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THE LAST OF

THE MOHICANS

ADAPTED FROM
J. FENIMORE cooper's "THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS "

MARGARET N. HAIGHT

NEW YORK f. CINCINNATI :: CHICAGO

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

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rRANSFF,?«rn If,
HARVARD C:;LLtj L!,]f.VRt

Entered at Stationers' Hall, London

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS
W. P. 1

PREFATORY NOTE

The Last of the Mohicans is iindoubtedly the best
known of Fenimore Cooper's many tales of Indian
savagery and warfare. In arranging this adaptation,
only those portions of the original have been omitted
which do not bear directly on the story, and which
are neither suitable nor interesting to the average boy
and girl.

CONTENTS

Chapter

I. The DEPARxnRK

Page
. 7

II.

The Meeting

. 12

III.

The Cave under the Waterfall

. 23

IV.

Thk Capture

. 37

The Journey to Fort Whliam Henry

. 52

VI.

The Massacre of Fort Wh^liam Henry

. 64

VII.

Thk Search

. 76

VIII.

They Find a Trail

. 81

IX.

In the Camp of the Iroquois

. 88

The Adventure with the Bear

. 98

XI.

Uncas Escapes

. 107

XII.

In the Camp of the Dela wares

. 116

XIII.

The Last of the Mohicans

. 129

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

CHAPTER I

THE DEPARTURE

The country which lies between the head waters
of the Hudson and the near by lakes was the scene of
the fiercest of the savage warfare during the Colonial
wars of North America, especially during the year 1757.
You will remember that the French and English were
struggling for the possession of this beautiful country,
and here the natural advantages were too plainly seen
to be neglected by either side.

Lake Champlain stretched from Canada deep within
the borders of the neighboring Province of New York.
If you look on the map of New York state, you will
see how this formed an easy way for the French to
come from Canada, and to attack the English forts
along the lake. You will also see that Lake George
joins Lake Champlain near the southern end. Wind-

ing its way among countless islands, this latter lake
extends many miles farther south. Then begins a
high plain or portage, over which merchandise can be
carried from one stream to another. This plain leads
to the banks of the Hudson, and from here the traveler
could sail down to the ocean.

The French were too enterprising to overlook these
natural advantages. They erected forts at different
points which, being taken by the English, were retaken
by the French, razed, and rebuilt. The forests were
alive with men; its glades and glens rang with the
sound of martial music, and the echoes of its mountains
threw back the laugh of many a gallant and reckless
youth.

The English colonists were fast losing their respect
for their protector, the English army. They had
always thought England, the mother country, in-
vincible, but recently they had seen a chosen army
led by General Braddock disgracefully routed by a
handful of French and Indians. It was only saved
from complete destruction by the coolness and spirit
of a Virginia boy, George Washington. The colonists
were terrified by this disaster; for, afraid of the French
and afraid of the Indians, they did not put much con-
fidence in the power of the English army. They

believed that the yells of the savages were mingled
with every gust of wind.

One day in midsummer the news was brought to
the English fort, Edward, which covered the southern
end of the portage between the Hudson and the lakes
that General Montcalm, the French conmiander,
had been seen moving up Lake Champlain. The
Indian runner who carried the tidings also bore a
request for aid from General Munro, the conmiander
of Fort William Henry on Lake George. The distance
between these two forts was less than fifteen miles.
The journey might be made on the rude path in one
day. Fifteen himdred men were selected to depart
with the dawn for William Henry, the post at the
northern extremity of the portage.

Before the grey light of the next morning was mellowed
by the rays of the sun, the main body of the departing
soldiers wheeled into column, and left the encampment
with a show of high military bearing. The notes of
their fifes grew faint in the distance, and the forest
at length appeared to swallow up the living mass
which had entered its bosom. There still remained
signs of another departure, however, before the cabin
of General Webb. At this spot were gathered some
half-dozen horses caparisoned in a manner which

showed that two were to carry women. A third wore
the trappings and arms of an officer of the staflF; while
the rest were evidently fitted for the reception of the
servants.

A young man in the dress of an officer led to their
horses two girls who were both very young and pretty.
Alice, the younger, had fair golden hair and blue eyes,
while Cora's hair was black and her eyes were brown.
They were the daughters of General Munro, and were
going to join their father at Fort William Henry.
Heyward, the young officer, assisted them into their
saddles and then sprang lightly on the back of the
war horse awaiting him, and, followed by the servants,
the party rode toward the northern entrance of the
encampment. The Indian runner who brought the
news the day before, glided past them and led the way
along the military road in their front. Alice was
startled.

"Do you often see such specters in the woods,
Heyward?" she asked.

"That Indian is a runner of the army," answered
Heyward, "and he has oflFered to guide us to the lake
by a path but little known. We will reach the fort
before the soldiers do. He has served with the Dela-
ware Indians."

"I do not like him," said Alice shuddering.

"We should not distrust him because his manners
arediflEerent from ours and his skin is dark, " said Cora,
the elder sister.

They had reached a spot where a path branching
oflF from the main road led through a dark and tangled
thicket. Here the party broke up; the servants con-
tinued on the main road, and the sisters, with Heyward,
one by one followed the Indian runner under the high
but dark arches of the forest.

A clatter of hoofs in their rear caused them to draw
their reins. In a few moments an ungainly man,
David Gamut by name, came in sight on the back of
a meagre horse. They knew him to be a harmless,
inoffensive person, and when he asked that he might
journey with them to Fort William Henry, permission
was granted, and the party followed the footsteps
of their silent Indian guide.

CHAPTER n

THE MEETING

On the same day, a few miles from Fort William
Henry, two men were lingering on the banks of a small
but rapid stream. The sun was gradually setting
and the air losing the intense heat of the July day.
The silence was broken by the low voices of the men,
the lazy tap of the woodpecker, and the dull roar of
a distant waterfall.

One of the men showed the red skin of a native of
the woods. His body was nearly naked and painted
with black and white emblems. His closely shaved
head had no other hair than a small tuft on the crown.
To this was fastened an eagle's plume. A tomahawk
and knife were in his girdle, while a short military
rifle lay across his knees.

His companion was a thin, muscular man belonging
to the white race. He wore a forest-green hunting
shirt, trimmed with faded yellow fringe, and a cap
of skins. He also carried a knife in his girdle of wam-
pum, but no tomahawk. His moccasins were oma-

mented in Indian fashion, and his leggings made of
buckskin were laced at the sides and tied above the
knees with the sinews of a deer. A long rifle leaned
against a tree. The rifle of the hunter is always long;
that of the army short. This was our friend, Deer-
slayer, but the Indians now called him, "Hawkeye,"
on accoimt of his keenness of sight. Chingachgook
was the name of his redskin friend.

The latter was speaking in the Indian language: —

"My fathers came from the place where the sun is
hid at night, over great plains where the buffaloes
live. There we fought the Iroquois. We said the
country should be ours. The land we had taken
like warriors we kept like men. "

"All this I have"" heard and believe," said the white
man; "but it was long before the English came into
the country." •

"The first palefaces who came among us spoke
no English. They came in a large canoe when my
fathers had buried the tomahawk with the red men;
then, Hawkeye, we were one people and we were happy.
The salt lake gave us its fish, the wood its deer, and
the air its birds. We worshiped the Great Spirit. The
blood of chiefs is in my veins where it must stay forever.
The Dutch landed and gave my people the fire water;

they drank until the heavens and earth seemed to meet,
and then they parted with their land. Foot by foot
they were driven back from the shores. Where are
the blossoms of those summers? Fallen one by one;
so all of my family departed, each in his turn, to the land
of the Spirits. I am on the hilltop and must go down
into the valley; and when Uncas follows in my foot-
steps there will no longer be any of the blood of the
Saganxores. My boy, the son of Wah-ta-Wah, is the
last of the Mohicans. "

"Uncas is here!" said another voice near his elbow.
"Who speaks to Uncas?"

At the next instant a young Indian warrior seated
himself beside his father. No exclamation of surprise
was uttered, nor questions asked by the older men.

"I have been on the trail of the Iroquois," said the
young Indian, " and I know that they number as many as
the fingers of my two hands, but they lie hid like cow-
ards!"

"I hear the sound of feet," said Chingachgook
abruptly bending his body till his ear nearly touched
the earth. "The horses of white men are coming.
Hawkeye, they are your brothers; speak to them."

"That will I," said the hunter, "and in English
that the king needn't be ashamed to answer. Ha!

there goes something like the crack of a stick! Now
I hear the bxishes move — and here they come them-
selves!"

A beaten path, such as those made by the deer coming
to drink at the stream, wound through a little glen not
far off, and struck the river at the point where the white
man and his red companions had posted them-
selves. Along this track Heyward and his party
came.

"Who comes?" demanded the hunter, throwing his
rifle icross his left arm.

"Friends to the law and the king. We are seeking
our way to Fort William Henry, and in plain words
we do not know where we are. We trusted to an
Indian guide and he has lost his way," answered
Heyward.

"An Indian lost in the woods!" said Hawkeye
shaking his head; "when the sun is scorching the
tree tops; when the moss on every beech he sees will
tell him in which quarter the north star will shine at
night! The woods are full of deer paths which run
to the streams, nor have the geese done their flight
to the Canada waters altogether. It is strange! Is
he a Mohican?"

"He is an Iroquois," answered the ofl&cer.

"Hugh!" exclaimed the companions of Hawkeye.

"But he has been adopted into the tribe of the
Mohicans," continued Heyward, "and he serves
with our forces as a friend. But you have not told
me how far it is to Fort William Henry."

"I should like to look at your guide. Is he in the
rear?" asked Hawkeye. "If he is a true Iroquois,
I can tell him by his knavish look and paint. "

He stepped past Heyward, and found the Indian
runner, behind the girls, leaning against a tree. Hawk-
eye looked long and searchingly into the face of the
redskin, and then rejoined Heyward.

"If we were alone," said he in a low voice, "I could
show you the way to Fort William Henry myself, but
I wouldn't walk a mile in these woods after nightfall
in company with that runner. They are full of Iro-
quois, and he knows where to find them only too well. "

Hawkeye beckoned his two red companions to his
side, and talked with them in a low tone. After a
few moments, Chingachgook and Uncas went cautious-
ly into the thicket on opposite sides of the path.

"Now," said the hunter to Heyward, "you go back,
and engage the runner in talk. These Mohicans here
will take him."

"I will take him myself," said Heyward proudly.

"What could you do mounted?"

"I will dismount."

"Do you think when he saw one of your feet out of
the stirrup he would wait for the other to be free?
We must use Indian fashions in dealing with Indians.
Go then; talk openly, and seem to believe him the
truest friend you have on earth. "

Heyward obeyed reluctantly, and, spurring his
charger, he drew the reins only when within a few
yards of the sullen runner who still leaned against the
tree.

"You see, Sly Fox," he said, "night is coming, and
we are still far from Fort William Henry. You have
missed the way, but fortunately we have met with a
hunter who has promised to lead us to a place where
we may rest safely until morning."

"Is he alone?" asked the Indian.

"Not alone. Sly Fox, for we are with him."

"Then Sly Fox will go away," returned the runner.

"What account will Sly Fox give to Munro to whom
he gave his promise to be a guide for his children?"

" I will not hear him or feel him in the woods. "

"Rest yourself," said Heyward. "We have a few
moments to spare."

Sly Fox looked suspiciously at him, and then seating

MOHICANS — 2

himself on the ground, he drew from his wallet the
remainder of some former meal, and began to eat.

A stick crackled, and the rustling of leaves was
heard. Sly Fox dropped his hand from his mouth.
His eyes did not rest a single instant on any particular
object, yet did not seem to move; his ears seemed to
stand more erect than usual. Heyward carelessly
dismounted with an air of friendship.

"Sly Fox does not eat," he said. "His com seems
dry. Let me examine it."

The Indian held out his wallet. But when he felt
He)nvard's fingers touch his naked arm, he struck up
the hand of the young man with a piercing cry, and
plunged at a single bound into the opposite thicket.
Chingachgook appeared from the bushes, and glided
across the path in swift pursuit. Next followed the
shout of Uncas, and the woods were lighted by the
sharp report of the himter's rifle.

"Would you set a cloud to chase the wind?" cried
the disappointed Hawkeye. "He will draw us within
reach of his comrades. Let him go!"

"Do not desert me!" cried Heyward as he looked
around the gloomy woods, for night was fast coming
on. "Stay with me to protect these helpless girls,
and name your own reward."

Hawkeye and the two Indians were talking apart,
and paid him no attention. Finally the hunter turned
to the young man.

"Spare your oflFers of money," he said. "The
Mohicans and I will do our best to protect these help-
less children. First you must promise two things
both for yourself and your friends."

"Name them."

"The one is to be as still as these sleeping woods,
let what will happen ; and the other is to keep the place
where we shall take you forever a secret. If you do
not promise these, without serving you, we shall only
injure ourselves."

"I will do my utmost."

"Follow, for we are losing precious moments."

Heyward hurriedly told the girls what Hawkeye
wished. Silently and without a moment's delay, they
allowed him to assist them from their saddles, and
descended to the water's edge. Here the scout collected
the rest of the party. The Indians did not hesitate a
moment, but taking the bridles, they led the frightened
horses into the bed of the river.

At a short distance from the shore, they turned,
and were soon concealed by the projection of the bank
under the brow of which they moved in a direction

opposite to the course of the water. In the meantime
the scout drew a canoe of bark from beneath some low
bushes. Alice and Cora were placed in this, and as
soon as they were seated the scout told Heyward to
support one side of the vessel, and, posting himself at
the other, they bore it up against the stream, followed
by David Gamut. In this manner they proceeded
for many rods in a silence that was only interrupted
by the rippling of the water. Occasionally the scout
would stop, and in the midst of a breathless stillness,
would listen to catch any sound that might arise from
the forest.

At length they reached a point in the river where
Heyward saw a cluster of black objects in a spot where
the high bank threw a deeper shadow than usual on
the dark waters. Here the Indians had hidden the
horses, and here they rejoined Hawkeye and his
party.

The river was confined between high and cragged
rocks. These were surmounted by tall trees which
appeared to totter on the brows of a precipice, and
which gave the river the appearance of running through
a deep and narrow dell. At no great distance ahead
a cataract poured its waters into caverns. There the
river seemed to be piled up against the sky, and then

to come roaring down. The current was swift and
full of eddies.

The horses had been fastened to some scattered
shrubs that, grew in the fissures of the rock where,
standing in the water, they were left to pass the night.
The scout told Heyward and his fellow travelers to
seat themselves in the forward end of the canoe, and
took possession of the other himself, erect and steady.
The Indians carefully retraced their steps towards the
place they had left, while the scout, placing his pole
against a rock, sent the canoe by a powerful shove
directly into the center of the turbulent stream. For-
bidden to stir even a hand, and almost afraid to breathe,
the girls watched the glancing waters in feverish
suspense. Twenty times they thought they would be
swept away. After a long and desperate struggle,
the canoe floated at the side of a flat rock that lay on
a level with the water.

"Where are we, and what is next to be done?"
asked Heyward.

"You are at the foot of Glenn's, " returned the scout,
"and the next thing is to make a steady landing, lest the
canoe upset, and you should go down again the hard
road faster than you came up. Go on the rock, and
I will bring up the Mohicans with the venison. "

Heyward, David, and the girls gladly obeyed. As
the last ioot touched the rock, the canoe was whirled
away. The travelers remained a few minutes in
helpless ignorance, afraid even to move along the
broken rocks, lest a false step should throw them down
into one of the many deep and roaring caverns into
which the water tumbled on every side of them. But
the canoe soon shot back into the eddy, and floated
again at the side of the low rock, with the help of the
Indians.

The scout busied himself in collecting the venison
and other provisions which he had brought with him.
Chingachgook and his son shouldered the canoe, and
the three moved quietly past the travelers. They
disappeared one after another seeming to vanish a-
gainst the dark face of a perpendicular rock within a
few feet of the water's edge*

CHAPTER III

THE CAVE UNDER THE WATERFALL

Heyward and the girls saw this mysterious move-
ment with secret uneasiness. They felt that they
could trust the white man, yet his rude dress, his blunt
speech, and the character of his silent friends were
all causes for exciting terror in minds that had been so
recently alarmed by Indian treachery.

Smothered voices were soon heard, as though men
called to each other, and a light suddenly flashed upon
those without, laying bare the secret of the place. At
the farther end of a narrow cavern in the rock, whose
length appeared greater than it really was in the light
by which it was seen, was seated the scout holding up
a blazing knot of pine. The strong glare of the fire
fell full upon his sturdy, weatherbeaten face and forest
attire. At a little distance in advance stood Uncas,
his whole person thrown into view. The travelers
looked anxiously at the upright figure of the young
Mohican, graceful in every movement. He wore the
green-fringed hunting shirt of the white man. His

eyes were dark and fearless ; the bold outline of haughty
features pure in their native red. His head was bare
like that of Chingachgook, save for the tuft on the

crown.

