It has been said that Judith took her place at the side of Deerslayer,
soon after the adventurers departed. For a short time the girl
was silent, and the hunter was ignorant which of the sisters had
approached him, but he soon recognized the rich, full-spirited
voice of the elder, as her feelings escaped in words.
"This is a terrible life for women, Deerslayer!" she exclaimed.
"Would to Heaven I could see an end of it!"
"The life is well enough, Judith," was the answer, "being pretty
much as it is used or abused. What would you wish to see in its
place?"
"I should be a thousand times happier to live nearer to civilized
beings - where there are farms and churches, and houses built as
it might be by Christian hands; and where my sleep at night would
be sweet and tranquil! A dwelling near on of the forts would be
far better than this dreary place where we live!"
"Nay, Judith, I can't agree too lightly in the truth of all this.
If forts are good to keep off inimies, they sometimes hold inimies
of their own. I don't think 'twould be for your good, or the good
of Hetty, to live near one; and if I must say what I think, I'm
afeard you are a little too near as it is.
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