No sound was audible, and this human Serpent thrust his head in at the door, or opening, as another serpent would have peered in on the nest.
Nothing rewarded the hazardous experiment; for, after feeling cautiously with a hand, the place was found to be empty.
The Delaware proceeded in the same guarded manner to one or two more of the huts, finding all in the same situation.
He then returned to his companions, and informed them that the Hurons had deserted their camp.
A little further inquiry corroborated this fact, and it only remained to return to the canoe.
The different manner in which the adventurers bore the disappointment is worthy of a passing remark.
The chief, who had landed solely with the hope of acquiring renown, stood stationary, leaning against a tree, waiting the pleasure of his companions.
He was mortified, and a little surprised, it is true; but he bore all with dignity, falling back for support on the sweeter expectations that still lay in reserve for that evening.
It was true, he could not now hope to meet his mistress with the proofs of his daring and skill on his person, but he might still hope to meet her; and the warrior, who was zealous in the search, might always hope to be honored.
On the other hand, Hutter and Hurry, who had been chiefly instigated by the basest of all human motives, the thirst of gain, could scarce control their feelings.
They went prowling among the huts, as if they expected to find some forgotten child or careless sleeper; and again and again did they vent their spite on the insensible huts, several of which were actually torn to pieces, and scattered about the place.
Nay, they even quarrelled with each other, and fierce reproaches passed between them.
It is possible some serious consequences might have occurred, had not the Delaware interfered to remind them of the danger of being so unguarded, and of the necessity of returning to the ark.
This checked the dispute, and in a few minutes they were paddling sullenly back to the spot where they hoped to find that vessel.
It has been said that Judith took her place at the side of Deerslayer, soon after the adventurers departed.
For a short time the girl was silent, and the hunter was ignorant which of the sisters had approached him, but he soon recognized the rich, full-spirited voice of the elder, as her feelings escaped in words.
"This is a terrible life for women, Deerslayer!" she exclaimed. "Would to Heaven I could see an end of it!"
"The life is well enough, Judith," was the answer, "being pretty much as it is used or abused.
What would you wish to see in its place?"
"I should be a thousand times happier to live nearer to civilized beings - where there are farms and churches, and houses built as it might be by Christian hands; and where my sleep at night would be sweet and tranquil!
A dwelling near on of the forts would be far better than this dreary place where we live!"
"Nay, Judith, I can't agree too lightly in the truth of all this.
If forts are good to keep off inimies, they sometimes hold inimies of their own.
I don't think 'twould be for your good, or the good of Hetty, to live near one; and if I must say what I think, I'm afeard you are a little too near as it is."
Deerslayer went on, in his own steady, earnest manner, for the darkness concealed the tints that colored the cheeks of the girl almost to the brightness of crimson, while her own great efforts suppressed the sounds of the breathing that nearly choked her.
"As for farms, they have their uses, and there's them that like to pass their lives on 'em; but what comfort can a man look for in a clearin', that he can't find in double quantities in the forest?
If air, and room, and light, are a little craved, the windrows and the streams will furnish 'em, or here are the lakes for such as have bigger longings in that way; but where are you to find your shades, and laughing springs, and leaping brooks, and vinerable trees, a thousand years old, in a clearin'?
You don't find them, but you find their disabled trunks, marking the 'arth like headstones in a graveyard.
It seems to me that the people who live in such places must be always thinkin' of their own inds, and of universal decay; and that, too, not of the decay that is brought about by time and natur', but the decay that follows waste and violence.
Then as to churches, they are good, I suppose, else wouldn't good men uphold 'em.
But they are not altogether necessary.
They call 'em the temples of the Lord; but, Judith, the whole 'arth is a temple of the Lord to such as have the right mind.
Neither forts nor churches make people happier of themselves.
Moreover, all is contradiction in the settlements, while all is concord in the woods.
Forts and churches almost always go together, and yet they're downright contradictions; churches being for peace, and forts for war.
No, no - give me the strong places of the wilderness, which is the trees, and the churches, too, which are arbors raised by the hand of natur'."
"Woman is not made for scenes like these, Deerslayer, scenes of which we shall have no end, as long as this war lasts."
"If you mean women of white colour, I rather think you're not far from the truth, gal; but as for the females of the redmen, such visitations are quite in character.
Nothing would make Hist, now, the bargained wife of yonder Delaware, happier than to know that he is at this moment prowling around his nat'ral inimies, striving after a scalp."
"Surely, surely, Deerslayer, she cannot be a woman, and not feel concern when she thinks the man she loves is in danger!"
"She doesn't think of the danger, Judith, but of the honor; and when the heart is desperately set on such feelin's, why, there is little room to crowd in fear.
Hist is a kind, gentle, laughing, pleasant creatur', but she loves honor, as well as any Delaware gal I ever know'd.
She's to meet the Sarpent an hour hence, on the p'int where Hetty landed, and no doubt she has her anxiety about it, like any other woman; but she'd be all the happier did she know that her lover was at this moment waylaying a Mingo for his scalp."
"If you really believe this, Deerslayer, no wonder you lay so much stress on gifts.
Certain am I, that no white girl could feel anything but misery while she believed her betrothed in danger of his life!
Nor do I suppose even you, unmoved and calm as you ever seem to be, could be at peace if you believed your Hist in danger."
"That's a different matter - 'tis altogether a different matter, Judith.
Woman is too weak and gentle to be intended to run such risks, and man must feel for her.
Yes, I rather think that's as much red natur' as it's white.
But I have no Hist, nor am I like to have; for I hold it wrong to mix colours, any way except in friendship and sarvices." "In that you are and feel as a white man should!