When this was done, he fastened the door with a massive
staple and stout padlock. Hetty was then received in the canoe,
which was shoved outside of the palisadoes. The next precaution
was to fasten the gate, and the keys were carried into the ark.
The three were now fastened out of the dwelling, which could only
be entered by violence, or by following the course taken by the
young man in quitting it. The glass had been brought outside as a
preliminary step, and Deerslayer next took a careful survey of the
entire shore of the lake, as far as his own position would allow.
Not a living thing was visible, a few birds excepted, and even the
last fluttered about in the shades of the trees, as if unwilling to
encounter the heat of a sultry afternoon. All the nearest points,
in particular, were subjected to severe scrutiny, in order to make
certain that no raft was in preparation; the result everywhere giving
the same picture of calm solitude. A few words will explain the
greatest embarrassment belonging to the situation of our party. Exposed
themselves to the observation of any watchful eyes, the movements
of their enemies were concealed by the drapery of a dense forest.
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