Adventure Books
26 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper
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- Duration:
- 29m
- Broadcast on:
- 11 Aug 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
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In his return to the camp, his acute and practiced intellects were intently engaged in devising means to counteract the wider life. On the part of his enemies, that he knew were, in no degree, inferior to his own. Nothing but the color of his skin had saved the lies of Machua and the Conjour, who would have been the first victim sacrificed to his own security, had not the scalp believed such an act, however congenio it might be to the nature of an Indian. Utterly unworthy of one who boasted a descent, he would not be the only one. Nothing worthy of one who boasted a descent, from men who knew no cross of blood. Accordingly, he trusted to the wides and ligaments with which he had bound his captives, and pursued his way directly toward the center of the lodges. As he approached the buildings, his steps become more deliberate, and his vigilant eye suffered no sign whether friendly or hostile to escape him. His expected hut was a little in advance of the others, and appeared as if it had been deserted when half completed, most probably on account of failing in some of the more important requisites, such as wood or water. A faint light glimmered through its cracks, however, and announced that, notwithstanding its imperfect structure, it was not without a tenant. Fither than the scalp proceeded, like a prudent general who was about to feel the advanced positions of his enemy, before he hazarded the main attack. Throwing himself into a suitable posture for the beast he represented, Hawkeye crawled to a little opening where he might command a view of the interior. It proved to be the abiding place of David Gamoot. Hither, the faithful singing master had now brought himself, together with all his sorrows, his apprehensions, and his meek dependence on the protection of providence. At the precise moment when his ungainly person came under the observation of the scalp in the manner just mentioned, the woodsman himself, though in his assumed character, was the subject of the solitary being's profounded reflections. However implicit the faith of David was in the performance of ancient miracles, he eschewed the belief of any direct supernatural agency in the management of modern morality. In other words, while he had implicit faith in the ability of Balaam's ass to speak, he was somewhat skeptical on the subject of a bear singing, and yet he had been assured of the latter on the testimony of his own exquisite organs. There was something in his air and manner that betrayed to the scalp the utter confusion of the state of his mind. He was seated on a pile of brush, a few twigs from which occasionally fed his low fire, with his head leaning on his arm, in a posture of melancholy musing. The costume of the votary of music had undergone no other alteration from that so lately described, except that he had covered his bald head with the triangular beaver, which had not proved sufficiently alluring to excite the cupidity of any of his captors. The ingenious Hawkeye, who recalled the hasty manner in which the other had abandoned his post at the bedside of the sick woman, was not without his suspicions concerning the subject of so much solemn deliberation. First making the circuit of the hut, an assurstaining that it stood quite alone, and that the character of his inmate was likely to protect it from visitors, he ventured through its low door into the very presence of Gamoot. The position of the latter brought the fire between them, and when Hawkeye had seated himself on end, near a minute lapsed, during which the two remain regarding each other without speaking. The suddenness and the nature of the surprise had nearly proved too much for, we will not say the philosophy, but for the pitch and resolution of David, he fumbled for his pitch pipe, and arose with a confused intention of attempting a musical exorcism. "Dark and mysterious monster," he exclaimed, while with trembling hands he disposed of his auxiliary eyes and sought his never-failing resource in trouble, the gifted version of the Psalms, "I know not your nature nor intents, but if ought you meditate against the person and rights of one of the humblest servants of the temple, listen to the inspired language of the youth of Israel and repent." The bear shook his saggy sides, and then a well-known voice replied, "Put up the tooting weapon and teach your throat modesty. Five words of plain and comprehendable English are worth just now an hour of squalling." "Would art thou?" demanded David, utterly disqualified to pursue his original intention, and nearly gasping for breath. "A man like yourself, and one whose blood is as little-taintened by the cross of a bear, or an Indian, as your own. Have you so soon forgotten from whom you received the foolish instrument you hold in your hand?" "Can these things be?" returned David, breathing more freely as the truth began to dawn upon him. "I have found many marvels during my sorejourn with the heathen, but surely nothing to excel this." "Come, come," returned Hawkeye, uncasing his honest countenance, "the better to assure the wavering confidence of his companion. You may see a skin which, if it be not as white as one of the gentle ones, has no tinge of red to it that the winds of heaven and sun have not bestowed. Now let us to business." "First, tell me of the maiden, and of the youth who so bravely sought her," interrupted David. "I, they are happily freed from the tomahawks of these violets, but can you put me on the centivancas?" "The young man is in bondage, and much I fear his death is decreed. I greatly mourn that one so well disposed should die in his