-"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 was
regularly on the war path, was evident by the presence of females. It was a
small fragment of a tribe that had been hunting and fishing within the
English limits, where it was found by the commencement of hostilities, and,
after passing the winter and spring by living on what was strictly the
property of its enemies, it chose to strike a hostile blow before it finally
retired. There was also deep Indian sagacity in the manoeuvre which had led
them so far into the territory of their foes. When the runner arrived who
announced the breaking out of hostilities between the English and French-a
struggle that was certain to carry with it all the tribes that dwelt within
the influence of the respective belligerents - this particular party of the
Iroquois were posted on the shores of the Oneida, a lake that lies some fifty
miles nearer to their own frontier than that which is the scene of our tale.
To have fled in a direct line for the Ganadas would have exposed them to the
dangers of a direct pursuit, and the chiefs had determined to adopt the
expedient of penetrating deeper into a region that had now become dangerous,
in the hope of being able to retire in the rear of their pursuers, instead of
having them on their trail. The presence of the women had induced the attempt
at this ruse, the strength of these feebler members of the party being
unequal to the effort of escaping from the pursuit of warriors. When the
reader remembers the vast extent of the American wilderness, at that early
day, he will perceive that it was possible for even a tribe to remain months
undiscovered in particular portions of it; nor was the danger of
encountering a foe, the usual precautions being observed, as great in the
woods, as it is on the high seas, in a time of active warfare.
The encampment being temporary, it offered to the eye no more than the rude
protection of a bivouac, relieved in some slight degree by the ingenious
expedients which suggested themselves to the readiness of those who passed
their lives amid similar scenes. One fire, that had been kindled against the
roots of a living oak, sufficed for the whole party; the weather being too
mild to require it for any purpose but cooking. Scattered around this centre
of attraction, were some fifteen or twenty low huts, or perhaps kennels
would be a better word, into which their different owners crept at night, and
which were also intended to meet the exigencies of a storm.
These little huts were made of the branches of trees, put together with some
ingenuity, and they were uniformly topped with bark that had been stripped
from fallen trees; of whichevery virgin forest possesses hundreds, in all
stages of decay. Of furniture they had next to none. Cooking utensils of the
simplest sort were lying near the fire, a few articles of clothing were to be
seen in, or around the huts, rifles, horns, and pouches leaned against the
trees, or were suspended from the lower branches, and the carcases of two or
three deer were stretched to view on the same natural shambles.
As the encampment was in the midst of a dense wood, the eye could not take in
its tout ensemble at a glance, but hut after hut started out of the gloomy
picture, as one gazed about him in quest of objects. There was no centre,
unless the fire might be so considered, no open area where the possessors of
this rude village might congregate, but all was dark, covert and cunning,
like its owners. A few children strayed, from hut to hut, giving the spot a
little of the air of domestic life, and the suppressed laugh, and low voices
of the women occasionally broke in upon the deep stillness of the sombre
forest. As for themen, they either ate, slept, or examined their arms. They
conversed but little, and then usually apart, or in groups withdrawn from
the females, whilst an air of untiring, innate, watchfulness and apprehension
of danger seemed to be blended even with their slumbers.
