“The great King of Kings
Hath in the table of his law commanded,
That thou shalt do no murder.
Take heed; for he holds vengeance in his hand,
To hurl upon their heads that break his law.”
Richard III, I.iv.i95-97 199-200.
That the party to which Hist compulsorily belonged was not one that was
regularly on the war path, was evident by the presence of females. It
was a small fragment of a tribe that had been hunting and fishing
within the English limits, where it was found by the commencement of
hostilities, and, after passing the winter and spring by living on what
was strictly the property of its enemies, it chose to strike a hostile
blow before it finally retired. There was also deep Indian sagacity
in the manoeuvre which had led them so far into the territory of
their foes. When the runner arrived who announced the breaking out of
hostilities between the English and French--a struggle that was certain
to carry with it all the tribes that dwelt within the influence of the
respective belligerents--this particular party of the Iroquois were
posted on the shores of the Oneida, a lake that lies some fifty miles
nearer to their own frontier than that which is the scene of our tale.
To have fled in a direct line for the Canadas would have exposed them to
the dangers of a direct pursuit, and the chiefs had determined to adopt
the expedient of penetrating deeper into a region that had now become
dangerous, in the hope of being able to retire in the rear of their
pursuers, instead of having them on their trail. The presence of the
women had induced the attempt at this ruse, the strength of these
feebler members of the party being unequal to the effort of escaping
from the pursuit of warriors. When the reader remembers the vast extent
of the American wilderness, at that early day, he will perceive that
it was possible for even a tribe to remain months undiscovered in
particular portions of it; nor was the danger of encountering a foe, the
usual precautions being observed, as great in the woods, as it is on the
high seas, in a time of active warfare.
The encampment being temporary, it offered to the eye no more than the
rude protection of a bivouac, relieved in some slight degree by the
ingenious expedients which suggested themselves to the readiness of
those who passed their lives amid similar scenes. One fire, that had
been kindled against the roots of a living oak, sufficed for the whole
party; the weather being too mild to require it for any purpose but
cooking. Scattered around this centre of attraction, were some fifteen
or twenty low huts, or perhaps kennels would be a better word, into
which their different owners crept at night, and which were also
intended to meet the exigencies of a storm.
These little huts were made of the branches of trees, put together with
some ingenuity, and they were uniformly topped with bark that had been
stripped from fallen trees; of which every virgin forest possesses
hundreds, in all stages of decay. Of furniture they had next to none.
Cooking utensils of the simplest sort were lying near the fire, a few
articles of clothing were to be seen in or around the huts, rifles,
horns, and pouches leaned against the trees, or were suspended from the
lower branches, and the carcasses of two or three deer were stretched to
view on the same natural shambles.
As the encampment was in the midst of a dense wood, the eye could not
take in its tout ensemble at a glance, but hut after hut started out of
the gloomy picture, as one gazed about him in quest of objects. There
was no centre, unless the fire might be so considered, no open area
where the possessors of this rude village might congregate, but all was
dark, covert and cunning, like its owners. A few children strayed from
hut to hut, giving the spot a little of the air of domestic life, and
the suppressed laugh and low voices of the women occasionally broke
in upon the deep stillness of the sombre forest. As for the men, they
either ate, slept, or examined their arms. They conversed but little,
and then usually apart, or in groups withdrawn from the females, whilst
an air of untiring, innate watchfulness and apprehension of danger
seemed to be blended even with their slumbers.
As the two girls came near the encampment, Hetty uttered a slight
exclamation, on catching a view of the person of her father. He was
seated on the ground with his back to a tree, and Hurry stood near him
indolently whittling a twig. Apparently they were as much at liberty as
any others in or about the camp, and one unaccustomed to Indian usages
would have mistaken them for visitors, instead of supposing them to
be captives. Wah-ta-Wah led her new friend quite near them, and then
modestly withdrew, that her own presence might be no restraint on her
feelings. But Hetty was not sufficiently familiar with caresses or
outward demonstrations of fondness, to indulge in any outbreaking of
feeling. She merely approached and stood at her father's side without
speaking, resembling a silent statue of filial affection. The old man
expressed neither alarm nor surprise at her sudden appearance. In these
particulars he had caught the stoicism of the Indians, well knowing
that there was no more certain mode of securing their respect than by
imitating their self-command. Nor did the savages themselves betray the
least sign of surprise at this sudden appearance of a stranger among
them. In a word, this arrival produced much less visible sensation,
though occurring under circumstances so peculiar, than would be seen in
a village of higher pretensions to civilization did an ordinary traveler
drive up to the door of its principal inn.
