At this
meal scarce a syllable was exchanged, all the females manifesting
want of appetites, though the two men were unchanged in this
particular. It was early when the party arose, and there still
remained several hours before it would be necessary for the prisoner
to leave his friends. The knowledge of this circumstance, and the
interest all felt in his welfare, induced the whole to assemble on
the platform again, in the desire to be near the expected victim,
to listen to his discourse, and if possible to show their interest
in him by anticipating his wishes. Deerslayer, himself, so
far as human eyes could penetrate, was wholly unmoved, conversing
cheerfully and naturally, though he avoided any direct allusions
to the expected and great event of the day. If any evidence could
be discovered of his thought's reverting to that painful subject at
all, it was in the manner in which he spoke of death and the last
great change.
"Grieve not, Hetty," he said, for it was while consoling this
simple-minded girl for the loss of her parents that he thus betrayed
his feelings, "since God has app'inted that all must die. Your
parents, or them you fancied your parents, which is the same thing,
have gone afore you; this is only in the order of natur', my good
gal, for the aged go first, and the young follow.
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