Adventure Books
06 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper
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- Duration:
- 31m
- Broadcast on:
- 22 Jul 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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No ads, no interruptions, just pure, immersive audio content. Don't miss out. Transform your listening experience with Saul Good Media. Visit SaulGoodMedia.com and start your free trial now. We can't wait for you to join our audio community. Happy listening. - Chapter six. Quote, "Those strains that once did sweet enzyme glide, "he wails a portion with judicious care. "And let us worship God," he says, with solemn air. Unquote, burns. Hayward and his female companions witnessed this mysterious movement with secret uneasiness. For though the conduct of the white man had hitherto been above reproach, his rude equipments, blunt address, and strong a tip with these, together with the character of his silent associates, were all causes for exciting distrust in minds that had been so recently alarmed by Indian treachery. The stranger alone disregarded the passing incidents. He seated himself on a projection of the rocks. When he gave no other signs of consciousness, then by the struggles of his spirit, as manifested in the frequent and heavy size. Smothered voices were next heard, as though men called to each other in the bowels of the earth, when a sudden light flashed upon those without and laid bare the much-priced secret of the place. At the further extremity of a narrow, deep cavern in the rock, whose length appeared much extended by the perspective and the nature of the light by which it was seen, was seated the scout, holding a blazing knot of pine. The strong glare of the fire fell full upon his sturdy weather-beaten countenance and forced attire, lending an air of romantic wildness to the aspect of an individual, who, seen by the sober light of day, would have exhibited the peculiarities of a man remarkable for the strangeness of his dress, the iron-like inflexibility of his frame, and the singular compound of quick, vigilant sagacity and of exquisite simplicity, that by turns usurped the possession of his muscular features. At a little distance in advance stood UNKUS, his whole person thrown powerfully into view. The travelers anxiously regarded the upright, flexible figure of the young Mohican, graceful, and unrestrained in the attitudes and movements of nature, though his person was more than usually screened by a green and fringed hunting-shirt like that of the white man. There was no concealment of his dark, glancing, fearless eye, a like terrible in calm, the bold outline of his high, haughty features, pure in their native red, or to the dignified elevation of his receding forehead, together with all the finest proportions of a noble head, bared to the generous scalping tuft. It was the first opportunity possessed by Duncan and his companions to view the marked liniments of either of their Indian attendants, and each individual of the party felt relieved from a burden of doubt as the proud and determined their wild expression of the features of the young warrior forced itself on their notice. They felt it might be a being partially benited in the veil of ignorance, but it could not be one who would willingly devote his rich natural gifts to the purpose of wanton treachery. The ingenuous Alice gazed at his free air and proud carriage as she would have looked upon some precious relic of the Grecian chisel to which life had been imparted by the invention of a miracle. While Hayward, though accustomed to see the perfection of form which abounds among the uncorrupted natives, openly expressed his admiration at such an unblemished specimen of the noblest proportions of man. "I could sleep in peace," whispered Alice in reply, "with such a fearless and generous looking youth for my senton. Surely, Duncan, those cruel martyrs, those terrific scenes of torture of which we read and hear so much, are never acted in the presence of such as he." This is certainly a rare and brilliant instance of those natural qualities in which these peculiar people are said to excel, he answered. "I agree with you, Alice, in thinking that such a front and eye were formed rather to intimidate than to deceive. But let us not practice a deception upon ourselves by expecting any other exhibition of what we esteem virtue than according to the fashion of the savage. These bright examples of great qualities are but too uncommon among Christians, so they are singular and solitary with Indians, though for the honor of our common nature neither are incapable of producing them. Let us then hope that this mohican may not disappoint our wishes, but prove what his looks assert him to be, a brave and constant friend." "Now Major Hayward speaks as Major Hayward should," said Cora. "Who, that looks at this creature of nature, remembers the shade of his skin?" A short and apparently an embarrassed silence seceded this remark, which was interrupted by the scout calling to them allowed to enter. This fire begins to show to bright a flame, he continued, as they complied, and might