Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-19

homme ct bien poll avec les DANES"
"C'est lie caractere des gems de
guerre," said Cora, with admirable
self-possession. "Adieu, mon ami ::
ie vous souhaiterhais un devoir plus
agreeable remplir.'
The soldier made low and hum
bic acknowledgment for her civility {;
and Hayward adding a "bonne NUT
mon camarade," they moved deliber-
ately forward, leaving the sentinel
pacing the banks of the silent pond,
little suspecting an enemy Of SO
much efrontery, and humming to
himself those words, which were re-
called to his mind by the sight of
women, and perhaps by recollections
of his own distant and beautiful
France
'Vive lie win vivc pamour," etc, etc.
"'Tis we'll you understood the
knaye," whispered the scout; 81 soon
saw that he was one of them uneasy
Frenchers and we'll for him it was
that his speech was friendly and his
wishes kind, or place might have
been found for his bones amongst
those of his countrymen."
He was interrupted by a long and
heavy groan which arose from the
little basin, as though, in truth, the
spirits of the departed fingered about
their watery sepulchre.
''Surely it was of flesh," continued
the scout; ''no spirit could handle
its arms so steadily"
at 1ras of flesh; but whether the
poor fellow still belongs to this world
may we'll be doubted" said Hayward,
gIancing dis eyes around him, and
missing Chingachgook from their
little band. Another groan more
faint than the former was succeeded
by heavy and sullen plunge into
the water, and all was as still again
as if the borders Of the drcarv pool
had never been awakened from the
silence of creation. While they hes
itated in uncertainty, the Indian was
seen gliding ont of the thicket. AS
the chief rejoined them, with one
hand he attached the reeking scalp
of the unfortunate young Frenchman
to his girdle, and with the other he
replaced the knife and tomahawk
that had drunk his blood. He then
took his wonted station, with the air
Of a man who believed he had done a
deed of merit.
The scout dropped one end of his
rifle to the earth, and leaning his
hands on the other, he stood musing
in profound silence. Then, shaking
his head, he muttered,-
"'Twould have been a cruel and an
mhuman act fora white but It's
the gift and natur' of an Indian, and
suppose it should not be denied.
could wish, though, it had befallen
an accursed Mingo, rather than that
gay young boy from the old coun-
tries"
Enough" said Hayward; {" It's
done and though better it were left
undone, cannot be amended. You
see we are, too obviously, within the
the sentinels of the enemy; what
course do you propose to follow %
"les," said Hawk-eye, rousing
himself again, '''tis as you say, too
late to harbor further thoughts
about it. Ay, the French have gath
cred about the fort in good earnest
and we have delicate needle to
thread in passing them."
"And but little time to do it in
added Hayward, glancing his eyes
upwards, towards the bank of vapor
that concealed the setting moon.
"One would be to dismount the
gentle ones, and let their beasts
range the plain; by sending the Mo-
hicans in front, we might then cut a
lane through their sentries, and ell
ter the front over the dead bodies"
"It will not dot will not do, :"
interrupted the generous Hayward :;
ii soldier might force his way in
this manner, but never with such Il
convoy"
"'Twould be, indeed. bloody
path for such tender feet to wade H."
returned the equally reluctant scout !;
"but | thought it befitting my man
hood to name it. We must. then
turn on our trail, and get without
the line of their look-outs, when we
will bend short to [ .c west, and enter
tho maintains uhnrn | oap biIo y-o,,