We therefore
leave you to say whether the chist shall, or shall not be opened."
"I hope you do not believe I can hesitate, when my father's life's
in danger, Deerslayer!"
"Why, it's pretty much putting a scolding ag'in tears and mourning.
It's not onreasonable to foretell that old Tom may find fault with
what you've done, when he sees himself once more in his hut, here,
but there's nothing unusual in men's falling out with what has been
done for their own good; I dare to say that even the moon would
seem a different thing from what it now does, could we look at it
from the other side."
"Deerslayer, if we can find the key, I will authorize you to open
the chest, and to take such things from it as you may think will
buy father's ransom."
"First find the key, gal; we'll talk of the rest a'terwards.
Sarpent, you've eyes like a fly, and a judgment that's seldom out.
Can you help us in calculating where Floating Tom would be apt to
keep the key of a chist that he holds to be as private as this?"
The Delaware had taken no part in the discourse until he was thus
directly appealed to, when he quitted the chest, which had continued
to attract his attention, and cast about him for the place in which
a key would be likely to be concealed under such circumstances.
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