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The Delaware drew near, felt of the wood, examined its grain, endeavored to indent the surface with a nail, and passed his hand curiously over the steel bands, the heavy padlocks, and the other novel peculiarities of the massive box.

“No—nothing like this grows in these regions,” resumed Deerslayer ; “I’ve seen all the oaks, both the maples, the elms, the basswood, all the walnuts, the butternuts, and every tree that has a substance and color, wrought into some form or other; but never have I before seen such a wood as this! Judith, the chist itself would buy your father’s freedom, or Iroquois cur‘osity isn’t as strong as redskin cur’osity, in general; especially in the matter of woods.”

“The purchase might be cheaper made, perhaps, Deerslayer. The chest is full, and it would be better to part with half than to part with the whole. Besides, father—I know not why—but father values that chest highly.”

“He would seem to prize what it holds more than the chist itself, judging by the manner in which he treats the outside and secures the inside. Here are three locks, Judith; is there no key?”

“I’ve never seen one; and yet key there must be, since Hetty told us she had often seen the chest opened.”

“Keys no more lie in the air, or float on the water, than humans, gal; if there is a key, there must be a place in which it is kept.”

“That is true, and it might not be difficult to find it, did we dare to search!”

“This is for you, Judith; it is altogether for you. The chist is your‘n, or your father’s; and Hutter is your father, not mine. Cur’osity is a woman’s and not a man’s failing; and there you have got all the reasons before you. If the chist has articles for ransom, it seems to me they would be wisely used in redeeming their owner’s life, or even in saving his scalp; but that is a matter for your judgment, and not for our’n. When the lawful owner of a trap, or a buck, or a canoe, isn’t present, his next of kin becomes his riprisentatyve, by all the laws of the woods. We therefore leave you to say whether the chist shall or shall not be opened.”

“I hope you do not believe I can hesitate, when my father’s life’s in danger, Deerslayer!”

“Why, it’s pretty much putting a scolding ag’n tears and mourning. It’s not onreasonable to foretell that old Tom may find fault with what you’ve done, when he sees himself once more in his hut, here: but there’s nothing unusual in men’s falling out with what has been done for their own good; I dare to say that even the moon would seem a different thing from what it now does, could we look at it from the other side.”

“Deerslayer, if we can find the key, I will authorize you to open the chest, and to take such things from it as you may think will buy father’s ransom.”

“First find the key, gal; we’ll talk of the rest a’terwards. Sarpent, you’ve eyes like a fly, and a judgment that’s seldom out; can you help us in calculating where Floating Tom would be apt to keep the key of a chist that he holds to be as private as this?”

The Delaware had taken no part in the discourse, until he was thus directly appealed to, when he quitted the chest, which had continued to attract his attention, and cast about him for the place in which a key would be likely to be concealed under such circumstances. As Judith and Deerslayer were not idle the while, the whole three were soon engaged in an anxious and spirited search. As it was certain that the desired key was not to be found in any of the common drawers or closets, of which there were several in the building, none looked there, but all turned their inquiries to those places that struck them as ingenious hiding places, and more likely to be used for such a purpose. In this manner the outer room was thoroughly but fruitlessly examined, when they entered the sleeping apartment of Hutter. This part of the rude building was better furnished than the rest of the structure, containing several articles that had been especially devoted to the service of the deceased wife of its owner; but as Judith had all the rest of the keys, it was soon rummaged, without