As the two girls came near the encampment, Hetty uttered a slight
exclamation, on catching a view of the person of her father. He was seated on
the ground, with his back to a tree, and Hurry stood near him, indolently
whittling a twig. Apparently they were as much at liberty as any others in,
or about the camp, and one unaccustomed to Indian usages would have mistaken
them for visiters, instead of supposing them to be captives. Wah-ta!-Wah led
her new friend quite near them, and then modestly withdrew, that her own
presence might be no restraint on her feelings. But Hetty was not
sufficiently familiar with caresses, or outward demonstrations of fondness,
to indulge in any outbreaking of feeling. She merely approached and stood at
her father's side without speaking, resembling a silent statue of filial
affection. The old man expressed neither alarm, nor surprise, at her sudden
appearance. In these particulars, he had caught the stoicism of the Indians,
well knowing that there was no more certain mode of securing their respect
than by imitating their self-command. Nor did the savages themselves betray
the least sign of surprise at this sudden appearance of a stranger among
them. In a word, this arrival produced much less visible sensation, though
occurring under circumstances so peculiar, than would be seen in a village of
higher pretensions to civilization, did an ordinary traveller drive up to the
door of its principal inn. Still a few warriors collected, and it was evident
by the manner in which they glanced at Hetty as they conversed together, that
she was the subject of their discourse, and probable that the reasons of her
unlooked-for appearance were matters of discussion. This phlegm of manner is
characteristic of the North American Indian - some say of his white successor
also - but, in this case much should be attributed to the peculiar situation
in which the party was placed. The force in the Ark, the presence of
Ghingachgook excepted, was well known, no tribe or body of troops was
believed to be near, and vigilant eyes were posted round the entire lake,
watching, day and night, the slightest movement of those whom it would not be
exaggerated now to term the besieged.
Hutter was inwardly much moved by the conduct of Hetty, though he affected so
much indifference of manner. He recollected her gentle appeal to him, before
he left the Ark, and misfortune rendered that of weight, which might have
been forgotten amid the triumph of success. Then he knew thesimple, single-
hearted fidelity of his child, and understood why she had come, and the total
disregard of self that reigned in all her acts.
"This is not well, Hetty," he said, deprecating the consequences to the girl
herself, more than any other evil. "These are fierce Iroquois, and are as
little apt to forget an injury, as a favor."
"Tell me, father-" returned the girl, looking furtively about her, as if
fearful of being overheard, "did God let you do the cruel errand on which you
came? I want much to know this, that I may speak to the Indians plainly, if
he did not."
"You should not have come hither, Hetty; these brutes will not understand
your nature, or your intentions!"
"How was it, father; neither you, nor Hurry, seems to have any thing that
looks like scalps."
"If that will set your mind at peace, child, I can answer you, no. I had
caught the young creatur' who came here with you, but her screeches soon
brought down upon me a troop of the wild cats, that was too much for any
single christian to withstand. If that will do you any good, we are as
innocent of having taken a scalp, this time, as I make no doubt we shall
also be innocent of receiving the bounty."
"Thank god for that, father! Now I can speak boldly to the Iroquois, and with
an easy conscience. I hope Hurry, too, has not been able to harm any 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 religious truth. 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, but never did I feel one as lively
and as snappish as that which come down upon 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 little deeper than common, but you're human,
and have some human notions -now, I'll just ask you to look at them
circumstances. Here was old Tom, your father, and myself, bent on a legal
operation, as is to be seen in the words of the law and the proclomation;
thinking no harm; when we were set upon by critturs that were more like a
pack of hungry wolves, than mortal savages even,and there they had us
tethered like two sheep, in less time than it has taken me to tell you the
story."
"You are free, now, Hurry," returned Hetty, glancing timidly at the fine
unfettered limbs of the young giant-"You have no cords, or withes, to pain
your arms, or legs, now.
"Not I, Hetty. Natur' is natur', and freedom is natur', too. My limbs have a
free look, but that's pretty much the amount of it, sin' I can't use them in
the way I should like. Even these trees have eyes; ay, and tongues too; for
was the old man, here, or I, to start one single rod beyond 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 rifle bullets would be travelling arter
us, carrying so many invitations to curb our impatience. There is'n't a gaol
in the colony as tight as this, we are now in; for I've tried the vartues of
two or three on 'em, and I know 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 such fabrications."