Still a few warriors collected, and it was evident by the manner in
which they glanced at Hetty as they conversed together, that she was
the subject of their discourse, and probable that the reasons of her
unlooked-for appearance were matters of discussion. This phlegm of
manner is characteristic of the North American Indian--some say of his
white successor also--but, in this case much should be attributed to the
peculiar situation in which the party was placed. The force in the Ark,
the presence of Chingachgook excepted, was well known, no tribe or body
of troops was believed to be near, and vigilant eyes were posted round
the entire lake, watching day and night the slightest movement of those
whom it would not be exaggerated now to term the besieged.
Hutter was inwardly much moved by the conduct of Hetty, though he
affected so much indifference of manner. He recollected her gentle
appeal to him before he left the Ark, and misfortune rendered that of
weight which might have been forgotten amid the triumph of success. Then
he knew the simple, single-hearted fidelity of his child, and understood
why she had come, and the total disregard of self that reigned in all
her acts.
“This is not well, Hetty,” he said, deprecating the consequences to the
girl herself more than any other evil. “These are fierce Iroquois, and
are as little apt to forget an injury, as a favor.”
“Tell me, father--” returned the girl, looking furtively about her as
if fearful of being overheard, “did God let you do the cruel errand
on which you came? I want much to know this, that I may speak to the
Indians plainly, if he did not.”
“You should not have come hither, Hetty; these brutes will not
understand your nature or your intentions!”
“How was it, father; neither you nor Hurry seems to have any thing that
looks like scalps.”
“If that will set your mind at peace, child, I can answer you, no. I had
caught the young creatur' who came here with you, but her screeches soon
brought down upon me a troop of the wild cats, that was too much for any
single Christian to withstand. If that will do you any good, we are as
innocent of having taken a scalp, this time, as I make no doubt we shall
also be innocent of receiving the bounty.”
“Thank God for that, father! Now I can speak boldly to the Iroquois, and
with an easy conscience. I hope Hurry, too, has not been able to harm
any of the Indians?”
“Why, as to that matter, Hetty,” returned the individual in question,
“you've put it pretty much in the natyve character of the religious
truth. Hurry has not been able, and that is the long and short of it.
I've seen many squalls, old fellow, both on land and on the water, but
never did I feel one as lively and as snappish as that which come down
upon us, night afore last, in the shape of an Indian hurrah-boys! Why,
Hetty, you're no great matter at a reason, or an idee that lies a little
deeper than common, but you're human and have some human notions--now
I'll just ask you to look at them circumstances. Here was old Tom, your
father, and myself, bent on a legal operation, as is to be seen in the
words of the law and the proclamation; thinking no harm; when we were
set upon by critturs that were more like a pack of hungry wolves than
mortal savages even, and there they had us tethered like two sheep, in
less time than it has taken me to tell you the story.”
“You are free now, Hurry,” returned Hetty, glancing timidly at the fine
unfettered limbs of the young giant--“You have no cords, or withes, to
pain your arms, or legs, now.”
“Not I, Hetty. Natur' is natur', and freedom is natur', too. My limbs
have a free look, but that's pretty much the amount of it, sin' I can't
use them in the way I should like. Even these trees have eyes; ay, and
tongues too; for was the old man, here, or I, to start one single rod
beyond our gaol limits, sarvice would be put on the bail afore we could
'gird up our loins' for a race, and, like as not, four or five rifle
bullets would be travelling arter us, carrying so many invitations to
curb our impatience. There isn't a gaol in the colony as tight as this
we are now in; for I've tried the vartues of two or three on 'em, and I
know the mater'als they are made of, as well as the men that made 'em;
takin' down being the next step in schoolin', to puttin' up, in all such
fabrications.”
Lest the reader should get an exaggerated opinion of Hurry's demerits
from this boastful and indiscreet revelation, it may be well to say that
his offences were confined to assaults and batteries, for several
of which he had been imprisoned, when, as he has just said, he often
escaped by demonstrating the flimsiness of the constructions in which he
was confined, by opening for himself doors in spots where the architects
had neglected to place them. But Hetty had no knowledge of gaols, and
little of the nature of crimes, beyond what her unadulterated and almost
instinctive perceptions of right and wrong taught her, and this sally
of the rude being who had spoken was lost upon her. She understood his
general meaning, however, and answered in reference to that alone.
