Let us waste no more
time, but get into the canoe, and do, in place of talking."
As Hutter led the way, in the execution of his project, the boat
was soon ready, with Hurry and Deerslayer at the paddles. Before
the old man embarked himself, however, he held a conference of
several minutes with Judith, entering the house for that purpose;
then, returning, he took his place in the canoe, which left the
side of the ark at the next instant.
Had there been a temple reared to God, in that solitary wilderness,
its clock would have told the hour of midnight as the party set
forth on their expedition. The darkness had increased, though
the night was still clear, and the light of the stars sufficed for
all the purposes of the adventurers. Hutter alone knew the places
where the canoes were hid, and he directed the course, while his
two athletic companions raised and dipped their paddles with proper
caution, lest the sound should be carried to the ears of their
enemies, across that sheet of placid water, in the stillness of
deep night. But the bark was too light to require any extraordinary
efforts, and skill supplying the place of strength, in about half
an hour they were approaching the shore, at a point near a league
from the castle.
Pages:
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165