the pathfinder-第14章

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in　which　you　concealed　the　trail　be　true；　the　sweet　one
might　lie　there　a　month　and　laugh　at　the　Mingos。〃

〃We　are　never　certain。　　I　wish　we　had　brought　her
nearer　to　our　own　cover！〃

〃What　for；　Eau…douce？　　To　place　her　pretty　little　head
and　leaping　heart　among　flying　bullets？　　No；　no：　she　is
better　where　she　is；　because　she　is　safer。〃

〃We　are　never　certain。　　We　thought　ourselves　safe　be…
hind　the　bushes；　and　yet　you　saw　that　we　were　discovered。〃

〃And　the　Mingo　imp　paid　for　his　curiosity；　as　these
knaves　are　about　to　do。〃

The；　Pathfinder　ceased　speaking；　for　at　that　instant　the
sharp　report　of　a　rifle　was　heard；　when　the　Indian　in　the
stern　of　the　canoe　leaped　high　into　the　air；　and　fell　into
the　water；　holding　the　paddle　in　his　hand。　　A　small
wreath　of　smoke　floated　out　from　among　the　bushes　of　the
eastern　shore；　and　was　soon　absorbed　by　the　atmosphere。

〃That　is　the　Sarpent　hissing！〃　exclaimed　the　Path…
finder　exultingly。　　〃A　bolder　or　a　truer　heart　never　beat　in
the　breast　of　a　Delaware。　　I　am　sorry　that　he　interfered；
but　he　could　not　have　known　our　condition。〃

The　canoe　had　no　sooner　lost　its　guide　than　it　floated
with　the　stream；　and　was　soon　sucked　into　the　rapids　of　the
rift。　Perfectly　helpless；　the　two　remaining　savages　gazed
wildly　about　them；　but　could　offer　no　resistance　to　the
power　of　the　element。　　It　was　perhaps　fortunate　for
Chingachgook　that　the　attention　of　most　of　the　Iroquois
was　intently　given　to　the　situation　of　those　in　the　boat；
else　would　his　escape　have　been　to　the　last　degree　difficult；
if　not　totally　impracticable。　　But　not　a　foe　moved；　except
to　conceal　his　person　behind　some　cover；　and　every　eye
was　riveted　on　the　two　remaining　adventurers。　　In　less
time　than　has　been　necessary　to　record　these　occurrences；
the　canoe　was　whirling　and　tossing　in　the　rift；　while　both
the　savages　had　stretched　themselves　in　its　bottom；　as　the
only　means　of　preserving　the　equilibrium。　　This　natural
expedient　soon　failed　them；　for；　striking　a　rock；　the　light
draft　rolled　over；　and　the　two　warriors　were　thrown　into
the　river。　　The　water　is　seldom　deep　on　a　rift；　except　in
particular　places　where　it　may　have　worn　channels；　and
there　was　little　to　be　apprehended　from　drowning；　though
their　arms　were　lost；　and　the　two　savages　were　fain　to
make　the　best　of　their　way　to　the　friendly　shore；　swim…
ming　and　wading　as　circumstances　required。　　The　canoe
itself　lodged　on　a　rock　in　the　centre　of　the　stream；　where
for　the　moment　it　became　useless　to　both　parties。

〃Now　is　our　time；　Pathfinder；〃　cried　Jasper；　as　the　two
Iroquois　exposed　most　of　their　persons　while　wading　in
the　shallowest　part　of　the　rapids：　〃the　fellow　up　stream
is　mine；　and　you　can　take　the　lower。〃

So　excited　had　the　young　man　become　by　all　the　inci…
dents　of　the　stirring　scene；　that　the　bullet　sped　from　his
rifle　as　he　spoke；　but　uselessly；　as　it　would　seem；　for　both
the　fugitives　tossed　their　arms　in　disdain。　　The　Path…
finder　did　not　fire。

〃No；　no；　Eau…douce；〃　he　answered；　〃I　do　not　seek
blood　without　a　cause；　and　my　bullet　is　well　leathered
and　carefully　driven　down；　for　the　time　of　need。　　I　love
no　Mingo；　as　is　just；　seeing　how　much　I　have　consorted
with　the　Delawares；　who　are　their　mortal　and　natural
enemies；　but　I　never　pull　trigger　on　one　of　the　miscreants
unless　it　be　plain　that　his　death　will　lead　to　some　good
end。　　The　deer　never　leaped　that　fell　by　my　hand　wan…
tonly。　　By　living　much　alone　with　God　in　the　wilderness
a　man　gets　to　feel　the　justice　of　such　opinions。　　One　life
is　sufficient　for　our　present　wants；　and　there　may　yet　be
occasion　to　use　Killdeer　in　behalf　of　the　Sarpent；　who　has
done　an　untimorsome　thing　to　let　them　rampant　devils　so
plainly　know　that　he　is　in　their　neighborhood。　　As　I'm　a
wicked　sinner；　there　is　one　of　them　prowling　along　the
bank　this　very　moment；　like　one　of　the　boys　of　the　garrison
skulking　behind　a　fallen　tree　to　get　a　shot　at　a　squirrel！〃