ignorance, and I have sought a goodly hymn." "Can you lead me to him?" "The task would not be difficult," returned David hesitating, "though I greatly fear your presence would rather increase than mitigate his unhappy fortunes." "No more words, but lead on," returned Hawkeye, concealing his face again and setting the example in his own person by instantly quitting the lodge. As they proceeded, the scout ascertained that his companion found access to uncles under privilege of his imaginary infirmity, aided by the favor he had acquired with one of the guards, who, in consequence of speaking a little English, had been selected by David as the subject of a religious conversion. How far the Huron comprehended the intentions of his new friend may well be doubted, but as exclusive attention is as flattering to a savage as a more civilized individual, it had produced the effect we have mentioned. It is unnecessary to repeat the shrewd manner with which the scout extracted these particulars from the simple David. Neither shall we dwell in this place on the nature of the instruction he delivered, when completely master of all the necessary facts, as the whole will be sufficiently explained to the reader in the course of the narrative. The lodge in which Uncus was confined was in the very center of the village, and in a situation perhaps more difficult than any other to approach or leave without observation. But it was not the policy of Hawkeye to affect the least concealment. Presuming on his disguise and his ability to sustain the character he had assumed, he took the most plain and direct route to the place. The hour, however, afforded him some little of that protection which he appeared so much to despise. The boys were already buried in sleep, and all the women and most of the warriors had retired to their lodges for the night. Four or five of the latter only lingered about the door of the prison of Uncus, wary but close observers of the manner of their captive. At the sight of Gamoot, accompanied by one in the well-known masquerade of their most distinguished conjurer, they readily made way for them both. Still, they betrayed no intention to depart. On the other hand, they were evidently disposed to remain bound to the place by an additional interest in the mysterious memories that they, of course, expected from such a visit. From the total inability of the scout to address the heroines in their own language, he was compelled to trust the conversation entirely to David. Notwithstanding the simplicity of the latter, he did ample justice to the instructions he had received, more than fulfilling the strongest hopes of his teacher. "The Delaware's are women!" he exclaimed, addressing himself to the savage, who had a slight understanding of the language in which he spoke. "The Yangis, my foolish countrymen, have told them to take up the tomahawk and strike their fathers in the candidates, and they have forgotten their sex. Does my brother wish to hear they surf a gill ask for his petty coats and see him weep before the heroines at the stake?" The exclamation, "Huh!" delivered in a strong tone of ascent, announced the gratification the savage would receive in witnessing such an exhibition of weakness, in an enemy so long hated, and so much feared. "Then let him step aside, and the cunning man will blow upon the dog, tell it to my brothers." The Euron explained the meaning of David to his fellows, who in their turn listened to the project with that sort of satisfaction that their untamed spirits might be expected to find in such a refinement in cruelty. They drew back a little from the entrance, and motioned to the supposed conjure to enter, but the bear, instead of obeying, maintained the seat it had taken, and growled. "The cunning man is afraid that his breath will blow upon his brothers, and take away their courage too," continued David, improving the hint he received. "They must stand further off." The Eurons, who would have deemed such a misfortune the heaviest calamity that could befall them, fell back in a body, taking a position where they were out of earshot, though at the same time they could command a view of the entrance to the lodge. Then, as if satisfied of their safety, the scout left his position and slowly entered the place. It was silent and gloomy, being tenanted solely by the captive, and lighted by the dying embers of fire, which had been used for the purpose of cookery. Oncus occupied a distant corner, in a reclining attitude, being rigidly bound both hands and feet by strong and painful wives. When the frightful object first presented itself to the young Mohican, he did not dain to bestow a single glance on the animal. The scout, who had left David at the door to ascertain they were not observed, thought it prudent to preserve his disguise until assured of their privacy. Instead of speaking, therefore, he exerted himself to enact one of the antics of the animal he represented. The young Mohican, who at first believed his enemies, had sent in a real beast to torment him and try his nerves, detected in those performances that to Hayward had appeared so accurate certain blemishes, that at once betrayed the counterfeit. Had Hawkeye been aware of the low estimation in which the skillful Oncus held his representation, he would probably have prolonged the entertainment a little in peak. But the scornful expression of the young man's eye admitted of so many constructions that the worthy scout was spared the mortification of such a discovery. As soon, therefore, as David gave the pre-concerted signal, a low hissing sound was heard in the lodge, in place of the fierce growlings of the bear. Oncus had cast his body back against the wall of the hut and closed his eyes, as if willing to exclude so contemptible and disagreeable an object from his sight. But the moment the noise of the serpent was heard, he arose and cast his