The Deerslayer (Barnes & Noble Classics) - James Fenimore Cooper [146]
“They only know of the elephants, and can have no hopes about the other things.”
“That’s true, Judith; still covetousness is a craving feelin’. They’ll say if the palefaces have these curious beasts with two tails, who knows but they’ve got some with three, or, for that matter, with four! That’s what the schoolmasters call nat’ral arithmetic, and ’twill be sartain to beset the feelin’s of savages. They’ll never be easy till the truth is known.”
“Do you think, Deerslayer,” inquired Hetty, in her simple and innocent manner, “that the Iroquois won’t let father and Hurry go? I read to them several of the very best verses in the whole Bible, and you see what they have done already”
The hunter, as he always did, listened kindly and even affectionately to Hetty’s remarks; then he mused a moment in silence. There was something like a flush on his cheek, as he answered after quite a minute had passed—
“I don’t know whether a white man ought to be ashamed, or not, to own he can’t read; but such is my case, Judith.1 You are skillful, I find, in all such matters, while I have only studied the hand of God, as it is seen in the hills and the valleys, the mountaintops, the streams, the forest, and the springs. Much l‘arning may be got in this way, as well as out of books; and yet, I sometimes think it is a white man’s gift to read! When I hear from the mouths of the Moravians the words of which Hetty speaks, they raise a longing in my mind, and I think I will know how to read ’em myself; but the game in summer, and the traditions, and lessons in war, and other matters, have always kept me behindhand.”
“Shall I teach you, Deerslayer?” asked Hetty, earnestly. “I’m weak-minded, they say, but I can read as well as Judith. It might save your life, to know how to read the Bible to the savages, and it will certainly save your soul; for mother told me that, again and again!”
“Thankee, Hetty—yes, thankee, with all my heart. There are like to be too stirring times for much idleness; but, after it’s peace, and I come to see you ag‘in on this lake, then I’ll give myself up to it, as if ’twas pleasure and profit, in a single business. Perhaps I ought to be ashamed, Judith, that ‘tis so; but truth is truth. As for these Iroquois, ’tisn’t very likely they’ll forget a beast with two tails, on account of a varse or two from the Bible. I rather expect they’ll give up the prisoners, and trust to some sarcumvention or other to get ‘em back ag’in, with us and all in the castle, and the ark in the bargain. Howsever, we must humor the vagabonds first, to get your father and Hurry out of their hands, and next, to keep the peace atween us until such times as the Sarpent there can make out to get off his betrothed wife. If there’s any sudden outbreakin’ of anger and ferocity, the Indians will send off all their women and children to the camp, at once; whereas, by keeping ’em calm and trustful, we may manage to meet Hist at the spot she has mentioned. Rather than have the bargain fall through now, I’d throw in half a dozen of them effigy bow-and-arrow men, such as we’ve in plenty in the chist.”
Judith cheerfully assented, for she would have resigned even the flowered brocade, rather than not redeem her father and please Deerslayer.
The prospects of success were now so encouraging as to raise the spirits of all in the castle, though a due watchfulness on the movements of the enemy was maintained. Hour passed after hour, notwithstanding, and the sun had once more begun to fall towards the summits of the western hills, and yet no signs were seen of the return of the raft. By dint of sweeping the shore with the glass, Deerslayer at length discovered a place in the dense and dark woods, where, he entertained no doubt, the Iroquois were assembled in considerable numbers. It was near the thicket whence the raft had issued, and a little rill