These, as they change, Almighty Father, these,
Are but the varied God.
THOMSON.
As the chief landed he was met by the Pathfinder, who addressed
him in the language of the warrior's people: "Was it well done,
Chingachgook," said he reproachfully, "to ambush a dozen Mingos
alone? Killdeer seldom fails me, it is true; but the Oswego makes a
distant mark, and that miscreant showed little more than his head
and shoulders above the bushes, and an onpractysed hand and eye
might have failed. You should have thought of this, chief -- you
should have thought of this!"
"The Great Serpent is a Mohican warrior -- he sees only his enemies
when he is on the war-path, and his fathers have struck the Mingos
from behind, since the waters began to run."
"I know your gifts, I know your gifts, and respect them too. No
man shall hear me complain that a red-skin obsarved red-skin natur'.
But prudence as much becomes a warrior as valor; and had not the
Iroquois devils been looking after their friends who were in the
water, a hot trail they would have made of yourn."
"What is the Delaware about to do?" exclaimed Jasper, who observed
at that moment that the chief had suddenly left the Pathfinder
and advanced to the water's edge, apparently with an intention of
again entering the river. "He will not be so mad as to return to
the other shore for any trifle he may have forgotten?"
"Not he, not he; he is as prudent as he is brave, in the main, though
so forgetful of himself in the late ambushment. Hark'e, Jasper,"
leading the other a little aside, just as they heard the Indian's
plunge into the water, --"hark'e, lad; Chingachgook is not a
Christian white man, like ourselves, but a Mohican chief, who has
his gifts and traditions to tell him what he ought to do; and he
who consorts with them that are not strictly and altogether of his
own kind had better leave natur' and use to govern his comrades.
A king's soldier will swear and he will drink, and it is of little
use to try to prevent him; a gentleman likes his delicacies, and
a lady her feathers and it does not avail much to struggle against
either; whereas an Indian's natur' and gifts are much stronger
than these, and no doubt were bestowed by the Lord for wise ends,
though neither you nor me can follow them in all their windings."
"What does this mean? See, the Delaware is swimming towards the
body that is lodged on the rock? Why does he risk this?"
"For honor and glory and renown, as great gentlemen quit their quiet
homes beyond seas -- where, as they tell me, heart has nothing left
to wish for; that is, such hearts as can be satisfied in a clearing
-- to come hither to live on game and fight the Frenchers."
"I understand you -- your friend has gone to secure the scalp."
"'Tis his gift, and let him enjoy it. We are white men, and cannot
mangle a dead enemy; but it is honor in the eyes of a red-skin
to do so. It may seem singular to you, Eau-douce, but I've known
white men of great name and character manifest as remarkable idees
consarning their honor, I have."
"A savage will be a savage, Pathfinder, let him keep what company
he may."
"It is well for us to say so, lad; but, as I tell you, white honor
will not always conform to reason or to the will of God. I have
passed days thinking of these matters, out in the silent woods,
and I have come to the opinion, boy, that, as Providence rules all
things, no gift is bestowed without some wise and reasonable end."
"The Serpent greatly exposes himself to the enemy, in order to get
his scalp! This may lose us the day."
"Not in his mind, Jasper. That one scalp has more honor in it,
according to the Sarpent's notions of warfare, than a field covered
with slain, that kept the hair on their heads. Now, there was the
fine young captain of the 60th that threw away his life in trying
to bring off a three-pounder from among the Frenchers in the last
skrimmage we had; he thought he was sarving honor; and I have known
a young ensign wrap himself up in his colors, and go to sleep in
his blood, fancying that he was lying on something softer even than
buffalo-skins."
"Yes, yes; one can understand the merit of not hauling down an
ensign."
"And these are Chingachgook's colors -- he will keep them to show
his children's children -- " Here the Pathfinder interrupted
himself, shook his head in melancholy, and slowly added, "Ah's
me! no shoot of the old Mohican stem remains! He has no children
to delight with his trophies; no tribe to honor by his deeds; he
is a lone man in this world, and yet he stands true to his training
and his gifts! There is something honest and respectable in these,
you must allow, Jasper."