looks on each side of him, bending his head low and turning it, inquiringly in every direction, until his keen eye rested on the shaggy monster, where it remained riveted, as though fixed by the power of a charm. Again, the same sounds were repeated, evidently proceeding from the mouth of the beast. Once more the eyes of the youth roamed over the interior of the lodge, and returning to the former resting place he uttered, in a deep, suppressed voice. "Hawkeye? Cut his bands!" said Hawkeye to David, who just then approached them. The singer did as he was ordered, and Oncus found his limbs released. At the same moment the dried skin of the animal rattled, and presently the scout arose to his feet in proper person. The Mohican appeared to comprehend the nature of the attempt his friend had made, intuitively neither tongue nor feature betraying another symptom of surprise. When Hawkeye had cast his shaggy vestment, which was done by simply loosing certain thongs of skin, he drew a long glittering knife, and put it in the hands of Oncus. "The red neurons are without," he said, "let us be ready." At the same time he laid his fingers significantly on another similar weapon, both being fruits of his proudness among their enemies during the evening. "We will go," said Oncus. "Wither to the tortoises; they are the children of my grandfather's." "I land," said the scout in English. A language he was apt to use when a little abstracted in mind. The same blood runs in your veins, I believe, but time and distance has a little changed its color. "What shall we do with the Mingos at the door?" "They count six, and this singer is as good as nothing." "The herons are posters," said Oncus, scornfully. "Their totem is a moose, and they run like snails." "The Delaware's are children of the tortoise, and they outstrip the deer." "I land, there is truth in what you say, and I doubt not, on a rush, you would pass the whole nation, and, in a straight race of two miles, would be in, and get your breath again. A foreign nave of them all was within hearing of the other village. But the gift of a white man lies more in his arms than in his legs. As for myself, I can brain a heron as well as a better man, but when it comes to a race, the nays would prove too much for me." Oncus, who had already approached the door in readiness to lead the way, now recoiled and placed himself once more in the bottom of the lodge. But Hawkeye, who was too much occupied with his own thoughts to note the movement, continued speaking more to himself than to his companion. "After all," he said, "it is unreasonable to keep one man in bondage to the gifts of another. So, Oncus, you had better take the lead, while I were put on the skin again, and trust to cunning for one of speed. The young Mohican made no reply, but quietly folded his arms and leaned his body against one of the upright posts that supported the wall of the hut. "Well," said the scout, looking at him, "why do you teary? There will be time enough for me as the nays will give chase to you at first." Oncus will stay, was the calm reply, "for what?" to fight with his father's brother and die with the friend of the Delaware's. "I, lad," returned Hawkeye, squeezing the hand of Oncus between his own iron fingers, "put have been more like a Mingo than a Mohican had you left me. But I thought I would make the offer, seeing that youth commonly loves life. "Well, what can't be done by main courage in war must be done by circumvention. Put on the skin. I doubt not you can play the bear nearly as well as myself. "Whatever might have been the private opinion of Oncus, of their respective abilities in this particular, his grave countenance manifested no opinion of his superiority. "He silently and expeditiously encased himself in the covering of the beast, and then awaited such other movements as his more age and companion saw fit to dictate. "Now friend," said Hawkeye, addressing David, "an exchange of garments will be a great convenience to you, in as much as you are but little accustomed to the makeshift of the wilderness. "Here, take my hunting shirt and cap, and give me your blanket and hat. You must trust me with the book and the spectacles as well as the tutor too. If we ever meet again in better times, you shall have all back again with many things. "To the bargain." David parted with the several articles named with a readiness that would have done great credit to his liberality had he not certainly profited in many particulars by the exchange. Hawkeye was not long assuming his borrowed garments, and when his restless eyes were hid behind the glasses and his head was surmounted by the triangular beaver. As their statues were not dissimilar, he might readily have passed for the singer by Starlight. As soon as these dispositions were made, the scout turned to David and gave him his parting instructions. "Are you much given to cowardice?" he bluntly asked by way of obtaining a suitable understanding of the whole case before he ventured a prescription. "My pursuits are peaceful, and my temper, I humbly trust, is greatly given to mercy and love," returned David. "A little nettled at so direct an attack on his manhood." "But there are none who can say that I have ever forgotten my faith in the Lord, even in the greatest straights." "Your chiefest danger will be at the moment when the savages find out they have been deceived. If you are not then knocked on the head, your being a non-composure will protect you, and you'll then have a good reason to expect to die in your bed. If you stay, it must be to sit down here in the shadow and take the part of oncus, until such time as the cunning of the Indians discover the cheat. When, as I have already said, your times of trial will come. So choose for yourself to make a rush or terry here." "He even so," said David firmly, "I will abide in the place of the Delaware." "Bravely