Without considering his
own situation, however, he seized the rifle that leaned against
the shoulder of Deerslayer, and attempted to cock and present it.
The young hunter was too quick for him. Seizing the piece he
wrenched it from the hands of the giant, not, however, until it
had gone off in the struggle, when pointed directly upward. It is
probable that Deerslayer could have prevailed in such a contest,
on account of the condition of Hurry's limbs, but the instant the
gun went off, the latter yielded, and stumped towards the house,
raising his legs at each step quite a foot from the ground, from
an uncertainty of the actual position of his feet. But he had been
anticipated by Judith. The whole stock of Hutter's arms, which had
been left in the building as a resource in the event of a sudden
outbreaking of hostilities, had been removed, and were already
secreted, agreeably to Deerslayer's directions. In consequence
of this precaution, no means offered by which March could put his
designs in execution.
Disappointed in his vengeance, Hurry seated himself, and like
Hutter, for half an hour, he was too much occupied in endeavoring
to restore the circulation, and in regaining the use of his limbs,
to indulge in any other reflections.
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