don their prize。
In the meantime； the Iroquois； who led the way； pro…
ceeded slowly through the water in the direction of his
own party； still grasping the canoe； and dragging his re…
luctant followers in his train。 Once Chingachgook raised
his tomahawk； and was about to bury it in the brain of his
confiding and unsuspicious neighbor； but the probability
that the death…cry or the floating body might give the
alarm induced that wary chief to change his purpose。 At
the next moment he regretted this indecision； for the
three who clung to the canoe suddenly found themselves
in the ceutre of a party of no less than four others who
were in quest of it。
After the usual brief characteristic exclamations of sat…
isfaction； the savages eagerly laid hold of the canoe； for
all seemed impressed with the necessity of securing this
important boat； the one side in order to assail their foes；
and the other to secure their retreat。 The addition to the
party； however； was so unlooked…for； and so completely
gave the enemy the superiority； that for a few moments
the ingenuity and address of even the Delaware were at
fault。 The five Iroquois； who seemed perfectly to under…
stand their errand； pressed forward towards their own
shore； without pausing to converse； their object being in
truth to obtain the paddles； which they had previously
secured； and to embark three or four warriors； with all
their rifles and powder…horns； the want of which had alone
prevented their crossing the river by swimming as soon as
it was dark。
In this manner； the body of friends and foes united
reached the margin of the eastern channel； where； as in
the case of the western； the river was too deep to be waded。
Here a short pause succeeded； it being necessary to deter…
mine the manner in which the canoe was to be carried
across。 One of the four who had just reached the boat
was a chief； and the habitual deference which the Ameri…
can Indian pays to merit； experience； and station kept the
others silent until this individual had spoken。
The halt greatly added to the danger of discovering the
presence of Jasper； in particular； who； however； had the
precaution to throw the cap he wore into the bottom of
the canoe。 Being without his jacket and shirt； the outline
of his figure； in the obscurity； would now be less likely to
attract observation。 His position； too； at the stern of the
canoe a little favored his concealment； the Iroquois natur…
ally keeping their looks directed the other way。 Not so
with Chingachgook。 This warrior was literally in the
midst of his most deadly foes； and he could scarcely move
without touching one of them。 Yet he was apparently
unmoved； though he kept all his senses on the alert； in
readiness to escape； or to strike a blow at the proper mo…
ment。 By carefully abstaining from looking towards those
behind him； he lessened the chances of discovery； and
waited with the indomitable patience of an Indian for the
instant when he should be required to act。
〃Let all my young men but two； one at each end of the
canoe； cross and get their arms；〃 said the Iroquois chief。
〃Let the two push over the boat。〃
The Indians quietly obeyed； leaving Jasper at the stern；
and the Iroquois who had found the canoe at the bow of
the light craft； Chingachgook burying himself so deep in
the river as to be passed by the others without detection。
The splashing in the water； the tossing arms； and the calls
of one to another； soon announced that the four who had
last joined the party were already swimming。 As soon as
this fact was certain； the Delaware rose； resumed his former
station； and began to think the moment for action was come。
One less habitually under self…restraint than this war…
rior would probably have now aimed his meditated blow；
but Chingachgook knew there were more Iroquois behind
him on the rift； and he was a warrior much too trained
and experienced to risk anything unnecessarily。 He suf…
fered the Indian at the bow of the canoe to push off into
the deep water； and then all three were swimming in the
direction of the eastern shore。 Instead； however； of help…
ing the canoe across the swift current； no sooner did the
Delaware and Jasper find themselves within the influence
of its greatest force than both began to swim in a way to
check their farther progress across the stream。 Nor was
this done suddenly； or in the incautious manner in which
a civilized man would have been apt to attempt the artifice；
but warily； and so gradually that the Iroquois at the bow