Lest the reader should get an exaggerated opinion of Hurry's demerits, from
this boastful and indiscreet revelation, it may be well to say that his
offences were confined to assaults and batteries, for several of which he had
been imprisoned, when, as he has just said, he often escaped by demonstrating
the flimsiness of the constructions in which he was confined, by opening for
himself doors, in spots where the architects had neglected to place them. But
Hetty had no knowledge of gaols, and little of the nature of crimes, beyond
what her unadulterated and almost instinctive perceptions of right and wrong
taught her, and this sally of the rude being who had spoken, was lost upon
her. She understood his general meaning, however, and answered in reference
to that alone.
"It's so best, Hurry," she said. "It is best father and you should be quiet
and peaceable, 'till I have spoken to the Iroquois, when all will be well
and happy. I do'n't wish either of you to follow, but leave me to myself. As
soon as all is settled, and you are at liberty to go back to the castle, I
will come and let you know it."
Hetty spoke with so much simple earnestness, seemed so confident of success,
and wore so high an air of moral feelingand truth, that both the listeners
felt more disposed to attach an importance to her mediation, than might
otherwise have happened. When she manifested an intention to quit them,
therefore, they offered no obstacle, though they saw 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, she strayed
near one or two of the elder warriors, who had shown her most kindness in her
captivity, the principal man of whom, had even offered to adopt her as his
child, if she would consent to become a Huron. In taking this direction, the
shrewd girl did so to invite inquiry. She was too well trained in the habits
of her people, to obtrude the opinions of one of her sex and years on men and
warriors, but nature had furnished a tact and ingenuity that enabled her to
attract the attention she desired, without wounding the pride of those to
whom it was her duty to defer, and respect. Even her affected indifference
stimulated curiosity, and Hetty had hardly reached the side of her father,
before the Delaware girl was brought within the circle of the warriors, by a
secret but significant gesture. Here she was questioned as to the person of
her companion, and the motives that had brought her to the camp. This was
all that Hist desired. She explained the manner in which she had detected the
weakness of Hetty's reason, rather exaggerating than lessening the deficiency
in her intellect, and then she related, in general terms, the object of the
girl in venturing among her enemies. The effect was all that the speaker
expected, her account investing the person and character of their visiter
with a sacredness and respect, that she well knew would prove her protection.
As soon as her own purpose was attained, Hist withdrew to a distance, where,
with female consideration, and a sisterly tenderness she set about the
preparation of a meal, to be offered to her new friend, as soon as the
latter might be at liberty to partake of it. While thus occupied, however,
the ready girl in no degree relaxed in her watchfulness, noting every change
of countenance among the chiefs, every movement of Hetty's, and the smallest
occurrence that could be likely to affect her own interests, or that of her
new friend.
As Hetty approached the chiefs, they opened their little circle, with an
ease and deference of manner, that would have done credit to men of more
courtly origin. A fallen tree lay near, and the oldest of the warriors made a
quiet sign for the girl to be seated on it, taking his place at her side,
with the gentleness of a father. The others arranged themselves around the
two, with grave dignity, and then the girl, who had sufficient observation
to perceive that such a course was expected of her, began to reveal the
object of her visit. The moment she opened her mouth to speak, 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 silent patience until the latter had summoned
Hist to the party. This interruption proceeded from the chief's having
discovered that there existed a necessity for an interpreter, few of the
Hurons present understanding the English language, and they but imperfectly.
Wah-ta!-Wah was not sorry to be called upon to be present at the interview,
and least of all in the character in which she was now wanted. She was aware
of the hazards she run in attempting to deceive one or two of the party, but
was none the less resolved to use every means that offered, and to practice
every artifice that an Indian education could supply, to conceal the facts
of the vicinity of her betrothed, and of the errand on which he had come. One
unpractised in the expedients and opinions of savage life, would not have
suspected the readiness of invention, the wariness of action, the high
resolution, the noble impulses, the deep self-devotion, and the feminine
disregard of self when the affections were concerned, that lay concealed
beneath the demure looks, the mild eyes, and the sunny smiles of this young
Indian beauty. As she approached them, the grim old warriors regarded her
with pleasure, for they had a secret pride in the hope of engrafting so rare
a scion on the stock of their own nation; adoption being as regularly
practised, and as distinctly recognized among the tribes of America, as it
ever had been among those nations that submit to the sway of the Civil Law.