“It's so best, Hurry,” she said. “It is best father and you should be
quiet and peaceable, 'till I have spoken to the Iroquois, when all will
be well and happy. I don't wish either of you to follow, but leave me to
myself. As soon as all is settled, and you are at liberty to go back to
the castle, I will come and let you know it.”
Hetty spoke with so much simple earnestness, seemed so confident of
success, and wore so high an air of moral feeling and truth, that
both the listeners felt more disposed to attach an importance to her
mediation, than might otherwise have happened. When she manifested an
intention to quit them, therefore, they offered no obstacle, though they
saw she was about to join the group of chiefs who were consulting apart,
seemingly on the manner and motive of her own sudden appearance.
When Hist--for so we love best to call her--quitted her companion, she
strayed near one or two of the elder warriors, who had shown her most
kindness in her captivity, the principal man of whom had even offered to
adopt her as his child if she would consent to become a Huron. In taking
this direction, the shrewd girl did so to invite inquiry. She was too
well trained in the habits of her people to obtrude the opinions of one
of her sex and years on men and warriors, but nature had furnished
a tact and ingenuity that enabled her to attract the attention she
desired, without wounding the pride of those to whom it was her duty to
defer and respect. Even her affected indifference stimulated curiosity,
and Hetty had hardly reached the side of her father, before the Delaware
girl was brought within the circle of the warriors, by a secret but
significant gesture. Here she was questioned as to the person of her
companion, and the motives that had brought her to the camp. This
was all that Hist desired. She explained the manner in which she had
detected the weakness of Hetty's reason, rather exaggerating than
lessening the deficiency in her intellect, and then she related in
general terms the object of the girl in venturing among her enemies.
The effect was all that the speaker expected, her account investing the
person and character of their visitor with a sacredness and respect that
she well knew would prove her protection. As soon as her own purpose was
attained, Hist withdrew to a distance, where, with female consideration
and a sisterly tenderness she set about the preparation of a meal, to be
offered to her new friend as soon as the latter might be at liberty to
partake of it. While thus occupied, however, the ready girl in no degree
relaxed in her watchfulness, noting every change of countenance among
the chiefs, every movement of Hetty's, and the smallest occurrence that
could be likely to affect her own interests, or that of her new friend.
As Hetty approached the chiefs they opened their little circle, with an
ease and deference of manner that would have done credit to men of more
courtly origin. A fallen tree lay near, and the oldest of the warriors
made a quiet sign for the girl to be seated on it, taking his place at
her side with the gentleness of a father. The others arranged themselves
around the two with grave dignity, and then the girl, who had sufficient
observation to perceive that such a course was expected of her, began
to reveal the object of her visit. The moment she opened her mouth to
speak, however, the old chief gave a gentle sign for her to forbear,
said a few words to one of his juniors, and then waited in silent
patience until the latter had summoned Hist to the party. This
interruption proceeded from the chief's having discovered that there
existed a necessity for an interpreter, few of the Hurons present
understanding the English language, and they but imperfectly.
Wah-ta-Wah was not sorry to be called upon to be present at the
interview, and least of all in the character in which she was now
wanted. She was aware of the hazards she ran in attempting to deceive
one or two of the party, but was none the less resolved to use every
means that offered, and to practice every artifice that an Indian
education could supply, to conceal the facts of the vicinity of her
betrothed, and of the errand on which he had come. One unpracticed in
the expedients and opinions of savage life would not have suspected the
readiness of invention, the wariness of action, the high resolution, the
noble impulses, the deep self-devotion, and the feminine disregard of
self when the affections were concerned, that lay concealed beneath the
demure looks, the mild eyes, and the sunny smiles of this young Indian
beauty. As she approached them, the grim old warriors regarded her with
pleasure, for they had a secret pride in the hope of engrafting so rare
a scion on the stock of their own nation; adoption being as regularly
practised, and as distinctly recognized among the tribes of America,
as it ever had been among those nations that submit to the sway of the
Civil Law.
As soon as Hist was seated by the side of Hetty, the old chief desired
her to ask “the fair young pale-face” what had brought her among the
Iroquois, and what they could do to serve her.
