He has always appeared to think its locks, and its steel
bands, and its strength, its best protection."
"'Tis a rare chest, and altogether of curious build," returned
Deerslayer, rising and approaching the thing in question, on which
he seated himself, with a view to examine it with greater ease.
"Chingachgook, this is no wood that comes of any forest that you
or I have ever trailed through! 'Tisn't the black walnut, and
yet it's quite as comely, if not more so, did the smoke and the
treatment give it fair play."
The Delaware drew near, felt of the wood, examined its grain,
endeavored to indent the surface with a nail, and passed his hand
curiously over the steel bands, the heavy padlocks, and the other
novel peculiarities of the massive box.
"No - nothing like this grows in these regions," resumed Deerslayer.
"I've seen all the oaks, both the maples, the elms, the bass
woods, all the walnuts, the butternuts, and every tree that has a
substance and colour, wrought into some form or other, but never
have I before seen such a wood as this! Judith, the chest itself
would buy your father's freedom, or Iroquois cur'osity isn't as
strong as red-skin cur'osity, in general; especially in the matter
of woods.
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