the pathfinder-第16章
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by the fugitives and the true shore； the two parties became
visible to each other when opposite that precise point。
Both stopped； and a conversation ensued； that may be said
to have passed directly over the heads of those who were
concealed。 Indeed； nothing sheltered the travellers but
the branches and leaves of plants； so pliant that they
yielded to every current of air； and which a puff of wind a
little stronger than common would have blown away。
Fortunately the line of sight carried the eyes of the two
parties of savages； whether they stood in the water or on
the land； above the bushes； and the leaves appeared blended
in a way to excite no suspicion。 Perhaps the very bold…
ness of the expedient alone prevented an immediate ex…
posure。 The conversation which took place was conducted
earnestly； but in guarded tones； as if those who spoke
wished to defeat the intentions of any listeners。 It was in
a dialect that both the Indian warriors beneath； as well as
the Pathfinder； understood。 Even Jasper comprehended
a portion of what was said。
〃The trail is washed away by the water！〃 said one from
below； who stood so near the artificial cover of the fugi…
tives； that he might have been struck by the salmon…spear
that lay in the bottom of Jasper's canoe。 〃Water has
washed it so clear that a Yengeese hound could not follow。〃
〃The pale…faces have left the shore in their canoes；〃
answered the speaker on the bank。
〃It cannot be。 The rifles of our warriors below are
certain。〃
The Pathfinder gave a significant glance at Jasper； and
he clinched his teeth in order to suppress the sound of his
own breathing。
〃Let my young men look as if their eyes were eagles'；〃
said the eldest warrior among those who were wading in
the river。 〃We have been a whole moon on the war…path；
and have found but one scalp。 There is a maiden among
them； and some of our braves want wives。〃
Happily these words were lost on Mabel； but Jasper's
frown became deeper； and his face fiercely flushed。
The savages now ceased speaking； and the party which
was concealed heard the slow and guarded movements of
those who were on the bank； as they pushed the bushes
aside in their wary progress。 It was soon evident that
the latter had passed the cover； but the group in the water
still remained； scanning the shore with eyes that glared
through their war…paint like coals of living fire。 After a
pause of two or three minutes； these three began also to
descend the stream； though it was step by step； as men
move who look for an object that has been lost。 In this
manner they passed the artificial screen； and Pathfinder
opened his mouth in that hearty but noiseless laugh that
nature and habit had contributed to render a peculiarity
of the man。 His triumph； however； was premature； for
the last of the retiring party； just at this moment casting
a look behind him； suddenly stopped； and his fixed atti…
tude and steady gaze at once betrayed the appalling fact
that some neglected bush had awakened his suspicions。
It was perhaps fortunate for the concealed that the
warrior who manifested these fearful signs of distrust was
young； and had still a reputation to acquire。 He knew
the importance of discretion and modesty in one of his
years； and most of all did he dread the ridicule and con…
tempt that would certainly follow a false alarm。 Without
recalling any of his companions； therefore； he turned on
his own footsteps； and； while the others continued to de…
scend the river； he cautiously approached the bushes； on
which his looks were still fastened； as by a charm。 Some
of the leaves which were exposed to the sun had drooped
a little； and this slight departure from the usual natural
laws had caught the quick eyes of the Indian； for so prac…
tised and acute do the senses of the savage become； more
especially when he is on the war…path； that trifles appar…
ently of the most insignificant sort often prove to be clues
to lead him to his object。
The trifling nature of the change which had aroused the
suspicion of this youth was an additional motive for not
acquainting his companions with his discovery。 Should
he really detect anything； his glory would be the greater
for being unshared； and should he not； he might hope to
escape that derision which the young Indian so much
dreads。 Then there were the dangers of an ambush and
a surprise； to which every warrior of the woods is keenly
alive； to render his approach slow and cautious。 In con…
sequence of the delay that proceeded from these combined
causes； the two parties had descended some fifty or sixty
yards before the young savage was again near enough to
the bushes of the Pathfinder to touch them with his hand。
Notwithstanding their critical situation； the whole party
behind the cover had their eyes fastened on the working
countenance of the young Iroquois； who was agitated by
conflicting feelings。 First came the eager hope of obtain…
ing success where some of the most experienced of his tribe
had failed； and with it a degree of glory that had seldom
fallen to the share of one of his years or a brave on his
first war…path； then followed doubts； as the drooping
leaves seemed to rise again and to revive in the currents
of air； and distrust of hidden danger lent its exciting
feeling to keep the eloquent features in play。 So very
slight； however； had been the alteration produced by the
heat on the bushes of which the stems were in the water；
that when the Iroquois actually laid his hand on the
leaves； he fancied that he had been deceived。 As no man
ever distrusts strongly without using all convenient means
of satisfying his doubts； however； the young warrior cau…
tiously pushed aside the branches and advanced a step
within the hiding…place； when the forms of the concealed
party met his gaze； resembling so many breathless statues。
The low exclamation； the slight start； and the glaring eye；
were hardly seen and heard； before the arm of Chingach…
gook was raised； and the tomahawk of the Delaware de…
scended on the shaven head of his foe。 The Iroquois
raised his hands frantically； bounded backward； and fell
into the water； at a spot where the current swept the body
away； the struggling limbs still tossing and writhing in
the agony of death。 The Delaware made a vigorous but
unsuccessful attempt to seize an arm； with the hope of
securing the scalp； but the bloodstained waters whirled
down the current； carrying with them their quivering
burthen。
All this passed in less than a minute； and the events
were so sudden and unexpected； that men less accustomed
than the Pathfinder and his associates to forest warfare
would have been at a loss how to act。
〃There is not a moment to lose；〃 said Jasper； tearing
aside the bushes； as he spoke earnestly； but in a suppressed
voice。 〃Do as I do； Master Cap； if you would save your
niece； and you； Mabel； lie at your length in the canoe。〃
The words were scarcely uttered when； seizing the bow
of the light boat he dragged it along the shore； wading
himself； while Cap aided behind； keeping so near the bank
as to avoid being seen by the savages below； and striving
to gain the turn in the river above him which would ef…
fectually conceal the party from the enemy。 The Path…
finder's canoe lay nearest to the bank； and was necessarily
the last to quit the shore。 The Delaware leaped on the nar…
row strand and plunged into the forest； it being his assigned
duty to watch the foe in that quarter； while Arrowhead
motioned to his white companion to seize the bow of the
boat and to follow Jasper。 All this was the work of an
instant； but when the Pathfinder reached the current that
was sweeping round the turn； he felt a sudden change in
the weight he was dragging； and； looking back； he found
that both the Tuscarora and his wife had deserted him。
The thought of treachery flashed upon his mind； but there
was no time to pause； for the wailing shout that arose from
the party below proclaimed that the body of the young
Iroquois had floated as low as the spot reached by his
friends。 The report of a rifle followed； and then the
guide saw that Jasper； having doubled the b
