Suddenly all the voices ceased, and a death like stillness
pervaded the spot: A quietness as profound as if all lay in the
repose of inanimate life. By this time, the canoe had drifted so
far as to render nothing visible to Deerslayer, as he lay on his
back, except the blue void of space, and a few of those brighter
rays that proceed from the effulgence of the sun, marking his
proximity. It was not possible to endure this uncertainty long.
The young man well knew that the profound stillness foreboded evil,
the savages never being so silent as when about to strike a blow;
resembling the stealthy foot of the panther ere he takes his leap.
He took out a knife and was about to cut a hole through the bark,
in order to get a view of the shore, when he paused from a dread
of being seen in the operation, which would direct the enemy where
to aim their bullets. At this instant a rifle was fired, and the
ball pierced both sides of the canoe, within eighteen inches of
the spot where his head lay. This was close work, but our hero
had too lately gone through that which was closer to be appalled.
He lay still half a minute longer, and then he saw the summit of
an oak coming slowly within his narrow horizon.
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