I could sleep in peace," whispered Alice, *'with
such a fearless looking youth for sentinel. "

The scout called to them, and they all entered the
cavern. "This fire begins to show too bright a flame, "
said Hawkeye, "and might light the Iroquois to our
undoing. Uncas, drop the blanket, and show the
enemy the dark side!"

Uncas did as the other directed, and, when the voice
of Hawkeye ceased, the roar of the cataract sounded
like the rumbling of distant thunder.

"Are we quite safe in this cavern?" asked Heyward.

Hawkeye for answer lifted another blanket, and
Bhowed him that the cave had two entrances. Then
holding the pine knot, he crossed a deep and narrow
chasm in the rocks which ran at right angles to the
passage they were in, and entered another cave ex-
actly like the first.

"Such old foxes as Chingachgook and myself are
not often caught in a burrow with one hole," said the
scout laughing. "The fall was once a few yards below
us, and I dare say was, in its time, as regular and

fine a sheet of water as any along the Hudson. But
the place is sadly changed. The rocks are full of cracks,
and the water has worked out deep hollows for itself,
until it has fallen back some hundred feet or more."

"Are we on an island?" asked Heyward.

"Ay — there are falls on two sides of us, and the
river above and below. If you had daylight, it would
be worth the trouble to step up on the top of this rock,
and look at the water. It falls by no rule at all ; some-
times it leaps; sometimes it tumbles; there it skips,
here it shoots; in one place 'tis as white as snow, and
in another 'tis as green as grass; it pitches into deep
hollows that rumble and quake the earth; it ripples
and sings like a brook. First it runs smoothly along,
then it angles about and faces the shores, as if unwilling
to leave the wilderness to mingle with the salt. A few
rods below you may see all the water flowing on steadily
towards the sea. "

After Hawkeye had assured them of their safety in
the cave, they began to get supper ready. They had
venison and plenty of fresh water, besides a keg of
spruce. Uncas had brought green sassafras boughs
for the girls to sit on. Everything seemed safe, and
their uneasiness was gradually dying away. Behind
the blanket the roar of the cataract was subdued, and

seemed miles away. The pine knot and the fire by
which they did their cooking brightened the dark
cavern. The mingled odors of the cooking venison,
and the fragrant sassafras boughs smelled good to the
hungry and tired girls, for you must remember that they
had been traveling all day. Their fears gradually sub-
sided and they talked and ate cheerfully and even gayly.

A cry that seemed neither human or earthly rose
outside, penetrating the recesses of the cavern, and
striking terror into the hearts of all who heard it. A
deep stillness followed.

"What is it?" whispered Alice after a few moments
of terrible suspense.

"What is it?" repeated Heyward.

Neither Hawkeye nor the Indians made any reply.
They listened as if expecting the sound would be re-
peated. At length they spoke together earnestly in
the Delaware language, and Uncas, passing by the
inner opening, left the cavern. When he had gone
Hawkeye spoke in English.

" What it is or what it is not, none of us here can tell,
though two of us have ranged the woods for more than
thirty years. Well, Uncas," speaking to the chief as
he reentered, " what do you see ? Do our lights shine
through the blanket?"

The answer was short. There was nothing to be
seen without.

"Go into the other cave," continued Hawkeye to the
girls, " and sleep. We must be afoot long before sunrise,
and make the most of our time to get to the fort while
the Iroquois are taking their morning nap. "

He)nvard took with him a blazing knot which threw
a dim light in their new apartment.

"Do not leave us, Duncan," said Alice as the two
sisters lay down on the sassafras boughs. "We cannot
sleep in this place. "

"You must both sleep," said Duncan, and then
stopped, for while his eyes were fixed on Alice the same
strong, horrid cry as before filled the air. A long
breathless silence followed. The blanket was raised,
and Hawkeye stood in the opening.

"'Twould be neglecting a warning that is given for
our good to lie hidden any longer," said he. "The
.girls must stay here, but the Mohicans and I will
watch on the rock, where I suppose Heyward would
wish to keep us company. I have listened to all the
sounds of the woods for thirty years. There is no
whine of the panther, no whistle of the cat-bird, nor any
invention of the Iroquois that can cheat me. I have
listened to the wind playing its music in the branches

of the trees, and I have heard the lightning cracking
in the air, but neither the Mohicans nor I can explain
the cry just heard. "

The whole party came from their hiding place into
the chasm which separated the two caverns. The
air felt cool and invigorating. A heavy breeze swept
along the surface of the water. The moon had risen,
and its light was glancing here and there on the waters
above them, but the rock on which they stood lay in
the shadow.

"There is nothing to be seen but the gloom and quiet
of a lovely evening," whispered Duncan Heyward.

"Listen!" interrupted Alice.

Once more the same sound arose as if from the bed
of the river, and echoed through the forest.

"I know the cry!" said Duncan. "It is the shriek
of a terrified horse. In the open air I know the sound
well."

"The wolves must be hovering above their heads,"
said Hawkeye, "and they are calling on us for aid.
Unc2!s, drop down in the canoe and hurl a brand among
the pack."

A howl was raised on the edge of the water as though
the wolves were being driven away . by some one
eke.

The three foresters talked together for a few moments ;
then Hawkeye placed the others in the shadow, and
while they nodded or slept he and the Mohicans kept
careful watch. All through the night not a sound
escaped them, and one watching could hardly have
told that they breathed, so motionless did they sit.

The moon had set, and a pale streak of light above
the trees had told that day was coming when Hawkeye
stirred. He awoke Duncan.

"Call the girls!" he whispered. "It is time to go!
Be ready to get in the canoe when I bring it to the
landing place."

Heyward lifted a shawl from the sleeping girls.
* ' Cora ! Alice ! It is time to move . ' '

A loud shriek from Alice was his unexpected answer,
and Cora stood upright in terror. While the words
were still on Heyward's lips there had arisen a tumult
of yells, and the cries of savages filled the woods.
Then came bright flashes and the quick report of a
dozen rifles.

Duncan led the way into the cavern in an instant,
and soon he and the girls and David Gamut were safe
within the rocks; then Heyward rejoined the scout
and the Indians outside. They stationed themselves
in the fissures of the rocks and in the thicket of scrub

pine. Everjrthing was silent. Not an Indian was to
be seen, but Hawkeye knew them too well to think
that they were so easily beaten back. The day had
dawned, and the watching men were able to look into
the woods and distinguish objects beneath the gloomy
pines.

** I see them ! I see them ! " cried Hawkeye. " They're
gathering for the rush. Well, let them come on! The
leading man comes to his death though it should be
Montcalm himself!"

At that moment the woods were filled with another
burst of cries, and at the signal four savages burst
from the cover of the drift wood. A short sharp fight
followed, in which two of them were overcome.

He3rward foimd himself struggling with one on the
edge of the waterfall. The savage was trying to throw
the white man over. At the moment of extreme danger,
just as they were tottering on the precipice, Heyward
felt a strong arm pull him back. Uncas had saved
his life ! The savage fell over into the cataract.

"To cover, to cover!" cried Hawkeye. "To cover
for your lives ! The work is but half ended ! "

The young Mohican gave a shout of triumph, and
the three hid among the friendly rocks and shrubs.
Though the trees and bushes were cut in a hundred

diflferent places by bullets, yet their cover was so close
they were not harmed.

"Uncas has saved my life," whispered Hejrward,
"and he has made a friend who will never forget him."

Uncas partly raised his body, and offered his hand
to He)nvard who forgot the character and condition of
the young savage, and the two exchanged looks of
friendship.

"That bullet was better aimed than common,"
exclaimed Duncan shrinking from a shot which struck
the rock at his side with a smart rebound.

Hawkeye laid his hand on the shapeless metal, and
shook his head as he examined it, saying, "Falling
lead is never flattened! Had it come from the clouds,
this might have happened!"

Uncas raised his rifle, directing the eyes of his com-
panions to a point where the mystery was explained.
A ragged oak grew on the right bank of the river nearly
opposite to their position, and it had inclined so far
forward that its upper branches overhung the stream.
Among the topmost leaves a savage was nestled, partly
concealed by the trunk of the trees. Uncas delayed
his fire until the scout was ready and uttered the word.
The rifles flashed, the leaves and bark of the oak flew
into the air, and were scattered by the wind, but the

Indian answered their assault by a taunting laugh,
sending down upon them another bullet in return
that struck the cap of Hawkeye from his hand. Once
more the savage yells burst from the wood.

"This must be looked to!" said the scout glancing
about him with an anxious eye. " Uncas, call up your
father! we have need of all our weapons to bring the
Iroquois down."

Before Hawkeye had reloaded his rifle, they were
joined by Chingachgook. When his son pointed out
the dangerous enemy to the warrior, the usual "Hugh,"
burst from his lips. The Mohicans and Hawkeye
talked together earnestly for a few moments in the
Delaware language, and each quietly took his post.
In the meantime the savage had kept up a quick fire
but his aim was now interrupted by the rifles of his
four enemies. It did not take long for them to dislodge
the Iroquois from the oak. He fell exhausted at last
into the river. A single yell burst from the woods
and all again was still.

"Uncas, lad," said Hawkeye, "go down to the
canoe, and bring up the big horn; it is all the powder
we have left, and we shall need it to the last grain."

The young Mohican obeyed, leaving the scout
turning over the useless contents of his pouch. The

latter was soon startled by a loud cry from the young
Indian. Hawkeye and his companions moved by a
common impulse, rushed down the pass to the chasm
so rapidly that the scattered fire of their enemies was
made perfectly harmless. The cry had brought the
sisters/together with David, from their hiding place;
and the whole party saw what had happened at a
single glance. At a short distance from the rock,
their little bark was to be seen floating across the eddy
toward the swift current of the river, in a manner
which showed that an Indian must be hidden within.

"'Tis too late! 'tis too late!" Hawkeye cried,
dropping his rifle in bitter disappointment. "The
Iroquois has struck the rapid; and had we powder, it
could hardly send the lead swifter than he now goes ! "

The adventurous savage raised his head above the

shelter of the canoe, and while it glided swiftly down

the stream he waved his hand, and gave the shout

• which was the known signal of success. His cry was

answered by a yell and a laugh from the woods.

"Well may you laugh," said the scout seating him-
self on a projection of the rock, ' ' for the three quickest
and truest rifles in these woods are no better without
powder, than so many stalks of muUen."

"What is to be done?" cried Heyward. "Our

MOHICANS — 3

canoe is gone and with it our powder! What will
become of us?"

Hawkeye shook his head.

"The Iroquois are not here yet!" exclaimed the
young man. " We can defend ourselves in the caverns ;
we can oppose their landing!"

"With what?" demanded the scout; "the arrows
of Uncas or such tears as women shed? No, no, it
may be a minute or it may be an hour before they
steal upon us, but come they will, and in such a fashion
as will leave us nothing to hope. Chingachgook" —
he spoke in Delaware — "my brother, we have fought
our last battle together!"

"Uncas," said Chingachgook, "call on the cowards
to hasten or their hearts will soften, and they will
change to women!"

"The path is open on every side," cried Cora coming
from her place of concealment, "escape to the woods!
go, brave men, we owe you too much already!"

"You little know the craft of the Iroquois, if you
judge they have left the path open to the woods!"
returned Hawkeye; "and what answer could we give
to your father when he asked us where and how we
had left his children?"

"Why not try the river?" returned Cora. "You

can go to my father, and tell him to hasten to our aid.
If the Iroquois capture us and bear us far away, he
may still rescue us. "

"There is reason in what you say," said the scout
thoughtfully, and he spoke to his companions in the
Delaware language. " Chingachgook, Uncas, do you
hear the talk of the dark-eyed girl?"

The elder Mohican heard him with deep gravity, *
and after a few moments of hesitation, he waved his
hand, and said, "Good!" Then replacing his knife
and tomahawk in his girdle, he moved silently to the
edge of the rock which was most concealed from the
banks of the river. Here he paused a moment, pointed
to the woods below, a^nd saying a few words in his own
language, he dropped into the water and sank from
sight. The scout delayed his departure to speak to
Cora.

"If you are led into the woods by the Iroquois,"
he said, "break the twigs on the bushes as you pass,
and make the marks of your trail as broad as you can. "

He gave Cora an aflFectionate shake of the hand,
lifted his rifle, and after looking sorrowfully at it, laid
it aside. He descended to the place where Chingach-
gook had just disappeared. For an instant he hung
suspended by the rock, and, looking about him, said

bitterly, "Had the powder held out this disgrace could
never have come to us!" Then, loosening his hold,
the water closed above his head, and he also became
lost to view.

All eyes were now turned on Uncas who stood leaning
against the ragged rock. After waiting a short time,
Cora pointed down the river and said,—

"Is it not time for you to follow?"

"Uncas will stay," the young Mohican answered
in EngUsh.

"No," said Cora decidedly; "it is my wish that
you, too, go to my father, and bring aid from him. "

The calm look of the young Mohican changed to
one of gloom, but he no longer hesitated. With a
noiseless step, he crossed the rock, and dropped into
the troubled stream. Hardly a breath was drawn by
those he left behind, until they caught a glimpse of
his head coming up for air far down the river when
he again sank and was seen no more.

Cora and Heyward went back into the cavern where
Alice and David Gamut still lay concealed.

CHAPTER IV

THE CAPTURE

The sudden and almost magical change from the
excitement of the fight to the stillness that lay around
them, made Heyward and his companions feel as if
they were in a dream. At first they listened intently
for any sounds which might warn them of the approach
of their enemies, but all was silent. He)rward then
looked carefully in all directions , but the wooded banks
of the river seemed deserted. The noise of the rushing
waters rose and sank on the breeze. A fishhawk,
which from the branches of a dead pine had seen the
fray, now soared in wide circles through the air, while
a jay made his noisy voice once more heard. Duncan
began to have more hope in their escape.

"The Iroquois are not to be seen," said he to David.
"We will hide in the inner cavern, and trust the rest
to Providence."

He led the way through the narrow mouth of the
cave, placed a pile of sassafras before the opening and

arranged the blankets, thus darkening the extreme
end. He then seated himself in the center and grasped
the pistol.

" ^he Iroquois if they come, may not gain our position
as easily as they think," he muttered.

Minute after minute passed away in silence. The
fresh air of the morning stole in the recess. It revived
their courage, and they felt more hopeful.

Suddenly a yell burst into the air without.

"We are lost!" shrieked Alice.

"Not yet, not yet!" returned He3n;v^ard. "The
sound came from the center of the island. We are
not yet discovered, and there is still hope. "

Perfect silence reigned again for a few moments,
and then a second yell followed the first. A rush of
voices was heard pouring down the island until they
reached the rock above the caverns, where, after a
shout of triumph, the air continued full of screams and
cries. The sounds quickly spread around in every
direction. Some called from the water's edge, and
were answered from the heights above. Cries were
heard in the chasm between the two caves, mingled
with hoarser yells that arose from the deep ravine.
In the midst of this tumult a triumphant yell was
raised within a few yards of the hidden entrance to

the cave. Heyward gave up hope in the belief that
they were discovered.

He heard voices collect near the spot where Hawkeye
had left his rifle. The savages thought that the owner
must be dead, and there were many exclamations of
joy.

"The Long Rifle! The Long Rifle!" they cried.

"They have separated," said He)nvard to the trem-
bling sisters. "If they do not find us now, we are
safe. "

A few minutes of fearful stillness passed. Heyward
could hear footsteps as the sassafras was pushed aside,
causing the leaves to rustle and the branches to snap.
At length the pile yielded a little, a comer of the blanket
fell down, and a faint ray of light gleamed into the inner
part of the cave.

Cora and Alice crept together and Heyward sprang
to his feet. In a minute the number and loudness of
the voices showed that the whole party was collected
around the secret place. The two caves were so close
to each other that Duncan believed escape was no longer
possible; but he was mistaken. The savages, after
upturning the furniture of the other cavern seemed to
lose the trail, and they dashed out in the open air
again and were heard rushing up the island.

" They are gone, Cora, " whispered Heyward. " Alice,
we are safe!"

The girls stood up in joy. Alice's eyes were radi-
ant and her cheeks flushed. She raised her hands
in her relief, but her bloom gave place to pale-
ness and her fingers pointed forward as if para-
lyzed.

He)rward turned. Peering just above the ledge
which formed the threshold of the open outlet of the
cavern, he saw the fierce and savage features of Sly
Fox. Duncan levelled his rifle and fired. When the
smoke had cleared away, the Indian was gone. Rush-
ing to the entrance, Heyward caught a glimpse of his
dark figure stealing around a low and narrow ledge
which soon hid him from sight.

