“So deem’st thou — so each mortal deems
Of that which is from that which seems;
But other harvest here
Than that which peasant’s scythe1 demands,
Was gather’d in by sterner hands,
With bayonet, blade, and spear.”
Scott, “The Field of Waterloo,” V.i-6.
It exceeded Deerslayer’s power to ascertain2 what had produced the sudden pause in the movements of his enemies, until the fact was revealed in the due course of events. He perceived that much agitation3 prevailed among the women in particular, while the warriors4 rested on their arms in a sort of dignified6 expectation. It was plain no alarm was excited, though it was not equally apparent that a friendly occurrence produced the delay. Rivenoak was evidently apprised7 of all, and by a gesture of his arm he appeared to direct the circle to remain unbroken, and for each person to await the issue in the situation he or she then occupied. It required but a minute or two to bring an explanation of this singular and mysterious pause, which was soon terminated by the appearance of Judith on the exterior8 of the line of bodies, and her ready admission within its circle.
If Deerslayer was startled by this unexpected arrival, well knowing that the quick witted girl could claim none of that exemption9 from the penalties of captivity10 that was so cheerfully accorded to her feebler minded sister, he was equally astonished at the guise12 in which she came. All her ordinary forest attire13, neat and becoming as this usually was, had been laid aside for the brocade that has been already mentioned, and which had once before wrought14 so great and magical an effect in her appearance. Nor was this all. Accustomed to see the ladies of the garrison15 in the formal, gala attire of the day, and familiar with the more critical niceties of these matters, the girl had managed to complete her dress in a way to leave nothing strikingly defective17 in its details, or even to betray an incongruity18 that would have been detected by one practised in the mysteries of the toilet. Head, feet, arms, hands, bust19, and drapery, were all in harmony, as female attire was then deemed attractive and harmonious20, and the end she aimed at, that of imposing21 on the uninstructed senses of the savages23, by causing them to believe their guest was a woman of rank and importance, might well have succeeded with those whose habits had taught them to discriminate24 between persons. Judith, in addition to her rare native beauty, had a singular grace of person, and her mother had imparted enough of her own deportment to prevent any striking or offensive vulgarity of manner; so that, sooth to say, the gorgeous dress might have been worse bestowed26 in nearly every particular. Had it been displayed in a capital, a thousand might have worn it, before one could have been found to do more credit to its gay colours, glossy27 satins, and rich laces, than the beautiful creature whose person it now aided to adorn28. The effect of such an apparition29 had not been miscalculated. The instant Judith found herself within the circle, she was, in a degree, compensated30 for the fearful personal risk she ran, by the unequivocal sensation of surprise and admiration31 produced by her appearance. The grim old warriors uttered their favorite exclamation32 “hugh!” The younger men were still more sensibly overcome, and even the women were not backward in letting open manifestations33 of pleasure escape them. It was seldom that these untutored children of the forest had ever seen any white female above the commonest sort, and, as to dress, never before had so much splendor34 shone before their eyes. The gayest uniforms of both French and English seemed dull compared with the lustre35 of the brocade, and while the rare personal beauty of the wearer added to the effect produced by its hues36, the attire did not fail to adorn that beauty in a way which surpassed even the hopes of its wearer. Deerslayer himself was astounded37, and this quite as much by the brilliant picture the girl presented, as at the indifference38 to consequences with which she had braved the danger of the step she had taken. Under such circumstances, all waited for the visitor to explain her object, which to most of the spectators seemed as inexplicable39 as her appearance.
“Which of these warriors is the principal chief?” demanded Judith of Deerslayer, as soon as she found it was expected that she should open the communications; “my errand is too important to be delivered to any of inferior rank. First explain to the Hurons what I say; then give an answer to the question I have put.”
Deerslayer quietly complied, his auditors40 greedily listening to the interpretation41 of the first words that fell from so extraordinary a vision. The demand seemed perfectly42 in character for one who had every appearance of an exalted43 rank, herself. Rivenoak gave an appropriate reply, by presenting himself before his fair visitor in a way to leave no doubt that he was entitled to all the consideration he claimed.
