The Deerslayer (Barnes & Noble Classics) - James Fenimore Cooper [312]
The idea of taking scalps for the bounties they would bring is first broached. Hutter says to Harry: “It isn’t right, perhaps, to take gold for human blood; and yet, when mankind is busy in killing one another, there can be no great harm in adding a little bit of skin to the plunder” (p. 75).
The argument turns to the question of whether the Indians are merely hunters, and thus easier prey, or whether they are on the warpath. Natty argues that since the Iroquois are wearing their war paint, they are certainly on the warpath. This argument, which is intended to point out practical difficulties (Natty has already raised the moral argument), has a paradoxical effect. Now Hutter shifts to the idea that since war is already, in effect, being waged by the other side, a wartime morality prevails that justifies any tactic.
The women, Judith and Hetty, invariably make the most sense and make strong arguments, each in her own way, against the scheme. But they are dismissed by Floating Tom and Harry as “womanish.”
What are the Iroquois doing this far south? We never find out for sure, but it appears that they are acting at the behest of the French against their old foes, the Delawares, as well as against the white settlers. They no doubt hope to pick up a few scalps for the bounties they will bring from the French colonial authorities.
Chapter VI
1 (p. 88) the castle was seen, in the darkness, rising out of the water: The debates and the dinner of Chapter V take place on the ark. The castle is much more secure than the ark since it has very thick walls, as is described in chapter II. The actual shoals of Lake Otsego, as Cooper notes in his preface, lie somewhat to the north and east of the castle’s fictional location.
2 (p. 89) keeping back the portion ... reserved for execution by Hurry and himself: The reserved portion refers to the scalping scheme. They left the discussion somewhat vague and unresolved in the previous chapter in an effort to hide their full intentions from Deerslayer. The duo of Old Tom and Hurry are, however, like “the gang that couldn’t shoot straight,” and we can be assured that they do not have a well-thought-through plan. Their immediate aim is to secure Deerslayer’s help in retrieving the hidden canoes.
3 (p. 94) fire had been kindled at an encampment ... inferred that this encampment contained the women and children of the party: This is a key assumption that turns out to be mistaken. We are given no indication of what led Hutter to the inference that the Indian women and children would be left totally undefended. Deerslayer, for his part, does not question the surmise that a carefully concealed fire means no warriors are present. The Indian encampment, the first of three mentioned in the novel, is located toward the middle of the western shore of the lake.
Chapter VII
1 (p. 104) This was the moment the young man desired: This first encounter between Deerslayer and an Indian takes place at Gravelly Point on the eastern shore of the lake about two-thirds up toward the northern end. Deerslayer will encounter the slain Indian’s widow later in the novel.
Chapter VIII
1 (p. 124) “they would be more likely to honor than to injure them for it”: Judith again demonstrates in this speech that she is the most clearheaded character in the novel. Most readers, by this point, have begun to like her and to feel that she is not the vain, flirtatious woman that Hurry Harry has intimated.
2 (p. 125) “which is interpreted into Hist-oh-Hist”: I refer to her throughout as Hist.
3 (p. 126) “something might turn up that would lead to our getting the