The Deerslayer

by James Fenimore Cooper

  Chapter VI.

  "So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair."

  Paradise lost, I. 125-26.

  Shortly after the disappearance of Judith, a light southerly air arose,and Hutter set a large square sail, that had once been the flyingtop-sail of an Albany sloop, but which having become threadbare incatching the breezes of Tappan, had been condemned and sold. He had alight, tough spar of tamarack that he could raise on occasion, and witha little contrivance, his duck was spread to the wind in a sufficientlyprofessional manner. The effect on the ark was such as to supersede thenecessity of rowing; and in about two hours the castle was seen, in thedarkness, rising out of the water, at the distance of a hundred yards.The sail was then lowered, and by slow degrees the scow drifted up tothe building, and was secured.

  No one had visited the house since Hurry and his companion left it. Theplace was found in the quiet of midnight, a sort of type of the solitudeof a wilderness. As an enemy was known to be near, Hutter directed hisdaughters to abstain from the use of lights, luxuries in which theyseldom indulged during the warm months, lest they might prove beacons todirect their foes where they might be found.

  "In open daylight I shouldn't fear a host of savages behind these stoutlogs, and they without any cover to skulk into," added Hutter, when hehad explained to his guests the reasons why he forbade the use of light;"for I've three or four trusty weapons always loaded, and Killdeer, inparticular, is a piece that never misses. But it's a different thing atnight. A canoe might get upon us unseen, in the dark; and the savageshave so many cunning ways of attacking, that I look upon it as badenough to deal with 'em under a bright sun. I built this dwelling inorder to have 'em at arm's length, in case we should ever get toblows again. Some people think it's too open and exposed, but I'm foranchoring out here, clear of underbrush and thickets, as the surestmeans of making a safe berth."

  "You was once a sailor, they tell me, old Tom?" said Hurry, in hisabrupt manner, struck by one or two expressions that the other had justused, "and some people believe you could give us strange accounts ofinimies and shipwrecks, if you'd a mind to come out with all you know?"

  "There are people in this world, Hurry," returned the other, evasively,"who live on other men's thoughts; and some such often find their wayinto the woods. What I've been, or what I've seen in youth, is of lessmatter now than what the savages are. It's of more account to find outwhat will happen in the next twenty-four hours than to talk over whathappened twenty-four years since."

  "That's judgment, Deerslayer; yes, that's sound judgment. Here's Judithand Hetty to take care of, to say nothing of our own top-knots; and, formy part, I can sleep as well in the dark as I could under a noonday sun.To me it's no great matter whether there is light or not, to see to shutmy eyes by."

  As Deerslayer seldom thought it necessary to answer his companion'speculiar vein of humor, and Hutter was evidently indisposed to dwelllonger on the subject, it's discussion ceased with this remark. Thelatter had something more on his mind, however, than recollections. Hisdaughters had no sooner left them, with an expressed intention of goingto bed, than he invited his two companions to follow him again into thescow. Here the old man opened his project, keeping back the portion thathe had reserved for execution by Hurry and himself.

  "The great object for people posted like ourselves is to command thewater," he commenced. "So long as there is no other craft on the lake,a bark canoe is as good as a man-of-war, since the castle will not beeasily taken by swimming. Now, there are but five canoes remaining inthese parts, two of which are mine, and one is Hurry's. These threewe have with us here; one being fastened in the canoe-dock beneath thehouse, and the other two being alongside the scow. The other canoesare housed on the shore, in hollow logs, and the savages, who are suchvenomous enemies, will leave no likely place unexamined in the morning,if they 're serious in s'arch of bounties--"

  "Now, friend Hutter," interrupted Hurry, "the Indian don't live thatcan find a canoe that is suitably wintered. I've done something at thisbusiness before now, and Deerslayer here knows that I am one that canhide a craft in such a way that I can't find it myself."

