I fear we shall outsleep the coming mornThe instant the shock of this sudden misfortune had abated, Duncan began to make his observations on the appearance and proceedings of their captors. Contrary to the usages of the natives in the wantonness of their success they had respected, not only the persons of the trembling sisters, but his own. The rich ornaments of his military attire had indeed been repeatedly handled by different individuals of the tribes with eyes expressing a savage longing to possess the baubles; but before the customary violence could be resorted to, a mandate in the authoritative voice of the large warrior, already mentioned, stayed the uplifted hand, and convinced Heyward that they were to be reserved for some object of particular moment.
As much as we this night have overwatched!
MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
While, however, these manifestations of weakness were exhibited by the young and vain of the party,
the more experienced warriors continued their search throughout both caverns, with an activity that denoted
they were far from being satisfied with those fruits of their conquest which had already been brought to
light. Unable to discover any new victim, these diligent workers of vengeance soon approached their
male prisoners, pronouncing the name La Longue Carabine
, with a fierceness that could not be easily
mistaken. Duncan affected not to comprehend the meaning of their repeated and violent interrogatories,
while his companion was spared the effort of a similar deception by his ignorance of French. Wearied
at length by their importunities, and apprehensive of irritating his captors by too stubborn a silence, the
former looked about him in quest of Magua, who might interpret his answers to questions which were at
each moment becoming more earnest and threatening.
The conduct of this savage had formed a solitary exception to that of all his fellows. While the others were busily occupied in seeking to gratify their childish passion for finery, by plundering even the miserable effects of the scout, or had been searching with such bloodthirsty vengeance in their looks for their absent owner, Le Renard had stood at a little distance from the prisoners, with a demeanor so quiet and satisfied, as to betray that he had already effected the grand purpose of his treachery. When the eyes of Heyward first met those of his recent guide, he turned them away in horror at the sinister though calm look he encountered. Conquering his disgust, however, he was able, with an averted face, to address his successful enemy.
Le Renard Subtil is too much of a warrior
, said the reluctant Heyward,
to refuse telling an unarmed
man what his conquerors say
.
They ask for the hunter who knows the paths through the woods
, returned Magua, in his broken English,
laying his hand, at the same time, with a ferocious smile, on the bundle of leaves with which a wound on
his own shoulder was bandaged.
.
Le Renard is too brave to remember the hurts received in war, or the hands that gave them
.
Was it war, when the tired Indian rested at the sugartree to taste his corn! who filled the bushes with
creeping enemies! who drew the knife, whose tongue was peace, while his heart was colored with blood!
Did Magua say that the hatchet was out of the ground, and that his hand had dug it up
?
As Duncan dared not retort upon his accuser by reminding him of his own premeditated treachery, and
disdained to deprecate his resentment by any words of apology, he remained silent. Magua seemed
also content to rest the controversy as well as all further communication there, for he resumed the leaning
attitude against the rock from which, in momentary energy, he had arisen. But the cry of La Longue
Carabine
was renewed the instant the impatient savages perceived that the short dialogue was ended.
You hear
, said Magua, with stubborn indifference:
the red Hurons call for the life of
!
He is gone - escaped; he is far beyond their reach
.