“I can believe this, Huron,” resumed Judith, enacting44 her assumed part with a steadiness and dignity that did credit to her powers of imitation, for she strove to impart to her manner the condescending46 courtesy she had once observed in the wife of a general officer, at a similar though a more amicable47 scene: “I can believe you to be the principal person of this party; I see in your countenance48 the marks of thought and reflection. To you, then, I must make my communication.”
“Let the Flower of the Woods speak,” returned the old chief courteously49, as soon as her address had been translated so that all might understand it —“If her words are as pleasant as her looks, they will never quit my ears; I shall hear them long after the winter of Canada has killed all the flowers, and frozen all the speeches of summer.”
This admiration was grateful to one constituted like Judith, and contributed to aid her self-possession, quite as much as it fed her vanity. Smiling involuntarily, or in spite of her wish to seem reserved, she proceeded in her plot.
“Now, Huron,” she continued, “listen to my words. Your eyes tell you that I am no common woman. I will not say I am queen of this country; she is afar off, in a distant land; but under our gracious monarchs50, there are many degrees of rank; one of these I fill. What that rank is precisely51, it is unnecessary for me to say, since you would not understand it. For that information you must trust your eyes. You see what I am; you must feel that in listening to my words, you listen to one who can be your friend, or your enemy, as you treat her.”
This was well uttered, with a due attention to manner and a steadiness of tone that was really surprising, considering all the circumstances of the case. It was well, though simply rendered into the Indian dialect too, and it was received with a respect and gravity that augured52 favourably53 for the girl’s success. But Indian thought is not easily traced to its sources. Judith waited with anxiety to hear the answer, filled with hope even while she doubted. Rivenoak was a ready speaker, and he answered as promptly54 as comported55 with the notions of Indian decorum; that peculiar56 people seeming to think a short delay respectful, inasmuch as it manifests that the words already heard have been duly weighed.
“My daughter is handsomer than the wild roses of Ontario; her voice is pleasant to the ear as the song of the wren57,” answered the cautious and wily chief, who of all the band stood alone in not being fully11 imposed on by the magnificent and unusual appearance of Judith; but who distrusted even while he wondered: “the humming bird is not much larger than the bee; yet, its feathers are as gay as the tail of the peacock. The Great Spirit sometimes puts very bright clothes on very little animals. Still He covers the Moose with coarse hair. These things are beyond the understanding of poor Indians, who can only comprehend what they see and hear. No doubt my daughter has a very large wigwam somewhere about the lake; the Hurons have not found it, on account of their ignorance?”
“I have told you, chief, that it would be useless to state my rank and residence, in as much as you would not comprehend them. You must trust to your eyes for this knowledge; what red man is there who cannot see? This blanket that I wear is not the blanket of a common squaw; these ornaments58 are such as the wives and daughters of chiefs only appear in. Now, listen and hear why I have come alone among your people, and hearken to the errand that has brought me here. The Yengeese have young men, as well as the Hurons; and plenty of them, too; this you well know.”
“The Yengeese are as plenty as the leaves on the trees! This every Huron knows, and feels.”
“I understand you, chief. Had I brought a party with me, it might have caused trouble. My young men and your young men would have looked angrily at each other; especially had my young men seen that pale-face bound for the torture. He is a great hunter, and is much loved by all the garrisons59, far and near. There would have been blows about him, and the trail of the Iroquois back to the Canadas would have been marked with blood.”
“There is so much blood on it, now,” returned the chief, gloomily, “that it blinds our eyes. My young men see that it is all Huron.”