“Tell them, Hist, who I am--Thomas Hutter's youngest daughter; Thomas
Hutter, the oldest of their two prisoners; he who owns the castle and
the Ark, and who has the best right to be thought the owner of these
hills, and that lake, since he has dwelt so long, and trapped so long,
and fished so long, among them--They'll know whom you mean by Thomas
Hutter, if you tell them, that. And then tell them that I've come here
to convince them they ought not to harm father and Hurry, but let them
go in peace, and to treat them as brethren rather than as enemies. Now
tell them all this plainly, Hist, and fear nothing for yourself or me.
God will protect us.”
Wah-ta-Wah did as the other desired, taking care to render the words of
her friend as literally as possible into the Iroquois tongue, a language
she used with a readiness almost equal to that with which she spoke her
own. The chiefs heard this opening explanation with grave decorum, the
two who had a little knowledge of English intimating their satisfaction
with the interpreter by furtive but significant glances of the eyes.
“And, now, Hist,” continued Hetty, as soon as it was intimated to her
that she might proceed, “and, now, Hist, I wish you to tell these red
men, word for word, what I am about to say. Tell them first, that father
and Hurry came here with an intention to take as many scalps as they
could, for the wicked governor and the province have offered money for
scalps, whether of warriors, or women, men or children, and the love of
gold was too strong for their hearts to withstand it. Tell them this,
dear Hist, just as you have heard it from me, word for word.”
Wah-ta-Wah hesitated about rendering this speech as literally as had
been desired, but detecting the intelligence of those who understood
English, and apprehending even a greater knowledge than they actually
possessed she found herself compelled to comply. Contrary to what a
civilized man would have expected, the admission of the motives and of
the errands of their prisoners produced no visible effect on either the
countenances or the feelings of the listeners. They probably considered
the act meritorious, and that which neither of them would have hesitated
to perform in his own person, he would not be apt to censure in another.
“And, now, Hist,” resumed Hetty, as soon as she perceived that her first
speeches were understood by the chiefs, “you can tell them more. They
know that father and Hurry did not succeed, and therefore they can bear
them no grudge for any harm that has been done. If they had slain their
children and wives it would not alter the matter, and I'm not certain
that what I am about to tell them would not have more weight had there
been mischief done. But ask them first, Hist, if they know there is a
God, who reigns over the whole earth, and is ruler and chief of all who
live, let them be red, or white, or what color they may?”
Wah-ta-Wah looked a little surprised at this question, for the idea of
the Great Spirit is seldom long absent from the mind of an Indian girl.
She put the question as literally as possible, however, and received a
grave answer in the affirmative.
“This is right,” continued Hetty, “and my duty will now be light. This
Great Spirit, as you call our God, has caused a book to be written,
that we call a Bible, and in this book have been set down all his
commandments, and his holy will and pleasure, and the rules by which all
men are to live, and directions how to govern the thoughts even, and
the wishes, and the will. Here, this is one of these holy books, and
you must tell the chiefs what I am about to read to them from its sacred
pages.”
As Hetty concluded, she reverently unrolled a small English Bible from
its envelope of coarse calico, treating the volume with the sort of
external respect that a Romanist would be apt to show to a religious
relic. As she slowly proceeded in her task the grim warriors watched
each movement with riveted eyes, and when they saw the little volume
appear a slight expression of surprise escaped one or two of them. But
Hetty held it out towards them in triumph, as if she expected the sight
would produce a visible miracle, and then, without betraying either
surprise or mortification at the Stoicism of the Indian, she turned
eagerly to her new friend, in order to renew the discourse.
“This is the sacred volume, Hist,” she said--“and these words, and
lines, and verses, and chapters, all came from God.”
“Why Great Spirit no send book to Injin, too?” demanded Hist, with the
directness of a mind that was totally unsophisticated.
“Why?” answered Hetty, a little bewildered by a question so unexpected.
“Why?--Ah! you know the Indians don't know how to read.”
If Hist was not satisfied with this explanation, she did not deem the
point of sufficient importance to be pressed. Simply bending her body,
in a gentle admission of the truth of what she heard, she sat patiently
awaiting the further arguments of the pale-face enthusiast.
“You can tell these chiefs that throughout this book, men are ordered to
forgive their enemies; to treat them as they would brethren; and never
to injure their fellow creatures, more especially on account of revenge
or any evil passions. Do you think you can tell them this, so that they
will understand it, Hist?”
