs that + grew within his reach, while I explored the shores of the lake and the + spot where Templeton stands. A pine of more than ordinary growth stood + where my dwelling is now placed! A wind—row had been opened through + the trees from thence to the lake, and my view was but little impeded. + Under the branches of that tree I made my solitary dinner. I had just + finished my repast as I saw smoke curling from under the mountain, near + the eastern bank of the lake. It was the only indication of the vicinity + of man that I had then seen. After much toil I made my way to the spot, + and found a rough cabin of logs, built against the foot of a rock, and + bearing the marks of a tenant, though I found no one within it—” + </p> + <p> + “It was the hut of Leather-Stocking,” said Edwards quickly. + </p> + <p> + “It was; though I at first supposed it to be a habitation of the Indians. + But while I was lingering around the spot Natty made his appearance, + staggering under the carcass of a buck that he had slain. Our acquaintance + commenced at that time; before, I had never heard that such a being + tenanted the woods. He launched his bark canoe and set me across the foot + of the lake to the place where I had fastened my horse, and pointed out a + spot where he might get a scanty browsing until the morning; when I + returned and passed the night in the cabin of the hunter.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple was so much struck by the deep attention of young Edwards + during this speech that she forgot to resume her interrogations; but the + youth himself continued the discourse by asking: + </p> + <p> + “And how did the Leather-Stocking discharge the duties of a host sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, simply but kindly, until late in the evening, when he discovered my + name and object, and the cordiality of his manner very sensibly + diminished, or, I might better say, disappeared. He considered the + introduction of the settlers as an innovation on his rights, I believe for + he expressed much dissatisfaction at the measure, though it was in his + confused and ambiguous manner. I hardly understood his objections myself, + but supposed they referred chiefly to an interruption of the hunting.” + </p> + <p> + “Had you then purchased the estate, or were you examining it with an + intent to buy?” asked Edwards, a little abruptly. + </p> + <p> + “It had been mine for several years. It was with a view to People the land + that I visited the lake. Natty treated me hospitably, but coldly, I + thought, after he learned the nature of my journey. I slept on his own + bear—skin, however, and in the morning joined my surveyors again.” + </p> + <p> + “Said he nothing of the Indian rights, sir? The Leather-Stocking is much + given to impeach the justice of the tenure by which the whites hold the + country.” + </p> + <p> + “I remember that he spoke of them, but I did not nearly comprehend him, + and may have forgotten what he said; for the Indian title was extinguished + so far back as the close of the old war, and if it had not been at all, I + hold under the patents of the Royal Governors, confirmed by an act of our + own State Legislature, and no court in the country can affect my title.” + </p> + <p> + “Doubtless, sir, your title is both legal and equitable,” returned the + youth coldly, reining his horse back and remaining silent till the subject + was changed. + </p> + <p> + It was seldom Mr. Jones suffered any conversation to continue for a great + length of time without his participation. It seems that he was of the + party that Judge Temple had designated as his surveyors; and he embraced + the opportunity of the pause that succeeded the retreat of young Edwards + to take up the discourse, and with a narration of their further + proceedings, after his own manner. As it wanted, however, the interest + that had accompanied the description of the Judge, we must decline the + task of committing his sentences to paper. + </p> + <p> + They soon reached the point where the promised view was to be seen. It was + one of those picturesque and peculiar scenes that belong to the Otsego, + but which required the absence of the ice and the softness of a summer's + landscape to be enjoyed in all its beauty. Marmaduke had early forewarned + his daughter of the season, and of its effect on the prospect; and after + casting a cursory glance at its capabilities, the party returned homeward, + perfectly satisfied that its beauties would repay them for the toil of a + second ride at a more propitious season. + </p> + <p> + “The spring is the gloomy time of the American year,” said the Judge, “and + it is more peculiarly the case in these mountains. The winter seems to + retreat to the fast nesses of the hills, as to the citadel of its + dominion, and is only expelled after a tedious siege, in which either + party, at times, would seem to be gaining the victory.” + </p> + <p> + “A very just and apposite figure, Judge Temple,” observed the sheriff; + “and the garrison under the command of Jack Frost make formidable sorties—you + understand what I mean by sorties, monsieur; sallies, in English—and + sometimes drive General Spring and his troops back again into the low + countries.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes sair,” returned the Frenchman, whose prominent eyes were watching the + precarious footsteps of the beast he rode, as it picked its dangerous way + among the roots of trees, holes, log bridges, and sloughs that formed the + aggregate of the highway. “Je vous entends; de low countrie is freeze up + for half de year.” + </p> + <p> + The error of Mr. Le Quoi was not noticed by the sheriff; and the rest of + the party were yielding to the influence of the changeful season, which + was already teaching the equestrians that a continuance of its mildness + was not to be expected for any length of time. Silence and thoughtfulness + succeeded the gayety and conversation that had prevailed during the + commencement of the ride, as clouds began to gather about the heavens, + apparently collecting from every quarter, in quick motion, without the + agency of a breath of air, + </p> + <p> + While riding over one of the cleared eminencies that occurred in their + route, the watchful eye of Judge Temple pointed out to his daughter the + approach of a tempest. Flurries of snow already obscured the mountain that + formed the northern boundary of the lake, and the genial sensation which + had quickened the blood through their veins was already succeeded by the + deadening influence of an approaching northwester. + </p> + <p> + All of the party were now busily engaged in making the best of their way + to the village, though the badness of the roads frequently compelled them + to check the impatience of their animals, which often carried them over + places that would not admit of any gait faster than a walk. + </p> + <p> + Richard continued in advance, followed by Mr. Le Quoi; next to whom rode + Elizabeth, who seemed to have imbibed the distance which pervaded the + manner of young Edwards since the termination of the discourse between the + latter and her father. Marmaduke followed his daughter, giving her + frequent and tender warnings as to the management of her horse. It was, + possibly, the evident dependence that Louisa Grant placed on his + assistance which induced the youth to continue by her side, as they + pursued their way through a dreary and dark wood, where the rays of the + sun could but rarely penetrate, and where even the daylight was obscured + and rendered gloomy by the deep forests that surrounded them. No wind had + yet reached the spot where the equestrians were in motion, but that dead + silence that often precedes a storm contributed to render their situation + more irksome than if they were already subject to the fury of the tempest. + Suddenly the voice of young Edwards was heard shouting in those appalling + tones that carry alarm to the very soul, and which curdle the blood of + those that hear them. + </p> + <p> + “A tree! a tree! Whip—spur for your lives! a tree! a tree.” + </p> + <p> + “A tree! a tree!” echoed Richard, giving his horse a blow that caused the + alarmed beast to jump nearly a rod, throwing the mud and water into the + air like a hurricane. + </p> + <p> + “Von tree! von tree!” shouted the Frenchman, bending his body on the neck + of his charger, shutting his eyes, and playing on the ribs of his beast + with his heels at a rate that caused him to be conveyed on the crupper of + the sheriff with a marvellous speed. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth checked her filly and looked up, with an unconscious but alarmed + air, at the very cause of their danger, while she listened to the + crackling sounds that awoke the stillness of the forest; but the next + instant her bridlet was seized by her father, who cried, “God protect my + child!” and she felt herself hurried onward, impelled by the vigor of his + nervous arm. + </p> + <p> + Each one of the party bowed to his saddle-bows as the tearing of branches + was succeeded by a sound like the rushing of the winds, which was followed + by a thundering report, and a shock that caused the very earth to tremble + as one of the noblest ruins of the forest fell directly across their path. + </p> + <p> + One glance was enough to assure Judge Temple that his daughter and those + in front of him were safe, and he turned his eyes, in dreadful anxiety, to + learn the fate of the others. Young Edwards was on the opposite side of + the tree, his form thrown back in his saddle to its utmost distance, his + left hand drawing up his bridle with its greatest force, while the right + grasped that of Miss Grant so as to draw the head of her horse under its + body. Both the animals stood shaking in every joint with terror, and + snorting fearfully. Louisa herself had relinquished her reins, and, with + her hands pressed on her face, sat bending forward in her saddle, in an + attitude of despair, mingled strangely with resignation. + </p> + <p> + “Are you safe?” cried the Judge, first breaking the awful silence of the + moment. + </p> + <p> + “By God's blessing,” returned the youth; “but if there had been branches + to the tree we must have been lost—” + </p> + <p> + He was interrupted by the figure of Louisa slowly yielding in her saddle, + and but for his arm she would have sunk to the earth. Terror, however, was + the only injury that the clergyman's daughter had sustained, and, with the + aid of Elizabeth, she was soon restored to her senses. After some little + time was lost in recovering her strength, the young lady was replaced in + her saddle, and supported on either side by Judge Temple and Mr. Edwards + she was enabled to follow the party in their slow progress. + </p> + <p> + “The sudden fallings of the trees,” said Marmaduke, “are the most + dangerous accidents in the forest, for they are not to be foreseen, being + impelled by no winds, nor any extraneous or visible cause against which we + can guard.” + </p> + <p> + “The reason of their falling, Judge Temple, is very obvious,” said the + sheriff. “The tree is old and decayed, and it is gradually weakened by the + frosts, until a line drawn from the centre of gravity falls without its + base, and then the tree comes of a certainty; and I should like to know + what greater compulsion there can be for any thing than a mathematical + certainty. I studied math—” + </p> + <p> + “Very true, Richard,” interrupted Marmaduke; “thy reasoning is true, and, + if my memory be not over-treacherous, was furnished by myself on a former + occasion, But how is one to guard against the danger? Canst thou go + through the forests measuring the bases and calculating the centres of the + oaks? Answer me that, friend Jones, and I will say thou wilt do the + country a service.” + </p> + <p> + “Answer thee that, friend Temple!” returned Richard; “a well-educated man + can answer thee anything, sir. Do any trees fall in this manner but such + as are decayed? Take care not to approach the roots of a rotten tree, and + you will be safe enough.” + </p> + <p> + “That would be excluding us entirely from the forests,” said Marmaduke. + “But, happily, the winds usually force down most of these dangerous ruins, + as their currents are admitted into the woods by the surrounding + clearings, and such a fall as this has been is very rare.” + </p> + <p> + Louisa by this time had recovered so much strength as to allow the party + to proceed at a quicker pace, but long before they were safely housed they + were overtaken by the storm; and when they dismounted at the door of the + mansion-house, the black plumes of Miss Temple's hat were drooping with + the weight of a load of damp snow, and the coats of the gentlemen were + powdered with the same material. + </p> + <p> + While Edwards was assisting Louisa from her horse, the warm-hearted girl + caught his hand with fervor and whispered: + </p> + <p> + “Now, Mr. Edwards, both father and daughter owe their lives to you.” + </p> + <p> + A driving northwesterly storm succeeded, and before the sun was set every + vestige of spring had vanished; the lake, the mountains, the village, and + the fields being again hidden under one dazzling coat of snow. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0022" id="link2HCH0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXII + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Men, boys, and girls + Desert the unpeopled village; and wild crowds + Spread o'er the plain, by the sweet phrensy driven.” + —Somerville. +</pre> + <p> + From this time to the close of April the weather continued to be a + succession of neat and rapid changes. One day the soft airs of spring + seemed to be stealing along the valley, and, in unison with an + invigorating sun, attempting covertly to rouse the dormant powers of the + vegetable world, while, on the next, the surly blasts from the north would + sweep across the lake and erase every impression left by their gentle + adversaries. The snow, however, finally disappeared, and the green wheat + fields were seen in every direction, spotted with the dark and charred + stumps that had, the preceding season, supported some of the proudest + trees of the forest. Ploughs were in motion, wherever those useful + implements could be used, and the smokes of the sugar-camps were no longer + seen issuing from the woods of maple. The lake had lost the beauty of a + field of ice, but still a dark and gloomy covering concealed its waters, + for the absence of currents left them yet hidden under a porous crust, + which, saturated with the fluid, barely retained enough strength to + preserve the continuity of its parts. Large flocks of wild geese were seen + passing over the country, which hovered, for a time, around the hidden + sheet of water, apparently searching for a resting-place; and then, on + finding themselves excluded by the chill covering, would soar away to the + north, filling the air with discordant screams, as if venting their + complaints at the tardy operations of Nature. + </p> + <p> + For a week, the dark covering of the Otsego was left to the undisturbed + possession of two eagles, who alighted on the centre of its field, and sat + eyeing their undisputed territory. During the presence of these monarchs + of the air, the flocks of migrating birds avoided crossing the plain of + ice by turning into the hills, apparently seeking the protection of the + forests, while the white and bald heads of the tenants of the lake were + turned upward, with a look of contempt. But the time had come when even + these kings of birds were to be dispossessed. An opening had been + gradually increasing at the lower extremity of the lake, and around the + dark spot where the current of the river prevented the formation of ice + during even the coldest weather; and the fresh southerly winds, that now + breathed freely upon the valley, made an impression on the waters. Mimic + waves began to curl over the margin of the frozen field, which exhibited + an outline of crystallizations that slowly receded toward the north. At + each step the power of the winds and the waves increased, until, after a + struggle of a few hours, the turbulent little billows succeeded in setting + the whole field in motion, when it was driven beyond the reach of the eye, + with a rapidity that was as magical as the change produced in the scene by + this expulsion of the lingering remnant of winter. Just as the last sheet + of agitated ice was disappearing in the distance, the eagles rose, and + soared with a wide sweep above the clouds, while the waves tossed their + little caps of snow in the air, as if rioting in their release from a + thraldom of five minutes' duration. + </p> + <p> + The following morning Elizabeth was awakened by the exhilarating sounds of + the martens, who were quarrelling and chattering around the little boxes + suspended above her windows, and the cries of Richard, who was calling in + tones animating as signs of the season itself: + </p> + <p> + “Awake! awake! my fair lady! the gulls are hovering over the lake already, + and the heavens are alive with pigeons. You may look an hour before you + can find a hole through which to get a peep at the sun. Awake! awake! lazy + ones' Benjamin is overhauling the ammunition, and we only wait for our + breakfasts, and away for the mountains and pigeon-shooting.” + </p> + <p> + There was no resisting this animated appeal, and in a few minutes Miss + Temple and her friend descended to the parlor. The doors of the hall were + thrown open, and the mild, balmy air of a clear spring morning was + ventilating the apartment, where the vigilance of the ex-steward had been + so long maintaining an artificial heat with such unremitted diligence. The + gentlemen were impatiently waiting for their morning's repast, each + equipped in the garb of a sportsman. Mr. Jones made many visits to the + southern door, and would cry: + </p> + <p> + “See, Cousin Bess! see, 'Duke, the pigeon-roosts of the south have broken + up! They are growing more thick every instant, Here is a flock that the + eye cannot see the end of. There is food enough in it to keep the army of + Xerxes for a month, and feathers enough to make beds for the whole + country. Xerxes, Mr. Edwards, was a Grecian king, who—no, he was a + Turk, or a Persian, who wanted to conquer Greece, just the same as these + rascals will overrun our wheat fields, when they come back in the fall. + Away! away! Bess; I long to pepper them.” + </p> + <p> + In this wish both Marmaduke and young Edwards seemed equally to + participate, for the sight was exhilarating to a sportsman; and the ladies + soon dismissed the party after a hasty breakfast. + </p> + <p> + If the heavens were alive with pigeons, the whole village seemed equally + in motion with men, women, and children. Every species of firearm, from + the French ducking gun, with a barrel near six feet in length, to the + common horseman's pistol, was to be seen in the hands of the men and boys; + while bows and arrows, some made of the simple stick of walnut sapling and + others in a rude imitation of the ancient cross-bows, were carried by many + of the latter. + </p> + <p> + The houses and the signs of life apparent in the village drove the alarmed + birds from the direct line of their flight, toward the mountains, along + the sides and near the bases of which they were glancing in dense masses, + equally wonderful by the rapidity of their motion and their incredible + numbers. + </p> + <p> + We have already said that, across the inclined plane which fell from the + steep ascent of the mountain to the banks of the Susquehanna, ran the + highway on either side of which a clearing of many acres had been made at + a very early day. Over those clearings, and up the eastern mountain, and + along the dangerous path that was cut into its side, the different + individuals posted themselves, and in a few moments the attack commenced. + </p> + <p> + Among the sportsmen was the tall, gaunt form of Leather-Stocking, walking + over the field, with his rifle hanging on his arm, his dogs at his heels; + the latter now scenting the dead or wounded birds that were beginning to + tumble from the flocks, and then crouching under the legs of their master, + as if they participated in his feelings at this wasteful and + unsportsmanlike execution. + </p> + <p> + The reports of the firearms became rapid, whole volleys rising from the + plain, as flocks of more than ordinary numbers darted over the opening, + shadowing the field like a cloud; and then the light smoke of a single + piece would issue from among the leafless bushes on the mountain, as death + was hurled on the retreat of the affrighted birds, who were rising from a + volley, in a vain effort to escape. Arrows and missiles of every kind were + in the midst of the flocks; and so numerous were the birds, and so low did + they take their flight, that even long poles in the hands of those on the + sides of the mountain were used to strike them to the earth. + </p> + <p> + During all this time Mr. Jones, who disdained the humble and ordinary + means of destruction used by his companions, was busily occupied, aided by + Benjamin, in making arrangements for an assault of more than ordinarily + fatal character. Among the relics of the old military excursions, that + occasionally are discovered throughout the different districts of the + western part of New York, there had been found in Templeton, at its + settlement, a small swivel, which would carry a ball of a pound weight. It + was thought to have been deserted by a war-party of the whites in one of + their inroads into the Indian settlements, when, perhaps, convenience or + their necessity induced them to leave such an incumberance behind them in + the woods. This miniature cannon had been released from the rust, and + being mounted on little wheels was now in a state for actual service. For + several years it was the sole organ for extraordinary rejoicings used in + those mountains. On the mornings of the Fourth of July it would be heard + ringing among the hills; and even Captain Hollister, who was the highest + authority in that part of the country on all such occasions, affirmed + that, considering its dimensions, it was no despicable gun for a salute. + It was somewhat the worse for the service it had performed, it is true, + there being but a trifling difference in size between the touch-hole and + the muzzle Still, the grand conceptions of Richard had suggested the + importance of such an instrument in hurling death at his nimble enemies. + The swivel was dragged by a horse into a part of the open space that the + sheriff thought most eligible for planning a battery of the kind, and Mr. + Pump proceeded to load it. Several handfuls of duck-shot were placed on + top of the powder, and the major-domo announced that his piece was ready + for service. + </p> + <p> + The sight of such an implement collected all the idle spectators to the + spot, who, being mostly boys, filled the air with cries of exultation and + delight The gun was pointed high, and Richard, holding a coal of fire in a + pair of tongs, patiently took his seat on a stump, awaiting the appearance + of a flock worthy of his notice. + </p> + <p> + So prodigious was the number of the birds that the scattering fire of the + guns, with the hurling of missiles and the cries of the boys, had no other + effect than to break off small flocks from the immense masses that + continued to dart along the valley, as if the whole of the feathered tribe + were pouring through that one pass. None pretended to collect the game, + which lay scattered over the fields in such profusion as to cover the very + ground with fluttering victims. + </p> + <p> + Leather-Stocking was a silent but uneasy spectator of all these + proceedings, but was able to keep his sentiments to himself until he saw + the introduction of the swivel into the sports. + </p> + <p> + “This comes of settling a country!” he said. “Here have I known the pigeon + to fly for forty long years, and, till you made your clearings, there was + nobody to skeart or to hurt them, I loved to see them come into the woods, + for they were company to a body, hurting nothing—being, as it was, + as harmless as a garter-snake. But now it gives me sore thoughts when I + hear the frighty things whizzing through the air, for I know it's only a + motion to bring out all the brats of the village. Well, the Lord won't see + the waste of his creatures for nothing, and right will be done to the + pigeons, as well as others, by and by. There's Mr. Oliver as bad as the + rest of them, firing into the flocks as if he was shooting down nothing + but Mingo warriors.” Among the sportsmen was Billy Kirby, who, armed with + an old musket, was loading, and, without even looking into the air, was + firing and shouting as his victims fell even on his own person. He heard + the speech of Natty, and took upon himself to reply: + </p> + <p> + “What! old Leather-Stocking,” he cried, “grumbling at the loss of a few + pigeons! If you had to sow your wheat twice, and three times, as I have + done, you wouldn't be so massyfully feeling toward the divils. Hurrah, + boys! scatter the feathers! This is better than shooting at a turkey's + head and neck, old fellow.” + </p> + <p> + “It's better for you, maybe, Billy Kirby,” replied the indignant old + hunter, “and all them that don't know how to put a ball down a + rifle-barrel, or how to bring it up again with a true aim; but it's wicked + to be shooting into flocks in this wasty manner, and none to do it who + know how to knock over a single bird. If a body has a craving for pigeon's + flesh, why, it's made the same as all other creatures, for man's eating; + but not to kill twenty and eat one. When I want such a thing I go into the + woods till I find one to my liking, and then I shoot him off the branches, + without touching the feather of another, though there might be a hundred + on the same tree. You couldn't do such a thing, Billy Kirby—you + couldn't do it if you tried.” + </p> + <p> + “What's that, old corn-stalk! you sapless stub!” cried the wood-chopper. + “You have grown wordy, since the affair of the turkey; but if you are for + a single shot, here goes at that bird which comes on by himself.” + </p> + <p> + The fire from the distant part of the field had driven a single pigeon + below the flock to which it belonged, and, frightened with the constant + reports of the muskets, it was approaching the spot where the disputants + stood, darting first from One side and then to the other, cutting the air + with the swiftness of lightning, and making a noise with its wings not + unlike the rushing of a bullet. Unfortunately for the wood-chopper, + notwithstanding his vaunt, he did not see this bird until it was too late + to fire as it approached, and he pulled the trigger at the unlucky moment + when it was darting immediately over his head. The bird continued its + course with the usual velocity. + </p> + <p> + Natty lowered his rifle from his arm when the challenge was made, and + waiting a moment, until the terrified victim had got in a line with his + eye, and had dropped near the bank of the lake, he raised it again with + uncommon rapidity, and fired. It might have been chance, or it might have + been skill, that produced the result; it was probably a union of both; but + the pigeon whirled over in the air, and fell into the lake with a broken + wing At the sound of his rifle, both his dogs started from his feet, and + in a few minutes the “slut” brought out the bird, still alive. + </p> + <p> + The wonderful exploit of Leather-Stocking was noised through the field + with great rapidity, and the sportsmen gathered in, to learn the truth of + the report. + </p> + <p> + “What” said young Edwards, “have you really killed a pigeon on the wing, + Natty, with a single ball?” + </p> + <p> + “Haven't I killed loons before now, lad, that dive at the flash?” returned + the hunter. “It's much better to kill only such as you want, without + wasting your powder and lead, than to be firing into God's creatures in + this wicked manner. But I came out for a bird, and you know the reason why + I like small game, Mr. Oliver, and now I have got one Twill go home, for I + don't relish to see these wasty ways that you are all practysing, as if + the least thing wasn't made for use, and not to destroy.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou sayest well, Leather-Stocking,” cried Marmaduke, “and I begin to + think it time to put an end to this work of destruction.” + </p> + <p> + “Put an ind, Judge, to your clearings. Ain't the woods His work as well as + the pigeons? Use, but don't waste. Wasn't the woods made for the beasts + and birds to harbor in? and when man wanted their flesh, their skins, or + their feathers, there's the place to seek them. But I'll go to the hut + with my own game, for I wouldn't touch one of the harmless things that + cover the ground here, looking up with their eyes on me, as if they only + wanted tongues to say their thoughts.” With this sentiment in his month, + Leather-Stocking threw his rifle over his arm, and, followed by his dogs, + stepped across the clearing with great caution, taking care not to tread + on one of the wounded birds in his path. He soon entered the bushes on the + margin of the lake and was hid from view. + </p> + <p> + Whatever impression the morality of Natty made on the Judge, it was + utterly lost on Richard. He availed himself of the gathering of the + sportsmen, to lay a plan for one “fell swoop” of destruction. The + musket-men were drawn up in battle array, in a line extending on each side + of his artillery, with orders to await the signal of firing from himself. + </p> + <p> + “Stand by, my lads,” said Benjamin, who acted as an aid de-camp on this + occasion, “stand by, my hearties, and when Squire Dickens heaves out the + signal to begin firing, d'ye see, you may open upon them in a broadside. + Take care and fire low, boys, and you'll be sure to hull the flock.” + </p> + <p> + “Fire low!” shouted Kirby; “hear the old fool! If we fire low, we may hit + the stumps, but not ruffle a pigeon.” + </p> + <p> + “How should you know, you lubber?” cried Benjamin, with a very unbecoming + heat for an officer on the eve of battle—“how should you know, you + grampus? Haven't I sailed aboard of the Boadishy for five years? and + wasn't it a standing order to fire low, and to hull your enemy! Keep + silence at your guns, boys and mind the order that is passed.” + </p> + <p> + The loud laughs of the musket-men were silenced by the more authoritative + voice of Richard, who called for attention and obedience to his signals. + </p> + <p> + Some millions of pigeons were supposed to have already passed, that + morning, over the valley of Templeton; but nothing like the flock that was + now approaching had been seen before. It extended from mountain to + mountain in one solid blue mass, and the eye looked in vain, over the + southern hills, to find its termination. The front of this living column + was distinctly marked by a line but very slightly indented, so regular and + even was the flight. Even Marmaduke forgot the morality of + Leather-Stocking as it approached, and, in common with the rest, brought + his musket to a poise. + </p> + <p> + “Fire!” cried the sheriff, clapping a coal to the priming of the cannon. + As half of Benjamin's charge escaped through the touch-hole, the whole + volley of the musketry preceded the report of the swivel. On receiving + this united discharge of small-arms, the front of the flock darted upward, + while, at the same instant, myriads of those in the rear rushed with + amazing rapidity into their places, so that, when the column of white + smoke gushed from the mouth of the little cannon, an accumulated mass of + objects was gliding over its point of direction. The roar of the gun + echoed along the mountains, and died away to the north, like distant + thunder, while the whole flock of alarmed birds seemed, for a moment, + thrown into one disorderly and agitated mass. The air was filled with + their irregular flight, layer rising above layer, far above the tops of + the highest pines, none daring to advance beyond the dangerous pass; when, + suddenly, some of the headers of the feathered tribes shot across the + valley, taking their flight directly over the village, and hundreds of + thousands in their rear followed the example, deserting the eastern side + of the plain to their persecutors and the slain. + </p> + <p> + “Victory!” shouted Richard, “victory! we have driven the enemy from the + field.” + </p> + <p> + “Not so, Dickon,” said Marmaduke; “the field is covered with them; and, + like the Leather-Stocking, I see nothing but eyes, in every direction, as + the innocent sufferers turn their heads in terror. Full one-half of those + that have fallen are yet alive; and I think it is time to end the sport, + if sport it be.” + </p> + <p> + “Sport!” cried the sheriff; “it is princely sport! There are some + thousands of the blue-coated boys on the ground, so that every old woman + in the village may have a pot-pie for the asking.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, we have happily frightened the birds from this side of the valley,” + said Marmaduke, “and the carnage must of necessity end for the present. + Boys, I will give you sixpence a hundred for the pigeons' heads only; so + go to work, and bring them into the village.” + </p> + <p> + This expedient produced the desired effect, for every urchin on the ground + went industriously to work to wring the necks of the wounded birds. Judge + Temple retired toward his dwelling with that kind of feeling that many a + man has experienced before him, who discovers, after the excitement of the + moment has passed, that he has purchased pleasure at the price of misery + to others. Horses were loaded with the dead; and, after this first burst + of sporting, the shooting of pigeons became a business, with a few idlers, + for the remainder of the season, Richard, however, boasted for many a year + of his shot with the “cricket;” and Benjamin gravely asserted that he + thought they had killed nearly as many pigeons on that day as there were + Frenchmen destroyed on the memorable occasion of Rodney's victory. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0023" id="link2HCH0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Help, masters, help; here's a fish hangs in the net, like a poor + Man's right in the law.” + —Pericles of Tyre. +</pre> + <p> + The advance of the season now became as rapid as its first approach had + been tedious and lingering. The days were uniformly mild, while the + nights, though cool, were no longer chilled by frosts. The whip-poor-will + was heard whistling his melancholy notes along the margin of the lake, and + the ponds and meadows were sending forth the music of their thousand + tenants. The leaf of the native poplar was seen quivering in the woods; + the sides of the mountains began to lose their hue of brown, as the lively + green of the different members of the forest blended their shades with the + permanent colors of the pine and hemlock; and even the buds of the tardy + oak were swelling with the promise of the coming summer. The gay and + fluttering blue-bird, the social robin, and the industrious little wren + were all to be seen enlivening the fields with their presence and their + songs; while the soaring fish-hawk was already hovering over the waters of + the Otsego, watching with native voracity for the appearance of his prey. + </p> + <p> + The tenants of the lake were far-famed for both their quantities and their + quality, and the ice had hardly disappeared before numberless little boats + were launched from the shores, and the lines of the fishermen were dropped + into the inmost recesses of its deepest caverns, tempting the unwary + animals with every variety of bait that the ingenuity or the art of man + had invented. But the slow though certain adventures with hook and line + were ill suited to the profusion and impatience of the settlers. More + destructive means were resorted to; and, as the season had now arrived + when the bass fisheries were allowed by the provisions of the law that + Judge Temple had procured, the sheriff declared his intention, by availing + himself of the first dark night, to enjoy the sport in person. + </p> + <p> + “And you shall be present, Cousin Bess,” he added, when he announced this + design, “and Miss Grant, and Mr. Edwards; and I will show you what I call + fishing not nibble, nibble, nibble, as 'Duke does when he goes after the + salmon-trout. There he will sit for hours, in a broiling sun or, perhaps, + over a hole in the lee, in the coldest days in winter, under the lee of a + few bushes, and not a fish will he catch, after all this mortification of + the flesh. No, no—give me a good seine that's fifty or sixty fathoms + in length, with a jolly parcel of boatmen to crack their jokes the while, + with Benjamin to steer, and let us haul them in by thousands; I call that + fishing.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Dickon,” cried Marmaduke, “thou knowest but little of the pleasure + there is in playing with the hook and line, or thou wouldst be more saving + of the game. I have known thee to leave fragments enough behind thee, when + thou hast headed a night party on the lake, to feed a dozen famishing + families.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall not dispute the matter, Judge Temple; this night will I go; and I + invite the company to attend, and then let them decide between us.” + </p> + <p> + Richard was busy during most of the afternoon, making his preparations for + the important occasion. Just as the light of the settling sun had + disappeared, and a new moon had begun to throw its shadows on the earth, + the fisher-men took their departure, in a boat, for a point that was + situated on the western shore of the lake, at the distance of rather more + than half a mile from the village. The ground had become settled, and the + walking was good and dry. Marmaduke, with his daughter, her friend, and + young Edwards, continued on the high grassy banks at the outlet of the + placid sheet of water, watching the dark object that was moving across the + lake, until it entered the shade of the western hills, and was lost to the + eye. The distance round by land to the point of destination was a mile, + and he observed: + </p> + <p> + “It is time for us to be moving; the moon will be down ere we reach the + point, and then the miraculous hauls of Dickon will commence.” + </p> + <p> + The evening was warm, and, after the long and dreary winter from which + they had just escaped, delightfully invigorating. Inspirited by the scene + and their anticipated amusement, the youthful companions of the Judge + followed his steps, as he led them along the shores of the Otsego, and + through the skirts of the village. + </p> + <p> + “See!” said young Edwards, “they are building their fire already; it + glimmers for a moment, and dies again like the light of a firefly.” + </p> + <p> + “Now it blazes,” cried Elizabeth; “you can perceive figures moving around + the light. Oh! I would bet my jewels against the gold beads of Remarkable, + that my impatient Cousin Dickon had an agency in raising that bright + flame; and see! it fades again, like most of his brilliant schemes.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast guessed the truth, Bess,” said her father; “he has thrown an + armful of brush on the pile, which has burnt out as soon as lighted. But + it has enabled them to find a better fuel, for their fire begins to blaze + with a more steady flame. It is the true fisherman's beacon now; observe + how beautifully it throw s its little circle of light on the water!” + </p> + <p> + The appearance of the fire urged the pedestrians on, for even the ladies + had become eager to witness the miraculous draught. By the time they + reached the bank, which rose above the low point where the fishermen had + landed, the moon had sunk behind the top of the western pines, and, as + most of the stars were obscured by clouds, there was but little other + light than that which proceeded from the fire. At the suggestion of + Marmaduke, his companions paused to listen to the conversation of those + below them, and examine the party for a moment before they descended to + the shore. + </p> + <p> + The whole group were seated around the fire, with the exception of Richard + and Benjamin; the former of whom occupied the root of a decayed stump, + that had been drawn to the spot as part of their fuel, and the latter was + standing, with his arms akimbo, so near to the flame that the smoke + occasionally obscured his solemn visage, as it waved around the pile in + obedience to the night airs that swept gently over the water. + </p> + <p> + “Why, look you, squire, said the major-domo. You may call a lake-fish that + will weigh twenty or thirty pounds a serious matter, but to a man who has + hauled in a shovel-nosed shirk, d'ye see, it's but a poor kind of fishing + after all.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't know, Benjamin,” returned the sheriff; “a haul of one thousand + Otsego bass, without counting pike, pickerel, perch, bull-pouts, + salmon-trouts, and suckers, is no bad fishing, let me tell you. There may + he sport in sticking a shark, but what is he good for after you have got + him? Now, any one of the fish that I have named is fit to set before a + king.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, squire,” returned Benjamin, “just listen to the philosophy of the + thing. Would it stand to reason, that such a fish should live and be + catched in this here little pond of water, where it's hardly deep enough + to drown a man, as you'll find in the wide ocean, where, as every body + knows that is, everybody that has followed the seas, whales and grampuses + are to be seen, that are as long as one of the pine-trees on yonder + mountain?” + </p> + <p> + “Softly, softly, Benjamin,” said the sheriff, as if he wished to save the + credit of his favorite; “why, some of the pines will measure two hundred + feet, and even more.” + </p> + <p> + “Two hundred or two thousand, it's all the same thing,” cried Benjamin, + with an air which manifested that he was not easily to be bullied out of + his opinion, on a subject like the present. “Haven't I been there, and + haven't I seen? I have said that you fall in with whales as long as one of + them there pines: and what I have once said I'll stand to!” + </p> + <p> + During this dialogue, which was evidently but the close of much longer + discussion, the huge frame of Billy Kirby was seen extended on one side of + the fire, where he was picking his teeth with splinters of the chips near + him, and occasionally shaking his head with distrust of Benjamin's + assertions. + </p> + <p> + “I've a notion,” said the wood-chopper, “that there's water in this lake + to swim the biggest whale that ever was invented; and, as to the pines, I + think I ought to know so'thing consarning them; I have chopped many a one + that was sixty times the length of my helve, without counting the eye; and + I believe, Benny, that if the old pine that stands in the hollow of the + Vision Mountain just over the village—you may see the tree itself by + looking up, for the moon is on its top yet—well, now I believe, if + that same tree was planted out in the deepest part of the lake, there + would be water enough for the biggest ship that ever was built to float + over it, without touching its upper branches, I do.” + </p> + <p> + “Did'ee ever see a ship, Master Kirby?” roared the steward, “did'ee ever + see a ship, man? or any craft bigger than a lime-scow, or a wood-boat, on + this here small bit of fresh water?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I have,” said the wood-chopper stoutly; “I can say that I have, and + tell no lie.” + </p> + <p> + “Did'ee ever see a British ship, Master Kirby? an English line-of-battle + ship, boy? Where did'ee ever fall in with a regular built vessel, with + starn-post and cutwater, gar board-streak and plank-shear, gangways, and + hatchways, and waterways, quarter-deck, and forecastle, ay, and + flush-deck?—tell me that, man, if you can; where away did'ee ever + fall in with a full-rigged, regular-built, necked vessel?” + </p> + <p> + The whole company were a good deal astounded with this overwhelming + question, and even Richard afterward remarked that it “was a thousand + pities that Benjamin could not read, or he must have made a valuable + officer to the British marine. It is no wonder that they overcame the + French so easily on the water, when even the lowest sailor so well + understood the different parts of a vessel.” But Billy Kirby was a + fearless wight, and had great jealousy of foreign dictation; he had risen + on his feet, and turned his back to the fire, during the voluble delivery + of this interrogatory; and when the steward ended, contrary to all + expectation, he gave the following spirited reply: + </p> + <p> + “Where! why, on the North River, and maybe on Champlain. There's sloops on + the river, boy, that would give a hard time on't to the stoutest vessel + King George owns. They carry masts of ninety feet in the clear of good + solid pine, for I've been at the chopping of many a one in Varmount State. + I wish I was captain in one of them, and you was in that Board-dish that + you talk so much about, and we'd soon see what good Yankee stuff is made + on, and whether a Varmounter's hide ain't as thick as an Englishman's.” + The echoes from the opposite hills, which were more than half a mile from + the fishing point, sent back the discordant laugh that Benjamin gave forth + at this challenge; and the woods that covered their sides seemed, by the + noise that issued from their shades, to be full of mocking demons. + </p> + <p> + “Let us descend to the shore,” whispered Marmaduke, “or there will soon be + ill-blood between them. Benjamin is a fearless boaster; and Kirby, though + good-natured, is a careless son of the forest, who thinks one American + more than a match for six Englishmen. I marvel that Dickon is silent, + where there is such a trial of skill in the superlative!” + </p> + <p> + The appearance of Judge Temple and the ladies produced, if not a + pacification, at least a cessation of hostilities. Obedient to the + directions of Mr. Jones the fishermen prepared to launch their boat, which + had been seen in the background of the view, with the net carefully + disposed on a little platform in its stern, ready for service. Richard + gave vent to his reproaches at the tardiness of the pedestrians, when all + the turbulent passions of the party were succeeded by a calm, as mild and + as placid as that which prevailed over the beautiful sheet of water that + they were about to rifle of its best treasures. + </p> + <p> + The night had now become so dark as to render objects, without the reach + of the light of the fire, not only indistinct, but in most cases + invisible. For a little distance the water was discernible, glistening, as + the glare from the fire danced over its surface, touching it here and + there with red quivering streaks; but, at a hundred feet from the shore, + there lay a boundary of impenetrable gloom. One or two stars were shining + through the openings of the clouds, and the lights were seen in the + village, glimmering faintly, as if at an immeasurable distance. At times, + as the fire lowered, or as the horizon cleared, the outline of the + mountain, on the other side of the lake, might be traced by its + undulations; but its shadow was cast, wide and dense, on the bosom of the + water, rendering the darkness in that direction trebly deep. + </p> + <p> + Benjamin Pump was invariably the coxswain and net caster of Richard's + boat, unless the sheriff saw fit to preside in person: and, on the present + occasion, Billy Kirby, and a youth of about half his strength, were + assigned to the oars. The remainder of the assistants were stationed at + the drag-ropes. The arrangements were speedily made, and Richard gave the + signal to “shove off.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth watched the motion of the batteau as it pulled from the shore, + letting loose its rope as it went, but it soon disappeared in the + darkness, when the ear was her only guide to its evolutions. There was + great affectation of stillness during all these manoeuvers, in order, as + Richard assured them, “not to frighten the bass, who were running into the + shoal waters, and who would approach the light if not disturbed by the + sounds from the fishermen.” + </p> + <p> + The hoarse voice of Benjamin was alone heard issuing out of the gloom, as + he uttered, in authoritative tones, “Pull larboard oar,” “Pull starboard,” + “Give way together, boys,” and such other indicative mandates as were + necessary for the right disposition of his seine. A long time was passed + in this necessary part of the process, for Benjamin prided himself greatly + on his skill in throwing the net, and, in fact, most of the success of the + sport depended on its being done with judgment. At length a loud splash in + the water, as he threw away the “staff,” or “stretcher,” with a hoarse + call from the steward of “Clear,” announced that the boat was returning; + when Richard seized a brand from the fire, and ran to a point as far above + the centre of the fishing-ground, as the one from which the batteau had + started was below it. + </p> + <p> + “Stick her in dead for the squire, boys,” said the steward, “and we'll + have a look at what grows in this here pond.” + </p> + <p> + In place of the falling net were now to be heard the quick strokes of the + oars, and the noise of the rope running out of the boat. Presently the + batteau shot into the circle of light, and in an instant she was pulled to + the shore. Several eager hands were extended to receive the line, and, + both ropes being equally well manned, the fishermen commenced hauling in + with slow, and steady drags, Richard standing to the centre, giving + orders, first to one party, and then to the other, to increase or slacken + their efforts, as occasion required. The visitors were posted near him, + and enjoyed a fair view of the whole operation, which was slowly advancing + to an end. + </p> + <p> + Opinions as to the result of their adventure were now freely hazarded by + all the men, some declaring that the net came in as light as a feather, + and others affirming that it seemed to be full of logs. As the ropes were + many hundred feet in length, these opposing sentiments were thought to be + of little moment by the sheriff, who would go first to one line, and then + to the other, giving each small pull, in order to enable him to form an + opinion for himself. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Benjamin,” he cried, as he made his first effort in this way, “you + did not throw the net clear. I can move it with my little finger. The rope + slackens in my hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever see a whale, squire?” responded the steward: “I say that, if + that there net is foul, the devil is in the lake in the shape of a fish, + for I cast it as far as ever rigging was rove over the quarter-deck of a + flag-ship.” + </p> + <p> + But Richard discovered his mistake, when he saw Billy Kirby before him, + standing with his feet in the water, at an angle of forty-five degrees, + inclining southward, and expending his gigantic strength in sustaining + himself in that posture. He ceased his remonstrances, and proceeded to the + party at the other line. + </p> + <p> + “I see the 'staffs,'” shouted Mr. Jones—“gather in boys, and away + with it; to shore with her!—to shore with her!” + </p> + <p> + At this cheerful sound, Elizabeth strained her eyes and saw the ends of + the two sticks on the seine emerging from the darkness, while the men + closed near to each other, and formed a deep bag of their net. The + exertions of the fishermen sensibly increased, and the voice of Richard + was heard encouraging them to make their greatest efforts at the present + moment. + </p> + <p> + “Now's the time, my lads,” he cried; “let us get the ends to land, and all + we have will be our own—away with her!” + </p> + <p> + “Away with her, it is,” echoed Benjamin!—“hurrah! ho-a-hay, + ho-a-hoy, ho-a!” + </p> + <p> + “In with her,” shouted Kirby, exerting himself in a manner that left + nothing for those in his rear to do, but to gather up the slack of the + rope which passed through his hands. + </p> + <p> + “Staff, ho!” shouted the steward. + </p> + <p> + “Staff, ho!” echoed Kirby, from the other rope. The men rushed to the + water's edge, some seizing the upper rope, and some the lower or lead + rope, and began to haul with great activity and zeal, A deep semicircular + sweep of the little balls that supported the seine in its perpendicular + position was plainly visible to the spectators, and, as it rapidly + lessened in size, the bag of the net appeared, while an occasional flutter + on the water announced the uneasiness of the prisoners it contained. + </p> + <p> + “Haul in, my lads,” shouted Richard—“I can see the dogs kicking to + get free. Haul in, and here's a cast that will pay for the labor.” Fishes + of various sorts were now to be seen, entangled in the meshes of the net, + as it was passed through the hands of the laborers; and the water, at a + little distance from the shore, was alive with the movements of the + alarmed victims. Hundreds of white sides were glancing up to the surface + of the water, and glistening in the fire light, when, frightened at the + uproar and the change, the fish would again dart to the bottom, in + fruitless efforts for freedom. “Hurrah!” shouted Richard: “one or two more + heavy drags, boys, and we are safe.” + </p> + <p> + “Cheerily, boys, cheerily!” cried Benjamin; “I see a salmon-trout that is + big enough for a chowder.” + </p> + <p> + “Away with you, you varmint!” said Billy Kirby, plucking a bullpout from + the meshes, and casting the animal back into the lake with contempt. + “Pull, boys, pull; here's all kinds, and the Lord condemn me for a liar, + if there ain't a thousand bass!” + </p> + <p> + Inflamed beyond the bounds of discretion at the sight, and forgetful of + the season, the wood-chopper rushed to his middle into the water, and + began to drive the reluctant animals before him from their native element. + </p> + <p> + “Pull heartily, boys,” cried Marmaduke, yielding to the excitement of the + moment, and laying his hands to the net, with no trifling addition to the + force. Edwards had preceded him; for the sight of the immense piles of + fish, that were slowly rolling over on the gravelly beach, had impelled + him also to leave the ladies and join the fishermen. + </p> + <p> + Great care was observed in bringing the net to land, and, after much toil, + the whole shoal of victims was safely deposited in a hollow of the bank, + where they were left to flutter away their brief existence in the new and + fatal element. + </p> + <p> + Even Elizabeth and Louisa were greatly excited and highly gratified by + seeing two thousand captives thus drawn from the bosom of the lake, and + laid prisoners at their feet. But when the feelings of the moment were + passing away, Marmaduke took in his hands a bass, that might have weighed + two pounds, and after viewing it a moment, in melancholy musing, he turned + to his daughter, and observed: + </p> + <p> + “This is a fearful expenditure of the choicest gifts of Providence. These + fish, Bess, which thou seest lying in such piles before thee, and which by + to-morrow evening will be rejected food on the meanest table in Templeton, + are of a quality and flavor that, in other countries, would make them + esteemed a luxury on the tables of princes or epicures. The world has no + better fish than the bass of Otsego; it unites the richness of the shad* + to the firmness of the salmon.” + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * Of all the fish the writer has ever tasted, he thinks the one in + question the best. +</pre> + <p> + “But surely, dear sir,” cried Elizabeth, “they must prove a great blessing + to the country, and a powerful friend to the poor.” + </p> + <p> + “The poor are always prodigal, my child, where there is plenty, and seldom + think of a provision against the morrow. But, if there can be any excuse + for destroying animals in this manner, it is in taking the bass. During + the winter, you know, they are entirely protected from our assaults by the + ice, for they refuse the hook; and during the hot months they are not + seen. It is supposed they retreat to the deep and cool waters of the lake, + at that season; and it is only in the spring and autumn that, for a few + days, they are to be found around the points where they are within the + reach of a seine. But, like all the other treasures of the wilderness, + they already begin to disappear before the wasteful extravagance of man.” + </p> + <p> + “Disappear, Duke! disappear!” exclaimed the sheriff “if you don't call + this appearing, I know not what you will. Here are a good thousand of the + shiners, some hundreds of suckers, and a powerful quantity of other fry. + But this is always the way with you, Marmaduke: first it's the trees, then + it's the deer; after that it's the maple sugar, and so on to the end of + the chapter. One day you talk of canals through a country where there's a + river or a lake every half-mile, just because the water won't run the way + you wish it to go; and, the next, you say some thing about mines of coal, + though any man who has good eyes like myself—I say, with good eyes—can + see more wood than would keep the city of London in fuel for fifty years; + wouldn't it, Benjamin?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, for that, squire,” said the steward, “Lon'on is no small place. If + it was stretched an end, all the same as a town on one side of the river, + it would cover some such matter as this here lake. Thof I dar'st to say, + that the wood in sight might sarve them a good turn, seeing that the + Lon'oners mainly burn coal.” + </p> + <p> + “Now we are on the subject of coal, Judge Temple,” interrupted the + sheriff, “I have a thing of much importance to communicate to you; but I + will defer it—until tomorrow. I know that you intend riding into the + eastern part of the Patent, and I will accompany you, and conduct you to a + spot where some of your projects may be realized. We will say no more now, + for there are listeners; but a secret has this evening been revealed to + me, 'Duke, that is of more consequence to your welfare than all your + estate united.” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke laughed at the important intelligence, to which in a variety of + shapes he was accustomed, and the sheriff, with an air of great dignity, + as if pitying his want of faith, proceeded in the business more + immediately Before them. As the labor of drawing the net had been very + great, he directed one party of his men to commence throwing the fish into + piles, preparatory to the usual division, while another, under the + superintendence of Benjamin, prepared the seine for a second haul. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0024" id="link2HCH0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “While from its margin, terrible to tell, + Three sailors with their gallant boatswain fell.” + —Falconer. +</pre> + <p> + While the fishermen were employed in making the preparations for an + equitable division of the spoil, Elizabeth and her friend strolled a short + distance from the group, along the shore of the lake. After reaching a + point to which even the brightest of the occasional gleams of the fire did + not extend, they turned, and paused a moment, in contemplation of the busy + and lively party they had left, and of the obscurity which, like the gloom + of oblivion, seemed to envelop the rest of the creation. + </p> + <p> + “This is indeed a subject for the pencil!” exclaimed Elizabeth. “Observe + the countenance of that woodchopper, while he exults in presenting a + larger fish than common to my cousin sheriff; and see, Louisa, how hand + some and considerate my dear father looks, by the light of that fire, + where he stands viewing the havoc of the game. He seems melancholy, as if + he actually thought that a day of retribution was to follow this hour of + abundance and prodigality! Would they not make a picture, Louisa?” + </p> + <p> + “You know that I am ignorant of all such accomplishments, Miss Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “Call me by my Christian name,” interrupted Elizabeth; “this is not a + place, neither is this a scene, for forms.