When Magua thought sufficient time had been lost in gratifying the family affection of the warrior, he
again made the signal to proceed. As the Indians moved away in a body, and with a step that would
have been inaudible to the ears of any common man, the same venerable-looking beaver once more
ventured his head from its cover. Had any of the Hurons turned to look behind them, they would have
seen the animal watching their movements with an interest and sagacity that might easily have been
mistaken for reason. Indeed, so very distinct and intelligible were the devices of the quadruped, that
even the most experienced observer would have been at a loss to account for its actions, until the moment
when the party entered the forest, when the whole would have been explained, by seeing the entire
animal issue from the lodge, uncasing, by the act, the grave features of Chingachgook from his mask
of fur.