Sly Fox raised his voice in a whoop. It was answered
by a yell from the mouth of every Indian 'present.
Before Duncan had time to move, the cavern was
entered at both ends, and he and his companions were
dragged from their shelter and borne into the open
air where they stood surrounded by the whole band
of triumphant Iroquois.

Contrary to their general practice, they respected
not only Heyward, but also the trembling girls. His
military attire held them in awe.

They demanded Hawkeye. "Hawkeye! Hawk-
eye!" was their cry.

Duncan could not understand their language. He
called Sly Fox.

"Tell me what they wish," said he, looking with
disgust at the treacherous savage.

"They ask for the hunter who knows the paths
through the woods," returned Sly Fox in his broken
English. "His rifle is good and his eye never shut;
but, like the short gun of the white chief, it is nothing
against the life of Sly Fox."

"He has gone — escaped."

.Sly Fox smiled with contempt as he said:

"Is he a bird, to spread his wings, or is he a fish, to
swim without air?"

"Though no fish, Hawkeye can swim," said Duncan.
"He floated down the stream when the powder was
all burnt, and when the eyes of the Iroquois were
behind a cloud. "

"And why did you stay?" demanded the Indian.
"Are you a stone that sinks to the bottom?"

Hey ward was becoming angry. "The white man
thinks that none but cowards desert their women,"
he said.

Sly Fox muttered a few words between his teeth.

"Where is the Great Serpent, and the Nimble Deer?"
he asked. "Have they leaped the river to the woods ? "

Heyward knew that he meant Chingachgook and Un-
cas, and he said that they, too, had gone down with the
water. Sly Fox turned to the savages, and told them
what he had heard. They raised a frightful yell to
show their disappointment. Some ran furiously to
the water's edge, beating the air with frantic gestures;
others with sullen and gloomy looks pointed savagely
towards the little group of captives.

The leader, Sly Fox, summoned his warriors in
council. Their deliberations were short, and the
way in which the few speakers pointed in the direction
of Fort Edward showed Heyward that they feared an
attack from that quarter. After a hasty conference,
the Iroquois bore the light bark canoe, which they had
stolen from Hawkeye, from behind a rock, and placed
it in the water near the mouth of the outer cavern. As
soon as this change was made the leader made signs
to the prisoners to descend and enter.

It was useless to resist, and Heyward led the way
into the boat where he was soon seated with the sisters
and David. Although the Iroquois were ignorant of
the little channels among the eddies and rapids of the
stream, they had had enough experience in canoeing

not to make any serious mistake. When the pilot
chosen for the task of guiding the canoe had taken
his place, the whole band plunged again into the river,
the vessel glided down the current, and in a few minutes
the captives found themselves on the bank of the stream,
nearly opposite to the point where they had struck it
the day before.

Here another short but earnest council was held,
during which the horses, whose cries had been heard
the preceding evening, were led from the cover of the
wood, and brought to the sheltered spot. The band
was now divided. A chief who seemed to direct the
others mounted Heyward's charger, led the way direct-
ly across the river followed by most of his people, and
disappeared in the woods, leaving the prisoners in
charge of six savages at whose head was Sly Fox. Hey-
ward was anxious to know the worst. He thought
he would try to bribe the Iroquois chief with promises
of gold.

"I would speak to Sly Fox;" he now said, "what
is fit only for so great a chief to hear. "

The Indian looked at the young soldier scornfully
as he answered, —

"Speak! trees have no ears."

"Sly Fox has proved himself worthy of the name

given him by his Canada fathers;" commenced Hey-
ward. "I see his wisdom, and all that he has done for
us, and shall remember it when the hour to reward
him arrives."

"What has Sly Fox done?" coldly demanded the
Indian.

"What! has he not seen that the woods were filled
with the enemy? Then did he not lose his path to
blind the eyes of the Iroquois? Did he not pretend
to go back to his tribe? And when we saw what he
wished to do, did we not aid him by making a false
face, that the Iroquois might think the white man
believed his friend was his enemy. Is not this all true ?
Does not Sly Fox mean to turn on his footsteps, and
carry the daughters of Rich Munro to their father?
Yes, I see it all, and I have already been thinking how
so much wisdom and honesty should be repaid. First
Sly Fox will carry a medal of beaten gold, his horn
will run over with powder, dollars will be as plenty in
his pouch as pebbles on the shore of the lake; and the
deer will lick his hand, for they know it will be vain
to fly from the rifle he will carry. "

The Indian listened gravely as Heyward spoke.
When the white man finished, he said,—

"Enough; Sly Fox is a wise chief, and what he does

will be seen. Go, and keep the mouth shut. When
Sly Fox speaks, it will be the time to answer."

Heyward fell back immediately. There was no
longer any excuse for delay. The girls were assisted
into their saddles, but He)rward and David were com-
pelled to walk. Their course lay in a direction nearly
opposite to the road to Fort William Henry.

They went on mile after mile through the woods.
Heyward watched the sun and listened for the return
of Hawkeye with aid. Whenever there was a chance,
Cora stretched out her hand to break off twigs so that
their friends might have some clue. Once she broke
down the bough of a large sumach, and once let her
glove fall. Her captors picked up the glove and broke
the remaining branches of the sumach in such a manner
that it looked as if some beast had been struggling there.

Sly Fox never spoke and never hesitated in his
course. He held his way through little vales, across
brooks and rivulets, and over hills with the directness
of a bird. After crossing a low vale through which a
winding brook flowed, he suddenly ascended a hill,
steep and hard to climb. When the summit was
gained they found themselves on a grassy spot thinly
covered with trees, and here for the first time the party
was allowed to rest.

"What would you have?" asked Cora.

"What an Iroquois loves — good for good; bad for
bad!"

"You would then revenge yourself on Munro's
daughters. Would it not be more like a man to go
before his face, and take the satisfaction of a war-
rior?"

"The arms of the palefaces are long, and their
knives sharp," returned the savage. "Why should
Sly Fox go among the muskets of his warriors, when
he holds the spirit of Munro in his hands?"

"It would be better," pleaded Cora, "to take the
gold of Munro instead of his daughters. Is there no
reward I can oflFer, no way of softening your heart?
Release my sister, and satisfy your revenge on me!"

Sly Fox shook his head, and motioned her away.
She hurried back to her friends, and told them of the
interview and how useless it was to try to bribe the
revengeful savage.

In the meantime Sly Fox approached the little
group of Iroquois, and commenced speaking to them
with the dignity of an Indian chief. As he used his
native language, the prisoners could not understand
his words, although they imagined much from his
gestures. He pointed frequently toward the direction

)uld you have?' asked Cora."

of the Great Lakes, the land of their fathers. He was
reciting a tale of their wrongs , — all that they had suf-
fered from the white men.

"Are the Iroquois dogs to bear all this?" he cried,
and his voice was no longer audible in the burst of
rage which now broke on the air. The whole band
sprang to their feet, and rushed upon their prisoners
in a body, with uplifted tomahawks. Heyward threw
himself between the sisters and the foremost savage
whom he grappled with a desperate strength. After a
struggle, two powerful warriors overpowered Heywaxd
and David, and bound them to the trunk of a young
sapling. Alice and Cora met the same fate, and the chief,
whose rage and passion could no longer be controlled, ran
forward.

"Now die!" shouted Sly Fox, hurling his tomahawk
at Alice. It struck the tree above her head. The
sight maddened Heyward to desperation. With a
mighty effort, he snapped the twigs that bound him
and rushed upon the nearest savage. A whistling
sound swept past him accompanied by the crack of a
rijfle, and to his astonishment the savage fell dead on
the faded leaves by his side.

" The Long Rifle ! The Long Rifle ! " burst from ev-
ery lip, and was succeeded by a wild and plaintive howl

MOHICANS — 4

from the savages. Then came cries of: "Great Ser-
pent! Nimble Deer!"

Following Hawkeye, Chingachgook and Uncas came
into sight. They had not gone to the fort for aid, but
under the banks of the stream had waited to watch the
movements of the Iroquois. When they saw the bro-
ken bush they knew they were on the right scent.
Hawkeye had seized his rifle from the pile of arms
which the incautious savages had left in the near by
thicket. The Indians rushed upon the rescuing party;
neither side had firearms, for Hawkeye had no time to
load his rifle, and he could use it only as a club.

After a short but fierce encounter. Sly Fox was the
only enemy left. Chingachgook attacked him. Well
did these warriors deserve their names of Sly Fox and
Great Serpent. Suddenly darting toward each other,
they closed and came to earth. The spot where they
lay could only be distinguished by a cloud of dust and
leaves. They rolled to the edge of the little plain,
twisting and turning in each other's grasp. The Mohi-
can found an opportunity to make a thrust with his
knife. Sly Fox suddenly relinquished his grasp and
fell backward, seemingly without life. His adversary
leaped on his feet, making the arches of the forest ring
with the sounds of triumph.

"Well done for the Delawares! Victory to the
Mohicans!" cried Hawkeye.

But at that very moment the subtle Iroquois rolled
swiftly over the edge of the little precipice which
terminated the plain, and, falling on his feet, was
seen leaping at a single bound into the center of a
thicket of low bushes which climg along its sides.
The Mohicans, who had believed their enemy dead,
followed. Hawkeye called them back.

"Let him go! Let him go! 'Tis but one man,
and he, without rifle or bow, many a long mile from
his French comrades, is like a rattler that has lost
his fangs. He can do no further mischief."

CHAPTER V

THE JOURNEY TO FORT WILLIAM HENRY

The joy and gratitude of Alice -and Cora knew no
bounds, but Hawkeye and his Indian friends did not
stop to listen to anything. They walked away to ex-
amine the arms that the Iroquois had left in the thicket.
Chingachgook and Uncas found their own, and Hey-
ward and David were soon well furnished with weapons
and ammunition.

By this the time hour had arrived when it was neces-
sary to move. They descended the steep hill and at the
foot found the horses browsing on the bushes. The
party mounted, and followed Hawkeye as guide. He
soon left the path the Iroquois had followed, turned
short to the right, and, entering a thicket, crossed a
babbling brook and halted in a narrow dell under the
shade of a few water elms. Here the Indians and
Hawkeye leaned their rifles against the trees.

They commenced to throw aside the dry leaves on
the ground, and soon disclosed a blue clay surface out
of which a clear and sparkling stream of water quickly

bubbled. The girls dismounted, and Uncas built a
fire. The Iroquois had left some fragments of food
which Hawkeye had put in his wallet. They now
prepared some sort of meal.

"The Iroquois know the virtue of the waters of this
spring, " said the hunter.

"Is it so famous?" asked He)rward, looking curiously
around at the secluded dell with its bubbling fountain,
surrounded as it was by earth of a deep dingy brown.

"Few redskins who travel south and east of the Great
Lakes, but have heard of its qualities."

The spot where our hero and his friends ate their

meal is where Ballston Spa now stands. Fifty years

after their visit it became one of the two principal
watering places in America.

Hawkeye now gave the word to go on. The sisters
mounted their horses; Duncan and David grasped
their rifles and followed them. The hunter led the
advance, and the Mohicans brought up the rear.

The sun had now fallen low towards the distant
mountains, and as their journey lay through the forest,
the heat was no longer oppressive ; therefore they made
rapid progress. The hunter gave occasional glances
at the moss on the trees, or towards the setting sun, to
determine his path. The forest began to lose its vivid

green, and Cora and Alice were trying to catch a glimpse
through the trees of the flood of golden glory which
formed a halo around the sun, when the sturdy Hawk-
eye led the way boldly into a dense thicket of young
chestnuts.

After penetrating through the brush matted with
briars for a few hundred feet, he entered an open space
which surrounded a low green hillock. This was
crowned by a decayed blockhouse. The roof of bark
had long since fallen in and mingled with the soil, but
the huge logs of pine still kept their position. Hawk-
eye explained that this had been the scene of a bloody
battle between the Mohicans or Delawares and the
Mohawks. The grey light, the gloomy little area of
dark grass surrounded by a border of bushes, and the
knowledge of the many dead Mohawks who had once
lain there terrified the girls.

"They're gone; they're harmless," said Hawkeye.
"They'll never shout the war whoop again. Chin-
gachgook and I alone are living of all that formed the
war party. You see before you all that are left of the
Mohican race.

"Uncas," continued he, "clear out the spring,
while your father makes a cover of chestnut shoots,
for these girls, and a bed of grass and leaves."

A comer of the building was roofed in, and piles of
sweet shrubs and dried leaves were laid beneath for
the tired sisters to rest on.

Soon all was quiet. Chingachgook kept watch
while the weary travelers slept. The mournful notes
of the whip-poor-will were blended with the moanings
of the owl. The leaves were rufHed by a gentle breeze
and the friendly stars shed their ra)^ on the crumbling
blockhouse.

Duncan Heyward was awakened by a light tap on
the shoulder.

"Who comes?" he asked feeling for his weapon.
"Speak! Friend or enemy?"

"Friend!" replied the low voice of Chingachgook.
"Moon comes — white man's fort far off — time to
move. "

The girls were aroused, and while they made pre-
parations for their journey, the Mohicans gave an
exclamation of warning. The horses were led into the
blockhouse, and the whole party took refuge there in the
most guarded silence. Duncan grasped his rifle and
fastened his eyes upon the narrow opening through
which he gazed upon the moonlit view with anxiety.
There was a rustling of leaves without and a crackling
of dried twigs, which proved that their enemies must

be at hand. The light of the moon was not sufficiently
strong to penetrate the deep arches of the forest.

Now the beating of brush was heard and the savages
were so near that the least motion of one of the horses,
or even a louder breath than usual, would have betrayed
the fugitives.

The savages drew back, talked to each other in an
earnest and solemn manner, and presently the sounds
grew fainter and more distant, and were finally lost in
the depths of the forest.

Hawkeye waited until a sign from the listening
Chingachgook assured him that all was safe. He
motioned to Heyward to lead forth the horses and help
the sisters into their saddles. The instant this was
done they issued from the broken gateway, and steal-
ing out by an opposite direction they left the soft
light of the moon to bury themselves in the gloom of
the woods.

Not the least sound arose from the forest, unless
it was the distant and scarcely audible rippling of a
brook. Bird, beast, and man appeared to slumber
alike. Toward the sounds of the rivulet they im-
mediately held their way. When its banks were
reached, Hawkeye halted, and taking the moccasins
from his feet he told Heyward and David Gamut to

do the same. He then entered the water, and for near
an hour they traveled on the bed of the brook, leaving
no trail. The moon was sinking when Hawkeye led
the way to a sandy and wooded plain.

"We are no great distance from Fort William Henry,
are we?" asked Heyward.

"It is yet a long and weary path, and when and
where to strike it is now our greatest difficulty,"
answered Hawkeye.

"Have you seen much service on this fron-
tier?"

"Ay," said the hunter, erecting his tall form with
an air of military pride, "there are not many echoes
among these hills that have not rung with the crack
of Killdeer. Hist! do you see nothing walking on the
shore of that pond?"

"Who goes there?" demanded a stem, quick voice
in French.

"What does he say?" whispered the scout. "He
speaks neither Indian nor English."

"Who goes there?" again demanded the voice.

"France!" cried Heyward in the same language,
advancing from the shadow of the trees to the shore
of the pond within a few feet of the sentinel.

"Are you an officer of the king?"

' 58

"Certainly. I have with me the daughters of the
commander of the fort."

The sentinel, with a gracious bow, allowed them to
pass, thinking them of course of his own nationality.
But Heyward and his friends were troubled, for they
realized that the French surrounded the fort, and how
to get through their lines without betraying themselves
puzzled them.

They struck oflF toward the mountains which formed
the western boundary of the narrow plain. The
route was painful, lying over ground ragged with
rocks. When they came from the stunted woods
which clung to the barren sides of the mountain upon
a flat and mossy rock that formed its summit, they
met the morning sun as it rose blushing above the
green pines of a hill that lay on the opposite side of
the valley of Lake George.

Immediately at the feet of the party the southern
shore of the lake swept in a broad semicircle. Direct-
ly on the shore, and nearer to its western than its
eastern margin, lay the earthen ramparts and low
buildings of William Henry. The land had been
cleared of wood for a reasonable distance around the
work. In front might be seen the scattered sentinels
who held weary watch. Toward the southeast, from

the woods , arose the smoke of fires, which showed that
the enemy, the French, lay in force in that direction.
That which caused the party the most anxiety was
that on the western bank of the lake were to be seen
the white tents and military engines of an encampment
of ten thousand men. While they gazed on the scene
which lay like a map at their feet, the roar of artillery
rose from the valley and passed oflE in thundering
echoes along its eastern hills

"We are too late!" said the hunter. "Montcalm
has already filled the woods with his Iroquois."

The sisters were bidden dismount and the horses
were turned loose. Hawkeye ran down the declivity
with free but careful steps and the others followed.
They were soon about one-half mile from the western
side of the fort, but now the fog which had been rolling
heavily down the lake, wrapped the camp of the enemy
in its mist. Before they had proceeded twenty yards
it was difficult for them to distinguish each other in
the vapor.

