It required but a moment to
reach the foot of the little ascent, and then commenced the most
critical part of the enterprise. Moving with exceeding caution,
and trailing his rifle, both to keep its barrel out of view, and
in readiness for service, the hunter put foot before foot, until
he had got sufficiently high to overlook the summit, his own head
being alone brought into the light. Chingachgook was at his side
and both paused to take another close examination of the camp. In
order, however, to protect themselves against any straggler in the
rear, they placed their bodies against the trunk of an oak, standing
on the side next the fire.
The view that Deerslayer now obtained of the camp was exactly the
reverse of that he had perceived from the water. The dim figures
which he had formerly discovered must have been on the summit of the
ridge, a few feet in advance of the spot where he was now posted.
The fire was still blazing brightly, and around it were seated on
logs thirteen warriors, which accounted for all whom he had seen
from the canoe. They were conversing, with much earnestness among
themselves, the image of the elephant passing from hand to hand.
The first burst of savage wonder had abated, and the question now
under discussion was the probable existence, the history and the
habits of so extraordinary an animal.
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