Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][subsumed]

66

above it in its ceaseless velocity, and every vestige of the unhappy Huron was lost for ever. No shout of triumph succeeded this important advantage, but the Mohicans gazed at each other in silent horror. A single yell burst from the woods, and all was again still. Hawk-eye, who alone appeared to reason on the occasion, shook his head at his own momentary weakness, even uttering his selfTwas the last charge in disapprobation aloud. my horn, and the last bullet in my pouch, and 'twas the act of a boy," he said. "What mattered it whether he struck the rock living or dead? feeling would soon be over. Uncas, lad, go down to the canoe, and bring up the big horn; it is all the powder we have left, and we shall need it to the last grain, or I am ignorant of the Mingo nature."

The young Mohican instantly complied, leaving the scout turning over the useless contents of his pouch, and shaking the empty horn with renewed discontent. From this unsatisfactory examination, however, he was called by a loud and piercing exclamation from Uncas, that sounded, even to the unpractised ears of Duncan, as the signal of some new and unexpected calamity. Every thought filled with apprehension for the precious treasure he had concealed in the cavern, the young man started to his feet, totally regardless of the hazard he incurred by such an exposure. As if actuated by a common impulse, his movement was imitated by his companions, and, together, they rushed down the pass to the friendly chasm, with a rapidity that rendered the scattering fire of their enemies perfectly harmless. The unwonted cry had brought the sisters, together with the wounded David, from their place of refuge, and the whole party, at a single glance, was made acquainted with the nature of the disaster, that had disturbed even the practised stoicism of their youthful Indian protector.

[ocr errors]

At a short distance from the rock, their little bark was to be seen floating across the eddy towards the swift current of the river, in a manner which proved that its course was directed by some hidden agent. The instant this unwelcome sight caught the eye of the scout, his rifle was levelled, as by instinct, but the barrel gave no answer to the bright sparks of the flint. "Tis too late, 'tis too late!" Hawk-eye exclaimed, dropping the useless piece in bitter disappointment; "the miscreant has struck the rapid, and had we powder, it could hardly send the lead swifter than he now goes!" As he ended, the adventurous Huron raised his head above the shelter of the canoe, and while it glided swiftly down the stream, waved his hand, and gave forth the shout which was the known signal of success. His cry was answered by a yell and a laugh from the woods, as tauntingly exulting as if fifty demons were

uttering their blasphemies at the fall of some Christian soul. "Well may you laugh, ye children of the devil!" said the scout, seating himself on a projection of the rock, and suffering his gun to fall neglected at his feet, "for the three quickest and truest rifles in these woods are no better than so many stalks of mullen, or the last year's horn of a buck."

66

What then is to be done?" demanded Duncan, losing the first feeling of disappointment in a more manly desire for exertion; "what will become of us?"

Hawk-eye made no other reply than by passing his finger around the crown of his head, in a manner so significant that none who witnessed the action could mistake his meaning.

"Surely, surely, our case is not so desperate!" exclaimed the youth; "the Hurons are not here; we may make good the caverns; we may oppose their landing."

"With what?" coolly demanded the scout. "The arrows of Uncas, or such tears as women shed? No, no; you are young, and rich, and have friends, and at such an age I know it is hard to die. But," glancing his eyes at the Mohicans, "let us remember we are men without a cross, and let us teach these natives of the forest that white blood can run as freely as red, when the appointed hour is come."

Duncan turned quickly in the direction indicated by the other's eyes, and read a confirmation of his worst apprehensions in the conduct of the Indians. Chingachgook, placing himself in a dignified posture on another fragment of the rock, had already laid aside his knife and tomahawk, and was in the act of taking the eagle's plume from his head, and smoothing the solitary tuft of hair in readiness to perform its last and revolting office. His countenance was composed, though thoughtful, while his dark, gleaming eyes, were gradually losing the fierceness of the combat in an expression better suited to the change he expected momentarily to undergo.

"Our case is not, cannot be so hopeless," said Duncan: "even at this very moment succour may be at hand. I see no enemies; they have sickened of a struggle in which they risk so much with so little prospect of gain."

"It may be a minute, or it may be an hour, afore the wily sarpents steal upon us, and it is quite in natur for them to be lying within hearing at this very moment," said Hawk-eye; "but come they will, and in such a fashion as will leave us nothing to hope. Chingachgook "-he spoke in Delaware-" my brother, we have fought our last battle together, and the Maquas will triumph in the death of the sage man of the Mohicans, and of the pale face, whose eyes can make night as day, and level the clouds to the mists of the springs."