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if I may venture an opinion,” said Louisa timidly, “I should + think it might indeed make a picture. The selfish earnestness of that + Kirby over his fish would contrast finely with the—the—expression + of Mr. Edwards' face. I hardly know what to call it; but it is—a—is—you + know what I would say, dear Elizabeth.” + </p> + <p> + “You do me too much credit, Miss Grant,” said the heiress; “I am no + diviner of thoughts, or interpreter of expressions.” + </p> + <p> + There was certainly nothing harsh or even cold in the manner of the + speaker, but still it repressed the conversation, and they continued to + stroll still farther from the party, retaining each other's arm, but + observing a profound silence. Elizabeth, perhaps conscious of the + improper phraseology of her last speech, or perhaps excited by the new + object that met her gaze, was the first to break the awkward cessation in + the discourse, by exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + “Look, Louisa! we are not alone; there are fishermen lighting a fire on + the other side of the lake, immediately opposite to us; it must be in + front of the cabin of Leather-Stocking!” + </p> + <p> + Through the obscurity, which prevailed most immediately under the eastern + mountain, a small and uncertain light was plainly to be seen, though, as + it was occasionally lost to the eye, it seemed struggling for existence. + They observed it to move, and sensibly to lower, as it carried down the + descent of the bank to the shore. Here, in a very short time, its flame + gradually expanded, and grew brighter, until it became of the size of a + man's head, when it continued to shine a steady ball of fire. Such an + object, lighted as it were by magic, under the brow of the mountain, and + in that retired and unfrequented place, gave double interest to the beauty + and singularity of its appearance. It did not at all resemble the large + and unsteady light of their own fire, being much more clear and bright, + and retaining its size and shape with perfect uniformity. + </p> + <p> + There are moments when the best-regulated minds are more or less subjected + to the injurious impressions which few have escaped in infancy; and + Elizabeth smiled at her own weakness, while she remembered the idle tales + which were circulated through the village, at the expense of the + Leather-Stocking. The same ideas seized her companion, and at the same + instant, for Louisa pressed nearer to her friend, as she said in a low + voice, stealing a timid glance toward the bushes and trees that overhung + the bank near them: + </p> + <p> + “Did you ever hear the singular ways of this Natty spoken of, Miss Temple? + They say that, in his youth, he was an Indian warrior; or, what is the + same thing, a white man leagued with the savages; and it is thought he has + been concerned in many of their inroads, in the old wars.” + </p> + <p> + “The thing is not at all improbable,” returned Elizabeth; “he is not alone + in that particular.” + </p> + <p> + “No, surely; but is it not strange that he is so cautious with his hut? He + never leaves it, without fastening it in a remarkable manner; and in + several instances, when the children, or even the men of the village, have + wished to seek a shelter there from the storms, he has been known to drive + them from his door with rudeness and threats. That surely is singular to + this country!” + </p> + <p> + “It is certainly not very hospitable; but we must remember his aversion to + the customs of civilized life. You heard my father say, a few days since, + how kindly he was treated by him on his first visit to his place.” + Elizabeth paused, and smiled, with an expression of peculiar archness, + though the darkness hid its meaning from her companion, as she continued: + “Besides, he certainly admits the visits of Mr. Edwards, whom we both know + to be far from a savage.” + </p> + <p> + To this speech Louisa made no reply, but continued gazing on the object + which had elicited her remarks. In addition to the bright and circular + flame, was now to be seen a fainter, though a vivid light, of an equal + diameter to the other at the upper end, but which, after extending + downward for many feet, gradually tapered to a point at its lower + extremity. A dark space was plainly visible between the two, and the new + illumination was placed beneath the other, the whole forming an appearance + not unlike an inverted note of admiration. It was soon evident that the + latter was nothing but the reflection, from the water, of the former, and + that the object, whatever it might be, was advancing across, or rather + over the lake, for it seemed to be several feet above its surface, in a + direct line with themselves. Its motion was amazingly rapid, the ladies + having hardly discovered that it was moving at all, before the waving + light of a flame was discerned, losing its regular shape, while it + increased in size, as it approached. + </p> + <p> + “It appears to be supernatural!” whispered Louisa, beginning to retrace + her steps toward the party. + </p> + <p> + “It is beautiful!” exclaimed Elizabeth, + </p> + <p> + A brilliant though waving flame was now plainly visible, gracefully + gliding over the lake, and throwing its light on the water in such a + manner as to tinge it slightly though in the air, so strong was the + contrast, the darkness seemed to have the distinctness of material + substances, as if the fire were imbedded in a setting of ebony. This + appearance, however, gradually wore off, and the rays from the torch + struck out, and enlightened the atmosphere in front of it, leaving the + background in a darkness that was more impenetrable than ever. + </p> + <p> + “Ho! Natty, is that you?” shouted the sheriff. “Paddle in, old boy, and + I'll give you a mess of fish that is fit to place before the governor.” + </p> + <p> + The light suddenly changed its direction, and a long and slightly built + boat hove up out of the gloom, while the red glare fell on the + weather-beaten features of the Leather-Stocking, whose tall person was + seen erect in the frail vessel, wielding, with the grace of an experienced + boatman, a long fishing-spear, which he held by its centre, first dropping + one end and then the other into the water, to aid in propelling the little + canoe of bark, we will not say through, but over, the water. At the + farther end of the vessel a form was faintly seen, guiding its motions, + and using a paddle with the ease of one who felt there was no necessity + for exertion. The Leather-Stocking struck his spear lightly against the + short staff which up held, on a rude grating framed of old hoops of iron, + the knots of pine that composed the fuel, and the light, which glared + high, for an instant fell on the swarthy features and dark, glancing eyes + of Mohegan. + </p> + <p> + The boat glided along the shore until it arrived opposite the + fishing-ground, when it again changed its direction and moved on to the + land, with a motion so graceful, and yet so rapid, that it seemed to + possess the power of regulating its own progress. The water in front of + the canoe was hardly ruffled by its passage and no sound betrayed the + collision, when the light fabric shot on the gravelly beach for nearly + half its length, Natty receding a step or two from its bow, in order to + facilitate the landing. + </p> + <p> + “Approach, Mohegan,” said Marmaduke; “approach, Leather-Stocking, and load + your canoe with bass. It would be a shame to assail the animals with the + spear, when such multitudes of victims lie here, that will be lost as food + for the want of mouths to consume them.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Judge,” returned Natty, his tall figure stalking over the narrow + beach, and ascending to the little grassy bottom where the fish were laid + in piles; “I eat of no man's wasty ways. I strike my spear into the eels + or the trout, when I crave the creatur'; but I wouldn't be helping to such + a sinful kind of fishing for the best rifle that was ever brought out from + the old countries. If they had fur, like the beaver, or you could tan + their hides, like a buck, something might be said in favor of taking them + by the thousand with your nets; but as God made them for man's food, and + for no other disarnable reason, I call it sinful and wasty to catch more + than can be eat.” + </p> + <p> + “Your reasoning is mine; for once, old hunter, we agree in opinion; and I + heartily wish we could make a convert of the sheriff. A net of half the + size of this would supply the whole village with fish for a week at one + haul.” + </p> + <p> + The Leather-Stocking did not relish this alliance in sentiment; and he + shook his head doubtingly as he answered; + </p> + <p> + “No, no; we are not much of one mind, Judge, or you'd never turn good + hunting-grounds into stumpy pastures. And you fish and hunt out of rule; + but, to me, the flesh is sweeter where the creatur' has some chance for + its life; for that reason, I always use a single ball, even if it be at a + bird or a squirrel. Besides, it saves lead; for, when a body knows how to + shoot, one piece of lead is enough for all, except hard-lived animals.” + </p> + <p> + The sheriff heard these opinions with great indignation; and when he + completed the last arrangement for the division, by carrying with his own + hands a trout of a large size, and placing it on four different piles in + succession, as his vacillating ideas of justice required, gave vent to his + spleen. + </p> + <p> + “A very pretty confederacy, indeed! Judge Temple, the landlord and owner + of a township, with Nathaniel Bumppo a lawless squatter, and professed + deer-killer, in order to preserve the game of the county! But, 'Duke, when + I fish I fish; so, away, boys, for another haul, and we'll send out wagons + and carts in the morning to bring in our prizes.” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke appeared to understand that all opposition to the will of the + sheriff would be useless, and he strolled from the fire to the place where + the canoe of the hunters lay, whither the ladies and Oliver Edwards had + already preceded him. + </p> + <p> + Curiosity induced the females to approach this spot; but it was a + different motive that led the youth thither. Elizabeth examined the light + ashen timbers and thin bark covering of the canoe, in admiration of its + neat but simple execution, and with wonder that any human being could be + so daring as to trust his life in so frail a vessel. But the youth + explained to her the buoyant properties of the boat, and its perfect + safety when under proper management; adding, in such glowing terms, a + description of the manner in which the fish were struck with the spear, + that she changed suddenly, from an apprehension of the danger of the + excursion, to a desire to participate in its pleasures. She even ventured + a proposition to that effect to her father, laughing at the same time at + her own wish, and accusing herself of acting under a woman's caprice. + </p> + <p> + “Say not so, Bess,” returned the Judge; “I would have you above the idle + fears of a silly girl. These canoes are the safest kind of boats to those + who have skill and steady nerves. I have crossed the broadest part of the + Oneida in one much smaller than this.” + </p> + <p> + “And I the Ontary,” interrupted the Leather-Stocking; “and that with + squaws in the canoe, too. But the Delaware women are used to the paddle, + and are good hands in a boat of this natur', If the young lady would like + to see an old man strike a trout for his breakfast, she is welcome to a + seat. John will say the same, seeing that he built the canoe, which was + only launched yesterday; for I'm not over-curious at such small work as + brooms, and basket-making, and other like Indian trades.” + </p> + <p> + Natty gave Elizabeth one of his significant laughs, with a kind nod of the + head, when he concluded his invitation but Mohegan, with the native grace + of an Indian, approached, and taking her soft white hand into his own + swarthy and wrinkled palm, said: + </p> + <p> + “Come, granddaughter of Miquon, and John will be glad. Trust the Indian; + his head is old, though his hand is not steady. The Young Eagle will go, + and see that no harm hurts his sister.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Edwards,” said Elizabeth, blushing slightly, “your friend Mohegan has + given a promise for you. Do you redeem the pledge?” + </p> + <p> + “With my life, if necessary, Miss Temple,” cried the youth, with fervor. + “The sight is worth some little apprehension; for of real danger there is + none, I will go with you and Miss Grand, however, to save appearances.” + </p> + <p> + “With me!” exclaimed Louisa. “No, not with me, Mr. Edwards; nor, surely, + do you mean to trust yourself in that slight canoe.” + </p> + <p> + “But I shall; for I have no apprehensions any longer,” said Elizabeth, + stepping into the boat, and taking a seat where the Indian directed. “Mr. + Edwards, you may remain, as three do seem to be enough for such an egg + shell.” + </p> + <p> + “It shall hold a fourth,” cried the young man, springing to her side, with + a violence that nearly shook the weak fabric of the vessel asunder. + “Pardon me, Miss Temple, that I do not permit these venerable Charons to + take you to the shades unattended by your genius.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it a good or evil spirit?” asked Elizabeth. + </p> + <p> + “Good to you.” + </p> + <p> + “And mine,” added the maiden, with an air that strangely blended pique + with satisfaction. But the motion of the canoe gave rise to new ideas, and + fortunately afforded a good excuse to the young man to change the + discourse. + </p> + <p> + It appeared to Elizabeth that they glided over the water by magic, so easy + and graceful was the manner in which Mohegan guided his little bark. A + slight gesture with his spear indicated the way in which Leather-Stocking + wished to go, and a profound silence was preserved by the whole party, as + the precaution necessary to the success of their fishery. At that point of + the lake the water shoaled regularly differing in this particular + altogether from those parts where the mountains rose nearly in + perpendicular precipices from the beach. There the largest vessels could + have lain, with their yards interlocked with the pines; while here a + scanty growth of rushes lifted their tops above the lake, gently curling + the waters, as their bending heads waved with the passing breath of the + night air. It was at the shallow points only that the bass could be found, + or the net cast with success. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth saw thousands of these fish swimming in shoals along the shallow + and warm waters of the shore; for the flaring light of their torch laid + bare the mysteries of the lake, as plainly as if the limpid sheet of the + Otsego was but another atmosphere. Every instant she expected to see the + impending spear of Leather-Stocking darting into the thronging hosts that + were rushing beneath her, where it would seem that a blow could not go + amiss; and where, as her father had already said, the prize that would be + obtained was worthy any epicure. But Natty had his peculiar habits, and, + it would seem, his peculiar tastes also. + </p> + <p> + His tall stature, and his erect posture, enabled him to see much farther + than those who were seated in the bottom of the canoe; and he turned his + head warily in every direction, frequently bending his body forward, and + straining his vision, as if desirous of penetrating the water that + surrounded their boundary of light. At length his anxious scrutiny was + rewarded with success, and, waving his spear from the shore, he said in a + cautious tone: + </p> + <p> + “Send her outside the bass, John; I see a laker there, that has run out of + the school. It's seldom one finds such a creatur' in shallow water, where + a spear can touch it.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan gave a wave of assent with his hand, and in the next instant the + canoe was without the “run of the bass,” and in water nearly twenty feet + in depth. A few additional knots were laid on the grating, and the light + penetrated to the bottom, Elizabeth then saw a fish of unusual size + floating above small pieces of logs and sticks. The animal was only + distinguishable, at that distance, by a slight but almost imperceptible + motion of its fins and tail. The curiosity excited by this unusual + exposure of the secrets of the lake seemed to be mutual between the + heiress of the land and the lord of these waters, for the “salmon-trout” + soon announced his interest by raising his head and body for a few degrees + above a horizontal line, and then dropping them again into a horizontal + position. + </p> + <p> + “Whist! whist!” said Natty, in a low voice, on hearing a slight sound made + by Elizabeth in bending over the side of the canoe in curiosity; “'tis a + skeary animal, and it's a far stroke for a spear. My handle is but + fourteen foot, and the creator' lies a good eighteen from the top of the + water: but I'll try him, for he's a ten—pounder.” + </p> + <p> + While speaking, the Leather-Stocking was poising and directing his weapon. + Elizabeth saw the bright, polished tines, as they slowly and silently + entered the water, where the refraction pointed them many degrees from the + true direction of the fish; and she thought that the intended victim saw + them also, as he seemed to increase the play of his tail and fins, though + without moving his station. At the next instant the tall body of Natty + bent to the water's edge, and the handle of his spear disappeared in the + lake. The long, dark streak of the gliding weapon, and the little bubbling + vortex which followed its rapid flight, were easily to be seen: but it was + not until the handle snot again into the air by its own reaction, and its + master catching it in his hand, threw its tines uppermost, that Elizabeth + was acquainted with the success of the blow. A fish of great size was + transfixed by the barbed steel, and was very soon shaken from its impaled + situation into the bottom of the canoe. + </p> + <p> + “That will do, John,” said Natty, raising his prize by one of his fingers, + and exhibiting it before the torch; “I shall not strike another blow + to-night.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian again waved his hand, and replied with the simple and energetic + monosyllable of: + </p> + <p> + “Good.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth was awakened from the trance created by this scene, and by + gazing in that unusual manner at the bot tom of the lake, be the hoarse + sounds of Benjamin's voice, and the dashing of oars, as the heavier boat + of the seine-drawers approached the spot where the canoe lay, dragging + after it the folds of the net. + </p> + <p> + “Haul off, haul off, Master Bumppo,” cried Benjamin, “your top-light + frightens the fish, who see the net and sheer off soundings. A fish knows + as much as a horse, or, for that matter, more, seeing that it's brought up + on the water. Haul oil, Master Bumppo, haul off, I say, and give a wide + berth to the seine.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan guided their little canoe to a point where the movements of the + fishermen could be observed, without interruption to the business, and + then suffered it to lie quietly on the water, looking like an imaginary + vessel floating in air. There appeared to be much ill-humor among the + party in the batteau, for the directions of Benjamin were not only + frequent, but issued in a voice that partook largely of dissatisfaction. + </p> + <p> + “Pull larboard oar, will ye, Master Kirby?” cried the old seaman; “pull + larboard best. It would puzzle the oldest admiral in their British fleet + to cast this here net fair, with a wake like a corkscrew. Full starboard, + boy, pull starboard oar, with a will.” + </p> + <p> + “Harkee, Mister Pump,” said Kirby, ceasing to row, and speaking with sonic + spirit; “I'm a man that likes civil language and decent treatment, such as + is right 'twixt man and man. If you want us to go hoy, say so, and hoy + I'll go, for the benefit of the company; but I'm not used to being ordered + about like dumb cattle.” + </p> + <p> + “Who's dumb cattle?” echoed Benjamin, fiercely, turning his forbidding + face to the glare of light from the canoe, and exhibiting every feature + teeming with the expression of disgust. “If you want to come aft and con + the boat round, come and be damned, and pretty steerage you'll make of it. + There's but another heave of the net in the stern-sheets, and we're clear + of the thing. Give way, will ye? and shoot her ahead for a fathom or two, + and if you catch me afloat again with such a horse-marine as yourself, + why, rate me a ship's jackass, that's all.” + </p> + <p> + Probably encouraged by the prospect of a speedy termination to his labor, + the wood-chopper resumed his oar, and, under strong excitement, gave a + stroke that not only cleared the boat of the net but of the steward at the + same instant. Benjamin had stood on the little platform that held the + seine, in the stern of the boat, and the violent whirl occasioned by the + vigor of the wood-chopper's arm completely destroyed his balance. The + position of the lights rendered objects in the batteau distinguishable, + both from the canoe and the shore; and the heavy fall on the water drew + all eyes to the steward, as he lay struggling, for a moment, in sight. + </p> + <p> + A loud burst of merriment, to which the lungs of Kirby contributed no + small part, broke out like a chorus of laughter, and ran along the eastern + mountain, in echoes, until it died away in distant, mocking mirth, among + the rocks and woods. The body of the steward was seen slowly to disappear, + as was expected; but when the light waves, which had been raised by his + fall, began to sink in calmness, and the water finally closed over his + head, unbroken and still, a very different feeling pervaded the + spectators. + </p> + <p> + “How fare you, Benjamin?” shouted Richard from the shore. + </p> + <p> + “The dumb devil can't swim a stroke!” exclaimed Kirby, rising, and + beginning to throw aside his clothes. + </p> + <p> + “Paddle up, Mohegan,” cried young Edwards, “the light will show us where + he lies, and I will dive for the body.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! save him! for God's sake, save him!” exclaimed Elizabeth, bowing her + head on the side of the canoe in horror. + </p> + <p> + A powerful and dexterous sweep of Mohegan's paddle sent the canoe directly + over the spot where the steward had fallen, and a loud shout from the + Leather-Stocking announced that he saw the body. + </p> + <p> + “Steady the boat while I dive,” again cried Edwards. + </p> + <p> + “Gently, lad, gently,” said Natty; “I'll spear the creatur' up in half the + time, and no risk to anybody.” + </p> + <p> + The form of Benjamin was lying about half-way to the bottom, grasping with + both hands some broken rushes. The blood of Elizabeth curdled to her + heart, as she saw the figure of a fellow-creature thus extended under an + immense sheet of water, apparently in motion by the undulations of the + dying waves, with its face and hands, viewed by that light, and through + the medium of the fluid, already colored with hues like death. + </p> + <p> + At the same instant, she saw the shining tines of Natty's spear + approaching the head of the sufferer, and entwinning themselves, rapidly + and dexterously, in the hairs of his cue and the cape of his coat. The + body was now raised slowly, looking ghastly and grim as its features + turned upward to the light and approached the surface. The arrival of the + nostrils of Benjamin into their own atmosphere was announced by a + breathing that would have done credit to a porpoise. For a moment, Natty + held the steward suspended, with his head just above the water, while his + eyes slowly opened and stared about him, as if he thought that he had + reached a new and unexplored country. + </p> + <p> + As all the parties acted and spoke together, much less time was consumed + in the occurrence of these events than in their narration. To bring the + batteau to the end of the spear, and to raise the form of Benjamin into + the boat, and for the whole party to regain the shore, required but a + minute. Kirby, aided by Richard, whose anxiety induced him to run into the + water to meet his favorite assistant, carried the motionless steward up + the bank, and seated him before the fire, while the sheriff proceeded to + order the most approved measures then in use for the resuscitation of the + drowned. + </p> + <p> + “Run, Billy,” he cried, “to the village, and bring up the rum-hogshead + that lies before the door, in which I am making vinegar, and be quick, + boy, don't stay to empty the vinegar, and stop at Mr. Le Quoi's, and buy a + paper of tobacco and half a dozen pipes; and ask Remarkable for some salt, + and one of her flannel petticoats; and ask Dr. Todd to send his lancet, + and to come himself; and—ha! 'Duke, what are you about? would you + strangle a man who is full of water, by giving him rum? Help me to open + his hand, that I may pat it.” + </p> + <p> + All this time Benjamin sat, with his muscles fixed, his mouth shut, and + his hands clinching the rushes which he had seized in the confusion of the + moment and which, as he held fast, like a true seaman, had been the means + of preventing his body from rising again to the surface. His eyes, + however, were open, and stared wildly on the group about the fire, while + his lungs were playing like a blacksmith's bellows, as if to compensate + themselves for the minute of inaction to which they had been subjected. As + he kept his lips compressed, with a most inveterate determination, the air + was compelled to pass through his nostrils, and he rather snorted than + breathed, and in such a manner that nothing but the excessive agitation of + the sheriff could at all justify his precipitous orders. + </p> + <p> + The bottle, applied to the steward's lips by Marmaduke, acted like a + charm. His mouth opened instinctively; his hands dropped the rushes, and + seized the glass; his eyes raised from their horizontal stare to the + heavens; and the whole man was lost, for a moment, in a new sensation. + Unhappily for the propensity of the steward, breath was as necessary after + one of these draughts as after his submersion, and the time at length + arrived when he was compelled to let go the bottle. + </p> + <p> + “Why, Benjamin!” roared the sheriff; “you amaze me! for a man of your + experience in drownings to act so foolishly! Just now, you were half full + of water, and now you are—” + </p> + <p> + “Full of grog,” interrupted the steward, his features settling down, with + amazing flexibility, into their natural economy. “But, d'yesee, squire, I + kept my hatches chose, and it's but little water that ever gets into my + scuttle-butt. Harkee, Master Kirby! I've followed the salt-water for the + better part of a man's life, and have seen some navigation on the fresh; + but this here matter I will say in your favor, and that is, that you're + the awk'ardest green 'un that ever straddled a boat's thwart. Them that + likes you for a shipmate, may sail with you and no thanks; but dam'me if I + even walk on the lake shore in your company. For why? you'd as lief drown + a man as one of them there fish; not to throw a Christian creature so much + as a rope's end when he was adrift, and no life-buoy in sight! Natty + Bumppo, give us your fist. There's them that says you're an Indian, and a + scalper, but you've served me a good turn, and you may set me down for a + friend; thof it would have been more ship shape like to lower the bight of + a rope or running bowline below me, than to seize an old seaman by his + head-lanyard; but I suppose you are used to taking men by the hair, and + seeing you did me good instead of harm thereby, why, it's the same thing, + d'ye see?” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke prevented any reply, and assuming the action of matters with a + dignity and discretion that at once silenced all opposition from his + cousin, Benjamin was dispatched to the village by land, and the net was + hauled to shore in such a manner that the fish for once escaped its meshes + with impunity. + </p> + <p> + The division of the spoils was made in the ordinary manner, by placing one + of the party with his hack to the game, who named the owner of each pile. + Bill Kirby stretched his large frame on the grass by the side of the fire, + as sentinel until morning, over net and fish; and the remainder of the + party embarked in the batteau, to return to the village. + </p> + <p> + The wood-chopper was seen broiling his supper on the coals as they lost + sight of the fire, and when the boat approached the shore, the torch of + Mohegan's canoe was shining again under the gloom of the eastern mountain. + Its motion ceased suddenly; a scattering of brands was in the air, and + then all remained dark as the conjunction of night, forest, and mountain + could render the scene. + </p> + <p> + The thoughts of Elizabeth wandered from the youth, who was holding a + canopy of shawls over herself and Louisa, to the hunter and the Indian + warrior; and she felt an awakening curiosity to visit a hut where men of + such different habits and temperament were drawn together as by common + impulse. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0025" id="link2HCH0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Cease all this parlance about hills and dales. + None listen to thy scenes of boyish frolic. + Fond dotard! with such tickled ears as thou dost + Come to thy tale.” + —Duo. +</pre> + <p> + Mr. Jones arose on the following morning with the sun, and, ordering his + own and Marmaduke's steeds to be saddled, he proceeded, with a countenance + big with some business of unusual moment to the apartment of the Judge. + The door was unfastened, and Richard entered, with the freedom that + characterized not only the intercourse between the cousins, but the + ordinary manners of the sheriff. + </p> + <p> + “Well, 'Duke, to horse,” he cried, “and I will explain to you my meaning + in the allusions I made last night. David says, in the Psalms—no, it + was Solomon, but it was all in the family—Solomon said there was a + time for all things; and, in my humble opinion, a fishing-party is not the + moment for discussing important subjects. Ha! why, what the devil ails + you, Marmaduke? Ain't you well? Let me feel your pulse; my grandfather, + you know—” + </p> + <p> + “Quite well in the body, Richard,” interrupted the Judge, repulsing his + cousin, who was about to assume the functions that rightly belonged to Dr. + Todd; “but ill at heart. I received letters by the post last night, after + we returned from the point, and this among the number.” + </p> + <p> + The sheriff took the letter, but without turning his eyes on the writing, + for he was examining the appearance of the other with astonishment. From + the face of his cousin the gaze of Richard wandered to the table, which + was covered with letters, packets, and newspapers; then to the apartment + and all it contained. On the bed there was the impression that had been + made by a human form, but the coverings were unmoved, and everything + indicated that the occupant of the room had passed a sleepless night. The + candles had burned to the sockets, and had evidently extinguished + themselves in their own fragments Marmaduke had drawn his curtains, and + opened both the shutters and the sashes, to admit the balmy air “of a + spring morning; but his pale cheek, his quivering lip, and his sunken eye + presented altogether so very different an appearance from the usual calm, + manly, and cheerful aspect of the Judge, that the sheriff grew each moment + more and more bewildered with astonishment. At length Richard found time + to cast his eyes on the direction of the letter, which he still held + unopened, crumpling it in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “What! a ship-letter!” he exclaimed; “and from England, ha! 'Duke, there + must be news of importance! indeed!” + </p> + <p> + “Read it,” said Marmaduke, pacing the floor in excessive agitation. + </p> + <p> + Richard, who commonly thought aloud, was unable to read a letter without + suffering part of its contents to escape him in audible sounds. So much of + the epistle as was divulged in that manner, we shall lay before the + reader, accompanied by the passing remarks of the sheriff: + </p> + <p> + “'London, February 12, 1793.' What a devil of a passage she had! but the + wind has been northwest for six weeks, until within the last fortnight. + Sir, your favors of August 10th, September 23d, and of December 1st, were + received in due season, and the first answered by return of packet. Since + the receipt of the last, I' “—here a long passage was rendered + indistinct by a kind of humming noise by the sheriff—” 'I grieve to + say that '—hum, hum, bad enough to be sure—' but trusts that a + merciful Providence has seen fit'—hum, hum, hum seems to be a good, + pious sort of a man, 'Duke; belongs to the Established Church, I dare say; + hum, hum—' vessel sailed from Falmouth on or about the 1st September + of last year, and'—hum, hum, hum, 'If anything should transpire on + this afflicting subject shall not fail'—hum, hum; really a + good-hearted man, for a lawyer—'but Can communicate nothing further + at present'—hum, hum. 'The national convention'—hum, hum—'unfortunate + Louis'—hum, hum—'example of your Washington'—a very + sensible man, I declare, and none of your crazy democrats. Hum, hum—'our + gallant navy'—hum, hum—'under our most excellent monarch'—ay, + a good man enough, that King George, but bad advisers: hum, hum—'I + beg to conclude with assurances of my perfect respect.'—hum, hum—'Andrew + Holt. '—Andrew Holt, a very sensible, feeling man, this Mr. Andrew + Holt—but the writer of evil tidings. What will you do next, Cousin + Marmaduke?” + </p> + <p> + “What can I do, Richard, but trust to time, and the will of Heaven? Here + is another letter from Connecticut, but it only repeats the substance of + the last. There is but one consoling reflection to be gathered from the + English news, which is, that my last letter was received by him before the + ship sailed.” + </p> + <p> + “This is bad enough, indeed! 'Duke, bad enough, indeed! and away go all my + plans, of putting wings to the house, to the devil. I had made + arrangements for a ride to introduce you to something of a very important + nature. You know how much you think of mines—” + </p> + <p> + “Talk not of mines,” interrupted the Judge: “there is a sacred duty to be + performed, and that without delay, I must devote this day to writing; and + thou must be my assistant, Richard; it will not do to employ Oliver in a + matter of such secrecy and interest.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, 'Duke,” cried the sheriff, squeezing his hand, “I am your man, + just now; we are sister's children, and blood, after all, is the best + cement to make friendship stick together. Well, well, there is no hurry + about the silver mine, just now; another time will do as well. We shall + want Dirky Van, I suppose?” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke assented to this indirect question, and the sheriff relinquished + all his intentions on the subject of the ride, and, repairing to the + breakfast parlor, he dispatched a messenger to require the immediate + presence of Dirck Van der School. + </p> + <p> + The village of Templeton at that time supported but two lawyers, one of + whom was introduced to our readers in the bar-room of the “Bold Dragoon.” + and the other was the gentleman of whom Richard spoke by the friendly yet + familiar appellation of Dirck, or Dirky Van. Great good-nature, a very + tolerable share of skill in his profession, and, considering the + circumstances, no contemptible degree of honesty, were the principal + ingredients in the character of this man, who was known to the settlers as + Squire Van der School, and sometimes by the flattering though anomalous + title of the “Dutch” or “honest lawyer.” + </p> + <p> + We would not wish to mislead our readers in their conceptions of any of + our characters, and we therefore feel it necessary to add that the + adjective, in the preceding agnomen of Mr. Van der School, was used in + direct reference to its substantive. Our orthodox friends need not be told + that all the merit in this world is comparative; and, once for all, we + desire to say that, where anything which involves qualities or characters + is asserted, we must be understood to mean, “under the circumstances.” + </p> + <p> + During the remainder of the day, the Judge was closeted with his cousin + and his lawyer; and no one else was admitted to his apartment, excepting + his daughter. The deep distress that so evidently affected Marmaduke was + in some measure communicated to Elizabeth also; for a look of dejection + shaded her intelligent features, and the buoyancy of her animated spirits + was sensibly softened. Once on that day, young Edwards, who was a + wondering and observant spectator of the sudden alteration produced in the + heads of the family, detected a tear stealing over the cheek of Elizabeth, + and suffusing her bright eyes with a softness that did not always belong + to their expression. + </p> + <p> + “Have any evil tidings been received, Miss Temple?” he inquired, with an + interest and voice that caused Louisa Grant to raise her head from her + needlework, with a quickness at which she instantly blushed herself. “I + would offer my services to your father, if, as I suspect, he needs an + agent in some distant place, and I thought it would give you relief.” + </p> + <p> + “We have certainly heard bad news,” returned Elizabeth, “and it may be + necessary that my father should leave home for a short period; unless I + can persuade him to trust my cousin Richard with the business, whose + absence from the country, just at this time, too, might be inexpedient.” + </p> + <p> + The youth paused a moment, and the blood gathered slowly to his temples as + he continued: + </p> + <p> + “If it be of a nature that I could execute-” + </p> + <p> + “It is such as can only be confided to one we know—one of + ourselves.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, you know me, Miss Temple!” he added, with a warmth that he seldom + exhibited, but which did some times escape him in the moments of their + frank communications. “Have I lived five months under your roof to be a + stranger?” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth was engaged with her needle also, and she bent her head to one + side, affecting to arrange her muslin; but her hand shook, her color + heightened, and her eyes lost their moisture in an expression of + ungovernable interest, as she said: + </p> + <p> + “How much do we know of you, Mr. Edwards?” + </p> + <p> + “How much!” echoed the youth, gazing from the speaker to the mild + countenance of Louisa, that was also illuminated with curiosity; “how much + Have I been so long an inmate with you and not known?” + </p> + <p> + The head of Elizabeth turned slowly from its affected position, and the + look of confusion that had blended so strongly with an expression of + interest changed to a smile. + </p> + <p> + “We know you, sir, indeed; you are called Mr. Oliver Edwards. I understand + that you have informed my friend Miss Grant that you are a native—” + </p> + <p> + “Elizabeth!” exclaimed Louisa, blushing to the eyes, and trembling like an + aspen; “you misunderstood me, dear Miss Temple; I—I—it was + only a conjecture. Besides, if Mr. Edwards is related to the natives why + should we reproach him? In what are we better? at least I, who am the + child of a poor and unsettled clergyman?” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth shook her head doubtingly, and even laughed, but made no reply, + until, observing the melancholy which pervaded the countenance of her + companion, who was thinking of the poverty and labors of her father, she + continued: + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Louisa, humility carries you too far. The daughter of a minister of + the church can have no superiors. Neither I nor Mr. Edwards is quite your + equal, unless,” she added, again smiling, “he is in secret a king.” + </p> + <p> + “A faithful servant of the King of kings, Miss Temple, is inferior to none + on earth,” said Louisa; “but his honors are his own; I am only the child + of a poor and friendless man, and can claim no other distinction. Why, + then, should I feel myself elevated above Mr. Edwards, because—because—perhaps + he is only very, very distantly related to John Mohegan?” + </p> + <p> + Glances of a very comprehensive meaning were exchanged between the heiress + and the young man, as Louisa betrayed, while vindicating his lineage, the + reluctance with which she admitted his alliance with the old warrior; but + not even a smile at the simplicity of their companion was indulged in by + either. + </p> + <p> + “On reflection, I must acknowledge that my situation here is somewhat + equivocal,” said Edwards, “though I may be said to have purchased it with + my blood.” + </p> + <p> + “The blood, too, of one of the native lords of the soil!” cried Elizabeth, + who evidently put little faith in his aboriginal descent. + </p> + <p> + “Do I bear the marks of my lineage so very plainly impressed on my + appearance? I am dark, but not very red—not more so than common?” + </p> + <p> + “Rather more so, just now.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sure, Miss Temple,” cried Louisa, “you cannot have taken much notice + of Mr. Edwards. His eyes are not so black as Mohegan's or even your own, + nor is his hair.” + </p> + <p> + “Very possibly, then, I can lay claim to the same de scent It would be a + great relief to my mind to think so, for I own that I grieve when I see + old Mohegan walking about these lands like the ghost of one of their + ancient possessors, and feel how small is my own right to possess them.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you?” cried the youth, with a vehemence that startled the ladies + </p> + <p> + “I do, indeed,” returned Elizabeth, after suffering a moment to pass in + surprise; “but what can I do—what can my father do? Should we offer + the old man a home' and a maintenance, his habits would compel him to + refuse us. Neither were we so silly as to wish such a thing, could we + convert these clearings and farms again into hunting grounds, as the + Leather-Stocking would wish to see them.” + </p> + <p> + “You speak the truth, Miss Temple,” said Edwards. “What can you do indeed? + But there is one thing that I am certain you can and will do, when you + become the mistress of these beautiful valleys—use your wealth with + indulgence to the poor, and charity to the needy; indeed, you can do no + more.” + </p> + <p> + “And That will be doing a good deal,” said Louisa, smiling in her turn. + “But there will, doubtless, be one to take the direction of such things + from her hands.” + </p> + <p> + “I am not about to disclaim matrimony, like a silly girl, who dreams of + nothing else from morn till night; but I am a nun here, without the vow of + celibacy. Where shall I find a husband in these forests?” + </p> + <p> + “There is none, Miss Temple,” said Edwards quickly; “there is none who has + a right to aspire to you, and I know that you will wait to be sought by + your equal; or die, as you live, loved, respected, and admired by all who + know you.” + </p> + <p> + The young man seemed to think that he had said all that was required by + gallantry, for he arose, and, taking his hat, hurried from the apartment. + Perhaps Louisa thought that he had said more than was necessary, for she + sighed, with an aspiration so low that it was scarcely audible to herself, + and bent her head over her work again. And it is possible that Miss Temple + wished to hear more, for her eyes continued fixed for a minute on the door + through which the young man had passed, then glanced quickly toward her + companion, when the long silence that succeeded manifested how much zest + may be given to the conversation of two maidens under eighteen, by the + presence of a youth of three-and-twenty. + </p> + <p> + The first person encountered by Mr. Edwards, as he rather rushed than + walked from the house, was the little square-built lawyer, with a large + bundle of papers under his arm, a pair of green spectacles on his nose, + with glasses at the sides, as if to multiply his power of detecting frauds + by additional organs of vision. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Van der School was a well-educated man, but of slow comprehension, who + had imbibed a wariness in his speeches and actions, from having suffered + by his collisions with his more mercurial and apt brethren who had laid + the foundations of their practice in the Eastern courts, and who had + sucked in shrewdness with their mother's milk. The caution of this + gentleman was exhibited in his actions, by the utmost method and + punctuality, tinctured with a good deal of timidity; and in his speeches, + by a parenthetical style, that frequently left to his auditors a long + search after his meaning. + </p> + <p> + “A good-morning to you, Mr. Van der School,” said Edwards; “it seems to be + a busy day with us at the mansion-house.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-morning, Mr. Edwards (if that is your name [for, being a stranger, + we have no other evidence of the fact than your own testimony], as I + understand you have given it to Judge Temple), good-morning, sir. It is, + apparently a busy day (but a man of your discretion need not be told + [having, doubtless, discovered it of your own accord], that appearances + are often deceitful) up at the mansion-house.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you papers of consequence that will require copying? Can I be of + assistance in any way?” + </p> + <p> + “There are papers (as doubtless you see [for your eyes are young] by the + outsides) that require copying.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, I will accompany you to your office, and receive such as are + most needed, and by night I shall have them done if there be much haste.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall always be glad to see you, sir, at my office (as in duty bound, + not that it is obligatory to receive any man within your dwelling unless + so inclined), which is a castle, according to the forms of politeness, or + at any other place; but the papers are most strictly confidential (and, as + such, cannot be read by any one), unless so directed (by Judge Temple's + solemn injunctions), and are invisible to all eyes; excepting those whose + duties (I mean assumed duties) require it of them.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, sir, as I perceive that I can be of no service, I wish you another + good-morning; but beg you will remember that I am quite idle just now, and + I wish you would intimate as much to Judge Temple, and make him a ten der + of my services in any part of the world, \ unless—unless—it be + far from Templeton.” + </p> + <p> + “I will make the communication, sir, in your name (with your own + qualifications), as your agent. Good morning, sir. But stay proceedings, + Mr. Edwards (so called), for a moment. Do you wish me to state the offer + of travelling as a final contract (for which consideration has been + received at former dates [by sums advanced], which would be binding), or + as a tender of services for which compensation is to be paid (according to + future agreement between the parties), on performance of the conditions?” + </p> + <p> + “Any way, any way,” said Edwards; “he seems in distress, and I would + assist him.” + </p> + <p> + “The motive is good, sir (according to appearances which are often + deceitful] on first impressions), and does you honor. I will mention your + wish, young gentleman (as you now seem), and will not fail to communicate + the answer by five o'clock P.M. of this present day (God willing), if you + give me an opportunity so to do.” + </p> + <p> + The ambiguous nature of the situation and character of Mr. Edwards had + rendered him an object of peculiar suspicion to the lawyer, and the youth + was consequently too much accustomed to similar equivocal and guarded + speeches to feel any unusual disgust at the present dialogue. He saw at + once that it was the intention of the practitioner to conceal the nature + of his business, even from the private secretary of Judge Temple; and he + knew too well the difficulty of comprehending the meaning of Mr. Van der + School, when the gentleman most wished to be luminous in his discourse, + not to abandon all thoughts of a discovery, when he perceived that the + attorney was endeavoring to avoid anything like an approach to a + cross-examination. They parted at the gate, the lawyer walking with an + important and hurried air toward his office, keeping his right hand firmly + clinched on the bundle of papers. + </p> + <p> + It must have been obvious to all our readers, that the youth entertained + an unusual and deeply seated prejudice against the character of the Judge; + but owing to some counteracting cause, his sensations were now those of + powerful interest in the state of his patron's present feelings, and in + the cause of his secret uneasiness. He remained gazing after the lawyer + until the door closed on both the bearer and the mysterious packet, when + he returned slowly to the dwelling, and endeavored to forget his curiosity + in the usual avocations of his office. + </p> + <p> + When the Judge made his reappearance in the circles of his family, his + cheerfulness was tempered by a shade of melancholy that lingered for many + days around his manly brow; but the magical progression of the season + aroused him from his temporary apathy, and his smiles returned with the + summer. + </p> + <p> + The heats of the days, and the frequent occurrence of balmy showers, had + completed in an incredibly short period the growth of plants which the + lingering spring had so long retarded in the germ; and the woods presented + every shade of green that the American forests know. The stumps in the + cleared fields were already hidden beneath the wheat that was waving with + every breath of the sum mer air, shining and changing its hues like + velvet. + </p> + <p> + During the continuance of his cousin's dejection, Mr. Jones forebore, with + much consideration, to press on his attention a business that each hour + was drawing nearer to the heart of the sheriff, and which, if any opinion + could be formed by his frequent private conferences with the man who was + introduced in these pages by the name of Jotham, at the bar-room of the + Bold Dragoon, was becoming also of great importance. + </p> + <p> + At length the sheriff ventured to allude again to the subject; and one + evening, in the beginning of July, Marmaduke made him a promise of + devoting the following day to the desired excursion. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0026" id="link2HCH0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Speak on, my dearest father! + Thy words are like the breezes of the west.” + —Milman. +</pre> + <p> + It was a mild and soft morning, when Marmaduke and Richard mounted their + horses and proceeded on the expedition that had so long been uppermost in + the thoughts of the latter; and Elizabeth and Louisa appeared at the same + instant in the hall, attired for an excursion on foot. + </p> + <p> + The head of Miss Grant was covered by a neat little hat of green silk, and + her modest eyes peered from under its shade, with the soft languor that + characterized her whole appearance; but Miss Temple trod her father's wide + apartments with the step of their mistress, holding in her hands, dangling + by one of its ribbons, the gypsy that was to conceal the glossy locks that + curled around her polished fore head in rich profusion. + </p> + <p> + “What? are you for a walk, Bess?” cried the Judge, suspending his + movements for a moment to smile, with a father's fondness, at the display + of womanly grace and beauty that his child presented. “Remember the heats + of July, my daughter; nor venture further than thou canst retrace before + the meridian. Where is thy parasol, girl? thou wilt lose tine polish of + that brow, under this sun and southern breeze, unless thou guard it with + unusual care.” + </p> + <p> + “I shall then do more honor to my connections,” returned the smiling + daughter. “Cousin Richard has a bloom that any lady might envy. At present + the resemblance between us is so trifling that no stranger would know us + to be 'sisters' children.” + </p> + <p> + “Grandchildren, you mean, Cousin Bess,” said the sheriff. “But on, Judge + Temple; time and tide wait for no man; and if you take my counsel, sir, in + twelve months from this day you may make an umbrella for your daughter of + her camel's-hair shawl, and have its frame of solid silver. I ask nothing + for myself, 'Duke; you have been a good friend to me already; besides, all + that I have will go to Bess there, one of these melancholy days, so it's + as long as it's short, whether I or you leave it. But we have a day's ride + before us, sir; so move forward, or dismount, and say you won't go at + once.” + </p> + <p> + “Patience, patience, Dickon,” returned the Judge, checking his horse and + turning again to his daughter. “If thou art for the mountains, love, stray + not too deep into the forest. I entreat thee; for, though it is done often + with impunity, there is sometimes danger.” + </p> + <p> + “Not at this season, I believe, sir,” said Elizabeth; “for, I will + confess, it is the intention of Louisa and myself to stroll among the + hills.” + </p> + <p> + “Less at this season than in the winter, dear; but still there may be + danger in venturing too far. But though thou art resolute, Elizabeth, thou + art too much like thy mother not to be prudent.” + </p> + <p> + The eyes of the parent turned reluctantly from his child, and the Judge + and sheriff rode slowly through the gateway, and disappeared among the + buildings of the village. + </p> + <p> + During this short dialogue, young Edwards stood, an attentive listener, + holding in his hand a fishing-rod, the day and the season having tempted + him also to desert the house for the pleasure of exercise in the air. As + the equestrians turned through the gate, he approached the young females, + who were already moving toward the street, and was about to address them, + as Louisa paused, and said quickly: + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Edwards would speak to us, Elizabeth.” + </p> + <p> + The other stopped also, and turned to the youth, politely but with a + slight coldness in her air, that sensibly checked the freedom with which + he had approached them, + </p> + <p> + “Your father is not pleased that you should walk unattended in the hills, + Miss Temple. If I might offer my self as a protector—” + </p> + <p> + “Does my father select Mr. Oliver Edwards as the organ of his + displeasure?” interrupted the lady. + </p> + <p> + “Good Heaven! you misunderstood my meaning; I should have said uneasy or + not pleased. I am his servant, madam, and in consequence yours. I repeat + that, with your consent, I will change my rod for a fowling-piece, and + keep nigh you on the mountain.” + </p> + <p> + “I thank you, Mr. Edwards; but where there is no danger, no protection is + required. We are not yet reduced to wandering among these free hills + accompanied by a body guard. If such a one is necessary there he is, + however.—Here, Brave—Brave——my noble Brave!” The + huge mastif that has been already mentioned, appeared from his kennel, + gaping and stretching himself with pampered laziness; but as his mistress + again called: + </p> + <p> + “Come, dear Brave; once you have served your master well; let us see how + you can do your duty by his daughter”—the dog wagged his tail, as if + he understood her language, walked with a stately gait to her side, where + he seated himself, and looked up at her face, with an intelligence but + little inferior to that which beamed in her own lovely countenance. + </p> + <p> + She resumed her walk, but again paused, after a few steps, and added, in + tones of conciliation: + </p> + <p> + “You can be serving us equally, and, I presume, more agreeably to + yourself, Mr. Edwards, by bringing us a string of your favorite perch for + the dinner-table.” + </p> + <p> + When they again began to walk Miss Temple did not look back to see how the + youth bore this repulse; but the head of Louisa was turned several times + before they reached the gate on that considerate errand. + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid, Elizabeth,” she said, “that we have mortified Oliver. He is + still standing where we left him, leaning on his rod. Perhaps he thinks us + proud.” + </p> + <p> + “He thinks justly,” exclaimed Miss Temple, as if awaking from a deep + musing; “he thinks justly, then. We are too proud to admit of such + particular attentions from a young man in an equivocal situation. What! + make him the companion of our most private walks! It is pride, Louisa, but + it is the pride of a woman.” + </p> + <p> + It was several minutes before Oliver aroused himself from the abstracted + position in which he was standing when Louisa last saw him; but when he + did, he muttered something rapidly and incoherently, and, throwing his rod + over his shoulder, he strode down the walk through the gate and along one + of the streets of the village, until he reached the lake-shore, with the + air of an emperor. At this spot boats were kept for the use of Judge + Temple and his family. The young man threw himself into a light skiff, + and, seizing the oars, he sent it across the lake toward the hut of + Leather-Stocking, with a pair of vigorous arms. By the time he had rowed a + quarter of a mile, his reflections were less bitter; and when he saw the + bushes that lined the shore in front of Natty's habitation gliding by him, + as if they possessed the motion which proceeded from his own efforts, he + was quite cooled in mind, though somewhat heated in body. It is quite + possible that the very same reason which guided the conduct of Miss Temple + suggested itself to a man of the breeding and education of the youth; and + it is very certain that, if such were the case, Elizabeth rose instead of + falling in the estimation of Mr. Edwards. + </p> + <p> + The oars were now raised from the water, and the boat shot close in to the + land, where it lay gently agitated by waves of its own creating, while the + young man, first casting a cautious and searching glance around him in + every direction, put a small whistle to his mouth, and blew a long, shrill + note that rang among the echoing rocks behind the hut. At this alarm, the + hounds of Natty rushed out of their bark kennel, and commenced their long, + piteous howls, leaping about as if half frantic, though restrained by the + leashes of buckskin by which they were fastened. + </p> + <p> + “Quiet, Hector, quiet,” said Oliver, again applying his whistle to his + mouth, and drawing out notes still more shrill than before. No reply was + made, the dogs having returned to their kennel at the sound of his voice. + </p> + <p> + Edwards pulled the bows of the boat on the shore, and landing, ascended + the beach and approached the door of the cabin. The fastenings were soon + undone, and he entered, closing the door after him, when all was as + silent, in that retired spot, as if the foot of man had never trod the + wilderness. The sounds of the hammers, that were in incessant motion in + the village, were faintly heard across the water; but the dogs had + crouched into their lairs, satisfied that none but the privileged had + approached the forbidden ground. + </p> + <p> + A quarter of an hour elapsed before the youth reappeared, when he fastened + the door again, and spoke kindly to the hounds. The dogs came out at the + well-known tones, and the slut jumped upon his person, whining and barking + as if entreating Oliver to release her from prison. But old Hector raised + his nose to the light current of air, and opened a long howl, that might + have been heard for a mile. “Ha! what do you scent, old veteran of the + woods?” cried Edwards. “If a beast, it is a bold one; and if a man, an + impudent.” + </p> + <p> + He sprang through the top of a pine that had fallen near the side of the + hut, and ascended a small hillock that sheltered the cabin to the south, + where he caught a glimpse of the formal figure of Hiram Doolittle, as it + vanished, with unusual rapidity for the architect, amid the bushes. + </p> + <p> + “What can that fellow be wanting here?” muttered Oliver. “He has no + business in this quarter, unless it be curiosity, which is an endemic in + these woods. But against that I will effectually guard, though the dogs + should take a liking to his ugly visage, and let him pass.” The youth + returned to the door, while giving vent to this soliloquy, and completed + the fastenings by placing a small chain through a staple, and securing it + there by a padlock. “He is a pettifogger, and surely must know that there + is such a thing as feloniously breaking into a man's house.” + </p> + <p> + Apparently well satisfied with this arrangement, the youth again spoke to + the hounds; and, descending to the shore, he launched his boat, and taking + up his oars, pulled off into the lake. + </p> + <p> + There were several places in the Otsego that were celebrated + fishing-ground for perch. One was nearly opposite to the cabin, and + another, still more famous, was near a point, at the distance of a mile + and a half above it, under the brow of the mountain, and on the same side + of the lake with the hut. Oliver Edwards pulled his little skiff to the + first, and sat, for a minute, undecided whether to continue there, with + his eyes on the door of the cabin, or to change his ground, with a view to + get superior game. While gazing about him, he saw the light-colored bark + canoe of his old companions riding on the water, at the point we have + mentioned, and containing two figures, that he at once knew to be Mohegan + and the Leather-Stocking. This decided the matter, and the youth pulled, + in a very few minutes, to the place where his friends were fishing, and + fastened his boat to the light vessel of the Indian. + </p> + <p> + The old men received Oliver with welcoming nods, but neither drew his line + from the water nor in the least varied his occupation. When Edwards had + secured his own boat, he baited his hook and threw it into the lake, with + out speaking. + </p> + <p> + “Did you stop at the wigwam, lad, as you rowed past?” asked Natty. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, and I found all safe; but that carpenter and justice of the peace, + Mr., or as they call him, Squire, Doolittle, was prowling through the + woods. I made sure of the door before I left the hut, and I think he is + too great a coward to approach the hounds.” + </p> + <p> + “There's little to be said in favor of that man,” said Natty, while he + drew in a perch and baited his hook. “He craves dreadfully to come into + the cabin, and has as good as asked me as much to my face; but I put him + off with unsartain answers, so that he is no wiser than Solo mon. This + comes of having so many laws that such a man may be called on to intarpret + them.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear he is more knave than fool,” cried Edwards; “he makes a tool of, + that simple man, the sheriff; and I dread that his impertinent curiosity + may yet give us much trouble.” + </p> + <p> + “If he harbors too much about the cabin, lad, I'll shoot the creatur',” + said the Leather-Stocking, quite simply. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, Natty, you must remember the law,” said Edwards, “or we shall + have you in trouble; and that, old man, would be an evil day and sore + tidings to us all.” + </p> + <p> + “Would it, boy?” exclaimed the hunter, raising his eyes, with a look of + friendly interest, toward the youth. “You have the true blood in your + veins, Mr. Oliver; and I'll support it to the face of Judge Temple or in + any court in the country. How is it, John? Do I speak the true word? Is + the lad stanch, and of the right blood?” + </p> + <p> + “He is a Delaware,” said Mohegan, “and my brother. The Young Eagle is + brave, and he will be a chief. No harm can come.