As　the　Pathfinder　pointed　with　his　finger　while　speak…
ing；　the　quick　eye　of　Jasper　soon　caught　the　object　towards
which　it　was　directed。　　One　of　the　young　warriors　of　the
enemy；　burning　with　a　desire　to　distinguish　himself；　had
stolen　from　his　party　towards　the　cover　in　which　Chin…
gachgook　had　concealed　himself；　and　as　the　latter　was
deceived　by　the　apparent　apathy　of　his　foes；　as　well　as　en…
gaged　in　some　further　preparations　of　his　own；　he　had
evidently　obtained　a　position　where　he　got　a　sight　of　the
Delaware。　　This　circumstance　was　apparent　by　the　ar…
rangements　the　Iroquois　was　making　to　fire；　for　Chingach…
gook　himself　was　not　visible　from　the　western　side　of　the
river。　　The　rift　was　at　a　bend　in　the　Oswego；　and　the　sweep
of　the　eastern　shore　formed　a　curve　so　wide　that　Chingach…
gook　was　quite　near　to　his　enemies　in　a　straight　direction；
though　separated　by　several　hundred　feet　on　the　land；　ow…
ing　to　which　fact　air　lines　brought　both　parties　nearly
equidistant　from　the　Pathfinder　and　Jasper。　　The　general
width　of　the　river　being　a　little　less　than　two　hundred
yards；　such　necessarily　was　about　the　distance　between　his
two　observers　and　the　skulking　Iroquois。

〃The　Sarpent　must　be　thereabouts；〃　observed　Path…
finder；　who　never　turned　his　eye　for　an　instant　from　the
young　warrior；　〃and　yet　he　must　be　strangely　off　his
guard　to　allow　a　Mingo　devil　to　get　his　stand　so　near；　with
manifest　signs　of　bloodshed　in　his　heart。〃

〃See！〃　interrupted　Jasper　　〃there　is　the　body　of　the
Indian　the　Delaware　shot！　　It　has　drifted　on　a　rock；　and
the　current　has　forced　the　head　and　face　above　the　water。〃

〃Quite　likely；　boy；　quite　likely。　　Human　natur'　is　little
better　than　a　log　of　driftwood；　when　the　life　that　was
breathed　into　its　nostrils　is　departed。　　That　Iroquois　will
never　harm　any　one　more；　but　yonder　skulking　savage　is
bent　on　taking　the　scalp　of　my　best　and　most　tried　friend。〃

The　Pathfinder　suddenly　interrupted　himself　by　raising
his　rifle；　a　weapon　of　unusual　length；　with　admirable　pre…
cision；　and　firing　the　instant　it　had　got　its　level。　　The
Iroquois　on　the　opposite　shore　was　in　the　act　of　aiming
when　the　fatal　messenger　from　Killdeer　arrived。　　His　rifle
was　discharged；　it　is　true；　but　it　was　with　the　muzzle　in
the　air；　while　the　man　himself　plunged　into　the　bushes；
quite　evidently　hurt；　if　not　slain。

〃The　skulking　reptyle　brought　it　on　himself；〃　muttered
Pathfinder　sternly；　as；　dropping　the　butt　of　his　rifle；　he
carefully　commenced　reloading　it。　　〃Chingachgook　and　I
have　consorted　together　since　we　were　boys；　and　have　fi't
in　company　on　the　Horican；　the　Mohawk；　the　Ontario；
and　all　the　other　bloody　passes　between　the　country　of
the　Frenchers　and　our　own；　and　did　the　foolish　knave
believe　that　I　would　stand　by　and　see　my　best　friend　cut
off　in　an　ambushment？〃

〃We　have　served　the　Sarpent　as　good　a　turn　as　he
served　us。　　Those　rascals　are　troubled；　Pathfinder；　and　are
falling　back　into　their　covers；　since　they　find　we　can　reach
them　across　the　river。〃

〃The　shot　is　no　great　matter；　Jasper；　no　great　matter。
Ask　any　of　the　60th；　and　they　can　tell　you　what　Killdeer
can　do；　and　has　done；　and　that；　too；　when　the　bullets　were
flying　about　our　heads　like　hailstones。　　No；　no！　this　is　no
great　matter；　and　the　unthoughtful　vagabond　drew　it　down
on　himself。〃

〃Is　that　a　dog；　or　a　deer；　swimming　towards　this　shore？〃
Pathfinder　started；　for　sure　enough　an　object　was　cross…
ing　the　stream；　above　the　rift；　towards　which；　however；　it
was　gradually　setting　by　the　force　of　the　current。　　A
second　look　satisfied　both　the　observers　that　it　was　a　man；
and　an　Indian；　though　so　concealed　as　at　first　to　render　it
doubtful。　　Some　stratagem　was　apprehended；　and　the
closest　attention　was　given　to　the　movements　of　the
stranger。

