“Hurry Harry’s idees do not pass for gospel with me, Judith; but even worse than he may have eyes and ears,” returned the other gravely.
“Enough of this!” exclaimed Judith, with flashing eye, and a flush that mounted to her temples; “and more of my father and his ransom. ’T is as you say, Deerslayer; the Indians will not be likely to give up their prisoners, without a heavier bribe than my clothes can offer, and father’s rifle and powder. There is the chest.”
“Ay, there is the chist, as you say, Judith; and when the question gets to be between a secret and a scalp, I should think most men would prefar keeping the last. Did your father ever give you any downright command consarning that chist?”
“Never. He has always appeared to think its locks, and its steel bands, and its strength, its best protection.”
“’T is a rare chist, and altogether of curious build,” returned Deerslayer, rising and approaching the thing in question, on which he seated himself, with a view to examine it with greater ease. “Chingachgook, this is no wood that comes of any forest that you or I have ever trailed through! ’T isn’t the black walnut; and yet it’s quite as comely, if not more so, did the smoke and the treatment give it fair play.”
The Delaware drew near, felt of the wood, examined its grain, endeavoured to indent the surface with a nail, and passed his hand curiously over the steel bands, the heavy padlocks, and the other novel peculiarities of the massive box.
“No--nothing like this grows in these regions,” resumed Deerslayer; “I’ve seen all the oaks, both the maples, the elms, the bass-wood, all the walnuts, the butternuts, and every tree that has a substance and colour, wrought into some form or other; but never have I before seen such a wood as this! Judith, the chist itself, would buy your father’s freedom; or Iroquois cur’osity isn’t as strong as red-skin cur’osity, in general; especially in the matter of woods.”
“The purchase might be cheaper made, perhaps, Deerslayer. The chest is full, and it would be better to part with half, than to part with the whole. Besides, father--I know not why--but, father values that chest highly.”
“He would seem to prize what it holds, more than the chist itself, judging by the manner in which he treats the outside, and secures the inside. Here are three locks, Judith; is there no key?”
“I’ve never seen one; and yet key there must be, since Hetty told us, she had often seen the chest opened.”
“Keys no more lie in the air, or float on the water, than humans, gal; if there is a key, there must be a place in which it is kept.”
“That is true, and it might not be difficult to find it, did we dare to search!”
“This is for you, Judith; it is altogether for you. The chist is your’n, or your father’s; and Hutter is your father, not mine. Cur’osity is a woman’s, and not a man’s failing; and there you have got all the reasons before you. If the chist has articles for ransom, it seems to me they would be wisely used in redeeming their owner’s life, or even in saving his scalp; but that is a matter for your judgment, and not for ourn. When the lawful owner of a trap, or a buck, or a canoe, isn’t present, his next of kin becomes his riprisentatyve, by all the laws of the woods. We therefore leave you to say whether the chist shall, or shall not be opened.”
“I hope you do not believe I can hesitate, when my father’s life’s in danger, Deerslayer!”
“Why, it’s pretty much putting a scolding ag’in tears and mourning. It’s not onreasonable to foretell that old Tom may find fault with what you’ve done, when he sees himself, once more, in his hut, here; but there’s nothing unusual in men’s falling out with what has been done for their own good; I dare to say that even the moon would seem a different thing from what it now does, could we look at it from the other side.”
“Deerslayer, if we can find the key, I will authorize you to open the chest, and to take such things from it, as you may think will buy father’s ransom.”
“First find the key, gal; we’ll talk of the rest a’terwards. Sarpent, you’ve eyes like a fly, and a judgment that’s seldom out; can you help us, in calculating where Floating Tom would be apt to keep the key of a chist that he holds to be as private as this.”
The Delaware had taken no part in the discourse, until he was thus directly appealed to, when he quitted the chest, which had continued to attract his attention, and cast about him for the place in which a key would be likely to be concealed, under such circumstances. As Judith and Deerslayer were not idle, the while, the whole three were soon engaged in an anxious and spirited search. As it was certain that the desired key was not to be found in any of the common drawers, or closets, of which there were several in the building, none looked there, but all turned their inquiries to those places that struck them as ingenious hiding-places, and more likely to be used for such a purpose. In this manner the outer room was thoroughly but fruitlessly examined; when they entered the sleeping apartment of Hutter. This part of the rude building was better furnished than the rest of the structure; containing several articles that had been especially devoted to the service of the deceased wife of its owner; but as Judith had all the rest of the keys, it was soon rummaged, without bringing to light the particular key desired.
