"Thus died she; never more on her
Shall sorrow light, or shame. She was not made
Through years or moons the inner weight to bear,
Which colder hearts endure till they are laid
By age in earth; her days and pleasure were
Brief but delightful - such as had not stayed
Long with her destiny; but she sleeps well
By the sea-shore whereon she loved to dwell."
Byron. Don Juan,IV,lxxi.
The young men who had been sent out to reconnoitre, on the sudden appearance
of Hetty soon returned to report their want of success in making any
discovery. One of them had even been along the beach as far as the spot
opposite to the ark, but the darkness had completely concealed that vessel
from his notice. Others had examined in different directions, and everywhere
the stillness of night was added to the silence and solitude of the woods.
It was consequently believed that the girl had come alone, as on her former
visit, and on some similar errand. The Iroquois were ignorant that the ark
had left the castle, and there were movements projected, if not in the course
of actual execution, by this time, which also greatly added to the sense of
security. A watch was set, therefore, and all but the sentinels disposed
themselves to sleep. Sufficient care was had to the safe keeping of the
captive,
without inflicting on him any unnecessary suffering; and, as for Hetty, she
was permitted to find a place among the Indian girls in the best manner she
could. She did not find the friendly offices of Hist, though her character
not only bestowed impunity from pain and captivity, but it procured for her a
consideration and an attention that placed her, on the score of comfort,
quite on a level with the wild but gentle beings around her. She was supplied
with
a skin, and made her own bed on a pile of boughs a little apart from the
huts. Here she was soon in a profound sleep, like all around her.
There were now thirteen men in the party, and three kept watch at a time. One
remained in shadow, not far from the fire. however. His duty was to guard the
captive, to take care that the fire neither blazed up so as to illuminate the
spot, nor yet become wholly extinguished, and to keep an eye generally or the
state of the camp. Another passed from one beach to the other, crossing the
base of the point, while the third kept moving slowly around the strand on
its outer
extremity, to prevent a repetition of the surprise that had already taken
place that night. This arrangement was far from being usual among savages,
who ordinarily rely more on the secrecy of their movements, than or vigilance
of this nature; but it had been called for by the peculiarity of the
circumstances in which the Hurons were now placed. Their position was known
to their foes, and it could not easily be changed at an hour which demanded
rest. Perhaps, too, they placed most of their confidence on the knowledge of
what they believed to be passing higher up the lake, and which, it was
thought would fully occupy the whole of the pale-faces, who were at liberty,
with their solitary Indian ally. It was, also, probable Rivenoak was aware,
that, in holding his captive, he had in his own hands the most dangerous of
all his enemies.
The precision with which those accustomed to watchfulness, or lives of
disturbed rest, sleep, is not the least of the phenomena of our mysterious
being. The head is no sooner on the pillow than consciousness is lost; and
yet, at a necessary hour, the mind appears to arouse the body, as promptly as
if it had stood entinel the while over it. There can be no doubt that they
who are thus roused, awake by the influence of thought over matter, though
the mode in which
this influence is exercised must remain hidden from our curiosity until it
shall be explained, should that hour ever arrive, by the entire enlightenment
of the soul on the subject of all human mysteries. Thus it was with Hetty
Hutter. Feeble as the immaterial portion of her existence was thought to be,
it was sufficiently active to cause her to open her eyes at midnight. At that
hour she awoke, and leaving her bed of skin and boughs she walked innocently
and openly to the embers of the fire, stirring the latter, as the coolness of
the night and the woods, in connection with an exceedingly unsophisticated
bed, had a little chilled her. As the flame shot up, it lighted the swarthy
countenance of the Huron on watch, whose dark eyes glistened under its light
like the balls of the panther that is pursued to his den with burning brands.
But Hetty felt no fear, and she approached the spot where the Indian stood.
Her movements were so natural, and so perfectly devoid of any of the
stealthiness of cunning or deception, that he imagined she had merely arisen
on account of the coolness of the night, a common occurrence in a bivouac,
and the one of all others,
perhaps, the least likely to excite suspicion. Hetty spoke to him, but he
understood no English. She then gazed near a minute at the sleeping captive,
and moved slowly away in a sad and melancholy manner. The girl took no pains
to conceal her movements. Any ingenious expedient of this nature, quite
likely exceeded her powers; still her step was habitually light, and scarcely
audible. As she took the direction of the extremity of the point, or the
place where she had landed in the first adventure, and where Hist had
embarked, the sentinel saw her light form gradually disappear in the gloom
without uneasiness or changing his own position. He knew that others were on
the look-out, and he did not believe that one who had twice come into the
camp voluntarily, and had already left it openly, would take refuge in
flight. In short, the conduct of the girl excited no more attention that that
of any person of feeble intellect would excite in civilized society, while
her person met with more consideration and respect.