“No doubt; and more Huron blood would be spilt had I come surrounded with pale-faces. I have heard of Rivenoak, and have thought it would be better to send him back in peace to his village, that he might leave his women and children behind him; if he then wished to come for our scalps, we would meet him. He loves animals made of ivory, and little rifles. See; I have brought some with me to show him. I am his friend. When he has packed up these things among his goods, he will start for his village, before any of my young men can overtake him, and then he will show his people in Canada what riches they can come to seek, now that our great fathers, across the Salt Lake, have sent each other the war hatchet60. I will lead back with me this great hunter, of whom I have need to keep my house in venison.”
Judith, who was sufficiently61 familiar with Indian phraseology, endeavored to express her ideas in the sententious manner common to those people, and she succeeded even beyond her own expectations. Deerslayer did her full justice in the translation, and this so much the more readily, since the girl carefully abstained62 from uttering any direct untruth; a homage63 she paid to the young man’s known aversion to falsehood, which he deemed a meanness altogether unworthy of a white man’s gifts. The offering of the two remaining elephants, and of the pistols already mentioned, one of which was all the worse for the recent accident, produced a lively sensation among the Hurons, generally, though Rivenoak received it coldly, notwithstanding the delight with which he had first discovered the probable existence of a creature with two tails. In a word, this cool and sagacious savage22 was not so easily imposed on as his followers64, and with a sentiment of honor that half the civilized65 world would have deemed supererogatory, he declined the acceptance of a bribe66 that he felt no disposition67 to earn by a compliance68 with the donor’s wishes.
“Let my daughter keep her two-tailed hog69, to eat when venison is scarce,” he drily answered, “and the little gun, which has two muzzles70. The Hurons will kill deer when they are hungry, and they have long rifles to fight with. This hunter cannot quit my young men now; they wish to know if he is as stouthearted71 as he boasts himself to be.”
“That I deny, Huron —” interrupted Deerslayer, with warmth —“Yes, that I downright deny, as ag’in truth and reason. No man has heard me boast, and no man shall, though ye flay72 me alive, and then roast the quivering flesh, with your own infarnal devices and cruelties! I may be humble73, and misfortunate, and your prisoner; but I’m no boaster, by my very gifts.”
“My young pale-face boasts he is no boaster,” returned the crafty74 chief: “he must be right. I hear a strange bird singing. It has very rich feathers. No Huron ever before saw such feathers! They will be ashamed to go back to their village, and tell their people that they let their prisoner go on account of the song of this strange bird and not be able to give the name of the bird. They do not know how to say whether it is a wren, or a cat bird. This would be a great disgrace; my young men would not be allowed to travel in the woods without taking their mothers with them, to tell them the names of the birds!”
“You can ask my name of your prisoner,” returned the girl. “It is Judith; and there is a great deal of the history of Judith in the pale-face’s best book, the Bible. If I am a bird of fine feathers, I have also my name.”
“No,” answered the wily Huron, betraying the artifice75 he had so long practised, by speaking in English with tolerable accuracy, “I not ask prisoner. He tired; he want rest. I ask my daughter, with feeble mind. She speak truth. Come here, daughter; you answer. Your name, Hetty?”
“Yes, that’s what they call me,” returned the girl, “though it’s written Esther in the Bible.”
“He write him in bible, too! All write in bible. No matter — what her name?”
“That’s Judith, and it’s so written in the Bible, though father sometimes called her Jude. That’s my sister Judith. Thomas Hutter’s daughter — Thomas Hutter, whom you called the Muskrat76; though he was no muskrat, but a man like yourselves — he lived in a house on the water, and that was enough for you.”
A smile of triumph gleamed on the hard wrinkled countenance of the chief, when he found how completely his appeal to the truth-loving Hetty had succeeded. As for Judith, herself, the moment her sister was questioned, she saw that all was lost; for no sign, or even intreaty could have induced the right feeling girl to utter a falsehood. To attempt to impose a daughter of the Muskrat on the savages as a princess, or a great lady, she knew would be idle, and she saw her bold and ingenious expedient77 for liberating78 the captive fail, through one of the simplest and most natural causes that could be imagined. She turned her eye on Deerslayer, therefore, as if imploring79 him to interfere80 to save them both.
