"
"Stop, Deerslayer," exclaimed the girl, as he was about to withdraw.
"Not a single thing will I touch - I will not even raise the lid
- unless you are present. Father and Hetty have seen fit to keep
the inside of this chest a secret from me, and I am much too proud
to pry into their hidden treasures unless it were for their own
good. But on no account will I open the chest alone. Stay with
me, then; I want witnesses of what I do."
"I rather think, Sarpent, that the gal is right! Confidence
and reliance beget security, but suspicion is like to make us all
wary. Judith has a right to ask us to be present, and should the
chist hold any of Master Hutter's secrets, they will fall into the
keeping of two as close mouthed young men as are to be found. We
will stay with you, Judith - but first let us take a look at the
lake and the shore, for this chist will not be emptied in a minute."
The two men now went out on the platform, and Deerslayer swept the
shore with the glass, while the Indian gravely turned his eye on
the water and the woods, in quest of any sign that might betray the
machinations of their enemies. Nothing was visible, and assured
of their temporary security, the three collected around the chest
again, with the avowed object of opening it.
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