the breast of a Delaware。 I am sorry that he interfered；
but he could not have known our condition。〃
The canoe had no sooner lost its guide than it floated
with the stream； and was soon sucked into the rapids of the
rift。 Perfectly helpless； the two remaining savages gazed
wildly about them； but could offer no resistance to the
power of the element。 It was perhaps fortunate for
Chingachgook that the attention of most of the Iroquois
was intently given to the situation of those in the boat；
else would his escape have been to the last degree difficult；
if not totally impracticable。 But not a foe moved； except
to conceal his person behind some cover； and every eye
was riveted on the two remaining adventurers。 In less
time than has been necessary to record these occurrences；
the canoe was whirling and tossing in the rift； while both
the savages had stretched themselves in its bottom； as the
only means of preserving the equilibrium。 This natural
expedient soon failed them； for； striking a rock； the light
draft rolled over； and the two warriors were thrown into
the river。 The water is seldom deep on a rift； except in
particular places where it may have worn channels； and
there was little to be apprehended from drowning； though
their arms were lost； and the two savages were fain to
make the best of their way to the friendly shore； swim…
ming and wading as circumstances required。 The canoe
itself lodged on a rock in the centre of the stream； where
for the moment it became useless to both parties。
〃Now is our time； Pathfinder；〃 cried Jasper； as the two
Iroquois exposed most of their persons while wading in
the shallowest part of the rapids： 〃the fellow up stream
is mine； and you can take the lower。〃
So excited had the young man become by all the inci…
dents of the stirring scene； that the bullet sped from his
rifle as he spoke； but uselessly； as it would seem； for both
the fugitives tossed their arms in disdain。 The Path…
finder did not fire。
〃No； no； Eau…douce；〃 he answered； 〃I do not seek
blood without a cause； and my bullet is well leathered
and carefully driven down； for the time of need。 I love
no Mingo； as is just； seeing how much I have consorted
with the Delawares； who are their mortal and natural
enemies； but I never pull trigger on one of the miscreants
unless it be plain that his death will lead to some good
end。 The deer never leaped that fell by my hand wan…
tonly。 By living much alone with God in the wilderness
a man gets to feel the justice of such opinions。 One life
is sufficient for our present wants； and there may yet be
occasion to use Killdeer in behalf of the Sarpent； who has
done an untimorsome thing to let them rampant devils so
plainly know that he is in their neighborhood。 As I'm a
wicked sinner； there is one of them prowling along the
bank this very moment； like one of the boys of the garrison
skulking behind a fallen tree to get a shot at a squirrel！〃
As the Pathfinder pointed with his finger while speak…
ing； the quick eye of Jasper soon caught the object towards
which it was directed。 One of the young warriors of the
enemy； burning with a desire to distinguish himself； had
stolen from his party towards the cover in which Chin…
gachgook had concealed himself； and as the latter was
deceived by the apparent apathy of his foes； as well as en…
gaged in some further preparations of his own； he had
evidently obtained a position where he got a sight of the
Delaware。 This circumstance was apparent by the ar…
rangements the Iroquois was making to fire； for Chingach…
gook himself was not visible from the western side of the
river。 The rift was at a bend in the Oswego； and the sweep
of the eastern shore formed a curve so wide that Chingach…
gook was quite near to his enemies in a straight direction；
though separated by several hundred feet on the land； ow…
ing to which fact air lines brought both parties nearly
equidistant from the Pathfinder and Jasper。 The general
width of the river being a little less than two hundred
yards； such necessarily was about the distance between his
two observers and the skulking Iroquois。
〃The Sarpent must be thereabouts；〃 observed Path…
finder； who never turned his eye for an instant from the
young warrior； 〃and yet he must be strangely off his
guard to allow a Mingo devil to get his stand so near； with
manifest signs of bloodshed in his heart。〃
〃See！〃 interrupted Jasper 〃there is the body of the
Indian the Delaware shot！ It has drifted on a rock； and
the current has forced the head and face above the water。〃
