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By Root 1293 0

A minute later, Hetty was seen on her knees, in the other end of the canoe, repeating the prayers that had been taught her in childhood by a misguided but repentant mother. As Hutter laid down the glass, still drawn to its focus, the Serpent raised it to his eye and turned it towards the canoe. It was the first time he had ever used such an instrument, and Hist understood by his “Hugh!” the expression of his face, and his entire mien, that something wonderful had excited his admiration. It is well known that the American Indians, more particularly those of superior character and stations, singularly maintain their self-possession and stoicism, in the midst of the flood of marvels that present themselves in their occasional visits to the abodes of civilization; and Chingachgook had imbibed enough of this impassibility to suppress any very undignified manifestation of surprise. With Hist, however, no such law was binding, and when her lover managed to bring the glass in a line with the canoe, and her eye was applied to the smaller end, the girl started back in alarm; then she clapped her hands with delight, and a laugh, the usual attendant of untutored admiration, followed. A few minutes sufficed to enable this quick-witted girl to manage the instrument for herself, and she directed it at every prominent object that struck her fancy. Finding a rest in one of the windows, she and the Delaware first surveyed the lake, then the shores, the hills, and finally the castle attracted their attention. After a long steady gaze at the latter, Hist took away her eye, and spoke to her lover in a low, earnest manner. Chingachgook immediately placed his eye to the glass, and his look even exceeded that of his betrothed, in length and intensity Again they spoke together confidentially, appearing to compare opinions, after which the glass was laid aside, and the young warrior quitted the cabin to join Hutter and Hurry.

The ark was slowly but steadily advancing, and the castle was materially within half a mile, when Chingachgook joined the two white men in the stern of the scow. His manner was calm, but it was evident to the others, who were familiar with the habits of the Indians, that he had something to communicate. Hurry was generally prompt to speak, and according to custom, he took the lead on this occasion.

“Out with it, redskin,” he cried, in his usual rough manner. “Have you discovered a chipmunk in a tree, or is there a salmon trout swimming under the bottom of the scow? You find what a paleface can do in the way of eyes, now, Sarpent, and mustn’t wonder that they can see the land of the Indians from afar off.”

“No good to go to castle,” put in Chingachgook with emphasis, the moment the other gave him an opportunity of speaking. “Huron there.”

“The devil he is! If this should turn out to be true, Floating Tom, a pretty trap were we about to pull down on our heads! Huron there!—well, this may be so; but no signs can I see of anything near or about the old hut but logs, water, and bark—’bating two or three windows and one door.”

Hutter called for the glass and took a careful survey of the spot before he ventured an opinion at all; then he somewhat cavalierly expressed his dissent from that given by the Indian.

“You’ve got this glass wrong end foremost, Delaware,” continued Hurry; “neither the old man nor I can see any trail in the lake.”

“No trail—water make no trail,” said Hist, eagerly. “Stop boat—no go too near—Huron there!”

“Ay, that’s it! Stick to the same tale and more people will believe you. I hope, Sarpent, you and your gal will agree in telling the same story after marriage as well as you do now. Huron there!—whereabouts is he to be seen—in the padlock, or the chains, or the logs? There isn’t a jail in the colony that has a more lock-up look about it than old Tom’s chiente; and I know something about jails from exper’ ence.”

“No see moccasin,” said Hist impatiently, “why no look and see him.”

“Give me the glass, Harry,” interrupted Hutter, “and lower the sail. It is seldom that an Indian woman meddles, and when she