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” cried the youth impatiently, “say no more about it, my good + friends; if I am not all that your partiality would make me, I am yours + through life, in prosperity as in poverty. We will talk of other matters.” + </p> + <p> + The old hunters yielded to his wish, which seemed to be their law. For a + short time a profound silence prevailed, during which each man was very + busy with his hook and line, but Edwards, probably feeling that it + remained with him to renew the discourse, soon observed, with the air of + one who knew not what he said: + </p> + <p> + “How beautifully tranquil and glassy the lake is! Saw you it ever more + calm and even than at this moment, Natty?” + </p> + <p> + “I have known the Otsego water for five-and-forty years,” said Leather—Stocking, + “and I will say that for it, which is, that a cleaner spring or better + fishing is not to be found in the land. Yes, yes; I had the place to + myself once, and a cheerful time I had of it. The game was plenty as heart + could wish; and there was none to meddle with the ground unless there + might have been a hunting party of the Delawares crossing the hills, or, + maybe, a rifling scout of them thieves, the Iroquois. There was one or two + Frenchmen that squatted in the flats further west, and married squaws; and + some of the Scotch-Irishers, from the Cherry Valley, would come on to the + lake, and borrow my canoe to take a mess of parch, or drop a line for + salmon-trout; but, in the main, it was a cheerful place, and I had but + little to disturb me in it. John would come, and John knows.” Mohegan + turned his dark face at this appeal; and, moving his hand forward with + graceful motion of assent, he spoke, using the Delaware language: + </p> + <p> + “The land was owned by my people; we gave it to my brother in council—to + the Fire-eater; and what the Delawares give lasts as long as the waters + run. Hawk-eye smoked at that council, for we loved him.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, John,” said Natty, “I was no chief, seeing that I knowed nothing + of scholarship, and had a white skin. But it was a comfortable + hunting-ground then, lad, and would have been so this day, but for the + money of Marmaduke Temple, and the twisty ways of the law.” + </p> + <p> + “It must have been a sight of melancholy pleasure in deed,” said Edwards, + while his eye roved along the shores and over the hills, where the + clearings, groaning with the golden corn, were cheering the forest with + the signs of life, “to have roamed over these mountains and along this + sheet of beautiful water, without a living soul to speak to, or to thwart + your humor.” + </p> + <p> + “Haven't I said it was cheerful?” said Leather-Stocking. “Yes, yes, when + the trees began to be covered with leaves, and the ice was out of the + hake, it was a second paradise. I have travelled the woods for fifty-three + years, and have made them my home for more than forty, and I can say that + I have met but one place that was more to my liking; and that was only to + eyesight, and not for hunting or fishing.” + </p> + <p> + “And where was that?” asked Edwards. + </p> + <p> + “Where! why, up on the Catskills. I used often to go up into the mountains + after wolves' skins and bears; once they paid me to get them a stuffed + painter, and so I often went. There's a place in them hills that I used to + climb to when I wanted to see the carryings on of the world, that would + well pay any man for a barked shin or a torn moccasin. You know the + Catskills, lad; for you must have seen them on your left, as you followed + the river up from York, looking as blue as a piece of clear sky, and + holding the clouds on their tops, as the smoke curls over the head of an + Indian chief at the council fire. Well, there's the High-peak and the + Round-top, which lay back like a father and mother among their children, + seeing they are far above all the other hills. But the place I mean is + next to the river, where one of the ridges juts out a little from the + rest, and where the rocks fall, for the best part of a thousand feet, so + much up and down, that a man standing on their edges is fool enough to + think he can jump from top to bottom.” + </p> + <p> + “What see you when you get there?” asked Edwards, + </p> + <p> + “Creation,” said Natty, dropping the end of his rod into the water, and + sweeping one hand around him in a circle, “all creation, lad. I was on + that hill when Vaughan burned 'Sopus in the last war; and I saw the + vessels come out of the Highlands as plain as I can see that lime-scow + rowing into the Susquehanna, though one was twenty times farther from me + than the other. The river was in sight for seventy miles, looking like a + curled shaving under my feet, though it was eight long miles to its banks. + I saw the hills in the Hampshire grants, the highlands of the river, and + all that God had done, or man could do, far as eye could reach—you + know that the Indians named me for my sight, lad; and from the flat on the + top of that mountain, I have often found the place where Albany stands. + And as for 'Sopus, the day the royal troops burnt the town, the smoke + seemed so nigh, that I thought I could hear the screeches of the women.” + </p> + <p> + “It must have been worth the toil to meet with such a glorious view.” + </p> + <p> + “If being the best part of a mile in the air and having men's farms and + houses your feet, with rivers looking like ribbons, and mountains bigger + than the 'Vision seeming to be hay-stacks of green grass under you, gives + any satisfaction to a man, I can recommend the spot. When I first came + into the woods to live, I used to have weak spells when I felt lonesome: + and then I would go into the Catskills, and spend a few days on that hill + to look at the ways of man; but it's now many a year since I felt any such + longings, and I am getting too old for rugged rocks. But there's a place, + a short two miles back of that very hill, that in late times I relished + better than the mountains: for it was more covered with the trees, and + natural.” + </p> + <p> + “And where was that?” inquired Edwards, whose curiosity was strongly + excited by the simple description of the hunter. + </p> + <p> + “Why, there's a fall in the hills where the water of two little ponds. + that lie near each other, breaks out of their bounds and runs over the + rocks into the valley. The stream is, maybe, such a one as would turn a + mill, if so useless thing was wanted in the wilderness. But the hand that + made that 'Leap' never made a mill. There the water comes crooking and + winding among the rocks, first so slow that a trout could swim in it, and + then starting and running like a creatur' that wanted to make a far + spring, till it gets to where the mountain divides, like the cleft hoof of + a deer, leaving a deep hollow for the brook to tumble into. The first + pitch is nigh two hundred feet, and the water looks like flakes of driven + snow afore it touches the bottom; and there the stream gathers itself + together again for a new start, and maybe flutters over fifty feet of flat + rock before it falls for another hundred, when it jumps about from shelf + to shelf, first turning this-away and then turning that-away, striving to + get out of the hollow, till it finally comes to the plain.” + </p> + <p> + “I have never heard of this spot before; it is not mentioned in the + books.” + </p> + <p> + “I never read a book in my life,” said Leather-Stocking; “and how should a + man who has lived in towns and schools know anything about the wonders of + the woods? No, no, lad; there has that little stream of water been playing + among the hills since He made the world, and not a dozen white men have + ever laid eyes on it. The rock sweeps like mason-work, in a half-round, on + both sides of the fall, and shelves over the bottom for fifty feet; so + that when I've been sitting at the foot of the first pitch, and my hounds + have run into the caverns behind the sheet of water, they've looked no + bigger than so many rabbits. To my judgment, lad, it's the best piece of + work that I've met with in the woods; and none know how often the hand of + God is seen in the wilderness, but them that rove it for a man's life.” + </p> + <p> + “What becomes of the water? In which direction does it run? Is it a + tributary of the Delaware?” + </p> + <p> + “Anan!” said Natty. + </p> + <p> + “Does the water run into the Delaware?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no; it's a drop for the old Hudson, and a merry time it has till it + gets down off the mountain. I've sat on the shelving rock many a long + hour, boy, and watched the bubbles as they shot by me, and thought how + long it would be before that very water, which seemed made for the + wilderness, would be under the bottom of a vessel, and tossing in the salt + sea. It is a spot to make a man solemnize. You go right down into the + valley that lies to the east of the High Peak, where, in the fall of the + year, thousands of acres of woods are before your eyes, in the deep + hollow, and along the side of the mountain, painted like ten thousand + rainbows, by no hand of man, though without the ordering of God's + providence.” + </p> + <p> + “You are eloquent, Leather-Stocking,” exclaimed the youth. + </p> + <p> + “Anan!” repeated Natty. + </p> + <p> + “The recollection of the sight has warmed your blood, old man. How many + years is it since you saw the place?” + </p> + <p> + The hunter made no reply; but, bending his ear near the water, he sat + holding his breath, and listening attentively as if to some distant sound. + At length he raised his head, and said: + </p> + <p> + “If I hadn't fastened the hounds with my own hands, with a fresh leash of + green buckskin, I'd take a Bible oath that I heard old Hector ringing his + cry on the mountain.” + </p> + <p> + “It is impossible,” said Edwards; “it is not an hour since I saw him in + his kennel.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the attention of Mohegan was attracted to the sounds; but, + notwithstanding the youth was both silent and attentive, he could hear + nothing but the lowing of some cattle from the western hills. He looked at + the old men, Natty sitting with his hand to his ear, like a trumpet, and + Mohegan bending forward, with an arm raised to a level with his face, + holding the forefinger elevated as a signal for attention, and laughed + aloud at what he deemed to be imaginary sounds. + </p> + <p> + “Laugh if you will, boy,” said Leather-Stocking, “the hounds be out, and + are hunting a deer, No man can deceive me in such a matter. I wouldn't + have had the thing happen for a beaver's skin. Not that I care for the + law; but the venison is lean now, and the dumb things run the flesh off + their own bones for no good. Now do you hear the hounds?” + </p> + <p> + Edwards started, as a full cry broke on his ear, changing from the distant + sounds that were caused by some intervening hill, to confused echoes that + rang among the rocks that the dogs were passing, and then directly to a + deep and hollow baying that pealed under the forest under the Lake shore. + These variations in the tones of the hounds passed with amazing rapidity; + and, while his eyes were glancing along the margin of the water, a tearing + of the branches of the alder and dogwood caught his attention, at a spot + near them and at the next moment a noble buck sprang on the shore, and + buried himself in the lake. A full-mouthed cry followed, when Hector and + the slut shot through the opening in the bushes, and darted into the lake + also, bearing their breasts gallantly against the water. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0027" id="link2HCH0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Oft in the full descending flood he tries + To lose the scent, and lave his burning sides.” + —Thomson. +</pre> + <p> + “I knowed it—I knowed it!” cried Natty, when both deer and hounds + were in full view; “the buck has gone by them with the wind, and it has + been too much for the poor rogues; but I must break them of these tricks, + or they'll give me a deal of trouble. He-ere, he-ere—shore with you, + rascals—shore with you—will ye? Oh! off with you, old Hector, + or I'll hackle your hide with my ramrod when I get ye.” + </p> + <p> + The dogs knew their master's voice, and after swimming in a circle, as if + reluctant to give over the chase, and yet afraid to persevere, they + finally obeyed, and returned to the land, where they filled the air with + their cries. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time the deer, urged by his fears, had swum over half the + distance between the shore and the boats, before his terror permitted him + to see the new danger. But at the sounds of Natty's voice, he turned short + in his course and for a few moments seemed about to rush back again, and + brave the dogs. His retreat in this direction was, however, effectually + cut off, and, turning a second time, he urged his course obliquely for the + centre of the lake, with an intention of landing on the western shore. As + the buck swam by the fishermen, raising his nose high into the air, + curling the water before his slim neck like the beak of a galley, the + Leather-Stocking began to sit very uneasy in his canoe. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis a noble creatur'!” he exclaimed; “what a pair of horns! a man might + hang up all his garments on the branches. Let me see—July is the + last month, and the flesh must be getting good.” While he was talking, + Natty had instinctively employed himself in fastening the inner end of the + bark rope, that served him for a cable, to a paddle, and, rising suddenly + on his legs, he cast this buoy away, and cried; “Strike out, John! let her + go. The creatur's a fool to tempt a man in this way.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan threw the fastening of the youth's boat from the canoe, and with + one stroke of his paddle sent the light bark over the water like a meteor. + </p> + <p> + “Hold!” exclaimed Edwards. “Remember the law, my old friends. You are in + plain sight of the village, and I know that Judge Temple is determined to + prosecute all, indiscriminately, who kill deer out of season.” + </p> + <p> + The remonstrance came too late; the canoe was already far from the skiff, + and the two hunters were too much engaged in the pursuit to listen to his + voice. + </p> + <p> + The buck was now within fifty yards of his pursuers, cutting the water + gallantly, and snorting at each breath with terror and his exertions, + while the canoe seemed to dance over the waves as it rose and fell with + the undulations made by its own motion. Leather-Stocking raised his rifle + and freshened the priming, but stood in suspense whether to slay his + victim or not. + </p> + <p> + “Shall I, John or no?” he said. “It seems but a poor advantage to take of + the dumb thing, too. I won't; it has taken to the water on its own natur', + which is the reason that God has given to a deer, and I'll give it the + lake play; so, John, lay out your arm, and mind the turn of the buck; it's + easy to catch them, but they'll turn like a snake.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian laughed at the conceit of his friend, but continued to send the + canoe forward with a velocity' that proceeded much more from skill than + his strength. Both of the old men now used the language of the Delawares + when they spoke. + </p> + <p> + “Hugh!” exclaimed Mohegan; “the deer turns his head. Hawk-eye, lift your + spear.” + </p> + <p> + Natty never moved abroad without taking with him every implement that + might, by possibility, be of service in his pursuits. From his rifle he + never parted; and although intending to fish with the line, the canoe was + invariably furnished with all of its utensils, even to its grate This + precaution grew out of the habits of the hunter, who was often led, by his + necessities or his sports, far beyond the limits of his original + destination. A few years earlier than the date of our tale, the + Leather-Stocking had left his hut on the shores of the Otsego, with his + rifle and his hounds, for a few days' hunting in the hills; but before he + returned he had seen the waters of Ontario. One, two, or even three + hundred miles had once been nothing to his sinews, which were now a little + stiffened by age. The hunter did as Mohegan advised, and prepared to + strike a blow with the barbed weapon into the neck of the buck. + </p> + <p> + “Lay her more to the left, John,” he cried, “lay her more to the left; + another stroke of the paddle and I have him.” + </p> + <p> + While speaking he raised the spear, and darted it front him like an arrow. + At that instant the buck turned, the long pole glanced by him, the iron + striking against his horn, and buried itself harmlessly in the lake. + </p> + <p> + “Back water,” cried Natty, as the canoe glided over the place where the + spear had fallen; “hold water, John.” + </p> + <p> + The pole soon reappeared, shooting up from the lake, and, as the hunter + seized it in his hand, the Indian whirled the light canoe round, and + renewed the chase. But this evolution gave the buck a great advantage; and + it also allowed time for Edwards to approach the scene of action. + </p> + <p> + “Hold your hand, Natty!” cried the youth, “hold your hand; remember it is + out of season.” + </p> + <p> + This remonstrance was made as the batteau arrived close to the place where + the deer was struggling with the water, his back now rising to the + surface, now sinking beneath it, as the waves curled from his neck, the + animal still sustaining itself nobly against the odds, + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah!” shouted Edwards, inflamed beyond prudence at the sight; “mind + him as he doubles—mind him as he doubles; sheer more to the right, + Mohegan, more to the right, and I'll have him by the horns; I'll throw the + rope over his antlers.” + </p> + <p> + The dark eye of the old warrior was dancing in his head with a wild + animation, and the sluggish repose in which his aged frame had been + resting in the canoe was now changed to all the rapid inflections of + practiced agility. The canoe whirled with each cunning evolution of the + chase, like a bubble floating in a whirlpool; and when the direction of + the pursuit admitted of a straight course the little bark skimmed the lake + with a velocity that urged the deer to seek its safety in some new turn. + </p> + <p> + It was the frequency of these circuitous movements that, by confining the + action to so small a compass, enabled the youth to keep near his + companions. More than twenty times both the pursued and the pursuer glided + by him, just without the reach of his oars, until he thought the best way + to view the sport was to remain stationary, and, by watching a favorable + opportunity, assist as much as he could in taking the victim. + </p> + <p> + He was not required to wait long, for no sooner had he adopted this + resolution, and risen in the boat, than he saw the deer coming bravely + toward him, with an apparent intention of pushing for a point of land at + some distance from the hounds, who were still barking and howling on the + shore. Edwards caught the painter of his skiff, and, making a noose, cast + it from him with all his force, and luckily succeeded in drawing its knot + close around one of the antlers of the buck. + </p> + <p> + For one instant the skiff was drawn through the water, but in the next the + canoe glided before it, and Natty, bending low, passed his knife across + the throat of the animal, whose blood followed the wound, dyeing the + waters. The short time that was passed in the last struggles of the animal + was spent by the hunters in bringing their boats together and securing + them in that position, when Leather-Stocking drew the deer from the water + and laid its lifeless form in the bottom of the canoe. He placed his hands + on the ribs, and on different parts of the body of his prize, and then, + raising his head, he laughed in his peculiar manner. + </p> + <p> + “So much for Marmaduke Temple's law!” he said, “This warms a body's blood, + old John: I haven't killed a buck in the lake afore this, sin' many a + year. I call that good venison, lad: and I know them that will relish the + creatur's steaks for all the betterments in the land.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian had long been drooping with his years, and perhaps under the + calamities of his race, but this invigorating and exciting sport caused a + gleam of sunshine to cross his swarthy face that had long been absent from + his features. It was evident the old man enjoyed the chase more as a + memorial of his youthful sports and deeds than with any expectation of + profiting by the success. He felt the deer, however, lightly, his hand + already trembling with the reaction of his unusual exertions, and smiled + with a nod of approbation, as he said, in the emphatic and sententious + manner of his people: + </p> + <p> + “Good.” + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid, Natty,” said Edwards, when the heat of the moment had + passed, and his blood began to cool, “that we have all been equally + transgressors of the law. But keep your own counsel, and there are none + here to betray us. Yet how came those dogs at large? I left them securely + fastened, I know, for I felt the thongs and examined the knots when I was + at the hunt.” + </p> + <p> + “It has been too much for the poor things,” said Natty, “to have such a + buck take the wind of them. See, lad, the pieces of the buckskin are + hanging from their necks yet. Let us paddle up, John, and I will call them + in and look a little into the matter.” + </p> + <p> + When the old hunter landed and examined the thongs that were yet fast to + the hounds, his countenance sensibly changed, and he shook his head + doubtingly. + </p> + <p> + “Here has been a knife at work,” he said; “this skin was never torn, nor + is this the mark of a hound's tooth. No, no—Hector is not in fault, + as I feared.” + </p> + <p> + “Has the leather been cut?” cried Edwards. + </p> + <p> + “No, no—I didn't say it had been cut, lad; but this is a mark that + was never made by a jump or a bite.” + </p> + <p> + “Could that rascally carpenter have dared!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! he durst do anything when there is no danger,” said Natty; “he is a + curious body, and loves to be helping other people on with their consarns. + But he had best not harbor so much near the wigwam!” + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Mohegan had been examining, with an Indian's sagacity, + the place where the leather thong had been separated. After scrutinizing + it closely, he said, in Delaware: + </p> + <p> + “It was cut with a knife—a sharp blade and a long handle—the + man was afraid of the dogs.” + </p> + <p> + “How is this, Mohegan?” exclaimed Edwards; “you saw it not! how can you + know these facts?” + </p> + <p> + “Listen, son,” said the warrior. “The knife was sharp, for the cut was + smooth; the handle was long, for a man's arm would not reach from this + gash to the cut that did not go through the skin; he was a coward, or he + would have cut the thongs around the necks of the hounds.” + </p> + <p> + “On my life,” cried Natty, “John is on the scent! It was the carpenter; + and he has got on the rock back of the kennel and let the dogs loose by + fastening his knife to a stick. It would be an easy matter to do it where + a man is so minded.” + </p> + <p> + “And why should he do so?” asked Edwards; “who has done him wrong, that he + should trouble two old men like you?” + </p> + <p> + “It's a hard matter, lad, to know men's ways, I find, since the settlers + have brought in their new fashions, But is there nothing to be found out + in the place? and maybe he is troubled with his longings after other + people's business, as he often is.” + </p> + <p> + “Your suspicions are just. Give me the canoe; I am young and strong, and + will get down there yet, perhaps, in time to interrupt his plans. Heaven + forbid that we should be at the mercy of such a man!” + </p> + <p> + His proposal was accepted, the deer being placed in the skiff in order to + lighten the canoe, and in less than five minutes the little vessel of bark + was gilding over the glassy lake, and was soon hid by the points of land + as it shot close along the shore. + </p> + <p> + Mohegan followed slowly with the skiff, while Natty called his hounds to + him, bade them keep close, and, shouldering his rifle, he ascended the + mountain, with an intention of going to the hut by land. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0028" id="link2HCH0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXVIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ask me not what the maiden feels, + Left in that dreadful hour alone: + Perchance, her reason stoops, or reel! + Perchance, a courage not her own + Braces her mind to desperate tone.” + —Scott. +</pre> + <p> + While the chase was occurring on the lake, Miss Temple and her companion + pursued their walk on the mountain. Male attendants on such excursions + were thought to be altogether unnecessary, for none were even known to + offer insult to a female who respected herself. After the embarrassment + created by the parting discourse with Edwards had dissipated, the girls + maintained a conversation that was as innocent and cheerful as themselves. + </p> + <p> + The path they took led them but a short distance above the hut of + Leather-Stocking, and there was a point in the road which commanded a + bird's-eye view of the sequestered spot. + </p> + <p> + From a feeling that might have been, natural, and must have been powerful, + neither of the friends, in their frequent and confidential dialogues, had + ever trusted herself to utter one syllable concerning the equivocal + situation in which the young man who was now so intimately associated with + them had been found. If judge Temple had deemed it prudent to make any + inquiries on the subject, he had also thought it proper to keep the + answers to him self; though it was so common an occurrence to find the + well-educated youth of the Eastern States in every stage of their career + to wealth, that the simple circumstance of his intelligence, connected + with his poverty, would not, at that day and in that country, have excited + any very powerful curiosity. With his breeding, it might have been + different; but the youth himself had so effectually guarded against + surprise on this subject, by his cold and even, in some cases, rude + deportment, that when his manners seemed to soften by time, the Judge, if + he thought about it at all, would have been most likely to imagine that + the improvement was the result of his late association. But women are + always more alive to such subjects than men; and what the abstraction of + the father had overlooked, the observation of the daughter had easily + detected. In the thousand little courtesies of polished life she had early + discovered that Edwards was not wanting, though his gentleness was so + often crossed by marks of what she conceived to be fierce and + uncontrollable passions. It may, perhaps, be unnecessary to tell the + reader that Louisa Grant never reasoned so much after the fashions of the + world. The gentle girl, however, had her own thoughts on the subject, and, + like others, she drew her own conclusions. + </p> + <p> + “I would give all my other secrets, Louisa,” exclaimed Miss Temple, + laughing, and shaking back her dark locks, with a look of childish + simplicity that her intelligent face seldom expressed, “to be mistress of + all that those rude logs have heard and witnessed.” + </p> + <p> + They were both looking at the secluded hut at the instant, and Miss Grant + raised her mild eyes as she answered: + </p> + <p> + “I am sure they would tell nothing to the disadvantage of Mr. Edwards.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps not; but they might, at least, tell who he is.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, dear Miss Temple, we know all that already. I have heard it all very + rationally explained by your cousin—” + </p> + <p> + “The executive chief! he can explain anything. His ingenuity will one day + discover the philosopher's stone. But what did he say?” + </p> + <p> + “Say!” echoed Louisa, with a look of surprise; “why, everything that + seemed to me to be satisfactory, and I now believed it to be true. He said + that Natty Bumppo had lived most of his life in the woods and among the + Indians, by which means he had formed an acquaintance with old John, the + Delaware chief.” + </p> + <p> + “Indeed! that was quite a matter-of-fact tale for Cousin Dickon. What came + next?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe he accounted for their close intimacy by some story about the + Leather-Stocking saving the life of John in a battle.” + </p> + <p> + “Nothing more likely,” said Elizabeth, a little impatiently; “but what is + all this to the purpose?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, Elizabeth, you must bear with my ignorance, and I will repeat all + that I remember to have overheard for the dialogue was between my father + and the sheriff, so lately as the last time they met, He then added that + the kings of England used to keep gentlemen as agents among the different + tribes of Indians, and sometimes officers in the army, who frequently + passed half their lives on the edge of the wilderness.” + </p> + <p> + “Told with wonderful historical accuracy! And did he end there?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! no—then he said that these agents seldom married; and—and—they + must have been wicked men, Elizabeth! but I assure you he said so.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind,” said Miss Temple, blushing and smiling, though so slightly + that both were unheeded by her companion; “skip all that.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, he said that they often took great pride in the education of + their children, whom they frequently sent to England, and even to the + colleges; and this is the way that he accounts for the liberal manner in + which Mr. Edwards has been taught; for he acknowledges that he knows + almost as much as your father—or mine—or even himself.” + </p> + <p> + “Quite a climax in learning'. And so he made Mohegan the granduncle or + grandfather of Oliver Edwards.” + </p> + <p> + “You have heard him yourself, then?” said Louisa. + </p> + <p> + “Often; but not on this subject. Mr. Richard Jones, you know, dear, has a + theory for everything; but has he one which will explain the reason why + that hut is the only habitation within fifty miles of us whose door is not + open to every person who may choose to lift its latch?” + </p> + <p> + “I have never heard him say anything on this subject,” returned the + clergyman's daughter; “but I suppose that, as they are poor, they very + naturally are anxious to keep the little that they honestly own. It is + sometimes dangerous to be rich, Miss Temple; but you cannot know how hard + it is to be very, very poor.” + </p> + <p> + “Nor you, I trust, Louisa; at least I should hope that, in this land of + abundance, no minister of the church could be left in absolute suffering.” + </p> + <p> + “There cannot be actual misery,” returned the other, in a low and humble + tone, “where there is a dependence on our Maker; but there may be such + suffering as will cause the heart to ache.” + </p> + <p> + “But not you—not you,” said the impetuous Elizabeth—“not you, + dear girl, you have never known the misery that is connected with + poverty.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Miss Temple, you little understand the troubles of this life, I + believe. My father has spent many years as a missionary in the new + countries, where his people were poor, and frequently we have been without + bread; unable to buy, and ashamed to beg, because we would not disgrace + his sacred calling. But how often have I seen him leave his home, where + the sick and the hungry felt, when he left them, that they had lost their + only earthly friend, to ride on a duty which could not be neglected for + domes tic evils! Oh! how hard it must be to preach consolation to others + when your own heart is bursting with anguish!” + </p> + <p> + “But it is all over now! your father's income must now be equal to his + wants—it must be—it shall be—” + </p> + <p> + “It is,” replied Louisa, dropping her head on her bosom to conceal the + tears which flowed in spite of her gentle Christianity—“for there + are none left to be supplied but me.” + </p> + <p> + The turn the conversation had taken drove from the minds of the young + maidens all other thoughts but those of holy charity; and Elizabeth folded + her friend in her arms, when the latter gave vent to her momentary grief + in audible sobs. When this burst of emotion had subsided, Louisa raised + her mild countenance, and they continued their walk in silence. + </p> + <p> + By this time they had gained the summit of the mountain, where they left + the highway, and pursued their course under the shade of the stately trees + that crowned the eminence. The day was becoming warm, and the girls + plunged more deeply into the forest, as they found its invigorating + coolness agreeably contrasted to the excessive heat they had experienced + in the ascent. The conversation, as if by mutual consent, was entirely + changed to the little incidents and scenes of their walk, and every tall + pine, and every shrub or flower, called forth some simple expression of + admiration. + </p> + <p> + In this manner they proceeded along the margin of the precipice, catching + occasional glimpses of the placid Otsego, or pausing to listen to the + rattling of wheels and the sounds of hammers that rose from the valley, to + mingle the signs of men with the scenes of nature, when Elizabeth suddenly + started, and exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “Listen! there are the cries of a child on this mountain! Is there a + clearing near us, or can some little one have strayed from its parents?” + </p> + <p> + “Such things frequently happen,” returned Louisa. “Let us follow the + sounds; it may be a wanderer starving on the hill.” + </p> + <p> + Urged by this consideration, the females pursued the low, mournful sounds, + that proceeded from the forest, with quick and impatient steps. More than + once, the ardent Elizabeth was on the point of announcing that she saw the + sufferer, when Louisa caught her by the arm, and pointing behind them, + cried: + </p> + <p> + “Look at the dog!” + </p> + <p> + Brave had been their companion, from the time the voice of his young + mistress lured him from his kennel, to the present moment. His advanced + age had long before deprived him of his activity; and when his companions + stopped to view the scenery, or to add to their bouquets, the mastiff + would lay his huge frame on the ground and await their movements, with his + eyes closed, and a listlessness in his air that ill accorded with the + character of a protector. But when, aroused by this cry from Louisa, Miss + Temple turned, she saw the dog with his eyes keenly set on some distant + object, his head bent near the ground, and his hair actually rising on his + body, through fright or anger. It was most probably the latter, for he was + growling in a low key, and occasionally showing his teeth, in a manner + that would have terrified his mistress, had she not so well known his good + qualities. + </p> + <p> + “Brave!” she said, “be quiet, Brave! What do you see, fellow?” + </p> + <p> + At the sounds of her voice, the rage of the mastiff, instead of being at + all diminished, was very sensibly increased. He stalked in front of the + ladies, and seated himself at the feet of his mistress, growling louder + than before, and occasionally giving vent to his ire by a short, surly + barking. + </p> + <p> + “What does he see?” said Elizabeth; “there must be some animal in sight.” + </p> + <p> + Hearing no answer from her companion, Miss Temple turned her head and + beheld Louisa, standing with her face whitened to the color of death, and + her finger pointing upward with a sort of flickering, convulsed motion. + The quick eye of Elizabeth glanced in the direction indicated by her + friend, where she saw the fierce front and glaring eyes of a female + panther, fixed on them in horrid malignity, and threatening to leap. + </p> + <p> + “Let us fly,” exclaimed Elizabeth, grasping the arm of Louisa, whose form + yielded like melting snow. + </p> + <p> + There was not a single feeling in the temperament of Elizabeth Temple that + could prompt her to desert a companion in such an extremity. She fell on + her knees by the side of the inanimate Louisa, tearing from the person of + her friend, with instinctive readiness, such parts of her dress as might + obstruct her respiration, and encouraging their only safeguard, the dog, + at the same time, by the sounds of her voice. + </p> + <p> + “Courage, Brave!” she cried, her own tones beginning to tremble, “courage, + courage, good Brave!” + </p> + <p> + A quarter-grown cub, that had hitherto been unseen, now appeared, dropping + from the branches of a sapling that grew under the shade of the beech + which held its dam. This ignorant but vicious creature approached the dog, + imitating the actions and sounds of its parent, but exhibiting a strange + mixture of the playfulness of a kitten with the ferocity of its race. + Standing on its hind-legs, it would rend the bark of a tree with its + fore-paws, and play the antics of a cat; and then, by lashing itself with + its tail, growling, and scratching the earth, it would at tempt the + manifestations of anger that rendered its parent so terrific. + </p> + <p> + All this time Brave stood firm and undaunted, his short tail erect, his + body drawn backward on its haunches, and his eyes following the movements + of both dam and cub. At every gambol played by the latter, it approached + nigher to the dog, the growling of the three becoming more horrid at each + moment, until the younger beast, over-leaping its intended bound, fell + directly before the mastiff. There was a moment of fearful cries and + struggles, but they ended almost as soon as commenced, by the cub + appearing in the air, hurled from the jaws of Brave, with a violence that + sent it against a tree so forcibly as to render it completely senseless. + Elizabeth witnessed the short struggle, and her blood was warming with the + triumph of the dog, when she saw the form of the old panther in the air, + springing twenty feet from the branch of the beech to the back of the + mastiff. No words of ours can describe the fury of the conflict that + followed. It was a confused struggle on the dry leaves, accompanied by + loud and terrific cries. Miss Temple continued on her knees, bending over + the form of Louisa, her eyes fixed on the animals with an interest so + horrid, and yet so intense, that she almost forgot her own stake in the + result. So rapid and vigorous were the bounds of the inhabitant of the + forest, that its active frame seemed constantly in the air, while the dog + nobly faced his foe at each successive leap. When the panther lighted on + the shoulders of the mastiff, which was its constant aim, old Brave, + though torn with her talons, and stained with his own blood, that already + flowed from a dozen wounds, would shake off his furious foe like a + feather, and, rearing on his hind-legs, rush to the fray again, with jaws + distended, and a dauntless eye. But age, and his pampered life, greatly + disqualified the noble mastiff for such a struggle. In everything but + courage, he was only the vestige of what he had once been. A higher bound + than ever raised the wary and furious beast far beyond the reach of the + dog, who was making a desperate but fruitless dash at her, from which she + alighted in a favorable position, on the back of her aged foe. For a + single moment only could the panther remain there, the great strength of + the dog returning with a convulsive effort. But Elizabeth saw, as Brave + fastened his teeth in the side of his enemy, that the collar of brass + around his neck, which had been glittering throughout the fray, was of the + color of blood, and directly that his frame was sinking to the earth, + where it soon lay prostrate and helpless. Several mighty efforts of the + wild-cat to extricate herself from the jaws of the dog followed, but they + were fruitless, until the mastiff turned on his back, his lips collapsed, + and his teeth loosened, when the short convulsions and stillness that + succeeded announced the death of poor Brave. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth now lay wholly at the mercy of the beast. There is said to be + something in the front of the image of the Maker that daunts the hearts of + the inferior beings of his creation; and it would seem that some such + power, in the present instance, suspended the threatened blow. The eyes of + the monster and the kneeling maiden met for an instant, when the former + stooped to examine her fallen foe; next, to scent her luckless cub. From + the latter examination it turned, however, with its eyes apparently + emitting flashes of fire, its tail lashing its sides furiously, and its + claws projecting inches from her broad feet. + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple did not or could not move. Her hands were clasped in the + attitude of prayer, but her eyes were still drawn to her terrible enemy—her + cheeks were blanched to the whiteness of marble, and her lips were + slightly separated with horror. + </p> + <p> + The moment seemed now to have arrived for the fatal termination, and the + beautiful figure of Elizabeth was bowing meekly to the stroke, when a + rustling of leaves behind seemed rather to mock the organs than to meet + her ears. + </p> + <p> + “Hist! hist!” said a low voice, “stoop lower, gal; your bonnet hides the + creatur's head.” + </p> + <p> + It was rather the yielding of nature than a compliance with this + unexpected order, that caused the head of our heroine to sink on her + bosom; when she heard the report of the rifle, the whizzing of the bullet, + and the enraged cries of the beast, who was rolling over on the earth, + biting its own flesh, and tearing the twigs and branches within its reach. + At the next instant the form of the Leather-Stocking rushed by her, and he + called aloud: + </p> + <p> + “Come in, Hector! come in, old fool; 'tis a hard-lived animal, and may + jump agin.” + </p> + <p> + Natty fearlessly maintained his position in front of the females, + notwithstanding the violent bounds and threatening aspect of the wounded + panther, which gave several indications of returning strength and + ferocity, until his rifle was again loaded, when he stepped up to the + enraged animal, and, placing the muzzle close to its head, every spark of + life was extinguished by the discharge. + </p> + <p> + The death of her terrible enemy appeared to Elizabeth like a resurrection + from her own grave. There was an elasticity in the mind of our heroine + that rose to meet the pressure of instant danger, and the more direct it + had been, the more her nature had struggled to overcome them. But still + she was a woman. Had she been left to herself in her late extremity, she + would probably have used her faculties to the utmost, and with discretion, + in protecting her person; but, encumbered with her inanimate friend, + retreat was a thing not to be attempted. Notwithstanding the fearful + aspect of her foe, the eye of Elizabeth had never shrunk from its gaze, + and long after the event her thoughts would recur to her passing + sensations, and the sweetness of her midnight sleep would be disturbed, as + her active fancy conjured, in dreams, the most trifling movements of + savage fury that the beast had exhibited in its moment of power. + </p> + <p> + We shall leave the reader to imagine the restoration of Louisa's senses, + and the expressions of gratitude which fell from the young women. The + former was effected by a little water, that was brought from one of the + thousand springs of those mountains, in the cap of the Leather-Stocking; + and the latter were uttered with the warmth that might be expected from + the character of Elizabeth. Natty received her vehement protestations of + gratitude with a simple expression of good-will, and with indulgence for + her present excitement, but with a carelessness that showed how little he + thought of the service he had rendered. + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” he said, “be it so, gal; let it be so, if you wish it—we'll + talk the thing over another time. Come, come—let us get into the + road, for you've had terror enough to make you wish yourself in your + father's house agin.” + </p> + <p> + This was uttered as they were proceeding, at a pace that was adapted to + the weakness of Louisa, toward the highway; on reaching which the ladies + separated from their guide, declaring themselves equal to the remainder of + the walk without his assistance, and feeling encouraged by the sight of + the village which lay beneath their feet like a picture, with its limpid + lake in front, the winding stream along its margin, and its hundred + chimneys of whitened bricks. + </p> + <p> + The reader need not be told the nature of the emotions which two youthful, + ingenuous, and well-educated girls would experience at their escape from a + death so horrid as the one which had impended over them, while they + pursued their way in silence along the track on the side of the mountain; + nor how deep were their mental thanks to that Power which had given them + their existence, and which had not deserted them in their extremity; + neither how often they pressed each other's arms as the assurance of their + present safety came, like a healing balm, athwart their troubled spirits, + when their thoughts were recurring to the recent moments of horror. + </p> + <p> + Leather-Stocking remained on the hill, gazing after their retiring + figures, until they were hidden by a bend in the road, when he whistled in + his dogs, and shouldering his rifle, he returned into the forest. + </p> + <p> + “Well, it was a skeary thing to the young creatur's,” said Natty, while he + retrod the path toward the plain. “It might frighten an older woman, to + see a she-painter so near her, with a dead cub by its side. I wonder if I + had aimed at the varmint's eye, if I shouldn't have touched the life + sooner than in the forehead; but they are hard-lived animals, and it was a + good shot, consid'ring that I could see nothing but the head and the peak + of its tail. Hah! who goes there?” + </p> + <p> + “How goes it, Natty?” said Mr. Doolittle, stepping out of the bushes, with + a motion that was a good deal accelerated by the sight of the rifle, that + was already lowered in his direction. “What! shooting this warm day! Mind, + old man, the law don't get hold on you.” + </p> + <p> + “The law, squire! I have shook hands with the law these forty year,” + returned Natty; “for what has a man who lives in the wilderness to do with + the ways of the law?” + </p> + <p> + “Not much, maybe,” said Hiram; “but you sometimes trade in venison. I + s'pose you know, Leather-Stocking, that there is an act passed to lay a + fine of five pounds currency, or twelve dollars and fifty cents, by + decimals, on every man who kills a deer betwixt January and August. The + Judge had a great hand in getting the law through.” + </p> + <p> + “I can believe it,” returned the old hunter; “I can believe that or + anything of a man who carries on as he does in the country.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, the law is quite positive, and the Judge is bent on putting it in + force—five pounds penalty. I thought I heard your hounds out on the + scent of so'thing this morning; I didn't know but they might get you in + difficulty.” + </p> + <p> + “They know their manners too well,” said Natty carelessly. “And how much + goes to the State's evidence, squire?” + </p> + <p> + “How much?” repeated Hiram, quailing under the honest but sharp look of + the hunter; “the informer gets half, I—I believe—yes, I guess + it's half. But there's blood on your sleeve, man—you haven't been + shooting anything this morning?” + </p> + <p> + “I have, though,” said the hunter, nodding his head significantly to the + other, “and a good shot I made of it.” + </p> + <p> + “H-e-m!” ejaculated the magistrate; “and where is the game? I s'pose it's + of a good natur', for your dogs won't hunt anything that isn't choice.” + </p> + <p> + “They'll hunt anything I tell them to, squire,” cried Natty, favoring the + other with his laugh. “They'll hunt you, if I say so. He-e-e-re, + he-e-e-re, Hector—he-e-e-re, slut—come this a-way, pups—come + this a-way—-come hither.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I have always heard a good character of the dogs,” returned Mr. + Doolittle, quickening his pace by raising each leg in rapid succession, as + the hounds scented around his person. “And where is the game, + Leather-Stocking?” + </p> + <p> + During this dialogue, the speakers had been walking at a very fast gait, + and Natty swung the end of his rifle round, pointing through the bushes, + and replied: “There lies one. How do you like such meat?” + </p> + <p> + “This!” exclaimed Hiram; “why, this is Judge Temple's dog Brave. Take + care, Leather-Stocking, and don't make an enemy of the Judge. I hope you + haven't harmed the animal?” + </p> + <p> + “Look for yourself, Mr. Doolittle,” said Natty, drawing his knife from his + girdle, and wiping it in a knowing manner, once or twice across his + garment of buckskin; “does his throat look as if I had cut it with this + knife?” + </p> + <p> + “It is dreadfully torn! it's an awful wound—no knife ever did this + deed. Who could have done it?” + </p> + <p> + “The painters behind you, squire.” + </p> + <p> + “Painters!” echoed Hiram, whirling on his heel with an agility that would + have done credit to a dancing' master. + </p> + <p> + “Be easy, man,” said Natty; “there's two of the venomous things; but the + dog finished one, and I have fastened the other's jaws for her; so don't + be frightened, squire; they won't hurt you.” + </p> + <p> + “And where's the deer?” cried Hiram, staring about him with a bewildered + air. + </p> + <p> + “Anan? deer!” repeated Natty. “Sartain; an't there venison here, or didn't + you kill a buck?” + </p> + <p> + “What! when the law forbids the thing, squire!” said the old hunter, “I + hope there's no law agin' killing the painters.” + </p> + <p> + “No! there's a bounty on the scalps—but—will your dogs hunt + painters, Natty?” + </p> + <p> + “Anything; didn't I tell you they would hunt a man? He-e-re, he-e-re, pups—” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, I remember. Well, they are strange dogs, I must say—I am + quite in a wonderment.” + </p> + <p> + Natty had seated himself on the ground, and having laid the grim head of + his late ferocious enemy in his lap, was drawing his knife with a + practiced hand around the ears, which he tore from the head of the beast + in such a manner as to preserve their connection, when he answered; + </p> + <p> + “What at, squire? did you never see a painter's scalp afore? Come, you are + a magistrate, I wish you'd make me out an order for the bounty.” + </p> + <p> + “The bounty!” repeated Hiram, holding the ears on the end of his finger + for a moment, as if uncertain how to proceed. “Well, let us go down to + your hut, where you can take the oath, and I will write out the order, I + suppose you have a Bible? All the law wants is the four evangelists and + the Lord's prayer.” + </p> + <p> + “I keep no books,” said Natty, a little coldly; “not such a Bible as the + law needs.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! there's but one sort of Bible that's good in law,” returned the + magistrate, “and your'n will do as well as another's. Come, the carcasses + are worth nothing, man; let us go down and take the oath.” + </p> + <p> + “Softly, softly, squire,” said the hunter, lifting his trophies very + deliberately from the ground, and shouldering his rifle; “why do you want + an oath at all, for a thing that your own eyes has seen? Won't you believe + yourself, that another man must swear to a fact that you know to be true? + You have seen me scalp the creatur's, and if I must swear to it, it shall + be before Judge Temple, who needs an oath.” + </p> + <p> + “But we have no pen or paper here, Leather-Stocking; we must go to the hut + for them, or how can I write the order?” + </p> + <p> + Natty turned his simple features on the cunning magistrate with another of + his laughs, as he said: + </p> + <p> + “And what should I be doing with scholars' tools? I want no pens or paper, + not knowing the use of either; and I keep none. No, no, I'll bring the + scalps into the village, squire, and you can make out the order on one of + your law-books, and it will be all the better for it. The deuce take this + leather on the neck of the dog, it will strangle the old fool. Can you + lend me a knife, squire?” + </p> + <p> + Hiram, who seemed particularly anxious to be on good terms with his + companion, unhesitatingly complied. Natty cut the thong from the neck of + the hound, and, as he returned the knife to its owner, carelessly + remarked: + </p> + <p> + “'Tis a good bit of steel, and has cut such leather as this very same, + before now, I dare say.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to charge me with letting your hounds loose?” exclaimed + Hiram, with a consciousness that disarmed his caution. + </p> + <p> + “Loose!” repeated the hunter—“I let them loose myself. I always let + them loose before I leave the hut.” + </p> + <p> + The ungovernable amazement with which Mr. Doolittle listened to this + falsehood would have betrayed his agency in the liberation of the dogs, + had Natty wanted any further confirmation; and the coolness and management + of the old man now disappeared in open indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Look you here, Mr. Doolittle,” he said, striking the breech of his rifle + violently on the ground; “what there is in the wigwam of a poor man like + me, that one like you can crave, I don't know; but this I tell you to your + face, that you never shall put foot under the roof of my cabin with my + consent, and that, if you harbor round the spot as you have done lately, + you may meet with treatment that you will little relish.” + </p> + <p> + “And let me tell you, Mr. Bumppo,” said Hiram, retreating, however, with a + quick step, “that I know you've broke the law, and that I'm a magistrate, + and will make you feel it too, before you are a day older.” + </p> + <p> + “That for you and your law, too,” cried Natty, snap ping his fingers at + the justice of the peace; “away with you, you varmint, before the devil + tempts me to give you your desarts. Take care, if I ever catch your + prowling face in the woods agin, that I don't shoot it for an owl.” + </p> + <p> + There is something at all times commanding in honest indignation, and + Hiram did not stay to provoke the wrath of the old hunter to extremities. + When the intruder was out of sight, Natty proceeded to the hut, where he + found all quiet as the grave. He fastened his dogs, and tapping at the + door, which was opened by Edwards, asked; + </p> + <p> + “Is all safe, lad?” + </p> + <p> + “Everything,” returned the youth. “Some one attempted the lock, but it was + too strong for him.” + </p> + <p> + “I know the creatur',” said Natty, “but he'll not trust himself within the + reach of my rifle very soon——” What more was uttered by the + Leather-Stocking, in his vexation, was rendered inaudible by the closing + of the door of the cabin. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0029" id="link2HCH0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXIX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “It is noised, he hath a mass of treasure.” + —Timon of Athens. +</pre> + <p> + When Marmaduke Temple and his cousin rode through the gate of the former, + the heart of the father had been too recently touched with the best + feelings of our nature, to leave inclination for immediate discourse. + There was an importance in the air of Richard, which would not have + admitted of the ordinary informal conversation of the sheriff, without + violating all the rules of consistency; and the equestrians pursued their + way with great diligence, for more than a mile, in profound silence. At + length the soft expression of parental affection was slowly chased from + the handsome features of the Judge, and was gradually supplanted by the + cast of humor and benevolence that was usually seated on his brow. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Dickon,” he said, “since I have yielded myself so far implicitly to + your guidance, I think the moment has arrived when I am entitled to + further confidence. Why and wherefore are we journeying together in this + solemn gait?” + </p> + <p> + The sheriff gave a loud hem, that rang far in the forest, and keeping his + eyes fixed on objects before him like a man who is looking deep into + futurity: + </p> + <p> + “There has always been one point of difference between us, Judge Temple, I + may say, since our nativity,” he replied; “not that I would insinuate that + you are at all answerable for the acts of Nature; for a man is no more to + be condemned for the misfortunes of his birth, than he is to be commended + for the natural advantages he may possess; but on one point we may be said + to have differed from our births, and they, you know, occurred within two + days of each other.” + </p> + <p> + “I really marvel, Richard, what this one point can be, for, to my eyes, we + seem to differ so materially, and so often—” + </p> + <p> + “Mere consequences, sir,” interrupted the sheriff; “all our minor + differences proceed from one cause, and that is, our opinions of the + universal attainments of genius.” + </p> + <p> + “In what, Dickon?” + </p> + <p> + “I speak plain English, I believe, Judge Temple: at least I ought; for my + father, who taught me, could speak——” + </p> + <p> + “Greek and Latin,” interrupted Marmaduke. “I well know the qualifications + of your family in tongues, Dickon. But proceed to the point; why are we + travelling over this mountain to-day?” + </p> + <p> + “To do justice to any subject, sir, the narrator must be suffered to + proceed in his own way,” continued the sheriff. “You are of opinion, Judge + Temple, that a man is to be qualified by nature and education to do only + one thing well, whereas I know that genius will supply the place of + learning, and that a certain sort of man can do anything and everything.” + </p> + <p> + “Like yourself, I suppose,” said Marmaduke, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “I scorn personalities, sir, I say nothing of myself; but there are three + men on your Patent, of the kind that I should term talented by nature for + her general purposes though acting under the influence of different + situations.” + </p> + <p> + “We are better off, then, than I had supposed. Who are these triumviri?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, sir, one is Hiram Doolittle; a carpenter by trade, as you know—and + I need only point to the village to exhibit his merits. Then he is a + magistrate, and might shame many a man, in his distribution of justice, + who has had better opportunities.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, he is one,” said Marmaduke, with the air of a man that was + determined not to dispute the point. + </p> + <p> + “Jotham Riddel is another.” + </p> + <p> + “Who?” + </p> + <p> + “Jotham Riddel.” + </p> + <p> + “What, that dissatisfied, shiftless, lazy, speculating fellow! he who + changes his county every three years, his farm every six months, and his + occupation every season! an agriculturist yesterday, a shoemaker to-day, + and a school master to-morrow! that epitome of all the unsteady and + profitless propensities of the settlers without one of their good + qualities to counterbalance the evil! Nay, Richard, this is too bad for + even—but the third.” + </p> + <p> + “As the third is not used to hearing such comments on his character, Judge + Temple, I shall not name him.” + </p> + <p> + “The amount of all this, then, Dickon, is that the trio, of which you are + one, and the principal, have made some important discovery.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not said that I am one, Judge Temple. As I told you before, say + nothing egotistical. But a discovery has been made, and you are deeply + interested in it.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed—I am all ears.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, 'Duke, you are bad enough, I own, but not so bad as that, either; + your ears are not quite full grown.” + </p> + <p> + The sheriff laughed heartily at his own wit, and put himself in good humor + thereby, when he gratified his patient cousin with the following + explanation: + </p> + <p> + “You know, 'Duke, there is a man living on your estate that goes by the + name of Natty Bumppo. Here has this man lived, by what I can learn, for + more than forty years—by himself, until lately; and now with strange + companions.” + </p> + <p> + “Part very true, and all very probable,” said the Judge. + </p> + <p> + “All true, sir; all true. Well, within these last few months have appeared + as his companions an old Indian chief, the last, or one of the last of his + tribe that is to be found in this part of the country, and a young man, + who is said to be the son of some Indian agent, by a squaw.” + </p> + <p> + “Who says that?” cried Marmaduke, with an interest; that he had not + manifested before. + </p> + <p> + “Who? why, common sense—common report—the hue and cry. But + listen till you know all. This youth has very pretty talents—yes, + what I call very pretty talents—and has been well educated, has seen + very tolerable company, and knows how to behave himself when he has a mind + to. Now, Judge Temple, can you tell me what has brought three such men as + Indian John, Natty Bumppo, and Oliver Edwards together?” Marmaduke turned + his countenance, in evident surprise, to his cousin, and replied quickly: + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast unexpectedly hit on a subject, Richard, that has often occupied + my mind. But knowest thou anything of this mystery, or are they only the + crude conjectures of—” + </p> + <p> + “Crude nothing, 'Duke, crude nothing: but facts, stubborn facts. You know + there are mines in these mountains; I have often heard you say that you + believed in their existence.” + </p> + <p> + “Reasoning from analogy, Richard, but not with any certainty of the fact.” + </p> + <p> + “You have heard them mentioned, and have seen specimens of the ore, sir; + you will not deny that! and, reasoning from analogy, as you say, if there + be mines in South America, ought there not to be mines in North America + too?