Chapter XI.
"The great King of Kings Hath in the table of his law commanded, That thou shalt do no murder. Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand, To hurl upon their heads that break his law."
Richard III, I.iv.i95-97 199-200.
That the party to which Hist compulsorily belonged was not one that wasregularly on the war path, was evident by the presence of females. Itwas a small fragment of a tribe that had been hunting and fishingwithin the English limits, where it was found by the commencement ofhostilities, and, after passing the winter and spring by living on whatwas strictly the property of its enemies, it chose to strike a hostileblow before it finally retired. There was also deep Indian sagacityin the manoeuvre which had led them so far into the territory oftheir foes. When the runner arrived who announced the breaking out ofhostilities between the English and French--a struggle that was certainto carry with it all the tribes that dwelt within the influence of therespective belligerents--this particular party of the Iroquois wereposted on the shores of the Oneida, a lake that lies some fifty milesnearer to their own frontier than that which is the scene of our tale.
To have fled in a direct line for the Canadas would have exposed them tothe dangers of a direct pursuit, and the chiefs had determined to adoptthe expedient of penetrating deeper into a region that had now becomedangerous, in the hope of being able to retire in the rear of theirpursuers, instead of having them on their trail. The presence of thewomen had induced the attempt at this ruse, the strength of thesefeebler members of the party being unequal to the effort of escapingfrom the pursuit of warriors. When the reader remembers the vast extentof the American wilderness, at that early day, he will perceive thatit was possible for even a tribe to remain months undiscovered inparticular portions of it; nor was the danger of encountering a foe, theusual precautions being observed, as great in the woods, as it is on thehigh seas, in a time of active warfare.
The encampment being temporary, it offered to the eye no more than therude protection of a bivouac, relieved in some slight degree by theingenious expedients which suggested themselves to the readiness ofthose who passed their lives amid similar scenes. One fire, that hadbeen kindled against the roots of a living oak, sufficed for the wholeparty; the weather being too mild to require it for any purpose butcooking. Scattered around this centre of attraction, were some fifteenor twenty low huts, or perhaps kennels would be a better word, intowhich their different owners crept at night, and which were alsointended to meet the exigencies of a storm.
These little huts were made of the branches of trees, put together withsome ingenuity, and they were uniformly topped with bark that had beenstripped from fallen trees; of which every virgin forest possesseshundreds, in all stages of decay. Of furniture they had next to none.Cooking utensils of the simplest sort were lying near the fire, a fewarticles of clothing were to be seen in or around the huts, rifles,horns, and pouches leaned against the trees, or were suspended from thelower branches, and the carcasses of two or three deer were stretched toview on the same natural shambles.
As the encampment was in the midst of a dense wood, the eye could nottake in its tout ensemble at a glance, but hut after hut started out ofthe gloomy picture, as one gazed about him in quest of objects. Therewas no centre, unless the fire might be so considered, no open areawhere the possessors of this rude village might congregate, but all wasdark, covert and cunning, like its owners. A few children strayed fromhut to hut, giving the spot a little of the air of domestic life, andthe suppressed laugh and low voices of the women occasionally brokein upon the deep stillness of the sombre forest. As for the men, theyeither ate, slept, or examined their arms. They conversed but little,and then usually apart, or in groups withdrawn from the females, whilstan air of untiring, innate watchfulness and apprehension of dangerseemed to be blended even with their slumbers.
As the two girls came near the encampment, Hetty uttered a slightexclamation, on catching a view of the person of her father. He wasseated on the ground with his back to a tree, and Hurry stood near himindolently whittling a twig. Apparently they were as much at liberty asany others in or about the camp, and one unaccustomed to Indian usageswould have mistaken them for visitors, instead of supposing them tobe captives. Wah-ta-Wah led her new friend quite near them, and thenmodestly withdrew, that her own presence might be no restraint on herfeelings. But Hetty was not sufficiently familiar with caresses oroutward demonstrations of fondness, to indulge in any outbreaking offeeling. She merely approached and stood at her father's side withoutspeaking, resembling a silent statue of filial affection. The old manexpressed neither alarm nor surprise at her sudden appearance. In theseparticulars he had caught the stoicism of the Indians, well knowingthat there was no more certain mode of securing their respect than byimitating their self-command. Nor did the savages themselves betray theleast sign of surprise at this sudden appearance of a stranger amongthem. In a word, this arrival produced much less visible sensation,though occurring under circumstances so peculiar, than would be seen ina village of higher pretensions to civilization did an ordinary travelerdrive up to the door of its principal inn.