“It will not do, Judith,” said the young man, in answer to this appeal, which he understood, though he saw its uselessness; “it will not do. ’Twas a bold idea, and fit for a general’s lady, but yonder Mingo” Rivenoak had withdrawn81 to a little distance, and was out of earshot —“but yonder Mingo is an oncommon man, and not to be deceived by any unnat’ral sarcumvention. Things must come afore him in their right order, to draw a cloud afore his eyes! Twas too much to attempt making him fancy that a queen, or a great lady, lived in these mountains, and no doubt he thinks the fine clothes you wear is some of the plunder83 of your own father — or, at least, of him who once passed for your father; as quite likely it was, if all they say is true.”
“At all events, Deerslayer, my presence here will save you for a time. They will hardly attempt torturing you before my face!”
“Why not, Judith? Do you think they will treat a woman of the pale faces more tenderly than they treat their own? It’s true that your sex will most likely save you from the torments84, but it will not save your liberty, and may not save your scalp. I wish you had not come, my good Judith; it can do no good to me, while it may do great harm to yourself.”
“I can share your fate,” the girl answered with generous enthusiasm. “They shall not injure you while I stand by, if in my power to prevent it — besides —”
“Besides, what, Judith? What means have you to stop Injin cruelties, or to avart Injin deviltries?”
“None, perhaps, Deerslayer,” answered the girl, with firmness, “but I can suffer with my friends — die with them if necessary.”
“Ah! Judith — suffer you may; but die you will not, until the Lord’s time shall come. It’s little likely that one of your sex and beauty will meet with a harder fate than to become the wife of a chief, if, indeed your white inclinations85 can stoop to match with an Injin. ‘Twould have been better had you staid in the Ark, or the castle, but what has been done, is done. You was about to say something, when you stopped at ‘besides’?”
“It might not be safe to mention it here, Deerslayer,” the girl hurriedly answered, moving past him carelessly, that she might speak in a lower tone; “half an hour is all in all to us. None of your friends are idle.”
The hunter replied merely by a grateful look. Then he turned towards his enemies, as if ready again to face their torments. A short consultation86 had passed among the elders of the band, and by this time they also were prepared with their decision. The merciful purpose of Rivenoak had been much weakened by the artifice of Judith, which, failing of its real object, was likely to produce results the very opposite of those she had anticipated. This was natural; the feeling being aided by the resentment87 of an Indian who found how near he had been to becoming the dupe of an inexperienced girl. By this time, Judith’s real character was fully understood, the wide spread reputation of her beauty contributing to the exposure. As for the unusual attire, it was confounded with the profound mystery of the animals with two tails, and for the moment lost its influence.
When Rivenoak, therefore, faced the captive again, it was with an altered countenance. He had abandoned the wish of saving him, and was no longer disposed to retard88 the more serious part of the torture. This change of sentiment was, in effect, communicated to the young men, who were already eagerly engaged in making their preparations for the contemplated89 scene. Fragments of dried wood were rapidly collected near the sapling, the splinters which it was intended to thrust into the flesh of the victim, previously90 to lighting91, were all collected, and the thongs92 were already produced that were again to bind93 him to the tree. All this was done in profound silence, Judith watching every movement with breathless expectation, while Deerslayer himself stood seemingly as unmoved as one of the pines of the hills. When the warriors advanced to bind him, however, the young man glanced at Judith, as if to enquire94 whether resistance or submission95 were most advisable. By a significant gesture she counselled the last, and, in a minute, he was once more fastened to the tree, a helpless object of any insult, or wrong, that might be offered. So eagerly did every one now act, that nothing was said. The fire was immediately lighted in the pile, and the end of all was anxiously expected.
