Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-01
. TO- FROSTBURG, MD, DECEMBER l, 1888.
CONTINUED STORY.
THE
LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
u. FenimOre Cooper.
CONTINUED from last week. |

nad listened to this peculiar burst OF
the natives with deep attention;
''they have warmed their Indian feel
ings, and they'll soon provoke the
Maquas to give them Il speedy end.
AS for me, who am of the whole
blood of the whites, it is beiitting
that | should die as becomes my
color, with no words of scoffing in
my mouth, and without bitterness in
my heart"
"Why die at all" said Cora, add
vancing from the place where natur-
al horror had, until this moment,
held her riveted to the rock; 'the
path is open on every side; fly, then,
to the woods, and call on God for
succor! Go, brave men, we owe you
too much already; let us no longer
involve you in our hapless fortunes"
"You but little know the craft of
the lroquois, lady, if you judge they
have left, the path opento the woods"
returned Hawk-eye, who, however,
added in his simplicity: "the down
stream current, it is certain, might
soon sweep us beyond the reach of
their rifles or the sound Of their
voices"
"Then try the river. Why linger,
to add to the number of victims of
our merciless enemies 2"
"Why," repeated the scout, look
ing about him proudly, "because it
is better for a man to die at peace
with himself than to live haunted by
an evil conscience! What answer
could we give Munro, when he asked
us where and how we left his child
rem"
"Go to him, and say, that you left
them with 4 message to hasten to
their aid," returned Cora, advancing
higher to the scout, in her generous
ardor ''that the Hurons bear them
into the northern wilds, but that by
vigilance and speed they may yet be
rescued; and if, after all, it should
please heaven that his assistance
should come too late, bear to him"
she continued, her voice gradually
lowering, until it seemed nearly
choked, ''the blessings, the final
prayers of his daughters, and bid
him not mourn their early fate, but
to look with humble confidence to
the Christians goal to meet his
children"
The hard, weather-beaten features
of the scout began to work, and
when she had ended, he dropped his
chin to his hand, like Il man musing
|
| profoundly ON the nature of the pro-
posal.
"There is reason in her wordsw at
length broke from his compressed
and trembling lips; "ay, and they
bear the spirit of Christianity; what
might be right and proper in red
skin, may be sinful in a man who
has not even Il cross in blood to plead
for his ignorance. Chingachgook
Uncas! hear you the talk of the
dark-eyed woman :"
He now spoke in Delaware to his
companions, and his address, though
calm and deliberate, seemed very de-
cided. The elder Mohican heard him
with deep gravity,and appeared topon-
der ON his words, as though hefelt the
Importance of their import. After q
moment of hesitation, he waved his
hand in assent, and uttered the
English word "Good," with the
peculiar emphasis Of his people.
Then, placing his knife and toma-
hawk in his girdle, the warrior moved
silently to the edge Of the rock which
was most concealed from the banks
of the river. Here, he paused mo-
ment, pointing significantly to the
woods below, and saying few words
in his own language, as if indi-
eating his intended route, he
dropped into the water, and sank
from before the eyes of the witnesses
of his movements.
The scout delayed his departure
to speak to the generous girl, whose
breathing became lighter as she saw
the success of her remonstrance.
"Wisdom is sometimes given to
the young as well as to the old" he
said 'and what you have spoken is
wise, not to call it by II better word.
If you are led into the woods, that is,
such of you as may be spared for a