Here he was,
in a measure, protected, having the heads of the palisades between
him and the hut, and the chances of any attempt on his life while
thus covered, were greatly diminished. The canoe had reached the
piles with its head inclining northward, and at a short distance
from the moccasin. Instead of turning to pick up the latter, the
Delaware slowly made the circuit of the whole building, deliberately
examining every object that should betray the presence of enemies,
or the commission of violence. Not a single sign could he discover,
however, to confirm the suspicions that had been awakened. The
stillness of desertion pervaded the building; not a fastening was
displaced, not a window had been broken. The door looked as secure
as at the hour when it was closed by Hutter, and even the gate
of the dock had all the customary fastenings. In short, the most
wary and jealous eye could detect no other evidence of the visit
of enemies, than that which was connected with the appearance of
the floating moccasin.
The Delaware was now greatly at a loss how to proceed. At one
moment, as he came round in front of the castle, he was on the point
of stepping up on the platform and of applying his eye to one of
the loops, with a view of taking a direct personal inspection of
the state of things within; but he hesitated.
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