As soon as Hist was seated by the side of Hetty, the old chief desired her to
ask "the fair young pale-face" what had brought her among the Iroquois, and
what they could do to serve her.
"Tell them, Hist, who I am-Thomas Hutter's youngest daughter; Thomas Hutter,
the oldest of their two prisoners; he who owns the castle and the Ark, and
who has the best right to be thought the owner of these hills, 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 Thomas Hutter, if you tell them, that.
And then tell them that I've come here to convince them they ought not to
harm father, and Hurry, but let them go, in peace, and to treat them as
brethren, rather than as enemies. Now tell 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 of her
friend as literally as possible into the Iroquois tongue, a language she used
with a readiness almost equal to that with which she spoke her own. The
chiefs heard this opening explanation, with grave decorum, the two who had a
little knowledge of English, intimating their satisfaction with the
interpreter, by furtive but significant glances of the eyes.
"And, now, Hist," continued Hetty, as soon as it was intimated to her that
she might proceed, "and, now, Hist, I wish you to tell these red men, word
for word, what I am about to say. Tell them first, that father and Hurry came
here with an intention to take as many scalps as they could, for the wicked
governor and the province have offered money for scalps, whether of warriors,
or women, men or children, and the love of gold 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 had been
desired, but detecting the intelligence of those who understood English, and
apprehending even a greater knowledge than they actually possessed she found
herself compelled to comply. Contrary to what a civilized man would have
expected, the admission of the motives and of the errands of their prisoners,
produced no visible effect, on either the countenances or the feelings of the
listeners. They probably considered the act meritorious, and that which
neither of them would have hesitated to 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 first
speeches were understood by the chiefs, "you can tell them more. They know
that father and Hurry did not succeed, and therefore they can bear them no
grudge for any harm that has been done. If they had slain their children and
wives, ii would not alter the matter, and I'm not certain that what I am
about to tell them would not have more weight had there been mischief done.
But ask them first, Hist, if they know there is a God, who reigns over the
whole earth, and is ruler and chief of all who live, let them be red, or
white, or what color they may?"
Wah-ta!-Wah looked a little surprised at this question, for the idea of the
Great Spirit is seldom long absent from the mind of an Indian girl. She put
the question, as literally as possible, however, and received a grave answer
in the affirmative.
"This is right," continued Hetty, "and my duty will now be light. This Great
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 his commandments, and his holy
will and pleasure, and the rules by which all men are to live, and
directions how to govern the thoughts even, and the wishes, and the will.
Here, this is one of these holy books, and you must tell the chiefs what I am
about to read to them, from its sacred pages."
As Hetty concluded, she reverently unrolled a small English bible from its
envelope of coarse calico, treating the volume with the sort of external
respect that a Roman ist would be apt to show to a religious relic. As she
slowly proceeded in her task the grim warriors watched each movement with
riveted eyes, and when they saw the little volume appear a slight expression
of surprise escaped one or two of them. But Hetty held it out towards them,
in triumph as if she expected the sight would produce a visible miracle, and
then, without betraying either surprise or mortification at the Stoicism of
the Indian, she turned eagerly to her new friend, in order to renew the
discourse.
"This is the sacred volume, Hist," she said-"and these words, and lines, and
verses, and chapters, all came from God."
"Why Great Spirit no send book to Injin, too?" demanded Hist, with the
directness of a mind that -was totally unsophisticated.
"Why?' answered Hetty, a little bewildered by a question so unexpected.
"Why?-Ah! you know the Indians do'n't know how to read."
If Hist was not satisfied with this explanation, she did not deem the point
of sufficient importance to be pressed. Simply bending her body, in a gentle
admission of the truth of what she heard, she sat patiently awaiting the
further arguments of the pale-face enthusiast.
