be disconcerted at a moment so critical。
It was truly an alarming instant。 Just as Mabel touched
the shoulder of her guide； three of the Iroquois had ap…
eared in the water； at the bend of the river； within a
hundred yards of the cover； and halted to examine the
stream below。 They were all naked to the waist； armed
for an expedition against their foes； and in their war…
paint。 It was apparent that they were undecided as to the
course they ought to pursue in order to find the fugitives。
One pointed down the river； a second up the stream； and
the third towards the opposite bank。 They evidently
doubted。
CHAPTER V
Death is here and death is there；
Death is busy everywhere。
SHELLEY
It was a breathless moment。 The only clue the fugitives
possessed to the intentions of their pursuers was in their
gestures and the indications which escaped them in the
fury of disappointment。 That a party had returned
already； on their own footsteps； by land； was pretty certain；
and all the benefit expected from the artifice of the fire
was necessarily lost。 But that consideration became of
little moment just then； for the party was menaced with
an immediate discovery by those who had kept on a level
with the river。 All the facts presented themselves clearly；
and as it might be by intuition； to the mind of Pathfinder；
who perceived the necessity of immediate decision and of
being in readiness to act in concert。 Without making any
noise； therefore； he managed to get the two Indians and
Jasper near him； when he opened his communications in
a whisper。
〃We must be ready； we must be ready；〃 he said。 〃There
are but three of the scalping devils； and we are five； four
of whom may be set down as manful warriors for such a
skrimmage。 Eau…douce； do you take the fellow that is
painted like death； Chingachgook； I give you the chief；
and Arrowhead must keep his eye on the young one。 There
must be no mistake； for two bullets in the same body would
be sinful waste； with one like the Sergeant's daughter in
danger。 I shall hold myself in resarve against accident；
lest a fourth reptile appear； for one of your hands may
prove unsteady。 By no means fire until I give the word；
we must not let the crack of the rifle be heard except in
the last resort； since all the rest of the miscreants are still
within hearing。 Jasper； boy； in case of any movement
behind us on the bank； I trust to you to run out the canoe
with the Sergeant's daughter； and to pull for the garrison；
by God's leave。〃
The Pathfinder had no sooner given these directions
than the near approach of their enemies rendered profound
silence necessary。 The Iroquois in the river were slowly
descending the stream； keeping of necessity near the
bushes which overhung the water； while the rustling of
leaves and the snapping of twigs soon gave fearful evidence
that another party was moving along the bank； at an
equally graduated pace； and directly abreast of them。 In
consequence of the distance between the bushes planted
by the fugitives and the true shore； the two parties became
visible to each other when opposite that precise point。
Both stopped； and a conversation ensued； that may be said
to have passed directly over the heads of those who were
concealed。 Indeed； nothing sheltered the travellers but
the branches and leaves of plants； so pliant that they
yielded to every current of air； and which a puff of wind a
little stronger than common would have blown away。
Fortunately the line of sight carried the eyes of the two
parties of savages； whether they stood in the water or on
the land； above the bushes； and the leaves appeared blended
in a way to excite no suspicion。 Perhaps the very bold…
ness of the expedient alone prevented an immediate ex…
posure。 The conversation which took place was conducted
earnestly； but in guarded tones； as if those who spoke
wished to defeat the intentions of any listeners。 It was in
a dialect that both the Indian warriors beneath； as well as
the Pathfinder； understood。 Even Jasper comprehended
a portion of what was said。
〃The trail is washed away by the water！〃 said one from
below； who stood so near the artificial cover of the fugi…
tives； that he might have been struck by the salmon…spear
that lay in the bottom of Jasper's canoe。 〃Water has
washed it so clear that a Yengeese hound could not follow。〃
〃The pale…faces have left the shore in their canoes；〃
answered the speaker on the bank。
〃It cannot be。 The rifles of our warriors below are
certain。〃
The Pathfinder gave a significant glance at Jasper； and
he clinched his teeth in order to suppress the sound of his
own breathing。
〃Let my young men look as if their eyes were eagles'；〃
said the eldest warrior among those who were wading in
the river。 〃We have been a whole moon on the war…path；
and have found but one scalp。 There is a maiden among
them； and some of our braves want wives。〃
Happily these words were lost on Mabel； but Jasper's
frown became deeper； and his face fiercely flushed。
The savages now ceased speaking； and the party which
was concealed heard the slow and guarded movements of
those who were on the bank； as they pushed the bushes
aside in their wary progress。 It was soon evident that
the latter had passed the cover； but the group in the water
still remained； scanning the shore with eyes that glared
through their war…paint like coals of living fire。 After a
pause of two or three minutes； these three began also to
descend the stream； though it was step by step； as men
move who look for an object that has been lost。 In this
manner they passed the artificial screen； and Pathfinder
opened his mouth in that hearty but noiseless laugh that
nature and habit had contributed to render a peculiarity
of the man。 His triumph； however； was premature； for
the last of the retiring party； just at this moment casting
a look behind him； suddenly stopped； and his fixed atti…
tude and steady gaze at once betrayed the appalling fact
that some neglected bush had awakened his suspicions。
It was perhaps fortunate for the concealed that the
warrior who manifested these fearful signs of distrust was
young； and had still a reputation to acquire。 He knew
the importance of discretion and modesty in one of his
years； and most of all did he dread the ridicule and con…
tempt that would certainly follow a false alarm。 Without
recalling any of his companions； therefore； he turned on
his own footsteps； and； while the others continued to de…
scend the river； he cautiously approached the bushes； on
which his looks were still fastened； as by a charm。 Some
of the leaves which were exposed to the sun had drooped
a little； and this slight departure from the usual natural
laws had caught the quick eyes of the Indian； for so prac…
tised and acute do the senses of the savage become； more
especially when he is on the war…path； that trifles appar…
ently of the most insignificant sort often prove to be clues
to lead him to his object。
The trifling nature of the change which had aroused the
suspicion of this youth was an additional motive for not
acquainting his companions with his discovery。 Should
he really detect anything； his glory would be the greater
for being unshared； and should he not； he might hope to
escape that derision which the young Indian so much
dreads。 Then there were the dangers of an ambush and
a surprise； to which every warrior of the woods is keenly
alive； to render his approach slow and cautious。 In con…
sequence of the delay that proceeded from these combined
causes； the two parties had descended some fifty or sixty
yards before the young savage was again near enough to
the bushes of the Pathfinder to touch them with his hand。
Notwithstanding their critical situation； the whole party
behind the cover had their eyes fastened on the working
countenance of the young Iroquois； who was agitated by
conflicting feelings。 First came the eager hope of obtain…
ing success where some of the most experienced of his tribe
had failed； and with it a degree of glory that had seldom
fallen to the share of one of his years or a brave on his
first war…path； then followed doubts； as the drooping
leaves seemed to rise again and to revive in the currents
of air； and distrust of hidden danger lent its exciting
feeling to keep the eloquent features in play。 So very
slight； however； had been the alteration produced by the
heat on the bushes of which the stems were in the water；
that when the Iroquois actually laid his hand on the
leaves； he fancied that he had been deceived。 As no man
ever distrusts strongly without using all convenient means
of satisfying his doubts； however； the young warrior cau…
tiously pushed aside the branches and advanced a step
within the hiding…place； when the forms of the concealed
party met his gaze； resembling so many breathless statues。
The low exclamation； the slight start； and the glaring eye；
were hardly seen and heard； before the arm of Chingach…
gook was raised； and the tomahawk of the Delaware de…
scended on the shaven head of his foe。 The Iroquois
raised his hands frantically； bounded backward； and fell
into the