It was not the intention of the Hurons absolutely to destroy the life of their victim by means of fire. They designed merely to put his physical fortitude96 to the severest proofs it could endure, short of that extremity97. In the end, they fully intended to carry his scalp with them into their village, but it was their wish first to break down his resolution, and to reduce him to the level of a complaining sufferer. With this view, the pile of brush and branches had been placed at a proper distance, or, one at which it was thought the heat would soon become intolerable, though it might not be immediately dangerous. As often happened, however, on these occasions, this distance had been miscalculated, and the flames began to wave their forked tongues in a proximity98 to the face of the victim, that would have proved fatal, in another instant, had not Hetty rushed through the crowd, armed with a stick, and scattered99 the blazing pile in a dozen directions. More than one hand was raised to strike this presumptuous100 intruder to the earth, but the chiefs prevented the blows, by reminding their irritated followers of the state of her mind. Hetty, herself, was insensible to the risk she ran, but, as soon as she had performed this bold act, she stood looking about her, in frowning resentment, as if to rebuke101 the crowd of attentive102 savages for their cruelty.
“God bless you, dearest sister, for that brave and ready act!” murmured Judith, herself unnerved so much as to be incapable103 of exertion104 —“Heaven, itself, has sent you on its holy errand.”
“’Twas well meant, Judith —” rejoined the victim —”’twas excellently meant, and ’twas timely; though it may prove ontimely in the ind! What is to come to pass, must come to pass soon, or ’twill quickly be too late. Had I drawn82 in one mouthful of that flame in breathing, the power of man could not save my life, and you see that, this time, they’ve so bound my forehead, as not to leave my head the smallest chance. ’Twas well meant, but it might have been more marciful to let the flames act their part.”
“Cruel, heartless Hurons!” exclaimed the still indignant Hetty —“Would you burn a man and a Christian105, as you would burn a log of wood! Do you never read your Bibles? Or do you think God will forget such things?”
A gesture from Rivenoak caused the scattered brands to be collected. Fresh wood was brought, even the women and children busying themselves eagerly, in the gathering106 of dried sticks. The flame was just kindling107 a second time, when an Indian female pushed through the circle, advanced to the heap, and with her foot dashed aside the lighted twigs108 in time to prevent the conflagration109. A yell followed this second disappointment, but when the offender110 turned towards the circle, and presented the countenance of Hist, it was succeeded by a common exclamation of pleasure and surprise. For a minute, all thought of pursuing the business in hand was forgotten. Young and old crowded around the girl, in haste to demand an explanation of her sudden and unlooked-for return. It was at this critical instant that Hist spoke111 to Judith in a low voice, placed some small object unseen in her hand, and then turned to meet the salutations of the Huron girls, with whom she was personally a great favorite. Judith recovered her self possession, and acted promptly. The small, keen edged knife that Hist had given to the other, was passed by the latter into the hands of Hetty, as the safest and least suspected medium of transferring it to Deerslayer. But the feeble intellect of the last defeated the well-grounded hopes of all three. Instead of first cutting loose the hands of the victim, and then concealing112 the knife in his clothes, in readiness for action at the most available instant, she went to work herself, with earnestness and simplicity113, to cut the thongs that bound his head, that he might not again be in danger of inhaling114 flames. Of course this deliberate procedure was seen, and the hands of Hetty were arrested, ere she had more than liberated115 the upper portion of the captive’s body, not including his arms below the elbows. This discovery at once pointed116 distrust towards Hist, and to Judith’s surprise, when questioned on the subject, that spirited girl was not disposed to deny her agency in what had passed.
“Why should I not help the Deerslayer?” the girl demanded, in the tones of a firm minded woman. “He is the brother of a Delaware chief; my heart is all Delaware. Come forth117, miserable118 Briarthorn, and wash the Iroquois paint from your face; stand before the Hurons the crow that you are. You would eat the carrion119 of your own dead, rather than starve. Put him face to face with Deerslayer, chiefs and warriors; I will show you how great a knave120 you have been keeping in your tribe.”
