Following this clue, the young man
urged the canoe ahead, paying but little attention to the manner
in which he might betray its presence. He had reached a part of
the shore, where its immediate bank was tolerably high and quite
steep. Men were evidently threshing through the bushes and trees
on the summit of this bank, following the line of the shore, as if
those who fled sought a favorable place for descending. Just at
this instant five or six rifles flashed, and the opposite hills
gave back, as usual, the sharp reports in prolonged rolling echoes.
One or two shrieks, like those which escape the bravest when suddenly
overcome by unexpected anguish and alarm, followed; and then the
threshing among the bushes was renewed, in a way to show that man
was grappling with man.
"Slippery devil!" shouted Hurry with the fury of disappointment-"his
skin's greased! I sha'n't grapple! Take that for your cunning!"
The words were followed by the fall of some heavy object among
the smaller trees that fringed the bank, appearing to Deerslayer
as if his gigantic associate had hurled an enemy from him in this
unceremonious manner. Again the flight and pursuit were renewed,
and then the young man saw a human form break down the hill, and
rush several yards into the water.
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