Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-02-16
THE LAST OF THE MOHlCANS.
fContinued from first page. ]

!. a
The effects produced by the appal-
ling sights that constantly arose in
their path to the lake shore, were as
different IS the characters of the in
dividuals who composed the party.
The youth in front threw serious but
furtive glances at the mangled victims,
a. he stepped lightly across the plain,
afraid to exhibit his feelings, and yet
too inexperienced to quell entirely
their sudden and powerful influence.
His red associate, however, was super
Tor to such weakness. He passed
the groups of dead with steadiness of
purpose, and an eye SO calm, that
nothing but long and inveterate prac-
tice could enable him to maintain.
The sensations. produced in the minds
Of even the white men were diff
ferent though uniformly sorrowful.
One, whose gray locks and furrowed
lineaments, blending with a martial
air and tread, betrayed, in spite of the
disguise of a woodman's dress, a man
long exerienced in scenes of war, was
not ashamed to groan aloud, whenever
q spectacle of more than usual horror
came under his view. The young man
at his elbow shuddered, but seemed to
suppress his feeling in tenderness to
his companion. OF them all, the
straggler who brought up the rear,
appeared alone to betray his real
thoughts, without fear of observation
or dread of consequences.
The readers will perceive at once,
in these respective characters, the
Mohicans, and their white friend, the
scout; together with Munro and Hey
ward. 1t was, in truth, the father in
quest of his children, attended by the
youth who felt so deep stake in their
happiness, and those brave and trusty
foresters, who had already proved their
skill and fidelity through the trying
scenes related.
When Uncas, who moved in front,
had reached the centre of the plain, he
raised cry that drew his companions
III a body to the spot. The young war
rior had halted over a group of females
who lay in cluster, a confused mass
of dead.
Munro and Hayward few towards
the fostering heap, endeavoring to
discover whether any vestiges of those
they sought wer, to be seen among the
tattered and many-colored garments.
The father and lover found instant re-
lief in the search though each was
condemned again to experience the
misery of an uncertainty that was
hardly less insupportable than the
most revolving truth. They were
standing, silent and thoughtful, around
the melancholy pile, when the scout
approached Eyeing the spectacle with
an angry countenance, the sturdy
woodsman spoke intelligibly and
aloud,-
Ihave been on manga shocking-field,
and have followed trail of blood for
weary miles," he said, "but never have
found the hand of the devil so plain
as it is here to be seen! Revenge is
an Indian feeling, and all who know
me know there is no cross in my veins !;
but this much will 1 say,-here, in the
face of heaven, and with the power of
the Lord so manifest in this bowling
wilderness-that should these French
ers ever trust themselves again within
the range Of ragged bullet, there is
one rife shall play its part, so long as
flint will fire OF powder burn l leave
the tomahawk and knife to such as
have natural gift to use them.
What say you, Chingachgook," he
added in Delaware; "shall the Hurons
boast of this to their women when the
deep SHOWS come 2"
A CLEAN of resentment flashed across
the lineaments of the Mohican chief =;
he loosened his knife in his sheath,
and then, turning calmly from the
sight, his countenance settled into Il
repose as deep as if he never knew the
instigation of passion.
"Montcalm Montcalm" continued
the deeply resentful and sclf-restrained
scout; "they say Il time must come
when all the deeds done in the tie h
will be seen at single look and that
by eyes cleared from mortal intirmities.
8 Woe betide the wretch who is born to
behold this plain, with the judgment
hanging about his soul! Haas !
am man of white blood, yonler lies a
red-skin without the hair of his head
where nature rooted it Look to him,
Delaware it may be one of your
missing people; and he should have a
burial like stout warrior. see it in
your eye, Sycamore Huron pays
for this, afore the fall winds have
q blown away the scent of the blood!"
Chingaehgook approached the multi
ated from, and turning it over, he
found the distinguished marks of and
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