This bold language, uttered in their own dialect and with a manner full of confidence, produced a deep sensation among the Hurons. Treachery is always liable to distrust, and though the recreant121 Briarthorn had endeavoured to serve the enemy well, his exertions122 and assiduities had gained for him little more than toleration. His wish to obtain Hist for a wife had first induced him to betray her, and his own people, but serious rivals to his first project had risen up among his new friends, weakening still more their sympathies with treason. In a word, Briarthorn had been barely permitted to remain in the Huron encampment, where he was as closely and as jealously watched as Hist, herself, seldom appearing before the chiefs, and sedulously123 keeping out of view of Deerslayer, who, until this moment, was ignorant even of his presence. Thus summoned, however, it was impossible to remain in the back ground. “Wash the Iroquois paint from his face,” he did not, for when he stood in the centre of the circle, he was so disguised in these new colours, that at first, the hunter did not recognise him. He assumed an air of defiance124, notwithstanding, and haughtily125 demanded what any could say against “Briarthorn.”
“Ask yourself that,” continued Hist with spirit, though her manner grew less concentrated, and there was a slight air of abstraction that became observable to Deerslayer and Judith, if to no others-“Ask that of your own heart, sneaking126 woodchuck of the Delawares; come not here with the face of an innocent man. Go look into the spring; see the colours of your enemies on your lying skin; then come back and boast how you run from your tribe and took the blanket of the French for your covering! Paint yourself as bright as the humming bird, you will still be black as the crow!”
Hist had been so uniformly gentle, while living with the Hurons, that they now listened to her language with surprise. As for the delinquent127, his blood boiled in his veins128, and it was well for the pretty speaker that it was not in his power to execute the revenge he burned to inflict129 on her, in spite of his pretended love.
“Who wishes Briarthorn?” he sternly asked —“If this pale-face is tired of life, if afraid of Indian torments, speak, Rivenoak; I will send him after the warriors we have lost.”
“No, chiefs — no, Rivenoak —” eagerly interrupted Hist —“Deerslayer fears nothing; least of all a crow! Unbind him — cut his withes, place him face to face with this cawing bird; then let us see which is tired of life!”
Hist made a forward movement, as if to take a knife from a young man, and perform the office she had mentioned in person, but an aged16 warrior5 interposed, at a sign from Rivenoak. This chief watched all the girl did with distrust, for, even while speaking in her most boastful language, and in the steadiest manner, there was an air of uncertainty130 and expectation about her, that could not escape so close an observer. She acted well; but two or three of the old men were equally satisfied that it was merely acting45. Her proposal to release Deerslayer, therefore, was rejected, and the disappointed Hist found herself driven back from the sapling, at the very moment she fancied herself about to be successful. At the same time, the circle, which had got to be crowded and confused, was enlarged, and brought once more into order. Rivenoak now announced the intention of the old men again to proceed, the delay having continued long enough, and leading to no result.
“Stop Huron — stay chiefs!—” exclaimed Judith, scarce knowing what she said, or why she interposed, unless to obtain time. “For God’s sake, a single minute longer —”
The words were cut short, by another and a still more extraordinary interruption. A young Indian came bounding through the Huron ranks, leaping into the very centre of the circle, in a way to denote the utmost confidence, or a temerity131 bordering on foolhardiness. Five or six sentinels were still watching the lake at different and distant points, and it was the first impression of Rivenoak that one of these had come in, with tidings of import. Still the movements of the stranger were so rapid, and his war dress, which scarcely left him more drapery than an antique statue, had so little distinguishing about it, that, at the first moment, it was impossible to ascertain whether he were friend or foe132. Three leaps carried this warrior to the side of Deerslayer, whose withes were cut in the twinkling of an eye, with a quickness and precision that left the prisoner perfect master of his limbs. Not till this was effected did the stranger bestow25 a glance on any other object; then he turned and showed the astonished Hurons the noble brow, fine person, and eagle eye, of a young warrior, in the paint and panoply133 of a Delaware. He held a rifle in each hand, the butts134 of both resting on the earth, while from one dangled135 its proper pouch136 and horn. This was Killdeer which, even as he looked boldly and in defiance at the crowd around him, he suffered to fall back into the hands of its proper owner. The presence of two armed men, though it was in their midst, startled the Hurons. Their rifles were scattered about against the different trees, and their only weapons were their knives and tomahawks. Still they had too much self-possession to betray fear. It was little likely that so small a force would assail137 so strong a band, and each man expected some extraordinary proposition to succeed so decisive a step. The stranger did not seem disposed to disappoint them; he prepared to speak.
