The girls, from long habit, used the paddles with great
dexterity, and Judith, in particular, had often sportively gained
races, in trials of speed with the youths that occasionally visited
the lake.
When the three Hurons emerged from behind the palisades, and found
themselves on the open lake, and under the necessity of advancing
unprotected on the Ark, if they persevered in the original design,
their ardor sensibly cooled. In a bark canoe they were totally
without cover, and Indian discretion was entirely opposed to such
a sacrifice of life as would most probably follow any attempt to
assault an enemy entrenched as effectually as the Delaware. Instead
of following the Ark, therefore, these three warriors inclined
towards the eastern shore, keeping at a safe distance from the
rifles of Chingachgook. But this manoeuvre rendered the position
of the girls exceedingly critical. It threatened to place them if
not between two fires, at least between two dangers, or what they
conceived to be dangers, and instead of permitting the Hurons to
enclose her, in what she fancied a sort of net, Judith immediately
commenced her retreat in a southern direction, at no very great
distance from the shore.
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