They had made a little circuit to the left and were
rapidly getting nearer to the fort, when within twenty
feet of them came the fierce call in French:

"Who goes there?"

"Push on!" whispered the hunter.

"Push on!" repeated Heyward.

The question was renewed by a dozen voices.

"Who goes there?"

"It is I!" answered Heyward, dragging, rather than
leading, the girls.

"Who?"

"A friend of France."

"You have more the manner of an enemy of France!
Stop! No? Then fire, men! Fire!"

The order was obeyed instantly, and the fog was
stirred by the explosion of fifty muskets. Happily
the aim was poor, and the bullets cut the air in a direc-
tion a little different from that taken by the fugitives.
The outcry was renewed, and the order not only to
fire again, but to pursue, was plainly heard. When
Heyward had briefly explained the meaning of the
words, Hawkeye halted, and spoke with great fu-m-
ness :

"Let us fire," he said. "They will believe us to be
the enemy, and .give way. "

The instant the French heard the report, it seemed
as if the plain were alive with men, muskets rattling
along its whole extent from the shores of the lake to
the furtherest boundary of the wood.

"We shall draw the entire army upon us!" cried

Duncan; "lead on, my friend, for your own life and
for ours."

The scout seemed willing to obey, but in the hurry
of the moment and in the change of position, he had
lost the direction. In vain he turned either cheek to
the light air; they felt equally cool. A crashing sound
was heard, and a cannon ball entered the little thicket
where they were, striking the trunk of a tree and re-
bounding to the earth. Uncas suddenly lighted on
the furrow where it had cut the ground.

"It is a small hope," said the scout, "but it is better
than nothing. This shot has ploughed the earth in
its road from the fort. Give me the range," and he
bent to catch a glimpse of the direction and then in-
stantly moved onward. "The fog may leave us in
the middle of our path, a mark for both armies to shoot
at."

He)nvard placed himself between the sisters, and
drew them swiftly forward, keeping the dim figure of
their leader in sight. Cries and voices calling to each
other, and the reports of muskets were now quick and
incessant, and seemingly on every side. Suddenly a
strong glare of light flashed across the scene, the fog
rolled upward in thick wreaths, and several cannon
belched across the plain, and the roar was thrown heavi-

ly back from the bellowing echoes of the moun-
tain.

"'Tis from the fort!" cried Hawkeye, turning short
on his track; "we are wrong — and are rushing to the
woods under the very knives of the Iroquois ! "

The instant their mistake was discovered, the whole
party retraced their steps. Men, hot and angry in pur-
suit, were evidently on their footsteps, and each moment
threatened their capture.

"Stand firm and be ready, my gallant 60ths,"
suddenly exclaimed a voice above them. " Wait to
see the enemy, and fire low!"

"Father, father!" exclaimed a piercing cry from
out the mist; "it is I, Alice! Save your daughters!"

"Hold!" shouted the former speaker in a voice that
reached even to the woods, and rolled back in solenm
echo. "Throw open the sally port; to the field, 60ths,
to the field ! Pull riot a trigger, lest you kill my daughters.
Drive off these Frenchmen with your steel. '^

Duncan, guided by the sound, darted to the spot,
and met a long line of dark red warriors. He knew
them for his own battalion of Royal Americans, and,
flying to their head, soon swept every trace of his
pursuers from before the works.

For an instant Cora and Alice stood trembling and

bewildered by this desertion, but, before either had
time for thought or even speech, an officer of gigantic
frame, whose hair was bleached with years of service,
rushed out of the body of the liiist, and the girls were
clasped in their father's arms.

CHAPTER VI

THE MASSACRE OF FORT WILLIAM HENRY

A few days were passed amid the privations, the
uproar, and the dangers of the siege which was vigorous-
ly pressed against William Henry by the French,
whose commander was General Montcalm. Munro
had no means of resisting the enemy, and it seemed
as if General Webb with his army which lay on the
banks of the Hudson, had utterly forgotten how hard
pressed his brother officer was, for no more assistance
came. Montcalm had filled the woods with his Iroquois
savages, every yell and whoop from whom sounded in
the English encampment.- He Had planted his batteries
on the plain and they were used by men of vigor and
skill. To oppose these assaults, the besieged English
had only the very hasty and imperfect preparations
of a fortress in the wilderness.

On the 8th of August, 1757, there came a letter to
General Munro from Fort Edward, advising him to
surrender. General Webb wrote that Fort Edward

could spare no more men, and that it would be useless
to resist Montcalm longer. It was then openly announced
that fighting must cease. Munro signed a treaty
with General Montcalm by which the place was to be
yielded to the enemy the next morning, the garrison
to retain their arms, their colors, and their baggage.
Montcalm also promised the English an escort of
French soldiers through the woods.

In the early morning of the 9th the first tap of the
French drums was echoed from the bosom of the fort,
and presently the valley was filled with the strains of
martial music, rising long, thrilling, and lively above
the rattling accompaniment. The horns of the victors
sounded merry and cheerful flourishes, until the last
laggard of the camp was at his post. When the line
of the French army was ready to receive its general,
the rays of a brilliant sun were glancing along the
glittering array.

A very different scene took place within the lines
of the defeated English. As soon as the fifes gave
the warning signal, the sullen soldiers shouldered
their empty rifles, and fell into their places. Women
and children ran from place to place, some bearing the
scanty remnants of their baggage, and others searching
in the ranks for relatives and friends. It was necessary

MOHICANS — 5

that General Munro and Duncan Heyward should
stay at the head of the troops. Therefore the latter
sought out David Gamut, and said to the simple-minded
fellow, —

" It will be your duty to see that none dare to approach
the young ladies with harmful intention. It is possible
that the Indians and stragglers of the enemy intrude.
Then you must remind them of the terms of the treaty,
and threaten to report them to General Montcalm. "

"Even so," assented David cheerfully.

Heyward took their new escort to the girls, and
promised that he and their father would join them
when they had led the advance a few miles towards
the Hudson. He then took his leave.

By this time the signal of departure had been given
and the head of the English column was in advance.
As every vehicle and horse was occupied by the sick
and wounded, Cora and Alice had decided to walk
rather than interfere with their comforts. As it was,
many a feeble soldier was compelled to drag himself
along for want of a conveyance in that wilderness.
The whole force was now in motion, the weak and
wounded, their comrades silent and sullen, and the
women and children in terror, they knew not of what.

As the timid throng left the protecting mounds of

the fort, and came out upon the open plain, the whole
scene lay before them. At a little distance on the
right, and somewhat in the rear, the French stood to
their arms, Montcahn having collected his parties as
soon as his guards had possession of the works. Nearly
three thousand of the English, in several masses, were
moving slowly across the plain, gradually approaching
each other, as they came to the point of their march,
a vista cut through the trees where the road to the
Hudson entered the forest. Along the sweeping bor-
ders of the woods hung a dark cloud of savages watch-
ing their enemies. A few had straggled among the
columns where they walked in silent discontent.

The advance with Heywaid at its head had al-
ready reached the forest, and was slowly disappear-
ing, when Cora's attention was drawn to a group of
the stragglers by the sounds of quarreling. A sol-
dier was being plundered of his baggage by an In-
dian. Men from either side interfered, some to
prevent, and others to aid in the robbery. Voices
grew loud and angry, and a hundred savages ap-
peared, as if by magic, where a dozen only had been
seen a few moments before. It was then that Cora
saw the form of Sly Fox gliding among his coun-
trymen. The mass of women and children stopped.

Suddenly Sly Fox placed his hands to his mouth and
raised the ^atal whoop. The scattered Indians started
at the cry, and directly there arose such a yell along
the plain and through the arches of the woods as seldom
burst from human lips before. More than two hundred
raging savages broke from the forest at the signal.
There followed one of the bloodiest battles of the
Colonial Wars. It is known in history as the Massacre
of Fort William Henry.

The trained bodies of the troops threw themselves
quickly into masses, endeavoring to awe their assailants
by the appearance of a military front. Far too many,
however, suffered their unloaded weapons to be torn from
their hands in the vain hope of appeasing the savages.

dn every side rose shrieks and groans. In such a
scene none had time to notice the fleeting moments.
It might have been ten minutes (it seemed an age)
that the sisters stood in one spot, horror-stricken and
nearly helpless. David Gamut, who had promised
Heyward that he would try to help the girls, was with
them. Alice caught a glimpse of her father moving
rapidly across the plain in the direction of the French
army. He was going to Montcalm, fearless of every
danger, to claim the escort which the latter had promised
him and which had failed to appear.

"Father! Father! we are here," shrieked Alice
as he passed.

He did not hear her, however, and Alice sank on
the ground.

"Come," said David who did not dream of deserting
the trust that He5nvard had given him. " Let us escape
now!"

"Go" cried Cora, "and save yourself. I cannot
leave my sister. "

Sly Fox, raging from group to group, caught the sound
of their voices. He uttered a yell of pleasure when he
saw his former prisoners at his mercy.

"Hugh!" he said, and catching Alice's light form
in his arms, the subtle Indian ran swiftly across the
plain towards the wood.

"Stop!" shrieked Cora, following him wildly. "Re-
lease the child, wretch! What is it you would do?"

Sly Fox was deaf to her voice.

"Stay, lady — stay!" called Gamut, following in his
turn the distracted sister. In this manner they crossed
the plain. The Indians knew David to be simple-
minded, and by them all such were regarded as
having a protecting spirit. Thus the three white
people escaped the bloodthirsty savages.

Sly Fox entered the woods through a low ravine.

Here he had placed in readiness the horses which the
travelers had abandoned a few days before, and which
the Indians had, in the meantime, taken possession
of. He placed Alice and Cora on one, and, seizing
the bridle, commenced his journey by plunging deeper
in the forest. David, seeing that he was left alone,
threw himself in the saddle of the other horse, and
followed as quickly as the roughness of the path allowed.

Three days after, about an hour before the setting of
the sun, the forms of five men might have been seen
issuing from the narrow vista of trees where the path
to the Hudson entered the forest, and advancing in
the direction of the ruined works. At first they walked
slowly, as though they entered with reluctance amid
the horrors of the spot. Two were Indians, the re-
maining three were white men. In other words,
these were the two Mohicans, Hawkeye, Heyward, and
General Munro, the father of Alice and Cora. They
had been, and still were, searching for the two girls,
whom they feared were dead.

"Hugh!" exclaimed the young savage, rising on his
toes and gazing intently into the forest.

"What is it, boy?" whispered the scout.

Uncas, without making any reply, bounded away
from the spot and in the next instant was seen tearing

from a bush, and waving in triumph, a fragment of the
green riding veil of Cora.

"It is my child's!" exclaimed Munro.

" Uncas will try to find her, " was the young Mohican's
answer.

Soon the anxious party saw another portion of the
veil fluttering on the lower limb of a beech.

"Here on the edge of this pool is the footstep of a
man!" cried Heyward, after they had entered a little
way into the forest. "They must be captives."

"Better so than left to starve in the wilderness,"
said Hawkeye, "and they will leave a wider trail. I
would wager fifty beaver skins against as many flints
that the Mohicans and I enter their wigwams within
the month. Here is the print of a moccasin, Uncas.
What can you make of it ?"

The young Mohican bent over the track, and re-
moving the scattered leaves from around the place he
examined it carefully.

"Sly Fox!" he said, as he arose from his knees.

"Ha!" said Hawkeye, "there will never be an end
of his loping till Killdeer has said a friendly word to
him."

"But one moccasin is so much like another, there
must be some mistake," cried Heyward.

"One moccasin like another!" exclaimed Hawkeye.
"You may as well say that one foot is like another;
though we all know that some are long and others
short; some broad and others narrow; some with high
and some with low insteps; some in-toed and some

out. "

They found the print of David's footstep, and then
the traces of horses.

"It is probable they are near the border of the Cana-
das," said Hawkeye; "for yonder where the beasts
have been bound runs the broad pathway to the north.
By this time the St. Lawrence; or perhaps the Great
Lakes themselves, are between us."

"Let us push on!" urged Heyward impatiently.

" We are not about to go on a squirrel hunt, " answered
the hunter, "or to drive deer, but to out lie for days
and nights, and to stretch across a wilderness where
the feet of men seldom go. An Indian never starts
on such an expedition without smoking over a council
fire, and, though a man of white blood, I honor this
custom. We will go back and light our fire to-night
in the ruins of the old fort, and in the morning we shall
be fresh and ready to undertake our work like men,
and not like babbling women or eager boys."

Heyward took the arm of General Munro and fol-

lowed the Indians and hunter who retraced the path
which led them to the plain.

After Hawkeye and the Indians had lighted their fire
and taken their evening meal of dried bear's meat, the
former placed himself at an angle of the works where
he might act as sentinel, and yet see what was going
on within the circle of his friends. After a short
pause, Chingachgook lighted a pipe whose bowl was
curiously carved in one of the soft stones of the country,
and whose stem was a tube of wood, and commenced
sucking. When he had inhaled enough, he gave the
pipe to the hunter, and he in turn to Uncas. Three
times was the pipe passed around before Chingachgook
spoke in a calm and dignified tone proposing the subject
they were to discuss. The hunter answered, and in
the Indian language they talked of the best method to
rescue the girls. Uncas listened respectfully until
his opinion was asked.

After the older men had given their ideas, they paid
a courteous attention until Uncas had finished speaking.
The Indians urged a pursuit by land, and Hawkeye,
by water. The white man spoke eloquently against
the long and painful path amid rocks and water courses.
He spoke of the age of Munro, the inexperience of
Hey ward; he mentioned the light movements of the

canoe and the necessity of leaving no trail. The Mohi-
cans listened gravely and at length agreed with the
hunter. They decided to go by water.

It was growing late. Hawkeye composedly stretched
himself by the dying fire and fell asleep.

Left to themselves (for Munro and Heyward were
asleep also) the Mohicans, whose time had been so
much devoted to the interests of others, seized the
moment to devote some attention to each other.

Chingachgook cast off at once the grave (|emeanor
of an Indian chief and commenced speaking to his
son in the soft and playful tones of affection. It is
impossible to describe the music of their language,
as they laughed and talked with loving voices. The
father's eyes followed Uncas' movements with open
delight, and he never failed to smile in reply to the
other's low laughter. Uncas was only a boy, although
so well versed in the ways of the woods. No one
would have recognized the fierce warrior and his son
as they laughed and jested together. After an hour
had passed, Chingachgook wrapped his head in his
blanket and stretched himself on the bare earth.
Uncas carefully raked the coals in such a manner that
they should warm his father's feet during the night, and
then found a place for himself to rest in until morning.

ailed them with a little bark c

CHAPTER VII

THE SEARCH

The heavens were still studded with stars when Hawk-
eye came to arouse the sleepers. Munro and He)nvard
were soon on their feet and ready to follow the hunter
to the shores of the lake where the two Indians awaited
them with a little bark canoe. In a few moments they
had cautiously paddled the boat some distance from
the fort and within the broad and dark shadow that
fell from the eastern mountain on the glassy surface
of the lake.

Just as day dawned they entered the narrows of
the lake and stole swiftly and cautiously among their
numberless little islands. It was by this road that
Montcalm had retired with his army, and the travelers
were fearful, lest he had left some of his Indians to
protect the rear of his forces and collect the stragglers.
They approached the passage silently.

Chingachgook laid aside his paddle while Uncas
and the hunter urged the light vessel through the
crooked channels. The eyes of Chingachgook moved

warily from islet to islet, and from copse to copse.
The paddles ceased moving in obedience to a signal
from Chingachgook.

"Hugh!" exclaimed Uncas.

"What now?" asked the hunter. "The lake is as
smooth as if the winds had never blown."

The Indian gravely raised his paddle and pointed.
Heyward's eyes followed the motion. A few rods
in their front lay another of the low wooded islets,
but it looked as calm and peaceful as if its solitude
had never been disturbed.

"I see nothing but land and water," said Heyward.

"What is the edging of black smoke that hangs
along the lower edge of that mist?" asked Hawkeye.
"You may trace it down into the thicket of hazel. 'Tis
from a fire. We must make a push, and, if the Indians
or French are in the narrows, run a gauntlet through
these mountains."

The Indian answered by dropping his paddle into
the water and urging forward the canoe. In a few
moments they had reached a point where they might
command an entire view of the northern shore of the
island, the side that had hitherto been concealed.

"There they are, by all the truth of signs, " whispered
the hunter; "two canoes and a smoke!"

The well-known crack of a rifle whose ball came
skipping along the placid surface of the strait, and a
shrill yell from the island, interrupted his speech and
announced that their passage was discovered. In
another instant several savages were seen rushing into
their canoes which were soon dancing over the water
in pursuit.