light the mingles to our undoing. "This is not such a supper as a major of the royal Americans has right to expect, but I've known stout detachment of the core glad to eat their venison raw, and without a relish too." Footnote. In vulgar parlance, the condiments of a repast are called by the American, a relish, substituting the thing for its effect. These provincial terms are frequently put in the mouths of the speakers according to their several conditions in life. Most of them are of local use, and others quite peculiar to the particular class of men to which the character belongs. In the present instance, the scout uses the word with immediate reference to "the salt," with which his own party was so fortunate as to be provided. Footnote. Here, you see, we have plenty of salt, and can make a quick broil. There's fresh sassy frass bowels for the ladies to sit on, which may not be as proud as their "my hog guinea" chairs, but which sends up a sweeter flavor than the skin of any hog can do. Be it of guinea or be it of any other land. Some friend, don't be mournful for the cult, 'twas an innocent thing, and had not seen much hardship. Its death will save the creature, many assore back in weary foot. Onchus did as the other had directed, and when the voice of Hawkeye ceased, the roar of the cataract sounded like the rumbling of distant thunder. "Are we quite safe in this cavern?" demanded Hayward. "Is there no danger of surprise?" A single-darden man at its entrance would hold us at his mercy. A specter-looking figure stalked out of the darkness behind the scout, and seizing a blazing brand held it toward the further extremity of their place of retreat. Alice uttered a faint shriek, and even Quora rose to her feet as this appalling object moved into the light, but a single word from Hayward calmed them, with the assurance it was only their attendant, Chinggoshkok, who, lifting another blanket, discovered that the cavern had two outlets. Then holding the brand, he crossed a deep narrow chasm in the rocks, which ran at right angles with the passage they were in, but, which unlike that, was open to the heavens, and entered another cave, answering to the description of the first in every essential particular. "What's old Quora's Chinggoshkookin' myself?" "Are not often caught in a barrow with one hole," said Hawkeye, laughing. "You can easily see the cunning of the place. The rock is black limestone, which everyone knows is soft. It makes no uncomfortable pillow where brush and pine wood is scarce." "Well, the fault was once a few hundred yards below us, and I dare to say was in its time as regular and as handsome a sheet of water as any along the Hudson. But old age is a great injury to good looks, as these sweet young ladies have yet to learn. The place is sadly changed. These rocks are full of cracks, and in some places they are softer than at othersome, and the water has worked out deep hollows for itself until it has fallen back by some hundred feet, breaking here and wearing there, until the falls have neither shape nor consistency. And what part of them are we?" asked Hayward. "Why, we are nigh the spot that Providence first placed them at, but where it seems they were too rebellious to stay. The rock proved softer on each side of us, and so they left the center of the river bare and dry, first working out these two little holes for us to hide in. "We are on an island?" "I. There are falls on two sides of us, and the river above and below. If you had daylight it would be worth the trouble to step on the height of this rock, and look at the perversity of the water. It falls by no rule at all. Sometimes it leaps, sometimes it tumbles. There it skips, here it shoots. In one place it is white as snow, and in another it is green as grass. Hereabouts it pitches into deep hollows that rumble and crush the earth, and there are ways it ripples and sings like a brook, fashioning whirlpools and gullies in the old stone as if it was no harder than trodden clay. The whole design of the river seems disconcerted, first it runs smoothly as if meaning to go down the descent as things were ordered. Then it angles about and faces the shores, nor are there places wanting where it looks backward, as if unwilling to leave the wilderness to mingle with assault. "Aye, lady, the fine cobweb-looking cloth you wear at your throat is coarse, and like a fishnet, to the little spots I can show you where the river fabricates all sorts of images. As if having broke loose from order, it would try its hand at everything. And yet what does it amount to? After the water has been suffered so to have its will for a time, like a headstrong man, it is gathered together by the hand that made it, and a few rods below you may see it all, flowing on steadily toward the sea, as was foreordained from the first foundation of the earth. While his auditors received a cheering assurance of the security of their place of concealment from this untewter description of Glenn's, they were much inclined to judge differently from Hawkeye of its wild beauties. Footnote, Glenn's falls are on the Hudson some forty or fifty miles above the head of tide, or that place