“Tell him well enough, but he no very easy to understand.” Hist then
conveyed the ideas of Hetty, in the best manner she could, to the
attentive Indians, who heard her words with some such surprise as an
American of our own times would be apt to betray at a suggestion that
the great modern but vacillating ruler of things human, public opinion,
might be wrong. One or two of their number, however, having met with
missionaries, said a few words in explanation, and then the group gave
all its attention to the communications that were to follow. Before
Hetty resumed she inquired earnestly of Hist if the chiefs had
understood her, and receiving an evasive answer, was fain to be
satisfied.
“I will now read to the warriors some of the verses that it is good for
them to know,” continued the girl, whose manner grew more solemn and
earnest as she proceeded--“and they will remember that they are the very
words of the Great Spirit. First, then, ye are commanded to 'love thy
neighbor as Thyself.' Tell them that, dear Hist.”
“Neighbor, for Injin, no mean pale-face,” answered the Delaware girl,
with more decision than she had hitherto thought it necessary to use.
“Neighbor mean Iroquois for Iroquois, Mohican for Mohican, Pale-face for
pale face. No need tell chief any thing else.”
“You forget, Hist, these are the words of the Great Spirit, and
the chiefs must obey them as well as others. Here is another
commandment--'Whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek, turn to him
the other also.'”
“What that mean?” demanded Hist, with the quickness of lightning.
Hetty explained that it was an order not to resent injuries, but rather
to submit to receive fresh wrongs from the offender.
“And hear this, too, Hist,” she added. “'Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you and persecute you.'”
By this time Hetty had become excited; her eye gleamed with the
earnestness of her feelings, her cheeks flushed, and her voice, usually
so low and modulated, became stronger and more impressive. With the
Bible she had been early made familiar by her mother, and she now turned
from passage to passage with surprising rapidity, taking care to cull
such verses as taught the sublime lessons of Christian charity and
Christian forgiveness. To translate half she said, in her pious
earnestness, Wah-ta-Wah would have found impracticable, had she made the
effort, but wonder held her tongue tied, equally with the chiefs, and
the young, simple-minded enthusiast had fairly become exhausted with
her own efforts, before the other opened her mouth, again, to utter a
syllable. Then, indeed, the Delaware girl gave a brief translation of
the substance of what had been both read and said, confining herself to
one or two of the more striking of the verses, those that had struck her
own imagination as the most paradoxical, and which certainly would have
been the most applicable to the case, could the uninstructed minds of
the listeners embrace the great moral truths they conveyed.
It will be scarcely necessary to tell the reader the effect that
such novel duties would be likely to produce among a group of Indian
warriors, with whom it was a species of religious principle never to
forget a benefit, or to forgive an injury. Fortunately, the previous
explanations of Hist had prepared the minds of the Hurons for something
extravagant, and most of that which to them seemed inconsistent and
paradoxical, was accounted for by the fact that the speaker possessed
a mind that was constituted differently from those of most of the
human race. Still there were one or two old men who had heard similar
doctrines from the missionaries, and these felt a desire to occupy an
idle moment by pursuing a subject that they found so curious.
“This is the Good Book of the pale-faces,” observed one of these
chiefs, taking the volume from the unresisting hands of Hetty, who gazed
anxiously at his face while he turned the leaves, as if she expected to
witness some visible results from the circumstance. “This is the law by
which my white brethren professes to live?”
Hist, to whom this question was addressed, if it might be considered as
addressed to any one, in particular, answered simply in the affirmative;
adding that both the French of the Canadas, and the Yengeese of the
British provinces equally admitted its authority, and affected to revere
its principles.
“Tell my young sister,” said the Huron, looking directly at Hist, “that
I will open my mouth and say a few words.”
“The Iroquois chief go to speak--my pale-face friend listen,” said Hist.
“I rejoice to hear it!” exclaimed Hetty. “God has touched his heart, and
he will now let father and Hurry go.”
“This is the pale-face law,” resumed the chief. “It tells him to do good
to them that hurt him, and when his brother asks him for his rifle to
give him the powder horn, too. Such is the pale-face law?”
“Not so--not so--” answered Hetty earnestly, when these words had been
interpreted--“There is not a word about rifles in the whole book, and
powder and bullets give offence to the Great Spirit.”
“Why then does the pale-face use them? If he is ordered to give double
to him that asks only for one thing, why does he take double from the
poor Indian who ask for no thing. He comes from beyond the rising sun,
with this book in his hand, and he teaches the red man to read it, but
why does he forget himself all it says? When the Indian gives, he is
never satisfied; and now he offers gold for the scalps of our women and
children, though he calls us beasts if we take the scalp of a warrior
killed in open war. My name is Rivenoak.”
