The blood rushed to her
face, as much with resentment, perhaps, as with shame, and she bit
her lip, though she continued silent. Deerslayer and his friend
now discovered the delicacy of men of native refinement, neither
smiling or even by a glance betraying how completely he understood
the motives and ingenuity of this clever artifice. The former, who
had taken the key from the Indian, led the way into the adjoining
room, and applying it to a lock ascertained that the right instrument
had actually been found. There were three padlocks, each of which
however was easily opened by this single key. Deerslayer removed
them all, loosened the hasps, raised the lid a little to make
certain it was loose, and then he drew back from the chest several
feet, signing to his friend to follow.
"This is a family chist, Judith," he said, "and 'tis like to hold
family secrets. The Sarpent and I will go into the Ark, and look
to the canoes, and paddles, and oars, while you can examine it by
yourself, and find out whether any thing that will be a make-weight
in a ransom is, or is not, among the articles. When you've
got through give us a call, and we'll all sit in council together
touching the valie of the articles.
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