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, I deny nothing, my cousin. I certainly have heard many rumors + of the existence of mines in these hills: and I do believe that I have + seen specimens of the precious metals that have been found here. It would + occasion me no surprise to learn that tin and silver, or what I consider + of more consequence, good coal—” + </p> + <p> + “Damn your coal,” cried the sheriff; “who wants to find coal in these + forests? No, no—silver, 'Duke; silver is the one thing needful, and + silver is to be found. But listen: you are not to be told that the natives + have long known the use of gold and silver; now who so likely to be + acquainted where they are to be found as the ancient inhabitants of a + country? I have the best reasons for believing that both Mohegan and the + Leather-Stocking have been privy to the existence of a mine in this very + mountain for many years.” + </p> + <p> + The sheriff had now touched his cousin in a sensitive spot; and Marmaduke + lent a more attentive ear to the speaker, who, after waiting a moment to + see the effect of this extraordinary development, proceeded: + </p> + <p> + “Yes, sir, I have my reasons, and at a proper time you shall know them.” + </p> + <p> + “No time is so good as the present.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, be attentive,” continued Richard, looking cautiously about + him, to make certain that no eavesdropper was hid in the forest, though + they were in constant motion. “I have seen Mohegan and the + Leather-Stocking, with my own eyes—and my eyes are as good as + anybody's eyes—I have seen them, I say, both going up the mountain + and coming down it, with spades and picks; and others have seen them + carrying things into their hut, in a secret and mysterious manner, after + dark. Do you call this a fact of importance?” + </p> + <p> + The Judge did not reply, but his brow had contracted, with a + thoughtfulness that he always wore when much interested, and his eyes + rested on his cousin in expectation of hearing more. Richard continued: + </p> + <p> + “It was ore. Now, sir, I ask if you can tell me who this Mr. Oliver + Edwards is, that has made a part of your household since Christmas?” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke again raised his eyes, but continued silent, shaking his head in + the negative. + </p> + <p> + “That he is a half-breed we know, for Mohegan does not scruple to call him + openly his kinsman; that he is well educated we know. But as to his + business here—do you remember that about a month before this young + man made his appearance among us, Natty was absent from home several days? + You do; for you inquired for him, as you wanted some venison to take to + your friends, when you went for Bess. Well, he was not to be found. Old + John was left in the hut alone, and when Natty did appear, although he + came on in the night, he was seen drawing one of those jumpers that they + carry their grain to mill in, and to take out something with great care, + that he had covered up under his bear-skins. Now let me ask you, Judge + Temple, what motive could induce a man like the Leather-Stocking to make a + sled, and toil with a load over these mountains, if he had nothing but his + rifle or his ammunition to carry?” + </p> + <p> + “They frequently make these jumpers to convey their game home, and you say + he had been absent many days.” + </p> + <p> + “How did he kill it? His rifle was in the village, to be mended. No, no—that + he was gone to some unusual place is certain; that he brought back some + secret utensils is more certain; and that he has not allowed a soul to + approach his hut since is most certain of all.” + </p> + <p> + “He was never fond of intruders———” + </p> + <p> + “I know it,” interrupted Richard; “but did he drive them from his cabin + morosely? Within a fortnight of his return, this Mr. Edwards appears. They + spend whole days in the mountains, pretending to be shooting, but in + reality exploring; the frosts prevent their digging at that time, and he + avails himself of a lucky accident to get into good quarters. But even + now, he is quite half of his time in that hut—many hours every + night. They are smelting, 'Duke they are smelting, and as they grow rich, + you grow poor.” + </p> + <p> + “How much of this is thine own, Richard, and how much comes from others? I + would sift the wheat from the chaff.” + </p> + <p> + “Part is my own, for I saw the jumper, though it was broken up and burnt + in a day or two. I have told you that I saw the old man with his spades + and picks. Hiram met Natty, as he was crossing the mountain, the night of + his arrival with the sled, and very good-naturedly offered—Hiram is + good-natured—to carry up part of his load, for the old man had a + heavy pull up the back of the mountain, but he wouldn't listen to the + thing, and repulsed the offer in such a manner that the squire said he had + half a mind to swear the peace against him. Since the snow has been off, + more especially after the frosts got out of the ground, we have kept a + watchful eye on the gentle man, in which we have found Jotham useful.” + Marmaduke did not much like the associates of Richard in this business; + still he knew them to be cunning and ready expedients; and as there was + certainly something mysterious, not only in the connection between the old + hunters and Edwards, but in what his cousin had just related, he began to + revolve the subject in his own mind with more care. On reflection, he + remembered various circumstances that tended to corroborate these + suspicions, and, as the whole business favored one of his infirmities, he + yielded the more readily to their impression. The mind of Judge Temple, at + all times comprehensive, had received from his peculiar occupations a bias + to look far into futurity, in his speculations on the improvements that + posterity were to make in his lands. To his eye, where others saw nothing + but a wilderness, towns, manufactories, bridges, canals, mines, and all + the other resources of an old country were constantly presenting + themselves, though his good sense suppressed, in some degree, the + exhibition of these expectations. + </p> + <p> + As the sheriff allowed his cousin full time to reflect on what he had + heard, the probability of some pecuniary adventure being the connecting + link in the chain that brought Oliver Edwards into the cabin of + Leather-Stocking appeared to him each moment to be stronger. But Marmaduke + was too much in the habit of examining both sides of a subject not to + perceive the objections, and he reasoned with himself aloud: + </p> + <p> + “It cannot be so, or the youth would not be driven so near the verge of + poverty.” + </p> + <p> + “What so likely to make a man dig for money as being poor?” cried the + sheriff. + </p> + <p> + “Besides, there is an elevation of character about Oliver that proceeds + from education, which would forbid so clandestine a proceeding.” + </p> + <p> + “Could an ignorant fellow smelt?” continued Richard. + </p> + <p> + “Bess hints that he was reduced even to his last shilling when we took him + into our dwelling.” + </p> + <p> + “He had been buying tools. And would he spend his last sixpence for a shot + at a turkey had he not known where to get more?” + </p> + <p> + “Can I have possibly been so long a dupe? His manner has been rude to me + at times, but I attributed it to his conceiving himself injured, and to + his mistaking the forms of the world.” + </p> + <p> + “Haven't you been a dupe all your life, 'Duke, and an't what you call + ignorance of forms deep cunning, to conceal his real character?” + </p> + <p> + “If he were bent on deception, he would have concealed his knowledge, and + passed with us for an inferior man.” + </p> + <p> + “He cannot. I could no more pass for a fool, myself, than I could fly. + Knowledge is not to be concealed, like a candle under a bushel.” + </p> + <p> + “Richard,” said the Judge, turning to his cousin, “there are many reasons + against the truth of thy conjectures, but thou hast awakened suspicions + which must be satisfied. But why are we travelling here?” + </p> + <p> + “Jotham, who has been much in the mountain latterly, being kept there by + me and Hiram, has made a discovery, which he will not explain, he says, + for he is bound by an oath; but the amount is, that he knows where the ore + lies, and he has this day begun to dig. I would not consent to the thing, + 'Duke, without your knowledge, for the land is yours; and now you know the + reason of our ride. I call this a countermine, ha!” + </p> + <p> + “And where is the desirable spot?” asked the Judge with an air half + comical, half serious. + </p> + <p> + “At hand; and when we have visited that, I will show you one of the places + that we have found within a week, where our hunters have been amusing + themselves for six months past.” + </p> + <p> + The gentlemen continued to discuss the matter, while their horses picked + their way under the branches of the trees and over the uneven ground of + the mountain. They soon arrived at the end of their journey, where, in + truth, they found Jotham already buried to his neck in a hole that he had + been digging. + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke questioned the miner very closely as to his reasons for + believing in the existence of the precious metals near that particular + spot; but the fellow maintained an obstinate mystery in his answers. He + asserted that he had the best of reasons for what he did, and inquired of + the judge what portion of the profits would fall to his own share, in the + event of success, with an earnestness that proved his faith. After + spending an hour near the place, examining the stones, and searching for + the usual indications of the proximity of ore, the Judge remounted and + suffered his cousin to lead the way to the place where the mysterious trio + had been making their excavation. + </p> + <p> + The spot chosen by Jotham was on the back of the mountain that overhung + the hut of Leather-Stocking, and the place selected by Natty and his + companions was on the other side of the same hill, but above the road, + and, of course, in an opposite direction to the route taken by the ladies + in their walk. + </p> + <p> + “We shall be safe in approaching the place now,” said Richard, while they + dismounted and fastened their horses; “for I took a look with the glass, + and saw John and Leather-Stocking in their canoe fishing before we left + home, and Oliver is in the same pursuit; but these may be nothing but + shams to blind our eye; so we will be expeditious, for it would not be + pleasant to be caught here by them.” + </p> + <p> + “Not on my own land?” said Marmaduke sternly. “If it be as you suspect, I + will know their reasons for making this excavation.” + </p> + <p> + “Mum,” said Richard, laying a finger on his lip, and leading the way down + a very difficult descent to a sort of natural cavern, which was found in + the face of the rock, and was not unlike a fireplace in shape. In front of + this place lay a pile of earth, which had evidently been taken from the + recess, and part of which was yet fresh. An examination of the exterior of + the cavern left the Judge in doubt whether it was one of Nature's frolics + that had thrown it into that shape, or whether it had been wrought by the + hands of man, at some earlier period. But there could be no doubt that the + whole of the interior was of recent formation, and the marks of the pick + were still visible where the soft, lead-colored rock had opposed itself to + the progress of the miners. The whole formed an excavation of about twenty + feet in width, and nearly twice that distance in depth. The height was + much greater than was required for the ordinary purposes of experiment, + but this was evidently the effect of chance, as the roof of the cavern was + a natural stratum of rock that projected many feet beyond the base of the + pile. Immediately in front of the recess, or cave, was a little terrace, + partly formed by nature, and partly by the earth that had been carelessly + thrown aside by the laborers. The mountain fell off precipitously in front + of the terrace, and the approach by its sides, under the ridge of the + rocks, was difficult and a little dangerous. The whole was wild, rude, and + apparently incomplete; for, while looking among the bushes, the sheriff + found the very implements that had been used in the work. + </p> + <p> + When the sheriff thought that his cousin had examined the spot + sufficiently, he asked solemnly: + </p> + <p> + “Judge Temple, are you satisfied?” + </p> + <p> + “Perfectly, that there is something mysterious and perplexing in this + business. It is a secret spot, and cunningly devised, Richard; yet I see + no symptoms of ore.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you expect, sir, to find gold and silver lying like pebbles on the + surface of the earth?—dollars and dimes ready coined to your hands? + No, no—the treasure must be sought after to be won. But let them + mine; I shall countermine.” + </p> + <p> + The Judge took an accurate survey of the place, and noted in his + memorandum-book such marks as were necessary to find it again in the event + of Richard's absence; when the cousins returned to their horses. + </p> + <p> + On reaching the highway they separated, the sheriff to summon twenty-four + “good men and true,” to attend as the inquest of the county, on the + succeeding Monday, when Marmaduke held his stated court of “common pleas + and general sessions of the peace,” and the Judge to return, musing deeply + on what he had seen and heard in the course of the morning. + </p> + <p> + When the horse of the latter reached the spot where the highway fell + toward the valley, the eye of Marmaduke rested, it is true, on the same + scene that had, ten minutes before, been so soothing to the feelings of + his daughter and her friend, as they emerged from the forest; but it + rested in vacancy. He threw the reins to his sure footed beast, and + suffered the animal to travel at his own gait, while he soliloquized as + follows: + </p> + <p> + “There may be more in this than I at first supposed. I have suffered my + feelings to blind my reason, in admitting an unknown youth in this manner + to my dwelling; yet this is not the land of suspicion. I will have + Leather-Stocking before me, and, by a few direct questions, extract the + truth from the simple old man.” + </p> + <p> + At that instant the Judge caught a glimpse of the figures of Elizabeth and + Louisa, who were slowly descending the mountain, short distance before + him. He put spurs to his horse, and riding up to them, dismounted, and + drove his steed along the narrow path. While the agitated parent was + listening to the vivid description that his daughter gave of her recent + danger, and her unexpected escape, all thoughts of mines, vested rights, + and examinations were absorbed in emotion; and when the image of Natty + again crossed his recollection, it was not as a law Less and depredating + squatter, but as the preserver of his child. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0030" id="link2HCH0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The court awards it, and the law doth give it.” + —Merchant of Venice. +</pre> + <p> + Remarkable Pettibone, who had forgotten the wound received by her pride, + in contemplation of the ease and comforts of her situation, and who still + retained her station in the family of judge Temple, was dispatched to the + humble dwelling which Richard already styled “The Rectory,” in attendance + on Louisa, who was soon consigned to the arms of her father. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time, Marmaduke and his daughter were closeted for more than + an hour, nor shall we invade the sanctuary of parental love, by relating + the conversation. When the curtain rises on the reader, the Judge is seen + walking up and down the apartment, with a tender melancholy in his air, + and his child reclining on a settee, with a flushed cheek, and her dark + eyes seeming to float in crystals. + </p> + <p> + “It was a timely rescue! it was, indeed, a timely rescue, my child!” cried + the Judge. “Then thou didst not desert thy friend, my noble Bess?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe I may as well take the credit of fortitude,” said Elizabeth, + “though I much doubt if flight would have availed me anything, had I even + courage to execute such an intention. But I thought not of the expedient.” + </p> + <p> + “Of what didst thou think, love? where did thy thoughts dwell most, at + that fearful moment?” + </p> + <p> + “The beast! the beast!” cried Elizabeth, veiling her face with her hand. + “Oh! I saw nothing, I thought of nothing but the beast. I tried to think + of better things, but the horror was too glaring, the danger too much + before my eyes.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well, thou art safe, and we will converse no more on the unpleasant + subject. I did not think such an animal yet remained in our forests; but + they will stray far from their haunts when pressed by hunger, and—” + </p> + <p> + A loud knocking at the door of the apartment interrupted what he was about + to utter, and he bid the applicant enter. The door was opened by Benjamin, + who came in with a discontented air, as if he felt that he had a + communication to make that would be out of season. + </p> + <p> + “Here is Squire Doolittle below, sir,” commenced the major-domo. “He has + been standing off and on in the door-yard for the matter of a glass; and + he has summat on his mind that he wants to heave up, d'ye see; but I tells + him, says I, man, would you be coming aboard with your complaints, said I, + when the judge has gotten his own child, as it were, out of the jaws of a + lion? But damn the bit of manners has the fellow, any more than if he was + one of them Guineas down in the kitchen there; and so as he was sheering + nearer, every stretch he made toward the house, I could do no better than + to let your honor know that the chap was in the offing.” + </p> + <p> + “He must have business of importance,” said Marmaduke: “something in + relation to his office, most probably, as the court sits so shortly.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, you have it, sir,” cried Benjamin; “it's summat about a complaint + that he has to make of the old Leather-Stocking, who, to my judgment, is + the better man of the two. It's a very good sort of a man is this Master + Bumppo, and he has a way with a spear, all the same as if he was brought + up at the bow-oar of the captain's barge, or was born with a boat-hook in + his hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Against the Leather-Stocking!” cried Elizabeth, rising from her reclining + posture. + </p> + <p> + “Rest easy, my child; some trifle, I pledge you; I believe I am already + acquainted with its import Trust me, Bess, your champion shall be safe in + my care. Show Mr. Doolittle in, Benjamin.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple appeared satisfied with this assurance, but fastened her dark + eyes on the person of the architect, who profited by the permission, and + instantly made his appearance. + </p> + <p> + All the impatience of Hiram seemed to vanish the instant he entered the + apartment. After saluting the Judge and his daughter, he took the chair to + which Marmaduke pointed, and sat for a minute, composing his straight + black hair, with a gravity of demeanor that was in tended to do honor to + his official station. At length he said: + </p> + <p> + “It's likely, from what I hear, that Miss Temple had a narrow chance with + the painters, on the mountain.” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke made a gentle inclination of his head, by way of assent, but + continued silent. + </p> + <p> + “I s'pose the law gives a bounty on the scalps,” continued Hiram, “in + which case the Leather-Stocking will make a good job on't.” + </p> + <p> + “It shall be my care to see that he is rewarded,” returned the Judge. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, I rather guess that nobody hereabouts doubts the Judge's + generosity. Does he know whether the sheriff has fairly made up his mind + to have a reading desk or a deacon's pew under the pulpit?” + </p> + <p> + “I have not heard my cousin speak on that subject, lately,” replied + Marmaduke. “I think it's likely that we will have a pretty dull court + on't, from what I can gather. I hear that Jotham Riddel and the man who + bought his betterments have agreed to leave their difference to men, and I + don't think there'll be more than two civil cases in the calendar.” + </p> + <p> + “I am glad of it,” said the judge; “nothing gives me more pain than to see + my settlers wasting their time and substance in the unprofitable struggles + of the law. I hope it may prove true, sir.” + </p> + <p> + “I rather guess 'twill be left out to men,” added Hiram, with an air + equally balanced between doubt and assurance, but which judge Temple + understood to mean certainty; “I some think that I am appointed a referee + in the case myself; Jotham as much as told me that he should take me. The + defendant, I guess, means to take Captain Hollister, and we two have + partly agreed on Squire Jones for the third man.” + </p> + <p> + “Are there any criminals to be tried?” asked Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + “There's the counterfeiters,” returned the magistrate, “as they were + caught in the act, I think it likely that they'll be indicted, in which + case it's probable they'll be tried.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly, sir; I had forgotten those men. There are no more, I hope.” + “Why, there is a threaten to come forward with an assault that happened at + the last independence day; but I'm not sartain that the law'll take hold + on't. There was plaguey hard words passed, but whether they struck or not + I haven't heard. There's some folks talk of a deer or two being killed out + of season, over on the west side of the Patent, by some of the squatters + on the 'Fractions.'” + </p> + <p> + “Let a complaint be made, by all means,” said the Judge; “I am determined + to see the law executed to the letter, on all such depredators.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes, I thought the judge was of that mind; I came partly on such a + business myself.” + </p> + <p> + “You!” exclaimed Marmaduke, comprehending in an instant how completely he + had been caught by the other's cunning; “and what have you to say, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “I some think that Natty Bumppo has the carcass of a deer in his hut at + this moment, and a considerable part of my business was to get a + search-warrant to examine.” + </p> + <p> + “You think, sir! do you know that the law exacts an oath, before I can + issue such a precept? The habitation of a citizen is not to be idly + invaded on light suspicion.” + </p> + <p> + “I rather think I can swear to it myself,” returned the immovable Hiram; + “and Jotham is in the street, and as good as ready to come in and make + oath to the same thing.” + </p> + <p> + “Then issue the warrant thyself; thou art a magistrate, Mr. Doolittle; why + trouble me with the matter?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, seeing it's the first complaint under the law, and knowing the judge + set his heart on the thing, I thought it best that the authority to search + should come from himself. Besides, as I'm much in the woods, among the + timber, I don't altogether like making an enemy of the Leather Stocking. + Now, the Judge has a weight in the county that puts him above fear.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple turned her face to the callous Architect as she said' “And + what has any honest person to dread from so kind a man as Bumppo?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's as easy, miss, to pull a rifle trigger on a magistrate as on a + painter. But if the Judge don't conclude to issue the warrant, I must go + home and make it out myself.” + </p> + <p> + “I have not refused your application, sir,” said Marmaduke, perceiving at + once that his reputation for impartiality was at stake; “go into my + office, Mr. Doolittle, where I will join you, and sign the warrant.” Judge + Temple stopped the remonstrances which Elizabeth was about to utter, after + Hiram had withdrawn, by laying his hand on her mouth, and saying: + </p> + <p> + “It is more terrible in sound than frightful in reality, my child. I + suppose that the Leather-Stocking has shot a deer, for the season is + nearly over, and you say that he was hunting with his dogs when he came so + timely to your assistance. But it will be only to examine his cabin, and + find the animal, when you can pay the penalty out of your own pocket, + Bess. Nothing short of the twelve dollars and a half will satisfy this + harpy, I perceive; and surely my reputation as judge is worth that + trifle.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth was a good deal pacified with this assurance, and suffered her + father to leave her, to fulfil his promise to Hiram. + </p> + <p> + When Marmaduke left his office after executing his disagreeable duty, he + met Oliver Edwards, walking up the gravelled walk in front of the + mansion-house with great strides, and with a face agitated by feeling. On + seeing judge Temple, the youth turned aside, and with a warmth in his + manner that was not often exhibited to Marmaduke, he cried: + </p> + <p> + “I congratulate you, sir; from the bottom of my soul, I congratulate you, + Judge Temple. Oh! it would have been too horrid to have recollected for a + moment! I have just left the hut, where, after showing me his scalps, old + Natty told me of the escape of the ladies, as the thing to be mentioned + last. Indeed, indeed, sir, no words of mine can express half of what I + have felt “—the youth paused a moment, as if suddenly recollecting + that he was overstepping prescribed limits, and concluded with a good deal + of embarrassment—“what I have felt at this danger to Miss—Grant, + and—and your daughter, sir.” + </p> + <p> + But the heart of Marmaduke was too much softened to admit his cavilling at + trifles, and, without regarding the confusion of the other, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “I thank thee, thank thee, Oliver; as thou sayest, it is almost too horrid + to be remembered. But come, let us hasten to Bess, for Louisa has already + gone to the rectory.” + </p> + <p> + The young man sprang forward, and, throwing open a door, barely permitted + the Judge to precede him, when he was in the presence of Elizabeth in a + moment. + </p> + <p> + The cold distance that often crossed the demeanor of the heiress, in her + intercourse with Edwards, was now entirely banished, and two hours were + passed by the party, in the free, unembarrassed, and confiding manner of + old and esteemed friends. Judge Temple had forgotten the suspicions + engendered during his morning's ride, and the youth and maiden conversed, + laughed, and were sad by turns, as impulse directed. + </p> + <p> + At length, Edwards, after repeating his intention to do so for the third + time, left the mansion-house to go to the rectory on a similar errand of + friendship. + </p> + <p> + During this short period, a scene was passing at the hut that completely + frustrated the benevolent intentions of Judge Temple in favor of the + Leather-Stocking, and at once destroyed the short-lived harmony between + the youth and Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + When Hiram Doolittle had obtained his search-warrant, his first business + was to procure a proper officer to see it executed. The sheriff was + absent, summoning in person the grand inquest for the county; the deputy + who resided in the village was riding on the same errand, in a different + part of the settlement; and the regular constable of the township had been + selected for his station from motives of charity, being lame of a leg. + Hiram intended to accompany the officer as a spectator, but he felt no + very strong desire to bear the brunt of the battle. It was, however, + Saturday, and the sun was already turning the shadows of the pines toward + the east; on the morrow the conscientious magistrate could not engage in + such an expedition at the peril of his soul and long before Monday, the + venison, and all vestiges of the death of the deer, might be secreted or + destroyed. Happily, the lounging form of Billy Kirby met his eye, and + Hiram, at all time fruitful in similar expedients, saw his way clear at + once. Jotham, who was associated in the whole business, and who had left + the mountain in consequence of a summons from his coadjutor, but who + failed, equally with Hiram, in the unfortunate particular of nerve, was + directed to summon the wood-chopper to the dwelling of the magistrate. + </p> + <p> + When Billy appeared, he was very kindly invited to take the chair in which + he had already seated himself, and was treated in all respects as if he + were an equal. + </p> + <p> + “Judge Temple has set his heart on putting the deer law in force,” said + Hiram, after the preliminary civilities were over, “and a complaint has + been laid before him that a deer has been killed. He has issued a + search-warrant, and sent for me to get somebody to execute it.” + </p> + <p> + Kirby, who had no idea of being excluded from the deliberative part of any + affair in which he was engaged, drew up his bushy head in a reflecting + attitude, and after musing a moment, replied by asking a few questions, + </p> + <p> + “The sheriff has gone out of the way?” + </p> + <p> + “Not to be found.” + </p> + <p> + “And his deputy too?” + </p> + <p> + “Both gone on the skirts of the Patent.” + </p> + <p> + “But I saw the constable hobbling about town an hour ago.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes,” said Hiram, with a coaxing smile and knowing nod, “but this + business wants a man—not a cripple.” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Billy, laughing, “will the chap make fight?” + </p> + <p> + “He's a little quarrelsome at times, and thinks he's the best man in the + country at rough and tumble.” + </p> + <p> + “I heard him brag once,” said Jotham, “that there wasn't a man 'twixt the + Mohawk Flats and the Pennsylvany line that was his match at a close hug.” + </p> + <p> + “Did you?” exclaimed Kirby, raising his huge frame in his seat, like a + lion stretching in his lair; “I rather guess he never felt a Varmounter's + knuckles on his backbone-But who is the chap?” + </p> + <p> + “Why,” said Jotham, “it's—” + </p> + <p> + “It's agin' law to tell,” interrupted Hiram, “unless you'll qualify to + sarve. You'd be the very man to take him, Bill, and I'll make out a + special deputation in a minute, when you will get the fees.” + </p> + <p> + “What's the fees?” said Kirby, laying his large hand on the leaves of a + statute-book that Hiram had opened in order to give dignity to his office, + which he turned over in his rough manner, as if he were reflecting on a + subject about which he had, in truth, already decided; “will they pay a + man for a broken head?” + </p> + <p> + “They'll be something handsome,” said Hiram. + </p> + <p> + “Damn the fees,” said Billy, again laughing—“does the fellow think + he's the best wrestler in the county, though? what's his inches?” + </p> + <p> + “He's taller than you be,” said Jotham, “and one of the biggest—” + </p> + <p> + Talkers, he was about to add, but the impatience of Kirby interrupted him. + The wood-chopper had nothing fierce or even brutal in his appearance; the + character of his expression was that of good-natured vanity. It was + evident he prided himself on the powers of the physical man, like all who + have nothing better to boast of; and, stretching out his broad hand, with + the palm downward, he said, keeping his eyes fastened on his own bones and + sinews: + </p> + <p> + “Come, give us a touch of the book. I'll swear, and you'll see that I'm a + man to keep my oath.” + </p> + <p> + Hiram did not give the wood-chopper time to change his mind, but the oath + was administered without unnecessary delay. So soon as this preliminary + was completed, the three worthies left the house, and proceeded by the + nearest road toward the hut. They had reached the bank of the lake, and + were diverging from the route of the highway, before Kirby recollected + that he was now entitled to the privilege of the initiated, and repeated + his question as to the name of the offender, + </p> + <p> + “Which way, which way, squire?” exclaimed the hardy wood-chopper; “I + thought it was to search a house that you wanted me, not the woods. There + is nobody lives on this side of the lake, for six miles, unless you count + the Leather-Stocking and old John for settlers. Come, tell me the chap's + name, and I warrant me that I lead you to his clearing by a straighter + path than this, for I know every sapling that grows within two miles of + Templeton.” + </p> + <p> + “This is the way,” said Hiram, pointing forward and quickening his step, + as if apprehensive that Kirby would desert, “and Bumppo is the man.” + </p> + <p> + Kirby stopped short, and looked from one of his companions to the other in + astonishment. He then burst into a loud laugh, and cried: + </p> + <p> + “Who? Leather-Stocking! He may brag of his aim and his rifle, for he has + the best of both, as I will own myself, for sin' he shot the pigeon I + knock under to him; but for a wrestle! why, I would take the creatur' + between my finger and thumb, and tie him in a bow-knot around my neck for + a Barcelony. The man is seventy, and was never anything particular for + strength.” + </p> + <p> + “He's a deceiving man,” said Hiram, “like all the hunters; he is stronger + than he seems; besides, he has his rifle.” + </p> + <p> + “That for his rifle!” cried Billy; “he'd no more hurt me with his rifle + than he'd fly. He's a harmless creatur', and I must say that I think he + has as good right to kill deer as any man on the Patent. It's his main + support, and this is a free country, where a man is privileged to follow + any calling he likes.” + </p> + <p> + “According to that doctrine,” said Jotham, “anybody may shoot a deer.” + </p> + <p> + “This is the man's calling, I tell you,” returned Kirby, “and the law was + never made for such as he.” + </p> + <p> + “The law was made for all,” observed Hiram, who began to think that the + danger was likely to fall to his own share, notwithstanding his + management; “and the law is particular in noticing parjury.” + </p> + <p> + “See here, Squire Doolittle,” said the reckless woodchopper; “I don't care + the valie of a beetlering for you and your parjury too. But as I have come + so far, I'll go down and have a talk with the old man, and maybe we'll fry + a steak of the deer together.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, if you can get in peaceably, so much the better,” said the + magistrate. “To my notion, strife is very unpopular; I prefar, at all + times, clever conduct to an ugly temper.” + </p> + <p> + As the whole party moved at a great pace, they soon reached the hut, where + Hiram thought it prudent to halt on the outside of the top of the fallen + pine, which formed a chevaux-de-frise, to defend the approach to the + fortress, on the side next the village. The delay was little relished by + Kirby, who clapped his hands to his mouth, and gave a loud halloo that + brought the dogs out of their kennel, and, almost at the same instant, the + scantily-covered head of Natty from the door. + </p> + <p> + “Lie down, old fool,” cried the hunter; “do you think there's more + painters about you?” + </p> + <p> + “Ha! Leather-Stocking, I've an arrand with you,” cried Kirby; “here's the + good people of the State have been writing you a small letter, and they've + hired me to ride post.” + </p> + <p> + “What would you have with me, Billy Kirby?” said Natty, stepping across + his threshold, and raising his hand over his eyes, to screen them from the + rays of the setting sun, while he took a survey of his visitor. “I've no + land to clear, and Heaven knows I would set out six trees afore I would + cut down one.—Down, Hector, I say; into your kennel with ye.” + </p> + <p> + “Would you, old boy?” roared Billy; “then so much the better for me. But I + must do my arrand. Here's a letter for you, Leather-Stocking. If you can + read it, it's all well, and if you can't, here's Squire Doolittle at hand, + to let you know what it means. It seems you mistook the twentieth of July + for the first of August, that's all.” + </p> + <p> + By this time Natty had discovered the lank person of Hiram, drawn up under + the cover of a high stump; and all that was complacent in his manner + instantly gave way to marked distrust and dissatisfaction. He placed his + head within the door of his hut, and said a few words in an undertone, + when he again appeared, and continued: + </p> + <p> + “I've nothing for ye; so away, afore the Evil One tempts me to do you + harm. I owe you no spite, Billy Kirby, and what for should you trouble an + old man who has done you no harm?” + </p> + <p> + Kirby advanced through the top of the pine, to within a few feet of the + hunter, where he seated himself on the end of a log, with great composure, + and began to examine the nose of Hector, with whom he was familiar, from + their frequently meeting in the woods, where he sometimes fed the dog from + his own basket of provisions. + </p> + <p> + “You've outshot me, and I'm not ashamed to say it,” said the wood-chopper; + “but I don't owe you a grudge for that, Natty! though it seems that you've + shot once too often, for the story goes that you've killed a buck.” + </p> + <p> + “I've fired but twice to-day, and both times at the painters,” returned + the Leather-Stocking; “see, here are the scalps! I was just going in with + them to the Judge's to ask the bounty.” + </p> + <p> + While Natty was speaking, he tossed the ears to Kirby, who continued + playing with them with a careless air, holding them to the dogs, and + laughing at their movements when they scented the unusual game. + </p> + <p> + But Hiram, emboldened by the advance of the deputed constable, now + ventured to approach also, and took up the discourse with the air of + authority that became his commission. His first measure was to read the + warrant aloud, taking care to give due emphasis to the most material + parts, and concluding with the name of the Judge in very audible and + distinct tones. + </p> + <p> + “Did Marmaduke Temple put his name to that bit of paper?” said Natty, + shaking his head; “well, well, that man loves the new ways, and his + betterments, and his lands, afore his own flesh and blood. But I won't + mistrust the gal; she has an eye like a full-grown buck! poor thing, she + didn't choose her father, and can't help it. I know but little of the law, + Mr. Doolittle; what is to be done, now you've read your commission?” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! it's nothing but form, Natty,” said Hiram, endeavoring to assume a + friendly aspect. “Let's go in, and talk the thing over in reason; I dare + to say that the money can be easily found, and I partly conclude, from + what passed, that Judge Temple will pay it himself.” + </p> + <p> + The old hunter had kept a keen eye on the movements of his three visitors, + from the beginning, and had maintained his position, just without the + threshold of the cabin, with a determined manner, that showed he was not + to be easily driven from his post. When Hiram drew nigher, as if expecting + his proposition would be accepted, Natty lifted his hand, and motioned for + him to retreat. + </p> + <p> + “Haven't I told you more than once, not to tempt me?” he said. “I trouble + no man; why can't the law leave me to myself? Go back—go back, and + tell your Judge that he may keep his bounty; but I won't have his wasty + ways brought into my hut.” + </p> + <p> + This offer, however, instead of appeasing the curiosity of Hiram, seemed + to inflame it the more; while Kirby cried: + </p> + <p> + “Well, that's fair, squire; he forgives the county his demand, and the + county should forgive him the fine; it's what I call an even trade, and + should be concluded on the spot. I like quick dealings, and what's fair + 'twixt man and man.” + </p> + <p> + “I demand entrance into this house,” said Hiram, summoning all the dignity + he could muster to his assistance, “in the name of the people; and by + virtue of this warrant, and of my office, and with this peace officer.” + </p> + <p> + “Stand back, stand back, squire, and don't tempt me,” said the + Leather-Stocking, motioning him to retire, with great earnestness. + </p> + <p> + “Stop us at your peril,” continued Hiram. “Billy! Jotham! close up—I + want testimony.” + </p> + <p> + Hiram had mistaken the mild but determined air of Natty for submission, + and had already put his foot on the threshold to enter, when he was seized + unexpectedly by his shoulders, and hurled over the little bank toward the + lake, to the distance of twenty feet. The suddenness of the movement, and + the unexpected display of strength on the part of Natty, created a + momentary astonishment in his invaders, that silenced all noises; but at + the next instant Billy Kirby gave vent to his mirth in peals of laughter, + that he seemed to heave up from his very soul. + </p> + <p> + “Well done, old stub!” he shouted; “the squire knowed you better than I + did. Come, come, here's a green spot; take it out like men, while Jotham + and I see fair play.” + </p> + <p> + “William Kirby, I order you to do your duty,” cried Hiram, from under the + bank; “seize that man; I order you to seize him in the name of the + people.” + </p> + <p> + But the Leather-Stocking now assumed a more threatening attitude; his + rifle was in his hand, and its muzzle was directed toward the + wood-chopper. + </p> + <p> + “Stand off, I bid ye,” said Natty; “you know my aim, Billy Kirby; I don't + crave your blood, but mine and your'n both shall turn this green grass + red, afore you put foot into the hut.” + </p> + <p> + While the affair appeared trifling, the wood-chopper seemed disposed to + take sides with the weaker party; but, when the firearms were introduced, + his manner very sensibly changed. He raised his large frame from the log, + and, facing the hunter with an open front, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “I didn't come here as your enemy, Leather-Stocking; but I don't value the + hollow piece of iron in your hand so much as a broken axe-helve; so, + squire, say the word, and keep within the law, and we'll soon see who's + the best main of the two.” + </p> + <p> + But no magistrate was to be seen! The instant the rifle was produced Hiram + and Jotham vanished; and when the wood-chopper bent his eyes about him in + surprise at receiving no answer, he discovered their retreating figures + moving toward the village at a rate that sufficiently indicated that they + had not only calculated the velocity of a rifle-bullet, but also its + probable range. + </p> + <p> + “You've scared the creatur's off,” said Kirby, with great contempt + expressed on his broad features; “but you are not going to scare me; so, + Mr. Bumppo, down with your gun, or there'll be trouble 'twixt us.” Natty + dropped his rifle, and replied: + </p> + <p> + “I wish you no harm, Billy Kirby; but I leave it to yourself, whether an + old man's hut is to be run down by such varmint. I won't deny the buck to + you, Billy, and you may take the skin in, if you please, and show it as + testimony. The bounty will pay the fine, and that ought to satisfy any + man.” + </p> + <p> + “Twill, old boy, 'twill,” cried Kirby, every shade of displeasure + vanishing from his open brow at the peace-offering; “throw out the hide, + and that shall satisfy the law.” + </p> + <p> + Natty entered the hut, and soon reappeared, bringing with him the desired + testimonial; and the wood-chopper departed, as thoroughly reconciled to + the hunter as if nothing had happened. As he paced along the margin of the + lake he would burst into frequent fits of laughter, while he recollected + the summerset of Hiram: and, on the whole, he thought the affair a very + capital joke. + </p> + <p> + Long before Billy' reached the village, however, the news of his danger, + and of Natty's disrespect of the law, and of Hiram's discomfiture, were in + circulation. A good deal was said about sending for the sheriff; some + hints were given about calling out the posse comitatus to avenge the + insulted laws; and many of the citizens were collected, deliberating how + to proceed. The arrival of Billy with the skin, by removing all grounds + for a search, changed the complexion of things materially. Nothing now + remained but to collect the fine and assert the dignity of the people; all + of which, it was unanimously agreed, could be done as well on the + succeeding Monday as on Saturday night—a time kept sacred by large + portion of the settlers. Accordingly, all further proceedings were + suspended for six-and-thirty hours. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0031" id="link2HCH0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And dar'st thou then + To beard the lion in his den, + The Douglas in his hall.” + —Marmion. +</pre> + <p> + The commotion was just subsiding, and the inhabitants of the village had + begun to disperse from the little groups that had formed, each retiring to + his own home, and closing his door after him, with the grave air of a man + who consulted public feeling in his exterior deportment, when Oliver + Edwards, on his return from the dwelling of Mr. Grant, encountered the + young lawyer, who is known to the reader as Mr. Lippet. There was very + little similarity in the manners or opinions of the two; but as they both + belonged to the more intelligent class of a very small community, they + were, of course, known to each other, and as their meeting was at a point + where silence would have been rudeness, the following conversation was the + result of their interview: + </p> + <p> + “A fine evening, Mr. Edwards,” commenced the lawyer, whose disinclination + to the dialogue was, to say the least, very doubtful; “we want rain sadly; + that's the worst of this climate of ours, it's either a drought or a + deluge. It's likely you've been used to a more equal temperature?” + </p> + <p> + “I am a native of this State,” returned Edwards, coldly. + </p> + <p> + “Well. I've often heard that point disputed; but it's so easy to get a man + naturalized, that it's of little consequence where he was born. I wonder + what course the Judge means to take in this business of Natty Bumppo!” + </p> + <p> + “Of Natty Bumppo!” echoed Edwards; “to what do you allude, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Haven't you heard!” exclaimed the other, with a look of surprise, so + naturally assumed as completely to deceive his auditor; “it may turn out + an ugly business. It seems that the old man has been out in the hills, and + has shot a buck this morning, and that, you know, is a criminal matter in + the eyes of Judge Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! he has, has he?” said Edwards, averting his face to conceal the color + that collected in his sunburnt cheek. “Well, if that be all, he must even + pay the fine.” + </p> + <p> + “It's five pound currency,” said the lawyer; “could Natty muster so much + money at once?” + </p> + <p> + “Could he!” cried the youth. “I am not rich, Mr. Lippet; far from it—I + am poor, and I have been hoarding my salary for a purpose that lies near + my heart; but, Before that old man should lie one hour in a jail, I would + spend the last cent to prevent it. Besides, he has killed two panthers, + and the bounty will discharge the fine many times over.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes,” said the lawyer, rubbing his hands together, with an + expression of pleasure that had no artifice about it; “we shall make it + out; I see plainly we shall make it out.” + </p> + <p> + “Make what out, sir? I must beg an explanation.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, killing the buck is but a small matter compared to what took place + this afternoon,” continued Mr. Lippet, with a confidential and friendly + air that won upon the youth, little as he liked the man. “It seems that a + complaint was made of the fact, and a suspicion that there was venison in + the hut was sworn to, all which is provided for in the statute, when Judge + Temple granted the search warrant.” + </p> + <p> + “A search-warrant!” echoed Edwards, in a voice of horror, and with a face + that should have been again averted to conceal its paleness; “and how much + did they discover? What did they see?” + </p> + <p> + “They saw old Bumppo's rifle; and that is a sight which will quiet most + men's curiosity in the woods.” + </p> + <p> + “Did they! did they!” shouted Edwards, bursting into a convulsive laugh; + “so the old hero beat them back beat them back! did he?” The lawyer + fastened his eyes in astonishment on the youth, but, as his wonder gave + way to the thoughts that were commonly uppermost in his mind, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “It is no laughing matter, let me tell you, sir; the forty dollars of + bounty and your six months of salary will be much reduced before you can + get the matter fairly settled. Assaulting a magistrate in the execution of + his duty, and menacing a constable with firearms at the same time, is a + pretty serious affair, and is punishable with both fine and imprisonment.” + </p> + <p> + “Imprisonment!” repeated Oliver; “imprison the Leather-Stocking! no, no, + sir; it would bring the old man to his grave. They shall never imprison + the Leather-Stocking.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Mr. Edwards,” said Lippet, dropping all reserve from his manner, + “you are called a curious man; but if you can tell me how a jury is to be + prevented from finding a verdict of guilty, if this case comes fairly + before them, and the proof is clear, I shall acknowledge that you know + more law than I do, who have had a license in my pocket for three years.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the reason of Edwards was getting the ascendency of his + feelings, and, as he began to see the real difficulties of the case, he + listened more readily to the conversation of the lawyer. The ungovernable + emotion that escaped the youth, in the first moments of his surprise, + entirely passed away; and, although it was still evident that he continued + to be much agitated by what he had heard, he succeeded in yielding forced + attention to the advice which the other uttered. + </p> + <p> + Notwithstanding the confused state of his mind, Oliver soon discovered + that most of the expedients of the lawyer were grounded in cunning, and + plans that required a time to execute them that neither suited his + disposition nor his necessities. After, however, giving Mr. Lippet to + understand that he retained him in the event of a trial, an assurance + that at once satisfied the lawyer, they parted, one taking his course with + a deliberate tread in the direction of the little building that had a + wooden sign over its door, with “Chester Lippet, Attorney-at-law,” painted + on it; and the other pacing over the ground with enormous strides toward + the mansion-house. We shall take leave of the attorney for the present, + and direct the attention of the reader to the client. + </p> + <p> + When Edwards entered the hall, whose enormous doors were opened to the + passage of the air of a mild evening, he found Benjamin engaged in some of + his domestic avocations, and in a hurried voice inquired where Judge + Temple was to be found. + </p> + <p> + “Why, the Judge has stepped into his office, with that master carpenter, + Mister Doolittle; but Miss Lizzy is in that there parlor. I say, Master + Oliver, we'd like to have had a bad job of that panther, or painter's work—some + calls it one, and some calls it t'other—but I know little of the + beast, seeing that it is not of British growth. I said as much as that it + was in the hills the last winter for I heard it moaning on the lake shore + one evening in the fall, when I was pulling down from the fishing-point in + the skiff. Had the animal come into open water, where a man could see + where and how to work his vessel, I would have engaged the thing myself; + but looking aloft among the trees is all the same to me as standing on the + deck of one ship, and looking at another vessel's tops. I never can tell + one rope from another—” + </p> + <p> + “Well, well,” interrupted Edwards; “I must see Miss Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “And you shall see her, sir,” said the steward; “she's in this here room. + Lord, Master Edwards, what a loss she'd have been to the Judge! Dam'me if + I know where he would have gotten such another daughter; that is, full + grown, d'ye see. I say, sir, this Master Bumppo is a worthy man, and seems + to have a handy way with him, with firearms and boat-hooks. I'm his + friend, Master Oliver, and he and you may both set me down as the same.” + </p> + <p> + “We may want your friendship, my worthy fellow,” cried Edwards, squeezing + his hand convulsively; “we may want your friendship, in which case you + shall know it.” + </p> + <p> + Without waiting to hear the earnest reply that Benjamin meditated, the + youth extricated himself from the vigorous grasp of the steward, and + entered the parlor. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth was alone, and still reclining on the sofa, where we last left + her. A hand, which exceeded all that the ingenuity of art could model, in + shape and color, veiled her eyes; and the maiden was sitting as if in deep + communion with herself. Struck by the attitude and loveliness of the form + that met his eye, the young man checked his impatience, and approached her + with respect and caution. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Temple—Miss Temple,” he said, “I hope I do not intrude; but I + am anxious for an interview, if it be only for a moment.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth raised her face, and exhibited her dark eyes swimming in + moisture. + </p> + <p> + “Is it you, Edwards?” she said, with a sweetness in her voice, and a + softness in her air, that she often used to her father, but which, from + its novelty to himself, thrilled on every nerve of the youth; “how left + you our poor Louisa?” + </p> + <p> + “She is with her father, happy and grateful,” said Oliver, “I never + witnessed more feeling than she manifested, when I ventured to express my + pleasure at her escape. Miss Temple, when I first heard of your horrid + situation, my feelings were too powerful for utterance; and I did not + properly find my tongue, until the walk to Mr. Grant's had given me time + to collect myself. I believe—I do believe, I acquitted myself better + there, for Miss Grant even wept at my silly speeches.” For a moment + Elizabeth did not reply, but again veiled her eyes with her hand. The + feeling that caused the action, however, soon passed away, and, raising + her face again to his gaze, she continued with a smile: + </p> + <p> + “Your friend, the Leather-Stocking, has now become my friend, Edwards; I + have been thinking how I can best serve him; perhaps you, who know his + habits and his wants so well, can tell me——” + </p> + <p> + “I can,” cried the youth, with an impetuosity that startled his companion. + “I can, and may Heaven reward you for the wish, Natty has been so + imprudent as to for get the law, and has this day killed a deer. Nay, I + believe I must share in the crime and the penalty, for I was an accomplice + throughout. A complaint has been made to your father, and he has granted a + search—” + </p> + <p> + “I know it all,” interrupted Elizabeth; “I know it all. The forms of the + law must be complied with, however; the search must be made, the deer + found, and the penalty paid. But I must retort your own question. Have you + lived so long in our family not to know us? Look at me, Oliver Edwards. Do + I appear like one who would permit the man that has just saved her life to + linger in a jail for so small a sum as this fine? No, no, sir; my father + is a judge, but he is a man and a Christian. It is all under stood, and no + harm shall follow.” + </p> + <p> + “What a load of apprehension do your declarations remove!” exclaimed + Edwards: “He shall not be disturbed again! your father will protect him! I + have assurance, Miss Temple, that he will, and I must believe it.” + </p> + <p> + “You may have his own, Mr. Edwards,” returned Elizabeth, “for here he + comes to make it.” + </p> + <p> + But the appearance of Marmaduke, who entered the apartment, contradicted + the flattering anticipations of his daughter. His brow was contracted, and + his manner disturbed. Neither Elizabeth nor the youth spoke; but the Judge + was allowed to pace once or twice across the room without interruption, + when he cried: + </p> + <p> + “Our plans are defeated, girl; the obstinacy of the Leather-Stocking has + brought down the indignation of the law on his head, and it is now out of + my power to avert it.” + </p> + <p> + “How? in what manner?” cried Elizabeth; “the fine is nothing surely—” + </p> + <p> + “I did not—I could not anticipate that an old, a friendless man like + him, would dare to oppose the officers of justice,” interrupted the Judge, + “I supposed that he would submit to the search, when the fine could have + been paid, and the law would have been appeased; but now he will have to + meet its rigor.” + </p> + <p> + “And what must the punishment be, sir?” asked Edwards, struggling to + speak with firmness. + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke turned quickly to the spot where the youth had withdrawn, and + exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “You here! I did not observe you. I know not what it will be, sir; it is + not usual for a judge to decide until he has heard the testimony, and the + jury have convicted. Of one thing, however, you may be assured, Mr. + Edwards; it shall be whatever the law demands, notwithstanding any + momentary weakness I may have exhibited, because the luckless man has been + of such eminent service to my daughter.” + </p> + <p> + “No one, I believe, doubts the sense of justice which Judge Temple + entertains!” returned Edwards bitterly. + </p> + <p> + “But let us converse calmly, sir. Will not the years, the habits, nay, the + ignorance of my old friend, avail him any thing against this charge?” + </p> + <p> + “Ought they? They may extenuate, but can they ac quit? Would any society + be tolerable, young man, where the ministers of justice are to be opposed + by men armed with rifles? Is it for this that I have tamed the wilder + ness?” + </p> + <p> + “Had you tamed the beasts that so lately threatened the life of Miss + Temple, sir, your arguments would apply better.” + </p> + <p> + “Edwards!” exclaimed Elizabeth. + </p> + <p> + “Peace, my child,” interrupted the father; “the youth is unjust; but I + have not given him cause. I overlook thy remark, Oliver, for I know thee + to be the friend of Natty, and zeal in his behalf has overcome thy + discretion.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, he is my friend,” cried Edwards, “and I glory in the title. He is + simple, unlettered, even ignorant; prejudiced, perhaps, though I feel that + his opinion of the world is too true; but he has a heart, Judge Temple, + that would atone for a thousand faults; he knows his friends, and never + deserts them, even if it be his dog.” + </p> + <p> + “This is a good character, Mr. Edwards,” returned Marmaduke, mildly; “but + I have never been so fortunate as to secure his esteem, for to me he has + been uniformly repulsive; yet I have endured it, as an old man's whim, + However, when he appears before me, as his judge, he shall find that his + former conduct shall not aggravate, any more than his recent services + shall extenuate, his crime.” + </p> + <p> + “Crime!” echoed Edwards: “is it a crime to drive a prying miscreant from + his door? Crime! Oh, no, sir; if there be a criminal involved in this + affair, it is not he.” + </p> + <p> + “And who may it be, sir?” asked Judge Temple, facing the agitated youth, + his features settled to their usual composure. + </p> + <p> + This appeal was more than the young man could bear. Hitherto he had been + deeply agitated by his emotions; but now the volcano burst its boundaries. + </p> + <p> + “Who! and this to me!” he cried; “ask your own conscience, Judge Temple. + Walk to that door, sir, and look out upon the valley, that placid lake, + and those dusky mountains, and say to your own heart, if heart you have, + whence came these riches, this vale, those hills, and why am I their + owner? I should think, sir, that the appearance of Mohegan and the + Leather-Stocking, stalking through the country, impoverished and forlorn, + would wither your sight.” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke heard this burst of passion, at first, with deep amazement; but + when the youth had ended, he beckoned to his impatient daughter for + silence, and replied: + </p> + <p> + “Oliver Edwards, thou forgettest in whose presence thou standest. I have + heard, young man, that thou claimest descent from the native owners of the + soil; but surely thy education has been given thee to no effect, if it has + not taught thee the validity of the claims that have transferred the title + to the whites. These lands are mine by the very grants of thy ancestry, if + thou art so descended; and I appeal to Heaven for a testimony of the uses + I have put them to. After this language, we must separate. I have too long + sheltered thee in my dwelling; but the time has arrived when thou must + quit it. Come to my office, and I will discharge the debt I owe thee. + Neither shall thy present intemperate language mar thy future fortunes, if + thou wilt hearken to the advice of one who is by many years thy senior.” + </p> + <p> + The ungovernable feeling that caused the violence of the youth had passed + away, and he stood gazing after the retiring figure of Marmaduke, with a + vacancy in his eye that denoted the absence of his mind. At length he + recollected himself, and, turning his head slowly around the apartment, he + beheld Elizabeth, still seated on the sofa, but with her head dropped on + her bosom, and her face again concealed by her hands. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Temple,” he said—all violence had left his manner—“Miss + Temple—I have forgotten myself—forgotten you. You have heard + what your father has decreed, and this night I leave here. With you, at + least, I would part in amity.