  "Very true, Hurry," put in the person to whom the appeal had been made,"but you overlook the sarcumstance that if you couldn't see the trail ofthe man who did the job, I could. I'm of Master Hutter's mind, thatit's far wiser to mistrust a savage's ingenuity, than to build any greatexpectations on his want of eye-sight. If these two canoes can be gotoff to the castle, therefore, the sooner it's done the better."

  "Will you be of the party that's to do it?" demanded Hutter, in a way toshow that the proposal both surprised and pleased him.

  "Sartain. I'm ready to enlist in any enterprise that's not ag'in a whiteman's lawful gifts. Natur' orders us to defend our lives, and the livesof others, too, when there's occasion and opportunity. I'll follow you,Floating Tom, into the Mingo camp, on such an arr'nd, and will strive todo my duty, should we come to blows; though, never having been tried inbattle, I don't like to promise more than I may be able to perform. Weall know our wishes, but none know their might till put to the proof."

  "That's modest and suitable, lad," exclaimed Hurry. "You've neveryet heard the crack of an angry rifle; and, let me tell you, 'tis asdifferent from the persuasion of one of your venison speeches, as thelaugh of Judith Hutter, in her best humor, is from the scolding of aDutch house keeper on the Mohawk. I don't expect you'll prove much of awarrior, Deerslayer, though your equal with the bucks and the does don'texist in all these parts. As for the ra'al sarvice, however, you'll turnout rather rearward, according to my consait."

  "We'll see, Hurry, we'll see," returned the other, meekly; so far ashuman eye could discover, not at all disturbed by these expressed doubtsconcerning his conduct on a point on which men are sensitive, preciselyin the degree that they feel the consciousness of demerit; "having neverbeen tried, I'll wait to know, before I form any opinion of myself; andthen there'll be sartainty, instead of bragging. I've heard of themthat was valiant afore the fight, who did little in it; and of them thatwaited to know their own tempers, and found that they weren't as bad assome expected, when put to the proof."

  "At any rate, we know you can use a paddle, young man," said Hutter,"and that's all we shall ask of you to-night. Let us waste no more time,but get into the canoe, and do, in place of talking."

  As Hutter led the way, in the execution of his project, the boat wassoon ready, with Hurry and Deerslayer at the paddles. Before the old manembarked himself, however, he held a conference of several minutes withJudith, entering the house for that purpose; then, returning, he tookhis place in the canoe, which left the side of the ark at the nextinstant.

  Had there been a temple reared to God, in that solitary wilderness, itsclock would have told the hour of midnight as the party set forth ontheir expedition. The darkness had increased, though the night was stillclear, and the light of the stars sufficed for all the purposes of theadventurers. Hutter alone knew the places where the canoes were hid,and he directed the course, while his two athletic companions raisedand dipped their paddles with proper caution, lest the sound should becarried to the ears of their enemies, across that sheet of placid water,in the stillness of deep night. But the bark was too light to requireany extraordinary efforts, and skill supplying the place of strength,in about half an hour they were approaching the shore, at a point near aleague from the castle.

  "Lay on your paddles, men," said Hutter, in a low voice, "and let uslook about us for a moment. We must now be all eyes and ears, for thesevermin have noses like bloodhounds."

  The shores of the lake were examined closely, in order to discover anyglimmering of light that might have been left in a camp; and the menstrained their eyes, in the obscurity, to see if some thread of smokewas not still stealing along the mountainside, as it arose from thedying embers of a fire. Nothing unusual could be traced; and as theposition was at some distance from the outlet, or the spot wher
e thesavages had been met, it was thought safe to land. The paddles wereplied again, and the bows of the canoe ground upon the gravelly beachwith a gentle motion, and a sound barely audible. Hutter and Hurryimmediately landed, the former carrying his own and his friend's rifle,leaving Deerslayer in charge of the canoe. The hollow log lay a littledistance up the side of the mountain, and the old man led the waytowards it, using so much caution as to stop at every third or fourthstep, to listen if any tread betrayed the presence of a foe. The samedeath-like stillness, however, reigned on the midnight scene, and thedesired place was reached without an occurrence to induce alarm.