where the river becomes navigable for sloops. The description of this picturesque and remarkable little cataract, as given by the scout, is sufficiently correct, though the application of the water to uses in civilized life has materially injured its beauties. The Rocky Island and the two caverns are known to every traveler, since the former sustains the peer of a bridge, which is now thrown across the river immediately above the fall. In explanation of the taste of Hawkeye, it should be remembered that men always prized that most, which is least enjoyed. Thus, in a new country, the woods and other objects which in an old country would be maintained at great cost, are gut rid of, simply with a view of, improving, as it is called, end footnote. They were not in a situation to suffer their thoughts to dwell on the charms of natural objects, and, as the scout had not found it necessary to cease his culinary labors while he spoke, and lest it point out with a broken fork the direction of some particularly obnoxious point in the rebellious stream, they now suffered their attention to be drawn to the necessary, the more vulgar consideration of their supper. The repast, which was greatly aided by the addition of a few delicacies that Hayward had the precaution to bring with him when they left their horses, was exceedingly refreshing to the weary party. Oncos acted as attendant to the females, performing all the little offices within his power, with a mixture of dignity and anxious grace, that served to amuse Hayward, who well knew that it was an utter innovation on the Indian customs, which forbid their warriors to dissent any menial employment, especially in favor of their women. As the rights of hospitality were, however, considered sacred among them, this little departure from the dignity of manhood excited no audible comment. Had there been one sufficiently disengaged to become a close observer, he might have fancied that the services of the young chief were not entirely impartial; that, while he tended to Alice the gourd of sweet water, and the venison in a trencher, neatly carved from the knot of a peperage, with sufficient courtesy, in performing the same offices to her sister, his dark eye lingered on her rich speaking countenance. Once or twice he was compelled to speak, to command her attention of those he served. In such cases he made use of English, broken and imperfect, but sufficiently intelligible, and which he rendered so mild and musical by his deep guttural voice, that it never failed to cause both ladies to look up in admiration and astonishment. In the course of these civilities a few sentences were exchanged that served to establish the appearance of an amicable intercourse between the parties. In the meanwhile, the gravity of Chinggajkok remained immovable. He had seated himself more within the circle of light, where the frequent uneasy glances of his guest were better enabled to separate the natural expression of his face from the artificial terrors of the war-paint. They found a strong resemblance between father and son, with the difference that might be expected from age and hardships. The fishness of his countenance now seemed to slumber, and in its place was to be seen the quiet, vacant composure, which distinguishes an Indian warrior when his faculties are not required for any of the greater purposes of his existence. It was, however, easy to be seen by the occasional gleams that shot across his swarthy visage, that it was only necessary to rouse his passions in order to give full effect to the terrific device which he had adopted to intimidate his enemies. On the other hand, the quick roving eye of the scout seldom rested. He ate and drank with an appetite that no sense of danger could disturb, but his vigilance seemed never to desert him. Twenty times the gourd or the venison was suspended before his lips, while his head was turned aside. As though he listened to some distant and distrusted sounds. A movement that never failed to recall his guest from regarding the novelties of their situation, to a recollection of the alarming reasons that had driven them to seek it. As these frequent pauses were never followed by any remark, the momentary uneasiness they created quickly passed away, and for a time was forgotten. Some friend said Hawkeye, drawing out a keg from beneath a cover of leaves toward the close of the repast, and addressing the stranger who sat at his elbow, doing great justice to his culinary skill. Try a little spruce, to a wash away all thoughts of the cult, and quicken the life in your bosom. I drink to our better friendship, hoping that a little horse flesh may leave no heartburnings between us. How do you name yourself? Gamoot! David Gamoot! Returned the singing master, preparing to wash down his sorrows in a powerful drought of the woodsman's high-flavored and well-laced compound. A very good name, and I dare say, handed down from honest forefathers. I am an admirator of names, though the Christian fashions fall far below savage customs in this particular. The biggest coward I ever knew was called Lion, and his wife Patience would scold you out of hearing in less time than