Hetty certainly had no very distinct notions of the localities, but she found
her way to the beach, which she reached on the same side of the point as that
on which the camp had been made. By following the margin of the water, taking
a northern direction, she soon encountered the Indian who paced the strand as
sentinel. This was a young warrior, and when he heard her light tread coming
along the gravel, he approached swiftly, though with any thing but menace in
his manner. The darkness was so intense that it was not easy to discover
forms within the shadows of the woods at the distance of twenty feet, and
quite impossible to distinguish persons until near enough to touch them. The
young Huron manifested disappointment when he found whom he had met;
for, truth to say, he was expecting his favourite, who had promised to
relieve the ennui of a midnight watch with her presence. This man was also
ignorant of English, but he was at no loss to understand why the girl should
be up at that hour. Such things were usual in an Indian village and camp,
where sleep is as irregular as the meals. Then poor Hetty's known imbecility
as in most things connected with the savages, stood her friend on this
occasion. Vexed at his disappointment, and impatient of the presence of one
he thought an intruder the young warrior signed for the girl to move forward,
holding the direction of the beach. Hetty complied; but, as she walked away,
she spoke aloud in
English in her usual soft tones, which the stillness of the night made
audible at some little distance. 'If you took me for a Huron girl, warrior,'
she said, 'I don't wonder you are so little pleased. I am Hetty Hutter,
Thomas Hutter's daughter, and have never met any man at night, for mother
always said it was wrong, and modest young women should never do it; modest
young women of the pale-faces, I mean; for customs are different in different
parts of the world, I know. No, no; I'm Hetty Hutter, and wouldn't meet even
Harry Hurry, though he should fall down on his knees and ask me! mother said
it was wrong.'
By the time Hetty had said this, she reached the place where the
canoes had come ashore, and, owing to the curvature of the land and the
bushes, would have been completely hid from the sight of the sentinel, had it
been broad day. But another footstep had caught the lover's ear, and he was
already nearly beyond the sound of the girl's silvery voice. Still Hetty,
bent only on her own thoughts and purposes, continued to speak, though the
gentleness of her tones
prevented the sounds from penetrating far into the woods. On the water they
were more widely diffused 'Here I am, Judith,' she added, 'and there is no
one near me. The Huron on watch has gone to meet his sweetheart, who is an
Indian girl you know, and never had a Christian mother to tell her how wrong
it is to meet a man at night -'
Hetty's voice was hushed by a 'hist!' that came from the Water, and then she
caught a dim view of the canoe, which approached noiselessly, and soon grated
on the shingle with its bow. The moment the weight of Hetty was felt in the
light craft, the canoe withdrew, stern foremost, as if possessed of life and
Volition until it was a hundred yards from the shore. Then it turned, and,
making a
wide sweep, as much to prolong the passage as to get beyond the sound of
voices, it held its way towards the ark. For several minutes nothing was
uttered; but, believing herself to be in a favourable position to confer with
her sister, Judith, who alone sat in the stern, managing the canoe with a
skill little short of that of a man, began a discourse which she had been
burning to commence ever since they had quitted the point.
'Here we are safe, Hetty,' she said, 'and may talk without the fear of being
overheard. You must speak low, however, for sounds are heard far on the water
in a still night. I was so close to the point some of the time while you were
on it, that I have heard the voices of the warriors, and I heard your shoes
on the gravel of the beach, even before you spoke.'
'I don't believe, Judith, the Hurons know I have left them.' 'Quite likely
they do not, for a lover makes a poor sentry, unless it be to watch for his
sweetheart! But tell me, Hetty, did you see and speak with Deerslayer?'
'Oh, yes - there he was seated near the fire, with his legs tied, though they
left his arms free, to move them as he pleased.' 'Well, what did he tell you,
child? Speak quick; I am dying to know what message he sent me.'
'What did he tell me? why, what do you think, Judith; he told me that he
couldn't read! Only think of that! a white man, and not know how to read his
Bible even! He never could have had a mother, sister!'
'Never mind that, Hetty. All men can't read; though mother knew so much and
taught us so much, father knows very little about books, and he can barely
read the Bible you know.'
