the pathfinder-第11章

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The　Mohican　had　followed　the　trail　of　their　enemies
some　distance　towards　the　fort；　until　the　latter　caught　a
sight　of　the　smoke　of　Jasper's　fire；　when　they　instantly
retraced　their　steps。　　It　now　became　necessary　for　Chin…
gachgook；　who　ran　the　greatest　risk　of　detection；　to　find　a
cover　where　he　could　secrete　bimself　until　the　party　might
pass。　　It　was　perhaps　fortunate　for　him　that　the　savages
were　so　intent　on　this　recent　discovery；　that　they　did　not
bestow　the　ordinary　attention　on　the　signs　of　the　forest。
At　all　events；　they　passed　him　swiftly；　fifteen　in　number；
treading　lightly　in　each　other's　footsteps；　and　he　was　en…
abled　again　to　get　into　their　rear。　　After　proceeding　to
the　place　where　the　footsteps　of　Pathfinder　and　the　Mohi…
can　had　joined　the　principal　trail；　the　Iroquois　had　struck
off　to　the　river；　which　they　reached　just　as　Jasper　had　dis…
appeared　behind　the　bend　below。　　The　smoke　being　now
in　plain　view；　the　savages　plunged　into　the　woods　and
endeavored　to　approach　the　fire　unseen。　　Chingachgook
profited　by　this　occasion　to　descend　to　the　water；　and　to
gain　the　bend　in　the　river　also；　which　he　thought　had　been
effected　undiscovered。　　Here　he　paused；　as　has　been　stated；
until　he　saw　his　enemies　at　the　fire；　where　their　stay；　how…
ever；　was　very　short。

Of　the　motives　of　the　Iroquois　the　Mohican　could　judge
only　by　their　acts。　　He　thought　they　had　detected　the
artifice　of　the　fire；　and　were　aware　that　it　had　been　kindled
with　a　view　to　mislead　them；　for；　after　a　hasty　examina…
tion　of　the　spot；　they　had　separated；　some　plunging　again
into　the　woods；　while　six　or　eight　had　followed　the　foot…
steps　of　Jasper　along　the　shore；　and　come　down　the　stream
towards　the　place　where　the　canoes　had　landed。　　What
course　they　might　take　on　reaching　that　spot　was　only　to
be　conjectured；　for　the　Serpent　had　felt　the　emergency
to　be　too　pressing　to　delay　looking　for　his　friends　any
longer。　　From　some　indications　that　were　to　be　gathered
from　their　gestures；　however；　he　thought　it　probable　that
their　enemies　might　follow　down　in　the　margin　of　the
stream；　but　could　not　be　certain。

As　the　Patlifilider　related　these　facts　to　his　companions；
the　professional　feelings　of　the　two　other　white　men　came
uppermost；　and；　both　naturally　reverted　to　their　habits；　in
quest　of　the　means　of　escape。

〃Let　us　run　out　the　canoes　at　once；〃　said　Jasper　eagerly；
〃the　current　is　strong；　and　by　using　the　paddles　vigorously
we　shall　soon　be　beyond　the　reach　of　these　scoundrels！〃

〃And　this　poor　flower；　that　first　blossomed　in　the　clear…
ings　　shall　it　wither　in　the　forest？〃　objected　his　friend；
with　a　poetry　which　he　had　unconsciously　imbibed　by　his
long　association　with　the　Delawares。

〃We　must　all　die　first；〃　answered　the　youth；　a　generous
color　mounting　to　his　temples；　〃Mabel　and　Arrowhead's
wife　may　lie　down　in　the　canoes；　while　we　do　our　duty；
like　men；　on　our　feet。〃

〃Ay；　you　are　active　at　the　paddle　and　the　oar；　Eau…douce；
I　will　allow；　but　an　accursed　Mingo　is　more　active　at　his
mischief；　the　canoes　are　swift；　but　a　rifle　bullet　is　swifter。〃

〃It　is　the　business　of　men；　engaged　as　we　have　been　by
a　confiding　father；　to　run　this　risk　　〃

〃But　it　is　not　their　business　to　overlook　prudence。〃

〃Prudence！　a　man　may　carry　his　prudence　so　far　as　to
forget　his　courage。〃

The　group　was　standing　on　the　narrow　strand；　the　Path…
finder　leaning　on　his　rifle；　the　butt　of　which　rested　on　the
gravelly　beach；　while　both　his　hands　clasped　the　barrel
at　the　height　of　his　own　shoulders。　　As　Jasper　threw　out
this　severe　and　unmerited　imputation；　the　deep　red　of　his
comrade's　face　maintained　its　hue　unchanged；　though　the
young　man　perceived　that　the　fingers　grasped　the　iron　of
the　gun　with　the　tenacity　of　a　vice。　　Here　all　betrayal　of
emotion　ceased。