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth slowly raised her face, across which a momentary expression of + sadness stole; but as she left her seat, her dark eyes lighted with their + usual fire, her cheek flushed to burning, and her whole air seemed to + belong to another nature. + </p> + <p> + “I forgive you, Edwards, and my father will forgive you,” she said, when + she reached the door. “You do not know us, but the time may come when your + opinions shall change—” + </p> + <p> + “Of you! never!” interrupted the youth; “I—” + </p> + <p> + “I would speak, sir, and not listen. There is something in this affair + that I do not comprehend; but tell the Leather-Stocking he has friends as + well as judges in us. Do not let the old man experience unnecessary + uneasiness at this rupture. It is impossible that you could increase his + claims here; neither shall they be diminished by any thing you have said. + Mr. Edwards, I wish you happiness, and warmer friends.” + </p> + <p> + The youth would have spoken, but she vanished from the door so rapidly, + that when he reached the hall her form was nowhere to be seen. He paused a + moment, in stupor, and then, rushing from the house, instead of following + Marmaduke in his “office,” he took his way directly for the cabin of the + hunters. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0032" id="link2HCH0032"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Who measured earth, described the starry spheres, + And traced the long records of lunar years.” + —Pope. +</pre> + <p> + Richard did not return from the exercise of his official duties until late + in the evening of the following day. It had been one portion of his + business to superintend the arrest of part of a gang of counterfeiters, + that had, even at that early period, buried themselves in the woods, to + manufacture their base coin, which they afterward circulated from one end + of the Union to the other. The expedition had been completely successful, + and about midnight the sheriff entered the village, at the head of a posse + of deputies and constables, in the centre of whom rode, pinioned, four of + the malefactors. At the gate of the mansion-house they separated, Mr. + Jones directing his assistants to proceed with their charge to the county + jail, while he pursued his own way up the gravel walk, with the kind of + self-satisfaction that a man of his organization would feel, who had + really for once done a very clever thing. + </p> + <p> + “Holla! Aggy!” shouted the sheriff, when he reached the door; “where are + you, you black dog? will you keep me here in the dark all night? Holla! + Aggy! Brave! Brave! hoy, hoy—where have you got to, Brave? Off his + watch! Everybody is asleep but myself! Poor I must keep my eyes open, that + others may sleep in safety. Brave! Brave! Well, I will say this for the + dog, lazy as he's grown, that it is the first time I ever knew him to let + any one come to the door after dark, without having a smell to know + whether it was an honest man or not. He could tell by his nose, almost as + well as I could myself by looking at them. Holla! you Agamemnon! where are + you? Oh! here comes the dog at last.” + </p> + <p> + By this time the sheriff had dismounted, and observed a form, which he + supposed to be that of Brave, slowly creeping out of the kennel; when, to + his astonishment, it reared itself on two legs instead of four, and he was + able to distinguish, by the starlight, the curly head and dark visage of + the negro. + </p> + <p> + “Ha! what the devil are you doing there, you black rascal?” he cried. “Is + it not hot enough for your Guinea blood in the house this warm night, but + you must drive out the poor dog, and sleep in his straw?” + </p> + <p> + By this time the boy was quite awake, and, with a blubbering whine, he + attempted to reply to his master. + </p> + <p> + “Oh! masser Richard! masser Richard! such a ting! such a ting! I nebber + tink a could 'appen! neber tink he die! Oh, Lor-a-gor! ain't bury—keep + 'em till masser Richard get back—got a grabe dug—” Here the + feelings of the negro completely got the mastery, and, instead of making + any intelligible explanation of the causes of his grief, he blubbered + aloud. + </p> + <p> + “Eh! what! buried! grave! dead!” exclaimed Richard, with a tremor in his + voice; “nothing serious? Nothing has happened to Benjamin, I hope? I know + he has been bilious, but I gave him—” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, worser 'an dat! worser 'an dat!” sobbed the negro. “Oh! de Lor! Miss + 'Lizzy an' Miss Grant—walk—mountain—poor Bravy '—kill + a lady—painter—-Oh, Lor, Lor!—Natty Bumppo—tare he + troat open—come a see, masser Richard—here he be—here he + be.” + </p> + <p> + As all this was perfectly inexplicable to the sheriff, he was very glad to + wait patiently until the black brought a lantern from the kitchen, when he + followed Aggy to the kennel, where he beheld poor Brave, indeed, lying in + his blood, stiff and cold, but decently covered with the great coat of the + negro. He was on the point of demanding an explanation; but the grief of + the black, who had fallen asleep on his voluntary watch, having burst out + afresh on his waking, utterly disqualified the lad from giving one. + Luckily, at this moment the principal door of the house opened, and the + coarse features of Benjamin were thrust over the threshold, with a candle + elevated above them, shedding its dim rays around in such a manner as to + exhibit the lights and shadows of his countenance. Richard threw his + bridle to the black, and, bidding him look to the horse, he entered the + hall. “What is the meaning of the dead dog?” he cried. + </p> + <p> + “Where is Miss Temple?” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin made one of his square gestures, with the thumb of his left hand + pointing over his right shoulder, as he answered: + </p> + <p> + “Turned in.” + </p> + <p> + “Judge Temple—where is he?” + </p> + <p> + “In his berth.” + </p> + <p> + “But explain; why is Brave dead? and what is the cause of Aggy's grief?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's all down, squire,” said Benjamin, pointing to a slate that lay + on the table, by the side of a mug of toddy, a short pipe in which the + tobacco was yet burning, and a prayer-book. + </p> + <p> + Among the other pursuits of Richard, he had a passion to keep a register + of all passing events; and his diary, which was written in the manner of a + journal, or log-book, embraced not only such circumstances as affected + himself, but observations on the weather, and all the occurrences of the + family, and frequently of the village. Since his appointment to the office + of sheriff and his consequent absences from home, he had employed Benjamin + to make memoranda on a slate, of whatever might be thought worth + remembering, which, on his return, were regularly transferred to the + journal with proper notations of the time, manner, and other little + particulars. There was, to be sure, one material objection to the + clerkship of Benjamin, which the ingenuity of no one but Richard could + have overcome. The steward read nothing but his prayer-book, and that only + in particular parts, and by the aid of a good deal of spelling, and some + misnomers; but he could not form a single letter with a pen. This would + have been an insuperable bar to journalizing with most men; but Richard + invented a kind of hieroglyphical character, which was intended to note + all the ordinary occurrences of a day, such as how the wind blew, whether + the sun shone, or whether it rained, the hours, etc.; and for the + extraordinary, after giving certain elementary lectures on the subject, + the sheriff was obliged to trust to the ingenuity of the major-domo. The + reader will at once perceive, that it was to this chronicle that Benjamin + pointed, instead of directly answering the sheriff's interrogatory. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Jones had drunk a glass of toddy, he brought forth from its + secret place his proper journal, and, seating himself by the table, he + prepared to transfer the contents of the slate to the paper, at the same + time that he appeased his curiosity. Benjamin laid one hand on the back of + the sheriff's chair, in a familiar manner, while he kept the other at + liberty to make use of a forefinger, that was bent like some of his own + characters, as an index to point out his meaning. + </p> + <p> + The first thing referred to by the sheriff was the diagram of a compass, + cut in one corner of the slate for permanent use. The cardinal points were + plainly marked on it, and all the usual divisions were indicated in such a + manner that no man who had ever steered a ship could mistake them. + </p> + <p> + “Oh!” said the sheriff, seating himself down comfort ably in his chair, + “you'd the wind southeast, I see, all last night I thought it would have + blown up rain.” + </p> + <p> + “Devil the drop, sir,” said Benjamin; “I believe that the scuttle-butt up + aloft is emptied, for there hasn't so much water fell in the country for + the last three weeks as would float Indian John's canoe, and that draws + just one inch nothing, light.” + </p> + <p> + “Well but didn't the wind change here this morning? there was a change + where I was.” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure it did, squire; and haven't I logged it as a shift of wind?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't see where, Benjamin—” + </p> + <p> + “Don't see!” interrupted the steward, a little crustily; “ain't there a + mark agin' east-and-by-nothe-half-nothe, with summat like a rising sun at + the end of it, to show 'twas in the morning watch?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes, that is very legible; but where is the change noted?” + </p> + <p> + “Where! why doesn't it see this here tea-kettle, with a mark run from the + spout straight, or mayhap a little crooked or so, into + west-and-by-southe-half-southe? now I call this a shift of wind, squire. + Well, do you see this here boar's head that you made for me, alongside of + the compass—” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay—Boreas——-I see. Why, you've drawn lines from its + mouth, extending from one of your marks to the other.” + </p> + <p> + “It's no fault of mine, Squire Dickens; 'tis your d——d + climate. The wind has been at all them there marks this very day, and + that's all round the compass, except a little matter of an Irishman's + hurricane at meridium, which you'll find marked right up and down. Now, + I've known a sow-wester blow for three weeks, in the channel, with a clean + drizzle, in which you might wash your face and hands without the trouble + of hauling in water from alongside.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Benjamin,” said the sheriff, writing in his journal; “I + believe I have caught the idea. Oh! here's a cloud over the rising sun—so + you had it hazy in the morning?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, sir,” said Benjamin. + </p> + <p> + “Ah it's Sunday, and here are the marks for the length of the sermon—one, + two, three, four—what! did Mr. Grant preach forty minutes?” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, summat like it; it was a good half-hour by my own glass, and then + there was the time lost in turning it, and some little allowance for + leeway in not being over-smart about it.” + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, this is as long as a Presbyterian; you never could have been + ten minutes in turning the glass!” + </p> + <p> + “Why, do you see, Squire, the parson was very solemn, and I just closed my + eyes in order to think the better with myself, just the same as you'd put + in the dead-lights to make all snug, and when I opened them agin I found + the congregation were getting under way for home, so I calculated the ten + minutes would cover the leeway after the glass was out. It was only some + such matter as a cat's nap.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, ho! Master Benjamin, you were asleep, were you? but I'll set down no + such slander against an orthodox divine.” Richard wrote twenty-nine + minutes in his journal, and continued: “Why, what's this you've got + opposite ten o'clock A.M.? A full moon! had you a moon visible by day? I + have heard of such portents before now, but—eh! what's this + alongside of it? an hour-glass?” + </p> + <p> + “That!” said Benjamin, looking coolly over the sheriff's shoulder, and + rolling the tobacco about in his mouth with a jocular air; “why, that's a + small matter of my own. It's no moon, squire, but only Betty Hollister's + face; for, d'ye see, sir, hearing all the same as if she had got up a new + cargo of Jamaiky from the river, I called in as I was going to the church + this morning—ten A.M. was it?—just the time—and tried a + glass; and so I logged it, to put me in mind of calling to pay her like an + honest man.” + </p> + <p> + “That was it, was it?” said the sheriff, with some displeasure at this + innovation on his memoranda; “and could you not make a better glass than + this? it looks like a death's-head and an hour-glass.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, as I liked the stuff, squire,” returned the steward, “I turned in, + homeward bound, and took t'other glass, which I set down at the bottom of + the first, and that gives the thing the shape it has. But as I was there + again to-night, and paid for the three at once, your honor may as well run + the sponge over the whole business.” + </p> + <p> + “I will buy you a slate for your own affairs, Benjamin,” said the sheriff; + “I don't like to have the journal marked over in this manner.” + </p> + <p> + “You needn't—you needn't, squire; for, seeing that I was likely to + trade often with the woman while this barrel lasted. I've opened a fair + account with Betty, and she keeps her marks on the back of her bar-door, + and I keeps the tally on this here bit of a stick.” As Benjamin concluded + he produced a piece of wood, on which five very large, honest notches were + apparent. The sheriff cast his eyes on this new ledger for a moment, and + continued: + </p> + <p> + “What have we here! Saturday, two P.M.—Why here's a whole family + piece! two wine-glasses upside-down!” + </p> + <p> + “That's two women; the one this a-way is Miss 'Lizzy, and t'other is the + parson's young'un.” + </p> + <p> + “Cousin Bess and Miss Grant!” exclaimed the sheriff, in amazement; “what + have they to do with my journal?” + </p> + <p> + “They'd enough to do to get out of the jaws of that there painter or + panther,” said the immovable steward. “This here thingumy, squire, that + maybe looks summat like a rat, is the beast, d'ye see; and this here + t'other thing, keel uppermost, is poor old Brave, who died nobly, all the + same as an admiral fighting for his king and country; and that there—” + </p> + <p> + “Scarecrow,” interrupted Richard. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, mayhap it do look a little wild or so,” continued the steward; “but + to my judgment, squire, it's the best image I've made, seeing it's most + like the man himself; well, that's Natty Bumppo, who shot this here + painter, that killed that there dog, who would have eaten or done worse to + them here young ladies.” + </p> + <p> + “And what the devil does all this mean?” cried Richard, impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Mean!” echoed Benjamin; “it is as true as the Boadishey's log book—” + He was interrupted by the sheriff, who put a few direct questions to him, + that obtained more intelligible answers, by which means he became + possessed of a tolerably correct idea of the truth, When the wonder, and + we must do Richard the justice to say, the feelings also, that were + created by this narrative, had in some degree subsided, the sheriff turned + his eyes again on his journal, where more inexplicable hieroglyphics met + his view. + </p> + <p> + “What have we here?” he cried; “two men boxing! Has there been a breach of + the peace? Ah, that's the way, the moment my back is turned—.” + </p> + <p> + “That's the Judge and young Master Edwards,” interrupted the steward, very + cavalierly. + </p> + <p> + “How! 'Duke fighting with Oliver! what the devil has got into you all? + More things have happened within the last thirty-six hours than in the + preceding six months.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it's so indeed, squire,” returned the steward, “I've known a smart + chase, and a fight at the tail of it, where less has been logged than I've + got on that there slate. Howsomever, they didn't come to facers, only + passed a little jaw fore and aft.” + </p> + <p> + “Explain! explain!” cried Richard; “it was about the mines, ha! Ay, ay, I + see it, I see it; here is a man with a pick on his shoulder. So you heard + it all, Benjamin?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, yes, it was about their minds, I believe, squire,” returned the + steward; “and, by what I can learn, they spoke them pretty plainly to one + another. Indeed, I may say that I overheard a small matter of it myself, + seeing that the windows was open, and I hard by. But this here is no pick, + but an anchor on a man's shoulder; and here's the other fluke down his + back, maybe a little too close, which signifies that the lad has got under + way and left his moorings.” + </p> + <p> + “Has Edwards left the house?” + </p> + <p> + “He has.” + </p> + <p> + Richard pursued this advantage; and, after a long and close examination, + he succeeded in getting out of Benjamin all that he knew, not only + concerning the misunderstanding, but of the attempt to search the hut, and + Hiram's discomfiture. The sheriff was no sooner possessed of these facts, + which Benjamin related with all possible tenderness to the + Leather-Stocking, than, snatching up his hat, and bidding the astonished + steward secure the doors and go to his bed, he left the house. + </p> + <p> + For at least five minutes, after Richard disappeared, Benjamin stood with + his arms akimbo, and his eyes fastened on the door; when, having collected + his astonished faculties, he prepared to execute the orders he had + received. + </p> + <p> + It has been already said that the “court of common pleas and general + sessions of the peace,” or, as it is commonly called, the “county court,” + over which Judge Temple presided, held one of its stated sessions on the + following morning. The attendants of Richard were officers who had come to + the village, as much to discharge their usual duties at this court, as to + escort the prisoners and the sheriff knew their habits too well, not to + feel confident that he should find most, if not all of them, in the public + room of the jail, discussing the qualities of the keeper's liquors. + Accordingly he held his way through the silent streets of the village, + directly to the small and insecure building that contained all the + unfortunate debt ors and some of the criminals of the county, and where + justice was administered to such unwary applicants as were so silly as to + throw away two dollars in order to obtain one from their neighbors. The + arrival of four malefactors in the custody of a dozen officers was an + event, at that day, in Templeton; and, when the sheriff reached the jail, + he found every indication that his subordinates in tended to make a night + of it. + </p> + <p> + The nod of the sheriff brought two of his deputies to the door, who in + their turn drew off six or seven of the constables. With this force + Richard led the way through the village, toward the bank of the lake, + undisturbed by any noise, except the barking of one or two curs, who were + alarmed by the measured tread of the party, and by the low murmurs that + ran through their own numbers, as a few cautious questions and answers + were exchanged, relative to the object of their expedition. When they had + crossed the little bridge of hewn logs that was thrown over the + Susquehanna, they left the highway, and struck into that field which had + been the scene of the victory over the pigeons. From this they followed + their leader into the low bushes of pines and chestnuts which had sprung + up along the shores of the lake, where the plough had not succeeded the + fall of the trees, and soon entered the forest itself. Here Richard paused + and collected his troop around him. + </p> + <p> + “I have required your assistance, my friends,” he cried, in a low voice, + “in order to arrest Nathaniel Bumppo, commonly called the Leather-Stocking + He has assaulted a magistrate, and resisted the execution of a search-war + rant, by threatening the life of a constable with his rifle. In short, my + friends, he has set an example of rebellion to the laws, and has become a + kind of outlaw. He is suspected of other misdemeanors and offences against + private rights; and I have this night taken on myself, by the virtue of my + office as sheriff, to arrest the said Bumppo, and bring him to the county + jail, that he may be present and forthcoming to answer to these heavy + charges before the court to-morrow morning. In executing this duty, + friends and fellow-citizens, you are to use courage and discretion; + courage, that you may not be daunted by any lawless attempt that this man + may make with his rifle and his dogs to oppose you; and discretion, which + here means caution and prudence, that he may not escape from this sudden + attack—and for other good reasons that I need not mention. You will + form yourselves in a complete circle around his hut, and at the word + 'advance,' called aloud by me, you will rush forward and, without giving + the criminal time for deliberation, enter his dwelling by force, and make + him your prisoner. Spread yourselves for this purpose, while I shall + descend to the shore with a deputy, to take charge of that point; and all + communications must be made directly to me, under the bank in front of the + hut, where I shall station myself and remain, in order to receive them.” + </p> + <p> + This speech, which Richard had been studying during his walk, had the + effect that all similar performances produce, of bringing the dangers of + the expedition immediately before the eyes of his forces. The men divided, + some plunging deeper into the forest, in order to gain their stations + without giving an alarm, and others Continuing to advance, at a gait that + would allow the whole party to go in order; but all devising the best plan + to repulse the attack of a dog, or to escape a rifle-bullet. It was a + moment of dread expectation and interest. + </p> + <p> + When the sheriff thought time enough had elapsed for the different + divisions of his force to arrive at their stations, he raised his voice in + the silence of the forest, and shouted the watchword. The sounds played + among the arched branches of the trees in hollow cadences; but when the + last sinking tone was lost on the ear, in place of the expected howls of + the dogs, no other noises were returned but the crackling of torn branches + and dried sticks, as they yielded before the advancing steps of the + officers. Even this soon ceased, as if by a common consent, when the + curiosity and impatience of the sheriff getting the complete ascendency + over discretion, he rushed up the bank, and in a moment stood on the + little piece of cleared ground in front of the spot where Natty had so + long lived, To his amazement, in place of the hut he saw only its + smouldering ruins. + </p> + <p> + The party gradually drew together about the heap of ashes and the ends of + smoking logs; while a dim flame in the centre of the ruin, which still + found fuel to feed its lingering life, threw its pale light, flickering + with the passing currents of the air, around the circle—now showing + a face with eyes fixed in astonishment, and then glancing to another + countenance, leaving the former shaded in the obscurity of night. Not a + voice was raised in inquiry, nor an exclamation made in astonishment. The + transition from excitement to disappointment was too powerful for Speech; + and even Richard lost the use of an organ that was seldom known to fail + him. + </p> + <p> + The whole group were yet in the fullness of their surprise, when a tall + form stalked from the gloom into the circle, treading down the hot ashes + and dying embers with callous feet; and, standing over the light, lifted + his cap, and exposed the bare head and weather-beaten features of the + Leather-Stocking. For a moment he gazed at the dusky figures who + surrounded him, more in sorrow than in anger before he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “What would ye with an old and helpless man?” he said, “You've driven + God's creatur's from the wilderness, where His providence had put them + for His own pleasure; and you've brought in the troubles and diviltries of + the law, where no man was ever known to disturb another. You have driven + me, that have lived forty long years of my appointed time in this very + spot, from my home and the shelter of my head, lest you should put your + wicked feet and wasty ways in my cabin. You've driven me to burn these + logs, under which I've eaten and drunk—the first of Heaven's gifts, + and the other of the pure springs—for the half of a hundred years; + and to mourn the ashes under my feet, as a man would weep and mourn for + the children of his body. You've rankled the heart of an old man, that has + never harmed you or your'n, with bitter feelings toward his kind, at a + time when his thoughts should be on a better world; and you've driven him + to wish that the beasts of the forest, who never feast on the blood of + their own families, was his kindred and race; and now, when he has come to + see the last brand of his hut, before it is incited into ashes, you follow + him up, at midnight, like hungry hounds on the track of a worn-out and + dying deer. What more would ye have? for I am here—one too many. I + come to mourn, not to fight; and, if it is God's pleasure, work your will + on me.” + </p> + <p> + When the old man ended he stood, with the light glimmering around his + thinly covered head, looking earnestly at the group, which receded from + the pile with an involuntary movement, without the reach of the quivering + rays, leaving a free passage for his retreat into the bushes, where + pursuit in the dark would have been fruit less. Natty seemed not to regard + this advantage, but stood facing each individual in the circle in + succession, as if to see who would be the first to arrest him. After a + pause of a few moments Richard began to rally his confused faculties, and, + advancing, apologized for his duty, and made him his prisoner. The party + flow collected, and, preceded by the sheriff, with Natty in their centre, + they took their way toward the village. + </p> + <p> + During the walk, divers questions were put to the prisoner concerning his + reasons for burning the hut, and whither Mohegan had retreated; but to all + of them he observed a profound silence, until, fatigued with their + previous duties, and the lateness of the hour, the sheriff and his + followers reached the village, and dispersed to their several places of + rest, after turning the key of a jail on the aged and apparently + friendless Leather-Stocking. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0033" id="link2HCH0033"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Fetch here the stocks, ho! + You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend bragget, + We'll teach you.” + —Lear. +</pre> + <p> + The long days and early sun of July allowed time for a gathering of the + interested, before the little bell of the academy announced that the + appointed hour had arrived for administering right to the wronged, and + punishment to the guilty. Ever since the dawn of day, the highways and + woodpaths that, issuing from the forests, and winding among the sides of + the mountains, centred in Templeton, had been thronged with equestrians + and footmen, bound to the haven of justice. There was to be seen a + well-clad yeoman, mounted on a sleek, switch-tailed steed, rambling along + the highway, with his red face elevated in a manner that said, “I have + paid for my land, and fear no man;” while his bosom was swelling with the + pride of being one of the grand inquest for the county. At his side rode a + companion, his equal in independence of feeling, perhaps, but his inferior + in thrift, as in property and consideration. This was a professed dealer + in lawsuits—a man whose name appeared in every calendar—whose + substance, gained in the multifarious expedients of a settler's change + able habits, was wasted in feeding the harpies of the courts. He was + endeavoring to impress the mind of the grand juror with the merits of a + cause now at issue, Along with these was a pedestrian, who, having thrown + a rifle frock over his shirt, and placed his best wool hat above his + sunburnt visage, had issued from his retreat in the woods by a footpath, + and was striving to keep company with the others, on his way to hear and + to decide the disputes of his neighbors, as a petit juror. Fifty similar + little knots of countrymen might have been seen, on that morning, + journeying toward the shire-town on the same errand. + </p> + <p> + By ten o'clock the streets of the village were filled with busy faces; + some talking of their private concerns, some listening to a popular + expounder of political creeds; and others gaping in at the open stores, + admiring the finery, or examining scythes, axes, and such other + manufactures as attracted their curiosity or excited their admiration. A + few women were in the crowd, most carrying infants, and followed, at a + lounging, listless gait, by their rustic lords and masters. There was one + young couple, in whom connubial love was yet fresh, walking at a + respectful distance from each other; while the swain directed the timid + steps of his bride, by a gallant offering of a thumb. + </p> + <p> + At the first stroke of the bell, Richard issued from the door of the “Bold + Dragoon,” flourishing a sheathed sword, that he was fond of saying his + ancestors had carried in one of Cromwell's victories, and crying, in an + authoritative tone, to “clear the way for the court.” The order was obeyed + promptly, though not servilely, the members of the crowd nodding + familiarly to the members of the procession as it passed. A party of + constables with their staves followed the sheriff, preceding Marmaduke and + four plain, grave-looking yeomen, who were his associates on the bench. + There was nothing to distinguish these Subordinate judges from the better + part of the spectators, except gravity, which they affected a little more + than common, and that one of their number was attired in an old-fashioned + military coat, with skirts that reached no lower than the middle of his + thighs, and bearing two little silver epaulets, not half so big as a + modern pair of shoulder-knots. This gentleman was a colonel of the + militia, in attendance on a court-martial, who found leisure to steal a + moment from his military to attend to his civil jurisdiction; but this + incongruity excited neither notice nor comment. Three or four clean-shaved + lawyers followed, as meek as if they were lambs going to the slaughter. + One or two of their number had contrived to obtain an air of scholastic + gravity by wearing spectacles. The rear was brought up by another posse of + constables, and the mob followed the whole into the room where the court + held its sitting. + </p> + <p> + The edifice was composed of a basement of squared logs, perforated here + and there with small grated windows, through which a few wistful faces + were gazing at the crowd without. Among the captives were the guilty, + downcast countenances of the counterfeiters, and the simple but honest + features of the Leather-Stocking. The dungeons were to be distinguished, + externally, from the debtors' apartments only by the size of the + apertures, the thickness of the grates, and by the heads of the spikes + that were driven into the logs as a protection against the illegal use of + edge-tools. The upper story was of frame work, regularly covered with + boards, and contained one room decently fitted up for the purpose of + justice. A bench, raised on a narrow platform to the height of a man above + the floor, and protected in front by a light railing, ran along one of its + sides. In the centre was a seat, furnished with rude arms, that was always + filled by the presiding judge. In front, on a level with the floor of the + room, was a large table covered with green baize, and surrounded by + benches; and at either of its ends were rows of seats, rising one over the + other, for jury-boxes. Each of these divisions was surrounded by a + railing. The remainder of the room was an open square, appropriated to the + spectators. + </p> + <p> + When the judges were seated, the lawyers had taken possession of the + table, and the noise of moving feet had ceased in the area, the + proclamations were made in the usual form, the jurors were sworn, the + charge was given, and the court proceeded to hear the business before + them. + </p> + <p> + We shall not detain the reader with a description of the captious + discussions that occupied the court for the first two hours, Judge Temple + had impressed on the jury, in his charge, the necessity for dispatch on + their part, recommending to their notice, from motives of humanity, the + prisoners in the jail as the first objects of their attention. + Accordingly, after the period we have mentioned had elapsed, the cry of + the officer to “clear the way for the grand jury,” announced the entrance + of that body. The usual forms were observed, when the foreman handed up to + the bench two bills, on both of which the Judge observed, at the first + glance of his eye, the name of Nathaniel Bumppo. It was a leisure moment + with the court; some low whispering passed between the bench and the + sheriff, who gave a signal to his officers, and in a very few minutes the + silence that prevailed was interrupted by a general movement in the outer + crowd, when presently the Leather-Stocking made his appearance, ushered + into the criminal's bar under the custody of two constables, The hum + ceased, the people closed into the open space again, and the silence soon + became so deep that the hard breathing of the prisoner was audible. + </p> + <p> + Natty was dressed in his buckskin garments, without his coat, in place of + which he wore only a shirt of coarse linen-cheek, fastened at his throat + by the sinew of a deer, leaving his red neck and weather-beaten face + exposed and bare. It was the first time that he had ever crossed the + threshold of a court of justice, and curiosity seemed to be strongly + blended with his personal feelings. He raised his eyes to the bench, + thence to the jury-boxes, the bar, and the crowd without, meeting + everywhere looks fastened on himself. After surveying his own person, as + searching the cause of this unusual attraction, he once more turned his + face around the assemblage, and opened his mouth in one of his silent and + remarkable laughs. + </p> + <p> + “Prisoner, remove your cap,” said Judge Temple. + </p> + <p> + The order was either unheard or unheeded. + </p> + <p> + “Nathaniel Bumppo, be uncovered,” repeated the Judge. + </p> + <p> + Natty started at the sound of his name, and, raising his face earnestly + toward the bench, he said: + </p> + <p> + “Anan!” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lippet arose from his seat at the table, and whispered in the ear of + the prisoner; when Natty gave him a nod of assent, and took the deer-skin + covering from his head. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. District Attorney,” said the Judge, “the prisoner is ready; we wait + for the indictment.” + </p> + <p> + The duties of public prosecutor were discharged by Dirck Van der School, + who adjusted his spectacles, cast a cautious look around him at his + brethren of the bar, which he ended by throwing his head aside so as to + catch one glance over the glasses, when he proceeded to read the bill + aloud. It was the usual charge for an assault and battery on the person of + Hiram Doolittle, and was couched in the ancient language of such + instruments, especial care having been taken by the scribe not to omit the + name of a single offensive weapon known to the law. When he had done, Mr. + Van der School removed his spectacles, which he closed and placed in his + pocket, seemingly for the pleasure of again opening and replacing them on + his nose, After this evolution was repeated once or twice, he handed the + bill over to Mr. Lippet, with a cavalier air, that said as much as “Pick a + hole in that if you can.” + </p> + <p> + Natty listened to the charge with great attention, leaning forward toward + the reader with an earnestness that denoted his interest; and, when it was + ended, he raised his tall body to the utmost, and drew a long sigh. All + eyes were turned to the prisoner, whose voice was vainly expected to break + the stillness of the room. + </p> + <p> + “You have heard the presentment that the grand jury have made, Nathaniel + Bumppo,” said the Judge; “what do you plead to the charge?” + </p> + <p> + The old man drooped his head for a moment in a reflecting attitude, and + then, raising it, he laughed before he answered: + </p> + <p> + “That I handled the man a little rough or so, is not to be denied; but + that there was occasion to make use of all the things that the gentleman + has spoken of is downright untrue. I am not much of a wrestler, seeing + that I'm getting old; but I was out among the Scotch-Irishers—let me + see—it must have been as long ago as the first year of the old war—” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Lippet, if you are retained for the prisoner,” interrupted Judge + Temple, “instruct your client how to plead; if not, the court will assign + him counsel.” + </p> + <p> + Aroused from studying the indictment by this appeal, the attorney got up, + and after a short dialogue with the hunter in a low voice, he informed the + court that they were ready to proceed. + </p> + <p> + “Do you plead guilty or not guilty?” said the Judge. + </p> + <p> + “I may say not guilty, with a clean conscience,” returned Natty; “for + there's no guilt in doing what's right; and I'd rather died on the spot, + than had him put foot in the hut at that moment.” + </p> + <p> + Richard started at this declaration and bent his eyes significantly on + Hiram, who returned the look with a slight movement of his eyebrows. + </p> + <p> + “Proceed to open the cause, Mr. District Attorney,” continued the Judge. + “Mr. Clerk, enter the plea of not guilty.” + </p> + <p> + After a short opening address from Mr. Van der School, Hiram was summoned + to the bar to give his testimony. It was delivered to the letter, perhaps, + but with all that moral coloring which can be conveyed under such + expressions as, “thinking no harm,” “feeling it my bounden duty as a + magistrate,” and “seeing that the constable was back'ard in the business.” + When he had done, and the district attorney declined putting any further + interrogatories, Mr. Lippet arose, with an air of keen investigation, and + asked the following questions: + </p> + <p> + “Are you a constable of this county, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” said Hiram, “I'm only a justice-peace.” + </p> + <p> + “I ask you, Mr. Doolittle, in the face of this court, putting it to your + conscience and your knowledge of the law, whether you had any right to + enter that man's dwelling?” + </p> + <p> + “Hem!” said Hiram, undergoing a violent struggle between his desire for + vengeance, and his love of legal fame: “I do suppose—that in—that + is—strict law—that supposing—maybe I hadn't a real—lawful + right; but as the case was—and Billy was so back'ard—I thought + I might come for'ard in the business.” + </p> + <p> + “I ask you again, sir,” continued the lawyer, following up his success, + “whether this old, this friendless old man, did or did not repeatedly + forbid your entrance?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I must say,” said Hiram, “that he was considerable cross-grained; + not what I call clever, seeing that it was only one neighbor wanting to go + into the house of another.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! then you own it was only meant for a neighborly visit on your part, + and without the sanction of law. Remember, gentlemen, the words of the + witness, 'one neighbor wanting to enter the house of another.' Now, sir, I + ask you if Nathaniel Bumppo did not again and again order you not to + enter?” + </p> + <p> + “There was some words passed between us,” said Hiram, “but I read the + warrant to him aloud.” + </p> + <p> + “I repeat my question; did he tell you not to enter his habitation?” + </p> + <p> + “There was a good deal passed betwixt us—but I've the warrant in my + pocket; maybe the court would wish to see it?” + </p> + <p> + “Witness,” said Judge Temple, “answer the question directly; did or did + not the prisoner forbid your entering his hut?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, I some think—” + </p> + <p> + “Answer without equivocation,” continued the Judge sternly. + </p> + <p> + “He did.” + </p> + <p> + “And did you attempt to enter after his order?” + </p> + <p> + “I did; but the warrant was in my hand.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed, Mr. Lippet, with your examination.” + </p> + <p> + But the attorney saw that the impression was in favor of his client, and + waving his hand with a supercilious manner, as if unwilling to insult the + understanding of the jury with any further defence, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “No, sir; I leave it for your honor to charge; I rest my case here.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. District Attorney,” said the Judge, “have you anything to say?” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Van der School removed his spectacles, folded them and, replacing them + once more on his nose, eyed the other bill which he held in his hand, and + then said, looking at the bar over the top of his glasses; “I shall rest + the prosecution here, if the court please.” + </p> + <p> + Judge Temple arose and began the charge. + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen of the jury,” he said, “you have heard the testimony, and I + shall detain you but a moment. If an officer meet with resistance in the + execution of a process, he has an undoubted right to call any citizen to + his assistance; and the acts of such assistant come within the protection + of the law. I shall leave you to judge, gentlemen, from the testimony, how + far the witness in this prosecution can be so considered, feeling less + reluctance to submit the case thus informally to your decision, because + there is yet another indictment to be tried, which involves heavier + charges against the unfortunate prisoner.” + </p> + <p> + The tone of Marmaduke was mild and insinuating, and, as his sentiments + were given with such apparent impartiality, they did not fail of carrying + due weight with the jury. The grave-looking yeomen who composed this + tribunal laid their heads together for a few minutes, without leaving the + box, when the foreman arose, and, after the forms of the court were duly + observed, he pronounced the prisoner to be “Not guilty.” + </p> + <p> + “You are acquitted of this charge, Nathaniel Bumppo,” said the Judge. + </p> + <p> + “Anan!” said Natty. + </p> + <p> + “You are found not guilty of striking and assaulting Mr. Doolittle.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, I'll not deny but that I took him a little roughly by the + shoulders,” said Natty, looking about him with great simplicity, “and that + I—” + </p> + <p> + “You are acquitted,” interrupted the Judge, “and there is nothing further + to be said or done in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + A look of joy lighted up the features of the old man, who now comprehended + the case, and, placing his cap eagerly on his head again, he threw up the + bar of his little prison, and said, feelingly: + </p> + <p> + “I must say this for you, Judge Temple, that the law has not been so hard + on me as I dreaded. I hope God will bless you for the kind things you've + done to me this day.” + </p> + <p> + But the staff of the constable was opposed to his egress, and Mr. Lippet + whispered a few words in his ear, when the aged hunter sank back into his + place, and, removing his cap, stroked down the remnants of his gray and + sandy locks, with an air of mortification mingled with submission. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. District Attorney,” said Judge Temple, affecting to busy himself with + his minutes, “proceed with the second indictment.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Van der School took great care that no part of the presentment, which + he now read, should be lost on his auditors. It accused the prisoner of + resisting the execution of a search-warrant, by force of arms, and + particularized in the vague language of the law, among a variety of other + weapons, the use of the rifle. This was indeed a more serious charge than + an ordinary assault and battery, and a corresponding degree of interest + was manifested by the spectators in its result. The prisoner was duly + arraigned, and his plea again demanded. Mr. Lippet had anticipated the + answers of Natty, and in a whisper advised him how to plead. But the + feelings of the old hunter were awakened by some of the expressions in the + indictment, and, forgetful of his caution, he exclaimed: + </p> + <p> + “'Tis a wicked untruth; I crave no man's blood. Them thieves, the + Iroquois, won't say it to any face that I ever thirsted after man's blood, + I have fou't as soldier that feared his Maker and his officer, but I never + pulled trigger on any but a warrior that was up and awake. No man can say + that I ever struck even a Mingo in his blanket. I believe there's some who + thinks there's no God in a wilderness!” + </p> + <p> + “Attend to your plea, Bumppo,” said the Judge; “you hear that you are + accused of using your rifle against an officer of justice? Are you guilty + or not guilty?” + </p> + <p> + By this time the irritated feelings of Natty had found vent: and he rested + on the bar for a moment, in a musing posture, when he lifted his face, + with his silent laugh, and, pointing to where the wood-chopper stood, he + said: + </p> + <p> + “Would Billy Kirby be standing there, d'ye think, if I had used the + rifle?” + </p> + <p> + “Then you deny it,” said Mr. Lippet; “you plead not guilty?” + </p> + <p> + “Sartain,” said Natty; “Billy knows that I never fired at all. Billy, do + you remember the turkey last winter? Ah me! that was better than common + firing; but I can't shoot as I used to could.” + </p> + <p> + “Enter the plea of not guilty,” said Judge Temple, strongly affected by + the simplicity of the prisoner. + </p> + <p> + Hiram was again sworn, and his testimony given on the second charge. He + had discovered his former error, and proceeded more cautiously than + before. He related very distinctly and, for the man, with amazing + terseness, the suspicion against the hunter, the complaint, the issuing of + the warrant, and the swearing in of Kirby; all of which, he affirmed, were + done in due form of law. He then added the manner in which the constable + had been received; and stated, distinctly, that Natty had pointed the + rifle at Kirby, and threatened his life if he attempted to execute his + duty. All this was confirmed by Jotham, who was observed to adhere closely + to the story of the magistrate. Mr. Lippet conducted an artful + cross-examination of these two witnesses, but, after consuming much time, + was compelled to relinquish the attempt to obtain any advantage, in + despair. + </p> + <p> + At length the District Attorney called the wood-chopper to the bar, Billy + gave an extremely confused account of the whole affair, although he + evidently aimed at the truth, until Mr. Van der School aided him, by + asking some direct questions: + </p> + <p> + “It appears from examining the papers, that you demanded admission into + the hut legally; so you were put in bodily fear by his rifle and threats?” + </p> + <p> + “I didn't mind them that, man,” said Billy, snapping his fingers; “I + should be a poor stick to mind old Leather-Stocking.” + </p> + <p> + “But I understood you to say (referring to your previous words [as + delivered here in court] in the commencement of your testimony) that you + thought he meant to shoot you?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure I did; and so would you, too, squire, if you had seen a chap + dropping a muzzle that never misses, and cocking an eye that has a natural + squint by long practice I thought there would be a dust on't, and my back + was up at once; but Leather-Stocking gi'n up the skin, and so the matter + ended.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! Billy,” said Natty, shaking his head, “'twas a lucky thought in me to + throw out the hide, or there might have been blood spilt; and I'm sure, if + it had been your'n, I should have mourned it sorely the little while I + have to stay.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, Leather-Stocking,” returned Billy, facing the prisoner with a + freedom and familiarity that utterly disregarded the presence of the + court, “as you are on the subject it may be that you've no—” + </p> + <p> + “Go on with your examination, Mr. District Attorney.” + </p> + <p> + That gentleman eyed the familiarity between his witness and the prisoner + with manifest disgust, and indicated to the court that he was done. + </p> + <p> + “Then you didn't feel frightened, Mr. Kirby?” said the counsel for the + prisoner. + </p> + <p> + “Me! no,” said Billy, casting his eyes oven his own huge frame with + evident self-satisfaction; “I'm not to be skeared so easy.” + </p> + <p> + “You look like a hardy man; where were you born, sir?” + </p> + <p> + “Varmount State; 'tis a mountaynious place, but there's a stiff soil, and + it's pretty much wooded with beech and maple.” + </p> + <p> + “I have always heard so,” said Mr. Lippet soothingly. “You have been used + to the rifle yourself in that country.” + </p> + <p> + “I pull the second best trigger in this county. I knock under to Natty + Bumppo, there, sin' he shot the pigeon.” + </p> + <p> + Leather-Stocking raised his head, and laughed again, when he abruptly + thrust out a wrinkled hand, and said: + </p> + <p> + “You're young yet, Billy, and haven't seen the matches that I have; but + here's my hand; I bear no malice to you, I don't.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Lippet allowed this conciliatory offering to be accepted, and + judiciously paused, while the spirit of peace was exercising its influence + over the two; but the Judge interposed his authority. + </p> + <p> + “This is an improper place for such dialogues,” he said; “proceed with + your examination of this witness, Mr. Lippet, or I shall order the next.” + </p> + <p> + The attorney started, as if unconscious of any impropriety, and continued: + </p> + <p> + “So you settled the matter with Natty amicably on the spot, did you?” + </p> + <p> + “He gi'n me the skin, and I didn't want to quarrel with an old man; for my + part, I see no such mighty matter in shooting a buck!” + </p> + <p> + “And you parted friends? and you would never have thought of bringing the + business up before a court, hadn't you been subpoenaed?” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think I should; he gi'n the skin, and I didn't feel a hard + thought, though Squire Doolittle got some affronted.” + </p> + <p> + “I have done, sir,” said Mr. Lippet, probably relying on the charge of the + Judge, as he again seated himself, with the air of a main who felt that + his success was certain. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Van der School arose to address the jury, he commenced by saying: + </p> + <p> + “Gentlemen of the jury, I should have interrupted the leading questions + put by the prisoner's counsel (by leading questions I mean telling him + what to say), did I not feel confident that the law of the land was + superior to any advantages (I mean legal advantages) which he might + obtain by his art. The counsel for the prisoner, gentlemen, has endeavored + to persuade you, in opposition to your own good sense, to believe that + pointing a rifle at a constable (elected or deputed) is a very innocent + affair; and that society (I mean the commonwealth, gentlemen) shall not be + endangered thereby. But let me claim your attention, while we look over + the particulars of this heinous offence.” Here Mr. Vain der School favored + the jury with an abridgment of the testimony, recounted in such a manner + as utterly to confuse the faculties of his worthy listeners. After this + exhibition he closed as follows: “And now, gentlemen, having thus made + plain to your senses the crime of which this unfortunate man has been + guilty (unfortunate both on account of his ignorance and his guilt), I + shall leave you to your own consciences; not in the least doubting that + you will see the importance (notwithstanding the prisoner's counsel + [doubtless relying on your former verdict] wishes to appear so confident + of success) of punishing the offender, and asserting the dignity of the + laws.” + </p> + <p> + It was now the duty of the Judge to deliver his charge. It consisted of a + short, comprehensive summary of the testimony, laying bare the artifice of + the prisoner's counsel, and placing the facts in so obvious a light that + they could not well be misunderstood. “Living as we do, gentlemen,” he + concluded, “on the skirts of society, it becomes doubly necessary to + protect the ministers of the law. If you believe the witnesses, in their + construction of the acts of the prisoner, it is your duty to convict him; + but if you believe that the old man, who this day appears before you, + meant not to harm the constable, but was acting more under the influence + of habit than by the instigations of malice, it will be your duty to judge + him, but to do it with lenity.” + </p> + <p> + As before, the jury did not leave their box; but, after a consultation of + some little time, their foreman arose, and pronounced the prisoner Guilty. + </p> + <p> + There was but little surprise manifested in the courtroom at this verdict, + as the testimony, the greater part of which we have omitted, was too clear + and direct to be passed over. The judges seemed to have anticipated this + sentiment, for a consultation was passing among them also, during the + deliberation of the jury, and the preparatory movements of the “bench” + announced the coming sentence. + </p> + <p> + “Nathaniel Bumppo,” commenced the Judge, making the customary pause. + </p> + <p> + The old hunter, who had been musing again, with his head on the bar, + raised himself, and cried, with a prompt, military tone: + </p> + <p> + “Here.” + </p> + <p> + The Judge waved his hand for silence, and proceeded: + </p> + <p> + “In forming their sentence, the court have been governed as much by the + consideration of your ignorance of the laws as by a strict sense of the + importance of punishing such outrages as this of which you have been found + guilty. They have therefore passed over the obvious punishment of whipping + on the bare back, in mercy to your years; but, as the dignity of the law + requires an open exhibition of the consequences of your crime, it is + ordered that you be conveyed from this room to the public stocks, where + you are to be confined for one hour; that you pay a fine to the State of + one hundred dollars; and that you be imprisoned in the jail of this county + for one calendar month, and, furthermore, that your imprisonment do not + cease until the said fine shall be paid. I feel it my duty, Nathaniel + Bumppo—” + </p> + <p> + “And where should I get the money?” interrupted the Leather-Stocking + eagerly; “where should I get the money? you'll take away the bounty on the + painters, because I cut the throat of a deer; and how is an old man to + find so much gold or silver in the woods? No, no, Judge; think better of + it, and don't talk of shutting me up in a jail for the little time I have + to stay.” + </p> + <p> + “If you have anything to urge against the passing of the sentence, the + court will yet hear you,” said the Judge, mildly. + </p> + <p> + “I have enough to say agin' it,” cried Natty, grasping the bar on which + his fingers were working with a convulsed motion. “Where am I to get the + money? Let me out into the woods and hills, where I've been used to + breathe the clear air, and though I'm threescore and ten, if you've left + game enough in the country, I'll travel night and day but I'll make you up + the sum afore the season is over. Yes, yes—you see the reason of the + thing, and the wicked ness of shutting up an old man that has spent his + days, as one may say, where he could always look into the windows of + heaven.” + </p> + <p> + “I must be governed by the law—” + </p> + <p> + “Talk not to me of law, Marmaduke Temple,” interrupted the hunter. “Did + the beast of the forest mind your laws, when it was thirsty and hungering + for the blood of your own child? She was kneeling to her God for a greater + favor than I ask, and he heard her; and if you now say no to my prayers, + do you think he will be deaf?” + </p> + <p> + “My private feelings must not enter into—” + </p> + <p> + “Hear me, Marmaduke Temple,” interrupted the old man, with melancholy + earnestness, “and hear reason. I've travelled these mountains when you was + no judge, but an infant in your mother's arms; and I feel as if I had a + right and a privilege to travel them agin afore I die. Have you forgot the + time that you come on to the lake shore, when there wasn't even a jail to + lodge in: and didn't I give you my own bear-skin to sleep on, and the fat + of a noble buck to satisfy the cravings of your hunger? Yes, yes—you + thought it no sin then to kill a deer! And this I did, though I had no + reason to love you, for you had never done anything but harm to them that + loved and sheltered me. And now, will you shut me up in your dungeons to + pay me for my kindness? A hundred dollars! Where should I get the money? + No, no—there's them that says hard things of you, Marmaduke Temple, + but you ain't so bad as to wish to see an old man die in a prison, because + he stood up for the right. Come, friend, let me pass; it's long sin' I've + been used to such crowds, and I crave to be in the woods agin. Don't fear + me, Judge—I bid you not to fear me; for if there's beaver enough + left on the streams, or the buckskins will sell for a shilling apiece, you + shall have the last penny of the fine. Where are ye, pups? come away, + dogs, come away! we have a grievous toil to do for our years, but it shall + be done—yes, yes, I've promised it, and it shall be done!” + </p> + <p> + It is unnecessary to say that the movement of the Leather-Stocking was + again intercepted by the constable; but, before he had time to speak, a + bustling in the crowd, and a loud hem, drew all eyes to another part of + the room. + </p> + <p> + Benjamin had succeeded in edging his way through the people, and was now + seen balancing his short body, with one foot in a window and the other on + a railing of the jury-box. To the amazement of the whole court, the + steward was evidently preparing to speak. After a good deal of difficulty, + he succeeded in drawing from his pocket a small bag, and then found + utterance. + </p> + <p> + “If-so-be,” he said, “that your honor is agreeable to trust the poor + fellow out on another cruise among the beasts, here's a small matter that + will help to bring down the risk, seeing that there's just thirty-five of + your Spaniards in it; and I wish, from the bottom of my heart, that they + was raal British guineas, for the sake of the old boy. But 'tis as it is; + and if Squire Dickens will just be so good as to overhaul this small bit + of an account, and take enough from the bag to settle the same, he's + welcome to hold on upon the rest, till such time as the Leather-Stocking + can grapple with them said beaver, or, for that matter, forever, and no + thanks asked.” + </p> + <p> + As Benjamin concluded, he thrust out the wooden register of his arrears to + the “Bold Dragoon” with one hand, while he offered his bag of dollars with + the other. Astonishment at this singular interruption produced a profound + stillness in the room, which was only interrupted by the sheriff, who + struck his sword on the table, and cried: “Silence!” + </p> + <p> + “There must be an end to this,” said the Judge, struggling to overcome his + feelings. “Constable, lead the prisoner to the stocks. Mr. Clerk, what + stands next on the calendar?” + </p> + <p> + Natty seemed to yield to his destiny, for he sank his head on his chest, + and followed the officer from the court room in silence. The crowd moved + back for the passage of the prisoner, and when his tall form was seen + descending from the outer door, a rush of the people to the scene of his + disgrace followed. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0034" id="link2HCH0034"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ha! ha! look! he wears cruel garters!”—Lear. +</pre> + <p> + The punishments of the common law were still known, at the time of our + tale, to the people of New York; and the whipping-post, and its companion, + the stocks, were not yet supplanted by the more merciful expedients of the + public prison. Immediately in front of the jail those relics of the older + times were situated, as a lesson of precautionary justice to the + evil-doers of the settlement. + </p> + <p> + Natty followed the constables to this spot, bowing his head in submission + to a power that he was unable to oppose, and surrounded by the crowd that + formed a circle about his person, exhibiting in their countenances strong + curiosity. A constable raised the upper part of the stocks, and pointed + with his finger to the holes where the old man was to place his feet. + Without making the least objection to the punishment, the Leather-Stocking + quietly seated himself on the ground, and suffered his limbs to be laid in + the openings, without even a murmur; though he cast one glance about him, + in quest of that sympathy that human nature always seems to require under + suffering but he met no direct manifestations of pity, neither did he see + any unfeeling exultation, or hear a single reproachful epithet. The + character of the mob, if it could be called by such a name, was that of + attentive subordination. + </p> + <p> + The constable was in the act of lowering the upper plank, when Benjamin, + who had pressed close to the side of the prisoner, said, in his hoarse + tone, as if seeking for some cause to create a quarrel: + </p> + <p> + “Where away, master constable, is the use of clapping a man in them here + bilboes? It neither stops his grog nor hurts his back; what for is it that + you do the thing?” + </p> + <p> + “'Tis the sentence of the court, Mr. Penguillium, and there's law for it, + I s'pose.