Still a few warriors collected, and it was evident by the manner inwhich they glanced at Hetty as they conversed together, that she wasthe subject of their discourse, and probable that the reasons of herunlooked-for appearance were matters of discussion. This phlegm ofmanner is characteristic of the North American Indian--some say of hiswhite successor also--but, in this case much should be attributed to thepeculiar situation in which the party was placed. The force in the Ark,the presence of Chingachgook excepted, was well known, no tribe or bodyof troops was believed to be near, and vigilant eyes were posted roundthe entire lake, watching day and night the slightest movement of thosewhom it would not be exaggerated now to term the besieged.
Hutter was inwardly much moved by the conduct of Hetty, though heaffected so much indifference of manner. He recollected her gentleappeal to him before he left the Ark, and misfortune rendered that ofweight which might have been forgotten amid the triumph of success. Thenhe knew the simple, single-hearted fidelity of his child, and understoodwhy she had come, and the total disregard of self that reigned in allher acts.
"This is not well, Hetty," he said, deprecating the consequences to thegirl herself more than any other evil. "These are fierce Iroquois, andare as little apt to forget an injury, as a favor."
"Tell me, father--" returned the girl, looking furtively about her asif fearful of being overheard, "did God let you do the cruel errandon which you came? I want much to know this, that I may speak to theIndians plainly, if he did not."
"You should not have come hither, Hetty; these brutes will notunderstand your nature or your intentions!"
"How was it, father; neither you nor Hurry seems to have any thing thatlooks like scalps."
"If that will set your mind at peace, child, I can answer you, no. I hadcaught the young creatur' who came here with you, but her screeches soonbrought down upon me a troop of the wild cats, that was too much for anysingle Christian to withstand. If that will do you any good, we are asinnocent of having taken a scalp, this time, as I make no doubt we shallalso be innocent of receiving the bounty."
"Thank God for that, father! Now I can speak boldly to the Iroquois, andwith an easy conscience. I hope Hurry, too, has not been able to harmany of the Indians?"
"Why, as to that matter, Hetty," returned the individual in question,"you've put it pretty much in the natyve character of the religioustruth. Hurry has not been able, and that is the long and short of it.I've seen many squalls, old fellow, both on land and on the water, butnever did I feel one as lively and as snappish as that which come downupon us, night afore last, in the shape of an Indian hurrah-boys! Why,Hetty, you're no great matter at a reason, or an idee that lies a littledeeper than common, but you're human and have some human notions--nowI'll just ask you to look at them circumstances. Here was old Tom, yourfather, and myself, bent on a legal operati
on, as is to be seen in thewords of the law and the proclamation; thinking no harm; when we wereset upon by critturs that were more like a pack of hungry wolves thanmortal savages even, and there they had us tethered like two sheep, inless time than it has taken me to tell you the story."
"You are free now, Hurry," returned Hetty, glancing timidly at the fineunfettered limbs of the young giant--"You have no cords, or withes, topain your arms, or legs, now."
"Not I, Hetty. Natur' is natur', and freedom is natur', too. My limbshave a free look, but that's pretty much the amount of it, sin' I can'tuse them in the way I should like. Even these trees have eyes; ay, andtongues too; for was the old man, here, or I, to start one single rodbeyond our gaol limits, sarvice would be put on the bail afore we could'gird up our loins' for a race, and, like as not, four or five riflebullets would be travelling arter us, carrying so many invitations tocurb our impatience. There isn't a gaol in the colony as tight as thiswe are now in; for I've tried the vartues of two or three on 'em, and Iknow the mater'als they are made of, as well as the men that made 'em;takin' down being the next step in schoolin', to puttin' up, in all suchfabrications."
Lest the reader should get an exaggerated opinion of Hurry's demeritsfrom this boastful and indiscreet revelation, it may be well to say thathis offences were confined to assaults and batteries, for severalof which he had been imprisoned, when, as he has just said, he oftenescaped by demonstrating the flimsiness of the constructions in which hewas confined, by opening for himself doors in spots where the architectshad neglected to place them. But Hetty had no knowledge of gaols, andlittle of the nature of crimes, beyond what her unadulterated and almostinstinctive perceptions of right and wrong taught her, and this sallyof the rude being who had spoken was lost upon her. She understood hisgeneral meaning, however, and answered in reference to that alone.