"You can tell these chiefs that throughout this book, men are ordered to
forgive their enemies; to treat them as they would brethren; and never to
injure their fellow creatures, more especially on account of revenge, or any
evil passions. Do you think you can tell them this, so that they will
understand ii, Hist?'
"Tell him well enough, but he no very easy to understand." Hist then conveyed
the ideas of Hetty, in the best manner she could, to the attentive Indians,
who heard her words, with some such surprise as an American of our own times
would be apt to betray at a suggestion that the great modern, but vacillating
ruler of things human, public opinion, might be wrong. One or two of their
number, however, having met with missionaries, said a few words in
explanation, and then the group gave all its attention to the communications
that were to follow. Before Hetty resumed she enquired earnestly of Hist if
the chiefs had understood her, and receiving an evasive answer, was fain to
be satisfied.
"I will now read to the warriors some of the verses that it is good for them
to know,' continued the girl, whose manner grew more solemn and earnest as
she proceeded - "and they will remember that they are the very words of the
Great Spirit. First, then, ye are commanded to 'love thy neighbor 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 for pale face. No
need tell chief any thing else.'
"You forget, Hist, these are the words of the Great Spirit, and the chiefs
must obey them as well as others. Here is another commandment-'Whasoever
shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him the other aLso.~"
"What that mean?' demanded Hist, with the quickness of lightning.
Hetty explained that it was an order not to resent injuries, but rather to
submit to receive fresh wrongs from the offender.
"And hear this, too, Hist," she added. " 'Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you and persecute you.''
By this time Hetty had become excited; her eye gleamed with the earnestness
of her feelings, her cheeks flushed, and her voice, usually so low and
modulated, became stronger and more impressive. With the bible she had been
early made familiar by her mother, and she now turned from passage to
passage, with surprising rapidity, taking care to cull such verses as taught
the sublime lessons of christian charity and christian forgiveness. To
translate half she said, in her pious earnestness, Wah-ta!-Wah would have
found impracticable, had she made the effort, but wonder held her tongue
tied, equally with the chiefs, and the young, simple-minded enthusiast had
fairly become exhausted with her own efforts, before the other opened her
mouth, again, to utter a syllable. Then, indeed, the Delaware girl gave a
brief translation of the substance of what had been both read and said,
confining herself to one or two of the more striking of the verses, those
that had struck her own imagination as the most paradoxical, and which
certainly would have been the most applicable to the case, could the
uninstructed minds of the listeners embrace the great moral truths they
conveyed.
It will be scarcely necessary to tell the reader the effect that such novel
duties would be likely to produce among a group of Indian warriors, with whom
it was a species of religious principle never to forget a benefit, or to
forgive an injury. Fortunately, the previous explanations of Hist had
prepared the minds of the Hurons for something extravagant, and most of that
which to them seemed inconsistent and paradoxical, was accounted for by the
fact that the speaker possessed a mind that was constituted differently from
those of most of the human race. Still there were one or two old men who had
heard similar doctrines from the missionaries, and these felt a desire to
occupy an idle moment by pursuing a subject that they found so curious.
"This is the Good Book of the pale faces," observed one of these chiefs,
taking the volume from the unresisting hands of Hetty, who gazed anxiously at
his face, while he turned the leaves, as if she expected to witness some
visible results from the circumstance. "This is the law by which my white
brethren professes to live?"
Hist, to whom this question was addressed, if it might be considered as
addressed to any one, in particular, answered simply in the affirmative;
adding that both the French of the Canadas, and the Yengeese of the British
provinces equally admitted its authority, and affected to revere its
principles.
"Tell my young sister," said the Huron, looking directly at Hist, "that I
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, and he
will now let father and Hurry go."
"This is the pale face law," resumed the chief. 'It tells him to do good to
them, that hurt him, and when his brother asks him for his rifle to give him
the powder horn, too. Such is the pale face law?"