a hundred deer would run a rod. With an Indian, 'tis a matter of conscience,' what he calls himself. He generally is, not the Chingotch Cook, which signifies Big Sarpant, is really a snake, big or little, but that he understands the windings and turnings of human nature, and is silent and strikes his enemies when they least expect him. What may be your calling? I am an unworthy instructor in the art of psalmody. Anand? I teach singing to the youths of the Connecticut Levy. You might be better employed. The young hounds go laughing and singing, too much already through the woods, when they ought not to breathe louder than the fox in his cover. Can you use the smooth boar, or handle the rifle? Praise be to God, I have never had occasion to meddle with murderous implements. Perhaps you understand the compass, and lay down the watercourses and mountains of the wilderness on paper, in order that they who follow may find places by their given names? I practice no such employment. You have a pair of legs that might make a long path seem short. You journey sometimes, I fancy, with tidings for the general? Never. I follow no other than my own high vocation, which is instruction in sacred music. 'Tis a strange calling, muttered Hawkeye, with an inward laugh, to go through life like a catbird, mocking all the ups and downs that may happen to come out of other men's throats. Well, friend, I suppose it is your gift, and mustn't be denied any more than if, to a shooting or some other better inclination. Let us hear what you can do in that way. 'Til be a friendly manner of saying good night, for 'tis time that these ladies should be getting strength for a hard and long push in the pride of the morning, a for the makwas or stirring. 'With joyful pleasure, do I consent,' said David, adjusting his iron rim spectacles and producing his beloved little volume which he immediately tendered to Alice. 'What can be more fitting and consolatory than to offer up evening praise, after a day of such exceeding jeopardy?' Alice smiled, but regarding Hayward she blushed and hesitated. 'Indoubt yourself,' he whispered, 'I'd not the suggestion of the worthy namesake of the psalmist, to have its weight at such a moment. Encouraged by his opinion, Alice did what her pious inclinations in her keen relish for gentle sounds had before so strongly urged. The book was opened at a hymn not ill-adapted to their situation, and in which the poet, no longer goaded by his desire to expel the inspired King of Israel, had discovered some chastened and respectable powers. Cora betrayed a disposition to support her sister, and the sacred song proceeded, after the indispensable preliminaries of the pitch-pipe, and the tune had been duly attended by the methodical David. The air was solemn and slow. At times it rose to the fullest compass of the rich voices of the females, who hung over their little book in holy excitement. And again it sank so low that the rushing of the waters ran through their melody like a hollow accompaniment. The natural taste and true ear of David governed and modified the sounds to suit the confined cavern. Every crevice and cranny of which was filled with the thrilling notes of their flexible voices. The Indians riveted their eyes on the rocks, and listened with an attention that seemed to turn them into stone. But the scout, who had placed his chin in his hand with an expression of cold indifference, gradually suffered his rigid features to relax. Until, as verse to seated verse, he felt his iron nature subdued, while his recollection was carried back to boyhood, when his ears had been accustomed to listen to similar sounds of praise in the settlements of the colony. His roving eyes began to moisten, and before the hymn was ended, morning tears rolled out of fountains that had long seemed dry, and followed each other down those cheeks that had oftener felt the storms of heaven than any testimonials of weakness. The singers were dwelling on one of those low dying cords, which the ear devours with such greedy rapture, as if conscious that it was about to lose them. When a cry that seemed neither human nor earthly rose in the outward air, penetrating not only the recesses of the cavern, but to the inmost hearts of all who heard it. It was followed by a stillness, apparently as deep as if the waters had been checked in their furious progress at such a horde and unusual interruption. "What is it?" murmured Alice, after a few moments of terrible suspense. "What is it?" repeated Hayward aloud. "Neither Hawkeye nor the Indians made any reply. They listened, as if expecting the sound would be repeated, with a manner that expressed their own astonishment. At length they spoke together earnestly in the Delaware language. When, uncles passing by the inner and most concealed aperture cautiously left the cavern, when he had gone, the scout first spoke in English. What it is or what it is not none here can tell, though two of us have ranged the wood for more than thirty years. I did believe there was no cry that Indian orbeez could make, that my ears had not heard. But this has proved that I was only a vain and conceited mortal. "Was it not, then, the