Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-12
WHOLE NO. $40.

j
building, and ready to travel very
fast after so refreshing sleep; but
you have watched through the tedious
night in our behalf, after having en-
dured so much fatigue the livelong
dayw
"Say, rather, would have watch
ed, but my treacherous eyes betrayed
me; twice have | proved myself unfit
for the trust I bear"
"Nay, Duncan, deny it not,' inter-
rupted the smiling Alice, 81 know
you to be needless one, when self is
the object of your care, and but too
vigilant in favor of others. Can we
not tarry here little longer, while
you find the rest you need? cheer
fully, most cheerfully, will Cora and
| keep the vigils, while you, and
all these brave men, endeavor to
snatch little sleep!"
'If shame could cure me of my
drowsiness, ] should never close an
eye again." said the uneasy youth,
gazing at the igenuous ceuntenance
of Alice, where, however, in it's sweet
solitude, he read nothing to confirm
his half-awakened suspicion. cit is
but too true, that after leading you
into danger by my heedlessness, l
have not the merit of guarding your
pillows as should become soldier"
''No one but Duncan should accuse
Duncan Of such a weakness. Go,
then, and sleep; believe me neither
Of us, weak girls as we are, will betray
our watch"
The young man was relieved from
the awkwardness of making any
further protestations of his own de-
merits, by an exclamation from
Chingachgook, and the attitude Of
attention assumed by his son.
"The Mohicans hear an enemyw
whispered Hawk-eye. "They scent
danger in the wind" !"
"God forbidw exclaimed Hayward.
"Surely we have had enough of blood
shed!'
While he spoke, however, the
young soldier seized his rifle, and ad-
vancing towards the front, prepared
to atone for mis- venial remissneSs by
freely exposing his life in defence of
those he attended.
""Tis some creature Of the forest
prowling around us in questof food,"
he said in a whisper.
"Histw returned the attentive
scout; "'tis man; even [ can now
tell his tread, poor as my senses are,
when compared to an Indians! I!
That scampering Huron has fallen in
with one Of Montcalm's outlaying
parties, aud they have struck upon
our trail | shouldn't like, myself, to
spill more human blood in this spot"
he added, 'but what must be, must!
Lead the horses into the block-house,
Uncas, and friends, do you follow to
the same shelter. Poor and old as it
is, it offers cover, and has rung with
the crack of rifle afore tonight"
He was instantly obeyed, the Mo-
hican leading the Narragansetts
within the ruin, whittier the whole
party repaired, with themost guard
ed silence.
The sounds of approaching foot
steps were now too distinctly audible,
to leave any doubts as to the nature
of the interruption. They were soon
mingled with voices calling to each
other in an Indian dialect, which
the hunter affirmed to Hayward, was
the language of the Hurons. When
the party reached the point, where
the horses had entered the thicket
which surrounded the block-house,
they were evidently at fault, having
lost those marks which, until at that
moment, had directed their pursuit.
1t would seem by the voices that
twenty men were soon collected at
that onespot mingling their different
opinions and advice in noisy clamor.
''The knaves know our weakness"
whispered Hawk-eye who stood by
the side of Hayward, looking through
an opening in the logs, ''or they would
not indulge their idleness in such a
squaw's march. Listen to thereptiles!
each man among them seems to have
two tongues, and but single Leg"
Duncan, brave as he was in the
combat, could not, in such moment
of painful suspense, make any reply
to the cool and characteristic remark
Of tba coout He Onlv oracnad bio