'Oh! I never thought fathers could read much, but mothers ought all to read,
else how can they teach their children? Depend on it, Judith, Deerslayer
could never have had a mother, else he would know how to read.'
'Did you tell him I sent you ashore, Hetty, and how much concern I feel for
his misfortune?' asked the other, impatiently.
'I believe I did, Judith; but you know I am feeble-minded, and I may have
forgotten. I did tell him you brought me ashore. And he told me a great deal
that I was to say to you, which I remember well, for it made my blood run
cold to hear him. He told me to say that his friends - I suppose you are one
of them, sister?'
'How can you torment me thus, Hetty! Certainly, I am one of the truest
friends he has on earth.'
'Torment you! yes, now I remember all about it. I am glad you used that word,
Judith, for it brings it all back to my mind. Well, he said he might be
tormented by the savages, but he would try to bear it as becomes a Christian
white man, and that no one need be afeard - why does Deerslayer call it
afeard, when mother always taught us to say afraid?'
'Never mind, dear Hetty, never mind that, now,' cried the other almost
gasping for breath. 'Did Deerslayer really tell you that he thought the
savages would put him to the torture? Recollect now, well, Hetty, for this is
a most awful and serious thing.'
'Yes he did; and I remember it by your speaking about my tormenting you. Oh!
I felt very sorry for him, and Deerslayer took all so quietly and without
noise! Deerslayer is not as handsome as Harry Hurry, Judith, but he is more
quiet.'
'He's worth a million Hurrys! yes, he's worth all the young men who
ever came upon the lake put together,' said Judith, with an energy
and positiveness that caused her sister to wonder. 'He is true. -
There is no lie about Deerslayer. You, Hetty, may not know what a
merit it is in a man to have truth, but when you get - no - I hope you
will never know it. Why should one like you be ever made to learn
the hard lesson to distrust and hate!'
Judith bowed her face, dark as it was, and unseen as she must have
been, by any eye but that of Omniscience, between her hands, and
groaned. This sudden paroxysm of feeling, however, lasted but for a
moment, and she continued more calmly, still speaking frankly to her
sister, whose intelligence, and whose discretion in any thing that
related to herself, she did not in the least distrust. Her voice,
however, was low and husky, instead of baying its former clearness
and animation.
'It is a hard thing to fear truth, Hetty,' she said, 'and yet do I more
dread Deerslayer's truth, than any enemy! One cannot tamper with
such truth - so much honesty - such obstinate uprightness! But we are
not altogether unequal, sister - Deer-slayer and I? He is not altogether
my superior ?'
It was not usual for Judith so far to demean herself as to appeal to
Hetty's judgment. Nor did she often address her by the title of sister,
a distinction that is commonly given by the junior to the senior, even
where there is perfect equality in all other respects. As trifling
departures from habitual deportment oftener strike the imagination
than more important changes, Hetty perceived the circumstances,
and wondered at them in her own simple way. Her ambition was a
little quickened, and the answer was as much out of the usual course
of things, as the question; the poor girl attempting to refine beyond
her strength.
'Superior, Judith!' she repeated with pride. 'In what can
Deerslayer be your superior? Are you not mother's child - and
does he know how to read - and wasn't mother before any woman
in all this part of the world? I should think, so far from supposing
himself your superior, he would hardly believe himself mine. You
are handsome, and he is ugly -'
'No, not ugly, Hetty,' interrupted Judith. 'Only plain. But his honest
face has a look in it, that is far better than beauty. In my eyes, Deerslayer
is handsomer than Harry Hurry.'
'Judith Hutter! you frighten me. Hurry is the handsomest mortal in the world
- even handsomer than you are yourself; because a man's good looks, you
know, are always better than a woman's good looks.'
This little innocent touch of natural taste did not please the elder sister
at the moment, and she did not scruple to betray it. 'Hetty, you now speak
foolishly, and had better say no more, on this subject,' she answered.
'Hurry is not the handsomest mortal in the world, by many; and there are
officers in the garrisons - ' Judith stammered at the words - 'there are
officers in the garrisons, near us, far comelier than he. But, why do you
think me the equal of Deerslayer - speak of that, for I do not like to hear
you show so much admiration of a man like Hurry Harry, who has neither
feelings, manners, nor conscience. You are too good for him, and he ought to
be told it, at once.'
'I! Judith, how you forget! Why I am not beautiful, and am
feeble-minded.'