"It's so best, Hurry," she said. "It is best father and you should bequiet and peaceable, 'till I have spoken to the Iroquois, when all willbe well and happy. I don't wish either of you to follow, but leave me tomyself. As soon as all is settled, and you are at liberty to go back tothe castle, I will come and let you know it."
Hetty spoke with so much simple earnestness, seemed so confident ofsuccess, and wore so high an air of moral feeling and truth, thatboth the listeners felt more disposed to attach an importance to hermediation, than might otherwise have happened. When she manifested anintention to quit them, therefore, they offered no obstacle, though theysaw she was about to join the group of chiefs who were consulting apart,seemingly on the manner and motive of her own sudden appearance.
When Hist--for so we love best to call her--quitted her companion, shestrayed near one or two of the elder warriors, who had shown her mostkindness in her captivity, the principal man of whom had even offered toadopt her as his child if she would consent to become a Huron. In takingthis direction, the shrewd girl did so to invite inquiry. She was toowell trained in the habits of her people to obtrude the opinions of oneof her sex and years on men and warriors, but nature had furnisheda tact and ingenuity that enabled her to attract the attention shedesired, without wounding the pride of those to whom it was her duty todefer and respect. Even her affected indifference stimulated curiosity,and Hetty had hardly reached the side of her father, before the Delawaregirl was brought within the circle of the warriors, by a secret butsignificant gesture. Here she was questioned as to the person of hercompanion, and the motives that had brought her to the camp. Thiswas all that Hist desired. She explained the manner in which she haddetected the weakness of Hetty's reason, rather exaggerating thanlessening the deficiency in her intellect, and then she related ingeneral terms the object of the girl in venturing among her enemies.The effect was all that the speaker expected, her account investing theperson and character of their visitor with a sacredness and respect thatshe well knew would prove her protection. As soon as her own purpose wasattained, Hist withdrew to a distance, where, with female considerationand a sisterly tenderness she set about the preparation of a meal, to beoffered to her new friend as soon as the latter might be at liberty topartake of it. While thus occupied, however, the ready girl in no degreerelaxed in her watchfulness, noting every change of countenance amongthe chiefs, every movement of Hetty's, and the smallest occurrence thatcould be likely to affect her own interests, or that of her new friend.
As Hetty approached the chiefs they opened their little circle, with anease and deference of manner that would have done credit to men of morecourtly origin. A fallen tree lay near, and the oldest of the warriorsmade a quiet sign for the girl to be seated on it, taking his place ather side with the gentleness of a father. The others arranged themselvesaround the two with grave dignity, and then the girl, who had sufficientobservation to perceive that such a course was expected of her, beganto reveal the object of her visit. The moment she opened her mouth tospeak, however, the old chief gave a gentle sign for her to forbear,said a few words to one of his juniors, and then waited in silentpatience until the latter had summoned Hist to the party. Thisinterruption proceeded from the chief's having discovered that thereexisted a necessity for an interpreter, few of the Hurons presentunderstanding the English language, and they but imperfectly.
Wah-ta-Wah was not sorry to be called upon to be present at theinterview, and least of all in the character in which she was nowwanted. She was aware of the hazards she ran in attempting to deceiveone or two of the party, but was none the less resolved to use everymeans that offered, and to practice every artifice that an Indianeducation could supply, to conceal the facts of the vicinity of herbetrothed, and of the errand on which he had come. One unpracticed inthe expedients and opinions of savage life would not have suspected thereadiness of invention, the wariness of action, the high resolution, thenoble impulses, the deep self-devotion, and the feminine disregard ofself when the affections were concerned, that lay concealed beneath thedemure looks, the mild eyes, and the sunny smiles of this young Indianbeauty. As she approached them, the grim old warriors regarded her withpleasure, for they had a secret pride in the hope of engrafting so rarea scion on the stock of their own nation; adoption being as regularlypractised, and as distinctly recognized among the tribes of America,as it ever had been among those nations that submit to the sway of theCivil Law.
As soon as Hist was seated by the side of Hetty, the old chief desiredher to ask "the fair young pale-face" what had brought her among theIroquois, and what they could do to serve her.
