Frostburg mining journal., 1883-11-10

OF cold indifference, gradually suffer-
ed his rigid features to relax until,
as verse succeeded verse, he felt his
iron nature subdued, while his recol-
lection was carried back to boyhood,
when his ears had been accustomed
to listen to similar sounds of praise,
in the settlements of the coions.
His rowing eyes began to moisten,
and before the hymn was ended,
scalding tears rolled out of fountains
that had long seemed dry, and
chased each other down those cheeks
that had oftener felt the storms of
heaven than any testimonials of weak
ness. The singers were dwelling on
one Of those low, dying chords,
which the ear devours with such
greedy rapture, as if conscious that
it is about to lose them, when cry,
that seemed neither human nor
earthly, rose in tho outward air, pen
etrating not only the recesses of the
cavern, but to to the inmost hearts of
all who heard it. 1t was followed by
stiffness apparently as deep as if
the waters had been checked in their
furious progress, at such horrid
and unusual interruption.
"What is it?" murmured Alice,
after few moments of terrible sus-
pense,
"What is it?" repeated Hayward
aloud.
Neither Hawk-eye nor the Indians
made any reply. They listened, as
if expecting the sound would be re-
peated, with a manner that express
ed their own astonishment. At
length, they spoke together, earnest
ly, in the Delaware language, when
Uncas, passing by the inner and
most concealed aperture, cautiously
left the crvern. 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 lis have
ranged the woods for more than
thirty years. l did believe there
was no cry that Indian or beast could
make, that my ears had not heard
but this has proved that / was only
a vain and conceited mortal"
"Was it not, then the shout the
warriors make when they wish to in
timidate their enemies ?" asked Cora,
who stood, drawing her veil about
her person, with a calmness to which
her agitated sister was stranger.
"No, no; this was bad and shock
ing, and had sort of unhuman
sound; but when you once hear the
war-whoop, you will never mistake it
for anything else. Well, Uncas,"
speaking in Delaware to the young
chief as he re-entered, "what see you?
do our lights shine through the
blankets?"
The answer was short, and appar-
emily decided, being given in the
same tongue.
"There is nothing to be seen with
out" continued Hawk-eye, shaking
his head in discomfort; "and our
hiding-place is still in darkness.
Pass into the other cave you that
need it, and seek for sleep; we must
be atoot long before the sun, and
make the most of our time to get to
Edward, while the Mingoes are tax
ing their morning nap"
Cora set the example of compliance,
with steadiness that taught the
more timid Alice the necessity of
obedience. Before leaving the place,
however, she whispered request to
Duncan, that he would follow.
Uncas raised the blanket for their
passage, and as the sisters turned to
thank him for this act of attention,
they saw the scout seated again be-
fore the fire, with his face resting on
his hands, in a manner which show
ed how deeply he brooded on the
unaccountable interruption which
had broken up their evening devo-
tions.
Hayward took with him a blazing
knot, which threw dim light
through the narrow vista of their
new apartment. Placing it in favor
able 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 could not sleep in such a
place as this. with that horrid cry