Frostburg mining journal., 1883-10-20
WHOLE NO., 629.

selves In the thicket, with such
cautious movements, that their steps
were inaudible.
"Now, you go back" said the
hunter, speaking again to Hayward,
"and hold the imp in talk; these
Mohicans here will take him with
out breaking his paint"
"Nay," said Hayward, proudly, 81
will sieze him, myself"
"Hist! what could you do mount
ed, against an Indian in the
bushes? ?"
81 will dismount."
Sand think you when he saw one
of your feet out of the stirrup, he
would wait for the other to be free?
Whoever comes into the woods to
deal with the natives, must use In
dian fashions, if he would wish to
prosper in his undertaking. Go,
then; talk openly to the miscreant,
and seem to believe him the truest
friend you have on 'arth."
Hayward prepared to comply,
though with strong disgust at the
nature of the office he was compelled
to execute. Each moment, however,
pressed upon him a conviction of the
critical situation in which he had
suffered his invaluable trust to be
involved through his own confidence.
The sun had already disappeared,
and the woods, suddenly of his
lights were assuming a dusky hue,
which keenly reminded him that the
hour the savage usually chose for
his most barbarous and remorseless
acts of vengeance or hostility, was
speedily drawing near. Stimulated
by apprehension, he left the scout,
who Immediately entered into loud
conversation with the stranger that
had so unceremoniously enlisted
himself in the party of travellers
that morning. In passing his gen.
tier companions, Hayward uttered a
few words of encouragement, and
was pleased to find, that, though
fatigued with the exercise Of the
day, they appeared to entertain no
suspicion that their present en-
barassment was other than an acci-
dent. Giving them reason to believe
he was merely employed in con-
sultation concerning the future
route, he spurred his charger, and
drew the reins again, when the ami
NAL had carried him within q few
yards of the place where the sullen
runner still stood, leaning against a
tree.
"You may see, Magua," he said en-
deavoring to assume an air of free
dom and confidence, "that the night
is closing around us, and yet we are
no nearer to William Henry than
when we left the encampment of
Webb with the rising sun. You
have missed the way, nor have | been
more fortunate. But, happily, we
have fallen in with a hunter, he whom
you hear talking to the singer, that
is acquainted with the deer-paths
and by-ways of the woods, and who
promises to lead us to place where
we may rest securely till morning"
The Indian riveted his glowing
eyes on Hayward as he asked in his
imperfect English, SIS he alone ?''
"Alonew hesitatingly, answered
Hayward, to whom deception was too
new to be assumed without embar-
rassment. "Oh! not alone, surely,
Magua, for you know that we are
with him."
"Then lie Renard Subtil will CO."
returned the runner, coollv raising
his little wallet from the place where
it had lain at his feet; "and the pale
faces will see none but their own
color"
$50! Whom call you lie Renard"
"'Tis the name his Canada fathers
have given to Magua," with an air
that manifested his pride at the dis
tinction. "Night is the same as day
to lie Subtil, when Munro wait for
him."
"And what account will lie Renard
give the chief of William Henry con-
cerning his daughters? Will he
dare to tell the hot-blooded Scots
man that his children are left with
out a guide, though Magua promised
to be one ?"
"Though the gray head has loud
voice and a long arm, lie Renard will
not hear him nor feel him, in the