'You are good, Hetty, and that is more than can be said of Henry March. He
may have a face, and a body, but he has no heart. But enough of this, for the
present. Tell me what raises me to an equality with Deerslayer.'
'To think of you asking me this, Judith! He can't read, and you can. He don't
know how to talk, but speaks worse than Hurry even; - for, sister, Harry
doesn't always pronounce his words right! Did you ever notice that ?'
'Certainly, he is as coarse in speech as in every thing else. But, I fear
you flatter me, Hetty, when you think I can be justly called the equal of a
man like Deerslayer. It is true, I have been better taught; in one sense am
more comely; and perhaps might look higher; but then his truth - his truth -
makes a fearful difference between us! Well, I will talk no more of this; and
we will bethink us of the means of getting him out of the hands of the
Hurons. We have father's chest in the ark, Hetty, and might try the
temptation of more elephants; though I fear such baubles will not buy the
liberty of a man like Deerslayer. I am afraid father and Hurry will not be
as willing to ransom Deerslayer, as Deerslayer was to ransom them!'
'Why not, Judith? Hurry and Deerslayer are friends, and friends should
always help one another.'
'Alas! poor Hetty, you little know mankind! Seeming friends are often more to
be dreaded than open enemies; particularly by females. But you'll have to
land in the morning, and try again what can be done for Deerslayer. Tortured
he shall not be, while Judith Hutter lives, and can find means to prevent
it.' The conversation now grew desultory, and was drawn out, until the
elder sister had extracted from the younger every fact that the feeble
faculties of the latter permitted her to retain, and to communicate.
When Judith was satisfied - though she could never be said to be satisfied,
whose feelings seemed to be so interwoven with all that related to the
subject, as to have excited a nearly inappeasable curiosity - but, when
Judith could think of no more questions to ask, without resorting to
repetition, the canoe was paddled towards the scow. The intense darkness of
the night, and the deep shadows which the hills and forest cast upon the
water, rendered it difficult to find the vessel, anchored, as it had been, as
close to the shore as a regard to safety rendered prudent. Judith was expert
in the management of a bark canoe, the lightness of which demanded skill
rather than strength; and she forced her own little vessel swiftly over the
water, the moment she had ended her conference with Hetty, and had come to
the determination to return. Still no ark was seen. Several times the sisters
fancied they saw it, looming up in the obscurity, like a low black rock; but
on each occasion it was found to be either an optical illusion, or some swell
of the foliage on the shore. After a search that lasted half an hour, the
girls were forced to the unwelcome conviction that the ark had departed. Most
young women would have felt the awkwardness of their situation, in a physical
sense, under the circumstances in which the sisters were left, more than any
apprehensions of a different nature. Not so with Judith, however; and even
Hetty felt more concern about the motives that might have influenced her
father and Hurry, than any fears for her own safety.
'It cannot be, Hetty,' said Judith, when a thorough search had satisfied them
both that no ark was to be found; 'it cannot be that the Indians have rafted,
or swum off and surprised our friends as they slept ?'
'I don't believe that Hist and Chingachgook would sleep until they had told
each other all they had to say after so long a separation – do you, sister ?'
'Perhaps not, child. There was much to keep them awake, but one Indian may
have been surprised even when not asleep, especially as his thoughts may have
been on other things. Still we should have heard a noise; for in a night like
this, an oath of Harry Hurry's would have echoed in the eastern hills like a
clap of thunder.'
'Hurry is sinful and thoughtless about his words, Judith,' Hetty meekly and
sorrowfully answered.
'No - no; 'tis impossible the ark could be taken and I not hear the noise. It
is not an hour since I left it, and the whole time I have been attentive to
the smallest sound. And yet, it is not easy to believe a father would
willingly abandon his children!'
'Perhaps father has thought us in our cabin asleep, Judith, and has moved
away to go home. You know we often move the ark in the night.'
'This is true, Hetty, and it must be as you suppose. There is a little more
southern air than there was, and they have gone up the lake -' Judith
stopped, for, as the last word was on her tongue, the scene was suddenly
lighted, though only for a single instant, by a flash. The crack of a rifle
succeeded, and then followed the roll of the echo along the eastern
mountains. Almost at the same moment a piercing female cry rose in the air in
a prolonged shriek. The awful stillness that succeeded was, if possible, more
appalling than the fierce and sudden interruption of the deep silence of
midnight. Resolute as she was both by nature and habit, Judith scarce
breathed, while poor Hetty hid her face and trembled.