and generously has he battled in my behalf, and this and more will I dare in his service." "You have spoken as a man, and like one who, under wiser schooling, would have been brought to better things. Hold your head down and draw in your legs. Their formation might tell the truth too early. Keep silent as long as may be, and it would be wise when you do speak to break suddenly in one of your shoutings, which will serve to remind the Indians that you are not altogether as responsible as men should be. If, however, they take your scalp, as I trust and believe they will not, depend on it, oncus and I will not forget the deed, but revenge it as becomes true warriors and trusty friends." "Hold!" said David, perceiving that with this assurance they were about to leave him. "I am an unworthy and humble follower of one who taught not the damnable principle of revenge. Should I fall therefore seek no victims to my mains, but rather forgive my destroyers. And if you remember them at all, let it be in prayers for the enlightening of their minds and for their eternal welfare." The scout hesitated and appeared to muse. "There is a principle in that," he said, "different from the law of the woods, and yet it is fair and noble to reflect upon." "Then heaving a heavy sigh, probably among the last he ever drew in pining for a condition, he had so long abandoned," he added, "it is what I would wish to practice myself, as one without a cross of blood, though it is not always easy to deal with an Indian, as you would with a fellow Christian." "God bless you, friend, I do believe your scent is not greatly wrong when the matter is duly considered, and keeping eternity before the eyes, though much depends on the natural gifts and the force of temptation." So saying, the scout returned and shook David cordially by the hand, after which act of friendship he immediately left the lodge, attended by the new representative of the beast. The instant hawk I found himself under the observation of the errands, he drew up his tall form in the rigid manner of David, throughout his arm in the act of keeping tune, and commenced what he intended for an imitation of his psalmody. Happily for the success of this delicate adventure, he had to deal with ears but little practiced in the concordous sweet sounds, or the miserable effort would infallibly have been detected. It was necessary to pass within dangerous proximity of the dark group of the savages, and the voice of the scout grew louder as they drew nier. When at the nearest point, the Huron who spaked the English thrust out on arm and stopped the supposed singing master. "The Delaware Dog!" he said, leaning forward and peering through the dim light to catch the expression of the other's features. "Is he afraid? Will the Huron's hear his groans?" A growl so exceedingly fearsome natural proceeded from the beast that the young Indian released his hold and started aside, as if to assure himself that it was not a veritable bear and no counterfeit that was rolling before him. Hawkeye, who feared his voice would betray him to his subtle enemies, gladly profited by the interruption, to break out anew in such a burst of musical expression, as would probably, in a more refined state of society been termed, a grand crash. Among his actual auditors, however, it merely gave him an additional claim to that respect which they never withhold from such as are believed to be the subject of mental alienation. The little knot of Indians drew back in a body and suffered as they thought the conjure and his inspired assistant to proceed. It required no common exercise of fortitude in uncles in the scout to continue the dignified and deliberate pace they had assumed in passing the lodge, especially as they immediately perceived that curiosity had so far mastered fear as to induce the watchers to approach the hut in order to witness the effect of the incantations. The least injudicious or impatient movement on the part of David might betray them, and time was absolutely necessary to ensure the safety of the scout. The loud noise of the ladder conceived at politics to continue drew many curious gazers to the doors of the different huts as they passed, and once or twice a dark-looking warrior stepped across their path led to the act by superstition and watchfulness. They were not, however, interrupted the darkness of the hour and the boldness of the attempt, proving their principal friends. The adventurers had got clear of the village and were now swiftly approaching the shelter of the woods when a loud and long cry arose from the lodge where uncles had been confined. The Mohican started on his feet and shook his shaggy covering as though the animal he counterfeited was about to make some desperate effort. "Hold," said the scout, grasping his friend by the shoulder, "let them yell again. It was nothing but wonderment. He had no occasion to delay." For at the next instant, a burst of cries filled the outer air and ran along the whole extent of the village. Onkis cast his skin and stepped forth in his own beautiful proportions. Hawkeye tapped him lightly on the shoulder and glided ahead. "Now let the devil strike our scent," said the scout, tearing two rifles with all their intended accoutrements from beneath a bush and flourishing kill-dear as he handed Onkis his weapon. Two at least will find it to their deaths. Then throwing their pieces to a low trail like sportsmen in readiness for the game, they dashed forward and were soon buried in the sombre darkness of the forest. End of chapter 26. How to Have Fun. Anytime. Anywhere. Step 1. Go to Chumbakocino.com. Chumbakocino.com. Got it. Step 2. Collect your welcome bonus. "Come to Topo welcome bonus." Step 3. Play hundreds of casino-style games for free. "That's a lot of games, all for free." Step 4. Unleash your excitement. 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