"Hold them there. Serpent," said Hawkeye, looking
coolly backward over his left shoulder while he still
plied his paddle. "Keep them just there! The
Iroquois have never a piece in their nation that will
shoot at this distance, but Killdeer has a barrel on which
a man may calculate. "

Uncas uttered an exclamation and pointed toward
the rocky shore a little in their front. Another war
canoe was darting directly across their course. Chin-
gachgook inclined the bows of the canoe a little tqward
the western shore, in order to increase the distance
between them and this new enemy. It now became
a trial of speed. So rapid was their progress that the
lake curled in their front in miniature waves.

"Edge her a little more from the sun. Serpent, and
we will put the island between us," said Hawkeye.

A long, low island lay at a little distance before them.
The chasing canoe was compelled to take a side opposite

to that on which the pursued passed. All redoubled
their efforts, and the two canoes came around the last
low point like two coursers, at the top of their speed,
the fugitives taking the lead.

"They are preparing for a shot," said Hey-
ward.

Cries of "Great Serpent!" "Long Rifle!" and
"Nimble Deer!" burst from the canoes behind. Chin-
gachgook gave the war whoop of the Mohicans and the
hunter shook Killdeer in triumph at his enemies.
Bullets whistled past them, and the savages answered
the insult with a yell.

The Iroquois, in the bows of the pursuing canoe,
had risen to aim, but Hawkeye seized Killdeer and
fired. The savage staggered backward and his gun
fell into the water. His companion ceased paddling
and the chasing canoes clustered together and became
stationary.

Hawkeye laid aside his rifle and took Duncan^s
place at the paddle, and soon the canoes of their enemies
were out of sight.

The lake now began to expand, and their route lay
along a wide reach that was lined by high and ragged
mountains. The strokes of the paddles grew more
measured and regular. The Mohicans inclined their

course toward those hilb behind which ' Montcahn had
led his army into Fort Ticonderoga.

For hours they paddled at the same high rate of
speed, until they reached a bay near the nor-
thern termination of the lake. Here the canoe was
driven upon the beach and the whole party landed.

"We must throw these varlets off the trail or give
up our pursuit of Sly Fox, " said Hawkeye.

After a consultation with the Mohicans, the canoe
was lifted from the water and borne on the shoulders
of the party. They proceeded into the wood, making
as broad a trail as possible. They soon reached a
water course which they crossed, and continued onward
until they came to a large rock. At this point they
retraced their route to the brook, walking backwards
with the utmost care.

They now followed the bed of the little stream
to the lake, into which they immediately launched
their canoe again. The margin of the lake was
fringed for some distance with dense and overhanging
bushes. Under these they paddled until Hawkeye
said that he believed it would be safe to land once
more.

Accordingly they rested until evening came, then
favored by the darkness, pushed silently and vigorously

toward the western shore. They entered a little bay.
The boat was again lifted and borne into the woods
where it was carefully concealed under a pile of brush.
They then took their arms and the packs which con-
tained food and ammunition, and commenced their
journey by land. For many hours the party traveled
through the country which separates the tributaries of
the Champlain from tliose of the Hudson. At last
a halt was called, and they made their usual prepara-
tions to pass the night.

The sun was shedding a strong and clear light in
the forest when the travelers resumed their journey
the next day. Hawkeye led the advance more de-
liberately now. He often stopped to examine the
trees, nor did he cross a brook without considering
carefully the quantity, the velocity, and the color of
its waters. He often appealed to Chingachgook.
Uncas stood a patient and silent listener.

CHAPTER VIII

THEY FIND A TRAIL

At last Hawkeye spoke in English: "When I found
that the home path of the Iroquois ran north, it did not
need the judgment of many long years to tell that they
would follow the valleys, but not a sign of a trail have
we crossed."

"Has Uncas no council to oflfer?" asked Heyward.

The young Mohican cast a glance at his father but
was silent, until Chingachgook, motioning with his
hand, bade him speak.

Uncas' face changed from one of grave composure
to one of joy. Bounding forward like a deer, he sprang
up the side of a little hill few a rods in advance and
stood exulting over a spot of fresh earth that looked
as though it had been upturned by the passage of some
heavy animal.

"'Tis the trail!" ecxlaimed the hunter advancing
to the spot. "The lad is quick of sight and keen of

wit for one of his years!"
"See!" said Uncas, pointing north and south at the

MOHICANS — 6 8 J

marks of the broad trail on either side; "the dark hair
has gone toward the frost. "

The spuits of the party were raised by this discovery,
and their advance was rapid. Sly Fox had found it
necessary to journey through the valleys and this made
them feel certain of the general direction of the route.

By the middle of the afternoon they had passed the
Scaroon, and were following the path of the declining
sun. After descending a hill to a low bottom,
through which a swift stream glided, they came to a
place where the party of Sly Fox had made a halt.
The remains of the fire and the footsteps of both men
and beasts were plainly visible, but the trail seemed to
have suddenly ended.

Uncas, who had tried to trace the route to the horses,
suddenly appeared through the bushes, leading two
animals with their saddles broken. They looked
as though they had been permitted to run at will for
several days.

"This means that we have come into the land of
the enemy," said the hunter; "we are getting within
scent of their camp. The horses are here, but the
Iroquois have gone. Let us hunt for their path."

The impressions of footprints were numerous, but
they all appeared like those of men who had wan-

dered around the spot without any intention of leaving
it. The party left no leaf unturned; the sticks were
removed, and the stones lifted. Still no discovery
was made.

At last Uncas raked the earth across a little rill which
ran from the spring and diverted its course into another
channel. As soon as its narrow bed below the dam
was dry, he stooped over it with keen and curious eyes.
Suddenly he gave a cry of exultation. The whole party
crowded to the spot where Uncas pointed out the
impression of a moccasin in the wet soil.

"That is not the footstep of an Indian," said Hawk-
eye. "Run back, Uncas, and bring me the size of
Gamut's foot. You will find a beautiful print of it
just opposite that rock on the hillside."

The measurements agreed, and they decided that
it must be David's footprint. He had been forced to
exchange his shoes for moccasins.

"I can now read the whole of it!" cried the hunter.
"David was made to go first, and the others have trod
in his steps. "

"But I see no signs of the girls," said Duncan.

" They have been carried, until all followers were
thrown oflF the scent," answered the hunter. "We
will see their little feet again before many rods go by, '*

They followed the course of the rill. Half a mile
farther on, Uncas found the impression of a foot on a
bunch of moss. They entered the neighboring thicket
and struck the trail as fresh and obvious as it had
been before they reached the spring.

They were cheered by these discoveries, and, after
making a short halt to take a hurried meal, they pushed
forward. Before an hour had passed Hawkeye's speed
abated and he began to turn suspiciously from side
to side as if he were conscious of approaching danger.

"I scent the Iroquois," he said to the Mohicans.
" We are getting near their encampment. Chingachgook
you take the hillside to the right; Uncas will bend
along the brook to the left, while I will try the trail.
If anything should happen, the signal will be three
croaks of a crow."

The Indians departed their several ways. Hawk-
eye told He3rward to steal to the edge of the wood,
which as usual was fringed with a thicket, and wait his
coming. Duncan obeyed.

The trees of many acres had been felled and the
glow of a summer's evening had fallen on the clearing
in beautiful contrast to the gray light of the forest.
A short distance from where Duncan stood the stream
<^eemed to have expanded into a little lake covering

most of the low land from mountain to mountain.
The water fell out of this wide basin in a cataract so
regular and gentle that it appeared to be the work of
human hands.

To Heyward's dismay about a hundred earthen
dwellings stood on the margin of the lake and even
in its water. The roofs were rounded, molded for
defence against the weather. Duncan thought that
the whole village had more neatness and cleanliness
than belonged to Indian habits. It appeared, however,
to be deserted ; at least he thought so for nearly a minute,
but at length he saw several human forms coming
toward him on all fours. Just then a few dark looking
heads appeared and the place seemed suddenly alive
with beings that glided swiftly from cover to cover.

He was about to give the signal to the others by
imitating the call of the crow, when the rustling of
leaves at hand drew his eyes in another direction.
He started when he found himself within a hundred
yards of a strange Indian. But it was now becoming
dusk and Duncan saw that he was unobserved. The
savage 's head was shaved, as usual, with the exception
of the crown, from whose tuft three or four faded
feathers from a hawk's wing were loosely dangling.
A ragged calico mantle half encircled his body. He

was sadly cut and torn by briers, but his feet were
covered with a pair of good deerskin moccasins. Al-
together, his appearance was forlorn and miserable.

Hawkeye stole silently and cautiously to Duncan's
side.

"Here is their settlement and here is one of the
savages, " whispered the young officer.

Hawkeye dropped his rifle and stared as the stranger
came to his view.

" Can you see where he has put his rifle or his bow ?"
he asked in a low tone.

"He appears to have no arms," answered Heyward.
"Unless he gives the alarm to his friends who, as you
see, are dodging about in the water, we have but little
to ieax from him. "

The hunter turned to He3rward and looked at him
in amazement. Then, opening wide his mouth, he
laughed long and silently in his own peculiar heart-
felt manner. Repeating the words, " Friends who are
dodging about in the water!" he added, "You keep
him under your rifle while I creep in behind through

the brush and take him alive. Fire on no account."
" If I see you in danger may I not risk a shot?"

Hawkeye still laughing silently said, " Fire a whole

platoon, Major!"

The next moment he was concealed by leaves.
When he was within a few yards of his intended captive,
he rose to his feet silently and slowly. At that instant
several loud blows were struck on the water and Hey-
ward turned his eyes just in time to see a hundred dark
forms plunge, in a body, into the troubled little sheet.
Grasping his rifle, he again looked at the Indian near
him. Hawkeye's uplifted hand was above the savage.
But suddenly the hand was withdrawn and Hawkeye
again laughed long and silently. He stepped forward
and touched the Indian on the shoulder.

"How now, friend," said he; "have you a mind to
teach the beavers to sing?"

"Even so," was the ready answer.

CHAPTER DC

IN THE CAMP OF THE IROQUOIS

You may imagine the surprise of Heyward. His
lurking Indians were changed into four-footed beasts,
his lake into a beaver pond, his cataract into a beaver
dam and his enemy into David Gamut, the harmless
singer. He sprang forward to join the two. After
Hawkeye had recovered from his amusement he gave the
signal of the crow. The two Mohicans and Munro
joined them.

"Now," said Hawkeye, "we see that you are safe.
Tell us what has become of the maidens."

*^They are captives, "answered David, "and though
unhappy in spirit are enjoying bodily safety."

"Where is Sly Fox?" interrupted the hunter.

"He hunts the moose to-day with his young men.
The elder maiden has been taken to a neighboring
people, while the younger is detained among the women
of the Iroquois."

"And why are you permitted to go at large?"

David answered that his gift of music was such that

it had powerful effect over the savages, but the hunter
tapped his own forehead and said, —

"The Indians never harm such as you. Why didn't
you come back to Fort Edward and bring the news
of the capture?"

"I could not desert the two entrusted to my care,"
answered David stoutly.

He then told the story of their journey which the
rescuing party had guessed at; how the horses were
turned loose at the spring; how a litter was made of
boughs and branches to carry the girls, and how Cora
had been sent to a tribe in a near by valley. He was
too ignorant of the customs and history of the Indians
to tell the name of this tribe.

Hawkeye and the Indians asked him many questions
about the fashion of their knives and their totems.
Of this latter only could David speak. He was un-
observant and dull, but he had noticed that the image
of the tortoise was used often as a device.

"Hugh!" exclaimed the Mohicans.

Chingachgook then spoke in the language of the
Delawares with a cahnness and dignity that demanded
the attention of all. Once he lifted his arm and the
action threw aside the folds of his blanket. Duncan's
eyes followed the movement and he saw that the device

of the tortoise was beautifully, though faintly, worked
in blue on the chief's swarthy breast.

"The Great Serpent is of the high blood of the
Delawares and is the Great Chief of their Tortoise.
Some of this stock is among the people who are hold-
ing the older maiden," said the hunter. "It is a
dangerous path we move in, for a friend whose face
is turned from you often bears a bloodier mind than
the enemy who seeks your scalp. Some of these Dela-
wares are traveling the same path with the Iroquois.

" It would be well," continued he, " for this singer to
go in camp again and for him to wait and give the girls
notice of our approach. He knows the call of the
whip-poor-wiD. That will be our signal. Remember
then," turning to David, "when you hear the whip-
poor-will call three times you are to come into the
bushes where we will consult. "

"Stop!" cried Heyward, "I wiD go with you!"

At first they looked at him in amazement, but
finally they saw that his mind was set upon the ad-
venture. Chingachgook undertook, with the aid of
paints and different colors that he obtained from the
soil, to disguise the young man as a French juggler
from Ticonderoga, straggling among the friendly and
allied tribes.

The Great Serpent was well practiced in all the
arts of his race, and he drew on the young oflScer's
face all the fantastic lines and shadows that mean
jollity and buffoonery to the Indians. Every line
that could possibly be interpreted into a liking for war
was carefully avoided. When he was thought to be
sufficiently painted, the hunter gave him much friendly
advice.

"You will have occasion for your best manhood,
and for a sharper wit than is to be gathered in books.
Now good-by and God bless you! If the Iroquois
get the better of you, they shall pay for their victory. "

Duncan shook his friend heartily by the hand and
begged him to continue his good care of General
Munro. He and David then took their course directly
across the clearing of the beavers and along the margin
of the pond. Then they turned from the water course
and began to ascend a little hiU. Presently they came
upon another clearing on the opposite side of which,
where a brook tumbled over some rocks, were some
fifty or sixty Indian lodges, rudely made of logs, brush
and earth. Toward these the two made their way.

Soon they found themselves in the midst of twenty
or thirty Indian children playing games which con-
sisted mostly of whooping and howling. As soon as

they caught sight of the two men, they raised a shrill
cry which drew a dozen warriors to the door of the
nearest lodge. David led the way into this very
building. Duncan found it hard to assume an air
of unconcern as he followed, and his heart beat fiercely,
but he knew that everything depended on his presence
of mind. With a firm step he imitated David. He
drew a bundle of brush from beneath a pile that filled
a corner of the hut, and seated himself in silence.

The warriors surrounded him, leaning against the
upright posts that supported the building, and patiently
waited until the stranger should speak. Three or
four of the oldest sat on the ground. A torch was
burning in the place and sent its red glare from face to
face and from figure to figure. At length one whose
hair was sprinkled with gray spoke in the Iroquois
language which Heyward did not understand.

"Do none of my brothers speak the French or Eng-
lish language?" asked the white man. "The Great
Father (Heyward meant the king of France) has
bidden me, a man that knows the arts of healing, to
go to his children, the Iroquois of the Great Lakes,
and ask if any are sick."

A silence followed. The oldest Iroquois spoke in
French : —

"Do the cunning men of the Canadas paint their
skins; we have heard them boast that their faces were
pale. "

"When an Indian chief comes among his white
fathers," returned Heyward, "he lays aside his buflfalo
robe to wear the shirt that is oflFered him. My brothers
have given me paint, and I wear it. "

A low murmur of applause followed this compliment,
and Duncan began to breathe more freely. Another
warrior arose, and while his lips were yet in the act
of parting to speak, a fearful havoc arose outside from
the forest and was immediately succeeded by a higher
and shriller yell. The warriors glided in a body from
the lodge and the outer air was filled with shouts that
rang beneath the arches of the woods. Heywsid
followed the throng.

A war party had returned successful, and their
cries were intended to represent the wails of the dead
and the triumph of the victors. They had brought in
a young warrior of another tribe, and he was to run
the gauntlet for his life.

Large masses of brushwood lay scattered about the
place and an aged squaw was occupied in firing as
much as might serve to light the coming exhibition.
The flames soon arose, and the whole scene formed a

striking picture whose frame was composed of the fcill
and dark border of pines.

The prisoner stood erect and firm, prepared to
meet his fate like a hero. The warriors drew their
knives and arranged their party in two lines, forming
a lane that extended from the captive to the lodges.

The signal yell was given and the stranger bounded
from the place with the swiftness of a deer. Instead
of rushing through the hostile lines as had been ex-
pected he turned short and, leaping over the heads
of a row of children, he gained the outer and safer edge
of the array.

With yells, the whole body of his captors threw them-
selves before him and drove him back. Heyward
congratulated himself that they had no time to waste
on him. A French juggler or medicine man was
insignificant compared to a captured Indian warrior.

Turning again, the captive shot with the swiftness
of an arrow through one of the dozen or more fires
that lighted the scene and appeared on the opposite
side of the clearing. Here, too, he was met by a few
of the older Iroquois and turned back. Human power
could not endure so severe a trial much longer. Prof-
iting by an opening, he made what seemed to Duncan
a final effort to gain the wood. The fugitive nearly

touched him in his flight. A tall and powerful Iroquois
pressed close upon his heels with uplifted knife. Dun-
can thrust forth a foot and the eager savage fell head-
long. When Duncan turned to look for the captive
he saw him quietly leaning against a small painted
post before the door of the principal lodge. He could
not be harmed now for he was protected by the friendly
post. It was an ancient custom that when the captive
had gained this spot nothing more could be done
until a council had been held. There he was safe,
breathing hard after his exertions.