"Tell them, Hist, who I am--Thomas Hutter's youngest daughter; ThomasHutter, the oldest of their two prisoners; he who owns the castle andthe Ark, and who has the best right to be thought the owner of thesehills, and that lake, since he has dwelt so long, and trapped so long,and fished so long, among them--They'll know whom you mean by ThomasHutter, if you tell them, that. And then tell them that I've come hereto convince them they ought not to harm father and Hurry, but let themgo in peace, and to treat them as brethren rather than as enemies. Nowtell them all this plainly, Hist, and fear nothing for yourself or me.God will protect us."
Wah-ta-Wah did as the other desired, taking care to render the words ofher friend as literally as possible into the Iroquois tongue, a languageshe used with a readiness almost equal to that with which she spoke herown. The chiefs heard this opening explanation with grave decorum, thetwo who had a little knowledge of English intimating their satisfactionwith the interpreter by furtive but significant glances of the eyes.
"And, now, Hist," continued Hetty, as soon as it was intimated to herthat she might proceed, "and, now, Hist, I wish you to tell these redmen, word for word, what I am about to say. Tell them first, that fatherand Hurry came here with an intention to take as many scalps as theycould, for the wicked governor and the province have offered money forscalps, whether of warriors, or women, men or children, and the love ofgold was too strong for their hearts to withstand it. Tell them this,dear Hist, just as you have heard it from me, word for word."
Wah-ta-Wah hesitated about rendering this speech
as literally as hadbeen desired, but detecting the intelligence of those who understoodEnglish, and apprehending even a greater knowledge than they actuallypossessed she found herself compelled to comply. Contrary to what acivilized man would have expected, the admission of the motives and ofthe errands of their prisoners produced no visible effect on either thecountenances or the feelings of the listeners. They probably consideredthe act meritorious, and that which neither of them would have hesitatedto perform in his own person, he would not be apt to censure in another.
"And, now, Hist," resumed Hetty, as soon as she perceived that her firstspeeches were understood by the chiefs, "you can tell them more. Theyknow that father and Hurry did not succeed, and therefore they can bearthem no grudge for any harm that has been done. If they had slain theirchildren and wives it would not alter the matter, and I'm not certainthat what I am about to tell them would not have more weight had therebeen mischief done. But ask them first, Hist, if they know there is aGod, who reigns over the whole earth, and is ruler and chief of all wholive, let them be red, or white, or what color they may?"
Wah-ta-Wah looked a little surprised at this question, for the idea ofthe Great Spirit is seldom long absent from the mind of an Indian girl.She put the question as literally as possible, however, and received agrave answer in the affirmative.
"This is right," continued Hetty, "and my duty will now be light. ThisGreat Spirit, as you call our God, has caused a book to be written,that we call a Bible, and in this book have been set down all hiscommandments, and his holy will and pleasure, and the rules by which allmen are to live, and directions how to govern the thoughts even, andthe wishes, and the will. Here, this is one of these holy books, andyou must tell the chiefs what I am about to read to them from its sacredpages."
As Hetty concluded, she reverently unrolled a small English Bible fromits envelope of coarse calico, treating the volume with the sort ofexternal respect that a Romanist would be apt to show to a religiousrelic. As she slowly proceeded in her task the grim warriors watchedeach movement with riveted eyes, and when they saw the little volumeappear a slight expression of surprise escaped one or two of them. ButHetty held it out towards them in triumph, as if she expected the sightwould produce a visible miracle, and then, without betraying eithersurprise or mortification at the Stoicism of the Indian, she turnedeagerly to her new friend, in order to renew the discourse.
"This is the sacred volume, Hist," she said--"and these words, andlines, and verses, and chapters, all came from God."
"Why Great Spirit no send book to Injin, too?" demanded Hist, with thedirectness of a mind that was totally unsophisticated.
"Why?" answered Hetty, a little bewildered by a question so unexpected."Why?--Ah! you know the Indians don't know how to read."
If Hist was not satisfied with this explanation, she did not deem thepoint of sufficient importance to be pressed. Simply bending her body,in a gentle admission of the truth of what she heard, she sat patientlyawaiting the further arguments of the pale-face enthusiast.
"You can tell these chiefs that throughout this book, men are ordered toforgive their enemies; to treat them as they would brethren; and neverto injure their fellow creatures, more especially on account of revengeor any evil passions. Do you think you can tell them this, so that theywill understand it, Hist?"
