His ar'n'd was to throw these sticks at
our door, as much as to say, we've struck the war-post since the
trade, and the next thing will be to strike you."
"The prowling wolves! But hand me that rifle, Judith, and I'll
send an answer back to the vagabonds through their messenger."
"Not while I stand by, Master March," coolly put in Deerslayer,
motioning for the other to forbear. "Faith is faith, whether given
to a red-skin, or to a Christian. The lad lighted a knot, and came
off fairly under its blaze to give us this warning; and no man
here should harm him, while empl'yed on such an ar'n'd. There's no
use in words, for the boy is too cunning to leave the knot burning,
now his business is done, and the night is already too dark for a
rifle to have any sartainty."
"That may be true enough, as to a gun, but there's virtue still in
a canoe," answered Hurry, passing towards the door with enormous
strides, carrying a rifle in his hands. "The being doesn't live
that shall stop me from following and bringing back that riptyle's
scalp. The more on 'em that you crush in the egg, the fewer there'll
be to dart at you in the woods!"
Judith trembled like the aspen, she scarce knew why herself, though
there was the prospect of a scene of violence; for if Hurry was
fierce and overbearing in the consciousness of his vast strength,
Deerslayer had about him the calm determination that promises
greater perseverance, and a resolution more likely to effect its
object.
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