  "This is it," whispered Hutter, laying a foot on the trunk of a fallenlinden; "hand me the paddles first, and draw the boat out with care, forthe wretches may have left it for a bait, after all."

  "Keep my rifle handy, butt towards me, old fellow," answered March."If they attack me loaded, I shall want to unload the piece at 'em, atleast. And feel if the pan is full."

  "All's right," muttered the other; "move slow, when you get your load,and let me lead the way."

  The canoe was drawn out of the log with the utmost care, raised by Hurryto his shoulder, and the two began to return to the shore, moving buta step at a time, lest they should tumble down the steep declivity. Thedistance was not great, but the descent was extremely difficult; and,towards the end of their little journey, Deerslayer was obliged to landand meet them, in order to aid in lifting the canoe through the bushes.With his assistance the task was successfully accomplished, and thelight craft soon floated by the side of the other canoe. This was nosooner done, than all three turned anxiously towards the forest and themountain, expecting an enemy to break out of the one, or to come rushingdown the other. Still the silence was unbroken, and they all embarkedwith the caution that had been used in coming ashore.

  Hutter now steered broad off towards the centre of the lake. Having gota sufficient distance from the shore, he cast his prize loose, knowingthat it would drift slowly up the lake before the light southerly air,and intending to find it on his return. Thus relieved of his tow, theold man held his way down the lake, steering towards the very pointwhere Hurry had made his fruitless attempt on the life of the deer. Asthe distance from this point to the outlet was less than a mile, itwas like entering an enemy's country; and redoubled caution becamenecessary. They reached the extremity of the point, however, and landedin safety on the little gravelly beach already mentioned. Unlike thelast place at which they had gone ashore, here was no acclivity toascend, the mountains looming up in the darkness quite a quarter of amile farther west, leaving a margin of level ground between them and thestrand. The point itself, though long, and covered with tall trees, wasnearly flat, and for some distance only a few yards in width. Hutter andHurry landed as before, leaving their companion in charge of the boat.

  In this instance, the dead tree that contained the canoe of which theyhad come in quest lay about half-way between the extremity of the narrowslip of land and the place where it joined the main shore; and knowingthat there was water so near him on his left, the old man led the wayalong the eastern side of the belt with some confidence walking boldly,though still with caution. He had landed at the point expressly to geta glimpse into the bay and to make certain that the coast was clear;otherwise he would have come ashore directly abreast of the hollow tree.There was no difficulty in finding the latter, from which the canoewas drawn as before, and instead of carrying it down to the place whereDeerslayer lay, it was launched at the nearest favorable spot. As soonas it was in the water, Hurry entered it, and paddled round to thepoint, whither Hutter also proceeded, following the beach. As thethree men had now in their possession all the boats on the lake, theirconfidence was greatly increased, and there was no longer the samefeverish desire to quit the shore, or the same necessity for extremecaution. Their position on the extremity of the long, narrow bit of landadded to the feeling of security, as it permitted an enemy to approachin only one direction, that in their front, and under circumstances thatwould render discovery, with their habitual vigilance, almost certain.The three now landed together, and stood grouped in consultation on thegravelly point.

  "We've fairly tree'd the scamps," said Hurry, chuckling at theirsuccess; "if they wish to visit the castle, let 'em wade or swim! OldTom, that idee of your'n, in burrowing out in the lake, was high proof,and carries a fine bead. There be men who would think the land saferthan the water; but, after all, reason shows it isn't; the beaver, andrats, and other l'arned creatur's taking to the last when hard pressed.I call our position now, entrenched, and set the Canadas at defiance."

  "Let us paddle along this south shore," said Hutter, "and see if there'sno sign of an encampment; but, first, let me have a better look into thebay, for no one has been far enough round the inner shore of the pointto make suit of that quarter yet."

