His
wish to obtain Hist for a wife had first induced him to betray her,
and his own people, but serious rivals to his first project had
risen up among his new friends, weakening still more their
sympathies with treason. In a word, Briarthorn had been barely
permitted to remain in the Huron encampment, where he was as closely
and as jealously watched as Hist, herself, seldom appearing before
the chiefs, and sedulously keeping out of view of Deerslayer, who,
until this moment, was ignorant even of his presence. Thus summoned,
however, it was impossible to remain in the back ground. "Wash the
Iroquois paint from his face," he did not, for when he stood in the
centre of the circle, he was so disguised in these new colours, that
at first, the hunter did not recognise him. He assumed an air of
defiance, notwithstanding, and haughtily demanded what any could say
against "Briarthorn."
"Ask yourself that," continued Hist with spirit, though her manner
grew less concentrated, and there was a slight air of abstraction
that became observable to Deerslayer and Judith, if to no others
-"Ask that of your own heart, sneaking woodchuck of the Delawares;
come not here with the face of an innocent man.
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