Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1883-10-13


father, nor was any question asked,
or reply given for several minutes,
each appearing to await the moment
when he might speak, without betray-
ing womanish curiosity or childish
impatience. The white man seemed
to take counsel from their customs,
and, relinquishing his grasp of the
rifle, he also remained silent and re-
served. At length Chingachgook
turned his eye slowly towards the son
and demanded
"Do the Maquas dare to leave the
print of their moccasins in these
woods 7"
81 have been ON their trail" replied
the young Indian, "and know that
they number as many as the fingers
ofmy two hands; but they lie hid like
towards"
"The thieves are outlying for
scalps and plunder," said the white
man, whom we shall call Hawk-eye,
after the manner of his companions.
"That busy Frenchman, Montcalm,
will send his spies into our very camp,
but he will know what road we
travel"
"Tis enough" returned the father,
glancing his eye towards the setting
sun; "they shall be driven like deer
from their bushes. Hawk-eye, let us
eat tonight and show the Maquas
that we are men tomorrow"
81 am as ready to do the one as the
other; but to fight the Iroquois tits
necessary to find the skulkers; and
to eat, tits necessary to get the game
talk of the devil and he will come;
there is pair of the biggest antlers
| have seen this season, moving the
bushes below the hill! Now, Uncas,"
he continued in half whisper, and
laughing with u kind of inward
sound, like one who had learned to
be watchful, 81 will bet my charger
three times full of powder against
foot of wampum that l take him
atwixt the eyes, and nearer to the
right than to the left"
at cannot bew said the young
Indian, springing to his feet with
youthful eagerness; "all but the tips
of his horns are hid ~
"He's boy!' said the white man,
shaking his head while he spoke,
and addressing the father. "Does he
think when a hunter sees part of
the creatur', he can tell where the
rest of him should be-"
Adjusting his rifle, he was about
to make an exhibition of that skill on
which he so much valued himself,
when the warrior struck up the
piece with his hand, saying,
"Hawkeye, will you fight the
Maquas ?"
"These Indians know the nature
of the woods, as it might be by in
stinctw returned the scout, dropping
his rifle; and turning away like q
man who was convinced Of his error.
81 must leave the buck to your
arrow, Uncas, or we may kill a deer
for them thieves, the Iroquois to
eat"
The instant the father seconded
this intimation by an expressive ges-
ture of the hand, Uncas threw him
self on the ground, and approached
the auimal with wary movements.
When within a few yards Of the
cover, he fitted an arrow to his bow
with the utmost care, while the
antlers moved, as if their owner snuff
ed an enemy in the tainted air. In
another moment the twang of the
cord was heard, q white streak was
seen glancing into the bushes, and
the wounded buck plunged from the
cover, to the very feet of his hidden
enemy. Avoiding the horns of the
inflriated animal, Uncas darted to
his side, and passed his knife across
the throat, when bounding to the
edge of the river, it fell, dyeing the
waters with it's blood.
"'Twas done with Indian skill"
said the scout, laughing inwardly,
but with vast satisfaction; "and
'twasa pretty sight to behold! Though
an arrow is a near shot, it needs a
knife to finish the work."
"Hushw calculated his compan-
ion, turning quickly, like Il hound
who scented game.
"By the Lord, there is drove of
them!" exclaimed the scout, whose