Encouraged by these reflections, a new stock of patience was
gathered, and the declension of the sun was viewed with less alarm.
The result justified Deerslayer's conjecture. Not long before the
sun had finally disappeared, the two logs were seen coming out of
the thicket, again, and as it drew near, Judith announced that her
father and Hurry, both of them pinioned, lay on the bushes in the
centre. As before, the two Indians were rowing. The latter seemed
to be conscious that the lateness of the hour demanded unusual
exertions, and contrary to the habits of their people, who are
ever averse to toil, they labored hard at the rude substitutes for
oars. In consequence of this diligence, the raft occupied its old
station in about half the time that had been taken in the previous
visits.
Even after the conditions were so well understood, and matters had
proceeded so far, the actual transfer of the prisoners was not a
duty to be executed without difficulty. The Iroquois were compelled
to place great reliance on the good faith of their foes, though it
was reluctantly given; and was yielded to necessity rather than to
confidence. As soon as Hutter and Hurry should be released, the
party in the castle numbered two to one, as opposed to those on the
raft, and escape by flight was out of the question, as the former
had three bark canoes, to say nothing of the defences of the house
and the Ark.
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