"
Here the stirring of leaves and the cracking of dried twigs
interrupted the discourse, and apprised Deerslayer of the approach
of his enemies. The Hurons closed around the spot that had been
prepared for the coming scene, and in the centre of which the intended
victim now stood, in a circle, the armed men being so distributed
among the feebler members of the band, that there was no safe opening
through which the prisoner could break. But the latter no longer
contemplated flight, the recent trial having satisfied him of
his inability to escape when pursued so closely by numbers. On
the contrary, all his energies were aroused in order to meet his
expected fate, with a calmness that should do credit to his colour
and his manhood; one equally removed from recreant alarm, and savage
boasting.
When Rivenoak re-appeared in the circle, he occupied his old place
at the head of the area. Several of the elder warriors stood near
him, but, now that the brother of Sumach had fallen, there was no
longer any recognised chief present whose influence and authority
offered a dangerous rivalry to his own. Nevertheless, it is well
known that little which could be called monarchical or despotic
entered into the politics of the North American tribes, although the
first colonists, bringing with them to this hemisphere the notions
and opinions of their own countries, often dignified the chief men
of those primitive nations with the titles of kings and princes.
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