Here a great outcry from the Iroquois was succeeded by the quick
reports of their rifles, and so eager did the enemy become, in the
desire to drive the Delaware back from his victim, that a dozen
rushed into the river, several of whom even advanced near a hundred
feet into the foaming current, as if they actually meditated a
serious sortie. But Chingachgook continued unmoved, as he remained
unhurt by the missiles, accomplishing his task with the dexterity
of long habit. Flourishing his reeking trophy, he gave the war-whoop
in its most frightful intonations, and for a minute the arches of
the silent woods and the deep vista formed by the course of the
river echoed with cries so terrific that Mabel bowed her head in
irrepressible fear, while her uncle for a single instant actually
meditated flight.
"This surpasses all I have heard from the wretches," Jasper exclaimed,
stopping his ears, equally in horror and disgust.
"'Tis their music, boy; their drum and fife; their trumpets and
clarions. No doubt they love those sounds; for they stir up in them
fierce feelings, and a desire for blood," returned the Pathfinder,
totally unmoved. "I thought them rather frightful when a mere
youngster; but they have become like the whistle of the whippoorwill
or the song of the cat-bird in my ear now. All the screeching
reptyles that could stand between the falls and the garrison would
have no effect on my narves at this time of day. I say it not in
boasting, Jasper; for the man that lets in cowardice through the
ears must have but a weak heart at the best; sounds and outcries
being more intended to alarm women and children than such as scout
the forest and face the foe. I hope the Sarpent is now satisfied,
for here he comes with the scalp at his belt."
Jasper turned away his head as the Delaware rose from the water,
in pure disgust at his late errand; but the Pathfinder regarded his
friend with the philosophical indifference of one who had made up
his mind to be indifferent to things he deemed immaterial. As
the Delaware passed deeper into the bushes with a view to wring
his trifling calico dress and to prepare his rifle for service, he
gave one glance of triumph at his companions, and then all emotion
connected with the recent exploit seemed to cease.
"Jasper," resumed the guide, "step down to the station of Master
Cap, and ask him to join us: we have little time for a council, and
yet our plans must be laid quickly, for it will not be long before
them Mingos will be plotting our ruin."
The young man complied; and in a few minutes the four were assembled
near the shore, completely concealed from the view of their
enemies, while they kept a vigilant watch over the proceedings of
the latter, in order to consult on their own future movements.
By this time the day had so far advanced as to leave but a few
minutes between the passing light and an obscurity that promised
to be even deeper than common. The sun had already set and the
twilight of a low latitude would soon pass into the darkness of
deep night. Most of the hopes of the party rested on this favorable
circumstance, though it was not without its dangers also, as the
very obscurity which would favor their escape would be as likely
to conceal the movements of their wily enemies.
"The moment has come, men," Pathfinder commenced, "when our plans
must be coolly laid, in order that we may act together, and with
a right understanding of our errand and gifts. In an hour's time
these woods will be as dark as midnight; and if we are ever to
gain the garrison, it must be done under favor of this advantage.
What say you, Master Cap? for, though none of the most experienced
in combats and retreats in the woods, your years entitle you to
speak first in a matter like this and in a council."
"Well, in my judgment, all we have to do is to go on board the canoe
when it gets to be so dark the enemy's lookouts can't see us, and
run for the haven, as wind and tide will allow."
"That is easily said, but not so easily done," returned the guide.
"We shall be more exposed in the river than by following the woods;
and then there is the Oswego rift below us, and I am far from
sartain that Jasper himself can carry a boat safely through it in
the dark. What say you, lad, as to your own skill and judgment?"
"I am of Master Cap's opinion about using the canoe. Mabel is too
tender to walk through swamps and among roots of trees in such a
night as this promises to be, and then I always feel myself stouter
of heart and truer of eye when afloat than when ashore."
"Stout of heart you always be, lad, and I think tolerably true of
eye for one who has lived so much in broad sunshine and so little
in the woods. Ah's me! The Ontario has no trees, or it would be
a plain to delight a hunter's heart! As to your opinion, friends,
there is much for and much against it. For it, it may be
said water leaves no trail -- "
"What do you call the wake?" interrupted the pertinacious and
dogmatical Cap.
"Anan?"
"Go on," said Jasper; "Master Cap thinks he is on the ocean
-- water leaves no trail -- "
"It leaves none, Eau-douce, hereaway, though I do not pretend to
say what it may leave on the sea. Then a canoe is both swift and
easy when it floats with the current, and the tender limbs of the
Sergeant's daughter will be favored by its motion. But, on the
other hand, the river will have no cover but the clouds in the
heavens; the rift is a ticklish thing for boats to venture into,
even by daylight; and it is six fairly measured miles, by water,
from this spot to the garrison. Then a trail on land is not easy
to be found in the dark. I am troubled, Jasper, to say which way
we ought to counsel and advise."