〃You　are　young　and　hot…headed；〃　returned　Pathfinder；
with　a　dignity　that　impressed　his　listeners　with　a　keen
sense　of　his　moral　superiority；　〃but　my　life　has　been
passed　among　dangers　of　this　sort；　and　my　experience　and
gifts　are　not　to　be　mastered　by　the　impatience　of　a　boy。
As　for　courage；　Jasper；　I　will　not　send　back　an　angry　and
unmeaning　word　to　meet　an　angry　and　an　unmeaning　word；
for　I　know　that　you　are　true　in　your　station　and　according
to　your　knowledge；　but　take　the　advice　of　one　who　faced　the
Mingos　when　you　were　a　child；　and　know　that　their　cun…
ning　is　easier　sarcumvented　by　prudence　than　outwitted　by
foolishness。〃

〃I　ask　your　pardon；　Pathfinder；〃　said　the　repentant
Jasper；　eagerly　grasping　the　hand　that　the　other　permitted
him　to　seize；　〃I　ask　your　pardon；　humbly　and　sincerely。
'Twas　a　foolish；　as　well　as　wicked　thing　to　hint　of　a　man
whose　heart；　in　a　good　cause；　is　known　to　be　as　firm　as　the
rocks　on　the　lake　shore。〃

For　the　first　time　the　color　deepened　on　the　cheek　of
the　Pathfinder；　and　the　solemn　dignity　which　he　had　as…
sumed；　under　a　purely　natural　impulse；　disappeared　in　the
expression　of　the　earnest　simplicity　inherent　in　all　his
feelings。　　He　met　the　grasp　of　his　young　friend　with　a
squeeze　as　cordial　as　if　no　chord　had　jarred　between　them；
and　a　slight　sternness　that　had　gathered　about　his　eye
disappeared　in　a　look　of　natural　kindness。

〃'Tis　well；　Jasper；〃　he　answered；　laughing；　〃I　bear
no　ill…will；　nor　shall　any　one　on　my　behalf。　　My　natur'　is
that　of　a　white　man；　and　that　is　to　bear　no　malice。　　It
might　have　been　ticklish　work　to　have　said　half　as　much
to　the　Sarpent　here；　though　he　is　a　Delaware；　for　color　will
have　its　way　　〃

A　touch　on　his　shoulder　caused　the　speaker　to　cease。
Mabel　was　standing　erect　in　the　canoe；　her　light；　but　swell…
ing　form　bent　forward　in　an　attitude　of　graceful　earnest…
ness；　her　finger　on　her　lips；　her　head　averted；　her　spirited
eyes　riveted　on　an　opening　in　the　bushes；　and　one　arm　ex…
tended　with　a　fishing…rod；　the　end　of　which　had　touched
the　Pathfinder。　　The　latter　bowed　his　head　to　a　level　with
a　look…out　near　which　he　had　intentionally　kept　himself
and　then　whispered　to　Jasper；　

〃The　accursed　Mingos！　　Stand　to　your　arms；　my　men；
but　lay　quiet　as　the　corpses　of　dead　trees！〃

Jasper　advanced　rapidly；　but　noiselessly；　to　the　canoe；
and　with　a　gentle　violence　induced　Mabel　to　place　herself
in　such　an　attitude　as　concealed　her　entire　body；　though
it　would　have　probably　exceeded　his　means　to　induce　the
girl　so　far　to　lower　her　head　that　she　could　not　keep　her
gaze　fastened　on　their　enemies。　　He　then　took　his　own　post
near　her；　with　his　rifle　cocked　and　poised；　in　readiness　to
fire。　　Arrowhead　and　Chingachgook　crawled　to　the　cover；
and　lay　in　wait　like　snakes；　with　their　arms　prepared　for
service；　while　the　wife　of　the　former　bowed　her　head　be…
tween　her　knees；　covered　it　with　her　calico　robe；　and　re…
mained　passive　and　immovable。　　Cap　loosened　both　his
pistols　in　their　belt；　but　seemed　quite　at　a　loss　what
course　to　pursue。　　The　Pathfinder　did　not　stir。　　He　had
originally　got　a　position　where　he　might　aim　with　deadly
effect　through　the　leaves；　and　where　he　could　watch　the
movements　of　his　enemies；　and　he　was　far　too　steady　to
be　disconcerted　at　a　moment　so　critical。