“Hurons,” he said, “this earth is very big. The Great Lakes are big, too; there is room beyond them for the Iroquois; there is room for the Delawares on this side. I am Chingachgook the Son of Uncas; the kinsman138 of Tamenund. This is my betrothed139; that pale-face is my friend. My heart was heavy, when I missed him; I followed him to your camp, to see that no harm happened to him. All the Delaware girls are waiting for Wah; they wonder that she stays away so long. Come, let us say farewell, and go on our path.”
“Hurons, this is your mortal enemy, the Great Serpent of them you hate!” cried Briarthorn. “If he escape, blood will be in your moccasin prints, from this spot to the Canadas. I am all Huron!” As the last words were uttered, the traitor140 cast his knife at the naked breast of the Delaware. A quick movement of the arm, on the part of Hist, who stood near, turned aside the blow, the dangerous weapon burying its point in a pine. At the next instant, a similar weapon glanced from the hand of the Serpent, and quivered in the recreant’s heart. A minute had scarcely elapsed from the moment in which Chingachgook bounded into the circle, and that in which Briarthorn fell, like a log, dead in his tracks. The rapidity of events had prevented the Hurons from acting; but this catastrophe141 permitted no farther delay. A common exclamation followed, and the whole party was in motion. At this instant a sound unusual to the woods was heard, and every Huron, male and female, paused to listen, with ears erect142 and faces filled with expectation. The sound was regular and heavy, as if the earth were struck with beetles143. Objects became visible among the trees of the background, and a body of troops was seen advancing with measured tread. They came upon the charge, the scarlet144 of the King’s livery shining among the bright green foliage145 of the forest.
The scene that followed is not easily described. It was one in which wild confusion, despair, and frenzied146 efforts, were so blended as to destroy the unity147 and distinctness of the action. A general yell burst from the enclosed Hurons; it was succeeded by the hearty148 cheers of England. Still not a musket149 or rifle was fired, though that steady, measured tramp continued, and the bayonet was seen gleaming in advance of a line that counted nearly sixty men. The Hurons were taken at a fearful disadvantage. On three sides was the water, while their formidable and trained foes150 cut them off from flight on the fourth. Each warrior rushed for his arms, and then all on the point, man, woman and child, eagerly sought the covers. In this scene of confusion and dismay, however, nothing could surpass the discretion151 and coolness of Deerslayer. His first care was to place Judith and Hist behind trees, and he looked for Hetty; but she had been hurried away in the crowd of Huron women. This effected, he threw himself on a flank of the retiring Hurons, who were inclining off towards the southern margin152 of the point, in the hope of escaping through the water. Deerslayer watched his opportunity, and finding two of his recent tormentors in a range, his rifle first broke the silence of the terrific scene. The bullet brought down both at one discharge. This drew a general fire from the Hurons, and the rifle and war cry of the Serpent were heard in the clamor. Still the trained men returned no answering volley, the whoop153 and piece of Hurry alone being heard on their side, if we except the short, prompt word of authority, and that heavy, measured and menacing tread. Presently, however, the shrieks154, groans155, and denunciations that usually accompany the use of the bayonet followed. That terrible and deadly weapon was glutted156 in vengeance157. The scene that succeeded was one of those of which so many have occurred in our own times, in which neither age nor sex forms an exemption to the lot of a savage warfare158.
