But many considerations suggested themselves to put a
stop to this indiscreet step. It was almost certain that scouts
watched the lake on both sides, and no canoe could possibly approach
shore without being seen from the hills. Then a trail could not
be concealed from Indian eyes, and the strength of Hist was unequal
to a flight sufficiently sustained to outstrip the pursuit of
trained warriors. This was a part of America in which the Indians
did not know the use of horses, and everything would depend on
the physical energies of the fugitives. Last, but far from being
least, were the thoughts connected with the situation of Deerslayer,
a friend who was not to be deserted in his extremity.
Hist in some particulars reasoned, and even felt, differently though
she arrived at the same conclusions. Her own anger disturbed her
less than her concern for the two sisters, on whose behalf her
womanly sympathies were now strongly enlisted. The canoe of the
girls, by the time the struggle on the platform had ceased, was
within three hundred yards of the castle, and here Judith ceased
paddling, the evidences of strife first becoming apparent to the
eyes. She and Hetty were standing erect, anxiously endeavoring
to ascertain what had occurred, but unable to satisfy their doubts
from the circumstance that the building, in a great measure,
concealed the scene of action.
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