"Let the Mingo women go weep over their slain!" returned the Indian, with his characteristic pride and unmoved firmness; "the great snake of the Mohicans has coiled himself in their wigwams, and has poisoned their triumph with the wailings of children whose fathers have not returned. Eleven warriors lie hid from the graves of their tribe since the snows have melted, and ' none will tell where to find them when the tongue of Chingachgook shall be silent. Let them draw the sharpest knife, and whirl the swiftest tomahawk, for their bitterest enemy is in their hands. Uncas, my boy, topmost branch of a noble trunk, call on the cowards to hasten, or their hearts will soften, and they will change to women."

"They look among the fishes for their dead!" returned the low soft voice of the youthful chieftain; "the Hurons float with the slimy eels! They drop from the oaks like fruit that is ready to be eaten, and the Delawares laugh."

"Ay, ay," muttered the scout, who had listened to this peculiar burst of the natives with deep attention; "they have warmed their Indian feelings, and they'll soon provoke the Maquas to give them a speedy end. As for me, who am of the whole blood of the whites, it is befitting that I should die as becomes my colour, with no words of scoffing in my mouth, and without bitterness at the heart."

"Why die at all?" said Cora, advancing from the place where natural horror had, until this moment, held her riveted to the rock; "the path is open on every side: fly, then, to the woods, and call on God for succour. Go, brave men, we owe you too much already; let us no longer involve you in our hapless fortunes."

"You but little know the craft of the Iroquois, lady, if you judge they have left the path open to the woods!" returned Hawk-eye, who, however, immediately added, in his simplicity, "the downstream current, it is certain, might soon sweep us beyond the reach of their rifles or the sound of their voices."

"Then try the river. Why linger, to add to the namber of the victims of our merciless enemies ?" "Why," repeated the scout, looking about him, proudly, "because it is better for a man to die at peace with himself than to live haunted by an evil conscience. What answer could we give to Munro, when he asked us where and how we left his children ?"

"Go to him, and say that you left them with a message to hasten to their aid," returned Cora, advancing nearer to the scout in her generous ardour; "that the Hurons bear them into the northern wilds, but that by vigilance and speed they may yet be rescued; and if, after all, it should please Heaven that his assistance come too late, bear to him," she continued, the firm tones of her

voice gradually lowering until she seemed nearly choked, "the loves, the blessings, the final prayers of his daughters, and bid him not to mourn their early fate, but to look forward with humble confidence to the Christian's goal to meet his children."

The hard, weather-beaten features of the scout began sensibly to work as he listened, and when she had ended he dropped his chin to his hand, like a man musing profoundly on the nature of her proposal.

"There is reason in her words!" at length broke from his compressed and trembling lips; "ay, and they bear the spirit of Christianity; what might be right and proper in a redskin may be sinful for a man who has not even a cross in blood to plead for his ignorance. Chingachgook! Uncas! hear you the talk of the dark-eyed woman?"

He now spoke in Delaware to his companions, and his address, though calm and deliberate, seemed very decided. The elder Mohican heard him with deep gravity, and appeared to ponder on his words, as though he felt the importance of their meaning. After a moment of hesitation, he waved his hand in assent, and uttered the English word "good," with the peculiar emphasis of his people. Then, replacing his knife and tomahawk in his girdle, the warrior moved silently to the edge of the rock most concealed from the hostile banks of the river. Here he paused a moment, pointed significantly to the woods below, and saying a few words in his own language, as if indicating his intended route, he dropped into the water, and sank from before the eyes of the anxious witnesses of his movements.

The scout delayed his departure to speak to the generous maiden, whose breathing became lighter as she saw the success of her remonstrance.

"Wisdom is sometimes given to the young, as well as the old," he said; "and what you have spoken is wise, not to call it by a better word. If you are led into the woods, that is, such of you as may be spared for a while, break the twigs on the bushes as you pass, and make the marks of your trail as broad as you can, when, if mortal eyes can see them, depend on having a friend who will follow to the ends of the 'arth afore he deserts you."

He gave Cora an affectionate shake of the hand, lifted his rifle, and after regarding it a moment with melancholy solicitude, laid it carefully aside, and descended to the place where Chingachgook had just disappeared. For an instant he hung suspended by the rock; and looking about him, with a countenance of peculiar care, he added, bitterly, "Had the powder held out, this disgrace could never have befallen!" then, loosening his hold, the water closed above his head, and he also became lost to view.

All eyes were now turned on Uncas, who stood

leaning against the ragged rock in immovable composure. After waiting a short time, Cora pointed down the river, and said—

"Your friends, as you perceive, have not been seen, and are now, most probably, in safety; is it not time for you to follow ?"

"Uncas will stay," the young Mohican calmly answered, in his imperfect English.