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, I know that there's law for the thing; but where away do you find + the use, I say? it does no harm, and it only keeps a man by the heels for + the small matter of two glasses.” + </p> + <p> + “Is it no harm, Benny Pump,” said Natty, raising his eyes with a piteous + look in the face of the steward—“is it no harm to show off a man in + his seventy-first year, like a tame bear, for the settlers to look on? Is + it no harm to put an old soldier, that has served through the war of + 'fifty-six, and seen the enemy in the 'seventy-six business, into a place + like this, where the boys can point at him and say, I have known the time + when he was a spectacle for the county? Is it no harm to bring down the + pride of an honest man to be the equal of the beasts of the forest?” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin stared about him fiercely, and could he have found a single face + that expressed contumely, he would have been prompt to quarrel with its + owner; but meeting everywhere with looks of sobriety, and occasionally of + commiseration, he very deliberately seated himself by the side of the + hunter, and, placing his legs in the two vacant holes of the stocks, he + said: + </p> + <p> + “Now lower away, master constable, lower away, I tell ye! If-so-be there's + such a thing hereabouts, as a man that wants to see a bear, let him look + and be d—d, and he shall find two of them, and mayhap one of the + same that can bite as well as growl.” + </p> + <p> + “But I have no orders to put you in the stocks, Mr. Pump,” cried the + constable; “you must get up and let me do my duty.” + </p> + <p> + “You've my orders, and what do you need better to meddle with my own feet? + so lower away, will ye, and let me see the man that chooses to open his + mouth with a grin on it.” + </p> + <p> + “There can't be any harm in locking up a creatur' that will enter the + pound,” said the constable, laughing, and closing the stocks on them both. + </p> + <p> + It was fortunate that this act was executed with decision, for the whole + of the spectators, when they saw Benjamin assume the position he took, + felt an inclination for merriment, which few thought it worth while to + suppress. The steward struggled violently for his liberty again, with an + evident intention of making battle on those who stood nearest to him; but + the key was already turned, and all his efforts were vain. + </p> + <p> + “Hark ye, master constable,” he cried, “just clear away your bilboes for + the small matter of a log-glass, will ye, and let me show some of them + there chaps who it is they are so merry about.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, you would go in, and you can't come out,” returned the officer, + “until the time has expired that the Judge directed for the keeping of the + prisoner.” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin, finding that his threats and his struggles were useless, had + good sense enough to learn patience from the resigned manner of his + companion, and soon settled himself down by the side of Natty, with a + contemptuousness expressed in his hard features, that showed he had + substituted disgust for rage. When the violence of the steward's feelings + had in some measure subsided, he turned to his fellow-sufferer, and, with + a motive that might have vindicated a worse effusion, he attempted the + charitable office of consolation, + </p> + <p> + “Taking it by and large, Master Bump-ho, it's but a small matter after + all,” he said. “Now, I've known very good sort of men, aboard of the + Boadishey, laid by the heels, for nothing, mayhap, but forgetting that + they'd drunk their allowance already, when a glass of grog has come in + their way. This is nothing more than riding with two anchors ahead, + waiting for a turn in the tide, or a shift of wind, d'ye see, with a soft + bottom and plenty of room for the sweep of your hawse. Now I've seen many + a man, for over-shooting his reckoning, as I told ye moored head and + starn, where he couldn't so much as heave his broadside round, and mayhap + a stopper clapped on his tongue too, in the shape of a pump-bolt lashed + athwartship his jaws, all the same as an outrigger along side of a + taffrel-rail.” + </p> + <p> + The hunter appeared to appreciate the kind intentions of the other, though + he could not understand his eloquence, and, raising his humbled + countenance, he attempted a smile, as he said: + </p> + <p> + “Anan!” + </p> + <p> + “'Tis nothing, I say, but a small matter of a squall that will soon blow + over,” continued Benjamin. “To you that has such a length of keel, it must + be all the same as nothing; thof, seeing that I am little short in my + lower timbers, they've triced my heels up in such a way as to give me a + bit of a cant. But what cares I, Master Bump-ho, if the ship strains a + little at her anchor? it's only for a dog-watch, and dam'me but she'll + sail with you then on that cruise after them said beaver. I'm not much + used to small arms, seeing that I was stationed at the ammunition-boxes, + being summat too low-rigged to see over the hammock-cloths; but I can + carry the game, d'ye see, and mayhap make out to lend a hand with the + traps; and if so, be you're any way so handy with them as ye be with your + boat-hook, 'twill be but a short cruise after all, I've squared the yards + with Squire Dickens this morning, and I shall send him word that he + needn't bear my name on the books again till such time as the cruise is + over.” + </p> + <p> + “You're used to dwell with men, Benny,” said Leather-Stocking, mournfully, + “and the ways of the woods would be hard on you, if——” + </p> + <p> + “Not a bit—not a bit,” cried the steward; “I'm none of your + fair-weather chaps, Master Bump-ho, as sails only in smooth water. When I + find a friend, I sticks by him, d'ye see. Now, there's no better man + a-going than Squire Dickens, and I love him about the same as I loves + Mistress Hollister's new keg of Jamaiky.” The steward paused, and turning + his uncouth visage on the hunter, he surveyed him with a roguish leer of + his eye, and gradually suffered the muscles of his hard features to relax, + until his face was illuminated by the display of his white teeth, when he + dropped his voice, and added; “I say, Master Leather-Stocking, 'tis + fresher and livelier than any Hollands you'll get in Garnsey. But we'll + send a hand over and ask the woman for a taste, for I'm so jammed in these + here bilboes that I begin to want summat to lighten my upper works.” + </p> + <p> + Natty sighed, and gazed about him on the crowd, that already began to + disperse, and which had now diminished greatly, as its members scattered + in their various pursuits. He looked wistfully at Benjamin, but did not + reply; a deeply-seated anxiety seeming to absorb every other sensation, + and to throw a melancholy gloom over his wrinkled features, which were + working with the movements of his mind. + </p> + <p> + The steward was about to act on the old principle, that silence gives + consent, when Hiram Doolittle, attended by Jotham, stalked out of the + crowd, across the open space, and approached the stocks. The magistrate + passed by the end where Benjamin was seated, and posted himself, at a safe + distance from the steward, in front of the Leather-Stocking. Hiram stood, + for a moment, cowering before the keen looks that Natty fastened on him, + and suffering under an embarrassment that was quite new; when having in + some degree recovered himself, he looked at the heavens, and then at the + smoky atmosphere, as if it were only an ordinary meeting with a friend, + and said in his formal, hesitating way: + </p> + <p> + “Quite a scurcity of rain, lately; I some think we shall have a long + drought on't.” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin was occupied in untying his bag of dollars, and did not observe + the approach of the magistrate, while Natty turned his face, in which + every muscle was working, away from him in disgust, without answering. + Rather encouraged than daunted by this exhibition of dislike, Hiram, after + a short pause, continued: + </p> + <p> + “The clouds look as if they'd no water in them, and the earth is + dreadfully parched. To my judgment, there'll be short crops this season, + if the rain doesn't fail quite speedily.” + </p> + <p> + The air with which Mr. Doolittle delivered this prophetical opinion was + peculiar to his species. It was a jesuitical, cold, unfeeling, and selfish + manner, that seemed to say, “I have kept within the law,” to the man he + had so cruelly injured. It quite overcame the restraint that the old + hunter had been laboring to impose on himself, and he burst out in a warm + glow of indignation. + </p> + <p> + “Why should the rain fall from the clouds,” he cried, “when you force the + tears from the eyes of the old, the sick, and the poor! Away with ye—away + with ye! you may be formed in the image of the Maker, but Satan dwells in + your heart. Away with ye, I say! I am mournful, and the sight of ye brings + bitter thoughts.” + </p> + <p> + Benjamin ceased thumbing his money, and raised his head at the instant + that Hiram, who was thrown off his guard by the invectives of the hunter, + unluckily trusted his person within reach of the steward, who grasped one + of his legs with a hand that had the grip of a vise, and whirled the + magistrate from his feet, before he had either time to collect his senses + or to exercise the strength he did really possess. Benjamin wanted neither + proportions nor manhood in his head, shoulders, and arms, though all the + rest of his frame appeared to be originally intended for a very different + sort of a man. He exerted his physical powers on the present occasion, + with much discretion; and, as he had taken his antagonist at a great + disadvantage, the struggle resulted very soon in Benjamin getting the + magistrate fixed in a posture somewhat similar to his own, and manfully + placed face to face. + </p> + <p> + “You're a ship's cousin, I tell ye, Master Doo-but-little,” roared the + steward; “some such matter as a ship's cousin, sir. I know you, I do, with + your fair-weather speeches to Squire Dickens, to his face, and then you go + and sarve out your grumbling to all the old women in the town, do ye? + Ain't it enough for any Christian, let him harbor never so much malice, to + get an honest old fellow laid by the heels in this fashion, without + carrying sail so hard on the poor dog, as if you would run him down as he + lay at his anchors? But I've logged many a hard thing against your name, + master, and now the time's come to foot up the day's work, d'ye see; so + square yourself, you lubber, square yourself, and we'll soon know who's + the better man.” + </p> + <p> + “Jotham!” cried the frightened magistrate—“Jotham! call in the + constables. Mr. Penguillium, I command the peace—I order you to keep + the peace.” + </p> + <p> + “There's been more peace than love atwixt us, master,” cried the steward, + making some very unequivocal demonstrations toward hostility; “so mind + yourself! square your self, I say! do you smell this here bit of a + sledge-hammer?” + </p> + <p> + “Lay hands on me if you dare!” exclaimed Hiram, as well as he could, under + the grasp which the steward held on his throttle—“lay hands on me if + you dare!” + </p> + <p> + “If you call this laying, master, you are welcome to the eggs,” roared the + steward. + </p> + <p> + It becomes our disagreeable duty to record here, that the acts of Benjamin + now became violent; for he darted his sledge-hammer violently on the anvil + of Mr. Doolittle's countenance, and the place became in an instant a scene + of tumult and confusion. The crowd rushed in a dense circle around the + spot, while some ran to the court room to give the alarm, and one or two + of the more juvenile part of the multitude had a desperate trial of speed + to see who should be the happy man to communicate the critical situation + of the magistrate to his wife. + </p> + <p> + Benjamin worked away, with great industry and a good deal of skill, at his + occupation, using one hand to raise up his antagonist, while he knocked + him over with the other; for he would have been disgraced in his own + estimation, had he struck a blow on a fallen adversary. By this + considerate arrangement he had found means to hammer the visage of Hiram + out of all shape, by the time Richard succeeded in forcing his way through + the throng to the point of combat. The sheriff afterward declared that, + independently of his mortification as preserver of the peace of the + county, at this interruption to its harmony, he was never so grieved in + his life as when he saw this breach of unity between his favorites. Hiram + had in some degree become necessary to his vanity, and Benjamin, strange + as it may appear, he really loved. This attachment was exhibited in the + first words that he uttered. + </p> + <p> + “Squire Doolittle! Squire Doolittle! I am ashamed to see a man of your + character and office forget himself so much as to disturb the peace, + insult the court, and beat poor Benjamin in this manner!” + </p> + <p> + At the sound of Mr. Jones' voice, the steward ceased his employment, and + Hiram had an opportunity of raising his discomfited visage toward the + mediator. Emboldened by the sight of the sheriff, Mr. Doolittle again had + recourse to his lungs. + </p> + <p> + “I'll have law on you for this,” he cried desperately; “I'll have the law + on you for this. I call on you, Mr. Sheriff, to seize this man, and I + demand that you take his body into custody.” + </p> + <p> + By this time Richard was master of the true state of the case, and, + turning to the steward, he said reproach fully: + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin, how came you in the stocks? I always thought you were mild and + docile as a lamb. It was for your docility that I most esteemed you. + Benjamin! Benjamin! you have not only disgraced yourself, but your + friends, by this shameless conduct, Bless me! bless me! Mr. Doolittle, he + seems to have knocked your face all of one side.” + </p> + <p> + Hiram by this time had got on his feet again, and with out the reach of + the steward, when he broke forth in violent appeals for vengeance. The + offence was too apparent to be passed over, and the sheriff, mindful of + the impartiality exhibited by his cousin in the recent trial of the + Leather-Stocking, came to the painful conclusion that it was necessary to + commit his major-domo to prison. As the time of Natty's punishment was + expired, and Benjamin found that they were to be confined, for that night + at least, in the same apartment, he made no very strong objection to the + measure, nor spoke of bail, though, as the sheriff preceded the party of + constables that conducted them to the jail, he uttered the following + remonstrance: + </p> + <p> + “As to being berthed with Master Bump-ho for a night or so, it's but + little I think of it, Squire Dickens, seeing that I calls him an honest + man, and one as has a handy way with boat-hooks and rifles; but as for + owning that a man desarves anything worse than a double allowance, for + knocking that carpenters face a-one-side, as you call it, I'll maintain + it's agin' reason and Christianity. If there's a bloodsucker in this 'ere + county, it's that very chap. Ay! I know him! and if he hasn't got all the + same as dead wood in his headworks, he knows summat of me. Where's the + mighty harm, squire, that you take it so much to heart? It's all the same + as any other battle, d'ye see sir, being broadside to broadside, only that + it was foot at anchor, which was what we did in Port Pray a roads, when + Suff'ring came in among us; and a suff'ring time he had of it before he + got out again.” + </p> + <p> + Richard thought it unworthy of him to make any reply to this speech, but + when his prisoners were safely lodged in an outer dungeon, ordering the + bolts to be drawn and the key turned, he withdrew. + </p> + <p> + Benjamin held frequent and friendly dialogues with different people, + through the iron gratings, during the afternoon; but his companion paced + their narrow' limits, in his moccasins, with quick, impatient treads, his + face hanging on his breast in dejection, or when lifted, at moments, to + the idlers at the window, lighted, perhaps, for an instant, with the + childish aspect of aged forgetfulness, which would vanish directly in an + expression of deep and obvious anxiety. + </p> + <p> + At the close of the day, Edwards was seen at the window, in earnest + dialogue with his friend; and after he departed it was thought that he + had communicated words of comfort to the hunter, who threw himself on his + pallet and was soon in a deep sleep. The curious spectators had exhausted + the conversation of the steward, who had drunk good fellowship with half + of his acquaintance, and, as Natty was no longer in motion, by eight + o'clock, Billy Kirby, who was the last lounger at the window, retired into + the “Templeton Coffee-house,” when Natty rose and hung a blanket before + the opening, and the prisoners apparently retired for the night. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0035" id="link2HCH0035"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXV. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And to avoid the foe's pursuit, + With spurring put their cattle to't; + And till all four were out of wind, + And danger too, neer looked behind.” + —Hudibras. +</pre> + <p> + As the shades of evening approached, the jurors, witnesses, and other + attendants on the court began to disperse, and before nine o'clock the + village was quiet, and its streets nearly deserted. At that hour Judge + Temple and his daughter, followed at a short distance by Louisa Grant, + walked slowly down the avenue, under the slight shadows of the young + poplars, holding the following discourse: + </p> + <p> + “You can best soothe his wounded spirit, my child,” said Marmaduke; “but + it will be dangerous to touch on the nature of his offence; the sanctity + of the laws must be respected.” + </p> + <p> + “Surely, sir,” cried the impatient Elizabeth, “those laws that condemn a + man like the Leather-Stocking to so severe a punishment, for an offence + that even I must think very venial, cannot be perfect in themselves.” + </p> + <p> + “Thou talkest of what thou dost not understand, Elizabeth,” returned her + father. “Society cannot exist without wholesome restraints. Those + restraints cannot be inflicted without security and respect to the persons + of those who administer them; and it would sound ill indeed to report that + a judge had extended favor to a convicted criminal, because he had saved + the life of his child.” + </p> + <p> + “I see—I see the difficulty of your situation, dear sir,” cried the + daughter; “but, in appreciating the offence of poor Natty, I cannot + separate the minister of the law from the man.” + </p> + <p> + “There thou talkest as a woman, child; it is not for an assault on Hiram + Doolittle, but for threatening the life of a constable, who was in the + performance of—” + </p> + <p> + “It is immaterial whether it be one or the other,” interrupted Miss + Temple, with a logic that contained more feeling than reason; “I know + Natty to be innocent, and thinking so I must think all wrong who oppress + him.” + </p> + <p> + “His judge among the number! thy father, Elizabeth?” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, nay, nay; do not put such questions to me; give me my commission, + father, and let me proceed to execute it.” + </p> + <p> + The Judge paused a moment, smiling fondly on his child, and then dropped + his hand affectionately on her shoulder, as he answered: + </p> + <p> + “Thou hast reason, Bess, and much of it, too, but thy heart lies too near + thy head, But listen; in this pocketbook are two hundred dollars. Go to + the prison—there are none in this pace to harm thee—give this + note to the jailer, and, when thou seest Bumppo, say what thou wilt to the + poor old man; give scope to the feeling of thy warm heart; but try to + remember, Elizabeth, that the laws alone remove us from the condition of + the savages; that he has been criminal, and that his judge was thy + father.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple made no reply, but she pressed the hand that held the + pocket-book to her bosom, and, taking her friend by the arm, they issued + together from the inclosure into the principal street of the village. + </p> + <p> + As they pursued their walk in silence, under the row of houses, where the + deeper gloom of the evening effectually concealed their persons, no sound + reached them, excepting the slow tread of a yoke of oxen, with the + rattling of a cart, that were moving along the street in the same + direction with themselves. The figure of the teamster was just discernible + by the dim light, lounging by the side of his cattle with a listless air, + as if fatigued by the toil of the day. At the corner, where the jail + stood, the progress of the ladies was impeded, for a moment, by the oxen, + who were turned up to the side of the building, and given a lock of hay, + which they had carried on their necks, as a reward for their patient + labor, The whole of this was so natural, and so common, that Elizabeth saw + nothing to induce a second glance at the team, until she heard the + teamster speaking to his cattle in a low voice: + </p> + <p> + “Mind yourself, Brindle; will you, sir! will you!” The language itself was + so unusual to oxen, with which all who dwell in a new country are + familiar; but there was something in the voice, also, that startled Miss + Temple On turning the corner, she necessarily approached the man, and her + look was enabled to detect the person of Oliver Edwards, concealed under + the coarse garb of a teamster. Their eyes met at the same instant, and, + not withstanding the gloom, and the enveloping cloak of Elizabeth, the + recognition was mutual. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Temple!” “Mr. Edwards!” were exclaimed simultaneously, though a + feeling that seemed common to both rendered the words nearly inaudible. + </p> + <p> + “Is it possible!” exclaimed Edwards, after the moment of doubt had passed; + “do I see you so nigh the jail! but you are going to the rectory: I beg + pardon, Miss Grant, I believe; I did not recognize you at first.” + </p> + <p> + The sigh which Louisa tittered was so faint, that it was only heard by + Elizabeth, who replied quickly, “We are going not only to the jail, Mr. + Edwards' but into it. We wish to show the Leather-Stocking that we do not + forget his services, and that at the same time we must be just, we are + also grateful. I suppose you are on a similar errand; but let me beg that + you will give us leave to precede you ten minutes. Good-night, sir; I—I—am + quite sorry, Mr. Edwards, to see you reduced to such labor; I am sure my + father would—” + </p> + <p> + “I shall wait your pleasure, madam,” interrupted the youth coldly. “May I + beg that you will not mention my being here?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly,” said Elizabeth, returning his bow by a slight inclination of + her head, and urging the tardy Louisa forward. As they entered the + jailer's house, however, Miss Grant found leisure to whisper: + </p> + <p> + “Would it not be well to offer part of your money to Oliver? half of it + will pay the fine of Bumppo; and he is so unused to hardships! I am sure + my father will subscribe much of his little pittance, to place him in a + station that is more worthy of him.” + </p> + <p> + The involuntary smile that passed over the features of Elizabeth was + blended with an expression of deep and heartfelt pity. She did not reply, + however, and the appearance of the jailer soon recalled the thoughts of + both to the object of their visit. + </p> + <p> + The rescue of the ladies, and their consequent interest in his prisoner, + together with the informal manners that prevailed in the country, all + united to prevent any surprise on the part of the jailer, at their request + for admission to Bumppo. The note of Judge Temple, however, would have + silenced all objections, if he had felt them and he led the way without + hesitation to the apartment that held the prisoners. The instant the key + was put into the lock, the hoarse voice of Benjamin was heard, demanding: + </p> + <p> + “Yo hoy! who comes there?” + </p> + <p> + “Some visitors that you'll be glad to see,” returned the jailer. “What + have you done to the lock, that it won't turn.” + </p> + <p> + “Handsomely, handsomely, master,” cried the steward: “I have just drove a + nail into a berth alongside of this here bolt, as a stopper, d'ye see, so + that Master Doo-but-little can't be running in and breezing up another + fight atwixt us: for, to my account, there'll be but a han-yan with me + soon, seeing that they'll mulct me of my Spaniards, all the same as if I'd + over-flogged the lubber. Throw your ship into the wind, and lay by for a + small matter, will ye? and I'll soon clear a passage.” + </p> + <p> + The sounds of hammering gave an assurance that the steward was in earnest, + and in a short time the lock yielded, when the door was opened. + </p> + <p> + Benjamin had evidently been anticipating the seizure of his money, for he + had made frequent demands on the favorite cask at the “Bold Dragoon,” + during the afternoon and evening, and was now in that state which by + marine imagery is called “half-seas-over.” It was no easy thing to destroy + the balance of the old tar by the effects of liquor, for, as he expressed + it himself, “he was too low-rigged not to carry sail in all weathers;” but + he was precisely in that condition which is so expressively termed + “muddy.” When he perceived who the visitors were, he retreated to the side + of the room where his pallet lay, and, regardless of the presence of his + young mistress, seated himself on it with an air of great sobriety, + placing his back firmly against the wall. + </p> + <p> + “If you undertake to spoil my locks in this manner, Mr. Pump,” said the + jailer, “I shall put a stopper, as you call it, on your legs, and tie you + down to your bed.” + </p> + <p> + “What for should ye, master?” grumbled Benjamin; “I've rode out one squall + to-day anchored by the heels, and I wants no more of them. Where's the + harm o' doing all the same as yourself? Leave that there door free out + board, and you'll find no locking inboard, I'll promise ye.” + </p> + <p> + “I must shut up for the night at nine,” said the jailer, “and it's now + forty-two minutes past eight.” He placed the little candle on a rough pine + table, and withdrew. + </p> + <p> + “Leather-Stocking!” said Elizabeth, when the key of the door was turned on + them again, “my good friend, Leather-Stocking! I have come on a message of + gratitude. Had you submitted to the search, worthy old man, the death of + the deer would have been a trifle, and all would have been well———” + </p> + <p> + “Submit to the sarch!” interrupted Natty, raising his face from resting on + his knees, without rising from the corner where he had seated himself; + “d'ye think gal, I would let such a varmint into my hut? No, no—I + wouldn't have opened the door to your own sweet countenance then. But they + are welcome to search among the coals and ashes now; they'll find only + some such heap as is to be seen at every pot-ashery in the mountains.” + </p> + <p> + The old man dropped his face again on one hand, and seemed to be lost in + melancholy. + </p> + <p> + “The hut can be rebuilt, and made better than before,” returned Miss + Temple; “and it shall be my office to see it done, when your imprisonment + is ended.” + </p> + <p> + “Can ye raise the dead, child?” said Natty, in a sorrowful voice: “can ye + go into the place where you've laid your fathers, and mothers, and + children, and gather together their ashes, and make the same men and women + of them as afore? You do not know what 'tis to lay your head for more than + forty years under the cover of the same logs, and to look at the same + things for the better part of a man's life. You are young yet, child, + but you are one of the most precious of God's creatures. I had hoped for + ye that it might come to pass, but it's all over now; this, put to that, + will drive the thing quite out of his mind for ever.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple must have understood the meaning of the old man better than + the other listeners; for while Louisa stood innocently by her side, + commiserating the griefs of the hunter, she bent her head aside, so as to + conceal her features. The action and the feeling that caused it lasted but + a moment. + </p> + <p> + “Other logs, and better, though, can be had, and shall be found for you, + my old defender,” she continued. “Your confinement will soon be over, and, + before that time arrives, I shall have a house prepared for you, where I + you may spend the close of your long and harmless life in ease and + plenty.” + </p> + <p> + “Ease and plenty! house!” repeated Natty, slowly. “You mean well, you mean + well, and I quite mourn that it cannot be; but he has seen me a sight and + a laughing-stock for—” + </p> + <p> + “Damn your stocks,” said Benjamin, flourishing his bottle with one hand, + from which he had been taking hasty and repeated draughts, while he made + gestures of disdain with the other: “who cares for his bilboes? There's a + leg that been stuck up on end like a jibboom for an hour, d'ye see, and + what's it the worse for't, ha? canst tell me, what's it the worser, ha?” + </p> + <p> + “I believe you forget, Mr. Pump, in whose presence you are,” said + Elizabeth. + </p> + <p> + “Forget you, Miss Lizzy?” returned the steward; “if I do, dam'me; you are + not to be forgot, like Goody Pretty-bones, up at the big house there. I + say, old sharpshooter, she may have pretty bones, but I can't say so much + for her flesh, d'ye see, for she looks somewhat like anatomy with another + man's jacket on. Now for the skin of her face, it's all the same as a new + topsail with a taut bolt-rope, being snug at the leeches, but all in a + bight about the inner cloths.” + </p> + <p> + “Peace—I command you to be silent, sir!” said Elizabeth. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, ma'am,” returned the steward. “You didn't say I shouldn't drink, + though.” + </p> + <p> + “We will not speak of what is to become of others,” said Miss Temple, + turning again to the hunter—“but of your own fortunes, Natty. It + shall be my care to see that you pass the rest of your days in ease and + plenty.” + </p> + <p> + “Ease and plenty!” again repeated the Leather-Stocking; “what ease can + there be to an old man, who must walk a mile across the open fields, + before he can find a shade to hide him from a scorching sun! or what + plenty is there where you hunt a day, and not start a buck, or see + anything bigger than a mink, or maybe a stray fox! Ah! I shall have a hard + time after them very beavers, for this fine. I must go low toward the + Pennsylvania line in search of the creatures, maybe a hundred mile; for + they are not to be got here-away. No, no—your betterments and + clearings have druv the knowing things out of the country, and instead of + beaver-dams, which is the nater of the animal, and according to + Providence, you turn back the waters over the low grounds with your + mill-dams, as if 'twas in man to stay the drops from going where He wills + them to go—Benny, unless you stop your hand from going so often to + your mouth, you won't be ready to start when the time comes. + </p> + <p> + “Hark'ee, Master Bump-ho,” said the steward; “don't you fear for Ben, When + the watch is called, set me of my legs and give me the bearings and the + distance of where you want me to steer, and I'll carry sail with the best + of you, I will.” + </p> + <p> + “The time has come now,” said the hunter, listening; “I hear the horns of + the oxen rubbing agin' the side of the jail.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, say the word, and then heave ahead, shipmate,” said Benjamin. + </p> + <p> + “You won't betray us, gal?” said Natty, looking simply into the face of + Elizabeth—“you won't betray an old man, who craves to breathe the + clear air of heaven? I mean no harm; and if the law says that I must pay + the hundred dollars, I'll take the season through, but it shall be + forthcoming; and this good man will help me.” + </p> + <p> + “You catch them,” said Benjamin, with a sweeping gesture of his arm, “and + if they get away again, call me a slink, that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “But what mean you?” cried the wondering Elizabeth. “Here you must stay + for thirty days; but I have the money for your fine in this purse. Take + it; pay it in the morning, and summon patience for your mouth. I will come + often to see you, with my friend; we will make up your clothes with our + own hands; indeed, indeed, you shall be comfortable.” + </p> + <p> + “Would ye, children?” said Natty, advancing across the floor with an air + of kindness, and taking the hand of Elizabeth, “would ye be so kearful of + an old man, and just for shooting a beast which cost him nothing? Such + things doesn't run in the blood, I believe, for you seem not to forget a + favor. Your little fingers couldn't do much on a buckskin, nor be you used + to push such a thread as sinews. But if he hasn't got past hearing, he + shalt hear it and know it, that he may see, like me, there is some who + know how to remember a kindness.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell him nothing,” cried Elizabeth, earnestly; “if you love me, if you + regard my feelings, tell him nothing. It is of yourself only I would talk, + and for yourself only I act. I grieve, Leather-Stocking, that the law + requires that you should be detained here so long; but, after all, it will + be only a short month, and——” + </p> + <p> + “A month?” exclaimed Natty, opening his mouth with his usual laugh, “not a + day, nor a night, nor an hour, gal. Judge Temple may sintence, but he + can't keep without a better dungeon than this. I was taken once by the + French, and they put sixty-two of us in a block-house, nigh hand to old + Frontinac; but 'twas easy to cut through a pine log to them that was used + to timber.” The hunter paused, and looked cautiously around the room, + when, laughing again, he shoved the steward gently from his post, and + removing the bedclothes, discovered a hole recently cut in the logs with a + mallet and chisel. “It's only a kick, and the outside piece is off, and + then—” + </p> + <p> + “Off! ay, off!” cried Benjamin, rising from his stupor; “well, here's off. + Ay! ay! you catch 'em, and I'll hold on to them said beaver-hats.” + </p> + <p> + “I fear this lad will trouble me much,” said Natty; “'twill be a hard pull + for the mountain, should they take the scent soon, and he is not in a + state of mind to run.” + </p> + <p> + “Run!” echoed the steward; “no, sheer alongside, and let's have a fight of + it.” + </p> + <p> + “Peace!” ordered Elizabeth. + </p> + <p> + “Ay, ay, ma'am.” + </p> + <p> + “You will not leave us, surely, Leather-Stocking,” continued Miss Temple; + “I beseech you, reflect that you will be driven to the woods entirely, and + that you are fast getting old. Be patient for a little time, when you can + go abroad openly, and with honor.” + </p> + <p> + “Is there beaver to be catched here, gal?” + </p> + <p> + “If not, here is money to discharge the fine, and in a month you are free. + See, here it is in gold.” + </p> + <p> + “Gold!” said Natty, with a kind of childish curiosity; “it's long sin' + I've seen a gold-piece. We used to get the broad joes, in the old war, as + plenty as the bears be now. I remember there was a man in Dieskau's army, + that was killed, who had a dozen of the shining things sewed up in his + shirt. I didn't handle them myself, but I seen them cut out with my own + eyes; they was bigger and brighter than them be.” + </p> + <p> + “These are English guineas, and are yours,” said Elizabeth; “an earnest of + what shall be done for you.” + </p> + <p> + “Me! why should you give me this treasure!” said Natty, looking earnestly + at the maiden. + </p> + <p> + “Why! have you not saved my life? Did you not rescue me from the jaws of + the beast?” exclaimed Elizabeth, veiling her eyes, as if to hide some + hideous object from her view. + </p> + <p> + The hunter took the money, and continued turning it in his hand for some + time, piece by piece, talking aloud during the operation. + </p> + <p> + “There's a rifle, they say, out on the Cherry Valley, that will carry a + hundred rods and kill. I've seen good guns in my day, but none quite equal + to that. A hundred rods with any sartainty is great shooting! Well, well—I'm + old, and the gun I have will answer my time. Here, child, take back your + gold. But the hour has come; I hear him talking to the cattle, and I must + be going. You won't tell of us, gal—you won't tell of us, will ye?” + </p> + <p> + “Tell of you!” echoed Elizabeth. “But take the money, old man; take the + money, even if you go into the mountains.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” said Natty, shaking his head kindly; “I would not rob you so for + twenty rifles. But there's one thing you can do for me, if ye will, that + no other is at hand to do. + </p> + <p> + “Name it—name it.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, it's only to buy a canister of powder—'twill cost two silver + dollars. Benny Pump has the money ready, but we daren't come into the town + to get it. Nobody has it but the Frenchman. 'Tis of the best, and just + suits a rifle. Will you get it for me, gal?—say, will you get it for + me?” + </p> + <p> + “Will I? I will bring it to you, Leather-Stocking, though I toil a day in + quest of you through the woods. But where shall I find you, and how?” + </p> + <p> + “Where?” said Natty, musing a moment—“to-morrow on the Vision; on + the very top of the Vision, I'll meet you, child, just as the sun gets + over our heads. See that it's the fine grain; you'll know it by the gloss + and the price.” + </p> + <p> + “I will do it,” said Elizabeth, firmly. + </p> + <p> + Natty now seated himself, and placing his feet in the hole, with a slight + effort he opened a passage through into the street. The ladies heard the + rustling of hay, and well understood the reason why Edwards was in the + capacity of a teamster. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Benny,” said the hunter: “'twill be no darker to-night, for the + moon will rise in an hour.” + </p> + <p> + “Stay!” exclaimed Elizabeth; “it should not be said that you escaped in + the presence of the daughter of Judge Temple. Return, Leather-Stocking, + and let us retire Before you execute your plan.” + </p> + <p> + Natty was about to reply, when the approaching footsteps of the jailer + announced the necessity of his immediate return. He had barely time to + regain his feet, and to conceal the hole with the bedclothes, across which + Benjamin very opportunely fell, before the key was turned, and the door of + the apartment opened. + </p> + <p> + “Isn't Miss Temple ready to go?” said the civil jailer; “it's the usual + hour for locking up.” + </p> + <p> + “I follow you, sir,” returned Elizabeth “good-night, Leather-Stocking.” + </p> + <p> + “It's a fine grain, gal, and I think twill carry lead further than common. + I am getting old, and can't follow up the game with the step I used to + could.” + </p> + <p> + Miss Temple waved her hand for silence, and preceded Louisa and the keeper + from the apartment. The man turned the key once, and observed that he + would return and secure his prisoners, when he had lighted the ladies to + the street. Accordingly they parted at the door of the building, when the + jailer retired to his dungeons, and the ladies walked, with throbbing + hearts, toward the corner. + </p> + <p> + “Now the Leather-Stocking refuses the money,” whispered Louisa, “it can + all be given to Mr. Edwards, and that added to—” + </p> + <p> + “Listen!” said Elizabeth; “I hear the rustling of the hay; they are + escaping at this moment. Oh! they will be detected instantly!” + </p> + <p> + By this time they were at the corner, where Edwards and Natty were in the + act of drawing the almost helpless body of Benjamin through the aperture. + The oxen had started back from their hay, and were standing with their + heads down the street, leaving room for the party to act in. + </p> + <p> + “Throw the hay into the cart,” said Edwards, “or they will suspect how it + has been done. Quick, that they may not see it.” + </p> + <p> + Natty had just returned from executing this order, when the light of the + keeper's candle shone through the hole, and instantly his voice was heard + in the jail exclaiming for his prisoners. + </p> + <p> + “What is to be done now?” said Edwards; “this drunken fellow will cause + our detection, and we have not a moment to spare.” + </p> + <p> + “Who's drunk, ye lubber?” muttered the steward. + </p> + <p> + “A break-jail! a break-jail!” shouted five or six voices from within. + </p> + <p> + “We must leave him,” said Edwards. + </p> + <p> + “'Twouldn't be kind, lad,” returned Natty; “he took half the disgrace of + the stocks on himself to-day, and the creatur' has feeling.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment two or three men were heard issuing from the door of the + “Bold Dragoon,” and among them the voice of Billy Kirby. + </p> + <p> + “There's no moon yet,” cried the wood-chopper; “but it's a clear night. + Come, who's for home? Hark! what a rumpus they're kicking up in the jail—here's + go and see what it's about.” + </p> + <p> + “We shall be lost,” said Edwards, “if we don't drop this man.” + </p> + <p> + At that instant Elizabeth moved close to him, and said rapidly, in a low + voice: + </p> + <p> + “Lay him in the cart, and start the oxen; no one will look there.” + </p> + <p> + “There's a woman's quickness in the thought,” said the youth. + </p> + <p> + The proposition was no sooner made than executed. The steward was seated + on the hay, and enjoined to hold his peace and apply the goad that was + placed in his hand, while the oxen were urged on. So soon as this + arrangement was completed, Edwards and the hunter stole along the houses + for a short distance, when they disappeared through an opening that led + into the rear of the buildings. + </p> + <p> + The oxen were in brisk motion, and presently the cries of pursuit were + heard in the street. The ladies quickened their pace, with a wish to + escape the crowd of constables and idlers that were approaching, some + execrating, and some laughing at the exploit of the prisoners. In the + confusion, the voice of Kirby was plainly distinguishable above all the + others, shouting and swearing that he would have the fugitives, + threatening to bring back Natty in one pocket, and Benjamin in the other. + </p> + <p> + “Spread yourselves, men,” he cried, as he passed the ladies, his heavy + feet sounding along the street like the tread of a dozen; “spread + yourselves; to the mountains; they'll be in the mountains in a quarter of + an hour, and then look out for a long rifle.” + </p> + <p> + His cries were echoed from twenty mouths, for not only the jail but the + taverns had sent forth their numbers, some earnest in the pursuit, and + others joining it as in sport. + </p> + <p> + As Elizabeth turned in at her father's gate she saw the wood-chopper stop + at the cart, when she gave Benjamin up for lost. While they were hurrying + up the walk, two figures, stealing cautiously but quickly under the shades + of the trees, met the eyes of the ladies, and in a moment Edwards and the + hunter crossed their path. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Temple, I may never see you again,” exclaimed the youth; “let me + thank you for all your kindness; you do not, cannot know my motives.” + </p> + <p> + “Fly! fly!” cried Elizabeth; “the village is alarmed. Do not be found + conversing with me at such a moment, and in these grounds.” + </p> + <p> + “Nay, I must speak, though detection were certain.” + </p> + <p> + “Your retreat to the bridge is already cut off; before you can gain the + wood your pursuers will be there. If—” + </p> + <p> + “If what?” cried the youth. “Your advice has saved me once already; I will + follow it to death.” + </p> + <p> + “The street is now silent and vacant,” said Elizabeth, after a pause; + “cross it, and you will find my father's boat in the lake. It would be + easy to land from it where you please in the hills.” + </p> + <p> + “But Judge Temple might complain of the trespass.” + </p> + <p> + “His daughter shall be accountable, sir.” + </p> + <p> + The youth uttered something in a low voice, that was heard only by + Elizabeth, and turned to execute what she had suggested. As they were + separating, Natty approached the females, and said: + </p> + <p> + “You'll remember the canister of powder, children. Them beavers must be + had, and I and the pups be getting old; we want the best of ammunition.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, Natty,” said Edwards, impatiently. + </p> + <p> + “Coming, lad, coming. God bless you, young ones, both of ye, for ye mean + well and kindly to the old man.” + </p> + <p> + The ladies paused until they had lost sight of the retreating figures, + when they immediately entered the mansion-house. + </p> + <p> + While this scene was passing in the walk, Kirby had overtaken the cart, + which was his own, and had been driven by Edwards, without asking the + owner, from the place where the patient oxen usually stood at evening, + waiting the pleasure of their master. + </p> + <p> + “Woa—come hither, Golden,” he cried; “why, how come you off the end + of the bridge, where I left you, dummies?” + </p> + <p> + “Heave ahead,” muttered Benjamin, giving a random blow with his lash, that + alighted on the shoulder of the other. + </p> + <p> + “Who the devil be you?” cried Billy, turning round in surprise, but unable + to distinguish, in the dark, the hard visage that was just peering over + the cart-rails. + </p> + <p> + “Who be I? why, I'm helmsman aboard of this here craft d'ye see, and a + straight wake I'm making of it. Ay, ay! I've got the bridge right ahead, + and the bilboes dead aft: I calls that good steerage, boy. Heave ahead.” + </p> + <p> + “Lay your lash in the right spot, Mr. Benny Pump,” said the wood-chopper, + “or I'll put you in the palm of my hand and box your ears. Where be you + going with my team?” + </p> + <p> + “Team!” + </p> + <p> + “Ay, my cart and oxen.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, you must know, Master Kirby, that the Leather-Stocking and I—that's + Benny Pump—you knows Ben?—well, Benny and I—no, me and + Benny; dam'me if I know how 'tis; but some of us are bound after a cargo + of beaver-skins, d'ye see, so we've pressed the cart to ship them 'ome in. + I say, Master Kirby, what a lubberly oar you pull—you handle an oar, + boy, pretty much as a cow would a musket, or a lady would a + marling-spike.” + </p> + <p> + Billy had discovered the state of the steward's mind, and he walked for + some time alongside of the cart, musing with himself, when he took the + goad from Benjamin (who fell back on the hay and was soon asleep) and + drove his cattle down the street, over the bridge, and up the mountain, + toward a clearing in which he was to work the next day, without any other + interruption than a few hasty questions from parties of the constables. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth stood for an hour at the window of her room, and saw the torches + of the pursuers gliding along the side of the mountain, and heard their + shouts and alarms; but, at the end of that time, the last party returned, + wearied and disappointed, and the village became as still as when she + issued from the gate on her mission to the jail. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0036" id="link2HCH0036"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And I could weep”— + th' Oneida chief + His descant wildly thus begun— + “But that I may not stain with grief + The death-song of my father's son.” + —Gertrude of Wyoming. +</pre> + <p> + It was yet early on the following morning, when Elizabeth and Louisa met + by appointment, and proceeded to the store of Monsieur Le Quoi, in order + to redeem the pledge the former had given to the Leather-Stocking. The + people were again assembling for the business of the day, but the hour was + too soon for a crowd, and the ladies found the place in possession of its + polite owner, Billy Kirby, one female customer, and the boy who did the + duty of helper or clerk. + </p> + <p> + Monsieur Le Quoi was perusing a packet of letters with manifest delight, + while the wood-chopper, with one hand thrust in his bosom, and the other + in the folds of his jacket, holding an axe under his right arm, stood + sympathizing in the Frenchman's pleasure with good-natured interest. The + freedom of manners that prevailed in the new settlements commonly levelled + all difference in rank, and with it, frequently, all considerations of + education and intelligence. At the time the ladies entered the store, they + were unseen by the owner, who was saying to Kirby: + </p> + <p> + “Ah! ha! Monsieur Beel, dis lettair mak me de most happi of mans. Ah! ma + chére France! I vill see you again.” + </p> + <p> + “I rejoice, monsieur, at anything that contributes to your happiness,” + said Elizabeth, “but hope we are not going to lose you entirely.” + </p> + <p> + The complaisant shopkeeper changed the language to French and recounted + rapidly to Elizabeth his hopes of being permitted to return to his own + country. Habit had, however, so far altered the manners of this pliable + person age, that he continued to serve the wood-chopper, who was in quest + of some tobacco, while he related to his more gentle visitor the happy + change that had taken place in the dispositions of his own countrymen. + </p> + <p> + The amount of it all was, that Mr. Le Quoi, who had fled from his own + country more through terror than because he was offensive to the ruling + powers in France, had succeeded at length in getting an assurance that his + return to the West Indies would be unnoticed; and the Frenchman, who had + sunk into the character of a country shopkeeper with so much grace, was + about to emerge again from his obscurity into his proper level in society. + </p> + <p> + We need not repeat the civil things that passed between the parties on + this occasion, nor recount the endless repetitions of sorrow that the + delighted Frenchman expressed at being compelled to quit the society of + Miss Temple. Elizabeth took an opportunity, during this expenditure of + polite expressions, to purchase the powder privately of the boy, who bore + the generic appellation of Jonathan. Before they parted, however, Mr. Le + Quoi, who seemed to think that he had not said enough, solicited the honor + of a private interview with the heiress, with a gravity in his air that + announced the importance of the subject. After conceding the favor, and + appointing a more favorable time for the meeting, Elizabeth succeeded in + getting out of the store, into which the countrymen now began to enter, as + usual, where they met with the same attention and bien seance as formerly. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth and Louisa pursued their walk as far as the bridge in profound + silence; but when they reached that place the latter stopped, and appeared + anxious to utter something that her diffidence suppressed. + </p> + <p> + “Are you ill, Louisa?” exclaimed Miss Temple; “had we not better return, + and seek another opportunity to meet the old man?” + </p> + <p> + “Not ill, but terrified. Oh! I never, never can go on that hill again with + you only. I am not equal to it, in deed I am not.” + </p> + <p> + This was an unexpected declaration to Elizabeth, who, although she + experienced no idle apprehension of a danger that no longer existed, felt + most sensitively all the delicacy of maiden modesty. She stood for some + time, deeply reflecting within herself; but, sensible it was a time for + action instead of reflection, she struggled to shake off her hesitation, + and replied, firmly: + </p> + <p> + “Well, then it must be done by me alone. There is no other than yourself + to be trusted, or poor old Leather-Stocking will be discovered. Wait for + me in the edge of these woods, that at least I may not be seen strolling + in the hills by myself just now, One would not wish to create remarks, + Louisa—if—if—You will wait for me, dear girl?” + </p> + <p> + “A year, in sight of the village, Miss Temple,” returned the agitated + Louisa, “but do not, do not ask me to go on that hill.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth found that her companion was really unable to proceed, and they + completed their arrangement by posting Louisa out of the observation of + the people who occasionally passed, but nigh the road, and in plain view + of the whole valley. Miss Temple then proceeded alone. She ascended the + road which has been so often mentioned in our narrative, with an elastic + and firm step, fearful that the delay in the store of Mr. Le Quoi, and the + time necessary for reaching the summit, would prevent her being punctual + to the appointment Whenever she pressed an opening in the bushes, she + would pause for breath, or, perhaps, drawn from her pursuit by the + picture at her feet, would linger a moment to gaze at the beauties of the + valley. The long drought had, however, changed its coat of verdure to a + hue of brown, and, though the same localities were there, the view wanted + the lively and cheering aspect of early summer. Even the heavens seemed to + share in the dried appearance of the earth, for the sun was concealed by a + haziness in the atmosphere, which looked like a thin smoke without a + particle of moisture, if such a thing were possible. The blue sky was + scarcely to be seen, though now, and then there was a faint lighting up in + spots through which masses of rolling vapor could be discerned gathering + around the horizon, as if nature were struggling to collect her floods for + the relief of man. The very atmosphere that Elizabeth inhaled was hot and + dry, and by the time she reached the point where the course led her from + the highway she experienced a sensation like suffocation. But, + disregarding her feelings, she hastened to execute her mission, dwelling + on nothing but the disappointment, and even the helplessness, the hunter + would experience without her aid. + </p> + <p> + On the summit of the mountain which Judge Temple had named the “Vision,” a + little spot had been cleared, in order that a better view might be + obtained of the village and the valley. At this point Elizabeth understood + the hunter she was to meet him; and thither she urged her way, as + expeditiously as the difficulty of the ascent, and the impediment of a + forest, in a state of nature, would admit. Numberless were the fragments + of rocks, trunks of fallen trees, and branches, with which she had to + contend; but every difficulty vanished before her resolution, and, by her + own watch, she stood on the desired spot several minutes before the + appointed hour. + </p> + <p> + After resting a moment on the end of a log, Miss Temple cast a glance + about her in quest of her old friend, but he was evidently not in the + clearing; she arose and walked around its skirts, examining every place + where she thought it probable Natty might deem it prudent to conceal him + self. Her search was fruitless; and, after exhausting not only herself, + but her conjectures, in efforts to discover or imagine his situation, she + ventured to trust her voice in that solitary place. + </p> + <p> + “Natty! Leather-Stocking! old man!” she called aloud, in every direction; + but no answer was given, excepting the reverberations of her own clear + tones, as they were echoed in the parched forest. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth approached the brow of the mountain, where a faint cry, like the + noise produced by striking the hand against the mouth, at the same time + that the breath is strongly exhaled, was heard answering to her own voice. + Not doubting in the least that it was the Leather-Stocking lying in wait + for her, and who gave that signal to indicate the place where he was to be + found, Elizabeth descended for near a hundred feet, until she gained a + little natural terrace, thinly scattered with trees, that grew in the + fissures of the rocks, which were covered by a scanty soil. She had + advanced to the edge of this platform, and was gazing over the + perpendicular precipice that formed its face, when a rustling among the + dry leaves near her drew her eyes in another direction. Our heroine + certainly was startled by the object that she then saw, but a moment + restored her self-possession, and she advanced firmly, and with some + interest in her manner, to the spot. + </p> + <p> + Mohegan was seated on the trunk of a fallen oak, with his tawny visage + turned toward her, and his eyes fixed on her face with an expression of + wildness and fire, that would have terrified a less resolute female. His + blanket had fallen from his shoulders, and was lying in folds around him, + leaving his breast, arms, and most of his body bare. 'The medallion of + Washington reposed on his chest, a badge of distinction that Elizabeth + well knew he only produced on great and solemn occasions. But the whole + appearance of the aged chief was more studied than common, and in some + particulars it was terrific. The long black hair was plaited on his head, + failing away, so as to expose his high forehead and piercing eyes. In the + enormous incisions of his ears were entwined ornaments of silver, beads, + and porcupine's quills, mingled in a rude taste, and after the Indian + fashions. A large drop, composed of similar materials, was suspended from + the cartilage of his nose, and, falling below his lips, rested on his + chin. Streaks of red paint crossed his wrinkled brow, and were traced down + his cheeks, with such variations in the lines as caprice or custom + suggested. His body was also colored in the same manner; the whole + exhibiting an Indian warrior prepared for some event of more than usual + moment. + </p> + <p> + “John! how fare you, worthy John?” said Elizabeth, as she approached him; + “you have long been a stranger in the village. You promised me a willow + basket, and I have long had a shirt of calico in readiness for you.” + </p> + <p> + The Indian looked steadily at her for some time without answering, and + then, shaking his head, he replied, in his low, guttural tones: + </p> + <p> + “John's hand can make baskets no more—he wants no shirt.” + </p> + <p> + “But if he should, he will know where to come for it,” returned Miss + Temple. “Indeed old John. I feel as if you had a natural right to order + what you will from us.” + </p> + <p> + “Daughter,” said the Indian, “listen: Six times ten hot summers have + passed since John was young tall like a pine; straight like the bullet of + Hawk-eye, strong as all buffalo; spry as the cat of the mountain. He was + strong, and a warrior like the Young Eagle. If his tribe wanted to track + the Maquas for many suns, the eye of Chingachgook found the print of their + moccasins. If the people feasted and were glad, as they counted the scalps + of their enemies, it was on his pole they hung. If the squaws cried + because there was no meat for their children, he was the first in the + chase. His bullet was swifter than the deer. Daughter, then Chingachgook + struck his tomahawk into the trees; it was to tell the lazy ones where to + find him and the Mingoes—but he made no baskets.” + </p> + <p> + “Those times have gone by, old warrior,” returned Elizabeth; “since then + your people have disappeared, and, in place of chasing your enemies, you + have learned to fear God and to live at peace.” + </p> + <p> + “Stand here, daughter, where you can see the great spring, the wigwams of + your father, and the land on the crooked river. John was young when his + tribe gave away the country, in council, from where the blue mountain + stands above the water, to where the Susquehanna is hid by the trees. All + this, and all that grew in it, and all that walked over it, and all that + fed there, they gave to the Fire-eater——for they loved him. He + was strong, and they were women, and he helped them. No Delaware would + kill a deer that ran in his woods, nor stop a bird that flew over his + land; for it was his. Has John lived in peace? Daughter, since John was + young, he has seen the white man from Frontinac come down on his white + brothers at Albany and fight. Did they fear God? He has seen his English + and his American fathers burying their tomahawks in each other's brains, + for this very land. Did they fear God, and live in peace? He has seen the + land pass away from the Fire-eater, and his children, and the child of his + child, and a new chief set over the country. Did they live in peace who + did this? did they fear God?” + </p> + <p> + “Such is the custom of the whites, John. Do not the Delawares fight, and + exchange their lands for powder, and blankets, and merchandise?