"Here we are safe, Hetty," she said, "and may talk without the
fear of being overheard. You must speak low, however, for sounds
are heard far on the water in a still night. I was so close to
the point some of the time while you were on it, that I have heard
the voices of the warriors, and I heard your shoes on the gravel
of the beach, even before you spoke."
"I don't believe, Judith, the Hurons know I have left them."
"Quite likely they do not, for a lover makes a poor sentry, unless
it be to watch for his sweetheart! But tell me, Hetty, did you
see and speak with Deerslayer?"
"Oh, yes - there he was seated near the fire, with his legs tied,
though they left his arms free, to move them as he pleased."
"Well, what did he tell you, child? Speak quick; I am dying to
know what message he sent me."
"What did he tell me? why, what do you think, Judith; he told me
that he couldn't read! Only think of that! a white man, and not
know how to read his Bible even! He never could have had a mother,
sister!"
"Never mind that, Hetty. All men can't read; though mother knew so
much and taught us so much, father knows very little about books,
and he can barely read the Bible you know.
Pages:
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532