Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-04-26
CONTINUED STORY.
THE
LAST OF THE M0HICANs.
j. Fe,,in,Ore Cooper.
Continued from last week I


mercy! her ransom shall make thee
richer than any of thy people were
yet known to be-"
"Magua is a red-skin he wants
not the beads of the pale-faces."
"Gold, silver, powder, lead-all that
a warrior needs shall be in thy wig
wan; all that becomes the greatest
chief.'
"Le Subtil is very strong" cried
Magua; 'he has his revenge"
"Mighty ruler of providence!' ex-
claimed Hayward, clasping his hands
together in agony, ''can this be
suffered! 10 you, just Tamenund, 1
appeal for mercy"
''The words of the Delaware are
said," returned the sage, closing his
eyes. "Men speak not twice."
"That chief should not misspend
his time IN unsaying what has once
been spoken, is wise and reasonable" /"
said Hawk-eye, motioning to Duncan
to be silent; "but it is also prudent
in every warrior to consider well be-
fore he strikes his tomahawk into the
head of his prisoner. Huron, | love
you not; nor can | say that any Min
go has ever received much favor at my
hands. 1t is fair to conclude, that
If this war does not soon end. many
more Of your warriors will meet me
in the woods. Put it to your judg-
ment, then, whether you would prefer
taking such prisoner as that into
your encampment, or one like myself,
who am a man that it would greatly
rejoice your nation to see with naked
hands,"
"Will 'The long Rifle give his
life for the woman ?" demanded Mag
ua, hesitatingly.
"No, no; | have not said so much
as that" returned Hawk-eye. "An
unequal exchange, to give a
warrior, in the prime of his age and
uefulness, for the best woman on the
frontiers. | might consent to go in
to winter quarters, at least six weeks
atore the leaves turn-on condition
you will release the maiden
Magua shook his head, and made
an impatient sign for the crowd to
open.
"Well, then" added the scout, 81
will throw 'Kill-deer' into the bar
gain. Take the word of an exper-
fenced hunter, the piece has not its
equal atween the provinces"
Magua still disdalned to reply, con-
tinuing his efforts to disperse the
crowd.
"Perhaps," added the scout, eff
should condition to teach your men
the real virtue Of the we'pon it
would smooth the little difference
in our judgments.'
lie Renard fiercely ordered the
Delawares, who still fingered IN an
impenetrable belt around him, in
hopes he would listen to the amicable
proposals, to open his path, threat.
ening, by the glance of his eye, another
appeal to the infallible justice of theil
prophet"
"What is ordered must sooner OF
later arrive" continued Hawk-eye.
'"The varlet knows his advantage,
and will keep it. God bless you,
boy; you have found friends among
your natural kin, and | hope they
will prove as true as some you have
met who had no Indian cross. AS
for me, sooner or later, | must die
it is therefore fortunate there but few
to make my death-howl. You'll
find the rifle IN the place where we
we hid it; take it, and keep
it for my sake; and harkee, lad, as
your natural gifts don't deny You the
use of vengeance, use it u little freely
on the Mingoes; it may unburden
grief at my loss, and ease your mind.
Huron, | accept your offer; release
the woman. | am your prisoner"
A suppressed, but still distinct
murmur of appreciation, ran through
the crowd at this generous PROPOSE
ton; even the fiercest of the Della
ware warriors manifesting pleasure at
the manliness of the intended sacri-
fee. Magua paused.
lie intimated his contempt of the
offer with a backward motion of his
head, and said in steady and settled