Now his face was turned toward the light, and Hey-
ward to his breathless amazement saw that the young
captive warrior was no other than Uncas ! An Iroquois
forced his way through the crowd of women and
children who were surveying the captive, and led Uncas
toward the door of the council lodge.

In the darkness a hand was laid on Heywaxd's
shoulder, and the low voice of Uncas muttered;

" The Iroquois are dogs ! The Gray Head and Chin-
gachgook are safe and the rifle of Hawkeye is not
asleep. Go! Uncas and you are now strangers.
It is enough," and a gentle push told him to obey.

Duncan walked quickly away and began his search
for David whom he had lost sight of. He wandered

from hut to hut but was unable to find him. At last,
anxious about Uncas, he retraced his steps to the coun-
cil lodge, and, without seeming to hesitate, he entered
and gravely took a seat. He had not been there long
when one of the older warriors spoke to him in French.

"An evil spirit lives in the wife of one of my young
men. Can the omning stranger frighten him away?"

"He will try," was the answer.

Heyward waited impatiently until the Iroquois was
ready to move. At last the Indian laid aside his pipe
and drew his robe across his breast as if to lead the
way to the lodge of the invalid. Just then a tall,
powerfully built warrior entered and seated himself
on the same pile of brush with Heyward. Duncan
felt terror-stricken when he saw the dreaded features
of Sly Fox.

Without expressing any curiosity in regard to the
captive, Sly Fox lighted his pipe and smoked long and
thoughtfully. After ten minutes or more had passed,
he arose, shook the ashes from his pipe and looked
fiercely into the face of Uncas.

"The Nimble Deer!" he exclaimed, with an expres-
sion of ferocious joy.

Every warrior sprang to his feet at the sound of this
well-known name. The words were taken up in an

echo by the women and children who lingered around
the door of the lodge. A shrill howl followed. Uncas
enjoyed his victory, but merely smiled scornfully.

"Go!" said Sly Fox after a pause. "Take him where
there is silence. Let us see if a Delaware can sleep
at night and in the morning die!"

The young men whose duty it was to guard the prison-
er instantly passed their ropes of bark across his arms
and led him from the lodge amid a profound silence.
Sly Fox also left, and Heyward, with a feeling of great
relief, followed the chief who had asked his aid into the
pure air of a cool and refreshing summer evening.

Instead of pursuing his way among those lodges
where Heyward had already made his unsuccessful
search, his companion turned aside and proceeded
directly toward the base of a near by mountain. A
thicket of brush skirted its foot, and they were com-
pelled to follow a crooked and narrow path. The
blaze of one of the j&res lighted the way. At a little
distance from a bald rock, and directly in its front,
they entered a grassy opening. Just then, fresh fuel
having been added to the fire, a powerful light pene-
trated even to this distant spot.

MOHICANS

CHAPTER X

THE ADVENTURE WITH THE BEAR

The light fell on the surface of the mountain and
was reflected downward upon a dark and mysterious-
looking being thai; rose unexpectedly in their path.
The animal, like a large black ball, began to move,
and Duncan knew, by its restless, sidling movements,
that it was a bear. It growled loudly and fiercely and
its glistening eyeballs could be plainly seen. The
Indian, however, went quietly on.

Heyward knew that this animal was often domesticated
among the Indians, and he thought that this was a pet
of the tribe. They passed it unmolested, but He3rward
was unable to keep from looking behind him occasion-
ally. He felt very uneasy when he saw the beast
rolling along their path and following their footsteps.
He would have spoken, but the Indian at that
moment shoved aside a door of bark, and entered
a cavern in the bosom of the mountain. Duncan
stepped after him, and was gladly closing the cover
to the opening when he felt it drawn from his hand

by the beast whose shaggy form immediately darkened
the passage.

They were now in a straight and long gallery where
retreat, without encountering the animal, was impossi-
ble. Making the best of it, Heyward pressed forward.
The bear growled at his back, and once or twice laid
his enormous paws on the young man who was be-
coming decidedly nervous. But soon a glimmer of light
appeared, and they found themselves in a large cavity of
the rock which had been rudely fitted up to answer the
purposes of more than one room. An opening above
admitted the light by day, and at night fires and torches
took the place of. the sun.

Here on a rude couch the sick woman lay. Heyward
saw at once that he could not cure her, for she was
unconscious, but he tried to collect his thoughts in
order to act his part with success. To his surprise,
among the group of women surrounding the sick bed,
he saw his old friend, David Gamut.

After the visiters had entered, David conmienced
a song which he thought might have some effect on
the sick woman. As he was finishing, both white
men were startled to hear the last words repeated in
a voice half human. In the shadow of the cavern
was the shaggy bear, his restless body swinging in

lOO

the uneasy manner of that animal. David suddenly

exclaimed aloud, "She expects you and is at hand,"

and hurriedly left the cavern.
A speedy end was put to Duncan's astonishment

(he thought that David was surely out of his mind),

when the chief advanced to the invalid and motioned

to the women to depart.

He said, "Now let my brother show his power!"

Heyward was afraid that his ignorance might arouse
suspicion. He began to recite, as nearly as he could
remember, the strange rites of Indian conjurers that
he had seen. Every time that he began, however,
he was interrupted by a fierce growl from the bear.
Three times did he try, but the fierceness of the growl
increased and prevented his proceeding.

"The Cunning Ones are jealous," said the Iroquois.
"I go. Brother, the woman is the wife of one of my
bravest young men ; deal justly by her. Peace ! " he said
to the animal who had begun to growl again. "I go!"

The chief was as good as his word, and Duncan
found himself with a helpless invalid and the fierce
and dangerous brute. He looked anxiously around
for a weapon as the beast came nearer and nearer,
but, instead of continuing its discontented growl, the
whole of its shaggy body shook violently. The huge

lOI

and unwieldly claws pawed stupidly about the grinning
muzzle, and, while Heyward kept his eyes fixed on its
movements, the head fell to one side and the honest,
sturdy face of Hawkeye appeared in its stead! He
was shaking with laughter.

"Hush!" he whispered, interrupting Heyward's
exclamation of surprise. "The Iroquois are all about
us. After we parted, I placed General Munro and
Chingachgook in the old beaver lodge where they are
safe. Uncas and I pushed for the encampment.
Have you seen the lad?"

"He is captive," answered Heyward in the same tone,
"and condemned to die at sunrise."

"I thought so, but it will never do to abandon such
a boy to the Iroquois. Well, fortune led me to the
very spot where a conjurer was dressing himself in
this bear skin. I bound him and left him with a bit of
walnut in his mouth to prevent an uproar, and made
free with his finery; then I took the part of the bear
on myself. But all our work is before us. Where is
the maiden?"

"Heaven knows! I have examined every house in
the village."

"You heard what the singer said as he left us? He
was frightened and blundered through his message.

I02

Here axe walls enough to separate the whole settle-
ment. A bear ought to climb, therefore I will take
a look above them. There may be honey pots hid in
these rocks, and I am a beast, you know, that has a
hankering for sweets. "

Hawkeye climbed up the partition, but as soon as
the top was reached he slid down quickly.

"She is here," he whispered, "and by that door
you will find her. But she will not know you in that
disguise. See," he added pointing to a place where
the water trickled from a rock, "wash the paint oflF and
when you come back I wiU try my hand at a new
embellishment. "

This Duncan did, and quickly dfeappeared- through
the passage. The hunter coolly set about an ex-
amination of the provisions in the larder of the cavern.

You may imagine the joy of Alice as Duncan stood
before her. He hurriedly told her the story of his
adventures, and was making preparations to carry her
away when he was interrupted by a light tap on his
shoulder. Starting, he turned and confronted the
dark form of Sly Fox. The savage gave a deep guttural
laugh. Heyward knew that he was helpless, for he
had no weapons of any description. He threw his
arms around Alice.

I03

"Do your worst, Iroquois!" he exclaimed.

Sly Fox paid no attention until he had cut off every
hope of escape by placing a log of wood against the
secret door by which he had entered.

"The palefaces trap the cunning beaver, but the
redskins know how to take the English. Sly Fox is
a great chief; he will go and bring his young men to
see how bravely a paleface can laugh at torture. "

He turned away and was about to leave the place
the way that Duncan had entered, when a low growl
caught his ear. The figure of the bear appeared in
the doorway. Sly Fox thought that it was a conjurer
and he prepared to pass it in contempt. But the
mimic animal growled louder.

"Go and play with the women and children," said
Sly Fox, "and leave men to their wisdom."

He once more tried to pass. Suddenly the beast
extended its arms or rather legs and enclosed the In-
dian in a grasp with all the fervor of a genuine bear's
hug. He3nvard had watched breathlessly. He caught
up a thong of buckskin which had been used around
some bundle and rushed upon the savage. In less
time than it takes to tell, his arms, legs, and feet were
encircled in twenty folds of the thong, and the savage
was laid on his back, utterly helpless.

104

Siy Fox did not utter a single exclamation during
this sudden attack, but when Hawkeye removed the
shaggy skin of the bear and showed his laughing face,
the Iroquois said, "Hugh!"

"Ay,'' responded the hunter, "you've found your
tongue; now I must make free to 'stop your mouth,"
and he calmly proceeded to tie something over it to
prevent his giving the alarm.

Wrapping Alice in an Indian blanket, Duncan took
her in his arms and followed Hawkeye through the
cavern where the sick woman lay, on to the place of
entrance. As they approached the little door of bark
they heard the voices of the friends and relatives of
the sick woman outside.

"You must tell them," whispered the hunter, "that
we have shut the evil spirit in the cavern, and are taking
the woman to the woods in order to find strengthening
roots. "

Growling fiercely, the bear walked out followed
closely by Heyward. The crowd fell back a little.

"Has my brother driven away the evil spirit,"
demanded the chief who seemed to be the father.
"What has he in his arms?"

"Thy child," returned Heyward gravely. "The
disease has gone out of her. It is shut up in the rocks.

I05

I will take her to a distance where I will strengthen
her."

The chief waved his hand.

"Good!" he said. "Go, I am a man and I will
enter the rock and fight the Wicked One. "
• Heyward was startled.

"Is my brother mad?" he exclaimed. "Is he
cruel? He will meet the disease and it will enter into
him, or he will drive out the disease and it will chase
his daughter into the woods. No — let my children
wait without, and, if the Spirit appears, let them beat
him down with a club. "

This warning had the desired eflFect. Instead of
entering the cavern, the husband and father drew
their tomahawks, while the women and children broke
branches from the bushes and waited patiently until
the Spirit should appear. In the meantime the bear
and his companion disappeared. They were some
distance from the village when they made a halt.

"Now," said Hawkeye, "you must follow this path
which will lead you to the brook; to escape now is
impossible, so you must seek the protection of the
other tribe of Indians. If they are true Delawares,
you will be safe. Mount the hill on your right and
you will see their fires."

io6

"And you?" asked Heywaxd.

"The Iroquois hold the pride of the Delawares,
the last of the high blood of the Mohicans is in their
power. I go to rescue him. You have risked life
and all that is dear to you to bring oflF this maiden.
As for the lad — ^winters and simmiers, nights and
days, have we roamed the wilderness together, eating
from the same dish and sharing the same bed of leaves
as couch. There is but a single Ruler of us all, what-
ever may be the color of his skin, and Him I call to
witness that before the Mohican boy shall perish for
the want of a friend, good faith shall depart from the
earth and Killdeer become as harmless as the song of
our friend David."

There was nothing more to be said, and they bade
each other farewell. Heyward and Alice took their
way toward the distant villages of the Delawares,
while Hawkeye retraced his steps toward the lodges.

CHAPTER XI

UNCAS ESCAPES

Hawkeye fully realized all the difficulties and dangers
of his undertaking. As he approached the buildings
his steps became slower.

A neglected hut was a little in advance of the others,
but a faint light glimmered through its cracks and
Hawkeye knew that it was inhabited. He crawled to a
little opening where he might see inside. It proved to be
David's hut. The hunter threw oflF his disguise and en-
tered.

After talking with David, he found that the singer
knew where Uncas was confined and that he had some
degree of access to the captive. David offered to lead
Hawkeye to the prison. The hunter once more
fastened on his bear's skin and followed David. The
women and children and all the warriors, with the
exception of four or five who guarded the hut of Uncas,
were sound asleep.

The hunter had instructed David what to say to

107

io8

this guard. .When they reached the hut, David
entered and spoke to the chiefs.

"The Delawares are women! Do my brothers
wish to hear the Nimble Deer to-morrow ask for his
petticoats, and see him weep before the Iroquois at
the stake? If they do, let them step aside and this
cimning man wiU blow upon tim."

Of course the chiefs thought that the bear was a
conjurer dressed up in the skin of the animal, just
as Sly Fox had done. Nothing pleased them better
than to have their hated enemy, and especially such
a renowned warrior as Uncas, whom they had so
much feared, show signs of weakness at the stake,
under torture. The Indian always prided himself on
his self-command under any circimtistances. There-
fore they were very much pleased to think that the
conjurer could blow upon Uncas and make him act
like a woman to-morrow.-

They allowed the bear to enter the hut, but they
did not leave. This was not to the liking of the
animal, who continued to growl until the chiefs saw
that nothing would be done as long as they stayed.
They accordingly went out of earshot, but from their
place could conunand a view of the entrance to the lodge.

The bear slowly entered. It was silent and gloomy

109

within. Uncas occupied a distant corner, bound by
strong and painful withes. He did not even deign
to look at the bear. He closed his eyes. When a
low, hissing sound was heard instead of the growl
that he expected, his attention was aroused.

"Hawkeye!" he whispered.

"Cut his bands! Quick!" said Hawkeye to David,
who obeyed immediately.

The hunter took off his shaggy skin and put a long
glittering knife in Uncas' hands. Then the skin was
quickly fastened on the young warrior. David had
agreed to take the place of the Indian, for Hawkeye
knew that the Iroquois would not harm the simple-
minded singer, and he could escape very easily later.

Now Hawkeye exchanged clothes with David.
When the hunter's restless eyes were hidden behind
the latter's glasses and his head surmounted by David's
triangular beaver, he might readily have passed in the
twilight for the singer. David was bound and put
in the same corner in which Uncas had been lying.
Now the hunter in David's clothes, and Uncas in the
skin of the bear were ready to go. They walked calm-
ly out. Hawkeye drew himself up and tried to imitate
the singer's manner of walking. He could not sing,
and did not dare to try much in that line.

An Iroquois thrust out an arm and peened through
the dim light.

" The Delaware dog ! " he exclaimed. " Is he afraid ?
Will the Iroquois hear his groans?"

A growl so j&erce and natural came from the beast
at his side that the Indian released his hold and moved
away. Hawkeye, afraid that his voice would betray
him, broke out in a burst of music. It was fortunate
that the Iroquois were not well skilled in sweet sounds
or it might have gone badly with the hunter and Uncas.
But they drew back and allowed them to pass.

The adventurers were clear of the viUage and were
swiftly approaching the shelter of the forest when a
long and low cry rose from the lodge where Uncas
had been confined.

The Mohican shook oflF his shaggy covering and
stood ready for instant flight. A burst of cries filled
the air. The himter tore two rifles from beneath a
bush. Handing one to Uncas, they both dashed
forward and were soon lost in the sombreness of the
forest.

The impatience of the savages who lingered about
the prison of Uncas had overcome their dread of the
conjurer's breath. They stole cautiously and with
beating hearts to a crevice through which the faint

Ill

light of the fire was glimmering. For several minutes
they mistook the figure of David for that of their prisoner.
But when David turned his head and showed his
simple and mild face in place of the haughty features
of Uncas, they rushed together into the lodge and
David was compelled to believe that his own final
hour had come. He began to sing the first verse of a
funeral hymn and the Indians were reminded of his
infirmity. Rushing into the open air they aroused
the village.

The sounds of the alarm were hardly uttered before
two hundred men were afoot and ready for the chase.
The whole tribe crowded around the council lodge,
impatiently awaiting the instruction of their chiefs.
In the meantime some of the swiftest of the young
men were ordered to make a circuit of the clearing
under cover of the woods. When the chiefs appeared,
the father of the sick woman told his story and ten of
the wisest and firmest of them were selected to go to
the cavern and make an investigation.

The outer apartment was silent and gloomy. The
woman lay in her usual place, though there were those
present who had seen her carried into the woods.
While they were trying to solve this puzzle a dark-
looking object was seen rolling out of the next room

112

into their very midst. Many were their exclamations
when they saw that the figure displayed the sullen and
angry features of Sly Fox.