"If the Serpent and myself could swim into the river and bring off
the other canoe," the young sailor replied, "it would seem to me
that our safest course would be the water."
"If, indeed! and yet it might easily be done, as soon as it is
a little darker. Well, well, I am not sartain it will not be the
best. Though, were we only a party of men, it would be like a
hunt to the lusty and brave to play at hide-and-seek with yonder
miscreants on the other shore, Jasper," continued the guide, into
whose character there entered no ingredient which belonged to vain
display or theatrical effect, "will you undertake to bring in the
canoe?"
"I will undertake anything that will serve and protect Mabel,
Pathfinder."
"That is an upright feeling, and I suppose it is natur'. The
Sarpent, who is nearly naked already, can help you; and this will
be cutting off one of the means of them devils to work their harm."
This material point being settled, the different members of the
party prepared themselves to put the project in execution. The
shades of evening fell fast upon the forest; and by the time all was
ready for the attempt, it was found impossible to discern objects
on the opposite shore. Time now pressed; for Indian cunning could
devise so many expedients for passing so narrow a stream, that the
Pathfinder was getting impatient to quit the spot. While Jasper
and his companion entered the river, armed with nothing but their
knives and the Delaware's tomahawk, observing the greatest caution
not to betray their movements, the guide brought Mabel from her
place of concealment, and, bidding her and Cap proceed along the
shore to the foot of the rapids, he got into the canoe that remained
in his possession, in order to carry it to the same place.
This was easily effected. The canoe was laid against the bank,
and Mabel and her uncle entered it, taking their seats as usual;
while the Pathfinder, erect in the stern, held by a bush, in order
to prevent the swift stream from sweeping them down its current.
Several minutes of intense and breathless expectation followed,
while they awaited the results of the bold attempt of their comrades.
It will be understood that the two adventurers were compelled to
swim across a deep and rapid channel before they could reach a part
of the rift that admitted of wading. This portion of the enterprise
was soon effected; and Jasper and the Serpent struck the bottom
side by side at the same instant. Having secured firm footing,
they took hold of each other's hands, and waded slowly and with
extreme caution in the supposed direction of the canoe. But the
darkness was already so deep that they soon ascertained they were
to be but little aided by the sense of sight, and that their search
must be conducted on that species of instinct which enables the
woodsman to find his way when the sun is hid, no stars appear, and
all would seem chaos to one less accustomed to the mazes of the
forest. Under these circumstances, Jasper submitted to be guided
by the Delaware, whose habits best fitted him to take the lead.
Still it was no easy matter to wade amid the roaring element at
that hour, and retain a clear recollection of the localities. By
the time they believed themselves to be in the centre of the
stream, the two shores were discernible merely by masses of obscurity
denser than common, the outlines against the clouds being barely
distinguishable by the ragged tops of the trees. Once or twice
the wanderers altered their course, in consequence of unexpectedly
stepping into deep water; for they knew that the boat had lodged
on the shallowest part of the rift. In short, with this fact for
their compass, Jasper and his companion wandered about in the water
for nearly a quarter of an hour; and at the end of that period,
which began to appear interminable to the young man, they found
themselves apparently no nearer the object of their search than
they had been at its commencement. Just as the Delaware was about
to stop, in order to inform his associate that they would do well
to return to the land, in order to take a fresh departure, he saw
the form of a man moving about in the water, almost within reach
of his arm. Jasper was at his side, and he at once understood that
the Iroquois were engaged on the same errand as he was himself.
"Mingo!" he uttered in Jasper's ear. "The Serpent will show his
brother how to be cunning."
The young sailor caught a glimpse of the figure at that instant,
and the startling truth also flashed on his mind. Understanding
the necessity of trusting all to the Delaware chief, he kept back,
while his friend moved cautiously in the direction in which the
strange form had vanished. In another moment it was seen again,
evidently moving towards themselves. The waters made such an uproar
that little was to be apprehended from ordinary sounds, and the
Indian, turning his head, hastily said, "Leave it to the cunning
of the Great Serpent."
"Hugh!" exclaimed the strange savage, adding, in the language of
his people, "The canoe is found, but there were none to help me.
Come, let us raise it from the rock."
"Willingly," answered Chingachgook, who understood the dialect.
