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.They'll never be easy, till the truth is known.«»Do you think, Deerslayer,« inquired Hetty, in her simple and innocent manner, »that the Iroquois wo'n't let father and Hurry go? – I read to them several of the very best verses in the whole bible, and you see what they have done, already.«The hunter, as he always did, listened kindly and even affectionately to Hetty's remarks; then he mused a moment in silence.There was something like a flush on his cheek, as he answered, after quite a minute had passed.»I do'n't know whether a white man ought to be ashamed, or not, to own he can't read, but such is my case, Judith.You are skilful, I find, in all such matters, while I have only studied the hand of God, as it is seen in the hills and the valleys, the mountain-tops, the streams, the forests and the springs.Much l'arning may be got in this way, as well as out of books; and, yet, I sometimes think it is a white man's gift to read! When I hear from the mouths of the Moravians, the words of which Hetty speaks, they raise a longing in my mind, and I then think I will know how to read 'em myself; but the game in summer, and the traditions, and lessons in war, and other matters, have always kept me behind hand.«»Shall I teach you, Deerslayer?« asked Hetty, earnestly.»I'm weak-minded, they say, but I can read as well as Judith.It might save your life to know how to read the bible to the savages, and it will certainly save your soul; for mother told me that, again and again!«»Thankee, Hetty – yes, thankee, with all my heart.These are like to be too stirring times for much idleness, but, after it's peace, and I come to see you ag'in on this lake, then I'll give myself up to it, as if 'twas pleasure and profit, in a single business.Perhaps I ought to be ashamed, Judith, that 'tis so; but truth is truth.As for these Iroquois, tis'n't very likely they'll forget a beast with two tails, on account of a varse or two from the bible.I rather expect they'll give up the prisoners, and trust to some sarcumvention, or other, to get 'em back, ag'in, with us and all in the castle and the Ark, in the bargain.Howsever, we must humour the vagabonds, first to get your father and Hurry out of their hands, and next to keep the peace atween us, until such time as the Sarpent there, can make out to get off his betrothed wife.If there's any sudden outbreakin' of anger and ferocity, the Indians will send off all their women and children to the camp, at once, whereas, by keeping 'em calm and trustful, we may manage to meet Hist, at the spot she has mentioned.Rather than have the bargain fall through, now, I'd throw in half a dozen of them effigy bow-and-arrow men, such as we've in plenty in the chist.«Judith cheerfully assented, for she would have resigned even the flowered brocade, rather than not redeem her father and please Deerslayer.The prospects of success were now so encouraging, as to raise the spirits of all in the castle, though a due watchfulness, of the movements of the enemy was maintained.Hour passed after hour, notwithstanding, and the sun had once more begun to fall towards the summits of the western hills, and yet no signs were seen of the return of the raft.By dint of sweeping the shore with the glass, Deerslayer at length discovered a place in the dense and dark woods, where he entertained no doubt, the Iroquois were assembled in considerable numbers.It was near the thicket whence the raft had issued, and a little rill that trickled into the lake, announced the vicinity of a spring.Here, then, the savages were probably holding their consultation, and the decision was to be made that went to settle the question of life or death for the prisoners.There was one ground for hope in spite of the delay, however, that Deerslayer did not fail to place before his anxious companions.It was far more probable that the Indians had left their prisoners in the camp, than that they had encumbered themselves by causing them to follow through the woods, a party that was out on a merely temporary excursion.If such was the fact, it required considerable time to send a messenger the necessary distance, and to bring the two white men to the spot where they were to embark.Encouraged by these reflections, a new stock of patience was gathered, and the declension of the sun was viewed with less alarm.The result justified Deerslayer's conjecture.Not long before the sun had finally disappeared, the two logs were seen coming out of the thicket, again, and, as it drew near, Judith announced that her father and Hurry, both of them pinioned, lay on the bushes in the centre [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]