"Not so-not so-" answered Hetty earnestly, when these words had been
interpreted - "There is not a word about rifles in the whole book, and powder
and bullets give offence to the Great Spirit."
"Why then does the pale face use them? If he is ordered to give double to him
that asks only for one thing, why does he take double from the poor 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, but why does he forget
himself all it says? When the Indian gives, he is never satisfied; and now he
offers gold for the scalps of our women and children, though he calls us
beasts if we take the scalp of a warrior killed in open war. My name is
Rivenoak."
When Hetty had got this formidable question fairly presented to her mind in
the translation, and Hist did her duty with more than usual readiness on this
occasion, it scarcely need be said that she was sorely perplexed. Abler heads
than that of this poor girl have frequently been puzzled by questions of a
similar drift, and it is not surprising that with all her own earnestness and
sincerity she did not know what answer to make.
"What shall I tell them, Hist," she asked imploringly - "I know that all I
have read from the book is true, and yet it would'n't seem so, would it, by
the conduct of those to whom the book was given?"
"Give 'em pale-face reason," returned Hist, ironically- "that always good for
one side; though he bad for t'other."
"No-no-Hist there can't be two sides to truth-and yet it does seem strange!
I'm certain I have read the verses right, and no one would be so 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 'ey say
black. Why never can be?"
Hetty was more and more embarrassed, until overcome with the apprehension
that she had failed in her object, and that the lives of her 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 its irony and cool indifference, and
she became the fond caressing friend, again. Throwing her arms around the
afflicted girl, she attempted to soothe her sorrows, by the scarcely ever
failing remedy of feniale sympathy.
"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 stopping to press her
occasionally to her own warm bosom with the affection of a sister. "Why you
so trouble? You no make he book, if he be wrong, and you no make he pale face
if he wicked. There wicked red man, and wicked white man - no colour all good
- no colour all wicked. Chiefs know that well enough."
Hetty soon recovered from this sudden burst of grief, and then her mind
reverted to the purpose of her visit, with all its single-hearted
earnestness. Perceiving that the grim looking
196 The Deerslayer
chiefs were still standing around her in grave attention, she hoped that
another effort to convince them of the right might be successful.
"Listen, Hist," she said, struggling to suppress her sobs, and to speak
distinctly - "Tell the chiefs that it matters not what the wicked do-right is
right-The words of The Great Spirit are the words of The Great Spirit - and
no one can go harmless 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 red man as well as for the white man."
"Never hear such law among Delaware, or among Iroquois-" answered Hist
soothingly. "No good to tell chiefs any such laws as dat. Tell 'em somet'ing
they believe."
Hist was about to proceed, notwithstanding, when a tap on the shoulder, from
the finger of the oldest chief caused her to look up. She then perceived that
one of the warriors had left the group, and was already returning to it with
Hutter and Hurry. Understanding that the two last were to become parties in
the inquiry, she became mute, with the unhesitating obedience of an Indian
woman. In a few seconds the prisoners stood face to face with the principal
men of the captors.
"Daughter," said the senior chief to the young Delaware, "ask this grey beard
why he came into our camp?"
The question was put by Hist, in her own imperfect English, but in a way
that was easy to be understood. Hutter was too stern and obdurate by nature,
to shrink from the consequences of any of his acts, and he was also too
familiar with the opinions of the savages not to understand that nothing was
to be gained by equivocation or an unmanly dread of their anger. Without
hesitating, therefore, he avowed the purpose with which he had landed, merely
justifying it by the fact that the government of the province had bid high
for scalps. This frank avowal was received by the Iroquois, with evident
satisfaction, not so much, however, on account of the advantage it gave them
in a moral point of view, as by its proving that they had captured a man
worthy of occupying their thoughts and of becoming a subject of their
revenge. Hurry, when interrogated, confessed the truth, though he would have
been more disposed to concealment than his sterner companion, did
thecircumstances very well admit of its adoption. But he had tact enough to
discover that equivocation would be useless, at that moment, and he made a
merit of necessity by imitating a frankness, which, in the case of Hutter,
was the offspring of habits of indifference acting on a disposition that was
always ruthless, and reckless of personal consequences.
