Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-03-22
THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
[Continued from first page I

CONTINUED from first page.l
glancing in the torchlight as he whirl-
ed it above his head. The motion and
the cry were too sudden for words to
interrupt his bloody intention.
Duncan had seen the threatening
action, and sprang upon his feet, with
heart which swelled with the most
generous resolution in behalf Of his
friend. A glance told him that the
blow failed. Uncas stood still, looking
his enemy in the eye with features that
seemed superior to emotion. Then he
muttered few words in his own
tongue.
"No!" said Magua; ''the sun must
shine on his shame; the squaws must
see his flesh tremble, or our revenge
will be like the play Of boys. Go-take
him where there is silence; let US see
if Delaware can sleep at night, and
in the morning die"
The young men whose duty it was
to guard the prisoner instantly passed
their ligaments of bark across his
arms, and led him from the lodge.
amid profound and ominous silence.
Magua was content with his success,
or too much occupied with his secret
purposes to push his enquiries any
further, Notwithstanding his rising
resentment, his natural firmness, and
his anxiety in behalf of Uncas, Hey
ward felt sensibly relieved by the alb
sence Of so dangerous andso subtle
foe.
When the chief who had solicited
the aid of Duncan finished his pipe,
he made final movement towards
departing. A motion of the finger
was the imitation he gave the supposed
physician to follow; and passing
through the clouds of smoke, Duncan
was glad 70 be able, at last to breathe
the pure air of refreshing summer
evening.
Instead Of pursuing his way among
those lodges where Hayward had al
ready made his unsuccessful search,
his companions turned aside, and pro-
ceeded directly towards the base of an
adjacent mountain, which overhung
the temporary village.
The Indian paused as if doubtful
whether to proceed, and permitted his
companion to approach his side. A
large black ball, which at first seemed
stationary, now began to move in
manner that to the latter was inexpli-
cable. Again the fire frightened, and
its glare fell more distinctly ON the OBJ
Ject. Then, even Duncan knew it to
be bear. Though it growled loudly
and fiercely, itgave no othor indica-
tons of hostility. The Huron, at least,
seemed assured that the intentions of
this singular intruder were peaceable,
for, after giving it an attentive ex-
animation, he pursued his course.
Duncan, who knew that the animal
was often domesticated among the In
dams, followed the example of his
companion, believing that some favo-
rite of the tribe had found its way in
to the thicket, in search of food.
A large cavity in the rock had been
rudely fitted to answer the purposes
OF many apartments. The subdivi-
sions were simple, being composed of
stone and sticks, and bark inter-
mingled. Openings above admitted
the light by day, and at night fires and
torches supplied the place of the sun.
Hither the sick woman had been trans
ported under an impression that her
tormentor would find more difficulty in
making his assaults through walls of
stone. The apartment into which
Duncan and his guide first entered had
been exclusively devoted to her &C.
commodation. The latter approached
her bedside, which was surrounded by
females, in the centre of whom Hey
ward was surprised to find his missing
friend David.
A single look was sufficient to ap-
prise the pretended leech that the in
valid was far beyond his powers of
healing.
Gamut, who stood prepared to pour
forth his spirit in song when the visitors
entered, after delaying moment, drew
a strain from his pipe, and commenced
a hymn that might have worked
miracle, had faith in its efficacy been
OF much avail. AS the dying cadence
of his strains was falling on the ears
OF Duncan, he started aside at hearing
them repeated behind him, in voice
half human and half sepulchral.
Looking round, he beheld the shag
monster seated on end in a shadow of
the cavern, where it repeated, in a
sort of low growl, sounds, if not words,
which bore some slight resemblance to
the melody of the singer.
The effect of so strange an echo on
David may better be imagined than
described. His eyes opened IS if he
doubted their truth and his voice he