"Lead; we will follow."
The stranger, unable to distinguish between voices and accents amid
the raging of the rapid, led the way in the necessary direction;
and, the two others keeping close at his heels, all three speedily
reached the canoe. The Iroquois laid hold of one end, Chingachgook
placed himself in the centre, and Jasper went to the opposite
extremity, as it was important that the stranger should not detect
the presence of a pale-face, a discovery that might be made by
the parts of the dress the young man still wore, as well as by the
general appearance of his head.
"Lift," said the Iroquois in the sententious manner of his race;
and by a trifling effort the canoe was raised from the rock, held
a moment in the air to empty it, and then placed carefully on the
water in its proper position. All three held it firmly, lest it
should escape from their hands under the pressure of the violent
current, while the Iroquois, who led, of course, being at the
upper end of the boat, took the direction of the eastern shore,
or towards the spot where his friends waited his return.
As the Delaware and Jasper well knew there must be several more
of the Iroquois on the rift, from the circumstance that their own
appearance had occasioned no surprise in the individual they had
met, both felt the necessity of extreme caution. Men less bold and
determined would have thought that they were incurring too great a
risk by thus venturing into the midst of their enemies; but these
hardy borderers were unacquainted with fear, were accustomed to
hazards, and so well understood the necessity of at least preventing
their foes from getting the boat, that they would have cheerfully
encountered even greater risks to secure their object. So
all-important to the safety of Mabel, indeed, did Jasper deem the
possession or the destruction of this canoe, that he had drawn
his knife, and stood ready to rip up the bark, in order to render
the boat temporarily unserviceable, should anything occur to compel
the Delaware and himself to abandon their prize.
In the meantime, the Iroquois, who led the way, proceeded slowly
through the water in the direction of his own party, still grasping
the canoe, and dragging his reluctant followers in his train.
Once Chingachgook raised his tomahawk, and was about to bury it
in the brain of his confiding and unsuspicious neighbor; but the
probability that the death-cry or the floating body might give the
alarm induced that wary chief to change his purpose. At the next
moment he regretted this indecision, for the three who clung to
the canoe suddenly found themselves in the centre of a party of no
less than four others who were in quest of it.
After the usual brief characteristic exclamations of satisfaction, the
savages eagerly laid hold of the canoe, for all seemed impressed
with the necessity of securing this important boat, the one side in
order to assail their foes, and the other to secure their retreat.
The addition to the party, however, was so unlooked-for, and so
completely gave the enemy the superiority, that for a few moments
the ingenuity and address of even the Delaware were at fault. The
five Iroquois, who seemed perfectly to understand their errand,
pressed forward towards their own shore, without pausing to converse;
their object being in truth to obtain the paddles, which they had
previously secured, and to embark three or four warriors, with all
their rifles and powder-horns, the want of which had alone prevented
their crossing the river by swimming as soon as it was dark.
In this manner, the body of friends and foes united reached the
margin of the eastern channel, where, as in the case of the western,
the river was too deep to be waded. Here a short pause succeeded,
it being necessary to determine the manner in which the canoe was
to be carried across. One of the four who had just reached the
boat was a chief; and the habitual deference which the American
Indian pays to merit, experience, and station kept the others
silent until this individual had spoken.
The halt greatly added to the danger of discovering the presence
of Jasper, in particular, who, however, had the precaution to throw
the cap he wore into the bottom of the canoe. Being without his
jacket and shirt, the outline of his figure, in the obscurity, would
now be less likely to attract observation. His position, too, at
the stern of the canoe a little favored his concealment, the Iroquois
naturally keeping their looks directed the other way. Not so with
Chingachgook. This warrior was literally in the midst of his most
deadly foes, and he could scarcely move without touching one of
them. Yet he was apparently unmoved, though he kept all his senses
on the alert, in readiness to escape, or to strike a blow at the
proper moment. By carefully abstaining from looking towards those
behind him, he lessened the chances of discovery, and waited with
the indomitable patience of an Indian for the instant when he should
be required to act.
"Let all my young men but two, one at each end of the canoe, cross
and get their arms," said the Iroquois chief. "Let the two push
over the boat."
The Indians quietly obeyed, leaving Jasper at the stern, and the
Iroquois who had found the canoe at the bow of the light craft,
Chingachgook burying himself so deep in the river as to be passed
by the others without detection. The splashing in the water, the
tossing arms, and the calls of one to another, soon announced that
the four who had last joined the party were already swimming. As
soon as this fact was certain, the Delaware rose, resumed his former
station, and began to think the moment for action was come.