  As Hutter ceased speaking, all three moved in the direction he hadnamed. Scarce had they fairly opened the bottom of the bay, when ageneral start proved that their eyes had lighted on a common objectat the same instant. It was no more than a dying brand, giving out itsflickering and failing light; but at that hour, and in that place, itwas at once as conspicuous as "a good deed in a naughty world."There was not a shadow of doubt that this fire had been kindled at anencampment of the Indians. The situation, sheltered from observation onall sides but one, and even on that except for a very short distance,proved that more care had been taken to conceal the spot than would beused for ordinary purposes, and Hutter, who knew that a spring wasnear at hand, as well as one of the best fishing-stations on the lake,immediately inferred that this encampment contained the women andchildren of the party.

  "That's not a warrior's encampment," he growled to Hurry; "and there'sbounty enough sleeping round that fire to make a heavy division ofhead-money. Send the lad to the canoes, for there'll come no good of himin such an onset, and let us take the matter in hand at once, like men."

  "There's judgment in your notion, old Tom, and I like it to thebackbone. Deerslayer, do you get into the canoe, lad, and paddle offinto the lake with the spare one, and set it adrift, as we did with theother; after which you can float along shore, as near as you can get tothe head of the bay, keeping outside the point, howsever, and outsidethe rushes, too. You can hear us when we want you; and if there's anydelay, I'll call like a loon--yes, that'll do it--the call of a loonshall be the signal. If you hear rifles, and feel like sogering, why,you may close in, and see if you can make the same hand with the savagesthat you do with the deer."

  "If my wishes could be followed, this matter would not be undertaken,Hurry----"

  "Quite true--nobody denies it, boy; but your wishes can't be followed;and that inds the matter. So just canoe yourself off into the middleof the lake, and by the time you get back there'll be movements in thatcamp!"

  The young man set about complying with great reluctance and a heavyheart. He knew the prejudices of the frontiermen too well, however, toattempt a remonstrance. The latter, indeed, under the circumstances,might prove dangerous, as it would certainly prove useless. He paddledthe canoe, therefore, silently and with the former caution, to a spotnear the centre of the placid sheet of water, and set the boat justrecovered adrift, to float towards the castle, before the lightsoutherly air. This expedient had been adopted, in both cases, underthe certainty that the drift could not carry the light barks more thana league or two, before the return of light, when they might easily beovertaken in order to prevent any wandering savage from using them, byswimming off and getting possession, a possible but scarcely a probableevent, all the paddles were retained.

  No sooner had he set the recovered canoe adrift, than Deerslayerturned the bows of his own towards the point on the shore that had beenindicated by Hurry. So light was the movement of the little craft,and so steady the sweep of its master's arm, that ten minutes had notelapsed ere it was again approaching the land, having, in that brieftime, passed over fully half a mile of distance. As soon as Deerslayer'seye caught a glimpse
of the rushes, of which there were many growing inthe water a hundred feet from the shore, he arrested the motion ofthe canoe, and anchored his boat by holding fast to the delicatebut tenacious stem of one of the drooping plants. Here he remained,awaiting, with an intensity of suspense that can be easily imagined, theresult of the hazardous enterprise.

  It would be difficult to convey to the minds of those who have neverwitnessed it, the sublimity that characterizes the silence of a solitudeas deep as that which now reigned over the Glimmerglass. In the presentinstance, this sublimity was increased by the gloom of night, whichthrew its shadowy and fantastic forms around the lake, the forest,and the hills. It is not easy, indeed, to conceive of any place morefavorable to heighten these natural impressions, than that Deerslayernow occupied. The size of the lake brought all within the reach of humansenses, while it displayed so much of the imposing scene at a singleview, giving up, as it might be, at a glance, a sufficiency to producethe deepest impressions. As has been said, this was the first lakeDeerslayer had ever seen. Hitherto, his experience had been limited tothe courses of rivers and smaller streams, and never before had he seenso much of that wilderness, which he so well loved, spread beforehis gaze. Accustomed to the forest, however, his mind was capableof portraying all its hidden mysteries, as he looked upon its leafysurface. This was also the first time he had been on a trail where humanlives depended on the issue. His ears had often drunk in the traditionsof frontier warfare, but he had never yet been confronted with an enemy.

