It was the stern, resolute eye of the latter, rather than
the noisy vehemence of the first, that excited her apprehensions.
Hurry soon reached the spot where the canoe was fastened, but
not before Deerslayer had spoken in a quick, earnest voice to the
Serpent, in Delaware. The latter had been the first, in truth, to
hear the sounds of the oars, and he had gone upon the platform in
jealous watchfulness. The light Satisfied him that a message was
coming, and when the boy cast his bundle of sticks at his feet, it
neither moved his anger nor induced surprise. He merely stood at
watch, rifle in hand, to make certain that no treachery lay behind
the defiance. As Deerslayer now called to him, he stepped into the
canoe, and quick as thought removed the paddles. Hurry was furious
when he found that he was deprived of the means of proceeding. He
first approached the Indian with loud menaces, and even Deerslayer
stood aghast at the probable consequences. March shook his
sledge-hammer fists and flourished his arms as he drew near the
Indian, and all expected he would attempt to fell the Delaware
to the earth; one of them, at least, was well aware that such
an experiment would be followed by immediate bloodshed.
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