One less habitually under self-restraint than this warrior would
probably have now aimed his meditated blow; but Chingachgook knew
there were more Iroquois behind him on the rift, and he was a warrior
much too trained and experienced to risk anything unnecessarily.
He suffered the Indian at the bow of the canoe to push off into
the deep water, and then all three were swimming in the direction of
the eastern shore. Instead, however, of helping the canoe across
the swift current, no sooner did the Delaware and Jasper find
themselves within the influence of its greatest force than both
began to swim in a way to check their farther progress across the
stream. Nor was this done suddenly, or in the incautious manner in
which a civilized man would have been apt to attempt the artifice,
but warily, and so gradually that the Iroquois at the bow fancied
at first he was merely struggling against the strength of the
current. Of course, while acted on by these opposing efforts, the
canoe drifted down stream, and in about a minute it was floating
in still deeper water at the foot of the rift. Here, however, the
Iroquois was not slow in finding that something unusual retarded
their advance, and, looking back; he first learned that he was
resisted by the efforts of his companions.
That second nature which grows up through habit instantly told
the young Iroquois that he was alone with enemies. Dashing the
water aside, he sprang at the throat of Chingachgook, and the two
Indians, relinquishing their hold of the canoe, seized each other
like tigers. In the midst of the darkness of that gloomy night, and
floating in an element so dangerous to man when engaged in deadly
strife, they appeared to forget everything but their fell animosity
and their mutual desire to conquer.
Jasper had now complete command of the canoe, which flew off like
a feather impelled by the breath under the violent reaction of the
struggles of the two combatants. The first impulse of the youth
was to swim to the aid of the Delaware, but the importance of
securing the boat presented itself with tenfold force, while he
listened to the heavy breathings of the warriors as they throttled
each other, and he proceeded as fast as possible towards the
western shore. This he soon reached; and after a short search he
succeeded in discovering the remainder of the party and in procuring
his clothes. A few words sufficed to explain the situation in
which he had left the Delaware and the manner in which the canoe
had been obtained.
When those who had been left behind had heard the explanations of
Jasper, a profound stillness reigned among them, each listening
intently in the vain hope of catching some clue to the result
of the fearful struggle that had just taken place, if it were not
still going on in the water. Nothing was audible beyond the steady
roar of the rushing river; it being a part of the policy of their
enemies on the opposite shore to observe the most deathlike stillness.
"Take this paddle, Jasper," said Pathfinder calmly, though the
listeners thought his voice sounded more melancholy than usual,
"and follow with your own canoe. It is unsafe for us to remain
here longer."
"But the Serpent?"
"The Great Sarpent is in the hands of his own Deity, and will live
or die, according to the intentions of Providence. We can do him
no good, and may risk too much by remaining here in idleness, like
women talking over their distresses. This darkness is very precious."
A loud, long, piercing yell came from the shore, and cut short the
words of the guide.
"What is the meaning of that uproar, Master Pathfinder?" demanded
Cap. "It sounds more like the outcries of devils than anything
that can come from the throats of Christians and men."
"Christians they are not, and do not pretend to be, and do not
wish to be; and in calling them devils you have scarcely misnamed
them. That yell is one of rejoicing, and it is as conquerors they
have given it. The body of the Sarpent, no doubt, dead or alive,
is in their power.
"And we!" exclaimed Jasper, who felt a pang of generous regret, as
the idea that he might have averted the calamity presented itself
to his mind, had he not deserted his comrade.
"We can do the chief no good, lad, and must quit this spot as fast
as possible."
"Without one attempt to rescue him? -- without even knowing whether
he be dead or living?"
"Jasper is right," said Mabel, who could speak, though her voice
sounded huskily and smothered; "I have no fears, uncle, and will
stay here until we know what has become of our friend."
"This seems reasonable, Pathfinder," put in Cap. "Your true seaman
cannot well desert a messmate; and I am glad to find that motives
so correct exist among those fresh-water people."
"Tut! tut!" returned the impatient guide, forcing the canoe into
the stream as he spoke; "ye know nothing and ye fear nothing. If
ye value your lives, think of reaching the garrison, and leave the
Delaware in the hands of Providence. Ah's me! the deer that goes
too often to the lick meets the hunter at last!"