'That was a woman's cry, Hetty,' said the former solemnly, 'and it was a cry
of anguish! If the ark has moved from this spot it can only have gone north
with this air, and the gun and shriek came from the point. Can any thing have
befallen Hist?'
'Let us go and see, Judith; she may want our assistance - for, besides
herself, there are none but men in the ark.'
It was not a moment for hesitation, and ere Judith had ceased speaking her
paddle was in the water. The distance to the point, in a direct line, was not
great, and the impulses under which the girls worked were too exciting to
allow them to waste the precious moments in useless precautions. They paddled
incautiously for them, but the same excitement kept others from noting their
movements. Presently a glare of light caught the eye of Judith through an
opening in the bushes, and steering by it, she so directed the canoe as to
keep it visible, while she got as near the land as was either prudent or
necessary.
The scene that was now presented to the observation of the girls was within
the woods, on the side of the declivity so often mentioned, and in plain view
from the boat. Here all in the camp were collected, some six or eight
carrying torches of fat-pine, which cast a strong but funereal light on all
beneath the arches of the forest. With her back supported against a tree, and
sustained on one side by the young sentinel whose remissness had suffered
Hetty to escape, sat the female whose expected visit had produced his
delinquency. By the glare of the torch that was held near her face, it was
evident that she was in the agonies of death, while the blood that trickled
from her bared bosom betrayed the nature of the injury she had received. The
pungent, peculiar smell of gunpowder, too, was still quite perceptible in the
heavy, damp night air. There could be no question that she had been shot.
Judith understood it all at a glance. The streak of light had appeared on the
water a short distance from the point, and either the rifle had been
discharged from a canoe hovering near the land, or it had been fired from the
ark in passing. An incautious exclamation, or laugh, may have produced the
assault, for it was barely possible that the aim had been assisted by any
other agent than sound. As to the effect, that was soon still more apparent,
the head of the victim dropping, and the body sinking in death. Then all the
torches but one were extinguished - a measure of prudence; and the melancholy
train that bore the body to the camp was just to be distinguished by the
glimmering light that remained. Judith sighed heavily and shuddered, as her
paddle again dipped, and the canoe moved cautiously around the point. A sight
had afflicted her senses, and now haunted her imagination, that was still
harder to be borne, than even the untimely fate and passing agony of the
deceased girl.
She had seen, under the strong glare of all the torches, the erect form of
Deerslayer, standing with commiseration, and as she thought, with shame,
depicted on his countenance, near the dying female. He betrayed neither fear
nor backwardness himself; but it was apparent by the glances cast at him by
the warriors, that fierce passions were struggling in their bosoms. All this
seemed to be unheeded by the captive, but it remained impressed on the memory
of Judith throughout the night. No canoe was met hovering near the point. A
stillness and darkness, as complete as if the silence of the forest had never
been disturbed, or the sun had never shone on that retired region, now
reigned on the point, and on the gloomy water, the slumbering woods, and
even the murky sky. No more could be done, therefore, than to seek a place
of safety; and this was only to be found in the centre of the lake. Paddling
in silence to that spot, the canoe was suffered to drift northerly, while
the girls sought such repose as their situation and feelings would permit.
dropping, and the body sinking in death. Then all the torches but one were
extinguished - a measure of prudence; and the melancholy train that bore the
body to the camp was just to be distinguished by the glimmering light that
remained.
Judith sighed heavily and shuddered, as her paddle again dipped,
and the canoe moved cautiously around the point. A sight had
afflicted her senses, and now haunted her imagination, that was still harder
to be borne, than even the untimely fate and passing agony of the deceased
girl. She had seen, under the strong glare of all the torches, the erect form
of Deerslayer, standing with commiseration, and as she thought, with shame,
depicted on his countenance, near the dying female. He betrayed neither fear
nor backwardness himself; but it was apparent by the glances cast at him by
the warriors, that fierce passions were struggling in their bosoms. All this
seemed to be unheeded by the captive, but it remained impressed on the memory
of Judith throughout the night. No canoe was met hovering near the point. A
stillness and darkness, as complete as if the silence of the forest had never
been disturbed, or the sun had never shone on that retired region, now
reigned on the point, and on the gloomy water, the slumbering woods, and even
the murky sky. No more could be done, therefore, than to seek a place of
safety; and this was only to be found in the centre of the lake, paddling in
silence to that spot, the canoe was suffered to drift northerly, while the
girls sought such repose as their situation and feelings would permit.
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