Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22


rom the centre of the little plain to
is verge. The Mohican now found an
opportunity to make a powerful thrust
with his knife; Magua suddenly re-
linquished his grasp, and fell back
ward without motion, and seemingly
without life. His adversary leaped
from his feet, making the arches of the
forest ring with the sounds of triumph.
"Well done for the Delawares. I.
victory to the Mohican!" cried Hawk
eye, once more elevating the butt OF
the fatal rife; ''a finishing blow
from man without cross will never
tell against his honor, nor rob him OF
his right to the scalp"
But, at the very moment when the
dangerous weapon was descending, the
subtle Huron rolled swiftly from be-
meath the danger, over the edge of the
precipice, and falling on his feet, was
seen leaping, INTO thicket which
chung along its sides. The Delawares
who had believed their enemy dead,
uttered their exclamation of surprise,
and W . foto al, with speed, like
hounds in open Wow Of the deer, when
a peculiar cry from the scout instantly
changed their purpose, and recalled
them to the summit of the hill.
" Twas like HIMSELF cried the in
veterate forester; "a lying and de-
ceitful varlet as he is. An honest
Delaware now, being vanquished,
would have lain still, and been knock
ed on the head, but these knavish
Maqu Us cling to life like 50 nlny eats
o'-the mountain. Let him go-let him
go; it's but one man, and he without
rifle or bow, many q mile from his
French comrades; and like a rattler
that has lost its fangs, he can do no
farther mischief, until such time rs he
and we too, may leave the print of our
moceasins over a long reach of sandy
plain. See, Uncas," he added in Dol
aware, ''your father is flaying the
scalps already. it may be well TO go
round and feel the vaga5oEds that are
left, or we may have another of them
loping through the woods, and
screcching like jay that has been
winged"
SO saying, the honest but implacable
scout, made the circuit of the dead,
into whose senseless bosoms he thrust
his knife, with as much GOODNESS az
though they had been so many brutal
carcasses. He had, however, been an
ticipated by the elder Mohican, who
had already torn the emtlems Of vic
tory from the unresisting heads of the
| slain.
But Uncas, denying his habits, he
had almost said his nature, flew with
instructive delicacy, accompanied by
Hayward, to the assistance OF the
females, and quickly releasing Alice,
placed her in the arms of Cora. We
shall not attempt to describe the graft
tude to the Almighty Disposer of
events which glowed in the bosoms of
the sisters, who were restored to life
and to each other. Their thanksgivr
ings were deep and silent; the offerings
of the gentle spirits burning brightest
and purest on the secret affairs OF their
hearts and their renovated and more
earthly feelings exhibited themselves
in fervent, though speechless caresses.
| AS Alice rose from her knees, where
she had sunk by the side Of Cora, she
threw herself on the bosom of the lat
ter, and sobbed aloud the name of
their aged father, while her soft, dove
like eyes sparkled with the rays of
hope.
'sWe are saved we are saved !" she
murmured; ~ to return to the arms OF
our dear. dear father, and his heai
will not be broken with grief. And
you toe, Cora, my sister; more than
sister, my mother; you too, are spared,
/ And Dtncan,n she added, looking
round upon the youth with ineffable in-
noccnce, "even our own noble Duncan
has escaped without 4 hurt
! To these ardent words, Cora made
no otAeranswer than BY strailing the
/ youthful speaker tp her heart. The
manhood Of ticvwar1 fell no shame in
dropping tears over this spectacle OF
atfectionate rapture and tucaa stood,
fresh and blood-stained from the com
bat, q calm, and apparently, an TN
moved looker.on.
During this display If emotion,
Hawk-oye, whose vigilant distrust had
satisfied itself that the Hurons. no lon
ger possessed the power 10 interrupt
its harmony, approached David, and
liberated him from the bonds he had,
until that moment, endured with the
most exemplary patience.
"There, you are once more master
of your own limbs, though you seem
not to use them with much greater
Judgment than that in which they
were fashioned. If advice from one
IN