〃Quite likely； boy； quite likely。 Human natur' is little
better than a log of driftwood； when the life that was
breathed into its nostrils is departed。 That Iroquois will
never harm any one more； but yonder skulking savage is
bent on taking the scalp of my best and most tried friend。〃
The Pathfinder suddenly interrupted himself by raising
his rifle； a weapon of unusual length； with admirable pre…
cision； and firing the instant it had got its level。 The
Iroquois on the opposite shore was in the act of aiming
when the fatal messenger from Killdeer arrived。 His rifle
was discharged； it is true； but it was with the muzzle in
the air； while the man himself plunged into the bushes；
quite evidently hurt； if not slain。
〃The skulking reptyle brought it on himself；〃 muttered
Pathfinder sternly； as； dropping the butt of his rifle； he
carefully commenced reloading it。 〃Chingachgook and I
have consorted together since we were boys； and have fi't
in company on the Horican； the Mohawk； the Ontario；
and all the other bloody passes between the country of
the Frenchers and our own； and did the foolish knave
believe that I would stand by and see my best friend cut
off in an ambushment？〃
〃We have served the Sarpent as good a turn as he
served us。 Those rascals are troubled； Pathfinder； and are
falling back into their covers； since they find we can reach
them across the river。〃
〃The shot is no great matter； Jasper； no great matter。
Ask any of the 60th； and they can tell you what Killdeer
can do； and has done； and that； too； when the bullets were
flying about our heads like hailstones。 No； no！ this is no
great matter； and the unthoughtful vagabond drew it down
on himself。〃
〃Is that a dog； or a deer； swimming towards this shore？〃
Pathfinder started； for sure enough an object was cross…
ing the stream； above the rift； towards which； however； it
was gradually setting by the force of the current。 A
second look satisfied both the observers that it was a man；
and an Indian； though so concealed as at first to render it
doubtful。 Some stratagem was apprehended； and the
closest attention was given to the movements of the
stranger。
〃He is pushing something before him as he swims； and
his head resembles a drifting bush；〃 said Jasper。
〃'Tis Indian devilry； boy； but Christian honesty shall
circumvent their arts。〃
As the man slowly approached； the observers began to
doubt the accuracy of their first impressions； and it was
only when two…thirds of the stream were passed that the
truth was really known。
〃The Big Sarpent； as I live！〃 exclaimed Pathfinder；
looking at his companion； and laughing until the tears
came into his eyes with pure delight at the success of the
artifice。 〃He has tied bushes to his head； so as to hide it；
put the horn on top； lashed the rifle to that bit of log he
is pushing before him； and has come over to join his
friends。 Ah's me！ The times and times that he and I
have cut such pranks； right in the teeth of Mingos raging
for our blood； in the great thoroughfare round and about
Ty！〃
〃It may not be the Serpent after all； Pathfinder； I can
see no feature that I remember。〃
〃Feature！ Who looks for features in an Indian？ No；
no； boy； 'tis the paint that speaks； and none but a Dela…
ware would wear that paint： them are his colors； Jasper；
just as your craft on the lake wears St。 George's Cross；
and the Frenchers set their tablecloths to fluttering in the
wind； with all the stains of fish…bones and venison steaks
upon them。 Now； you see the eye； lad； and it is the eye
of a chief。 But； Eau…douce； fierce as it is in battle； and
glassy as it looks from among the leaves；〃 here the Path…
finder laid his fingers lightly but impressively on his com…
panion's arm； 〃I have seen it shed tears like rain。 There
is a soul and a heart under that red skin； rely on it； al…
though they are a soul and a heart with gifts different
from our own。〃
〃No one who is acquainted with the chief ever doubted
that。〃
〃I _know_ it；〃 returned the other proudly； 〃for I have
consorted with him in sorrow and in joy： in one I have
found him a man； however stricken； in the other； a chief
who knows that the women of his tribe are the most seemly
in light merriment。 But hist！ It is too much like the
people of the settlements to pour soft speeches into an…
other's ear； and the Sarpent has keen senses。 He knows
I love him； and that I speak well of him behind his back；
but a Delaware has modesty in his inmost natur'； though
he will brag like a sinner when tied to a stake。〃
The Serpent now reached the shore； d