fancied at first he was merely struggling against the
strength of the current。 Of course； while acted on by
these opposing efforts； the canoe drifted down stream； and
in about a minute it was floating in still deeper water at
the foot of the rift。 Here； however； the Iroquois was not
slow in finding that something unusual retarded their ad…
vance； and； looking back； he first learned that he was re…
sisted by the efforts of his companions。
That second nature which grows up through habit in…
stantly told the young Iroquois that he was alone with
enemies。 Dashing the water aside； he sprang at the throat
of Chingachgook； and the two Indians； relinquishing their
hold of the canoe； seized each other like tigers。 In the
midst of the darkness of that gloomy night； and floating
in an element so dangerous to man when engaged in deadly
strife； they appeared to forget everything but their fell
animosity and their mutual desire to conquer。
Jasper had now complete command of the canoe； which
flew off like a feather impelled by the breath under the vio…
lent reaction of the struggles of the two combatants。 The
first impulse of the youth was to swim to the aid of the
Delaware； but the importance of securing the boat presented
itself with tenfold force； while he listened to the heavy
breathings of the warriors as they throttled each other；
and he proceeded as fast as possible towards the western
shore。 This he soon reached； and after a short search he
succeeded in discovering the remainder of the party and
in procuring his clothes。 A few words sufficed to explain
the situation in which he had left the Delaware and the
manner in which the canoe had been obtained。
When those who had been left behind had heard the
explanations of Jasper； a profound stillness reigned among
them； each listening intently in the vain hope of catching
some clue to the result of the fearful struggle that had
just taken place； if it were not still going on in the water。
Nothing was audible beyond the steady roar of the rush…
ing river； it being a part of the policy of their enemies on
the opposite shore to observe the most deathlike stillness。
〃Take this paddle； Jasper；〃 said Pathfinder calmly；
though the listeners thought his voice sounded more mel…
ancholy than usual； 〃and follow with your own canoe。 It
is unsafe for us to remain here longer。〃
〃But the Serpent？〃
〃The Great Sarpent is in the hands of his own Deity；
and will live or die； according to the intentions of Provi…
dence。 We can do him no good； and may risk too much
by remaining here in idleness； like women talking over
their distresses。 This darkness is very precious。〃
A loud； long； piercing yell came from the shore； and cut
short the words of the guide。
〃What is the meaning of that uproar； Master Path…
finder？〃 demanded Cap。 〃It sounds more like the out…
cries of devils than anything that can come from the
throats of Christians and men。〃
〃Christians they are not； and do not pretend to be； and
do not wish to be； and in calling them devils you have
scarcely misnamed them。 That yell is one of rejoicing；
and it is as conquerors they have given it。 The body of
tbe Sarpent； no doubt； dead or alive； is in their power。
〃And we！〃 exclaimed Jasper； who felt a pang of gen…
erous regret； as the idea that he might have averted the
calamity presented itself to his mind； had he not deserted
his comrade。
〃We can do the chief no good； lad； and must quit this
spot as fast as possible。〃
〃Without one attempt to rescue him？ without even
knowing whether he be dead or living？〃
〃Jasper is right；〃 said Mabel； who could speak； though
her voice sounded huskily and smothered； 〃I have no
fears； uncle； and will stay here until we know what has
become of our friend。〃
〃This seems reasonable； Pathfinder；〃 put in Cap。 〃Your
true seaman cannot well desert a messmate； and I am
glad to find that motives so correct exist among those
fresh…water people。〃
〃Tut！ tut！〃 returned the impatient guide； forcing the
canoe into the stream as he spoke； 〃ye know nothing and
ye fear nothing。 If ye value your lives； think of reaching
the garrison； and leave the Delaware in the hands of
Providence。 Ah's me！ the deer that goes too often to the
lick meets the hunter at last！〃
CHAPTER VII。
And is this Yarrow？ this the stream
Of which my fancy cherish'd
So faithfully a waking dream？
An image that hath perish'd？
Oh that some minstrel's harp were near；
To utter notes of gladness；
And chase this silence from the air；
That fills my heart with sadness。
WORDSWORTH。
THE scene was not without its sublimity