Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-05-03
fortunate that the race was Of short
and that the white men

were much favored by their position,
or the Delawares would soon have out
stripped all his companions, had fallen
victim to his own temerity. But ere
such calamity could happen, the
pursuers and pursued entered the
Wyandot village, within striking dis
lance of each other.
Excited by the presence of their
dwellings, and tired of the chase, the
Hurons now made stand, and fought
around their council lodge with the
fury of despair. The onset and the
issue were like the passage and
destruction of whirlwind. The tona-
hawk of Uncas, the blows of Hawk
eye, and even the still nervous arm of
Munro, were all busy for that pass
ing moment, and the ground was
quickly strewed with their enemies.
Still Magua, though much exposed,
escaped from every effort against his
life, with that sort of tabled protection
that was made to overlook the fortunes
of tabled heroes in the legends of an
cient poetry. Raising yell that spoke
volumes of anger and disappointment,
the subtle chief, when he saw his com
rades fallen, darted away from the
place, attended by his two only sur
viving friends, leaving the Delawares
| engaged in stripping the dead of the
bloody trophies of their victory.
But Uncas, who had vainly sought
him in the melee, bounded forward in
pursuit; Hawk-eye, Hayward, and
David still pressing on his footsteps.
The utmost that the scout could effect
was to keep the muzzle Of his rife
little in advance of his friend. Once
Magua appeared disposed to make
another and final effort to revenge
his losses but, abandoning his inten-
ton, he leaped into thicket of bushes,
through which he was followed by his
enemies, and suddenly entered the
mouth of the cave already known
to the reader. Hawk-eye raised
shout of success, and proclaimed aloud
that now they were certain Of their
game. The pursuers dashed into the
narrow entrance, in time to catch a
glimpse of the retreating forms of the
Hurons. Their passage through the
natural galleries and subterraneous
apartments of the cavern was preceded
by the skrieks and cries of hundreds of
women and children. The place, seen
by its dim and uncertain light, APP
peared like the shades of the Internal
regions, across which unhappy ghosts
and savage demons were fitting in
multitudes.
Still Uncas kept his eye OH Magua,
as if life to him possessed but 1t sn.1.e
object. Hayward and the scout still
pressed on his rear, though possibly in
a less degree, by common feeling.
But their way was becoming intricate,
i'll those dark and gloomy passages,
and the glimpses of the retiring war
riors less distinct and frequent; and
for moment the trace was believed
to be lost, when a white robe was seen
futtering in the further extremity of a
passage that seemed to lead up to
the mountain.
"'Tis Cora !" exclaimed Hayward,
in voice in which horror and deiish hit
were wildly mingled.
Cora Cora !" echoed Uncas, bound
ing forward like deer.
"'Tis the maiden! !" shouted the
scout. Courage, lady; we come -
we come !"
The chase was renewed with dill
gence rendered tenfold encouraging by
this glimpse of the captive. But the
way was rugged, broken, and in spots
nearly impossible. Uncas abandoned
his rifle and leaped forward with head
long precipitation. Hayward rashly
initiated his example, though both
were, moment afterward, admonish-
ed of its madness, by hearing the bel
lowing of piece, that the Hurons
found time to discharge down the pass
age in the rocks, the bullets from which
gave the Mohican slight wound.
"We must close !" said the scout,
passing his friends by desperate leap;
1.-The knaves will pick us all off at this
distance and see they hold the maid
en- so as to shield themselves -
Though his words were unheeded, or
rather unheard, his example was fol
lowed by his companions, who by in
credible exertions, got near enough to
the fugitives to perceive that Cora was
borne along between the two warriors
while Magua prescribed the direction
and manner of their flight. AT this
moment the forms of all four were
strongly drawn against an opening in
the sky, and they disappeared. Near
ly frantic with disappointment, Uncas
and Hayward increased efforts that al
ready seemed superhuman, and they
issued from the cavern on the side of
the mountain, in time to note the