Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22
CONTINUED STORY.
r<S~N0- -rN0-~---~-~-~SNy~|N
THE
LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
u. FeniinOre Cooper.
TContinued from last week I

The vengeance of the Hurons had
now taken new direction, md they
prepared to execute it with that bar
barous ingenuity with which they
were familiarized by the practice Of
centuries. Some sought knots to
raise the blazing pile; one was
irving the splinters of pine, in order
to pierce the flesh of their captiyes
with the burning fragments; and
others bent the tops of two saplings
to the earth, in order to suspend
Hayward by the arms between the
recoiling branches. But the ven
geance of Magua sought u deeper and
more malignant enjoyment.
While the less refined monsters of
the band prepared, before the eyes Of
those who were to suffer, these we'll
known and vulgar means of torture,
he approached Cora, and pointed out,
with the most malign expression of
countenance, the speedy fate that
awaited her
"lIa?" he added, ''what says the
daughter of Munro? Her head is too
good to find a pillow in the wigwam
of lie Renard will she like it better
when it rolls about this hill play
thing for the wolves? Her bosom
cannot nurse the children of Il HUI
ron; she will see it spit upon by
Indians ~
"What means the monster !" de-
manded the astonished Hayward.
"Nothing' was the firm reply.
"IIe is Il savage, a barbarous and ig-
norant savage, and knows not what
he does. Let lis find leisure with
our dying breath, to ask for him PEN
itence and pardon"
Pardon" echoed the fierce Huron,
mistaking, in his anger, the meaning
OF her words; ''the memory of an
Indian is longer than the arm of the
pale faces; his mercy shorter than
their justice! Say; shall | send the
yellow hair to her father, and will
you follow Magua to the great lakes
to carry his water, and feed him with
corn :"
Cora beckoned him away, with an
emotion of disgust she could not con-
troll.
Leave me-" she said, with II
solemnity that for moment check
ed tho barbarity of the Indian; "you
mingle bitterness in my prayers; you
stand between me and my God"
The impression produced on the
savage was, however, soon forgotten'
and he continued pointing, with
taunting irony, towards Alice.
"look the child weepsl She is
too young to die. Send her to Munro,
to comb his gray hairs, and keep life
in the heart Of the old man."
Cora could not resist the desire to
look upon her youthful sister, in
whose eyes she met an imploring
glance that betrayed the longings of
Nature.
"What SAYS he dearest Cora z"
asked the trembling voice OF Alice,
"Did he speak OF sending me TO our
father. :"
For many moments the elder sister
looked upon the younger, with a
counttnance that wavered with
powerful and contending emotions.
At length she spoke.
"Alice," she said, "the Huron
offers us both life-nay, more than
both he offers 10 restore Duncan
our invaluable Duncan, as well as
YOU, to our triends-to our father
TO our heart-stricken, childless father,
if | will bow down this rebellious,
stubborn pride of mine and con-
sent"
Her voice became choked, and clasp
ing her hands, she looked upward, as
if seeking, in her agony, intelligence
from wisdom that was infinite.
"Say on" cried Alice; "to what,
dearest Cora? Oh? that the proffer
were made to me- to save you, to cheer
our aged father! to restore Duncan,
how cheerful could | diew
"Diep!repeated Cora, with calm
er and iirmer voice, "that were easy
Perhaps the alternative may not be
less so. lie would have mego to the
habitations Of the Hurons; ; to remain
there. in short to become his wife
Speak, then, Alice; sister of my