"Tell him well enough, but he no very easy to understand." Hist thenconveyed the ideas of Hetty, in the best manner she could, to theattentive Indians, who heard her words with some such surprise as anAmerican of our own times would be apt to betray at a suggestion thatthe great modern but vacillating ruler of things human, public opinion,might be wrong. One or two of their number, however, having met withmissionaries, said a few words in explanation, and then the group gaveall its attention to the communications that were to follow. BeforeHetty resumed she inquired earnestly of Hist if the chiefs hadunderstood her, and receiving an evasive answer, was fain to besatisfied.
"I will now read to the warriors some of the verses that it is good forthem to know," continued the girl, whose manner grew more solemn andearnest as she proceeded--"and they will remember that they are the verywords of the Great Spirit. First, then, ye are commanded to 'love thyneighbor as Thyself.' Tell them that, dear Hist."
"Neighbor, for Injin, no mean pale-face," answered the Delaware girl,with more decision than she had hitherto thought it necessary to use."Neighbor mean Iroquois for Iroquois, Mohican for Mohican, Pale-face forpale face. No need tell chief any thing else."
"You forget, Hist, these are the words of the Great Spirit, andthe chiefs must obey them as well as others. Here is anothercommandment--'Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to himthe other also.'"
"What that mean?" demanded Hist, with the quickness of lightning.
Hetty explained that it was an order not to resent injuries, but ratherto submit to receive fresh wrongs from the offender.
"And hear this, too, Hist," she added. "'Love your enemies, bless themthat curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them whichdespitefully use you and persecute you.'"
By this time Hetty had become excited; her eye gleamed with theearnestness of her feelings, her cheeks flushed, and her voice, usuallyso low and modulated, became stronger and more impressive. With theBible she had been early made familiar by her mother, and she now turnedfrom passage to passage with surprising rapidity, taking care to cullsuch verses as taught the sublime lessons of Christian charity andChristian forgiveness. To translate half she said, in her piousearnestness, Wah-ta-Wah would have found impracticable, had she made theeffort, but wonder held her tongue tied, equally with the chiefs, andthe young, simple-minded enthusiast had fairly become exhausted withher own efforts, before the other opened her mouth, again, to utter asyllable. Then, indeed, the Delaware girl gave a brief translation ofthe substance of what had been both read and said, confining herself toone or two of the more striking of the verses, those that had struck herown imagination as the most paradoxical, and which certainly would havebeen the most applicable to the case, could the uninstructed minds ofthe listeners embrace the great moral truths they conveyed.
It will be scarcely necessary to tell the reader the effect thatsuch novel duties would be likely to produce among a group of Indianwarriors, with whom it was a species of religious principle never toforget a benefit, or to forgive an injury. Fortunately, the previousexplanations of Hist had prepared the minds of the Hurons for somethingextravagant, and most of that which to them seemed inconsistent andparadoxical, was accounted for by the fact that the speaker possesseda mind that was constituted differently from those of most of thehuman race. Still there were one or two old men who had heard similardoctrines from the missionaries, and these felt a desire to occupy anidle moment by pursuing a subject that they found so curious.
"This is the Good Book of the pale-faces," observed one of thesechiefs, taking the volume from the unresisting hands of Hetty, who gazedanxiously at his face while he turned the leaves, as if she expected towitness some visible results from the circumstance. "This is the law bywhich my white brethren professes to live?"
Hist, to whom this question was addressed, if it might be considered asaddressed to any one, in particular, answered simply in the affirmative;adding that both the French of the Canadas, and the Yengeese of theBritish provinces equally admitted its authority, and affected to revereits principles.
"Tell my young sister," said the Huron, looking directly at Hist, "thatI will open my mouth and say a few words."
"The Iroquois chief go to speak--my pale-face friend listen," said Hist.
"I rejoice to hear it!" exclaimed Hetty. "God has touched his heart, andhe will now let father and Hurry go."
"This is the pale-face law," resumed the chief. "It tells him to do goodto them that hurt him, and when his brother asks him for his rifle togive him the powder horn, too. Such is the pale-face law?"
"Not so--not so--" answered Hetty earnestly, when these words had beeninterpreted--"There
is not a word about rifles in the whole book, andpowder and bullets give offence to the Great Spirit."
"Why then does the pale-face use them? If he is ordered to give doubleto him that asks only for one thing, why does he take double from thepoor Indian who ask for no thing. He comes from beyond the rising sun,with this book in his hand, and he teaches the red man to read it, butwhy does he forget himself all it says? When the Indian gives, he isnever satisfied; and now he offers gold for the scalps of our women andchildren, though he calls us beasts if we take the scalp of a warriorkilled in open war. My name is Rivenoak."