They now entered the bed-room of the daughters. Chingachgook was immediately struck with the contrast between the articles, and the arrangement, of that side of the room that might be called Judith’s, and that which more properly belonged to Hetty. A slight exclamation escaped him, and pointing in each direction, he alluded to the fact in a low voice, speaking to his friend in the Delaware tongue.
“As you think, Sarpent,” answered Deerslayer; whose remarks we always translate into English, preserving as much as possible of the peculiar phraseology and manner of the man. “’T is just so, as any one may see; and ’tis all founded in natur’. One sister loves finery, some say, over-much; while t’other is as meek and lowly as God ever created goodness and truth. Yet, after all, I dare say that Judith has her vartues, and Hetty has her failin’s.”
“And the ‘Feeble-Mind’ has seen the chest opened?” inquired Chingachgook, with curiosity in his glance.
“Sartain; that much I’ve heard from her own lips; and, for that matter, so have you. It seems her father doesn’t misgive her discretion, though he does that of his eldest darter.”
“Then, the key is hid only from the Wild Rose?” for so Chingachgook had begun gallantly to term Judith, in his private discourse with his friend.
“That’s it! That’s just it! One he trusts, and the other he doesn’t. There’s red and white in that, Sarpent; all tribes and nations agreeing in trusting some, and refusing to trust other some. It depends on character and judgment.”
“Where could a key be put, so little likely to be found by the Wild Rose, as among coarse clothes?”
Deerslayer started, and turning to his friend, with admiration expressed in every lineament of his face, he fairly laughed, in his silent but hearty manner, at the ingenuity and readiness of the conjecture.
“Your name’s well bestowed, Sarpent--yes, ’t is well bestowed! Sure enough, where would a lover of finery be so little likely to s’arch, as among garments as coarse and unseemly as these of poor Hetty. I dares to say, Judith’s delicate fingers haven’t touched a bit of cloth as rough and oncomely as that petticoat, now, since she first made acquaintance with the officers! Yet, who knows? the key may be as likely to be on the same peg, as in any other place. Take down the garment, Delaware, and let us see if you are ra’ally a prophet.”
Chingachgook did as desired, but no key was found. A coarse pocket, apparently empty, hung on the adjoining peg, and this was next examined. By this time, the attention of Judith was called in that direction, and she spoke hurriedly, and like one who wished to save unnecessary trouble.
“These are only the clothes of poor Hetty, dear simple girl!” she said; “nothing we seek, would be likely to be there.”
The words were hardly out of the handsome mouth of the spe
aker, when Chingachgook drew the desired key from the pocket. Judith was too quick of apprehension, not to understand the reason a hiding-place, so simple and exposed, had been used. The blood rushed to her face, as much with resentment, perhaps, as with shame; and she bit her lip, though she continued silent. Deerslayer and his friend now discovered the delicacy of men of native refinement, neither smiling, or even by a glance betraying how completely he understood the motives and ingenuity of this clever artifice. The former, who had taken the key from the Indian, led the way into the adjoining room, and applying it to a lock, ascertained that the right instrument had actually been found. There were three padlocks, each of which, however, was easily opened by this single key. Deerslayer removed them all, loosened the hasps, raised the lid a little to make certain it was loose, and then he drew back from the chest, several feet, signing to his friend to follow.
“This is a family chist, Judith,” he said, “and ’t is like to hold family secrets. The Sarpent and I will go into the ark, and look to the canoes, and paddles, and oars; while you can examine it by yourself, and find out whether any thing that will be a make-weight in a ransom, is, or is not, among the articles. When you’ve got through, give us a call, and we’ll all sit in council, together, touching the valie of the articles.”
