It sounded in his ears, like the chirp of the wren."
"Ay, trust a lovyer's ear for that, and a Delaware's ear for all sounds that are ever heard in the woods. I know not why it is so, Judith, but when young men - and I dares to say it may be all the same with young women, too - but when they get to have kind feelin's towards each other, it's wonderful how pleasant the laugh, or the speech becomes, to the other person.
I've seen grim warriors listening to the chattering and the laughing of young gals, as if it was church music, such as is heard in the old Dutch church that stands in the great street of Albany, where I've been, more than once, with peltry and game."
"And you, Deerslayer," said Judith quickly, and with more sensibility than marked her usually light and thoughtless manner, -"have you never felt how pleasant it is to listen to the laugh of the girl you love?"
"Lord bless you gal!
- Why I've never lived enough among my own colour to drop into them sort of feelin's, - no never!
I dares to say, they are nat'ral and right, but to me there's no music so sweet as the sighing of the wind in the tree tops, and the rippling of a stream from a full, sparkling, natyve fountain of pure forest water - unless, indeed," he continued, dropping his head for an instant in a thoughtful manner - "unless indeed it be the open mouth of a sartain hound, when I'm on the track of a fat buck.
As for unsartain dogs, I care little for their cries, seein' they are as likely to speak when the deer is not in sight, as when it is."
Judith walked slowly and pensively away, nor was there any of her ordinary calculating coquetry in the light tremulous sigh that, unconsciously to herself, arose to her lips.
On the other hand Hetty listened with guileless attention, though it struck her simple mind as singular that the young man should prefer the melody of the woods, to the songs of girls, or even to the laugh of innocence and joy.
Accustomed, however, to defer in most things to her sister, she soon followed Judith into the cabin, where she took a seat and remained pondering intensely over some occurrence, or resolution, or opinion - which was a secret to all but herself.
Left alone, Deerslayer and his friend resumed their discourse.
"Has the young pale-face hunter been long on this lake?" demanded the Delaware, after courteously waiting for the other to speak first.
"Only since yesterday noon, Sarpent, though that has been long enough to see and do much."
The gaze that the Indian fastened on his companion was so keen that it seemed to mock the gathering darkness of the night.
As the other furtively returned his look, he saw the two black eyes glistening on him, like the balls of the panther, or those of the penned wolf.
He understood the meaning of this glowing gaze, and answered evasively, as he fancied would best become the modesty of a white man's gifts.
"'Tis as you suspect, Sarpent; yes, 'tis somewhat that-a-way.
I have fell in with the inimy, and I suppose it may be said I've fou't them, too."
An exclamation of delight and exultation escaped the Indian, and then laying his hand eagerly on the arm of his friend, he asked if there were any scalps taken.
"That I will maintain in the face of all the Delaware tribe, old Tamenund, and your own father the great Uncas, as well as the rest, is ag'in white gifts!
My scalp is on my head, as you can see, Sarpent, and that was the only scalp that was in danger, when one side was altogether Christian and white."
"Did no warrior fall?
- Deerslayer did not get his name by being slow of sight, or clumsy with the rifle!"
"In that particular, chief, you're nearer reason, and therefore nearer being right.
I may say one Mingo fell." "A chief!" demanded the other with startling vehemence.
"Nay, that's more than I know, or can say.
He was artful, and treacherous, and stout-hearted, and may well have gained popularity enough with his people to be named to that rank.
The man fou't well, though his eye was'n't quick enough for one who had had his schooling in your company, Delaware."
"My brother and friend struck the body?"
"That was uncalled for, seeing that the Mingo died in my arms.
The truth may as well be said, at once; he fou't like a man of red gifts, and I fou't like a man with gifts of my own colour. God gave me the victory; I coul'n't fly in the face of his Providence by forgetting my birth and natur'. White he made me, and white I shall live and die."
"Good!
Deerslayer is a pale-face, and has pale-face hands.
A Delaware will look for the scalp, and hang it on a pole, and sing a song in his honour, when we go back to our people.
The glory belongs to the tribe; it must not be lost."
"This is easy talking, but 'twill not be as easy doing.
The Mingo's body is in the hands of his fri'nds and, no doubt, is hid in some hole where Delaware cunning will never be able to get at the scalp."
The young man then gave his friend a succinct, but clear account, of the event of the morning, concealing nothing of any moment, and yet touching on every thing modestly and with a careful attention to avoid the Indian habit of boasting.
Chingachgook again expressed his satisfaction at the honour won by his friend, and then both arose, the hour having arrived when it became prudent to move the Ark further from the land.
It was now quite dark, the heavens having become clouded, and the stars hid.
The north wind had ceased - as was usual with the setting of the sun, and a light air arose from the south. This change favoring the design of Deerslayer, he lifted his grapnel, and the scow immediately and quite perceptibly began to drift more into the lake.
The sail was set, when the motion of the craft increased to a rate not much less than two miles in the hour.
As this superseded the necessity of rowing, an occupation that an Indian would not be likely to desire, Deerslayer, Chingachgook and Judith seated themselves in the stern of the scow, where they first governed its movements by holding the oar. Here they discoursed on their future movements, and on the means that ought to be used in order to effect the liberation of their friends.
In this dialogue Judith held a material part, the Delaware readily understanding all she said, while his own replies and remarks, both of which were few and pithy, were occasionally rendered into English by his friend.
Judith rose greatly in the estimation of her companions, in the half hour that followed.
Prompt of resolution and firm of purpose, her suggestions and expedients partook of her spirit and sagacity, both of which were of a character to find favor with men of the frontier.
The events that had occurred since their meeting, as well as her isolated and dependant situation, induced the girl to feel towards Deerslayer like the friend of a year instead of an acquaintance of a day, and so completely had she been won by his guileless truth of character and of feeling, pure novelties in our sex, as respected her own experience, that his peculiarities excited her curiosity, and created a confidence that had never been awakened by any other man.
Hitherto she had been compelled to stand on the defensive in her intercourse with men, with what success was best known to herself, but here had she been suddenly thrown into the society and under the protection of a youth, who evidently as little contemplated evil towards herself as if he had been her brother.
The freshness of his integrity, the poetry and truth of his feelings, and even the quaintness of his forms of speech, all had their influence, and aided in awakening an interest that she found as pure as it was sudden and deep.