When Hetty had got this formidable question fairly presented to her mindin the translation, and Hist did her duty with more than usualreadiness on this occasion, it scarcely need be said that she was sorelyperplexed. Abler heads than that of this poor girl have frequently beenpuzzled by questions of a similar drift, and it is not surprising thatwith all her own earnestness and sincerity she did not know what answerto make.
"What shall I tell them, Hist," she asked imploringly--"I know that allI have read from the book is true, and yet it wouldn't seem so, wouldit, by the conduct of those to whom the book was given?"
"Give 'em pale-face reason," returned Hist, ironically--"that alwaysgood for one side; though he bad for t'other."
"No--no--Hist, there can't be two sides to truth--and yet it does seemstrange! I'm certain I have read the verses right, and no one would beso wicked as to print the word of God wrong. That can never be, Hist."
"Well, to poor Injin girl, it seem every thing can be to pale-faces,"returned the other, coolly. "One time 'ey say white, and one time 'eysay black. Why never can be?"
Hetty was more and more embarrassed, until overcome with theapprehension that she had failed in her object, and that the lives ofher father and Hurry would be the forfeit of some blunder of her own,she burst into tears. From that moment the manner of Hist lost all itsirony and cool indifference, and she became the fond caressing friendagain. Throwing her arms around the afflicted girl, she attemptedto soothe her sorrows by the scarcely ever failing remedy of femalesympathy.
"Stop cry--no cry--" she said, wiping the tears from the face of Hetty,as she would have performed the same office for a child, and stoppingto press her occasionally to her own warm bosom with the affection ofa sister. "Why you so trouble? You no make he book, if he be wrong, andyou no make he pale-face if he wicked. There wicked red man, and wickedwhite man--no colour all good--no colour all wicked. Chiefs know thatwell enough."
Hetty soon recovered from this sudden burst of grief, and then hermind reverted to the purpose of her visit, with all its single-heartedearnestness. Perceiving that the grim looking chiefs were still standingaround her in grave attention, she hoped that another effort to convincethem of the right might be successful. "Listen, Hist," she said,struggling to suppress her sobs, and to speak distinctly--"Tell thechiefs that it matters not what the wicked do--right is right--The wordsof The Great Spirit are the words of The Great Spirit--and no one can goharmless for doing an evil act, because another has done it before him.'Render good for evil,' says this book, and that is the law for the redman as well as for the white man."
"Never hear such law among Delaware, or among Iroquois--" answeredHist soothingly. "No good to tell chiefs any such laws as dat. Tell 'emsomet'ing they believe."
Hist was about to proceed, notwithstanding, when a tap on the shoulderfrom the finger of the oldest chief caused her to look up. She thenperceived that one of the warriors had left the group, and was alreadyreturning to it with Hutter and Hurry. Understanding that the twolast were to become parties in the inquiry, she became mute, withthe unhesitating obedience of an Indian woman. In a few seconds theprisoners stood face to face with the principal men of the captors.
"Daughter," said the senior chief to the young Delaware, "ask this greybeard why he came into our camp?"
The question was put by Hist, in her own imperfect English, but in away that was easy to be understood. Hutter was too stern and obdurateby nature to shrink from the consequences of any of his acts, and hewas also too familiar with the opinions of the savages not to understandthat nothing was to be gained by equivocation or an unmanly dread oftheir anger. Without hesitating, therefore, he avowed the purposewith which he had landed, merely justifying it by the fact that thegovernment of the province had bid high for scalps. This frank avowalwas received by the Iroquois with evident satisfaction, not so much,however, on account of the advantage it gave them in a moral point ofview, as by its proving that they had captured a man worthy of occupyingtheir thoughts and of becoming a subject of their revenge. Hurry,when interrogated, confessed the truth, though he would have beenmore disposed to concealment than his sterner companion, did thecircumstances very well admit of its adoption. But he had tact enough todiscover that equivocation would be useless, at that moment, and he madea merit of necessity by imitating a frankness, which, in the caseof Hutter, was the offspring of habits of indifference acting ona disposition that was always ruthless, and reckless of personalconsequences.
