The poor fellow has saved his scalp, said Hawkeye, coolly passing his hand over the head of David; but
he is a proof that a man may be born with too long a tongue! 'Twas downright madness to show six feet
of flesh and blood, on a naked rock, to the raging savages. I only wonder he has escaped with life.
Is he not dead? demanded Cora, in a voice whose husky tones showed how powerfully natural horror
struggled with her assumed firmness. Can we do aught to assist the wretched man?
No, no! the life is in his heart yet, and after he has slept awhile he will come to himself, and be a wiser
man for it, till the hour of his real time shall come, returned Hawkeye, casting another oblique glance at
the insensible body, while he filled his charger with admirable nicety. Carry him in, Uncas, and lay him
on the sassafras. The longer his nap lasts the better it will be for him, as I doubt whether he can find a
proper cover for such a shape on these rocks; and singing won't do any good with the Iroquois.
You believe, then, the attack will be renewed? asked Heyward.
Do I expect a hungry wolf will satisfy his craving with a mouthful! They have lost a man, and 'tis their
fashion, when they meet a loss, and fail in the surprise, to fall back; but we shall have them on again,
with new expedients to circumvent us, and master our scalps. Our main hope, he continued, raising his
rugged countenance, across which a shade of anxiety just then passed like a darkening cloud, will be
to keep the rock until Munro can send a party to our help! God send it may be soon and under a leader
that knows the Indian customs!
You hear our probable fortunes, Cora, said Duncan, and you know we have everything to hope from
the anxiety and experience of your father. Come, then, with Alice, into this cavern, where you, at least,
will be safe from the murderous rifles of our enemies, and where you may bestow a care suited to your
gentle natures on our unfortunate comrade.
The sisters followed him into the outer cave, where David was beginning, by his sighs, to give symptoms
of returning consciousness, and then commending the wounded man to their attention, he immediately
prepared to leave them.
Duncan! said the tremulous voice of Cora, when he had reached the mouth of the cavern. He turned
and beheld the speaker, whose color had changed to a deadly paleness, and whose lips quivered, gazing
after him, with an expression of interest which immediately recalled him to her side. Remember, Duncan,
how necessary your safety is to our own - how you bear a father's sacred trust - how much depends on
your discretion and care - in short, she added, while the telltale blood stole over her features, crimsoning
her very temples, how very deservedly dear you are to all of the name of Munro.
If anything could add to my own base love of life, said Heyward, suffering his unconscious eyes to wander
to the youthful form of the silent Alice, it would be so kind an assurance. As major of the Sixtieth, our
honest host will tell you I must take my share of the fray; but our task will be easy; it is merely to keep
these blood-hounds at bay for a few hours.
Without waiting for a reply, he tore himself from the presence of the sisters, and joined the scout and his
companions, who stil lay within the protection of the little chasm between the two caves.
I tell you, Uncas, said the former, as Heyward joined them, you are wasteful of your powder, and the
kick of the rifle disconcerts your aim! Little powder, light lead, and a long arm, seldom fail of bringing
the death screech from a Mingo! At least, such has been my experience with the creatur's. Come, friends: let
us to our covers, for no man can tell when or where a Maqua1 will strike his blow.
The Indians silently repaired to their appointed stations, which were fissures in the rocks, whence they
could command the approaches to the foot of the falls. In the center of the little island, a few short and
stunted pines had found root, forming a thicket, into which Hawkeye darted with the swiftness of a deer,
followed by the active Duncan. Here they secured themselves, as well as circumstances would permit,