shelt warriors make when they wish to intimidate their enemies?" asked Cora, who stood drawing her veil about her person, with a calmness to which her agitated sister was a stranger. "No, no, this was bad and shocking, and had a short of unhuman sound. But when you once hear the war-hoop you will never mistake it for anything else. Well, Onkus, speaking in the Delaware to the young chief as he re-entered, what see you? Do our light shine through the blankets?" The answer was short, and apparently decided, being given in the same tongue. "There is nothing to be seen without," continued Hawkeye, shaking his head in discontent, "and our hiding place is still in darkness." "Pass into the other cave, you that need it, and seek for sleep. We must be afoot long before the sun, and make the most of our time to get to Edward while the Mingos are still taking their morning nap." Cora set the example of compliance, with a steadiness that taught the more timid Alice the necessity of obedience. Before leaving the place, however, she whispered a request to Duncan that he would follow. Onkus raised the blank for the passage, and as the sisters turned to thank him for his act of attention, they saw the scout seated again before the dying embers, with his face resting on his hands. In a manner which showed how deeply he brooded on the unaccountable interruption, which had broken their evening devotions, Hayward took with him a blazing knot, which threw a dim light through the narrow vista of their new apartment, placing it in a favorable position. He joined the females, who now found themselves alone with him, for the first time since they had left the friendly ramparts of Fort Edward. "Leave us not, Duncan," said Alice. "We cannot sleep in such a place as this, with that horrid cry still ringing in our ears." "First let us examine into the security of our fortress," he answered. And then we will speak of rest. He approached the further end of the cavern, to an outlet, which like the others was concealed by blankets. And removing the thick screen, breathed the fresh and reviving air from the cataract, one arm of the river flowed through a deep narrow ravine, which its current had worn in the soft rock directly beneath his feet, forming an effectual defense as he believed, against any danger from that quarter. The water, a few rods above them, plunging, glancing, and sweeping along in its most violent and broken manner. "Nature has made an impenetrable barrier on this side," he continued pointing down the perpendicular declivity into the dark current before he dropped the blanket. "And as you know that good men and true are on guard in front, I see no reason why the advice of our honest host should be disregarded. I am certain Korah will join me in saying that sleep is necessary to you both." Korah may submit to the justice of your opinion, though she cannot put it in practice, returned the elder sister, who had placed herself by the side of Alice on a couch of sassy frass. There would be other causes to chase away sleep, though we had been spared the shock of this mysterious noise. Ask yourself, Hayward, "Can daughters forget the anxiety a father must endure? Whose children lodge he knows not where or how in such a wilderness? And in the midst of so many perils?" "He is a soldier and knows how to estimate the chance as the woods. He is a father and cannot deny his nature. How kind has he ever been to all my follies? How tender and intelligent to all my wishes!" sobbed Alice. "We have been selfish sister in urging our visit at such hazard. I have been rash in pressing his consent in a moment of such embarrassment that I would have proved to him that however others might neglect him, in his straight, his children at least were faithful." "When he heard of your arrival at Edward," said Hayward Conley, "there was a powerful struggle in his bosom between fear and love. Though the latter heightened, if possible, by so long a separation quickly prevailed. It is the spirit of my noble-minded Korah that leads them, Duncan," he said. "And I would not balk at it. Would to God that he who holds the honour of our royal master in his guardianship, would show but half her firmness." "And did he not speak of me, Hayward?" demanded Alice with jealous affection. "Surely he forgot not altogether his little elsey." "That were impossible," returned the young man. "He called you by a thousand endearing epitats that I may not presume to use, but to the justice of which I can warmly testify. Once indeed he said," Duncan ceased speaking. For while his eyes were riveted on those of Alice, who had turned toward him with the eagerness of filial affection, to catch his words, "The same strong, horrid cries before filled the air and rendered him mute, a long, breathless silence seceded, during which each looked at the others, in fearful expectation of hearing the sound repeated. At length the blanket was slowly raised, and the scout stood in the aperture with accountants, whose firmness evidently began to give way before a mystery that seemed to threaten some danger, against which all his cunning and experience might prove to no avail." End of CHAPTER VI