66

To increase the horror of our capture, and to diminish the chances of our release! Go, generous young man," Cora continued, lowering her eyes under the ardent gaze of the Mohican, and perhaps with an intuitive consciousness of her power; "go to my father, as I have said, and be the most confidential of my messengers. Tell him to trust you with the means to buy the freedom of his daughters. Go: 'tis my wish, 'tis my prayer, that you will go!"

The settled, calm look of the young chief changed to an expression of gloom, but he no longer hesitated. With a noiseless step he crossed the rock, and dropped into the troubled stream. Hardly a breath was drawn by those he left behind, until they caught a glimpse of his head emerging for air, far down the current, when he again sank, and was seen no more.

These sudden and apparently successful experiments had all taken place in a few minutes of that time which had now become so precious. After the last look at Uncas, Cora returned, and, with a quivering lip, addressed herself to Heyward.

"I have heard of your boasted skill in the water, too, Duncan," she said; "follow then the wise example set you by these simple and faithful beings."

"Is such the faith Cora Munro would exact from her protector ?" said the young man, smiling mournfully, but with bitterness.

"This is not a time for idle subtleties and false opinions," she answered, "but a moment when every duty should be equally considered. To us you can be of no further service here, but your precious life may be saved for other and nearer friends."

He made no reply, though his eyes fell wistfully on the beautiful form of Alice, who was clinging to his arm with the dependency of an infant.

[ocr errors]

'Consider, after all," continued Cora, after a pause of a moment, during which she seemed to struggle with a pang even more acute than any that her fears had excited, "the worst to us can be but death; a tribute that all must pay at the good time of God's appointment."

"There are evils even worse than death," said Duncan, speaking hoarsely, and as if fretful at her importunity, "but which the presence of one who would die on your behalf may avert."

Cora instantly ceased her entreaties, and veiling her face in her shawl, drew the nearly insensible Alice after her into the deepest recess of the inner

cavern.

[blocks in formation]

JUST for a handful of silver he left us,
Just for a riband to stick in his coat-
Found the one gift of which fortune bereft us,
Lost all the others she lets us devote;
They, with the gold to give, doled him out silver,
So much was theirs who so little allow'd:
How all our copper had gone for his service!
Rags-were they purple, his heart had been
proud!

We that had loved him so, follow'd him, honour'd him,

Lived in his mild and magnificent eye, Learn'd his great language, caught his clear

[blocks in formation]

Deeds will be done-while he boasts his quies

cence,

Still bidding crouch whom the rest bade aspire: Blot out his name, then record one lost soul

more,

One task more declined, one more footpath

untrod,

One more triumph for devils and sorrow for angels,

One wrong more to man, one more insult to God!

Life's night begins: let him never come back to us!

There would be doubt, hesitation, and pain, Forced praise on our part-the glimmer of twilight,

Never glad confident morning again!

Best fight on well, for we taught him-strike

gallantly,

Menace our heart ere we master his own; Then let him receive the new knowledge and wait

us,

Pardon'd in heaven, the first by the throne!

By kind permission of Messrs. Chapman and Hall.

[blocks in formation]
[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"Then, ay, then he shall kneel low,
With the red-roan steed anear him,
Which shall seem to understand,
Till I answer, 'Rise and go!
For the world must love and fear him
Whom I gift with heart and hand.'
"Then he will arise so pale,
I shall feel my own lips tremble
With a yes I must not say,
Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,'
I will utter, and dissemble-
'Light to-morrow with to-day!'

"Then he'll ride among the hills
To the wide world past the river,
There to put away all wrong;
To make straight distorted wills,
And to empty the broad quiver
Which the wicked bear along.

foot-page

"Three times shall a young
Swim the stream and climb the mountain
And kneel down beside my feet-
'Lo, my master sends this gage,
Lady, for thy pity's counting!
What wilt thou exchange for it?'

"And the first time, I will send
A white rosebud for a guerdon,
And the second time, a glove;
But the third time-I may bend
From my pride, and answer-Pardon,
If he comes to take my love.'

"Then the young foot-page will run,
Then my lover will ride faster,
Till he kneeleth at my knee:
'I am a duke's eldest son,
Thousand serfs do call me master,
But, O Love, I love but thee!'

"He will kiss me on the mouth Then, and lead me as a lover

Through the crowds that praise his deeds:
And, when soul-tied by one troth,

Unto him I will discover

That swan's nest among the reeds."

Little Ellie, with her smile Not yet ended, rose up gaily,

Tied the bonnet, donn'd the shoe, And went homeward, round a mile, Just to see, as she did daily,

What more eggs were with the two.

By kind permission of Messrs. Chapman and Hall

« AnteriorContinua »