  The reader will readily understand, therefore, how intense must havebeen the expectation of the young man, as he sat in his solitary canoe,endeavoring to catch the smallest sound that might denote the course ofthings on shore. His training had been perfect, so far as theory couldgo, and his self-possession, notwithstanding the high excitement, thatwas the fruit of novelty, would have done credit to a veteran. Thevisible evidences of the existence of the camp, or of the fire could notbe detected from the spot where the canoe lay, and he was compelled todepend on the sense of hearing alone. He did not feel impatient, forthe lessons he had heard taught him the virtue of patience, and, mostof all, inculcated the necessity of wariness in conducting any covertassault on the Indians. Once he thought he heard the cracking of adried twig, but expectation was so intense it might mislead him. In thismanner minute after minute passed, until the whole time since he lefthis companions was extended to quite an hour. Deerslayer knew notwhether to rejoice in or to mourn over this cautious delay, for, ifit augured security to his associates, it foretold destruction to thefeeble and innocent.

  It might have been an hour and a half after his companions and he hadparted, when Deerslayer was aroused by a sound that filled him equallywith concern and surprise. The quavering call of a loon arose fromthe opposite side of the lake, evidently at no great distance fromits outlet. There was no mistaking the note of this bird, which isso familiar to all who know the sounds of the American lakes. Shrill,tremulous, loud, and sufficiently prolonged, it seems the very cry ofwarning. It is often raised, also, at night, an exception to the habitsof most of the other feathered inmates of the wilderness; a circumstancewhich had induced Hurry to select it as his own signal. There had beensufficient time, certainly, for the two adventurers to make their way byland from the point where they had been left to that whence the call hadcome, but it was not probable that they would adopt such a course. Hadthe camp been deserted they would have summoned Deerslayer to the shore,and, did it prove to be peopled, there could be no sufficient motivefor circling it, in order to re-embark at so great a distance. Should heobey the signal, and be drawn away from the landing, the lives of thosewho depended on him might be the forfeit--and, should he neglect thecall, on the supposition that it had been really made, the consequencesmight be equally disastrous, though from a different cause. In thisindecision he waited, trusting that the call, whether feigned ornatural, would be speedily renewed. Nor was he mistaken. A very fewminutes elapsed before the same shrill warning cry was repeated, andfrom the same part of the lake. This time, being on the alert, hissenses were not deceived. Although he had often heard admirableimitations of this bird, and was no mean adept himself in raising itsnotes, he felt satisfied that Hurry, to whose efforts in that way hehad attended, could never so completely and closely follow nature. Hedetermined, therefore, to disregard that cry, and to wait for one lessperfect and nearer at hand.

  Deerslayer had hardly come to this determination, when the profoundstillness of night and solitude was broken by a cry so startling, as todrive all recollection of the more melancholy call of the loon from thelistener's mind. It was a shriek of agony, that came either from oneof the female sex, or from a boy so young as not yet to have attained amanly voice. This appeal could not be mistaken. Heart rending terror--ifnot writhing agony--was in the sounds, and the anguish that had awakenedthem was as sudden as it was fearful. The young man released his holdof the rush, and dashed his paddle into the water; to do, he knewnot what--to steer, he knew not whither. A very few moments, however,removed his indecision. The breaking of branches, the cracking ofdried sticks, and the fall of feet were distinctly audible; thesounds appearing to approach the water though in a direction that leddiagonally towards the shore, and a little farther north than the spotthat Deerslayer had been ordered to keep near. Following this clue,the young man urged the canoe ahead, paying but little attention to themanner in which he might betray its presence. He had reached a part ofthe shore, where its immediate bank was tolerably high and quite steep.Men were evidently threshing through the bushes and trees on the summitof this bank, following the line of the shore, as if those who fledsought a favorable place for descending. Just at this instant five orsix rifles flashed, and the opposite hills gave back, as usual, thesharp reports in prolonged rolling echoes. One or two shrieks, likethose which escape the bravest when suddenly overcome by unexpectedanguish and alarm, followed; and then the threshing among the bushes wasrenewed, in a way to show that man was grappling with man.

