"
Judith allowed herself to be supported to a seat, swallowed a mouthful
of the water that the Delaware offered her in a gourd, and, after
a violent fit of trembling that seemed ready to shake her fine
frame to dissolution, she burst into tears.
"The pain must be borne, poor Judith - yes, it must be borne," said
Deerslayer, soothingly, "though I am far from wishing you not to
weep; for weeping often lightens galish feelin's. Where can she
be hurt, Sarpent? I see no signs of blood, nor any rent of skin
or garments?"
"I am uninjured, Deerslayer," stammered the girl through her tears.
"It's fright - nothing more, I do assure you, and, God be praised!
no one, I find, has been harmed by the accident."
"This is extr'ornary!" exclaimed the unsuspecting and simple minded
hunter - "I thought, Judith, you'd been above settlement weaknesses,
and that you was a gal not to be frightened by the sound of a
bursting we'pon - No - I didn't think you so skeary! Hetty might
well have been startled; but you've too much judgment and reason
to be frightened when the danger's all over. They're pleasant to
the eye, chief, and changeful, but very unsartain in their feelin's!"
Shame kept Judith silent.
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