When Hetty had got this formidable question fairly presented to her mind
in the translation, and Hist did her duty with more than usual
readiness on this occasion, it scarcely need be said that she was sorely
perplexed. Abler heads than that of this poor girl have frequently been
puzzled by questions of a similar drift, and it is not surprising that
with all her own earnestness and sincerity she did not know what answer
to make.
“What shall I tell them, Hist,” she asked imploringly--“I know that all
I have read from the book is true, and yet it wouldn't seem so, would
it, by the conduct of those to whom the book was given?”
“Give 'em pale-face reason,” returned Hist, ironically--“that always
good for one side; though he bad for t'other.”
“No--no--Hist, there can't be two sides to truth--and yet it does seem
strange! I'm certain I have read the verses right, and no one would be
so wicked as to print the word of God wrong. That can never be, Hist.”
“Well, to poor Injin girl, it seem every thing can be to pale-faces,”
returned the other, coolly. “One time 'ey say white, and one time 'ey
say black. Why never can be?”
Hetty was more and more embarrassed, until overcome with the
apprehension that she had failed in her object, and that the lives of
her father and Hurry would be the forfeit of some blunder of her own,
she burst into tears. From that moment the manner of Hist lost all its
irony and cool indifference, and she became the fond caressing friend
again. Throwing her arms around the afflicted girl, she attempted
to soothe her sorrows by the scarcely ever failing remedy of female
sympathy.
“Stop cry--no cry--” she said, wiping the tears from the face of Hetty,
as she would have performed the same office for a child, and stopping
to press her occasionally to her own warm bosom with the affection of
a sister. “Why you so trouble? You no make he book, if he be wrong, and
you no make he pale-face if he wicked. There wicked red man, and wicked
white man--no colour all good--no colour all wicked. Chiefs know that
well enough.”
Hetty soon recovered from this sudden burst of grief, and then her
mind reverted to the purpose of her visit, with all its single-hearted
earnestness. Perceiving that the grim looking chiefs were still standing
around her in grave attention, she hoped that another effort to convince
them of the right might be successful. “Listen, Hist,” she said,
struggling to suppress her sobs, and to speak distinctly--“Tell the
chiefs that it matters not what the wicked do--right is right--The words
of The Great Spirit are the words of The Great Spirit--and no one can go
harmless for doing an evil act, because another has done it before him.
'Render good for evil,' says this book, and that is the law for the red
man as well as for the white man.”
“Never hear such law among Delaware, or among Iroquois--” answered
Hist soothingly. “No good to tell chiefs any such laws as dat. Tell 'em
somet'ing they believe.”
Hist was about to proceed, notwithstanding, when a tap on the shoulder
from the finger of the oldest chief caused her to look up. She then
perceived that one of the warriors had left the group, and was already
returning to it with Hutter and Hurry. Understanding that the two
last were to become parties in the inquiry, she became mute, with
the unhesitating obedience of an Indian woman. In a few seconds the
prisoners stood face to face with the principal men of the captors.
“Daughter,” said the senior chief to the young Delaware, “ask this grey
beard why he came into our camp?”
The question was put by Hist, in her own imperfect English, but in a
way that was easy to be understood. Hutter was too stern and obdurate
by nature to shrink from the consequences of any of his acts, and he
was also too familiar with the opinions of the savages not to understand
that nothing was to be gained by equivocation or an unmanly dread of
their anger. Without hesitating, therefore, he avowed the purpose
with which he had landed, merely justifying it by the fact that the
government of the province had bid high for scalps. This frank avowal
was received by the Iroquois with evident satisfaction, not so much,
however, on account of the advantage it gave them in a moral point of
view, as by its proving that they had captured a man worthy of occupying
their thoughts and of becoming a subject of their revenge. Hurry,
when interrogated, confessed the truth, though he would have been
more disposed to concealment than his sterner companion, did the
circumstances very well admit of its adoption. But he had tact enough to
discover that equivocation would be useless, at that moment, and he made
a merit of necessity by imitating a frankness, which, in the case
of Hutter, was the offspring of habits of indifference acting on
a disposition that was always ruthless, and reckless of personal
consequences.