As soon as the chiefs had received the answers to their questions, theywalked away in silence, like men who deemed the matter disposed of,all Hetty's dogmas being thrown away on beings trained in violence frominfancy to manhood. Hetty and Hist were now left alone with Hutter andHurry, no visible restraint being placed on the movements of either;though all four, in fact, were vigilantly and unceasingly watched. Asrespects the men, care was had to prevent them from getting possessionof any of the rifles that lay scattered about, their own included; andthere all open manifestations of watchfulness ceased. But they, whowere so experienced in Indian practices, knew too well how great was thedistance between appearances and reality, to become the dupes of thisseeming carelessness. Although both thought incessantly of the means ofescape, and this without concert, each was aware of the uselessnessof attempting any project of the sort that was not deeply laid, andpromptly executed. They had been long enough in the encampment, and weresufficiently observant to have ascertained that Hist, also, was a sortof captive, and, presuming on the circumstance, Hutter spoke in herpresence more openly than he might otherwise have thought it prudent todo; inducing Hurry to be equally unguarded by his example.
"I'll not blame you, Hetty, for coming on this errand, which was wellmeant if not very wisely planned," commenced the father, seating himselfby the side of his daughter and taking her hand; a sign of affectionthat this rude being was accustomed to manifest to this particularchild. "But preaching, and the Bible, are not the means to turn anIndian from his ways. Has Deerslayer sent any message; or has he anyscheme by which he thinks to get us free?"
"Ay, that's the substance of it!" put in Hurry. "If you can help us,gal, to half a mile of freedom, or even a good start of a short quarter,I'll answer for the rest. Perhaps the old man may want a little more,but for one of my height and years that will meet all objections."
Hetty looked distressed, turning her eyes from one to the other, but shehad no answer to give to the question of the reckless Hurry.
"Father," she said, "neither Deerslayer nor Judith knew of my cominguntil I had left the Ark. They are afraid the Iroquois will make a raftand try to get off to the hut, and think more of defending that than ofcoming to aid you."
"No--no--no--" said Hist hurriedly, though in a low voice, and with herface bent towards the earth, in order to conceal from those whomshe knew to be watching them the fact of her speaking at all."No--no--no--Deerslayer different man. He no t'ink of defending 'self,with friend in danger. Help one another, and all get to hut."
"This sounds well, old Tom," said Hurry, winking and laughing, though hetoo used the precaution to speak low--"Give me a ready witted squawfor a fri'nd, and though I'll not downright defy an Iroquois, I think Iwould defy the devil."
"No talk loud," said Hist. "Some Iroquois got Yengeese tongue, and allgot Yengeese ear."
"Have we a friend in you, young woman?" enquired Hutter with anincreasing interest in the conferen
ce. "If so, you may calculate on asolid reward, and nothing will be easier than to send you to your owntribe, if we can once fairly get you off with us to the castle. Give usthe Ark and the canoes, and we can command the lake, spite of all thesavages in the Canadas. Nothing but artillery could drive us out of thecastle, if we can get back to it.
"S'pose 'ey come ashore to take scalp?" retorted Hist, with cool irony,at which the girl appeared to be more expert than is common for her sex.
"Ay--ay--that was a mistake; but there is little use in lamentations,and less still, young woman, in flings."
"Father," said Hetty, "Judith thinks of breaking open the big chest,in hopes of finding something in that which may buy your freedom of thesavages."
A dark look came over Hutter at the announcement of this fact, and hemuttered his dissatisfaction in a way to render it intelligible enough.
"What for no break open chest?" put in Hist. "Life sweeter than oldchest--scalp sweeter than old chest. If no tell darter to break himopen, Wah-ta-Wah no help him to run away."
"Ye know not what ye ask--ye are but silly girls, and the wisest way forye both is to speak of what ye understand and to speak of nothing else.I little like this cold neglect of the savages, Hurry; it's a proof thatthey think of something serious, and if we are to do any thing, we mustdo it soon. Can we count on this young woman, think you?"
"Listen--" said Hist quickly, and with an earnestness that proved howmuch her feelings were concerned--"Wah-ta-Wah no Iroquois--All overDelaware--got Delaware heart--Delaware feeling. She prisoner, too. Oneprisoner help t'udder prisoner. No good to talk more, now. Darter staywith fader--Wah-ta-Wah come and see friend--all look right--Then tellwhat he do."
This was said in a low voice, but distinctly, and in a manner to make animpression. As soon as it was uttered the girl arose and left thegroup, walking composedly towards the hut she occupied, as if she had nofurther interest in what might pass between the pale-faces.
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