Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-12

the scout perceiving his intentions,
pointed toward Chingachgook, as he
coolly disposed his own person on the
grass, and said
"The eyes of white man are too
blind for such q watch as this! The
Mohican will be our sentinel, there
fore let lis sleep"
q proved myself sluggard on my
post during the past night" said
Hayward, "and have less need of re-
pose than you, who did more credit
to the character of Il soldier. Let all
the party seek their rest, then, while
l hold the guard"
"If we lay among the white tents of
the Goth, and in front of an enemy
like the French, | could not ask for a
better watchman," returned the
scout; "but in the darkness and
among the signs Of the wilderness
your Judgment would be like the
folly ofof u child and your vigilance
thrown away. Do then, like Uncas
and myself, sleep, and sleep in safety"
Hayward perceived, in truth, that
the younger Indian had thrown his
form on the side of the hillock while
they were talking, like one who sought
to make the most of the time allotted
to rest, and that his example had been
followed by David, whose voice liter
ally "clove to his jaws" with the fever
of his wound, heightened as 1t was by
their toilsome march. Unwilling to
prolong useless aliscussion, the
young man affected to comply, by
posting his back against the logs of
the block house, in a half-recumbent
posture, though resolutely deter
mined, in his own mind, not to close
an eye until he had delivered his pre-
cious charge into the arms of Munro
himself. Hawk-eye, believing he
prevail led, soon fell asleep, and 81
lence as deep as the solitude in which
they had found it, pervaded the re-
tiredspot.
For many minutes Duncan sue
ceeded in keeping his senses on the
alert, and alive to every moaning
sound that rose from the forest. His
vision became more acute as the
shades Of evening settled on
the place; and even after the stars
were glimmering above his head, he
was able to distinguish the recumbent
forms of his companions, us they lay
stretched ON the grass, and to note
the person Of Chingachgook, who sat
upright and motionless as one of the
trees which formed the dark bar
rier on every side of them. He still
heard the gentle breathing of the sis
ters, who lay within q few feet of him,
and not leaf was rulfled by the pass
ing air, Of which his ear did not de-
tect the Whispering sound. Atlength,
however, the mournful notes of the
whip-poor-will became blended with
meanings of the owl; his heavy eyes
occasionally sought the bright rays OF
the stars, and then he fancied he saw
them through the falling lids. AT
instants of momentary wakefulress
he mistook q bush for his associate
sentinel; his head next sank on his
shoulder, which, in it's turn, sought
the support of the ground; and
finally, his whole person became re-
laxed and plant, and the young man
sank into deep sleep, dreaming that
he was knight Of ancient chivalry.
holding his midnight vigils before
the tent Of recaptured princess,
whose favor he did not despair OF
gaining, by such proof of devotion
and watchfulness.
How long the tired Duncan lay in
this insensible state he never knew
himself, but his slumbering visions
had been long lost in total forgetful-
ness, when he was awakened by q
light tap or the shoulder. Aroused
by this signal, slight as it was, he
sprang upon his feet with confused
recollection Of the self-imposed duty
he had assumed with the commence
ment Of the night
"Who comes? 2" he demanded, feel
ing for his sword, at the place where
it was usually suspended. 'Friend,"
replied the low voice of Chingachgook;
who, pointing up at the luminary
which was shedding it's mild light
through the opening in the trees, di-
rectly on their bivouac, Immediately
added in his rude English, "moon
comes, and white mans fort far-far