Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-12
TYE LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
TContinued from first page.


respect with which his orders, or
rather. advice, was received. After
which, by the rustling of leaves and
cracking of dried twigs, it was APP
parent the savages were separating
in pursuit of the lost trail. Forum
ately for the pursued, the light of the
moon, while it shed flood of mild
lustre upon the little area around the
ruin, was not sufficiently strong to
penetrate the deep arches of the forest
where the objects still lay in deceptive
shadow. The search proved fruitless;
for so short and sudden had been the
passage from the faint path the trav-
ellers had journeyed into the thicket,
that every trace of their footsteps was
lost in the obscurity of the woods.
1t was not long, however, before the
restless savages were heard beating
the brush, and gradually approaching
the inner edge of the dense border of
young chestnuts which encireled the
little area.
"They are coming muttered Hey
ward, endeavoring to thrust his rifle
through the chink in the logs; "let us
fire on their approach"
"Keep everything in the shade" re-
turned the scout "the swapping Of a
flint, or even the smell of a single
kernel of birthstone, would bring the
hungry varlets upon us in body.
Should it please God that we must
give battle for the scalps, trust to the
experience of men who know the ways
of the savages, and who are not often
backward when the war-whoop is
howled."
Duncan cast his eyes behind him,
and saw that the trembling sisters
were covering in the far corner of the
building, while the Mohicans stood in
the shadow, like two upright posts,
ready, and apparently willing, to
strike, when the blow should be need
ed. CURLING his impotence, he again
looked out upon the area, and awaited
the result in silence. At that instant
the thicket opened, and q tall and
armed Huron advanced a few PAGES
into the open space. AS he gazed
upon the block-house, the moon fell
full upon his swarthy countenance,
and betrayed its surprise and curiosity.
He made the exclamation which
usually accompanies the former
emotion in an Indian, and, calling in q
low voice, soon drew companion to
his side.
These children of the woods stood
together for several moments point
ing at the crumbling edifice, and con-
versing in the language of the tribe.
They then approached, with slow and
cautious steps, pausing every instant
to look at the building, like startled
deer whose curiosity struggled power
fully with their awakened apprehen-
sions for the mastery. The foot of
one of them suddenly rested on the
mound, and he stopped to examine
its nature. At this moment, Hayward
observed that the scout loosened his
knife in its sheath, and lowered the
muzzle of his rifle Initiating these
movements, the young man prepared
himself for the struggle, which now
seemed inevitable.
The savages were SO near, that the
least motion in one of the horses, OF
even breath louder than common
would have betrayed the fugitives.
But, in discovering the character of
the mound, the attention Of the HUI
rons appeared directed to different
object. They spoke together, and the
sound Of their voices were low and
solemn, as influenced by Il reverence
that was deeply blended with awe.
Then they drew back, keeping their
eyes riveted on the ruin, as if they eX-
pected to see the appartiions of the
dead issue from its silent walls, until
having reached the boundary of the
area, they moved slowly into the
thicket and disappeared.
Hawk-eye dropped the breech OF his
rifle on the earth, and drawing q long
free breath, exclaimed III an audible
whisper
SAY! they respect the dead, and it
has saved their own lives, and it
may be the lives Of better men too.'
Hayward lent his attention for a
single moment to his companion, but
without replying, he again turned to-
wards those who just then interested
him more. He heard the two Hurons
leave the bushes, and it was soon plain
that all the pursuers were gathered
about them, in deep attention to their
report. After few minutes of earnest
and solemn dialogue, altogether differ
ent from the noisy clamor with which
they had at first collected about the
spot, the sounds grew fainter and more
distant, finally were lost in the for
est.
Hawk-eye waited until a signal from
Il, I