length of the Horican, guaranteeing that not a shot of theirs shall, at the worst, more than break the
skin, while .
We forget our errand
, returned the diligent Duncan.
For God's sake let us profit by this advantage, and
increase our distance from the enemy
.
Give me my children
, said Munro, hoarsely;
trifle no longer with a father's agony, but restore me my
babes
.
Long and habitual deference to the mandates of his superiors had taught the scout the virtue of obedience. Throwing a last and lingering glance at the distant canoes, he laid aside his rifle, and, relieving the wearied Duncan, resumed the paddle, which he wielded with sinews that never tired. His efforts were seconded by those of the Mohicans and a very few minutes served to place such a sheet of water between them and their enemies, that Heyward once more breathed freely.
The lake now began to expand, and their route lay along a wide reach, that was lined, as before, by high and ragged mountains. But the islands were few, and easily avoided. The strokes of the paddles grew more measured and regular, while they who plied them continued their labor, after the close and deadly chase from which they had just relieved themselves, with as much coolness as though their speed had been tried in sport, rather than under such pressing, nay, almost desperate, circumstances.
Instead of following the western shore, whither their errand led them, the wary Mohican inclined his course more toward those hills behind which Montcalm was known to have led his army into the formidable fortress of Ticonderoga. As the Hurons, to every appearance, had abandoned the pursuit, there was no apparent reason for this excess of caution. It was, however, maintained for hours, until they had reached a bay, nigh the northern termination of the lake. Here the canoe was driven upon the beach, and the whole party landed. Hawkeye and Heyward ascended an adjacent bluff, where the former, after considering the expanse of water beneath him, pointed out to the latter a small black object, hovering under a headland, at the distance of several miles.
Do you see it
? demanded the scout.
Now, what would you account that spot, were you left alone to
white experience to find your way through this wilderness
?
But for its distance and its magnitude, I should suppose it a bird. Can it be a living object
?
'Tis a canoe of good birchen bark, and paddled by fierce and crafty Mingoes. Though Providence has
lent to those who inhabit the woods eyes that would be needless to men in the settlements, where there
are inventions to assist the sight, yet no human organs can see all the dangers which at this moment
circumvent us. These varlets pretend to be bent chiefly on their sun-down meal, but the moment it is
dark they will be on our trail, as true as hounds on the scent. We must throw them off, or our pursuit
of Le Renard Subtil may be given up. These lakes are useful at times, especially when the game take
the water
, continued the scout, gazing about him with a countenance of concern;
but they give no cover,
except it be to the fishes. God knows what the country would be, if the settlements should ever spread
far from the two rivers. Both hunting and war would lose their beauty
.
Let us not delay a moment, without some good and obvious cause
.
I little like that smoke, which you may see worming up along the rock above the canoe
, interrupted the
abstracted scout.
My life on it, other eyes than ours see it, and know its meaning. Well, words will not
mend the matter, and it is time that we were doing
.
Hawkeye moved away from the lookout, and descended, musing profoundly, to the shore. He communicated the result of his observations to his companions, in Delaware, and a short and earnest consultation succeeded. When it terminated, the three instantly set about executing their new resolutions.