Drawing the light blanket he wore
over his head, as a Roman would conceal his grief in his robes, he
slowly withdrew into the Ark, in order to indulge his sorrow and
his musings, alone. Deerslayer did not speak again until the canoe
was half-way to the shore. Then he suddenly ceased paddling, at
an interruption that came from the mild, musical voice of Hetty.
"Why do you go back to the Hurons, Deerslayer?" demanded the girl.
"They say I am feeble-minded, and such they never harm, but you have
as much sense as Hurry Harry; and more too, Judith thinks, though
I don't see how that can well be."
"Ah! Hetty, afore we land I must convarse a little with you child,
and that too on matters touching your own welfare, principally.
Stop paddling -or, rather, that the Mingos needn't think we are
plotting and contriving, and so treat us accordingly, just dip your
paddle lightly, and give the canoe a little motion and no more.
That's just the idee and the movement; I see you're ready enough
at an appearance, and might be made useful at a sarcumvention if it
was lawful now to use one - that's just the idee and the movement!
Ah's! me. Desait and a false tongue are evil things, and
altogether onbecoming our colour, Hetty, but it is a pleasure and
a satisfaction to outdo the contrivances of a red-skin in the strife
of lawful warfare.
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