he will brag like a sinner when tied to a stake。〃
The Serpent now reached the shore； directly in the front
of his two comrades； with whose precise position he must
have been acquainted before leaving the eastern side of
the river； and rising from the water he shook himself like
a dog； and made the usual exclamation 〃Hugh！〃
CHAPTER VI。
These； as they change； Almighty Father； these；
Are but the varied God。
THOMSON。
As the chief landed he was met by the Pathfinder； who
addressed him in the language of the warrior's people：
〃Was it well done； Chingachgook；〃 said he reproachfully；
〃to ambush a dozen Mingos alone？ Killdeer seldom fails
me； it is true； but the Oswego makes a distant mark； and
that miscreant showed little more than his head and
shoulders above the bushes； and an onpractysed hand and
eye might have failed。 You should have thought of this；
chief you should have thought of this！〃
〃The Great Serpent is a Mohican warrior he sees only
his enemies when he is on the war…path； and his fathers
have struck the Mingos from behind； since the waters
began to run。〃
〃I know your gifts； I know your gifts； and respect them
too。 No man shall hear me complain that a red…skin ob…
sarved red…skin natur'。 But prudence as much becomes a
warrior as valor； and had not the Iroquois devils been
looking after their friends who were in the water； a hot
trail they would have made of yourn。〃
〃What is the Delaware about to do？〃 exclaimed Jasper；
who observed at that moment that the chief had suddenly
left the Pathfinder and advanced to the water's edge； ap…
parently with an intention of again entering the river。
〃He will not be so mad as to return to the other shore for
any trifle he may have forgotten？〃
〃Not he； not he；he is as prudent as he is brave； in the
main； though so forgetful of himself in the late ambush…
ment。 Hark'e； Jasper；〃 leading the other a little aside；
just as they heard the Indian's plunge into the water；
〃hark'e； lad； Chingachgook is not a Christian white man；
like ourselves； but a Mohican chief； who has his gifts and
traditions to tell him what he ought to do； and he who
consorts with them that are not strictly and altogether of
his own kind had better leave natur' and use to govern his
comrades。 A king's soldier will swear and he will drink；
and it is of little use to try to prevent him； a gentleman
likes his delicacies； and a lady her feathers and it does
not avail much to struggle against either； whereas an In…
dian's natur' and gifts are much stronger than these； and
no doubt were bestowed by the Lord for wise ends； though
neither you nor me can follow them in all their windings。〃
〃What does this mean？ See； the Delaware is swimming
towards the body that is lodged on the rock？ Why does
he risk this？〃
〃For honor and glory and renown； as great gentlemen
quit their quiet homes beyond seas where； as they tell
me； heart has nothing left to wish for； that is； such hearts
as can be satisfied in a clearing to come hither to live on
game and fight the Frenchers。〃
〃I understand you your friend has gone to secure the
scalp。〃
〃'Tis his gift； and let him enjoy it。 We are white men；
and cannot mangle a dead enemy； but it is honor in the
eyes of a red…skin to do so。 It may seem singular to you；
Eau…douce； but I've known white men of great name and
character manifest as remarkable idees consarning their
honor； I have。〃
〃A savage will be a savage； Pathfinder； let him keep
what company he may。〃
〃It is well for us to say so； lad； but； as I tell you； white
honor will not always conform to reason or to the will of
God。 I have passed days thinking of these matters； out
in the silent woods； and I have come to the opinion； boy；
that； as Providence rules all things； no gift is bestowed
without some wise and reasonable end。〃
〃The Serpent greatly exposes himself to the enemy； in
order to get his scalp！ This may lose us the day。〃
〃Not in his mind； Jasper。 That one scalp has more
honor in it； according to the Sarpent's notions of warfare；
than a held covered with slain； that kept the hair on their
heads。 Now； there was the fine young captain of the 60th
that threw away his life in trying to bring off a three…
pounder from among the Frenchers in the last skrimmage
we had； he thought he was sarving honor； and I have
known a young ensign wrap himself up in his colors； and
go to sleep in his blood； fancying that he was lying on
something softer even than buffalo…skins。〃
〃Yes； yes； one can understand the merit of not hauling
down an ensign。〃
〃And these are Chingachgook's colors he will keep
