The prevailing wind on the lakes
of that region is west, but owing to the avenues formed by the
mountains it is frequently impossible to tell the true direction of
the currents, as they often vary within short distances and brief
differences of time. This is truer in light fluctuating puffs of
air than in steady breezes; though the squalls of even the latter
are familiarly known to be uncertain and baffling in all mountainous
regions and narrow waters. On the present occasion, Hutter himself
(as he shoved the ark from her berth at the side of the platform)
was at a loss to pronounce which way the wind blew. In common,
this difficulty was solved by the clouds, which, floating high
above the hill tops, as a matter of course obeyed the currents; but
now the whole vault of heaven seemed a mass of gloomy wall. Not
an opening of any sort was visible, and Chingachgook we already
trembling lest the non-appearance of the star might prevent his
betrothed from being punctual to her appointment. Under these
circumstances, Hutter hoisted his sail, seemingly with the sole
intention of getting away from the castle, as it might be dangerous
to remain much longer in its vicinity.
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