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scythe
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| n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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9
exemption
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| n.豁免，免税额，免除 | |
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10
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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11
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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12
guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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13
attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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14
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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15
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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16
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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17
defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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18
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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19
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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20
harmonious
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| adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的 | |
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21
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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22
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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23
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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24
discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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25
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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26
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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28
adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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29
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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30
compensated
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| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
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31
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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32
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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33
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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34
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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35
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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36
hues
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| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
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37
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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38
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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39
inexplicable
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| adj.无法解释的，难理解的 | |
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40
auditors
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| n.审计员，稽核员( auditor的名词复数 )；（大学课程的）旁听生 | |
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41
interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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42
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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43
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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44
enacting
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的现在分词 ) | |
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45
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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46
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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47
amicable
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| adj.和平的，友好的；友善的 | |
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48
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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49
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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50
monarchs
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| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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51
precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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52
augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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53
favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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54
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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55
comported
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| v.表现( comport的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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57
wren
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| n.鹪鹩；英国皇家海军女子服务队成员 | |
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58
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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59
garrisons
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| 守备部队，卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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60
hatchet
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| n.短柄小斧；v.扼杀 | |
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61
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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62
abstained
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| v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票） | |
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63
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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64
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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65
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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66
bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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67
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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68
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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69
hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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70
muzzles
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| 枪口( muzzle的名词复数 )； （防止动物咬人的）口套； （四足动物的）鼻口部； （狗）等凸出的鼻子和口 | |
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71
stouthearted
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| adj.刚毅的，大胆的 | |
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72
flay
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| vt.剥皮；痛骂 | |
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73
humble
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|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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74
crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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75
artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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76
muskrat
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| n.麝香鼠 | |
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77
expedient
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|
| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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78
liberating
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| 解放，释放( liberate的现在分词 ) | |
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79
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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80
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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81
withdrawn
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|
| vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出 | |
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82
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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83
plunder
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|
| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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84
torments
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| （肉体或精神上的）折磨，痛苦( torment的名词复数 )； 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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85
inclinations
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| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
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86
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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87
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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88
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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89
contemplated
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|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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90
previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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91
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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92
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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93
bind
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|
| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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94
enquire
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| v.打听，询问；调查，查问 | |
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95
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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96
fortitude
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| n.坚忍不拔；刚毅 | |
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97
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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98
proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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99
scattered
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|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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100
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 | |
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101
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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102
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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103
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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104
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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105
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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106
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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107
kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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108
twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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109
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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110
offender
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| n.冒犯者，违反者，犯罪者 | |
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111
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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112
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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113
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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114
inhaling
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| v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 ) | |
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115
liberated
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| a.无拘束的，放纵的 | |
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116
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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117
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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118
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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119
carrion
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| n.腐肉 | |
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120
knave
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| n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克 | |
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121
recreant
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| n.懦夫；adj.胆怯的 | |
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122
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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123
sedulously
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| ad.孜孜不倦地 | |
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124
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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125
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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126
sneaking
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| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
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127
delinquent
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| adj.犯法的，有过失的；n.违法者 | |
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128
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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129
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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130
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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131
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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132
foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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133
panoply
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| n.全副甲胄，礼服 | |
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134
butts
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| 笑柄( butt的名词复数 )； （武器或工具的）粗大的一端； 屁股； 烟蒂 | |
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135
dangled
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| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
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136
pouch
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|
| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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137
assail
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| v.猛烈攻击，抨击，痛斥 | |
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138
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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139
betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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140
traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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141
catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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142
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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143
beetles
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| n.甲虫( beetle的名词复数 ) | |
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144
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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145
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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146
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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147
unity
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| n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调 | |
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148
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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149
musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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150
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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151
discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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152
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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153
whoop
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| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 | |
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154
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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155
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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156
glutted
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| v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 )；（对胃口、欲望等）纵情满足；使厌腻；塞满 | |
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157
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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158
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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