Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-03-15
THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
fContinued from first page. ]

III cannoG He. pee ne mas DlQ me,
who am man who knows the art of
healing, to 60 to his children, the red
Hurons Of the great lakes, and ask if
any are sick"
Another silence succeeded this an
nunciation of the character Duncan
had assumed.
"Do the cunning men of the Can
adas paint their skins ~ the Huron con-
tinued we had heard them boast that
their faces were pale"
"When an Indian chief comes among
his white fathers" returned Duncan,
che lays aside his buffalo robe to
carry the shirt that is offered him.
Ny brothers have given me paint, and
wear it."
A low murmur of applause announe-
ed that the compliment to the tribe
was favorably received.
After a silence of few moments,
another warrior arose, and while his
lips were yet in the act of parting, a
low but fearful sound arose from the
forest, and was succeeded by a high,
shrin yell that was drawn out, until
it equalled the longest and most plant
i've howl of the wolf. The sudden and
terrible interruption caused Duncan
to start from his seat, unconscious of
everything but the effect produced by
SO frightful a cry. Unable to COM
mand himself any longer, the youth
broke from the place and stood in the
centre of a disorderly throng, that in
cluded everything having life, within
the limits of the encampment. Men,
women and children; the aged, the
infrm, the active and the strong, were
alike abroad. Though astounded, at
first by the uproar, Hayward was soon
enabled to find its solution by the
scene that followed.
A line of warriors issued from the
woods and advanced towards the
dwellings. One in front bore short
pole, on which were suspended several
human scalps. The startling sounds
that Duncan had heard, were what the
whites have, not inappropriately call
ed the ''death-hallo."
When at the distance of few hum
bred feet from the lodges, the newly
arrived warriors halted. The whole
encampment, in moment, became a
scene of the most violent hustle and
commotion. The warriors just arrived
were the most distant figures. A little
in advance stood two men, who we've
apparently selected from the rest, as
the principal actors in what was to
follow. While one stood erect and
firm, prepared to meet his fate like a
hero, the other bowed his head, as if
palsied by terror or stricken with
shame.
1t will be understood, that amid such
cOncourse of enemies, no breathing
time was allowed the fugitive. There
was mement when it seemed as if he
would have reached the forest, but the
whole body of his captors threw them
selves before him, and drove him back
into the centre Of his prosecutors.
Turning like deer, he shot, with the
swiftness of an arrow, through pill
lar of forked flame, and passing the
multitude harmless, he appeared on
the opposite side of the clearing. Here,
too, he was met and turned by few
of the older and more subtle of the
Hurons. Once more he tried the
throng, as if seeking safety in its
blindness.
Nothing could be distinguished but
a dark mass of human forms tossed
and involved in inexplicable confusion.
Now and then Duncan caught a
glimpse of light form cleaving the
air in some desperate bound, and he
rather hoped that the captive yet re-
tanned the command Of his astonishing
powers of activity. Suddenly the
multitude rolled backward, and ap-
preached the spot where he himself
stood. The heavy body in the roar
pressed upon the women and children
in front, and bore them to the earth.
The stranger reappeared in the con-
fusion. Human power could not, how
ever, much longer endure so severe a
trial. Of this the captive seemed con-
scious. AS if aware that no danger
was to be apprehended from the young
soldier, the fugitive nearly brushed
his person in his flight. A powerful
Huron pressed close upon his heels
and menaced fatal blow. Duncan
thrust forth foot, and the shock pre-
cipitated the savage headlong, many
feet in advance of his intended victim.
Thought itself is not quicker than was
the motion with which the latter pro-
flied by the advantage; he turned,
cleaned like q meteor before the eyes
of Duncan, and at the next moment,
when the latter recovered his recollec-
ton, and gazed around in quest Of the
captive, he saw him leaning against a