Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1883-10-06
THE LAST OF THE MOHIClNS.
CONTINUED from first page.

more interesting matter or the dla-
logue. While one of these loiterers
showed the red skin and wild accou-
trements of native of the woods, the
other exhibited, through the mask of
his rude and nearly savage equip
ments, the brighter, though sun-burnt
and long-faced complexion Of one who
might claim descent from European
parentage, The former was seated on
the end of messy log, in a posture
that permitted him to heighten the
effect of his earnest language, by the
calm but expressive gestures of an In
dian engaged in debate. His body,
which was nearly naked, presented a
terrific emblem of death, drawn in in
termingled colors of white and black.
His closely-shaved head, on which no
other hair than the we'll known and
chivalrous scalping tuft* was preserv-
ed, was without ornament of any kind,
with the exception of solitary eagles
plume, that crossed his crown, and de-
pended oyer the left shoulder. A tom
ahawk and scalping- knife, of English
manufacture, were in his girdle while
a short military rifle, of that sort with
which the policy Of the whites armed
their savage allies, lay carelessly across
his bare and sinewy knee. The ex-
banded chest, full formed limbs, and
grave countenance of this warrior,
would denote that he had reached the
vigor Of his days, tough no symptoms
of decay appeared to have yet weaken
ed his manhood.
The frame of the white man, judg-
ing by such parts as were not conceal
ed by his clothes, was like that of one
who had known hardships and exer-
ton from his earliest youth. His per-
son, though muscular, was rather at
tenuated than full but every muscle
appeared strung and indurated by
unremitted toll and exposure. He
wore a hunting-shirt of forest-green,
fringed with faded yellow,t and a
summer cap of skins which had been
shorn of their fur. He also bore a
knife in a girdle of a wampum, like
that which confined the scanty gar
ments of the Indian, but no tomahawk.
His moccasins were ornamented after
the gay fashion of the natives, while
the only part of his under dress which
appeared below the hunting frock, was
a pair Of buckskin leggins, that laced
at the sides, and which were gartered
above the knees, with the sinews of a
deer. A pouch and horn completed
his personal accoutrements, though
rifle of great lengtht which the theory
of the more ingenious whites had
taught them was the most dangerous
of firearms, leaned against a neighbor-
ing sapling. The eye of the hunter,
or scout, whichever he might be, was
small, quick, keen and restless, rowing
while he spoke, on every side of him,
as if in quest of game, or distressing
the sudden approach of some lurking
enemy. Notwithstanding these symp-
toms of habitual suspicion, his count
enance was not only without guile,
but at the moment at which he is in
troduced, it is charged with an express
sion of sturdy honesty.
"Even your traditions make the case
in my favor, Chingachgook,," he said,
speaking in the tongue which was
known to all the natives who formely
inhabited the country between the
Hudson and the Potomac, and of which
we shall give free translation for the
benefit of the reader; endeavoring, at
the same time, to preserve some of the
pecuiarities, both of the individual
and language. "Your fathers came
from the setting sun crossed the big
rivers fought the people of the coun-
try, and took the land and mine came
from the red sky of the morning, over
the salt lake, and did their work much
after the fashion that had been set them
by yours; then let God judge the mat
ter between us, and friends spare their
words y
my fathers fought with the naked
red man y returned the Indian, sternly,
in the same language. SIS there no
difference, Hawkeye, between the
stone-headed arrow of the warrior,
the leaden bullet with which you
kill ~
'There is reason in an Indian,
though nature has made him with a
red skin !" said the white man, shaking
his head like one on whom such an APP
peal to his justice was not thrown
away. For a moment he appeared to
be conscious of having the worst of the
argument, then rallying again, he an
swered the objection of his antagonist
in the best manner his limited infor-
nation would allow: 81 am no schol
ar, and I care not who knows it; but,
judging from what / have seen, at deer
chases and squirrel hunts, of the
sparks below, should think a rifle in
the hands of their grandfathers was
NOT 81 danperous MS n hickory bow and