"
"Ay, water you shall have, if you drink the lake dry. I'll just
carry you down to it that you may take your fill. This is the way,
they tell me, with all wounded people - water is their greatest
comfort and delight."
So saying, Deerslayer raised the Indian in his arms, and carried
him to the lake. Here he first helped him to take an attitude in
which he could appease his burning thirst; after which he seated
himself on a stone, and took the head of his wounded adversary in
his own lap, and endeavored to soothe his anguish in the best manner
he could.
"It would be sinful in me to tell you your time hadn't come,
warrior," he commenced, "and therefore I'll not say it. You've
passed the middle age already, and, considerin' the sort of lives
ye lead, your days have been pretty well filled. The principal
thing now, is to look forward to what comes next. Neither red-skin
nor pale-face, on the whole, calculates much on sleepin' forever;
but both expect to live in another world. Each has his gifts, and
will be judged by 'em, and I suppose you've thought these matters
over enough not to stand in need of sarmons when the trial comes.
You'll find your happy hunting-grounds, if you've been a just Injin;
if an onjust, you'll meet your desarts in another way.
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