Instead of penetrating the
lake, however, it glanced from its smooth surface, rose, and buried
itself in the logs of the cabin near the spot at which Chingachgook
had shown himself the minute before, while clearing the line from
the cleet. A second, and a third, and a fourth bullet followed,
all meeting with the same resistance of the water, though Hurry
sensibly felt the violence of the blows they struck upon the lake
so immediately above, and so near his breast. Discovering their
mistake, the Hurons now changed their plan, and aimed at the
uncovered face; but by this time Hist was pulling on the line, the
target advanced and the deadly missiles still fell upon the water.
In another moment the body was dragged past the end of the scow
and became concealed. As for the Delaware and Hist, they worked
perfectly covered by the cabin, and in less time than it requires
to tell it, they had hauled the huge frame of Harry to the place
they occupied. Chingachgook stood in readiness with his keen
knife, and bending over the side of the scow he soon severed the
bark that bound the limbs of the borderer. To raise him high enough
to reach the edge of the boat and to aid him in entering were less
easy, as Hurry's arms were still nearly useless, but both were
done in time, when the liberated man staggered forward and fell
exhausted and helpless into the bottom of the scow.
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