〃He　is　pushing　something　before　him　as　he　swims；　and
his　head　resembles　a　drifting　bush；〃　said　Jasper。

〃'Tis　Indian　devilry；　boy；　but　Christian　honesty　shall
circumvent　their　arts。〃

As　the　man　slowly　approached；　the　observers　began　to
doubt　the　accuracy　of　their　first　impressions；　and　it　was
only　when　two…thirds　of　the　stream　were　passed　that　the
truth　was　really　known。

〃The　Big　Sarpent；　as　I　live！〃　exclaimed　Pathfinder；
looking　at　his　companion；　and　laughing　until　the　tears
came　into　his　eyes　with　pure　delight　at　the　success　of　the
artifice。　　〃He　has　tied　bushes　to　his　head；　so　as　to　hide　it；
put　the　horn　on　top；　lashed　the　rifle　to　that　bit　of　log　he
is　pushing　before　him；　and　has　come　over　to　join　his
friends。　　Ah's　me！　　The　times　and　times　that　he　and　I
have　cut　such　pranks；　right　in　the　teeth　of　Mingos　raging
for　our　blood；　in　the　great　thoroughfare　round　and　about
Ty！〃

〃It　may　not　be　the　Serpent　after　all；　Pathfinder；　I　can
see　no　feature　that　I　remember。〃

〃Feature！　　Who　looks　for　features　in　an　Indian？　　No；
no；　boy；　'tis　the　paint　that　speaks；　and　none　but　a　Dela…
ware　would　wear　that　paint：　them　are　his　colors；　Jasper；
just　as　your　craft　on　the　lake　wears　St。　George's　Cross；
and　the　Frenchers　set　their　tablecloths　to　fluttering　in　the
wind；　with　all　the　stains　of　fish…bones　and　venison　steaks
upon　them。　　Now；　you　see　the　eye；　lad；　and　it　is　the　eye
of　a　chief。　　But；　Eau…douce；　fierce　as　it　is　in　battle；　and
glassy　as　it　looks　from　among　the　leaves；〃　　here　the　Path…
finder　laid　his　fingers　lightly　but　impressively　on　his　com…
panion's　arm；　　〃I　have　seen　it　shed　tears　like　rain。　　There
is　a　soul　and　a　heart　under　that　red　skin；　rely　on　it；　al…
though　they　are　a　soul　and　a　heart　with　gifts　different
from　our　own。〃

〃No　one　who　is　acquainted　with　the　chief　ever　doubted
that。〃

〃I　_know_　it；〃　returned　the　other　proudly；　〃for　I　have
consorted　with　him　in　sorrow　and　in　joy：　in　one　I　have
found　him　a　man；　however　stricken；　in　the　other；　a　chief
who　knows　that　the　women　of　his　tribe　are　the　most　seemly
in　light　merriment。　　But　hist！　　It　is　too　much　like　the
people　of　the　settlements　to　pour　soft　speeches　into　an…
other's　ear；　and　the　Sarpent　has　keen　senses。　　He　knows
I　love　him；　and　that　I　speak　well　of　him　behind　his　back；
but　a　Delaware　has　modesty　in　his　inmost　natur'；　though
he　will　brag　like　a　sinner　when　tied　to　a　stake。〃

The　Serpent　now　reached　the　shore；　directly　in　the　front
of　his　two　comrades；　with　whose　precise　position　he　must
have　been　acquainted　before　leaving　the　eastern　side　of
the　river；　and　rising　from　the　water　he　shook　himself　like
a　dog；　and　made　the　usual　exclamation　　〃Hugh！〃



CHAPTER　VI。

These；　as　they　change；　Almighty　Father；　these；
Are　but　the　varied　God。
THOMSON。


As　the　chief　landed　he　was　met　by　the　Pathfinder；　who
addressed　him　in　the　language　of　the　warrior's　people：
〃Was　it　well　done；　Chingachgook；〃　said　he　reproachfully；
〃to　ambush　a　dozen　Mingos　alone？　　Killdeer　seldom　fails
me；　it　is　true；　but　the　Oswego　makes　a　distant　mark；　and
that　miscreant　showed　little　more　than　his　head　and
shoulders　above　the　bushes；　and　an　onpractysed　hand　and
eye　might　have　failed。　　You　should　have　thought　of　this；
chief　　you　should　have　thought　of　this！〃

〃The　Great　Serpent　is　a　Mohican　warrior　　he　sees　only
his　enemies　when　he　is　on　the　war…path；　and　his　fathers
have　struck　the　Mingos　from　behind；　since　the　waters
began　to　run。〃

〃I　kno