measure, that nearly concerned the welfare of the travelers. Yielding to his powerful interest in the subject, and impatient of a delay that seemed fraught with so much additional danger, Heyward drew still nigher to the dusky group, with an intention of making his offers of compensation more definite, when the white man, motioning with his hand, as if he conceded the disputed point, turned away, saying in a sort of solilquy, and in the English tongue:

Uncas is right! it would not be the act of men to leave such harmless things to their fate, even though it breaks up the harboring place forever. If you would save these tender blossoms from the fangs of the worst of sarpents, gentleman, you have neither time to lose nor resolution to throw away!

How can such a wish be doubted! Have I not already offered - -

Offer your prayers to Him who can give us wisdom to circumvent the cunning of the devils who fill these woods, calmly interrupted the scout, but spare your offers of money, which neither you may live to realize, nor I to profit by. These Mohicans and I will do what man's thoughts can invent, to keep such flowers, which, though so sweet, were never made for the wilderness, from harm, and that without hope of any other recompense but such as God always gives to upright dealings. First, you must promise two things, both in your own name and for your friends, or without serving you we shall only injure ourselves!

Name them.

The one is, to be still as these sleeping woods, let what will happen and the other is, to keep the place where we shall take you, forever a secret from all mortal men.

I will do my utmost to see both these conditions fulfilled.

Then follow, for we are losing moments that are as precious as the heart's blood to a stricken deer!

Heyward could distinguish the impatient gesture of the scout, through the increasing shadows of the evening, and he moved in his footsteps, swiftly, toward the place where he had left the remainder of the party. When they rejoined the expecting and anxious females, he briefly acquainted them with the conditions of their new guide, and with the necessity that existed for their hushing every apprehension in instant and serious exertions. Although his alarming communication was not received without much secret terror by the listeners, his earnest and impressive manner, aided perhaps by the nature of the danger, succeeded in bracing their nerves to undergo some unlooked-for and unusual trial. Silently, and without a moment's delay, they permitted him to assist them from their saddles, and when they descended quickly to the water's edge, where the scout had collected the rest of the party, more by the agency of expressive gestures than by any use of words.

What to do with these dumb creatures! muttered the white man, on whom the sole control of their future movements appeared to devolve; it would be time lost to cut their throats, and cast them into the river; and to leave them here would be to tell the Mingoes that they have not far to seek to find their owners!

Then give them their bridles, and let them range the woods, Heyward ventured to suggest.

No; it would be better to mislead the imps, and make them believe they must equal a horse's speed to run down their chase. Ay, ay, that will blind their fireballs of eyes! Chingach - Hist! what stirs the bush?

The colt.

That colt, at least, must die, muttered the scout, grasping at the mane of the nimble beast, which easily eluded his hand; Uncas, your arrows!

Hold! exclaimed the proprietor of the condemned animal, aloud, without regard to the whispering tones used by the others; spare the foal of Miriam! it is the comely offspring of a faithful dam, and would willingly injure naught.