As soon as the chiefs had received the answers to their questions, they
walked away in silence, like men who deemed the matter disposed of,
all Hetty's dogmas being thrown away on beings trained in violence from
infancy to manhood. Hetty and Hist were now left alone with Hutter and
Hurry, no visible restraint being placed on the movements of either;
though all four, in fact, were vigilantly and unceasingly watched. As
respects the men, care was had to prevent them from getting possession
of any of the rifles that lay scattered about, their own included; and
there all open manifestations of watchfulness ceased. But they, who
were so experienced in Indian practices, knew too well how great was the
distance between appearances and reality, to become the dupes of this
seeming carelessness. Although both thought incessantly of the means of
escape, and this without concert, each was aware of the uselessness
of attempting any project of the sort that was not deeply laid, and
promptly executed. They had been long enough in the encampment, and were
sufficiently observant to have ascertained that Hist, also, was a sort
of captive, and, presuming on the circumstance, Hutter spoke in her
presence more openly than he might otherwise have thought it prudent to
do; inducing Hurry to be equally unguarded by his example.
“I'll not blame you, Hetty, for coming on this errand, which was well
meant if not very wisely planned,” commenced the father, seating himself
by the side of his daughter and taking her hand; a sign of affection
that this rude being was accustomed to manifest to this particular
child. “But preaching, and the Bible, are not the means to turn an
Indian from his ways. Has Deerslayer sent any message; or has he any
scheme by which he thinks to get us free?”
“Ay, that's the substance of it!” put in Hurry. “If you can help us,
gal, to half a mile of freedom, or even a good start of a short quarter,
I'll answer for the rest. Perhaps the old man may want a little more,
but for one of my height and years that will meet all objections.”
Hetty looked distressed, turning her eyes from one to the other, but she
had no answer to give to the question of the reckless Hurry.
“Father,” she said, “neither Deerslayer nor Judith knew of my coming
until I had left the Ark. They are afraid the Iroquois will make a raft
and try to get off to the hut, and think more of defending that than of
coming to aid you.”
“No--no--no--” said Hist hurriedly, though in a low voice, and with her
face bent towards the earth, in order to conceal from those whom
she knew to be watching them the fact of her speaking at all.
“No--no--no--Deerslayer different man. He no t'ink of defending 'self,
with friend in danger. Help one another, and all get to hut.”
“This sounds well, old Tom,” said Hurry, winking and laughing, though he
too used the precaution to speak low--“Give me a ready witted squaw
for a fri'nd, and though I'll not downright defy an Iroquois, I think I
would defy the devil.”
“No talk loud,” said Hist. “Some Iroquois got Yengeese tongue, and all
got Yengeese ear.”
“Have we a friend in you, young woman?” enquired Hutter with an
increasing interest in the conference. “If so, you may calculate on a
solid reward, and nothing will be easier than to send you to your own
tribe, if we can once fairly get you off with us to the castle. Give us
the Ark and the canoes, and we can command the lake, spite of all the
savages in the Canadas. Nothing but artillery could drive us out of the
castle, if we can get back to it.
“S'pose 'ey come ashore to take scalp?” retorted Hist, with cool irony,
at which the girl appeared to be more expert than is common for her sex.
“Ay--ay--that was a mistake; but there is little use in lamentations,
and less still, young woman, in flings.”
“Father,” said Hetty, “Judith thinks of breaking open the big chest,
in hopes of finding something in that which may buy your freedom of the
savages.”
A dark look came over Hutter at the announcement of this fact, and he
muttered his dissatisfaction in a way to render it intelligible enough.
“What for no break open chest?” put in Hist. “Life sweeter than old
chest--scalp sweeter than old chest. If no tell darter to break him
open, Wah-ta-Wah no help him to run away.”
“Ye know not what ye ask--ye are but silly girls, and the wisest way for
ye both is to speak of what ye understand and to speak of nothing else.
I little like this cold neglect of the savages, Hurry; it's a proof that
they think of something serious, and if we are to do any thing, we must
do it soon. Can we count on this young woman, think you?”
“Listen--” said Hist quickly, and with an earnestness that proved how
much her feelings were concerned--“Wah-ta-Wah no Iroquois--All over
Delaware--got Delaware heart--Delaware feeling. She prisoner, too. One
prisoner help t'udder prisoner. No good to talk more, now. Darter stay
with fader--Wah-ta-Wah come and see friend--all look right--Then tell
what he do.”
This was said in a low voice, but distinctly, and in a manner to make an
impression. As soon as it was uttered the girl arose and left the
group, walking composedly towards the hut she occupied, as if she had no
further interest in what might pass between the pale-faces.