the pathfinder-第16部分

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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；　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
trifl