After his bonds had been cut and he was composed
enough to speak, the oldest of the party said to
him:

"My friend has found an enemy. Is he nigh that
the Iroquois may take revenge?"

"Let the Delaware die!" exclaimed Sly Fox in a
voice of thunder.

A silence followed.

"The Mohican is swift of foot and leaps far," said
the old chief, "but my young men are on his trail."

"Is he gone?" demanded Sly Fox.

"An evil spirit has been among us and the Delaware
has blinded our eyes. "

"An. evil spirit!" repeated the other mockingly.
"'Tis the spirit that has taken the lives of so many
of the Iroquois and who has now bound the arms of
Sly Fox!"

"Of whom does my friend speak?"

"Of the dog who carries the heart and cunning of
an Iroquois under a pale skin — ^Long Rifle!"

They all showed their astonishment and rage at
this terrible name by many exclamations and threats.

"Let us go to our people," said Sly Fox. "They
wait for us. "

His companions consented and the whole party
returned to the council lodge. Now runners brought
the news that the fugitives had sought the protection
of the near by tribe of the Delawares. This tribe was
not unfriendly to the Iroquois. After a long consulta-
tion it was decided that Sly Fox was to go to these
Delawares with twenty warriors behind him, and
with gifts of trinkets and arms which they had collected
from the spoils of William Henry, and by flattering
speeches and cunning try to get their captives back
again. They knew that this tribe of the Delawares
did not like Hawkeye.

Before the day dawned the party of warriors, with
Sly Fox at the head, were making their way in Indian
file along the little artificial lake of the beavers. One
of the warriors carried the beaver as his particular
symbol or totem. As they passed some of the animals,
this man stopped to speak with them. He called them
cousins and spoke in a friendly fashion. As he ended
his address, the head of a large beaver was thrust
from the door of a lodge and quickly drawn back
again. The chief spoke to this one also, and then
the party moved on.

MOmCANS — 8

114

Had any of the Iroquois turned, they would have
seen the beaver still watching them, showing more
wisdom in its action than a beaver is supposed to
have. This was explained, however, when the party
entered the forest and the beaver calmly took oflf his
mask of fur and disclosed the grave features of Chin-
gachgook.

CHAPTER XII

m THE CAMP OF THE DELAWARES

On that morning when Sly Fox led his silent party
from the settlement of the beavers in the forest, the
sun rose upon a busy people in the Delaware encamp-
ment. The women ran from lodge to lodge, preparing
their morning's meal. The warriors were lounging
in groups ; here and there one was examining his arms.

Suddenly, at the furtherest extremity of a platform
of rock which formed the level of the village, an Indian
appeared. He was without weapons of any description.
When in full view of the Delawares he stopped and
threw his arm upward and then let it fall upon his
breast. The inhabitants of the village answered his
salute by a low murmur of welcome, and encouraged
him to advance. The dark figure left the brow of
the terrace and moved with dignity into the very center
of the huts. As he approached, nothing was heard
but the rattling of the light silver ornaments that
loaded his arms and neck, and the tinkling of the little
bells that fringed his deerskin moccasins.

IIS

ii6

The warriors in front stepped aside, opening the
way to their oldest and wisest orator.

"The wise Iroquois is welcome," said this warrior.
"Has he come to eat his succatash with his brothers
of the lakes?"

"He has come," answered Sly Fox, for it was no
other than he.

Then the Delaware invited the guest to enter the
lodge and share the morning meal. The invitation
was accepted and the two warriors attended by three
or four of the old men walked calmly into the wigwam.

After they had eaten, the squaws removed the trencher
and gourds and Sly Fox began to think it time to
talk about the captives.

"I have brought gifts to my brother. His nation
would not go on the war path because they did not
think it well; but their friends have remembered where
they lived."

The Delawares were much pleased and said, as
Sly Fox handed them the little trinkets, —

"Our brother is a wise chief. He is welcome."

''The Iroquois love their brothers, the Delawares,"
returned Sly Fox. "Why should they not? They
are colored by the same sun, and their just men will
hunt in the same grounds after death. The redskins

117

should be friends and look with open eyes on the
white men. Has not my brother scented spies in the
woods?"

The Delaware, whose name in English meant "Hard-
heart," answered:

"There have been strange moccasins about my
camp. They have been tracked into my lodges. "

"Did my brother beat out the dogs?"

" It would not do. The stranger is always, welcome. "

"The stranger," responded Sly Fox, "but not the
spy ! The paleface who has slain many of their friends
goes in and out among the Delawares!"

"Who is the spy? Who has slain my young men?"
demanded Hard-heart.

"The Long Rifle!" was the answer.

The Delawares started at the well-known name,
for they had no idea that this famous hunter was in
their power.

"What does my brother mean?" asked Hard-heart.

"An Iroquois never lies. Let the Delawares count
their prisoners ; they will find one whose skin is neither
red nor pale, " answered Sly Fox.

A long pause followed. The chief consulted apart
with his companions. Messengers were sent after
the other warriors of the tribe. A general bustle

ii8

announced that a solemn meeting of the nation was
to be held, It might have been half an hour before
each individual, including the women and children,
was in his place.

At length one of those low murmurs that are so
apt to disturb a crowd was heard, and the whole tribe
arose to their feet by a conunon impulse. At that
instant the door of a near by lodge opened and three
men, coming from it slowly, approached the place of
consultation. The one in the center leaned on the other
two for support. His frame which had once been
tall and erect like the cedar was now bent. The
elastic, light step of an Indian was gone. His long
white locks fell on his shoulders. He was dressed in a
robe of the finest skins, and his breast was loaded
with medals. He also wore armlets and cinctures
of gold above the ankles. His tomahawk was nearly
hidden in silver, and the handle of his knife shone like
a horn of solid .gold.

The name of "Tamenund" was whispered from
mouth to mouth. This aged warrior was known
over all the country for his wisdom and justice. He
seated himself in the center of his nation with the
dignity of a monarch and the air of a father.

After a suitable and decent pause, the principal

119

chiefs arose and approaching Tamenund they seemed
to entreat a blessing. The younger men were content
with touching his robe.

After a short delay, a few of the young men rose,
left the crowd, and came back with the fugitives who
had been confined in one of the lodges.

Cora stood foremost among the prisoners, with her
arms twined about Alice. Close at their side stood
Heyward, and Hawkeye had placed himself a little in
the rear. Uncas was not there.

One of the chiefs who sat at the side of Tamenund
arose and said, —

"Which of my prisoners is Long Rifle?"

Now Duncan had seen the crafty face of Sly Fox
in the assembly, and he at once made up his mind that
he would try to protect the hunter who had done so
much for him and the two girls.

" Give us arms, ' ' the young man said haughtily, " and
place us in yonder woods . Our deeds shall speak for us. "

Hawkeye stepped forward.

"I am the man whom the Iroquois have presumed
to style 'Long Rifle'."

The chief looked perplexed.

"Give the prisoners guns," he said at last, "and let
them prove which is the man!"

I20

" Now let it be proved in the face of this tribe which
is the better man," cried the hunter. "You see the
gourd hanging against the tree yonder, Major; if
you are a marksman, let me see you break this shell. "

The gourd was one of the usual little vessels used
by the Indians and it was suspended from the dead
branch of a small pine by a thong of deerskin at the
full distance of a hundred yards. Duncan smiled
at the thought of competing with Hawkeye, but he
tried his best and hit the tree a very little on one side
of the gourd.

Hawkeye laughed.

"I hope," he said, "that the squaw who owns the
gourd has more of them in her wigwam, for this will
never hold water again!"

He fired and the young Indians bounded forward,
but no traces of the bullet were to be seen.

"Gk)," said the old chief to the scout in a tone of
disgust; "thou art a wolf in the skin of a dog."

"Fools!" said Hawkeye, "if you would find the
bullet of a sharpshooter of these woods, you must
look in the object, and not around it!"

The Indian youths tore the gourd from the tree and
held it on high with a shout, displaying a hole in the
bottom which had been cut by the bullet through the

121

opening in the upper side. This decided the question.
Now Sly Fox was called on to speak and declare his
errand. The wily Iroquois rose.

"What brings an Iroquois here?" asked Tamenund.

"Justice. His prisoners are with his brothers,
and he comes for his own."

" Justice is the law of the Great Spirit. My children,
give the stranger food. Then, Iroquois, take thine
own and depart."

Against such a decree no Delaware dare murmur.
Four or five of the younger warriors stepped behind
Heyward and the scout and passed thongs around
their arms. Sly Fox cast a look of triumph around the
whole assembly. Cora rushed to the feet of the patri-
arch and raising her voice exclaimed aloud : —

"For myself I ask nothing. But yonder is one who
is the daughter of a very old man. She has many to
love her and is far too precious to become the victim
of that villain. There is one of thine own people who
has not been brought before thee; before thou lettest
the Iroquois depart in triumph, hear him speak. "

"It is a snake — a redskin in the pay of the English.
We keep him for torture," said one of the companions
of Tamenund.

"Let him come," returned the sage.

122

Tamenund sank in his seat, and a silence so deep
followed that the leaves which fluttered in the light
morning air were distinctly heard rustling in the
surrounding forest. Then Uncas stood in the circle.

"With what tongue does the prisoner speak?" asked
Tamenund, without unclosing his eyes.

"Like his fathers," Uncas replied, "with the tongue
of a Delaware."

A fierce yell ran through the multitude.

"A Delaware!" said the sage in a low, guttural tone.
^'I have lived to see the hills of the Lenape driven
from their coimcil fires, and scattered like broken herds
of deer among the hills of the Iroquois! I have
seen the hatchets of a strange people sweep the woods
from the valleys that the wind of heaven had spared!
The beasts that run on the mountains, and the birds
that fly above the trees, have I seen living in the wig-
wams of men, but never before have I found a Delaware
so base as to creep, like a poisonous serpent, into the
camps of his nation. "

" The singing birds have opened their bills, " returned
Uncas, in the softest notes of his own musical voice,
"and Tamenund has heard their song."

The sage started. ''Does Tamenund dream!" he
exclaimed. "What voice is at his ear? Have the

123

winters gone back? Will summer come again to the
children of the Lenape?"

A solemn and respectful silence followed. Then
an aged warrior spoke as if to remind the sage of
Uncas' treachery.

"The false Delaware trembles lest he should hear
the words of Tamenund. 'Tis a hound that howls
when the English show him a trail. "

"And ye,-' returned Uncas looking sternly around
him, ''are dogs that whine to the Frenchmen's spies. "

Twenty knives gleamed in the air, and as many
warriors sprang to their feet. Tamenund, however,
spoke again.

"Delaware," he said, "little art thou worthy of
thy name. My people have not seen a bright sun in
many winters, and the warrior who deserts his tribe
when it is hid in the clouds is doublv a traitor. The
law of the Great Spirit is just. It is so; while the
rivers run and the mountains stand, while the blossoms
come and go on the trees, it must be so. He is thine,
my children; deal justly by him."

Not a limb was moved, nor was a breath drawn
louder and longer than common until this decree was
given. Then the whole tribe burst into a cry of
vengeance. The circle broke up and screams of

124

delight mingled with the bustle and tumult of prep-
aration. In the midst of these ravage yells, a chief
proclaimed in a high voice that the captive was con-
demned to endure the dreadful trial of torture by fire.
He)nvard struggled madly with his captors, and Hawk-
eye looked around him desperately.

Uncas, alone of all the captives, remained calm.
When the savages came to seize him, he met them
with a firm and steady attitude. One of them tore
the hunting shirt from the young Mohican's body,
and started to drag him to the stake that they had
prepared. At that moment the purpose of the savage
was arrested. His eyeballs seemed to start from their
sockets, his mouth opened, and with a steady hand
he pointed to the breast of the captive. His companions
crowded around him, and every eye was, like his own,
fastened intently on the figure of a small tortoise
beautifully tattooed on the breast of the prisoner, in a
bright blue tint.

Uncas enjoyed his triumph, smiling calmly on the
scene. Then, motioning the crowd away with a high
and haughty sweep of his arm, he advanced to the
front of the tribe, with the air of a king, and spoke
in a voice louder than the murmur of admiration that
ran through the multitude.

125

"Men of the Lenni Lenape," he said, "my race
upholds the earth! My race is the grandfather of
nations!"

"Who art thou?" demanded Tamenund, rising at
the startling words he heard.

"Uncas, the son of Chingachgook, " answered the
youth, modestly turning and bending his head in
reverence to the other; "a son of the Great Tur-
tle."

"The hour of Tamenund is nigh!" exclaimpd the
sage. "The day is come at last! I thank the Great
Spirit that one is here to fill my place at the council
fire. Uncas, the child of Uncas, is found. Let the
eyes of a dying eagle gaze on the rising sun. "

The youth stepped lightly, but proudly, on the plat-
form where all the wondering tribe could see him.
Tamenund held him long at arm's length, and read
every feature of his countenance.

"The blood of the Turtle has been in many chiefs,"
said the young warrior, "but all have gone back into
the earth from whence they came, except Chingach-
gook and his son. "

The sage closed his eyes, and dropped back into his
seat, wearied by the unusual exertion.

"Uncas," he repeated, "the panther of his tribe,

126

the eldest son of the Lenape, the wisest Sagamore
of the Mohicans I"

Uncas raised his head and said in a loud
voice : —

"Once we slept where we could hear the salt lake
speak in its anger. Then we were rulers and Saga-
mores over the land. But when a paleface was seen
on every brook, we followed the deer back to the river
of our nation. The Delawares were gone. Few
warriors of them all stayed to drink of the stream they
loved. Then said my fathers, 'Here will we hunt.
The waters of the river go into the salt lake. If we
go toward the setting sun, we shall find streams that
run into the great lakes of. sweet water; there would a
Mohican die, like fishes of the sea, in the clear springs.
When the Great Spirit is ready and shall say, ' ' Come, ' '
we will follow the river to the sea and take our own
again. ' Such, Delawares, is the belief of the children
of the Turtle. Our eyes are on the rising, and not
toward the setting sun."

The Delawares listened to his words with respect.
Then Uncas caught sight of Hawkeye, still bound with
thongs. He stepped from his stand and cut the bonds
of his friend and took his hand and led him to the feet
of Tamenund.

127

"Father," he said, "look at this paleface; a just

man, and the friend of the Delawares."
"What name has he gained by his deeds?"
"We call him Hawkeye, for his sight never fails."
"The paleface has slain my young men."
"I have never harmed a Delaware," answered the

hunter. "I am friendly to them, and all that belongs

to their nation."
An exclamation of pleasure passed among the

warriors. Uncas then explained how all of them had

escaped from the Iroquois, and therefore Sly Fox had

no claim on them.
" And the woman that the Iroquois left in my camp ? "

asked Tamenund.

"She is mine!" cried Sly Fox in triumph. "Mohi-
can, you know that she is mine!"
"It is so," answered Uncas sorrowfully.
Then said Tamenund in a firm voice: —
"Go, Iroquois, with the dark-eyed maiden."
"Hold, Iroquois!" cried Duncan, springing forward.

"H^ ransom shall make thee richer than any of thy

people were ever yet known to be!"
"Sly Fox is a redskin; he wants not the beads of

the palefaces."
"The words of the Delaware are said," said Tame-

128

nund in answer to the appeals of all. "Men speak not
twice."

Then Hawkeye ojBFered to take Cora's place as
prisoner, but Sly Fox refused.

"Iroquois," said Uncas, "look at the sun. He is
now in the upper branches of the hemlock. Your
path is short and open. When he is seen above the
trees, there will be men upon your trail."

"I hear a crow!" exclaimed Sly Fox, with a taunting
laugh. "Go," he added, shaking his hand at the
crowd which had slowly opened to allow him to pass.
''Where are the petticoats of the Delawares? Dogs!
Rabbits! Thieves!"

Through the forest he went, protected by the laws
of Indian hospitality, taking the terrified and unhappy
Cora with him.

CHAPTER XIII

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS

The Delawares now proceeded to make preparations
for an expedition of war against the Iroquois to help
Duncan recover Cora.

A young warrior came from the lodge of Uncas,
and, moving with a sort of grave march toward a dwarf
pine that grew in the crevices of a rock, he tore the
bark from its body and then returned without speaking.
He was soon followed by another who stripped the tree
of its branches, leaving a naked and blazed trunk.
A third covered the post with stripes of dark red paint.
Finally, the young Mohican himself appeared, with
one half of his face hidden imder a cloud of threatening
black paint.

Uncas moved with a slow and dignified tread toward
the post, around which he immediately conmienced
dancing with measured step, raising his voice, at the
same time, in the wild chant of his war song. This
is what he sang, asking the Great Spirit, or Manitto,
for aid in battle: —

MOHICANS — 9 J 20

I30

" Manitto ! Manitto ! Manitto !

Thou art great, thou art good, thou art wise:

Manitto! Manitto!

Thou art just.