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian turned his dark eyes on his companion, and kept them there with + a scrutiny that alarmed her a little. + </p> + <p> + “Where are the blankets and merchandise that bought the right of the + Fire-eater?” he replied in a more animated voice; “are they with him in + his wigwam? Did they say to him, Brother, sell us your land, and take this + gold, this silver, these blankets, these rifles, or even this rum? No; + they tore it front him, as a scalp is torn from an enemy; and they that + did it looked not behind them, to see whether he lived or died. Do such + men live in peace and fear the Great Spirit?” + </p> + <p> + “But you hardly understand the circumstances,” said Elizabeth, more + embarrassed than she would own, even to herself. “If you knew our laws and + customs better, you would Judge differently of our acts. Do not believe + evil of my father, old Mohegan, for he is just and good.” + </p> + <p> + “The brother of Miquon is good, and he will do right. I have said it to + Hawk-eye—-I have said it to the Young Eagle that the brother of + Miquon would do justice.” + </p> + <p> + “Whom call you the Young Eagle?” said Elizabeth, averting her face from + the gaze of the Indian, as she asked the question; “whence comes he, and + what are his rights?” + </p> + <p> + “Has my daughter lived so long with him to ask this question?” returned + the Indian warily. “Old age freezes up the blood, as the frosts cover the + great spring in winter; but youth keeps the streams of the blood open like + a sun in the time of blossoms. The Young Eagle has eyes; had he no + tongue?” + </p> + <p> + The loveliness to which the old warrior alluded was in no degree + diminished by his allegorical speech; for the blushes of the maiden who + listened covered her burning cheeks till her dark eyes seemed to glow with + their reflection; but, after struggling a moment with shame, she laughed, + as if unwilling to understand him seriously, and replied in pleasantry: + </p> + <p> + “Not to make me the mistress of his secret. He is too much of a Delaware + to tell his secret thoughts to a woman.” + </p> + <p> + “Daughter, the Great Spirit made your father with a white skin, and he + made mine with a red; but he colored both their hearts with blood. When + young, it is swift and warm; but when old, it is still and cold. Is there + difference below the skin? No. Once John had a woman. She was the mother + of so many sons”—he raised his hand with three fingers elevated—“and + she had daughters that would have made the young Delawares happy. She was + kind, daughter, and what I said she did. You have different fashions; but + do you think John did not love the wife of his youth—the mother of + his children?” + </p> + <p> + “And what has become of your family, John—your wife and your + children?” asked Elizabeth, touched by the Indian's manner. + </p> + <p> + “Where is the ice that covered the great spring? It is melted, and gone + with the waters. John has lived till all his people have left him for the + land of spirits; his time has come, and he is ready.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan dropped his head in his blanket, and sat in silence. Miss Temple + knew not what to say. She wished to draw the thoughts of the old warrior + from his gloomy recollections, but there was a dignity in his sorrow, and + in his fortitude, that repressed her efforts to speak. After a long pause, + however, she renewed the discourse by asking: + </p> + <p> + “Where is the Leather-Stocking, John? I have brought this canister of + powder at his request; but he is nowhere to be seen. Will you take charge + of it, and see it delivered?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian raised his head slowly and looked earnestly at the gift, which + she put into his hand. + </p> + <p> + “This is the great enemy of my nation. Without this, when could the white + man drive the Delawares? Daughter, the Great Spirit gave your fathers to + know how to make guns and powder, that they might sweep the Indians from + the land. There will soon be no red-skin in the country. When John has + gone, the last will leave these hills, and his family will be dead.” The + aged warrior stretched his body forward, leaning an elbow on his knee, and + appeared to be taking a parting look at the objects of the vale, which + were still visible through the misty atmosphere, though the air seemed to + thicken at each moment around Miss Temple, who became conscious of an + increased difficulty of respiration. The eye of Mohegan changed gradually + from its sorrowful expression to a look of wildness that might be supposed + to border on the inspiration of a prophet, as he continued: “But he will + go on to the country where his fathers have met. The game shall be plenty + as the Ash in the lakes. No woman shall cry for meat: no Mingo can ever + come The chase shall be for children; and all just red men shall live + together as brothers.” + </p> + <p> + “John! this is not the heaven of a Christian,” cried Miss Temple; “you + deal now in the superstition of your forefathers.” + </p> + <p> + “Fathers! sons!” said Mohegan, with firmness.—“all gone—all + gone!—have no son but the Young Eagle, and he has the blood of a + white man.” + </p> + <p> + “Tell me, John,” said Elizabeth, willing to draw his thoughts to other + subjects, and at the same time yielding to her own powerful interest in + the youth; “who is this Mr. Edwards? why are you so fond of him, and + whence does he come?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian started at the question, which evidently recalled his + recollection to earth. Taking her hand, he drew Miss Temple to a seat + beside him, and pointed to the country beneath them. + </p> + <p> + “See, daughter,” he said, directing her looks toward the north; “as far as + your young eyes can see, it was the land of his. But immense volumes of + smoke at that moment rolled over their heath, and, whirling in the eddies + formed by the mountains, interposed a barrier to their sight, while he was + speaking. Startled by this circumstance, Miss Temple sprang to her feet, + and, turning her eyes toward the summit of the mountain, she beheld It + covered by a similar canopy, while a roaring sound was heard in the forest + above her like the rushing of winds. + </p> + <p> + “What means it, John?” she exclaimed: “we are enveloped in smoke, and I + feel a heat like the glow of a furnace.” + </p> + <p> + Before the Indian could reply, a voice was heard crying In the woods: + “John! where are you, old Mohegan! the woods are on fire, and you have but + a minute for escape.” + </p> + <p> + The chief put his hand before his mouth, and, making it lay on his lips, + produced the kind of noise that had attracted Elizabeth to the place, when + a quick and hurried step was heard dashing through the dried underbrush + and bushes, and presently Edwards rushed to his side, with horror an every + feature. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0037" id="link2HCH0037"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Love rules the court, the camp, the grove.” + —Lay of the Last Minstrel. +</pre> + <p> + “IT would have been sad, indeed, to lose you in such manner, my old + friend,” said Oliver, catching his breath for utterance. “Up and away! + even now we may be too late; the flames are circling round the point of + the rock below, and, unless we can pass there, our only chance must be + over the precipice. Away! away! shake off your apathy, John; now is the + time of need.” + </p> + <p> + Mohegan pointed toward Elizabeth, who, forgetting her danger, had sunk + back to a projection of the rock as soon as she recognized the sounds of + Edwards' voice, and said with something like awakened animation: + </p> + <p> + “Save her—leave John to die.” + </p> + <p> + “Her! whom mean you?” cried the youth, turning quickly to the place the + other indicated; but when he saw the figure of Elizabeth bending toward + him in an attitude that powerfully spoke terror, blended with reluctance + to meet him in such a place, the shock deprived him of speech. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Temple!” he cried, when he found words; “you here! is such a death + reserved for you!” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, no—no death, I hope, for any of us, Mr. Edwards,” she + replied, endeavoring to speak calmly; there is smoke, but no fire to harm + us. “Let us endeavor to retire.” + </p> + <p> + “Take my arm,” said Edwards; “there must be an opening in some direction + for your retreat. Are you equal to the effort?” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly. You surely magnify the danger, Mr. Edwards. Lead me out the + way you came.” + </p> + <p> + “I will—I will,” cried the youth, with a kind of hysterical + utterance. “No, no—there is no danger—I have alarmed you + unnecessarily.” + </p> + <p> + “But shall we leave the Indian—can we leave him, as he says, to + die?” + </p> + <p> + An expression of painful emotion crossed the face of the young man; he + stopped and cast a longing look at Mohegan but, dragging his companion + after him, even against her will, he pursued his way with enormous strides + toward the pass by which he had just entered the circle of flame. + </p> + <p> + “Do not regard him,” he said, in those tones that de note a desperate + calmness; “he is used to the woods, and such scenes; and he will escape up + the mountain—over the rock—or he can remain where he is in + safety.” + </p> + <p> + “You thought not so this moment, Edwards! Do not leave him there to meet + with such a death,” cried Elizabeth, fixing a look on the countenance of + her conductor that seemed to distrust his sanity. + </p> + <p> + “An Indian born! who ever heard of an Indian dying by fire? An Indian + cannot burn; the idea is ridiculous. Hasten, hasten, Miss Temple, or the + smoke may incommodate you.” + </p> + <p> + “Edwards! your look, your eye, terrifies me! Tell me the danger; is it + greater than it seems? I am equal to any trial.” + </p> + <p> + “If we reach the point of yon rock before that sheet of fire, we are safe, + Miss Temple,” exclaimed the young man in a voice that burst without the + bounds of his forced composure. “Fly! the struggle is for life!” + </p> + <p> + The place of the interview between Miss Temple and the Indian has already + been described as one of those platforms of rock, which form a sort of + terrace in the mountains of that country, and the face of it, we have + said, was both high and perpendicular. Its shape was nearly a natural arc, + the ends of which blended with the mountain, at points where its sides + were less abrupt in their descent. It was round one of these terminations + of the sweep of the rock that Edwards had ascended, and it was toward the + same place that he urged Elizabeth to a desperate exertion of speed. + </p> + <p> + Immense clouds of white smoke had been pouring over the summit of the + mountain, and had concealed the approach and ravages of the element; but a + crackling sound drew the eyes of Miss Temple, as she flew over the ground + supported by the young man, toward the outline of smoke where she already + perceived the waving flames shooting forward from the vapor, now flaring + high in the air, and then bending to the earth, seeming to light into + combustion every stick and shrub on which they breathed. The sight aroused + them to redoubled efforts; but, unfortunately, a collection of the tops of + trees, old and dried, lay directly across their course; and at the very + moment when both had thought their safety insured, the warm current of the + air swept a forked tongue of flame across the pile, which lighted at the + touch; and when they reached the spot, the flying pair were opposed by the + surly roaring of a body of fire, as if a furnace were glowing in their + path. They recoiled from the heat, and stood on a point of the rock, + gazing in a stupor at the flames which were spreading rap idly down the + mountain, whose side, too, became a sheet of living fire. It was dangerous + for one clad in the light and airy dress of Elizabeth to approach even the + vicinity of the raging element; and those flowing robes, that gave such + softness and grace to her form, seemed now to be formed for the + instruments of her destruction. + </p> + <p> + The villagers were accustomed to resort to that hill, in quest of timber + and fuel; in procuring which, it was their usage to take only the bodies + of the trees, leaving the tops and branches to decay under the operations + of the weather. Much of the hill was, consequently, covered with such + light fuel, which, having been scorched under the sun for the last two + months, was ignited with a touch. Indeed, in some cases, there did not + appear to be any contact between the fire and these piles, but the flames + seemed to dart from heap to heap, as the fabulous fire of the temple is + represented to reillumine its neglected lamp. + </p> + <p> + There was beauty as well as terror in the sight, and Edwards and Elizabeth + stood viewing the progress of the desolation, with a strange mixture of + horror and interest. The former, however, shortly roused himself to new + exertions, and, drawing his companion after him, they skirted the edge of + the smoke, the young man penetrating frequently into its dense volumes in + search of a passage, but in every instance without success. In this manner + they proceeded in a semicircle around the upper part of the terrace, until + arriving at the verge of the precipice opposite to the point where Edwards + had ascended, the horrid conviction burst on both, at the same instant, + that they were completely encircled by fire. So long as a single pass up + or down the mountain was unexplored, there was hope: but when retreat + seemed to be absolutely impracticable, the horror of their situation broke + upon Elizabeth as powerfully as if she had hitherto considered the danger + light. + </p> + <p> + “This mountain is doomed to be fatal to me!” she whispered; “we shall find + our graves on it!” + </p> + <p> + “Say not so, Miss Temple; there is yet hope,” returned the youth, in the + same tone, while the vacant expression of his eye contradicted his words; + “let us return to the point of the rock—there is—there must be—some + place about it where we can descend. + </p> + <p> + “Lead me there,” exclaimed Elizabeth; “let us leave no effort untried.” + She did not wait for his compliance, but turning, retraced her steps to + the brow of the precipice, murmuring to herself, in suppressed, hysterical + sobs, “My father! my poor, my distracted father!” + </p> + <p> + Edwards was by her side in an instant, and with aching eyes he examined + every fissure in the crags in quest of some opening that might offer + facilities for flight. But the smooth, even surface of the rocks afforded + hardly a resting-place for a foot, much less those continued projections + which would have been necessary for a descent of nearly a hundred feet. + Edwards was not slow in feeling the conviction that this hope was also + futile, and, with a kind of feverish despair that still urged him to + action, he turned to some new expedient. + </p> + <p> + “There is nothing left, Miss Temple,” he said, “but to lower you from this + place to the rock beneath. If Natty were here, or even that Indian could + be roused, their ingenuity and long practice would easily devise methods + to do it; but I am a child at this moment in everything but daring. Where + shall I find means? This dress of mine is so light, and there is so little + of it—then the blanket of Mohegan; we must try—we must try—anything + is better than to see you a victim to such a death!” + </p> + <p> + “And what will become of you?” said Elizabeth. “In deed, indeed, neither + you nor John must be sacrificed to my safety.” + </p> + <p> + He heard her not, for he was already by the side of Mohegan, who yielded + his blanket without a question, retaining his seat with Indian dignity and + composure, though his own situation was even more critical than that of + the others. The blanket was cut into shreds, and the fragments fastened + together: the loose linen jacket of the youth and the light muslin shawl + of Elizabeth were attached to them, and the whole thrown over the rocks + with the rapidity of lightning; but the united Pieces did not reach + half-way to the bottom. + </p> + <p> + “It will not do—it will not do!” cried Elizabeth; “for me there is + no hope! The fire comes slowly, but certainly. See, it destroys the very + earth before it!” + </p> + <p> + Had the flames spread on that rock with half the quickness with which + they leaped from bush to tree in other parts of the mountain, our painful + task would have soon ended; for they would have consumed already the + captives they inclosed. But the peculiarity of their situation afforded + Elizabeth and her companion the respite of which they had availed + themselves to make the efforts we have recorded. + </p> + <p> + The thin covering of earth on the rock supported but a scanty and faded + herbage, and most of the trees that had found root in the fissures had + already died, during the in tense heats of preceding summers. Those which + still retained the appearance of life bore a few dry and withered leaves, + while the others were merely the wrecks of pines, oaks, and maples. No + better materials to feed the fire could be found, had there been a + communication with the flames; but the ground was destitute of the brush + that led the destructive element, like a torrent, over the remainder of + the hill. As auxiliary to this scarcity of fuel, one of the large springs + which abound in that country gushed out of the side of the ascent above, + and, after creeping sluggishly along the level land, saturating the mossy + covering of the rock with moisture, it swept around the base of the little + cone that formed the pinnacle of the mountain, and, entering the canopy of + smoke near one of the terminations of the terrace, found its way to the + lake, not by dashing from rock to rock, but by the secret channels of the + earth. It would rise to the surface, here and there, in the wet seasons, + but in the droughts of summer it was to be traced only by the bogs and + moss that announced the proximity of water. When the fire reached this + barrier, it was compelled to pause, until a concentration of its heat + could overcome the moisture, like an army awaiting the operations of a + battering train, to open its way to desolation. + </p> + <p> + That fatal moment seemed now to have arrived, for the hissing steams of + the spring appeared to be nearly exhausted, and the moss of the rocks was + already curling under the intense heat, while fragments of bark, that yet + clung to the dead trees, began to separate from their trunks, and fall to + the ground in crumbling masses. The air seemed quivering with rays of + heat, which might be seen playing along the parched stems of the trees. + There were moments when dark clouds of smoke would sweep along the little + terrace; and, as the eye lost its power, the other senses contributed to + give effect to the fearful horror of the scene. At such moments, the + roaring of the flames, the crackling of the furious element, with the + tearing of falling branches, and occasionally the thundering echoes of + some falling tree, united to alarm the victims. Of the three, however, the + youth appeared much the most agitated. Elizabeth, having relinquished + entirely the idea of escape, was fast obtaining that resigned composure + with which the most delicate of her sex are sometimes known to meet + unavoidable evils; while Mohegan, who was much nearer to the danger, + maintained his seat with the invincible resignation of an Indian warrior. + Once or twice the eye of the aged chief, which was ordinarily fixed in the + direction of the distant hills, turned toward the young pair, who seemed + doomed to so early a death, with a slight indication of pity crossing his + composed features, but it would immediately revert again to its former + gaze, as if already looking into the womb of futurity. Much of the time he + was chanting a kind of low dirge in the Delaware tongue, using the deep + and remarkable guttural tones of his people. + </p> + <p> + “At such a moment, Mr. Edwards, all earthly distinctions end,” whispered + Elizabeth; “persuade John to move nearer to us—let us die together.” + </p> + <p> + “I cannot—he will not stir,” returned the youth, in the same + horridly still tones. “He considers this as the happiest moment of his + life, he is past seventy, and has been decaying rapidly for some time; he + received some injury in chasing that unlucky deer, too, on the lake, Oh! + Miss Temple, that was an unlucky chase, indeed! it has led, I fear, to + this awful scene.” + </p> + <p> + The smile of Elizabeth was celestial. “Why name such a trifle now?—at + this moment the heart is dead to all earthly emotions!” + </p> + <p> + “If anything could reconcile a man to this death,” cried the youth, “it + would be to meet it in such company!” + </p> + <p> + “Talk not so, Edwards; talk not so,” interrupted Miss Temple. “I am + unworthy of it, and it is unjust to your self. We must die; yes—yes—we + must die—it is the will of God, and let us endeavor to submit like + his own children.” + </p> + <p> + “Die!” the youth rather shrieked than exclaimed, “no—no—no—there + must yet be hope—you, at least, must-not, shall not die.” + </p> + <p> + “In what way can we escape?” asked Elizabeth, pointing with a look of + heavenly composure toward the fire “Observe! the flame is crossing the + barrier of wet ground—it comes slowly, Edwards, but surely. Ah! see! + the tree! the tree is already lighted!” + </p> + <p> + Her words were too true. The heat of the conflagration had at length + overcome the resistance of the spring, and the fire was slowly stealing + along the half-dried moss; while a dead pine kindled with the touch of a + forked flame, that, for a moment, wreathed around the stem of the tree, as + it whined, in one of its evolutions, under the influence of the air. The + effect was instantaneous, The flames danced along the parched trunk of the + pine like lightning quivering on a chain, and immediately a column of + living fire was raging on the terrace. It soon spread from tree to tree, + and the scene was evidently drawing to a close. The log on which Mohegan + was seated lighted at its further end, and the Indian appeared to be + surrounded by fire. Still he was unmoved. As his body was unprotected, his + sufferings must have been great; but his fortitude was superior to all. + His voice could yet be heard even in the midst of these horrors. Elizabeth + turned her head from the sight, and faced the valley Furious eddies of + wind were created by the heat, and, just at the moment, the canopy of + fiery smoke that overhung the valley was cleared away, leaving a distinct + view of the peaceful village beneath them. “My father!——my + father!” shrieked Elizabeth “Oh! this—surely might have been spared + me—but I submit.” + </p> + <p> + The distance was not so great but the figure of Judge Temple could be + seen, standing in his own grounds, and apparently contemplating, in + perfect unconsciousness of the danger of his child, the mountain in + flames. This sight was still more painful than the approaching danger; and + Elizabeth again faced the hill. + </p> + <p> + “My intemperate warmth has done this!” cried Edwards, in the accents of + despair. “If I had possessed but a moiety of your heavenly resignation, + Miss Temple, all might yet have been well.” + </p> + <p> + “Name it not—name it not,” she said. “It is now of no avail. We must + die, Edwards, we must die—let us do so as Christians. But—no—you + may yet escape, perhaps. Your dress is not so fatal as mine. Fly! Leave + me, An opening may yet be found for you, possibly—certainly it is + worth the effort. Fly! leave me—but stay! You will see my father! my + poor, my bereaved father! Say to him, then, Edwards, say to him, all that + can appease his anguish. Tell him that I died happy and collected; that I + have gone to my beloved mother; that the hours of this life are nothing + when balanced in the scales of eternity. Say how we shall meet again. And + say,” she continued, dropping her voice, that had risen with her feelings, + as if conscious of her worldly weakness, “how clear, how very dear, was my + love for him; that it was near, too near, to my love for God.” + </p> + <p> + The youth listened to her touching accents, but moved not. In a moment he + found utterance, and replied: + </p> + <p> + “And is it me that you command to leave you! to leave you on the edge of + the grave? Oh! Miss Temple, how little have you known me!” he cried, + dropping on his knees at her feet, and gathering her flowing robe in his + arms as if to shield her from the flames. “I have been driven to the woods + in despair, but your society has tamed the lion within me. If I have + wasted my time in degradation, 'twas you that charmed me to it. If I have + forgotten my name and family, your form supplied the place of memory. If I + have forgotten my wrongs, 'twas you that taught me charity. No—no—dearest + Elizabeth, I may die with you, but I can never leave you!” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth moved not, nor answered. It was plain that her thoughts had been + raised from the earth, The recollection of her father, and her regrets at + their separation, had been mellowed by a holy sentiment, that lifted her + above the level of earthly things, and she was fast losing the weakness of + her sex in the near view of eternity. But as she listened to these words + she became once more woman. She struggled against these feelings, and + smiled, as she thought she was shaking off the last lingering feeling of + nature, when the world, and all its seductions, rushed again to her heart, + with the sounds of a human, voice, crying in piercing tones: + </p> + <p> + “Gal! where be ye, gal! gladden the heart of an old man, if ye yet belong + to 'arth!” + </p> + <p> + “Hist!” said Elizabeth; “'tis the Leather-Stocking; he seeks me!” + </p> + <p> + “'Tis Natty!” shouted Edwards, “and we may yet be saved!” + </p> + <p> + A wide and circling flame glared on their eyes for a moment, even above + the fire of the woods, and a loud report followed. + </p> + <p> + “'Tis the canister, 'tis the powder,” cried the same voice, evidently + approaching them. “'Tis the canister, and the precious child is lost.” + </p> + <p> + At the next instant Natty rushed through the steams of the spring, and + appeared on the terrace, without his deerskin cap, his hair burnt to his + head, his shirt, of country check, black and filled with holes, and his + red features of a deeper color than ever, by the heat he had encountered. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0038" id="link2HCH0038"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXVIII. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Even from the land of shadows, now + My father's awful ghost appears.” + —Gertrude Of Wyoming. +</pre> + <p> + For an hour after Louisa Grant was left by Miss Temple, in the situation + already mentioned, she continued in feverish anxiety, awaiting the return + of her friend. But as the time passed by without the reappearance of + Elizabeth, the terror of Louisa gradually increased, until her alarmed + fancy had conjured every species of danger that appertained to the woods, + excepting the one that really existed. The heavens had become obscured by + degrees, and vast volumes of smoke were pouring over the valley; but the + thoughts of Louisa were still recurring to beasts, without dreaming of the + real cause for apprehension. She was stationed in the edge of the low + pines and chestnuts that succeed the first or large growth of the forest, + and directly above the angle where the highway turned from the straight + course to the village, and ascended the mountain laterally. Consequently, + she commanded a view, not only of the valley, but of the road beneath her. + The few travellers that passed, she observed, were engaged in earnest + conversation, and frequently raised their eyes to the hill, and at length + she saw the people leaving the court house, and gazing upward also. While + under the influence of the alarm excited by such unusual movements, + reluctant to go, and yet fearful to remain, Louisa was startled by the + low, cracking, but cautious treads of some one approaching through the + bushes. She was on the eve of flight, when Natty emerged from the cover, + and stood at her side. The old man laughed as he shook her kindly by a + hand that was passive with fear. + </p> + <p> + “I am glad to meet you here, child,” he said; “for the back of the + mountain is a-fire, and it would be dangerous to go up it now, till it has + been burnt over once, and the dead wood is gone. There's a foolish man, + the comrade of that varmint who has given me all this trouble, digging for + ore on the east side. I told him that the kearless fellows, who thought to + catch a practysed hunter in the woods after dark, had thrown the lighted + pine-knots in the brush, and that 'twould kindle like tow, and warned him + to leave the hill. But he was set upon his business, and nothing short of + Providence could move him, if he isn't burnt and buried in a grave of his + own digging, he's made of salamanders. Why, what ails the child? You look + as skeary as if you'd seed more painters. I wish there were more to be + found! they'd count up faster than the beaver. But where's the good child + with a bad father? Did she forget her promise to the old man?” + </p> + <p> + “The hill! the hill!” shrieked Louisa; “she seeks you on the hill with the + powder!” + </p> + <p> + Natty recoiled several feet at this unexpected intelligence. + </p> + <p> + “The Lord of Heaven have mercy on her! She's on the Vision, and that's a + sheet of fire agin' this. Child, if ye love the dear one, and hope to find + a friend when ye need it most, to the village, and give the alarm. The men + are used to fighting fire, and there may be a chance left, Fly! I bid ye + fly! nor stop even for breath.” + </p> + <p> + The Leather-Stocking had no sooner uttered this injunction, than he + disappeared in the bushes, and, when last seen by Louisa, was rushing up + the mountain, with a speed that none but those who were accustomed to the + toil could attain. + </p> + <p> + “Have I found ye!” the old man exclaimed, when he burst out of the smoke; + “God be praised that I have found ye; but follow—there's no time for + talking.” + </p> + <p> + “My dress!” said Elizabeth; “it would be fatal to trust myself nearer to + the flames in it.” + </p> + <p> + “I bethought me of your flimsy things,” cried Natty, throwing loose the + folds of a covering buckskin that he carried on his arm, and wrapping her + form in it, in such a manner as to envelop her whole person; “now follow, + for it's a matter of life and death to us all.” + </p> + <p> + “But John! what will become of John?” cried Edwards; “can we leave the old + warrior here to perish?” + </p> + <p> + The eyes of Natty followed the direction of Edwards' finger, where he + beheld the Indian still seated as before, with the very earth under his + feet consuming with fire. Without delay the hunter approached the spot, + and spoke in Delaware: + </p> + <p> + “Up and away, Chingachgook! will ye stay here to burn, like a Mingo at the + stake? The Moravians have teached ye better, I hope; the Lord preserve me + if the powder hasn't flashed atween his legs, and the skin of his back is + roasting. Will ye come, I say; will ye follow me?” + </p> + <p> + “Why should Mohegan go?” returned the Indian, gloomily. “He has seen the + days of an eagle, and his eye grows dim He looks on the valley; he looks + on the water; he looks in the hunting-grounds—but he sees no + Delawares. Every one has a white skin. My fathers say, from the far-off + land, Come. My women, my young warriors, my tribe, say, Come. The Great + Spirit says, Come. Let Mohegan die.” + </p> + <p> + “But you forget your friend,” cried Edwards, + </p> + <p> + “'Tis useless to talk to an Indian with the death-fit on him, lad,” + interrupted Natty, who seized the strips of the blanket, and with + wonderful dexterity strapped the passive chieftain to his own back; when + he turned, and with a strength that seemed to bid defiance, not only to + his years, but to his load, he led the way to the point whence he had + issued. As they crossed the little terrace of rock, one of the dead trees, + that had been tottering for several minutes, fell on the spot where they + had stood, and filled the air with its cinders. + </p> + <p> + Such an event quickened the steps of the party, who followed the + Leather-Stocking with the urgency required by the occasion. + </p> + <p> + “Tread on the soft ground,” he cried, when they were in a gloom where + sight availed them but little, “and keep in the white smoke; keep the skin + close on her, lad; she's a precious one—another will be hard to be + found.” + </p> + <p> + Obedient to the hunter's directions, they followed his steps and advice + implicitly; and, although the narrow pas sage along the winding of the + spring led amid burning logs and falling branches, they happily achieved + it in safety. No one but a man long accustomed to the woods could have + traced his route through the smoke, in which respiration was difficult, + and sight nearly useless; but the experience of Natty conducted them to an + opening through the rocks, where, with a little difficulty, they soon + descended to another terrace, and emerged at once into a tolerably clear + atmosphere. + </p> + <p> + The feelings of Edwards and Elizabeth at reaching this spot may be + imagined, though not easily described. No one seemed to exult more than + their guide, who turned, with Mohegan still lashed to his back, and, + laughing in his own manner, said: + </p> + <p> + “I knowed 'twa the Frenchman's powder, gal; it went so all together; your + coarse grain will squib for a minute. The Iroquois had none of the best + powder when I went agin' the Canada tribes, under Sir William. Did I ever + tell you the story, lad, consarning the scrimmage with—” + </p> + <p> + “For God's sake, tell me nothing now, Natty, until we are entirely safe. + Where shall we go next?” + </p> + <p> + “Why, on the platform of rock over the cave, to be sure; you will be safe + enough there, or we'll go Into It, if you be so minded.” The young man + started, and appeared agitated; but, Looking around him with an anxious + eye, said quickly: + </p> + <p> + “Shalt we be safe on the rock? cannot the fire reach us there, too?” + </p> + <p> + “Can't the boy see?” said Natty, with the coolness of one accustomed to + the kind of danger he had just encountered. “Had ye stayed in the place + above ten minutes longer, you would both have been in ashes, but here you + may stay forever, and no fire can touch you, until they burn the rocks as + well as the woods.” + </p> + <p> + With this assurance, which was obviously true, they proceeded to the spot, + and Natty deposited his load, placing the Indian on the ground with his + back against a fragment of the rocks. Elizabeth sank on the ground, and + buried her face in her hands, while her heart was swelling with a variety + of conflicting emotions. + </p> + <p> + “Let me urge you to take a restorative, Miss Temple,” said Edwards + respectfully; “your frame will sink else.” + </p> + <p> + “Leave me, leave me,” she said, raising her beaming eyes for a moment to + his; “I feel too much for words! I am grateful, Oliver, for this + miraculous escape; and next to my God to you.” + </p> + <p> + Edwards withdrew to the edge of the rock, and shouted: + </p> + <p> + “Benjamin! where are you, Benjamin?” + </p> + <p> + A hoarse voice replied, as if from the bowels of the earth: + </p> + <p> + “Hereaway, master; stowed in this here bit of a hole, which is all the + time as hot as the cook's coppers. I'm tired of my berth, d'ye see, and + if-so-be that Leather Stocking has got much overhauling to do before he + sails after them said beaver I'll go into dock again, and ride out my + quarantine, till I can get prottick from the law, and so hold on upon the + rest of my 'spaniolas.” + </p> + <p> + “Bring up a glass of water from the spring,” continued Edwards, “and throw + a little wine in it; hasten, I entreat you!” + </p> + <p> + “I knows but little of your small drink, Master Oliver,” returned the + steward, his voice issuing out of the cave into the open air, “and the + Jamaikey held out no longer than to take a parting kiss with Billy Kirby, + when he anchored me alongside the highway last night, where you run me + down in the chase. But here's summat of a red color that may suit a weak + stomach, mayhap. That Master Kirby is no first-rate in a boat; but he'll + tack a cart among the stumps, all the same as a Lon'on pilot will back and + fill, through the colliers in the Pool.” + </p> + <p> + As the steward ascended while talking, by the time he had ended his speech + he appeared on the rock with the desired restoratives, exhibiting the + worn-out and bloated features of a man who had run deep in a debauch, and + that lately. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth took from the hands of Edwards the liquor which he offered and + then motioned to be left again to herself. + </p> + <p> + The youth turned at her bidding, and observed Natty kindly assiduous + around the person of Mohegan. When their eyes met, the hunter said + sorrowfully: + </p> + <p> + “His time has come, lad; see it in his eyes—when an Indian fixes his + eye, he means to go but to one place; and what the wilful creatures put + their minds on, they're sure to do.” + </p> + <p> + A quick tread prevented the reply, and in a few moments, to the amazement + of the whole party, Mr. Grant was seen clinging to the side of the + mountain, and striving to reach the place where they stood. Oliver sprang + to his assistance, and by their united efforts the worthy divine was soon + placed safely among them. + </p> + <p> + “How came you added to our number?” cried Edwards. “Is the hill alive with + people at a time like this?” + </p> + <p> + The hasty but pious thanksgivings of the clergyman were soon ejaculated, + and, when he succeeded in collecting his bewildered senses, he replied: + </p> + <p> + “I heard that my child was seen coming to the mountain; and, when the fire + broke over its summit, my uneasiness drew me up the road, where I found + Louisa, in terror for Miss Temple. It was to seek her that I came into + this dangerous place; and I think, but for God's mercy, through the dogs + of Natty, I should have perished in the flames myself.” + </p> + <p> + “Ay! follow the hounds, and if there's an opening they'll scent it out,” + said Natty; “their noses be given them the same as man's reason.” + </p> + <p> + “I did so, and they led me to this place; but, praise be to God that I see + you all safe and well.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” returned the hunter; “safe we be, but as for well, John can't be + called in a good way, unless you'll say that for a man that's taking his + last look at 'arth.” + </p> + <p> + “He speaks the truth!” said the divine, with the holy awe with which he + ever approached the dying; “I have been by too many death-beds, not to see + that the hand of the tyrant is laid on this old warrior. Oh! how consoling + it is to know that he has not rejected the offered mercy in the hour of + his strength and of worldly temptations! The offspring of a race of + heathens, he has in truth been 'as a brand plucked from the burning.'” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” returned Natty, who alone stood with him by the side of the + dying warrior; “it is no burning that ails him, though his Indian feelings + made him scorn to move, unless it be the burning of man's wicked thoughts + for near fourscore years; but it's natur' giving out in a chasm that's run + too long.—Down with ye, Hector! down, I say! Flesh Isn't iron, that + a man can live forever, and see his kith and kin driven to a far country, + and he left to mourn, with none to keep him company.” + </p> + <p> + “John,” said the divine, tenderly, “do you hear me? do you wish the + prayers appointed by the church, at this trying moment?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian turned his ghastly face toward the speaker, and fastened his + dark eyes on him, steadily, but vacantly. + </p> + <p> + No sign of recognition was made: and in a moment he moved his head again + slowly toward the vale, and began to sing, using his own language, in + those low, guttural tones, that have been so often mentioned, his notes + rising with his theme, till they swelled so loud as to be distinct. + </p> + <p> + “I will come! I will come! to the land of the just I will come! The Maquas + I have slain! I have slain the Maquas! and the Great Spirit calls to his + son. I will come! I will come to the land of the just! I will come!” + </p> + <p> + “What says he, Leather-Stocking?” Inquired the priest, with tender + interest; “sings he the Redeemer's praise?” + </p> + <p> + “No, no—'tis his own praise that he speaks now,” said Natty, turning + in a melancholy manner from the sight of his dying friend; “and a good + right he has to say it all, for I know every word to be true.” + </p> + <p> + “May heaven avert such self-righteousness from his heart! Humility and + penitence are the seals of Christianity; and, without feeling them deeply + seated in the soul, all hope is delusive, and leads to vain expectations. + Praise himself when his whole soul and body should unite to praise his + Maker! John! you have enjoyed the blessings of a gospel ministry, and have + been called from out a multitude of sinners and pagans, and, I trust, for + a wise and gracious purpose. Do you now feel what it is to be justified by + our Saviour's death, and reject all weak and idle dependence on good + works, that spring from man's pride and vainglory?” + </p> + <p> + The Indian did not regard his interrogator, but he raised his head again, + and said in a low, distinct voice: + </p> + <p> + “Who can say that the Maqous know the back of the Mohegan? What enemy that + trusted in him did not see the morning? What Mingo that he chased ever + sang the song of triumph? Did Mohegan ever he? No; the truth lived in him, + and none else could come out of him. In his youth he was a warrior, and + his moccasins left the stain of blood. In his age he was wise; his words + at the council fire did not blow away with the winds.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! he has abandoned that vain relic of paganism, his songs,” cried the + divine; “what says he now? is he sensible of his lost state?” + </p> + <p> + “Lord!! man,” said Natty, “he knows his end is at hand as well as you or + I; but, so far from thinking it a loss, he believes it to be a great gain. + He is old and stiff, and you have made the game so scarce and shy, that + better shots than him find it hard to get a livelihood. Now he thinks he + shall travel where it will always be good hunting; Where no wicked or + unjust Indians can go; and where he shall meet all his tribe together + agin. There's not much loss in that, to a man whose hands are hardly fit + for basket-making Loss! if there be any loss, 'twill be to me. I'm sure + after he's gone, there will be but little left for me but to follow.” + </p> + <p> + “His example and end, which, I humbly trust, shall yet be made glorious,” + returned Mr. Grant, “should lead your mind to dwell on the things of + another life. But I feel it to be my duty to smooth the way for the + parting spirit. This is the moment, John, when the reflection that you did + not reject the mediation of the Redeemer, will bring balm to your soul. + Trust not to any act of former days, but lay the burden of your sins at + his feet, and you have his own blessed assurance that he will not desert + you.” + </p> + <p> + “Though all you say be true, and you have scriptur' gospels for it, too,” + said Natty, “you will make nothing of the Indian. He hasn't seen a + Moravian priest sin' the war; and it's hard to keep them from going back to + their native ways. I should think 'twould be as well to let the old man + pass in peace. He's happy now; I know it by his eye; and that's more than + I would say for the chief, sin' the time the Delawares broke up from the + head waters of their river and went west. Ah's me! 'tis a grevious long + time that, and many dark days have we seen together sin' it.” + </p> + <p> + “Hawk-eye!” said Mohegan, rousing with the last glimmering of life. + “Hawk-eye! listen to the words of your brother.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, John,” said the hunter, in English, strongly affected by the appeal, + and drawing to his side, “we have been brothers; and more so than it means + in the Indian tongue. What would ye have with me, Chingachgook?” + </p> + <p> + “Hawk-eye! my fathers call me to the happy hunting grounds. The path is + clear, and the eyes of Mohegan grow young. I look—but I see no + white-skins; there are none to be seen but just and brave Indians. + Farewell, Hawk-eye—you shall go with the Fire-eater and the Young + Eagle to the white man's heaven; but I go after my fathers. Let the bow, + and tomahawk, and pipe, and the wampum of Mohegan he laid in his grave; + for when he starts 'twil be in the night, like a warrior on a war-party, + and he can not stop to seek them.” + </p> + <p> + “What says he, Nathaniel?” cried Mr. Grant, earnestly, and with obvious + anxiety; “does he recall the promises of the mediation? and trust his + salvation to the Rock of Ages?” + </p> + <p> + Although the faith of the hunter was by no means clear, yet the fruits of + early instruction had not entirely fallen in the wilderness. He believed + in one God, and one heaven; and when the strong feeling excited by the + leave-taking of his old companion, which was exhibited by the powerful + working of every muscle in his weather-beaten face, suffered him to speak, + he replied: + </p> + <p> + “No—no—he trusts only to the Great Spirit of the savages, and + to his own good deeds. He thinks, like all his people, that he is to be + young agin, and to hunt, and be happy to the end of etarnity, its pretty + much the same with all colors, parson. I could never bring myself to think + that I shall meet with these hounds, or my piece, in another world; though + the thought of leaving them forever sometimes brings hard feelings over + me, and makes me cling to life with a greater craving than beseems + three-Score-and-ten.” + </p> + <p> + “The Lord in his mercy avert such a death from one who has been sealed + with the sign of the cross!” cried the minister, in holy fervor. “John—” + </p> + <p> + He paused for the elements. During the period occupied by the events which + we have related, the dark clouds in the horizon had continued to increase + in numbers and multitude; and the awful stillness that now pervaded the + air, announced a crisis in the state of the atmosphere. The flames, which + yet continued to rage along the sides of the mountain, no longer whirled + in uncertain currents of their own eddies, but blazed high and steadily + toward the heavens. There was even a quietude in the ravages of the + destructive element, as if it foresaw that a hand greater titan even its + own desolating power, was about to stay its progress. The piles of smoke + which lay above the valley began to rise, and were dispelling rapidly; and + streaks of livid lightning were dancing through the masses of clouds that + impended over the western hills. While Mr. Grant was speaking, a flash, + which sent its quivering light through the gloom, laying bare the whole + opposite horizon, was followed by a loud crash of thunder, that rolled + away among the hills, seeming to shake the foundations of the earth to + their centre. Mohegan raised him self, as if in obedience to a signal for + his departure, and stretched his wasted arm toward the west. His dark face + lighted with a look of joy; which, with all other expressions, gradually + disappeared; the muscles stiffening as they retreated to a state of rest; + a slight convulsion played, for a single instant, about his lips; and his + arm slowly dropped by his side, leaving the frame of the dead warrior + reposing against the rock with its glassy eyes open, and fixed on the + distant hills, as if the deserted shell were tracing the flight of the + spirit to its new abode. + </p> + <p> + All this Mr. Grant witnessed in silent awe; but when the last echoes of + the thunder died away he clasped his bands together, with pious energy, + and repeated, in the full, rich tones of assured faith; + </p> + <p> + “Lord! how unsearchable are Thy judgments; and Thy ways past finding out! + 'I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day + upon the earth; and though after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in + my flesh shall I see God, whom I shall see for my self, and mine eyes + shall behold, and not another.” + </p> + <p> + As the divine closed this burst of devotion, he bowed his head meekly to + his bosom, and looked all the dependence and humility that the inspired + language expressed. + </p> + <p> + When Mr. Grant retired from the body, the hunter approached, and taking + the rigid hand of his friend, looked him wistfully in the face for some + time without speaking, when he gave vent to his feelings by saying, in the + mournful voice of one who felt deeply: + </p> + <p> + “Red skin or white, it's all over now! he's to be judged by a righteous + Judge, and by no laws that's made to suit times, and new ways. Well, + there's only one more death, and the world will be left to me and the + hounds, Ah's me! a man must wait the time of God's pleasure, but I begin + to weary of life. There is scarcely a tree standing that I know, and it's + hard to find a face that I was acquainted with in my younger days.” + </p> + <p> + Large drops of rain now began to fall, and diffuse themselves over the + dry rock, while the approach of the thunder shower was rapid and certain. + The body of the Indian was hastily removed into the cave beneath, followed + by the whining hounds, who missed and moaned for the look of intelligence + that had always met their salutations to the chief. + </p> + <p> + Edwards made some hasty and confused excuse for not taking Elizabeth into + the same place, which was now completely closed in front with logs and + bark, saying some-thing that she hardly understood about its darkness, and + the unpleasantness of being with the dead body. Miss Temple, however, + found a sufficient shelter against the torrent of rain that fell, under + the projection of a rock which overhung them, But long before the shower + was over, the sounds of voices were heard below them crying aloud for + Elizabeth, and men soon appeared beating the dying embers of the bushes, + as they worked their way cautiously among the unextinguished brands. + </p> + <p> + At the first short cessation in the rain, Oliver conducted Elizabeth to + the road, where he left her. Before parting, however, he found time to + say, in a fervent manner that his companion was now at no loss to + interpret. + </p> + <p> + “The moment of concealment is over, Miss Temple. By this time to-morrow, I + shall remove a veil that perhaps it has been weakness to keep around me + and my afffairs so long. But I have had romantic and foolish wishes and + weakness; and who has not, that is young and torn by conflicting passions? + God bless you! I hear your father's voice; he is coming up the road, and I + would not, just now, subject myself to detention. Thank Heaven, you are + safe again; that alone removes the weight of a world from my spirit!” + </p> + <p> + He waited for no answer, but sprang into the woods. Elizabeth, + notwithstanding she heard the cries of her father as he called upon her + name, paused until he was concealed among the smoking trees, when she + turned, and in a moment rushed into the arms of her half-distracted + Parent. + </p> + <p> + A carriage had been provided, into which Miss Temple hastily entered; when + the cry was passed along the hill, that the lost one was found, and the + people returned to the village wet and dirty, but elated with the thought + that the daughter of their landlord had escaped from so horrid and + untimely an end.* + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + * The probability of a fire in the woods similar to that here described + has been questioned. The writer can only say that he once witnessed a + fire in another part of New York that compelled a man to desert his + wagon and horses in the highway, and in which the latter were + destroyed. In order to estimate the probability of such an event, it + is necessary to remember the effects of a long drought in that climate + and the abundance of dead wood which is found in a forest like that + described, The fires in the American forests frequently rage to such + an extent as to produce a sensible effect on the atmosphere at a + distance of fifty miles. Houses, barns, and fences are quite commonly + swept away in their course. +</pre> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0039" id="link2HCH0039"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XXXIX. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Selictar! unsheathe then our chief's scimetar; + Tambourgi! thy 'larum gives promise of war; + Ye mountains! that see us descend to the shore, + Shall view us as victors, or view us no more.” + —Byron. +</pre> + <p> + The heavy showers that prevailed during the remainder of the day + completely stopped the progress of the flames; though glimmering fires + were observed during the night, on different parts of the hill, wherever + there was a collection of fuel to feed the element. The next day the woods + for 'many miles were black and smoking, and were stripped of every vestige + of brush and dead wood; but the pines and hemlocks still reared their + heads proudly among the hills, and even the smaller trees of the forest + retained a feeble appearance of life and vegetation. + </p> + <p> + The many tongues of rumor were busy in exaggerating the miraculous escape + of Elizabeth; and a report was generally credited, that Mohegan had + actually perished in the flames. This belief became confirmed, and was + indeed rendered probable, when the direful intelligence reached the + village that Jotham Riddel, the miner, was found in his hole, nearly dead + with suffocation, and burnt to such a degree that no hopes were + entertained of his life. + </p> + <p> + The public attention became much alive to the events of the last few days; + and, just at this crisis, the convicted counterfeiters took the hint from + Natty, and, on the night succeeding the fire, found means to cut through + their log prison also, and to escape unpunished. When this news began to + circulate through the village, blended with the fate of Jotham, and the + exaggerated and tortured reports of the events on the hill, the popular + opinion was freely expressed, as to the propriety of seizing such of the + fugitives as remained within reach. Men talked of the cave as a secret + receptacle of guilt; and, as the rumor of ores and metals found its way + into the confused medley of conjectures, counterfeiting, and everything + else that was wicked and dangerous to the peace of society, suggested + themselves to the busy fancies of the populace. + </p> + <p> + While the public mind was in this feverish state, it was hinted that the + wood had been set on fire by Edwards and the Leather-Stocking, and that, + consequently, they alone were responsible for the damages. This opinion + soon gained ground, being most circulated by those who, by their own + heedlessness, had caused the evil; and there was one irresistible burst of + the common sentiment that an attempt should be made to punish the + offenders. Richard was by no means deaf to this appeal, and by noon he set + about in earnest to see the laws executed. + </p> + <p> + Several stout young men were selected, and taken apart with an appearance + of secrecy, where they received some important charge from the sheriff, + immediately under the eyes, but far removed from the ears, of all in the + village. Possessed of a knowledge of their duty, these youths hurried into + the hills, with a bustling manner, as if the fate of the world depended on + their diligence, and, at the same time, with an air of mystery as great as + if they were engaged on secret matters of the state. + </p> + <p> + At twelve precisely a drum beat the “long roll” before the “Bold Dragoon,” + and Richard appeared, accompanied by Captain Hollister, who was clad in + Investments as commander of the “Templeton Light Infantry,” when the + former demanded of the latter the aid of the posse comitatus in enforcing + the laws of the country. We have not room to record the speeches of the + two gentlemen on this occasion, but they are preserved in the columns of + the little blue newspaper, which is yet to be found on the file, and are + said to be highly creditable to the legal formula of one of the parties, + and to the military precision of the other. Everything had been previously + arranged, and, as the red-coated drummer continued to roll out his + clattering notes, some five-and-twenty privates appeared in the ranks, and + arranged themselves in the order of battle. + </p> + <p> + As this corps was composed of volunteers, and was commanded by a man who + had passed the first five-and-thirty years of his life in camps and + garrisons, it was the non-parallel of military science in that country, + and was confidently pronounced by the judicious part of the Templeton + community, to be equal in skill and appearance to any troops in the known + world; in physical endowments they were, certainly, much superior! To this + assertion there were but three dissenting voices, and one dissenting + opinion. The opinion belonged to Marmaduke, who, however, saw no necessity + for its promulgation. Of the voices, one, and that a pretty loud one', + came from the spouse of the commander himself, who frequently reproached + her husband for condescending to lead such an irregular band of warriors, + after he had filled the honorable station of sergeant-major to a dashing + corps of Virginia cavalry through much of the recent war. + </p> + <p> + Another of these skeptical sentiments was invariably expressed by Mr. + Pump, whenever the company paraded generally in some such terms as these, + which were uttered with that sort of meekness that a native of the island + of our forefathers is apt to assume when he condescends to praise the + customs or character of her truant progeny: + </p> + <p> + “It's mayhap that they knows summat about loading and firing, d'ye see, + but as for working ship? why, a corporal's guard of the Boadishey's + marines would back and fill on their quarters in such a manner as to + surround and captivate them all in half a glass.” As there was no one to + deny this assertion, the marines of the Boadicea were held in a + corresponding degree of estimation. + </p> + <p> + The third unbeliever was Monsieur Le Quoi, who merely whispered to the + sheriff, that the corps was one of the finest he had ever seen second only + to the Mousquetaires of Le Boa Louis! However, as Mrs. Hollister thought + there was something like actual service in the present appearances, and + was, in consequence, too busily engaged with certain preparations of her + own, to make her comments; as Benjamin was absent, and Monsieur Le Quoi + too happy to find fault with anything, the corps escaped criticism and + comparison altogether on this momentous day, when they certainly had + greater need of self-confidence than on any other previous occasion. + Marmaduke was said to be again closeted with Mr. Van der School and no + interruption was offered to the movements of the troops. At two o'clock + precisely the corps shouldered arms, beginning on the right wing, next to + the veteran, and carrying the motion through to the left with great + regularity. When each musket was quietly fixed in its proper situation, + the order was given to wheel to the left, and march. As this was bringing + raw troops, at once, to face their enemy, it is not to be supposed that + the manoeuver was executed with their usual accuracy; but as the music + struck up the inspiring air of Yankee-doodle, and Richard, accompanied by + Mr. Doolittle preceded the troops boldly down the street, Captain + Hollister led on, with his head elevated to forty-five degrees, with a + little, low cocked hat perched on his crown, carrying a tremendous dragoon + sabre at a poise, and trailing at his heels a huge steel scabbard, that + had war in its very clattering. There was a good deal of difficulty in + getting all the platoons (there were six) to look the same way; but, by + the time they reached the defile of the bridge, the troops were in + sufficiently compact order. In this manner they marched up the hill to the + summit of the mountain, no other alteration taking place in the + disposition of the forces, excepting that a mutual complaint was made, by + the sheriff and the magistrate, of a failure in wind, which gradually' + brought these gentlemen to the rear. It will be unnecessary to detail the + minute movements that succeeded. We shall briefly say, that the scouts + came in and reported, that, so far from retreating, as had been + anticipated, the fugitives had evidently gained a knowledge of the attack, + and were fortifying for a desperate resistance. This intelligence + certainly made a material change, not only in the plans of the leaders, + but in the countenances of the soldiery also. The men looked at one + another with serious faces, and Hiram and Richard began to consult + together, apart. + </p> + <p> + At this conjuncture, they were joined by Billy Kirby, who came along the + highway, with his axe under his arm, as much in advance of his team as + Captain Hollister had been of his troops in the ascent. The wood-chopper + was amazed at the military array, but the sheriff eagerly availed himself + of this powerful reinforcement, and commanded his assistance in putting + the laws in force. Billy held Mr. Jones in too much deference to object; + and it was finally arranged that he should be the bearer of a summons to + the garrison to surrender before they proceeded to extremities. The troops + now divided, one party being led by the captain, over the Vision, and were + brought in on the left of the cave, while the remainder advanced upon its + right, under the orders of the lieutenant. Mr. Jones and Dr. Todd—for + the surgeon was in attendance also—appeared on the platform of rock, + immediately over the heads of the garrison, though out of their sight. + Hiram thought this approaching too near, and he therefore accompanied + Kirby along the side of the hill to within a safe distance of the + fortifications, where he took shelter behind a tree. Most of the men + discovered great accuracy of eye in bringing some object in range between + them and their enemy, and the only two of the besiegers, who were left in + plain sight of the besieged, were Captain Hollister on one side, and the + wood-chopper on the other. The veteran stood up boldly to the front, + supporting his heavy sword in one undeviating position, with his eye fixed + firmly on his enemy, while the huge form of Billy was placed in that kind + of quiet repose, with either hand thrust into his bosom, bearing his axe + under his right arm, which permitted him, like his own oxen, to rest + standing. So far, not a word had been exchanged between the belligerents. + The besieged had drawn together a pile of black logs and branches of + trees, which they had formed into a chevaux-de-frise, making a little + circular abatis in front of the entrance to the cave. As the ground was + steep and slippery in every direction around the place, and Benjamin + appeared behind the works on one side, and Natty on the other, the + arrangement was by no means contemptible, especially as the front was + sufficiently guarded by the difficulty of the approach. By this time, + Kirby had received his orders, and he advanced coolly along the mountain, + picking his way with the same indifference as if he were pursuing his + ordinary business. When he was within a hundred feet of the works, the + long and much-dreaded rifle of the Leather-Stocking was seen issuing from + the parapet, and his voice cried aloud: + </p> + <p> + “Keep off! Billy Kirby, keep off! I wish ye no harm; but if a man of ye + all comes a step nigher, there'll be blood spilt atwixt us. God forgive + the one that draws it first, but so it must be.