“Stop, Deerslayer,” exclaimed the girl, as he was about to withdraw; “not a single thing will I touch--I will not even raise the lid--unless you are present. Father and Hetty have seen fit to keep the inside of this chest a secret from me, and I am much too proud to pry into their hidden treasures, unless it were for their own good. But, on no account, will I open the chest alone. Stay with me, then; I want witnesses of what I do.”
“I rather think, Sarpent, that the gal is right! Confidence and reliance beget security, but suspicion is like to make us all wary. Judith has a right to ask us to be present; and should the chist hold any of Master Hutter’s secrets, they will fall into the keeping of two as close-mouthed young men as are to be found. We will stay with you, Judith--but, first let us take a look at the lake and the shore, for this chist will not be emptied in a minute.”
The two men now went out on the platform, and Deerslayer swept the shore with the glass, while the Indian gravely turned his eye on the water and the woods, in quest of any sign that might betray the machinations of their enemies. Nothing was visible, and assured of their temporary security, the three collected around the chest, again, with the avowed object of opening it.
Judith had held this chest, and its unknown contents, in a species of reverence as long as she could remember. Neither her father, nor her mother, ever mentioned it in her presence; and there appeared to be a silent convention, that in naming the different objects that occasionally stood near it, or even lay on its lid, care should be had to avoid any allusion to the chest itself. Habit had rendered this so easy, and so much a matter of course, that it was only quite recently the girl had begun even to muse on the singularity of the circumstance. But there had never been sufficient intimacy between Hutter and his eldest daughter, to invite confidence. At times, he was kind, but in general, with her more especially, he was stern and morose. Least of all had his authority been exercised in a way to embolden his child to venture on the liberty she was about to take, without many misgivings of the consequences, although the liberty proceeded from a desire to serve himself. Then Judith was not altogether free from a little superstition, on the subject of this chest, which had stood a sort of tabooed relic before her eyes, from childhood to the present hour. Nevertheless the time had come, when it would seem that this mystery was to be explained, and that under circumstances, too, which left her very little choice in the matter.
Finding that both her companions were watching her movements, in grave silence, Judith placed a hand on the lid, and endeavoured to raise it. Her strength, however, was insufficient, and it appeared to the girl, who was fully aware that all the fastenings were removed, that she was resisted in an unhallowed attempt, by some supernatural power.
“I cannot raise the lid, Deerslayer,” she said: “had we not better give up the attempt, and find some other means of releasing the prisoners?”
“Not so, Judith; not so, gal. No means are as sartain and easy, as a good bribe,” answered the other. “As for the lid, ’t is held by nothing but its own weight, which is prodigious for so small a piece of wood, loaded with iron as it is.”
As Deerslayer spoke, he applied his own strength to the effort, and succeeded in raising the lid against the timbers of the house, where he took care to secure it, by a sufficient prop. Judith fairly trembled, as she cast her first glance at the interior; and she felt a temporary relief in discovering that a piece of canvass, that was carefully tucked in, around the edges, effectually concealed all beneath it. The chest was apparently well stored, however, the canvass lying within an inch of the lid.
“Here ’s a full cargo,” said Deerslayer, eyeing the arrangement; “and we had needs go to work leisurely, and at our ease. Sarpent, bring some stools, while I spread this blanket on the floor, and then we ’ll begin work orderly, and in comfort.”
The Delaware complied; Deerslayer civilly placed a stool for Judith, took one himself, and commenced the removal of the canvass covering. This was done deliberately, and in as cautious a manner, as if it were believed that fabrics of a delicate construction lay hidden beneath. When the canvass was removed, the first articles that came in view were some of the habiliments of the male sex. These were of fine materials, and, according to the fashions of the age, were gay in colours, and rich in ornaments. One coat, in particular, was of scarlet, and had button-holes worked in gold thread. Still it was not military, but was part of the attire of a civilian of condition, at a period when social rank was rigidly respected in dress. Chingachgook could not refrain from an exclamation of pleasure, as soon as Deerslayer opened this coat, and held it up to view; for, notwithstanding all his trained self-command, the splendour of the vestment was too much for the philosophy of an Indian. Deerslayer turned quickly, and he regarded his friend with momentary displeasure, as this burst of weakness escaped him; and then he soliloquized, as was his practice, whenever any strong feeling suddenly got the ascendancy.
