For several weeks we could get no tidings of her;
but here, ten days since, a runner, that came through the Delaware
country, brought us a message, by which we learn that Wah-ta-Wah
was stolen from her people, we think, but do not know it, by
Briarthorn's sarcumventions,-and that she was now with the inimy,
who had adopted her, and wanted her to marry a young Mingo. The
message said that the party intended to hunt and forage through
this region for a month or two, afore it went back into the Canadas,
and that if we could contrive to get on a scent in this quarter,
something might turn up that would lead to our getting the maiden
off."
"And how does that concern you, Deerslayer?" demanded Judith, a
little anxiously.
"It consarns me, as all things that touches a fri'nd consarns a
fri'nd. I'm here as Chingachgook's aid and helper, and if we can
get the young maiden he likes back ag'in, it will give me almost
as much pleasure as if I had got back my own sweetheart."
"And where, then, is your sweetheart, Deerslayer?"
"She's in the forest, Judith - hanging from the boughs of the
trees, in a soft rain - in the dew on the open grass - the clouds
that float about in the blue heavens - the birds that sing in the
woods - the sweet springs where I slake my thirst - and in all the
other glorious gifts that come from God's Providence!"
"You mean that, as yet, you've never loved one of my sex, but love
best your haunts, and your own manner of life.
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