They
are now trying which shall first reach the Happy Hunting Grounds.
Some think the Lynx can run fastest, and some think the Panther
can jump the farthest. The Sumach thinks both will travel so fast
and so far that neither will ever come back. Who shall feed her
and her young? The man who told her husband and her brother to
quit her lodge, that there might be room for him to come into it.
He is a great hunter, and we know that the woman will never want."
"Ay, Huron this is soon settled, accordin' to your notions, but it
goes sorely ag'in the grain of a white man's feelin's. I've heard
of men's saving their lives this-a-way, and I've know'd them that
would prefar death to such a sort of captivity. For my part, I do
not seek my end, nor do I seek matrimony."
"The pale-face will think of this, while my people get ready for
the council. He will be told what will happen. Let him remember
how hard it is to lose a husband and a brother. Go; when we want
him, the name of Deerslayer will be called."
This conversation had been held with no one near but the speakers.
Of all the band that had so lately thronged the place, Rivenoak
alone was visible. The rest seemed to have totally abandoned the
spot.
Pages:
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832