  "Slippery devil!" shouted Hurry with the fury of disappointment--"hisskin's greased! I sha'n't grapple! Take that for your cunning!"

  The words were followed by the fall of some heavy object among thesmaller trees that fringed the bank, appearing to Deerslayer as if hisgigantic associate had hurled an enemy from him in this unceremoniousmanner. Again the flight and pursuit were renewed, and then the youngman saw a human form break down the hill, and rush several yards intothe water. At this critical moment the canoe was just near enough to thespot to allow this movement, which was accompanied by no little noise,to be seen, and feeling that there he must take in his companion, ifanywhere, Deerslayer urged the canoe forward to the rescue. His paddlehad not been raised twice, when the voice of Hurry was heard fillingthe air with imprecations, and he rolled on the narrow beach, literallyloaded down with enemies. While prostrate, and almost smothered withhis foes, the athletic frontierman gave his loon-call, in a mannerthat would have excited laughter under circumstances less terrific. Thefigure in the water seemed suddenly to repent his own flight, andrushed to the shore to aid his companion, but was met and immediatelyoverpowered by half a dozen fresh pursuers, who, just then, came leapingdown the bank.

  "Let up, you painted riptyles--let up!" cried Hurry, too hard pressed tobe particular about the terms he used; "isn't it enough that I am withedlike a saw-log that ye must choke too!"

  This speech satisfied Deerslayer that his friends were prisoners,and that to land would be to share their fate. He was already within ahundred feet of the shore, when a few timely strokes of the paddle notonly arrested his advance, but forced him off to six or eight timesthat distance from his enemies. Luckily for him, all of the Indians haddropped their rifles in the pursuit, or this retreat might not have beeneffected with impunity; though no one had noted the canoe in the firstconfusion of the melee.

  "Keep off the land, lad," called out Hutter; "the girls depend only onyou, now; you will want all your caution to escape these savages. Keepoff, and God
prosper you, as you aid my children!"

  There was little sympathy in general between Hutter and the young man,but the bodily and mental anguish with which this appeal was made servedat the moment to conceal from the latter the former's faults. He sawonly the father in his sufferings, and resolved at once to give a pledgeof fidelity to its interests, and to be faithful to his word.

  "Put your heart at ease, Master Hutter," he called out; "the gals shallbe looked to, as well as the castle. The inimy has got the shore, 'tisno use to deny, but he hasn't got the water. Providence has the chargeof all, and no one can say what will come of it; but, if good-will cansarve you and your'n, depend on that much. My exper'ence is small, butmy will is good."

  "Ay, ay, Deerslayer," returned Hurry, in this stentorian voice,which was losing some of its heartiness, notwithstanding,--"Ay, ay,Deerslayer. You mean well enough, but what can you do? You're no greatmatter in the best of times, and such a person is not likely to turnout a miracle in the worst. If there's one savage on this lake shore,there's forty, and that's an army you ar'n't the man to overcome. Thebest way, in my judgment, will be to make a straight course to thecastle; get the gals into the canoe, with a few eatables; then strikeoff for the corner of the lake where we came in, and take the best trailfor the Mohawk. These devils won't know where to look for you for somehours, and if they did, and went off hot in the pursuit, they mustturn either the foot or the head of the lake to get at you. That's myjudgment in the matter; and if old Tom here wishes to make his last willand testament in a manner favorable to his darters, he'll say the same."

  "'Twill never do, young man," rejoined Hutter. "The enemy has scouts outat this moment, looking for canoes, and you'll be seen and taken. Trustto the castle; and above all things, keep clear of the land. Hold out aweek, and parties from the garrisons will drive the savages off."