“T is his gift!--yes, ’t is the gift of a red-skin to love finery, and he is not to be blamed. This is an extr’ornary garment, too; and extr’ornary things get up extr’ornary feelin’s. I think this will do, Judith, for the Indian heart is hardly to be found in all America, that can withstand colours like these, and glitter like that. If this coat was ever made for your father, you’ve come honestly by the taste for finery, you have.”
“That coat was never made for father,” answered the girl, quickly; “it is much too long; while father is short and square.”
“Cloth was plenty, if it was, and glitter cheap,” answered Deerslayer, with his silent, joyous laugh. “Sarpent, this garment was made for a man of your size, and I should like to see it on your shoulders.”
Chingachgook, nothing loth, submitted to the trial; throwing aside the coarse and thread-bare jacket of Hutter, to deck his person in a coat that was originally intended for a gentleman. The transformation was ludicrous; but as men are seldom struck with incongruities in their own appearance, any more than in their own conduct, the Delaware studied this change in a common glass, by which Hutter was in the habit of shaving, with grave interest. At that moment he thought of Hist, and we owe it to truth to say, though it may militate a little against the stern character of a warrior to own it, that he wished he could be seen by her, in his present improved aspect.
“Off with it, Sarpent--off with it,” resumed the inflexible Deerslayer; “such garments as little become you, as they would become me. Your gifts are for paint, and hawk’s feathers, and blankets, and wampum; and mine are for doublets of skin, tough leggings, and sarviceable moccasins. I say moccasins, Judith; for though white, living as I do, in the woods, it’s necessary to take to some of the practyces of the woods, for comfort’s sake,
and cheapness.”
“I see no reason, Deerslayer, why one man may not wear a scarlet coat, as well as another,” returned the girl. “I wish I could see you in this handsome garment.”
“See me in a coat fit for a lord! Well, Judith, if you wait till that day, you’ll wait until you see me beyond reason and memory. No--no--gal, my gifts are my gifts, and I’ll live and die in ’em, though I never bring down another deer, or spear another salmon. What have I done, that you should wish to see me in such a flaunting coat, Judith!”
“Because I think, Deerslayer, that the false-tongued and false-hearted young gallants of the garrison, ought not alone to appear in fine feathers; but that truth and honesty have their claims to be honoured and exalted.”
“And what exaltification--” The reader will have remarked that Deerslayer had not very critically studied his dictionary--“And what exaltification would it be to me, Judith, to be bedizzened and bescarleted, like a Mingo chief that has just got his presents up from Quebec? No--no-- I’m well as I am; and if not, I can be no better. Lay the coat down on the blanket, Sarpent, and let us look further into the chist.”
The tempting garment, one surely that was never intended for Hutter, was laid aside, and the examination proceeded. The male attire, all of which corresponded with the coat in quality, was soon exhausted, and then succeeded female. A beautiful dress of brocade, a little the worse from negligent treatment, followed; and this time open exclamations of delight escaped the lips of Judith. Much as the girl had been addicted to dress, and favourable as had been her opportunities of seeing some little pretension in that way, among the wives of the different commandants, and other ladies of the forts, never before had she beheld a tissue, or tints to equal those that were now so unexpectedly placed before her eyes. Her rapture was almost childish; nor would she allow the inquiry to proceed until she had attired her person in a robe so unsuited to her habits and her abode. With this end, she withdrew into her own room, where, with hands practised in such offices, she soon got rid of her own neat gown of linen, and stood forth in the gay tints of the brocade. The dress happened to fit the fine, full, person of Judith, and certainly it had never adorned a being better qualified by natural gifts, to do credit to its really rich hues and fine texture. When she returned, both Deerslayer and Chingachgook, who had passed the brief time of her absence, in taking a second look at the male garments, arose in surprise, each permitting exclamations of wonder and pleasure to escape him, in a way so unequivocal as to add new lustre to the eyes of Judith, by flushing her cheeks with a glow of triumph. Affecting, however, not to notice the impression she had made, the girl seated herself with the stateliness of a queen, desiring that the chest might be looked into, further.
The Deerslayer; or, The First Warpath . . . Volume 1 Page 23