them to show his children's children 〃 Here the Path…
finder interrupted himself； shook his head in melancholy；
and slowly added； 〃Ah's me！ no shoot of the old Mohican
stem remains！ He has no children to delight with his
trophies； no tribe to honor by his deeds； he is a lone man
in this world； and yet he stands true to his training and
his gifts！ There is something honest and respectable in
these； you must allow； Jasper。〃
Here a great outcry from the Iroquois was succeeded by
the quick reports of their rifles； and so eager did the enemy
become； in the desire to drive the Delaware back from his
victim； that a dozen rushed into the river； several of whom
even advanced near a hundred feet into the foaming cur…
rent； as if they actually meditated a serious sortie。 But
Chingachgook continued unmoved； as he remained unhurt
by the missiles； accomplishing his task with the dexterity
of long habit。 Flourishing his reeking trophy； he gave
the war…whoop in its most frightful intonations； and for a
minute the arches of the silent woods and the deep vista
formed by the course of the river echoed with cries so
terrific that Mabel bowed her head in irrepressible fear；
while her uncle for a single instant actually meditated
flight。
〃This surpasses all I have heard from the wretches；〃
Jasper exclaimed； stopping his ears； equally in horror and
disgust。
〃'Tis their music； boy； their drum and fife； their
trumpets and clarions。 No doubt they love those sounds；
for they stir up in them fierce feelings； and a desire for
blood；〃 returned the Pathfinder； totally unmoved。 〃I
thought them rather frightful when a mere youngster；
but they have become like the whistle of the whip…poor…
will or the song of the cat…bird in my ear now。 All the
screeching reptyles that could stand between the falls and
the garrison would have no effect on my narves at this
time of day。 I say it not in boasting； Jasper； for the man
that lets in cowardice through the ears must have but a
weak heart at the best； sounds and outcries being more
intended to alarm women and children than such as scout
the forest and face the foe。 I hope the Sarpent is now
satisfied； for here he comes with the scalp at his belt。〃
Jasper turned away his head as the Delaware rose from
the water； in pure disgust at his late errand； but the
Pathfinder regarded his friend with the philosophical in…
difference of one who had made up his mind to be indif…
ferent to things he deemed immaterial。 As the Delaware
passed deeper into the bushes with a view to wring his
trifling calico dress and to prepare his rifle for service； he
gave one glance of triumph at his companions； and then all
emotion connected with the recent exploit seemed to cease。
〃Jasper；〃 resumed the guide； 〃step down to the station
of Master Cap； and ask him to join us： we have little time
for a council； and yet our plans must be laid quickly； for
it will not be long before them Mingos will be plotting our
ruin。〃
The young man complied； and in a few minutes the
four were assembled near the shore； completely concealed
from the view of their enemies； while they kept a vigilant
watch over the proceedings of the latter； in order to con…
sult on their own future movements。
By this time the day had so far advanced as to leave but
a few minutes between the passing light and an obscurity
that promised to be even deeper than common。 The sun
had already set and the twilight of a low latitude would
soon pass into the darkness of deep night。 Most of the
hopes of the party rested on this favorable circumstance；
though it was not without its dangers also； as the very ob…
scurity which would favor their escape would be as likely
to conceal the movements of their wily enemies。
〃The moment has come； men；〃 Pathfinder commenced；
〃when our plans must be coolly laid； in order that we may
act together； and with a right understanding of our errand
and gifts。 In an hour's time these woods will be as dark
as midnight； and if we are ever to gain the garrison； it
must be done under favor of this advantage。 What say
you； Master Cap？ for； though none of the most experi…
enced in combats and retreats in the woods； your years
entitle you to speak first in a matter like this and in a
council。〃
〃Well； in my judgment； all we have to do is to go on
board the canoe when it gets to be so dark the enemy's
look…outs can't see us； and run for the haven； as wind and
tide will allow。〃
〃That is easily said； but not so easily done；〃 returned
the guide。 〃We shall be more expose