I've never fou't unless in the way of tradition; but it
seems to me we might beat off twenty Mingos, with palisades like
them afore us."
"Ay, ay; you 've never fought except in traditions, that's plain
enough, young man! Did you ever see as broad a sheet of water as
this above us, before you came in upon it with Hurry?"
"I can't say that I ever did," Deerslayer answered, modestly. "Youth
is the time to l'arn; and I'm far from wishing to raise my voice
in counsel, afore it is justified by exper'ence."
"Well, then, I'll teach you the disadvantage of fighting in this
position, and the advantage of taking to the open lake. Here,
you may see, the savages will know where to aim every shot; and it
would be too much to hope that some would not find their way through
the crevices of the logs. Now, on the other hand, we should have
nothing but a forest to aim at. Then we are not safe from fire,
here, the bark of this roof being little better than so much
kindling-wood. The castle, too, might be entered and ransacked in
my absence, and all my possessions overrun and destroyed. Once in
the lake, we can be attacked only in boats or on rafts- shall have
a fair chance with the enemy-and can protect the castle with the
ark.
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