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, old chap,” said Billy, good-naturedly, “don't be crabb'd, but hear + what a man has got to say I've no consarn in the business, only to see + right 'twixt man and man; and I don't kear the valie of a beetle-ring + which gets the better; but there's Squire Doolittle, yonder be hind the + beech sapling, he has invited me to come in and ask you to give up to the + law—that's all.” + </p> + <p> + “I see the varmint! I see his clothes!” cried the indignant Natty: “and if + he'll only show so much flesh as will bury a rifle bullet, thirty to the + pound, I'll make him feel me. Go away, Billy, I bid ye; you know my aim, + and I bear you no malice.” + </p> + <p> + “You over-calculate your aim, Natty,” said the other, as he stepped behind + a pine that stood near him, “if you think to shoot a man through a tree + with a three-foot butt. I can lay this tree right across you in ten + minutes by any man's watch, and in less time, too; so be civil—I + want no more than what's right.” + </p> + <p> + There was a simple seriousness in the countenance of Natty, that showed he + was much in earnest; but it was also evident that he was reluctant to shed + human blood. He answered the taunt of the wood-chopper, by saying: + </p> + <p> + “I know you drop a tree where you will, Billy Kirby; but if you show a + hand, or an arm, in doing it, there'll be bones to be set, and blood to + staunch. If it's only to get into the cave that ye want, wait till a two + hours' sun, and you may enter it in welcome; but come in now you shall + not. There's one dead body already, lying on the cold rocks, and there's + another in which the life can hardly be said to stay. If you will come in, + there'll be dead with out as well as within.” + </p> + <p> + The wood-chopper stepped out fearlessly from his cover, and cried: + </p> + <p> + “That's fair; and what's fair is right. He wants you to stop till it's two + hours to sundown; and I see reason in the thing. A man can give up when + he's wrong, if you don't crowd him too hard; but you crowd a man, and he + gets to be like a stubborn ox—the more you beat, the worse he + kicks.” + </p> + <p> + The sturdy notions of independence maintained by Billy neither suited the + emergency nor the impatience of Mr. Jones, who was burning with a desire + to examine the hid den mysteries of the cave. He therefore interrupted + this amicable dialogue with his own voice; + </p> + <p> + “I command you Nathaniel Bumppo, by my authority, to surrender your person + to the law,” he cried. “And I command you, gentlemen, to aid me in + performing my duty. Benjamin Penguillan I arrest you, and order you to + follow me to the jail of the county, by virtue of this warrant.” + </p> + <p> + “I'd follow ye, Squire Dickens,” said Benjamin, removing the pipe from his + month (for during the whole scene the ex-major-domo had been very + composedly smoking); “ay! I'd sail in your wake, to the end of the world, + if-so—be that there was such a place, where there isn't, seeing that + it's round. Now mayhap, Master Hollister, having lived all your life on + shore, you isn't acquainted that the world, d'ye see.” + </p> + <p> + “Surrender!” interrupted the veteran, in a voice that startled his + hearers, and which actually caused his own forces to recoil several paces; + “surrender, Benjamin Pengullan, or expect no quarter.'” + </p> + <p> + “Damn your quarter!” said Benjamin, rising from the log on which he was + seated, and taking a squint along the barrel of the swivel, which had been + brought on the hill during the night, and now formed the means of defence + on his side of the works. “Look you, master or captain, thof I questions + if ye know the name of a rope, except the one that's to hang ye, there's + no need of singing out, as if ye was hailing a deaf man on a topgallant + yard. May-hap you think you've got my true name in your sheep skin; but + what British sailor finds it worth while to sail in these seas, without a + sham on his stern, in case of need, d'ye see. If you call me Penguillan, + you calls me by the name of the man on whose hand, d'ye see, I hove into + daylight; and he was a gentleman; and that's more than my worst enemy will + say of any of the family of Benjamin Stubbs.” + </p> + <p> + “Send the warrant round to me, and I'll put in an alias,” cried Hiram, + from behind his cover. + </p> + <p> + “Put in a jackass, and you'll put in yourself, Mister Doo-but-little,” + shouted Benjamin, who kept squinting along his little iron tube, with + great steadiness. + </p> + <p> + “I give you but one moment to yield,” cried Richard. “Benjamin! Benjamin! + this is not the gratitude I expected from you.” + </p> + <p> + “I tell you, Richard Jones,” said Natty, who dreaded the sheriff's + influence over his comrade; “though the canister the gal brought be lost, + there's powder enough in the cave to lift the rock you stand on. I'll take + off my roof if you don't hold your peace.” + </p> + <p> + “I think it beneath the dignity of my office to parley further with the + prisoners,” the sheriff observer to his companion, while they both retired + with a precipitancy that Captain Hollister mistook for the signal to + advance. + </p> + <p> + “Charge baggonet!” shouted the veteran; “march!” + </p> + <p> + Although this signal was certainly expected, it took the assailed a little + by surprise, and the veteran approached the works, crying, “Courage, my + brave lads! give them no quarter unless they surrender;” and struck a + furious blow upward with his sabre, that would have divided the steward + into moieties by subjecting him to the process of decapitation, but for + the fortunate interference of the muzzle of the swivel. As it was, the gun + was dismounted at the critical moment that Benjamin was applying his pipe + to the priming, and in consequence some five or six dozen of rifle bullets + were projected into the air, in nearly a perpendicular line. Philosophy + teaches us that the atmosphere will not retain lead; and two pounds of the + metal, moulded into bullets of thirty to the pound, after describing an + ellipsis in their journey, returned to the earth rattling among the + branches of the trees directly over the heads of the troops stationed in + the rear of their captain. Much of the success of an attack, made by + irregular soldiers, depends on the direction in which they are first got + in motion. In the present instance it was retrograde, and in less than a + minute after the bellowing report of the swivel among the rocks and + caverns, the whole weight of the attack from the left rested on the + prowess of the single arm of the veteran. Benjamin received a severe + contusion from the recoil of his gun, which produced a short stupor, + during which period the ex-steward was prostrate on the ground. Captain + Hollister availed himself of this circumstance to scramble ever the + breastwork and obtain a footing in the bastion—for such was the + nature of the fortress, as connected with the cave. The moment the veteran + found himself within the works of his enemy, he rushed to the edge of the + fortification, and, waving his sabre over his head, shouted: + </p> + <p> + “Victory! come on, my brave boys, the work's our own!” + </p> + <p> + All this was perfectly military, and was such an example as a gallant + officer was in some measure bound to exhibit to his men but the outcry was + the unlucky cause of turning the tide of success. Natty, who had been + keeping a vigalent eye on the wood-chopper, and the enemy immediately + before him, wheeled at this alarm, and was appalled at beholding his + comrade on the ground, and the veteran standing on his own bulwark, giving + forth the cry of victory! The muzzle of the long rifle was turned + instantly toward the captain. There was a moment when the life of the old + soldier was in great jeopardy but the object to shoot at was both too + large and too near for the Leather-Stocking, who, instead of pulling his + trigger, applied the gun to the rear of his enemy, and by a powerful shove + sent him outside of the works with much greater rapidity than he had + entered them. The spot on which Captain Hollister alighted was directly in + front, where, as his feet touched the ground, so steep and slippery was + the side of the mountain, it seemed to recede from under them. His motion + was swift, and so irregular as utterly to confuse the faculties of the old + soldier. During its continuance, he supposed himself to be mounted, and + charging through the ranks of his enemy. At every tree he made a blow, of + course, as at a foot-soldier; and just as he was making the cut “St. + George” at a half burnt sapling he landed in the highway, and, to his + utter amazement, at the feet of his own spouse. When Mrs. Hollister, who + was toiling up the hill, followed by at least twenty curious boys, leaning + with one hand on the staff with which she ordinarily walked, and bearing + in the other an empty bag, witnessed this exploit of her husband, + indignation immediately got the better, not only of her religion, but of + her philosophy. + </p> + <p> + “Why, sargeant! is it flying ye are?” she cried—“that I should live + to see a husband of mine turn his hack to an inimy! and such a one! Here I + have been telling the b'ys, as we come along, all about the saige of + Yorrektown, and how ye was hurted; and how ye'd be acting the same agin + the day; and I mate ye retraiting jist as the first gun is fired. Och! I + may trow away the bag! for if there's plunder, 'twill not be the wife of + sich as yerself that will be privileged to be getting the same. They do + say, too, there is a power of goold and silver in the place—the Lord + forgive me for setting my heart on woorldly things; but what falls in the + battle, there's scriptur' for believing, is the just property of the + victor.” + </p> + <p> + “Retreating!” exclaimed the amazed veteran; “where's my horse? he has been + shot under me—I——” + </p> + <p> + “Is the man mad?” interrupted his wife—“devil the horse do ye own, + sargeant, and ye're nothing but a shabby captain of malaishy. Oh! if the + ra'al captain was here, tis the other way ye'd be riding, dear, or you + would not follow your laider!” + </p> + <p> + While this worthy couple were thus discussing events, the battle began to + rage more violently than ever above them. When Leather-Stocking saw his + enemy fairly under headway, as Benjamin would express it, he gave his + attention to the right wing of the assailants. It would have been easy for + Kirby, with his powerful frame, to have seized the moment to scale the + bastion, and, with his great strength, to have sent both of its defenders + in pursuit of the veteran; but hostility appeared to be the passion that + the wood-chopper indulged the least in at that moment, for, in a voice + that was heard by the retreating left wing, he shouted: + </p> + <p> + “Hurrah well done, captain! keep it up! how he handles his bush-hook! he + makes nothing of a sapling!” and such other encouraging exclamations to + the flying veteran, until, overcome by mirth, the good-natured fellow + seated himself on the ground, kicking the earth with delight, and giving + vent to peal after peal of laughter. + </p> + <p> + Natty stood all this time in a menacing attitude, with his rifle pointed + over the breastwork, watching with a quick and cautions eye the least + movement of the assail ants. The outcry unfortunately tempted the + ungovernable curiosity of Hiram to take a peep from behind his cover at + the state of the battle. Though this evolution was performed with great + caution, in protecting his front, he left, like many a better commander, + his rear exposed to the attacks of his enemy. Mr. Doolittle belonged + physically to a class of his countrymen, to whom Nature has denied, in + their formation, the use of curved lines. Every thing about him was either + straight or angular. But his tailor was a woman who worked, like a + regimental contractor, by a set of rules that gave the same configuration + to the whole human species. Consequently, when Mr. Doolittle leaned + forward in the manner described, a loose drapery appeared behind the tree, + at which the rifle of Natty was pointed with the quickness of lightning. A + less experienced man would have aimed at the flowing robe, which hung like + a festoon half-way to the earth; but the Leather-Stocking knew both the + man and his female tailor better; and when the smart report of the rifle + was heard, Kirby, who watched the whole manoeuvre in breath less + expectation, saw the bark fly from the beech and the cloth, at some + distance above the loose folds, wave at the same instant. No battery was + ever unmasked with more promptitiude than Hiram advanced from behind the + tree at this summons. + </p> + <p> + He made two or three steps, with great precision, to the front and, + placing one hand on the afflicted part, stretched forth the other with a + menacing air toward Natty, and cried aloud: + </p> + <p> + “Gawl darn ye: this shan't he settled so easy; I'll follow it up from the + 'common pleas' to the 'court of errors.'” + </p> + <p> + Such a shocking imprecation, from the mouth of so orderly a man as Squire + Doolittle, with the fearless manner in which he exposed himself, together + with, perhaps, the knowledge that Natty's rifle was unloaded, encouraged + the troops in the rear, who gave a loud shout, and fired a volley into the + tree-tops, after the contents of the swivel. Animated by their own noise, + the men now rushed on in earnest; and Billy Kirby, who thought the joke, + good as it was, had gone far enough, was in the act of scaling the works, + when Judge Temple appeared on the opposite side, exclaiming: + </p> + <p> + “Silence and peace! why do I see murder and blood shed attempted? Is not + the law sufficient to protect itself, that armed bands must be gathered, + as in rebellion and war, to see justice performed?” + </p> + <p> + “'Tis the posse comitatus,” shouted the sheriff, from a distant rock, + “who-” + </p> + <p> + “Say rather a posse of demons. I command the peace.” + </p> + <p> + “Hold shied not blood!” cried a voice from the top of the Vision. “Hold, + for the sake of Heaven, fire no more! all shall be yielded! you shall + enter the cave!” + </p> + <p> + Amazement produced the desired effect. Natty, who had reloaded his piece, + quietly seated himself on the logs, and rested his head on his hands, + while the “Light Infantry” ceased their military movements, and waited the + issue in suspense. + </p> + <p> + In less than a minute Edwards came rushing down the hill, followed by + Major Hartman, with a velocity that was surprising for his years. They + reached the terrace in an instant, from which the youth led the way, by + the hollow in the rock, to the mouth of the cave, into which they both + entered, leaving all without silent, and gazing after them with + astonishment. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0040" id="link2HCH0040"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XL. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I am dumb. Were you the doctor, and I knew you not?” + —Shakespeare. +</pre> + <p> + During the five or six minutes that elapsed before the youth and Major + reappeared. Judge Temple and the sheriff together with most of the + volunteers, ascended to the terrace, where the latter began to express + their conjectures of the result, and to recount their individual services + in the conflict. But the sight of the peace-makers ascending the ravine + shut every mouth. + </p> + <p> + On a rude chair, covered with undressed deer-skins, they supported a human + being, whom they seated carefully and respectfully in the midst of the + assembly. His head was covered by long, smooth locks of the color of snow. + His dress, which was studiously neat and clean, was composed of such + fabrics as none but the wealthiest classes wear, but was threadbare and + patched; and on his feet were placed a pair of moccasins, ornamented in + the best manner of Indian ingenuity. The outlines of his face were grave + and dignified, though his vacant eye, which opened and turned slowly to + the faces of those around him in unmeaning looks, too surely' announced + that the period had arrived when age brings the mental imbecility of + childhood. + </p> + <p> + Natty had followed the supporters of this unexpected object to the top of + the cave, and took his station at a little distance behind him, leaning on + his rifle, in the midst of his pursuers, with a fearlessness that showed + that heavier interests than those which affected himself were to be + decided. Major Hartmann placed himself beside the aged man, uncovered, + with his whole soul beaming through those eyes which so commonly danced + with frolic and humor. Edwards rested with one hand familiarly but + affectionately on the chair, though his heart was swelling with emotions + that denied him utterance. + </p> + <p> + All eyes were gazing intently, but each tongue continued mute. At length + the decrepit stranger, turning his vacant looks from face to face, made a + feeble attempt to rise, while a faint smile crossed his wasted face, like + an habitual effort at courtesy, as he said, in a hollow, tremulous voice: + </p> + <p> + “Be pleased to be seated, gentlemen. The council will open immediately. + Each one who loves a good and virtuous king will wish to see these + colonies continue loyal. Be seated—I pray you, be seated, gentlemen. + The troops shall halt for the night.” + </p> + <p> + “This is the wandering of insanity!” said Marmaduke: “who will explain + this scene.” + </p> + <p> + “No, sir,” said Edwards firmly, “'tis only the decay of nature; who is + answerable for its pitiful condition, remains to be shown.” + </p> + <p> + “Will the gentlemen dine with us, my son?” said the old stranger, turning + to a voice that he both knew and loved. “Order a repast suitable for his + Majesty's officers. You know we have the best of game always at command.” + </p> + <p> + “Who is this man?” asked Marmaduke, in a hurried voice, in which the + dawnings of conjecture united with interest to put the question. + </p> + <p> + “This man,” returned Edwards calmly, his voice, how ever, gradually rising + as he proceeded; “this man, sir, whom you behold hid in caverns, and + deprived of every-thing that can make life desirable, was once the + companion and counsellor of those who ruled your country. This man, whom + you see helpless and feeble, was once a warrior, so brave and fearless, + that even the intrepid natives gave him the name of the Fire-eater. This + man, whom you now see destitute of even the ordinary comfort of a cabin, + in which to shelter his head, was once the owner of great riches—and, + Judge Temple, he was the rightful proprietor of this very soil on which we + stand. This man was the father of———” + </p> + <p> + “This, then,” cried Marmaduke, with a powerful emotion, “this, then, is + the lost Major Effingham!” + </p> + <p> + “Lost indeed,” said the youth, fixing a piercing eye on the other. + </p> + <p> + “And you! and you!” continued the Judge, articulating with difficulty. + </p> + <p> + “I am his grandson.” + </p> + <p> + A minute passed in profound silence. All eyes were fixed on the speakers, + and even the old German appeared to wait the issue in deep anxiety. But + the moment of agitation soon passed. Marmaduke raised his head from his + bosom, where it had sunk, not in shame, but in devout mental + thanksgivings, and, as large tears fell over his fine, manly face, he + grasped the hand of the youth warmly, and said: + </p> + <p> + “Oliver, I forgive all thy harshness—all thy suspicions. I now see + it all. I forgive thee everything, but suffering this aged man to dwell in + such a place, when not only my habitation, but my fortune, were at his and + thy command.” + </p> + <p> + “He's true as ter steel!” shouted Major Hartmann; “titn't I tell you, lat, + dat Marmatuke Temple vas a friend dat woult never fail in ter dime as of + neet?” + </p> + <p> + “It is true, Judge Temple, that my opinions of your conduct have been + staggered by what this worthy gentle man has told me. When I found it + impossible to convey my grandfather back whence the enduring love of this + old man brought him, without detection and exposure, I went to the Mohawk + in quest of one of his former comrades, in whose justice I had dependence. + He is your friend, Judge Temple, but, if what he says be true, both my + father and myself may have judged you harshly.” + </p> + <p> + “You name your father!” said Marmaduke tenderly—“was he, indeed, + lost in the packet?” + </p> + <p> + “He was. He had left me, after several years of fruit less application and + comparative poverty, in Nova Scotia, to obtain the compensation for his + losses which the British commissioners had at length awarded. After + spending a year in England, he was returning to Halifax, on his way to a + government to which he had been appointed, in the West Indies, intending + to go to the place where my grandfather had sojourned during and since + the war, and take him with us.” + </p> + <p> + “But thou!” said Marmaduke, with powerful interest; “I had thought that + thou hadst perished with him.” + </p> + <p> + A flush passed over the cheeks of the young man, who gazed about him at + the wondering faces of the volunteers, and continued silent. Marmaduke + turned to the veteran captain, who just then rejoined his command, and + said: + </p> + <p> + “March thy soldiers back again, and dismiss them, the zeal of the sheriff + has much mistaken his duty.—Dr. Todd, I will thank you to attend to + the injury which Hiram Doolittle has received in this untoward affair,—Richard, + you will oblige me by sending up the carriage to the top of the hill.—Benjamin, + return to your duty in my family.” + </p> + <p> + Unwelcome as these orders were to most of the auditors, the suspicion that + they had somewhat exceeded the whole some restraints of the law, and the + habitual respect with which all the commands of the Judge were received, + induced a prompt compliance. + </p> + <p> + When they were gone, and the rock was left to the parties most interested + in an explanation, Marmaduke, pointing to the aged Major Effingham, said + to his grand son: + </p> + <p> + “Had we not better remove thy parent from this open place until my + carriage can arrive?” + </p> + <p> + “Pardon me, sir, the air does him good, and he has taken it whenever there + was no dread of a discovery. I know not how to act, Judge Temple; ought I, + can I suffer Major Effingham to become an inmate of your family?” + </p> + <p> + “Thou shalt be thyself the judge,” said Marmaduke. “Thy father was my + early friend. He intrusted his fortune to my care. When we separated he + had such confidence in me that he wished on security, no evidence of the + trust, even had there been time or convenience for exacting it. This thou + hast heard?” + </p> + <p> + “Most truly, sir,” said Edwards, or rather Effingham as we must now call + him. + </p> + <p> + “We differed in politics. If the cause of this country was successful, the + trust was sacred with me, for none knew of thy father's interest, if the + crown still held its sway, it would be easy to restore the property of so + loyal a subject as Colonel Effingham. Is not this plain?'” + </p> + <p> + “The premises are good, sir,” continued the youth, with the same + incredulous look as before. + </p> + <p> + “Listen—listen, poy,” said the German, “Dere is not a hair as of ter + rogue in ter het of Herr Tchooge.” + </p> + <p> + “We all know the issue of the struggle,” continued Marmaduke, disregarding + both. “Thy grandfather was left in Connecticut, regularly supplied by thy + father with the means of such a subsistence as suited his wants. This I + well knew, though I never had intercourse with him, even in our happiest + days. Thy father retired with the troops to prosecute his claims on + England. At all events, his losses must be great, for his real estates + were sold, and I became the lawful purchaser. It was not unnatural to wish + that he might have no bar to its just recovery.” + </p> + <p> + “There was none, but the difficulty of providing for so many claimants.” + </p> + <p> + “But there would have been one, and an insuperable one, and I announced to + the world that I held these estates, multiplied by the times and my + industry, a hundredfold in value, only as his trustee. Thou knowest that I + supplied him with considerable sums immediately after the war.” + </p> + <p> + “You did, until—” + </p> + <p> + “My letters were returned unopened. Thy father had much of thy own spirit, + Oliver; he was sometimes hasty and rash.” The Judge continued, in a + self-condemning manner; “Perhaps my fault lies the other way: I may + possibly look too far ahead, and calculate too deeply. It certainly was a + severe trial to allow the man whom I most loved, to think ill of me for + seven years, in order that he might honestly apply for his just + remunerations. But, had he opened my last letters, thou wouldst have + learned the whole truth. Those I sent him to England, by what my agent + writes me, he did read. He died, Oliver, knowing all, he died my friend, + and I thought thou hadst died with him.” + </p> + <p> + “Our poverty would not permit us to pay for two passages,” said the youth, + with the extraordinary emotion with which he ever alluded to the degraded + state of his family; “I was left in the Province to wait for his return, + and, when the sad news of his loss reached me, I was nearly penniless.” + </p> + <p> + “And what didst thou, boy?” asked Marmaduke in a faltering voice. + </p> + <p> + “I took my passage here in search of my grandfather; for I well knew that + his resources were gone, with the half pay of my father. On reaching his + abode, I learned that he had left it in secret; though the reluctant + hireling, who had deserted him in his poverty, owned to my urgent en + treaties, that he believed he had been carried away by an old man who had + formerly been his servant. I knew at once it was Natty, for my father + often—” + </p> + <p> + “Was Natty a servant of thy grandfather?” exclaimed the Judge. + </p> + <p> + “Of that too were you ignorant?” said the youth in evident surprise. + </p> + <p> + “How should I know it? I never met the Major, nor was the name of Bumppo + ever mentioned to me. I knew him only as a man of the woods, and one who + lived by hunting. Such men are too common to excite surprise.” + </p> + <p> + “He was reared in the family of my grandfather; served him for many years + during their campaigns at the West, where he became attached to the woods; + and he was left here as a kind of locum tenens on the lands that old + Mohegan (whose life my grandfather once saved) induced the Delawares to + grant to him when they admitted him as an honorary member of their tribe. + </p> + <p> + “This, then, is thy Indian blood?” + </p> + <p> + “I have no other,” said Edwards, smiling—“Major Effingham was + adopted as the son of Mohegan, who at that time was the greatest man in + his nation; and my father, who visited those people when a boy, received + the name of the Eagle from them, on account of the shape of his face, as I + understand. They have extended his title to me, I have no other Indian + blood or breeding; though I have seen the hour, Judge Temple, when I could + wish that such had been my lineage and education.” + </p> + <p> + “Proceed with thy tale,” said Marmaduke. + </p> + <p> + “I have but little more to say, sir, I followed to the lake where I had so + often been told that Natty dwelt, and found him maintaining his old master + in secret; for even he could not bear to exhibit to the world, in his + poverty and dotage, a man whom a whole people once looked up to with + respect.” + </p> + <p> + “And what did you?” + </p> + <p> + “What did I? I spent my last money in purchasing a rifle, clad myself in a + coarse garb, and learned to be a hunter by the side of Leather-Stocking. + You know the rest, Judge Temple.” + </p> + <p> + “Ant vere vas olt Fritz Hartmann?” said the German, reproachfully; “didst + never hear a name as of olt Fritz Hartmann from ter mout of ter fader, + lat?” + </p> + <p> + “I may have been mistaken, gentlemen,” returned the youth, “but I had + pride, and could not submit to such an exposure as this day even has + reluctantly brought to light. I had plans that might have been visionary; + but, should my parent survive till autumn, I purposed taking him with me + to the city, where we have distant relatives, who must have learned to + forget the Tory by this time. He decays rapidly,” he continued mournfully, + “and must soon lie by the side of old Mohegan.” + </p> + <p> + The air being pure, and the day fine, the party continued conversing on + the rock, until the wheels of Judge Temple's carriage were heard + clattering up the side of the mountain, during which time the conversation + was maintained with deep interest, each moment clearing up some doubtful + action, and lessening the antipathy of the youth to Marmaduke. He no + longer objected to the removal of his grandfather, who displayed a + childish pleasure when he found himself seated once more in a carriage. + When placed in the ample hall of the mansion-house, the eyes of the aged + veteran turned slowly to the objects in the apartment, and a look like the + dawn of intellect would, for moments flit across his features, when he + invariably offered some use less courtesies to those near him, wandering + painfully in his subjects. The exercise and the change soon produced an + exhaustion that caused them to remove him to his bed, where he lay for + hours, evidently sensible of the change in his comforts, and exhibiting + that mortifying picture of human nature, which too plainly shows that the + propensities of the animal continue even after the nobler part of the + creature appears to have vanished. + </p> + <p> + Until his parent was placed comfortably in bed, with Natty seated at his + side, Effingham did not quit him. He then obeyed a summons to the library + of the Judge, where he found the latter, with Major Hartmann, waiting for + him. + </p> + <p> + “Read this paper, Oliver,” said Marmaduke to him, as he entered, “and thou + wilt find that, so far from intending thy family wrong during life, it has + been my care to see that justice should be done at even a later day.” + </p> + <p> + The youth took the paper, which his first glance told him was the will of + the Judge. Hurried and agitated as he was, he discovered that the date + corresponded with the time of the unusual depression of Marmaduke. As he + proceeded, his eyes began to moisten, and the hand which held the + instrument shook violently. + </p> + <p> + The will commenced with the usual forms, spun out by the ingenuity of Mr. + Van der School: but, after this subject was fairly exhausted, the pen of + Marmaduke became plainly visible. In clear, distinct, manly, and even + eloquent language, he recounted his obligations to Colonel Effingham, the + nature of their connection, and the circumstances in which they separated. + He then proceeded to relate the motives of his silence, mentioning, + however, large sums that he had forwarded to his friend, which had been + returned with the letters unopened. After this, he spoke of his search for + the grandfather who unaccountably disappeared, and his fears that the + direct heir of the trust was buried in the ocean with his father. + </p> + <p> + After, in short, recounting in a clear narrative, the events which our + readers must now be able to connect, he proceeded to make a fair and exact + statement of the sums left in his care by Colonel Effingham. A devise of + his whole estate to certain responsible trustees followed; to hold the + same for the benefit, in equal moieties, of his daughter, on one part, and + of Oliver Effingham, formerly a major in the army of Great Britain, and of + his son Ed ward Effingham, and of his son Edward Oliver Effingham, or to + the survivor of them, and the descendants of such survivor, forever, on + the other part. The trust was to endure until 1810, when, if no person + appeared, or could be found, after sufficient notice, to claim the moiety + so devised, then a certain sum, calculating the principal and interest of + his debt to Colonel Effingham, was to be paid to the heirs-at-law of the + Effingham family, and the bulk of his estate was to be conveyed in fee to + his daughter, or her heirs. + </p> + <p> + The tears fell from the eyes of the young man, as he read this undeniable + testimony of the good faith of Marmaduke, and his bewildered gaze was + still fastened on the paper, when a voice, that thrilled on every nerve, + spoke near him, saying: + </p> + <p> + “Do you yet doubt us, Oliver?” + </p> + <p> + “I have never doubted you!” cried the youth, recovering his recollection + and his voice, as he sprang to seize the hand of Elizabeth; “no, not one + moment has my faith in you wavered.” + </p> + <p> + “And my father—” + </p> + <p> + “God bless him!” + </p> + <p> + “I thank thee, my son,” said the Judge, exchanging a warm pressure of the + hand with the youth; “but we have both erred: thou hast been too hasty, + and I have been too slow. One-half of my estates shall be thine as soon as + they can be conveyed to thee; and, if what my suspicions tell me be true, + I suppose the other must follow speedily.” He took the hand which he held, + and united it with that of his daughter, and motioned toward the door to + the Major. + </p> + <p> + “I telt you vat, gal!” said the old German, good-humoredly; “if I vas as I + vas ven I servit mit his grand-fader on ter lakes, ter lazy tog shouldn't + vin ter prize as for nottin'.” + </p> + <p> + “Come, come, old Fritz,” said the Judge; “you are seventy, not seventeen; + Richard waits for you with a bowl of eggnog, in the hall.” + </p> + <p> + “Richart! ter duyvel!” exclaimed the other, hastening out of the room; “he + makes ter nog as for ter horse vilt show ter sheriff mit my own hants! Ter + duyvel! I pelieve he sweetens mit ter Yankee melasses!” + </p> + <p> + Marmaduke smiled and nodded affectionately at the young couple, and closed + the door after them. If any of our readers expect that we are going to + open it again, for their gratification, they are mistaken. + </p> + <p> + The tete-a-tete continued for a very unreasonable time—how long we + shall not say; but it was ended by six o'clock in the evening, for at that + hour Monsieur Le Quoi made his appearance agreeably to the appointment of + the preceding day, and claimed the ear of Miss Temple. He was admitted; + when he made an offer of his hand, with much suavity, together with his + “amis beeg and leet', his père, his mere and his sucreboosh.” Elizabeth + might, possibly, have previously entered into some embarrassing and + binding engagements with Oliver, for she declined the tender of all, in + terms as polite, though perhaps a little more decided, than those in which + they were made. + </p> + <p> + The Frenchman soon joined the German and the sheriff in the hall, who + compelled him to take a seat with them at the table, where, by the aid of + punch, wine, and egg nog, they soon extracted from the complaisant + Monsieur Le Quoi the nature of his visit, it was evident that he had made + the offer, as a duty which a well-bred man owed to a lady in such a + retired place, before he had left the country, and that his feelings were + but very little, if at all, interested in the matter. After a few + potations, the waggish pair persuaded the exhilarated Frenchman that there + was an inexcusable partiality in offering to one lady, and not extending a + similar courtesy to another. Consequently, about nine, Monsieur Le Quoi + sallied forth to the rectory, on a similar mission to Miss Grant, which + proved as successful as his first effort in love. + </p> + <p> + When he returned to the mansion-house, at ten, Richard and the Major were + still seated at the table. They at tempted to persuade the Gaul, as the + sheriff called him, that he should next try Remarkable Pettibone. But, + though stimulated by mental excitement and wine, two hours of abstruse + logic were thrown away on this subject; for he declined their advice, with + a pertinacity truly astonishing in so polite a man. + </p> + <p> + When Benjamin lighted Monsieur Le Quoi from the door, he said, at parting: + </p> + <p> + “If-so-be, Mounsheer, you'd run alongside Mistress Pettybones, as the + Squire Dickens was bidding ye, 'tis my notion you'd have been grappled; in + which case, d'ye see, you mought have been troubled in swinging clear agin + in a handsome manner; for thof Miss Lizzy and the parson's young 'un be + tidy little vessels, that shoot by a body on a wind, Mistress Remarkable + is summat of a galliot fashion: when you once takes 'em in tow, they + doesn't like to be cast off agin.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2HCH0041" id="link2HCH0041"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + CHAPTER XLI. + </h2> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Yes, sweep ye on!— + We will not leave, + For them who triumph those who grieve. + With that armada gay + Be laughter loud, and jocund shout— + But with that skill Abides the minstrel tale.” + —Lord of the Isles. +</pre> + <p> + The events of our tale carry us through the summer; and after making + nearly the circle of the year, we must conclude our labors in the + delightful month of October. Many important incidents had, however, + occurred in the intervening period; a few of which it may be necessary to + recount. + </p> + <p> + The two principal were the marriage of Oliver and Elizabeth, and the death + of Major Effingham. They both took place early in September; and the + former preceded the latter only a few days. The old man passed away like + the last glimmering of a taper; and, though his death cast a melancholy + over the family, grief could not follow such an end. One of the chief + concerns of Marmaduke was to reconcile the even conduct of a magistrate + with the course that his feelings dictated to the criminals. The day + succeeding the discovery at the cave, however, Natty and Benjamin + re-entered the jail peaceably, where they continued, well fed and + comfortable, until the return of an express to Albany, who brought the + governor's pardon to the Leather-Stocking. In the mean time, proper means + were employed to satisfy Hiram for the assaults on his person; and on the + same day the two comrades issued together into society again, with their + characters not at all affected by the imprisonment. + </p> + <p> + Mr. Doolittle began to discover that neither architecture nor his law was + quite suitable to the growing wealth and intelligence of the settlement; + and after exacting the last cent that was attainable in his compromise, to + use the language of the country he “pulled up stakes,” and proceeded + farther west, scattering his professional science and legal learning + through the land; vestiges of both of which are to be discovered there + even to the present hour. + </p> + <p> + Poor Jotham, whose life paid the forfeiture of his folly, acknowledged, + before he died, that his reasons for believing in a mine were extracted + from the lips of a sibyl, who, by looking in a magic glass, was enabled to + discover the hidden treasures of the earth. Such superstition was frequent + in the new settlements; and, after the first surprise was over, the better + part of the community forgot the subject. But, at the same time that it + removed from the breast of Richard a lingering suspicion of the acts of + the three hunter, it conveyed a mortifying lesson to him, which brought + many quiet hours, in future, to his cousin Marmaduke. It may be remembered + that the sheriff confidently pronounced this to be no “visionary” scheme, + and that word was enough to shut his lips, at any time within the next ten + years. + </p> + <p> + Monsieur Le Quoi, who has been introduced to our readers because no + picture of that country would be faithful without some such character, + found the island of Martinique, and his “sucreboosh,” in possession of the + English but Marmaduke and his family were much gratified in soon hearing + that he had returned to his bureau, in Paris; where he afterward issued + yearly bulletins of his happiness, and of his gratitude to his friends in + America. + </p> + <p> + With this brief explanation, we must return to our narrative. Let the + American reader imagine one of our mildest October mornings, when the sun + seems a ball of silvery fire, and the elasticity of the air is felt while + it is inhaled, imparting vigor and life to the whole system; the weather, + neither too warm nor too cold, but of that happy temperature which stirs + the blood, without bringing the lassitude of spring. It was on such a + morning, about the middle of the month, that Oliver entered the hall where + Elizabeth was issuing her usual orders for the day, and requesting her to + join him in a short excursion to the lakeside. The tender melancholy in + the manner of her husband caught the attention of Elizabeth, who instantly + abandoned her concerns, threw a light shawl across her shoulders, and, + concealing her raven hair under a gypsy hat, and took his arm, and + submitted herself, without a question, to his guidance. They crossed the + bridge, and had turned from the highway, along the margin of the lake, + before a word was exchanged. Elizabeth well knew, by the direction, the + object of the walk, and respected the feelings of her companion too much + to indulge in untimely conversation. But when they gained the open fields, + and her eye roamed over the placid lake, covered with wild fowl already + journeying from the great northern waters to seek a warmer sun, but + lingering to play in the limpid sheet of the Otsego, and to the sides of + the mountain, which were gay with the thousand dyes of autumn, as if to + grace their bridal, the swelling heart of the young wife burst out in + speech. + </p> + <p> + “This is not a time for silence, Oliver!” she said, clinging more fondly + to his arm; “everything in Nature seems to speak the praises of the + Creator; why should we, who have so much to be grateful for, be silent?” + </p> + <p> + “Speak on!” said her husband, smiling; “I love the sounds of your voice. + You must anticipate our errand hither: I have told you my plans: how do + you like them?” + </p> + <p> + “I must first see them,” returned his wife. “But I have had my plans, too; + it is time I should begin to divulge them.” + </p> + <p> + “You! It is something for the comfort of my old friend, Natty, I know.” + </p> + <p> + “Certainly of Natty; but we have other friends besides the + Leather-Stocking to serve. Do you forget Louisa and her father?” + </p> + <p> + “No, surely; have I not given one of the best farms in the county to the + good divine? As for Louisa, I should wish you to keep her always near us.” + </p> + <p> + “You do!” said Elizabeth, slightly compressing her lips; “but poor Louisa + may have other views for herself; she may wish to follow my example, and + marry.” + </p> + <p> + “I don't think it,” said Effingham, musing a moment, “really don't know + any one hereabouts good enough for her.” + </p> + <p> + “Perhaps not her; but there are other places besides Templeton, and other + churches besides 'New St. Paul's.'” + </p> + <p> + “Churches, Elizabeth! you would not wish to lose Mr. Grant, surely! Though + simple, he is an excellent man I shall never find another who has half the + veneration for my orthodoxy. You would humble me from a saint to a very + common sinner.” + </p> + <p> + “It must be done, sir,” returned the lady, with a half-concealed smile, + “though it degrades you from an angel to a man.” + </p> + <p> + “But you forget the farm?” + </p> + <p> + “He can lease it, as others do. Besides, would you have a clergyman toil + in the fields?” + </p> + <p> + “Where can he go? You forget Louisa.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I do not forget Louisa,” said Elizabeth, again compressing her + beautiful lips. “You know, Effingham, that my father has told you that I + ruled him, and that I should rule you. I am now about to exert my power.” + </p> + <p> + “Anything, anything, dear Elizabeth, but not at the expense of us all: not + at the expense of your friend.” + </p> + <p> + “How do you know, sir, that it will be so much at the expense of my + friend?” said the lady, fixing her eyes with a searching look on his + countenance, where they met only the unsuspecting expression of manly + regret. + </p> + <p> + “How do I know it? Why, it is natural that she should regret us.” + </p> + <p> + “It is our duty to struggle with our natural feelings,” returned the lady; + “and there is but little cause to fear that such a spirit as Louisa's will + not effect it.” + </p> + <p> + “But what is your plan?” + </p> + <p> + “Listen, and you shall know. My father has procured a call for Mr. Grant, + to one of the towns on the Hudson where he can live more at his ease than + in journeying through these woods; where he can spend the evening of his + life in comfort and quiet; and where his daughter may meet with such + society, and form such a connection, as may be proper for one of her years + and character.” + </p> + <p> + “Bess! you amaze me! I did not think you had been such a manager!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh! I manage more deeply than you imagine, sir,” said the wife, archly + smiling again; “but it is thy will and it is your duty to submit—for + a time at least.” + </p> + <p> + Effingham laughed; but, as they approached the end of their walk, the + subject was changed by common consent. + </p> + <p> + The place at which they arrived was the little spot of level ground where + the cabin of the Leather-Stocking had so long stood. Elizabeth found it + entirely cleared of rubbish, and beautifully laid down in turf, by the + removal of sods, which, in common with the surrounding country, had grown + gay, under the influence of profuse showers, as if a second spring had + passed over the land. This little place was surrounded by a circle of + mason-work, and they entered by a small gate, near which, to the surprise + of both, the rifle of Natty was leaning against the wall. Hector and the + slut reposed on the grass by its side, as if conscious that, however + altered, they were lying on the ground and were surrounded by objects with + which they were familiar. The hunter himself was stretched on the earth, + before a head-stone of white marble, pushing aside with his fingers the + long grass that had already sprung up from the luxuriant soil around its + base, apparently to lay bare the inscription. By the side of this stone, + which was a simple slab at the head of a grave, stood a rich monument, + decorated with an urn and ornamented with the chisel. + </p> + <p> + Oliver and Elizabeth approached the graves with a light tread, unheard by + the old hunter, whose sunburnt face was working, and whose eyes twinkled + as if something impeded their vision. After some little time Natty raised + himself slowly from the ground, and said aloud: + </p> + <p> + “Well, well—I'm bold to say it's all right! There's something that I + suppose is reading; but I can't make anything of it; though the pipe and + the tomahawk, and the moccasins, be pretty well—pretty well, for a + man that, I dares to say, never seed 'ither of the things. Ah's me! there + they lie, side by side, happy enough! Who will there be to put me in the + 'arth when my time comes?” + </p> + <p> + “When that unfortunate hour arrives, Natty, friends shall not be wanting + to perform the last offices for you,” said Oliver, a little touched at the + hunter's soliloquy. + </p> + <p> + The old man turned, without manifesting surprise, for he had got the + Indian habits in this particular, and, running his hand under the bottom + of his nose, seemed to wipe away his sorrow with the action. + </p> + <p> + “You've come out to see the graves, children, have ye?” he said; “well, + well, they're wholesome sights to young as well as old.” + </p> + <p> + “I hope they are fitted to your liking,” said Effingham, “no one has a + better right than yourself to be consulted in the matter.” + </p> + <p> + “Why, seeing that I ain't used to fine graves,” returned the old man, “it + is but little matter consarning my taste. Ye laid the Major's head to the + west, and Mohegan's to the east, did ye, lad?” + </p> + <p> + “At your request it was done.” + </p> + <p> + “It's so best,” said the hunter; “they thought they had to journey + different ways, children: though there is One greater than all, who'll + bring the just together, at His own time, and who'll whiten the skin of a + blackamoor, and place him on a footing with princes.” + </p> + <p> + “There is but little reason to doubt that,” said Elizabeth, whose decided + tones were changed to a soft, melancholy voice; “I trust we shall all meet + again, and be happy together.” + </p> + <p> + “Shall we, child, shall we?” exclaimed the hunter, with unusual fervor, + “there's comfort in that thought too. But before I go, I should like to + know what 'tis you tell these people, that be flocking into the country + like pigeons in the spring, of the old Delaware, and of the bravest white + man that ever trod the hills?” + </p> + <p> + Effingham and Elizabeth were surprised at the manner of the + Leather-Stocking, which was unusually impressive and solemn; but, + attributing it to the scene, the young man turned to the monument, and + read aloud: + </p> + <p> + “Sacred to the memory of Oliver Effingham Esquire, formally a Major in his + B. Majesty's 60th Foot; a soldier of tried valor; a subject of chivalrous + loyalty; and a man of honesty. To these virtues he added the graces of a + Christian. The morning of his life was spent in honor, wealth, and power; + but its evening was obscured by poverty, neglect, and disease, which were + alleviated only by the tender care of his old, faithful, and upright + friend and attendant Nathaniel Bumppo. His descendants rest this stone to + the virtues of the master, and to the enduring gratitude of the servant.” + </p> + <p> + The Leather-Stocking started at the sound of his own name, and a smile of + joy illuminated his wrinkled features, as he said: + </p> + <p> + “And did ye say It, lad? have you then got the old man's name cut in the + stone, by the side of his master's! God bless ye, children! 'twas a kind + thought, and kindness goes to the heart as Life shortens.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth turned her back to the speakers. Effingham made a fruitless + effort before he succeeded in saying: + </p> + <p> + “It is there cut in plain marble; but it should have been written in + letters of gold!” + </p> + <p> + “Show me the name, boy,” said Natty, with simple eagerness; “let me see my + own name placed in such honor. 'Tis a gin'rous gift to a man who leaves + none of his name and family behind him in a country where he has tarried + so long.” + </p> + <p> + Effingham guided his finger to the spot, and Natty followed the windings + of the letters to the end with deep interest, when he raised himself from + the tomb, and said: + </p> + <p> + “I suppose it's all right; and it's kindly thought, and kindly done! But + what have ye put over the red-skin?” + </p> + <p> + “You shall hear: This stone is raised to the memory of an Indian Chief of + the Delaware tribe, who was known by the several names of John Mohegan + Mohican———'” + </p> + <p> + “Mo-hee-can, lad, they call theirselves! 'hecan.” + </p> + <p> + “Mohican; and Chingagook—” + </p> + <p> + “'Gach, boy; 'gach-gook; Chingachgook, which interpreted, means + Big-sarpent. The name should be set down right, for an Indian's name has + always some meaning in it.” + </p> + <p> + “I will see it altered. 'He was the last of his people who continued to + inhabit this country; and it may be said of him that his faults were those + of an Indian, and his virtues those of a man.'” + </p> + <p> + “You never said truer word, Mr. Oliver; ah's me! if you had knowed him as + I did, in his prime, in that very battle where the old gentleman, who + sleeps by his side saved his life, when them thieves, the Iroquois, had + him at the stake, you'd have said all that, and more too. I cut the thongs + with this very hand, and gave him my own tomahawk and knife, seeing that + the rifle was always my fav'rite weapon. He did lay about him like a man! + I met him as I was coming home from the trail, with eleven Mingo scalps on + his pole. You needn't shudder, Madam Effingham, for they was all from + shaved heads and warriors. When I look about me, at these hills, where I + used to could count sometimes twenty smokes, curling over the tree-tops, + from the Delaware camps, it raises mournful thoughts, to think that not a + red-skin is left of them all; unless it be a drunken vagabond from the + Oneidas, or them Yankee Indians, who, they say, be moving up from the + seashore; and who belong to none of Gods creatures, to my seeming, being, + as it were, neither fish nor flesh—neither white man nor savage. + Well, well! the time has come at last, and I must go——” + </p> + <p> + “Go!” echoed Edwards, “whither do you go?” + </p> + <p> + The Leather-Stocking; who had imbibed unconsciously, many of the Indian + qualities, though he always thought of himself as of a civilized being, + compared with even the Delawares, averted his face to conceal the workings + of his muscles, as he stooped to lift a large pack from behind the tomb, + which he placed deliberately on his shoulders. + </p> + <p> + “Go!” exclaimed Elizabeth, approaching him with a hurried step; “you + should not venture so far in the woods alone, at your time of life, Natty; + indeed, it Is Imprudent, He is bent, Effingham, on some distant hunting.” + </p> + <p> + “What Mrs. Effingham tells you is true, Leather-Stocking,” said Edwards; + “there can be no necessity for your submitting to such hardships now. So + throw aside your pack, and confine your hunt to the mountains near us, if + you will go.” + </p> + <p> + “Hardship! 'tis a pleasure, children, and the greatest that is left me on + this side the grave.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no; you shall not go to such a distance,” cried Elizabeth, laying her + white hand on his deer-skin pack—“I am right! I feel his + camp-kettle, and a canister of powder! He must not be suffered to wander + so far from us, Oliver; remember how suddenly Mohegan dropped away.” + </p> + <p> + “I knowed the parting would come hard, children—I knowed it would!” + said Natty, “and so I got aside to look at the graves by myself, and + thought if I left ye the keep sake which the Major gave me, when we first + parted in the woods, ye wouldn't take it unkind, but would know that, let + the old man's body go where it might, his feelings stayed behind him.” + </p> + <p> + “This means something more than common,” exclaimed the youth. “Where is + it, Natty, that you purpose going?” + </p> + <p> + The hunter drew nigh him with a confident, reasoning air, as If what he + had to say would silence all objections, and replied: + </p> + <p> + “Why, lad, they tell me that on the big lakes there's the best of hunting, + and a great range without a white man on it unless it may be one like + myself. I'm weary of living in clearings, and where the hammer is sounding + in my ears from sunrise to sundown. And though I'm much bound to ye both, + children—I wouldn't say it if It was not true—I crave to go + into the woods agin—I do.” + </p> + <p> + “Woods!” echoed Elizabeth, trembling with her feelings; “do you not call + these endless forests woods?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! child, these be nothing to a man that's used to the wilderness. I + have took but little comfort sin' your father come on with his settlers; + but I wouldn't go far, while the life was in the body that lies under the + sod there. But now he's gone, and Chingachgook Is gone; and you be both + young and happy. Yes! the big house has rung with merriment this month + past! And now I thought was the time to get a little comfort in the close + of my days. Woods! indeed! I doesn't call these woods, Madam Effingham, + where I lose myself every day of my life in the clearings.” + </p> + <p> + “If there be anything wanting to your comfort, name it, Leather-Stocking; + if it be attainable it is yours.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean all for the best, lad, I know; and so does madam, too; but your + ways isn't my ways. 'Tis like the dead there, who thought, when the breath + was in them, that one went east, and one went west, to find their heavens; + but they'll meet at last, and so shall we, children. Yes, and as you've + begun, and we shall meet in the land of the just at last.” + </p> + <p> + “This is so new! so unexpected!” said Elizabeth, in almost breathless + excitement; “I had thought you meant to live with us and die with us, + Natty.” + </p> + <p> + “Words are of no avail,” exclaimed her husband: “the habits of forty years + are not to be dispossessed by the ties of a day. I know you too well to + urge you further, Natty; unless you will let me build you a hut on one of + the distant hills, where we can sometimes see you, and know that you are + comfortable.” + </p> + <p> + “Don't fear for the Leather-Stocking, children; God will see that his days + be provided for, and his indian happy. I know you mean all for the best, + but our ways doesn't agree. I love the woods, and ye relish the face of + man; I eat when hungry, and drink when a-dry; and ye keep stated hours and + rules; nay, nay, you even over-feed the dogs, lad, from pure kindness; and + hounds should be gaunty to run well. The meanest of God's creatures be + made for some use, and I'm formed for the wilderness, If ye love me, let + me go where my soul craves to be agin!” + </p> + <p> + The appeal was decisive; and not another word of en treaty for him to + remain was then uttered; but Elizabeth bent her head to her bosom and + wept, while her husband dashed away the tears from his eyes; and, with + hands that almost refused to perform their office, he procured his + pocket-book, and extended a parcel of bank-notes to the hunter. + </p> + <p> + “Take these,” he said, “at least take these; secure them about your + person, and in the hour of need they will do you good service.” + </p> + <p> + The old man took the notes, and examined them with curious eye. + </p> + <p> + “This, then, is some of the new-fashioned money that they've been making + at Albany, out of paper! It can't be worth much to they that hasn't + larning! No, no, lad—— take back the stuff; it will do me no + sarvice, I took kear to get all the Frenchman's powder afore he broke up, + and they say lead grows where I'm going, it isn't even fit for wads, + seeing that I use none but leather!—Madam Effingham, let an old man + kiss your hand, and wish God's choicest blessings on you and your'n.” + </p> + <p> + “Once more let me beseech you, stay!” cried Elizabeth. “Do not, + Leather-Stocking, leave me to grieve for the man who has twice rescued me + from death, and who has served those I love so faithfully. For my sake, if + not for your own, stay. I shall see you in those frightful dreams that + still haunt my nights, dying in poverty and age, by the side of those + terrific beasts you slew. There will be no evil, that sickness, want, and + solitude can inflict, that my fancy will not conjure as your fate. Stay + with us, old man, if not for your own sake, at least for ours.” + </p> + <p> + “Such thoughts and bitter dreams, Madam Effingham,” returned the hunter, + solemnly, “will never haunt an innocent parson long. They'll pass away + with God's pleasure. And if the cat-a-mounts be yet brought to your eyes + in sleep, tis not for my sake, but to show you the power of Him that led + me there to save you. Trust in God, madam, and your honorable husband, and + the thoughts for an old man like me can never be long nor bitter. I pray + that the Lord will keep you in mind—the Lord that lives in clearings + as well as in the wilderness—and bless you, and all that belong to + you, from this time till the great day when the whites shall meet the + red-skins in judgement, and justice shall be the law, and not power.” + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth raised her head, and offered her colorless cheek to his salute, + when he lifted his cap and touched it respectfully. His hand was grasped + with convulsive fervor by the youth, who continued silent. The hunter + prepared himself for his journey, drawing his belt tighter, and wasting + his moments in the little reluctant movements of a sorrowful departure. + Once or twice he essayed to speak, but a rising in his throat prevented + it. At length he shouldered his rifle, and cried with a clear huntsman's + call that echoed through the woods: “He-e-e-re, he-e-e-re, pups—away, + dogs, away!—ye'll be footsore afore ye see the end of the journey!” + </p> + <p> + The hounds leaped from the earth at this cry, and scenting around the + grave and silent pair, as if conscious of their own destination, they + followed humbly at the heels of their master. A short pause succeeded, + during which even the youth concealed his face on his grandfather's tomb. + When the pride of manhood, however, had suppressed the feelings of + nature, he turned to renew his entreaties, but saw that the cemetery was + occupied only by himself and his wife. + </p> + <p> + “He is gone!” cried Effingham. + </p> + <p> + Elizabeth raised her face, and saw the old hunter standing looking back + for a moment, on the verge of the wood. As he caught their glances, he + drew his hard hand hastily across his eyes again, waved it on high for an + adieu, and, uttering a forced cry to his dogs, who were crouching at his + feet, he entered the forest. + </p> + <p> + This was the last they ever saw of the Leather-Stocking, whose rapid + movements preceded the pursuit which Judge Temple both ordered and + conducted. He had gone far toward the setting sun—the foremost in + that band of pioneers who are opening the way for the march of the nation + across the continent. + </p> + <div style="height: 6em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Pioneers, by James Fenimore Cooper + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PIONEERS *** + +***** This file should be named 2275-h.htm or 2275-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/7/2275/ + +Produced by Gary Rezny and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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