Chapter 22
Bottom: Are we all met?
Quince: Pat-pat; and here's a marvelous
Convenient place for our rehearsal.
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
The reader may better imagine, that we describe the surprise of Heyward.
His lurking Indians were suddenly converted into four-footed beasts; his lake into a beaver pond; his cataract
into a dam, constructed by those industrious and ingenious quadrupeds; and a suspected enemy into his
tried friend, David Gamut, the master of psalmody. The presence of the latter created so many unexpected
hopes relative to the sisters that, without a moment's hesitation, the young man broke out of his ambush,
and sprang forward to join the two principal actors in the scene. The merriment of Hawkeye was not easily appeased. Without ceremony, and with a rough hand, he
twirled the supple Gamut around on his heel, and more than once affirmed that the Hurons had done
themselves great credit in the fashion of his costume. Then, seizing the hand of the other, he squeezed
it with a grip that brought tears into the eyes of the placid David, and wished him joy of his new condition.
You were about opening your throat-practisings among the beavers, were ye? he said. The cunning
devils know half the trade already, for they beat the time with their tails, as you heard just now; and in
good time it was, too, or killdeer might have sounded the first note among them. I have known greater
fools, who could read and write, than an experienced old beaver; but as for squalling, the animals are
born dumb! What think you of such a song as this?
David shut his sensitive ears, and even Heyward apprised as he was of the nature of the cry, looked
upward in quest of the bird, as the cawing of a crow rang in the air about them.
See! continued the laughing scout, as he pointed toward the remainder of the party, who, in obedience
to the signal, were already approaching; this is music which has its natural virtues; it brings two good
rifles to my elbow, to say nothing of the knives and tomahawks. But we see that you are safe; now tell us
what has become of the maidens.
They are captives to the heathen, said David; and, though greatly troubled in spirit, enjoying comfort and
safety in the body.
Both! demanded the breathless Heyward.
Even so. Though our wayfaring has been sore and our sustenance scanty, we have had little other cause
for complaint, except the violence done our feelings, by being thus led in captivity into a far land.
Bless ye for these very words! exclaimed the trembling Munro; I shall then receive my babes, spotless
and angel-like, as I lost them!
I know not that their delivery is at hand, returned the doubting David; the leader of these savages is
possessed of an evil spirit that no power short of Omnipotence can tame. I have tried him sleeping and
waking, but neither sounds nor language seem to touch his soul.
Where is the knave? bluntly interrupted the scout.
He hunts the moose to-day, with his young men; and tomorrow, as I hear, they pass further into the forests,
and nigher to the borders of Canada. The elder maiden is conveyed to a neighboring people, whose
lodges are situate beyond yonder black pinnacle of rock; while the younger is detained among the women
of the Hurons, whose dwellings are but two short miles hence, on a table-land, where the fire had done
the office of the axe, and prepared the place for their reception.
Alice, my gentle Alice! murmured Heyward; she has lost the consolation of her sister's presence!
Even so. But so far as praise and thanksgiving in psalmody can temper the spirit in affliction, she has
not suffered.