It　was　truly　an　alarming　instant。　　Just　as　Mabel　touched
the　shoulder　of　her　guide；　three　of　the　Iroquois　had　ap…
eared　in　the　water；　at　the　bend　of　the　river；　within　a
hundred　yards　of　the　cover；　and　halted　to　examine　the
stream　below。　　They　were　all　naked　to　the　waist；　armed
for　an　expedition　against　their　foes；　and　in　their　war…
paint。　　It　was　apparent　that　they　were　undecided　as　to　the
course　they　ought　to　pursue　in　order　to　find　the　fugitives。
One　pointed　down　the　river；　a　second　up　the　stream；　and
the　third　towards　the　opposite　bank。　　They　evidently
doubted。



CHAPTER　V

Death　is　here　and　death　is　there；
Death　is　busy　everywhere。
SHELLEY


It　was　a　breathless　moment。　　The　only　clue　the　fugitives
possessed　to　the　intentions　of　their　pursuers　was　in　their
gestures　and　the　indications　which　escaped　them　in　the
fury　of　disappointment。　　That　a　party　had　returned
already；　on　their　own　footsteps；　by　land；　was　pretty　certain；
and　all　the　benefit　expected　from　the　artifice　of　the　fire
was　necessarily　lost。　　But　that　consideration　became　of
little　moment　just　then；　for　the　party　was　menaced　with
an　immediate　discovery　by　those　who　had　kept　on　a　level
with　the　river。　　All　the　facts　presented　themselves　clearly；
and　as　it　might　be　by　intuition；　to　the　mind　of　Pathfinder；
who　perceived　the　necessity　of　immediate　decision　and　of
being　in　readiness　to　act　in　concert。　　Without　making　any
noise；　therefore；　he　managed　to　get　the　two　Indians　and
Jasper　near　him；　when　he　opened　his　communications　in
a　whisper。

〃We　must　be　ready；　we　must　be　ready；〃　he　said。　　〃There
are　but　three　of　the　scalping　devils；　and　we　are　five；　four
of　whom　may　be　set　down　as　manful　warriors　for　such　a
skrimmage。　　Eau…douce；　do　you　take　the　fellow　that　is
painted　like　death；　Chingachgook；　I　give　you　the　chief；
and　Arrowhead　must　keep　his　eye　on　the　young　one。　　There
must　be　no　mistake；　for　two　bullets　in　the　same　body　would
be　sinful　waste；　with　one　like　the　Sergeant's　daughter　in
danger。　　I　shall　hold　myself　in　resarve　against　accident；
lest　a　fourth　reptile　appear；　for　one　of　your　hands　may
prove　unsteady。　　By　no　means　fire　until　I　give　the　word；
we　must　not　let　the　crack　of　the　rifle　be　heard　except　in
the　last　resort；　since　all　the　rest　of　the　miscreants　are　still
within　hearing。　　Jasper；　boy；　in　case　of　any　movement
behind　us　on　the　bank；　I　trust　to　you　to　run　out　the　canoe
with　the　Sergeant's　daughter；　and　to　pull　for　the　garrison；
by　God's　leave。〃

The　Pathfinder　had　no　sooner　given　these　directions
than　the　near　approach　of　their　enemies　rendered　profound
silence　necessary。　　The　Iroquois　in　the　river　were　slowly
descending　the　stream；　keeping　of　necessity　near　the
bushes　which　overhung　the　water；　while　the　rustling　of
leaves　and　the　snapping　of　twigs　soon　gave　fearful　evidence
that　another　party　was　moving　along　the　bank；　at　an
equally　graduated　pace；　and　directly　abreast　of　them。　　In
consequence　of　the　distance　between　the　bushes　planted
by　the　fugitives　and　the　true　shore；　the　two　parties　became
visible　to　each　other　when　opposite　that　precise　point。
Both　stopped；　and　a　conversation　ensued；　that　may　be　said
to　have　passed　directly　over　the　heads　of　those　who　were
concealed。　　Indeed；　nothing　sheltered　the　travellers　but
the　branches　and　leaves　of　plants；　so　pliant　that　they
yielded　to　every　current　of　air；　and　which　a　puff　of　wind　a
little　stronger　than　common　would　have　blown　away。
Fortunately　the　line　of　sight　carried　the　eyes　of　the　two
parties　of　savages；　whether　they　stood　in　the　water　or　on
the　land；　above　the　bushes；　and　the　leaves　appeared　blended
in　a　way　to　excite　no　suspicion。　　Perhaps　the　very　bold…
ness　of　the　expedient　alone　prevented　an　immediate　ex…
posure。　　The　conversation　which　took　place　was　conducted
earnestly；　but　in　guarded　tones；　as　if　those　who　spoke
wished　to　defeat　the　intentions　of　any　listeners。　　It　was　in
a　dialect　that　both　the　Indian　warriors　beneath；　as　well　as
the　Pathfinder；　understood。　　Even　Jasper　comprehended
a　portion　of　what　was　said。

〃The　trail　is　washed　away　by　the　water！〃