This man retained the piece, and had fully
made up his mind, were it claimed under such circumstances as to
render its return necessary, to drop it in the lake, trusting to
his being able to find it again at some future day. This desperate
expedient, however, was no longer necessary, and after repeating
the terms of agreement, and professing to understand them, the two
Indians finally took their departure, moving slowly towards the
shore.
"Can any faith be put in such wretches?" asked Judith, when she and
Hetty had come out on the platform, and were standing at the side
of Deerslayer, watching the dull movement of the logs. "Will they
not rather keep the toy they have, and send us off some bloody proofs
of their getting the better of us in cunning, by way of boasting?
I've heard of acts as bad as this."
"No doubt, Judith; no manner of doubt, if it wasn't for Indian
natur'. But I'm no judge of a red-skin, if that two tail'd beast
doesn't set the whole tribe in some such stir as a stick raises in
a beehive! Now, there's the Sarpent; a man with narves like flint,
and no more cur'osity in every day consarns than is befitting
prudence; why he was so overcome with the sight of the creatur',
carved as it is in bone, that I felt ashamed for him! That's just
their gifts, howsever, and one can't well quarrel with a man for
his gifts, when they are lawful.
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