"In the heavens, in the clouds, oh! I see
Many spots — ^many dark, many red:
In the heavens, oh! I see
Many clouds.

"In the woods, in the air, oh! I hear
The whoop, the long yell, and the cry:
In the woods, oh! I hear
The loud whoop!

"Manitto! Manitto! Manitto!

I am weak — ^thou art strong; I am slow —

Manitto! Manitto!

Give me aid."

Three times did he repeat this song, and as often
did he encircle the post in his dance. Then he struck
his tomahawk deep into the post, and raised his voice
in a battle cry. At that signal, a hundred youths
rushed in a frantic body on the remains of the tree
and tore it to pieces, until nothing of it remained except
the roots in the ground.

The instant Uncas had struck the blow, he left the

131

circle and looked at the sun which was just gaining
the point when the truce with Sly Fox was to end.
All prepared to go. Duncan took Alice to a place
of safety, and joined the others. Hawkeye sent a boy
after Killdeer and the rifle of Uncas which they had
hidden on approaching the camp of the Dela wares.

Uncas now collected his chiefs and divided his
power. He gave Hawkeye the command of twenty
active and skillful men. Duncan wished to serve
as a volunteer by the side of the hunter.

They entered the forest, nor did they meet any one
until they caught sight of David Gamut, wandering
about in his usual aimless fashion. From him they
learned that Cora was in the cave and that the Iroquois
were hidden in the forest, ready to attack them.

They held a meeting called a "whispering council,"
in which their plans were decided on. Hawkeye was
to take his men to the old beaver lodge where Chingach-
gook and General Munro still were. Uncas was to
go in their front and drive the enemy from their village.
After that they were to attack the cave and bring
Cora away.

Hawkeye's route lay for the distance of a mile along
the bed of the water course. Protection was given
by the steep banks and thick shrubbery.

13^ _

"We are likely to have a good day for a fight,"
said the scout to He)rward, glancing at the clouds
which began to move in broad sheets across the sky;
"a bright Sim and a glittering barrel are no friends to
true sight. Ever3^hing is favorable; they have the
wind which will bring down their noises and their
smoke too, whereas with us it will be first a shot and
then a clear view. But here is an end of our cover.
The beavers have had the range of this stream for
hundreds of years, and what between their food and
their dams, there are but few living trees."

The brook was irregular in its width, sometimes
shooting through narrow fissiu^es in the rocks, and
at others, spreading over acres of bottom land and
forming large ponds. Everjnvhere along its course
were the remains of dead trees, in all stages of decay.
All these particulars were noted by the scout with
gravity and interest. He knew that the Iroquois
encampment lay a short half mile up the brook, and
he was greatly disturbed at not finding the smallest
trace of the presence of the enemy. He listened for
sounds in the quarter where Uncas was left, but nothing
could be heard but the sighing of the wind.

His companions lay in the bed of the ravine. On
hearing a signal from Hawkeye, the whole party stole

133

up the bank. Pointing in the direction he wished to
proceed, the scout advanced, the band breaking off
in single files and following so accurately in his foot-
steps as to leave it the trail of but a single man.

The party was, however, scarcely uncovered before
a volley from a dozen rifles was heard in their rear,
and a Delaware leaping high in the air like a wounded
deer, fell dead.

"To cover, men," cried Hawkeye, "and charge!"

The band dispersed at the word, and before Hey-
ward had well recovered from his surprise, he found
himself standing alone with David. Luckily the
Iroquois had already fallen back, and he was safe
from their fire. The scout now set the example of pres-
sing on their retreat by discharging his rifle, and darting
from tree to tree as his enemy slowly yielded ground.

But the chances were gradually growing unfavorable
to Hawkeye and his band. They began to think that
the whole of the hostile tribe was encircling them.
Then they heard the yells and the firing of arms, echoing
under the arches of the wood at the place where Uncas
was posted. Hawkeye gave the word to bear down
upon their foes, which consisted in pushing from cover
to cover nearer the enemy. The Iroquois were com-
pelled to withdraw.

134

Hawkeye got behind the same tree as that which
served Heyward as a cover.

"If we are to be of use to Uncas," said the scout,
"these knaves in our front must be got rid of."

He called aloud to his Indians in their oWn language.
His words were answered by a shout, and, at a given
signal, each warrior made a swift movement around
his particular tree. Without stopping to breathe,
the Delawares leaped with long bounds towards the
woods like so many panthers springing upon their
prey. The crack of a rifle was heard behind the
Iroquois, and a bullet came whizzing from among
some beaver lodges in the clearing in the rear, and
was followed by the war whoop.

" There speaks the Sagamore ! " shouted Hawkeye, an-
swering the cry. " We have them now in face and back ! "

The enemy uttered a yell of disappointment, and,
breaking off in a body, fled under the bullets and blows
of the pursuing Delawares. Chingachgook took com-
mand of the party, and led the way back through the
thicket. On a level bit of ground sprinkled with
trees they stopped to gain breath. Beneath their
eyes, for several miles, stretched a dense and dark
forest where Uncas was still fighting with the main
body of the Iroquois.

135

"The fight is coming up the hill!" cried Duncan,
and indeed it was not long before the reports of the
rifles began to lose the echoes of the woods and to
sound like weapons discharged in the open air.
Hawkeye and his companions withdrew to a shelter
and waited. An Iroquois warrior appeared here and
there, driven to the skirts of the forest. These were
joined by others until a long line of swarthy figures
were to be seen clinging to the covers.

"The time is come for the Delaware to strike!"
said Duncan.

At that instant the whoop was given, and a dozen
Iroquois fell by a discharge from Chingachgook and
his band. The shout that followed was answered
by a single war cry from the forest. The line of
Iroquois staggered, when Uncas appeared from the
wood at the head of a hundred warriors.

Waving his hands right and left, the young warrior
pointed out the enemy to his followers, who separated
in pursuit. The war was now divided, both wings
of the broken Iroquois seeking protection in the woods
again. One little band of the enemy, however, had
disdained to seek a cover and were retreating like
lions at bay, slowly and sullenly up the slope. Sly
Fox was in this party.

136

The moment Uncas caught sight of this warrior,
he raised his cry of battle and rushed upon him. Long
Rifle and the other white men followed. The Iroquois
ran rapidly up the hill. It was fortunate that the
race was short, or Uncas would have outstripped the
others and fallen a victim to his own boldness. But
before that could happen they all entered the little
village of the Iroquois. Here the enemy made a
stand and fought desperately but vainly around their
council lodge.

When Sly Fox saw his comrades fall and knew that
the Delawares had won the battle, he darted away
from the place. Uncas and his friends followed.
The Iroquois leaped into a thicket of bushes through
which he was still pursued by his enemies, and sudden-
ly entered the mouth of the cave where you remember
Alice had been imprisoned. The pursuers dashed
into the long and narrow entrance in time to catch
a glimpse of the retreating savage. As they ran, they
could hear the shrieks and cries of the Iroquois women
and children.

The way was hard to find in those dark and gloomy
passages, and for a moment the trace was believed
to be lost, when a white robe was seen fluttering in the
further extremity of a passage that seemed to lead up

137

the mountain. The cowardly savage was holding
Cora to shield himself from the bullets of the white men.

^*Tis Cora!" exclaimed Heyward.

"Cora! Cora!" echoed Uncas, bounding forward
like a deer.

"Tis the maiden!" shouted the scout. "Courage,
we come! — ^we come!"

^The way was rugged and broken, and in spots
nearly impassable. Uncas abandoned his rifle and
leaped forward. At this moment the figures of the
pursued were drawn against an opening in the sky,
and they disappeared. Uncas and Heywaxd burst
from the cavern on the side of the mountain just in
time to see the path they took.

"I will go no further," cried Cora, stopping on a
ledge of rocks that overhung a deep precipice.

Uncas leaped upon the ledge to save her, but it was
too late. The cowardly Iroquois, seeing that he was
lost, in his despair and rage killed her with a blow,
and like a tiger sprang upon the leaping form of Uncas.

"Mercy, mercy, Iroquois!" cried He)nvard from
above. "Have mercy on the boy!"

The savage uttered a fierce and wild cry, and with
a thrust of his knife, struck dead the young and brave
Delaware.

138

"The palefaces are dogs!" he shouted. "The
Delawares are women!"

Hawkeye had been crouching like a beast about
to take its spring. The surrounding rocks themselves
were not steadier than Killdeer became when the
scout fired at Sly Fox. Turning a relentless look on
his enemy, the savage shook a hand in grim defiance.
But his hold on the ledge loosened, and his dark form
was seen cutting the air, for a brief instant, as it
glided past the fringe of shrubbery which climg to
the mountain, in its rapid flight to destruction.

The sun found the Delawares, the next day, a nation
of mourners. The sounds of the battle were over,
and they had avenged their recent quarrel with the
Iroquois by the destruction of the whole village. Still,
no shouts of success, no songs of triumph, were heard
in rejoicings for their victory. The latest straggler
had returned, only to strip himself of the signs of the
warrior, and to join in the lamentations of his country-
men, as a stricken people. Pride had given place to
humility, and everywhere were demonstrations of grief.

The lodges were deserted, but a broad belt of earnest
faces encircled a spot where all the women and children
had come to sing the funeral dirges of Cora and the

139

son of Chingachgook. General Munro and He5rward
stood among the mourners, while the scout near by
leaned on his famous Killdeer. Tamenund, supported
by the elders of his nation, occupied a high place at
hand whence he might look down on the sorrowful
assemblage of his people.

Just within the inner edge of the circle stood a soldier
in the military attire of a strange nation ; and without
it was his war horse, in the center of a group of mounted
servants, seemingly in readiness to undertake some
distant journey. He was an aide of Montcalm who
had come to escort the white people back to the Eng-
lish settlements.

The day was drawing to the close of its first quarter,
and yet had the multitude kept its breathing stillness
since its dawn. At length the sage of the Delawares
stretched forth an arm, and, leaning on the shoulders
of his attendants, arose.

''Men of the Lenape!" he said, "the face of the
Great Spirit is behind a cloud! his eye is turned from
you; his eyes are shut; his tongue gives no answer.
You see him not. Men of the Lenape! the face of
the Manitto is behind a cloud. "

As the sound of his words died away, a low murmur
of soft, wailing voices commenced a sort of chant in

I40

honor of the dead. A girl, selected for the task by her
rank, began to sing of the noble qualities of Uncas.
She called him the panther of his tribe, described
him as one whose moccasin left no trail on the
dews; whose bound was like the leap of the young
fawn; whose eye was brighter than a star in the dark
night, and whose voice in battle was as loud as the
thunder of the Great Spirit. Then she sang of Cora,
of her beauty, of her courage. She compared her to
flakes of snow, her hair to the tendrils of the vine.

When the song was finished, Munro wished to
thank the maidens for their services. He bared his
gray locks, then, motioning with his hand for the scout
to listen, —

" Say to these kind and gentle Indian maidens that they
have done well, and that the white men thank them."

A warrior, much renowned for deeds in arms, advanced
slowly from the crowd and spoke before the body
of Uncas.

"Why hast thou left us, pride of the Wapanachki?"
he said; "thy time has been like that of the sun in the
trees; thy glory brighter than his light at noon day.
Who that saw thee in battle would believe that thou
couldst die? Thy feet were like the wings of eagles;
thine arm heavier than falling branches from the

141

pine. Pride of the Wapanachki, why hast thou
left us?"

Other warriors spoke of Uncas' virtues, and es-
pecially of his courage in battle. The young aide of
Montcalm now ventured to suggest that the white
men take their leave, as it was growing late and
they had many miles to travel. A group of young
Indians approached with a light and closely-covered
litter in which sat Alice, mourning her dead sister.

"Come," said Munro looking sadly about him,
"our duty here is ended, let us depart."

Heyward pressed the hand of the scout, and mounted
his charger. All the white men, with the exception of
Hawkeye, passed from before the eyes of the Delawares,
and were buried in the vast forests of that region.
You may imagine the heavy hearts that they carried
with them. They never visited that part of the country
again, but it was many years before the Delawares
ceased talking of the white maiden and the young
Indian warrior who had met their death by the hand
of the Iroquois.

After they had left, Chingachgook who had not
spoken before, said, —

" Why do my brothers mourn ? Why do my daughters
weep ! that a young man has gone to the happy hunting

142

grounds; that a chief has filled his time with honor!
He was good; he was dutiful; he was brave. Who
can deny it ? As for me, I am a blazed pine in a clear-
ing of the palefaces. I am alone — "

" No, no, " cried Hawkeye;"no, Sagamore, not alone.
I, also, have no kin and no people. He was your son,
and a redskin by nature, and it may be that your
blood was nearer — but if ever I forget the lad who
fought by my side in wax, and slept by my side in
peace, may He who made us all forget me! The boy
has left us for a time ; but, Sagamore, you are not alone. "

Chingachgook grasped the hand held out to him,
and these two sturdy woodsmen bowed their heads
together.

In the midst of the stillness which followed the
burst of feeling from two such warriors, Tamenund
lifted his voice.

"It is enough," he said. "Go, children of the
Lenape, the anger of the Great Spirit is not done.
The palefaces are masters of the earth, and the time
of the red men has not yet come again. My day has
been too long. In the morning I saw the sons of
the Turtle happy and strong; and yet, before the
night has come, have I lived to see the last warrior
of the wise race of the Mohicans."

SCHOOL EDITIONS OF
STANDARD FICTION

Defoe's Robinson Crusoe (Stephens) .... fo.50
Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. (Adapted for children by

Baldwin) 35

Dickens's Story of Little Nell— From The Old Curi-
osity Shop (Gordon) 50

Dickens's Tale of Two Cities (Kirk) 50

Dickens's Twelve Christmas Stories (Gordon) — A
Christmas Carol; The Child's Story; The
School-boy's Story ; Our School ; The Seven
Poor Travelers ; The Holly -Tree Inn ; A
Christmas Tree ; Mugby Junction ; The Ghost
in Master B's Room; Little Bebelle ; A Child's
Dream of a Star; and The Detective Police . .50
Dickens's Child's Oliver Twist and David Copper-
field (Severance) 40

Lambs' Tales from Shakespeare — Comedies (Rolfe) , .50
Lambs' Tales from Shakespeare — Tragedies (Rolfe) . .50

Stories from the Arabian Nights (Clarke) 60

Scott's Kenilworth (Norris) . .' 50

Scott's Quentin Durward (Norris) 50

Scott's Talisman (Dewey) 50

Scott's Ivanhoe 50

THESE masterpieces of English literature should be
familiar to every child. Not only will they prove ab-
sorbing and interesting in themselves, but they will also
create a love for good literature, and awaken in children a
desire to read others of these authors' works.
^ In their present editions, the original narratives have been
altered only so much as was necessary to make them compre-
hensible to children. Unessential passages have been omitted,
and in some cases the wording has been slightly changed.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

(a6)

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

By EDWARD EGGLESTON

STORIES OF GREAT AMERICANS FOR

LITTLE AMERICANS J0.40

THIS book is eminently suited to second year pupils.
Not only does it make learning to read an easy task,
but it provides matter which is stimulating and enjoy-
able. By means of interesting personal anecdotes, the child
is made familiar with the history of our country and some of
its leading figures. Famous warriors and patriots, states-
men, discoverers, inventors, men of science and letters, find
a place in these tales. Some of the stories should be known
to every American, because they have become a kind of
national folk-lore. The words are not too difficult, while
the sentences and paragraphs are short.

STORIES OF AMERICAN LIFE AND

ADVENTURE $0.50

HERE are presented for third year pupils excidng stories
which tell of the adventurous pioneer life of this
country, and which show why the nadonal character
is distinguished by traits of quick-wittedness, humor, self-
reliance, love of liberty, and democratic feeling. These
historical anecdotes include stories of Indian life, of frontier
peril and escape, of adventures with the pirates of Colonial
times, of daring Revolutionary feats, of dangerous whaling
voyages, of scientific explorations, and of personal encounters
with savages and wild beasts. With them are intermingled
sketches of the homes, the food and drink, the birds and
animals, the schools, and the children's plays of other times.

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY

Ci7)

B«ldv>iD'i Second Fairy Reader
Another Fthf Reader , . ,

to.35 I Swift's Gulliver'i TrsTelt Retold
.35 I (Bddwin) I0.3S

Foi CUIdien of g to 1 1 Teais of Aga
Bddwin'i Atnericui Book c

Golden Deedi I0.50

Davis & Chow-Leang'i Chinese

Fablei uid Folk Storiet . . 40

Johnson'! Story of Two Boy* . . (0.35
Schwartz's Famous Kctures of
Children

For Children of 1:
Cooper's Adventnret of Deenlayer

(HdgM) (0.35

KaHer'i Nature Rludies on the Farm .40

to 14 Tean of Age

I Nixon- Ronlet't Japanese Folk

Stories and Fairr T^e* . . , I040

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