As soon as the chiefs had received the answers to their questions, they
walked away, in silence, like men who deemed the matter disposed of, all
Hetty's dogmas being thrown away on beings trained in violence, from infancy
to manhood. Hetty and Hist were now left alone with Hutter and Hurry, no
visible restraint being placed on the movements of either; though all four,
in fact, were vigilantly and unceasingly watched. As respects the men, care
was had to prevent them from getting possession of any of the rifles, that
lay scattered about, their own included; and there all open manifestations of
watchfulness ceased. But they, who were so experienced in Indian practices,
knew too well how great was the distance between appearances and reality, to
become the dupes of this seeming carelessness. Although both thought
incessantly of the means of escape, and this without concert, each was aware
of the uselessness of attempting any project of the sort that was not deeply
laid, and promptly executed. They had been long enough in the encampment, and
were sufficiently observant to have ascertained that Hist, also, was a sort
of captive, and, presuming on the circumstance, Hutter spoke in her presence,
more openly than he might otherwise have thought it prudent to do; inducing
Hurry to be equally unguarded by his example.
"I'll not blame you, Hetty, for coming on this errand, which was well meant
if not very wisely planned," commenced the father, seating himself by the
side of his daughter, and taking her hand; a sign of affection that this rude
being was accustomed to manifest to this particular child. "But preaching,
and the bible, are not the means to turn an Indian from his ways. Has
Deerslayer sent any message; orhas he any scheme 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 she had
no answer to give to the question of the reckless Hurry.
"Father," she said, "neither Deerslayer, nor Judith knew of my coming, until
I had left the Ark. They are afraid the Iroquois will make a raft, and try to
get off to the hut, and think more of defending that, than of coming to aid
you."
"No-no-no-" said Hist hurriedly, though in a low voice, and with her face
bent towards the earth, in order to conceal from those whom she 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 he too
used the precaution to speak low-"Give me a ready witted squaw for a fri'nd,
and though I'll not downright defy an Iroquois, I think I would defy the
devil."
"No talk loud," said Hist. "Some Iroquois got Yengeese
tongue, and all got Yengeese ear."
"Have we a friend in you, young woman?" enquired Hutter with an increasing
interest in the conference. "If so, you may calculate on a solid reward, and
nothing will be easier than to send you to your own tribe, if we can once
fairly get you off with us to the castle. Give us the Ark and the canoes, and
we can command the lake, spite of all the savages in the Canadas. Nothing but
artillery could drive us out of the castle, 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 the savages."
A dark look came over Hutter at the announcement of this fact, and he
muttered his dissatisfaction in a way to render it intelligible enough.
'What for no break open chest?" put in Hist. "Life sweeter than old chest -
scalp sweeter than old chest. If no tell darter to break him open, Wah-ta!-
Wah no help him to run away."
"Ye know not what ye ask-ye are but silly girls, and the wisest way for ye
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 that they think of
something serious, and if we are to do any thing, we must do it soon. Can we
count on this young woman, think you?"
"Listen-" said Hist quickly, and with an earnestness that proved how much her
feelings were concerned-"Wah-ta!-Wah no Iroquois - All over Delaware - got
Delaware heart - Delaware feeling. She prisoner, too. One prisoner help
t'udder prisoner. No good to talk more, now. Darter stay with fader - Wah-ta!
-Wah come and see friend-all look right- Then tell what he do."
This was said in a low voice, but distinctly, and in a manner to make an
impression. As soon as it was uttered the girl arose, and left the group,
walking composedly towards the hut she occupied, as if she had no further
interest in what might pass between the pale-faces.
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