Perhaps, too, the sight
of the rifle that lay so near the hand of the white man quickened
his decision. At all events, he crouched like a tiger about to
take his leap, uttered a yell, and the next instant his naked body
disappeared in the water. When he rose to take breath, it was at
the distance of several yards from the canoe, and the hasty glance
he threw behind him denoted how much he feared the arrival of a
fatal messenger from the rifle of his foe. But the young man made
no indication of any hostile intention. Deliberately securing the
canoe to the others, he began to paddle from the shore; and by the
time the Indian reached the land, and had shaken himself, like a
spaniel, on quitting the water, his dreaded enemy was already beyond
rifle-shot on his way to the castle. As was so much his practice,
Deerslayer did not fail to soliloquize on what had just occurred,
while steadily pursuing his course towards the point of destination.
"Well, well," - he commenced, - "'twould have been wrong to kill
a human mortal without an object. Scalps are of no account with
me, and life is sweet, and ought not to be taken marcilessly by
them that have white gifts. The savage was a Mingo, it's true;
and I make no doubt he is, and will be as long as he lives, a ra'al
riptyle and vagabond; but that's no reason I should forget my gifts
and color.
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