  "'Twon't be four-and-twenty hours, old fellow, afore these foxes will berafting off to storm your castle," interrupted Hurry, with more of theheat of argument than might be expected from a man who was bound and acaptive, and about whom nothing could be called free but his opinionsand his tongue. "Your advice has a stout sound, but it will have a fataltarmination. If you or I was in the house, we might hold out a few days,but remember that this lad has never seen an inimy afore to-night, and iswhat you yourself called settlement-conscienced; though for my part, Ithink the consciences in the settlements pretty much the same as theyare out here in the woods. These savages are making signs, Deerslayer,for me to encourage you to come ashore with the canoe; but that I'llnever do, as it's ag'in reason and natur'. As for old Tom and myself,whether they'll scalp us to-night, keep us for the torture by fire,or carry us to Canada, is more than any one knows but the devil thatadvises them how to act. I've such a big and bushy head that it's quitelikely they'll indivor to get two scalps off it, for the bounty is atempting thing, or old Tom and I wouldn't be in this scrape. Ay--therethey go with their signs ag'in, but if I advise you to land may they eatme as well as roast me. No, no, Deerslayer--do you keep off where youare, and after daylight, on no account come within two hundred yards--"

  This injunction of Hurry's was stopped by a hand being rudely slappedagainst his mouth, the certain sign that some one in the partysufficiently understood English to have at length detected the drift ofhis discourse. Immediately after, the whole group entered the forest,Hutter and Hurry apparently making no resistance to the movement. Justas the sounds of the cracking bushes were ceasing, however, the voice ofthe father was again heard.

  "As you're true to my children, God prosper you, young man!" were thewords that reached Deerslayer's ears; after which he found himself leftto follow the dictates of his own discretion.

  Several minutes elapsed, in death-like stillness, when the party on theshore had disappeared in the woods. Owing to the distance--rather morethan two hundred yards--and the obscurity, Deerslayer had been ablebarely to distinguish the group, and to see it retiring; but even thisdim connection with human forms gave an animation to the scene that wasstrongly in contrast to the absolute solitude that remained. Althoughthe young man leaned forward to listen, holding his breath andcondensing every faculty in the single sense of hearing, not anothersound reached his ears to denote the vicinity of human beings. It seemedas if a silence that had never been broken reigned on the spot again;and, for an instant, even that piercing shriek, which had so latelybroken the stillness of the forest, or the execrations of March, wouldhave been a relief to the feeling of desertion to which it gave rise.

  This paralysis of mind and body, however, could not last long in oneconstituted mentally and physically like Deerslayer. Dropping his paddleinto the water, he turned the head of the canoe, and proceeded slowly,as one walks who thinks intently, towards the centre of the lake. Whenhe believed himself to have reached a point in a line with that wherehe had set the last canoe adrift, he changed his direction northward,keeping the light air as nearly on his back as possible. After paddlinga quarter of a mile in this direction, a dark object became visibleon the lake, a little to the right; and turning on one side for thepurpose, he had soon secured his lost prize to his own boat. Deerslayernow examined the heavens, the course of the air, and the position of thetwo canoes. Finding nothing in either to induce a change of plan, he laydown, and prepared to catch a few hours' sleep, that the morrow mightfind him equal to its exigencies.

  Although the hardy and the tired sleep profoundly, even in scenes ofdanger, it was some time before Deerslayer lost his recollection. Hismind dwelt on what had passed, and his half-conscious faculties keptfiguring the events of the night, in a sort of waking dream. Suddenlyhe was up and alert, for he fancied he heard the preconcerted signal ofHurry summoning him to the shore. But all was still as the grave again.The canoes were slowly drifting northward, the thoughtful stars wereglimmering in their mild glory over his head, and the forest-bound sheetof water lay embedded between its mountains, as calm and melancholy asif never troubled by the winds, or brightened by a noonday sun. Oncemore the loon raised his tremulous cry, near the foot of the lake, andthe mystery of the alarm was explained. Deerslayer adjusted his hardpillow, stretched his form in the bottom of the canoe, and slept.