The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-03

in his place as had been arranged, but his knowledge of Indian customs satfs- fled him that as the Hurons considered David deranged he would not suffer at their hands when the fraud was dis covered. Protected by the night, the scout and the Mohican passed out and through the curiously watching In- dians in safety to the, edge of the wood. They had not proceeded far into the re- cesses of the forests however, when they heard a shout from the Indian village. The deception of the cave and the deception of the prison lodge had both been discovered. Magua had been unbound and the Hurons were on their trail. z
 But the fugitives had e start which. combined with their knowledge of woodcraft, rendered pursuit ineffectual; and after desperate effort to appre- bend them Magua withdrew his men and planned for the morrow.
 Hayward and Alice had been received into the camp of the Delawares, not exactly as prisoners not yet as guests; and the rapture with which the sisters clasped each other again could not tion was still one of peril. Uncas and the scout reached the village soon after ward. They were placed under guard, but their reception was, on the whole, friendly. With the morning appeared Magua, dressed and painted as Tor peace. and made formal demand that his prisoners be delivered up to him. A great council was called to consider the matter. Hardly had 1t assembled than, supported on either side by two old men, there appeared in the coun- oil lodge the venerable and celebrated Tamenund. bent under the weight of more than a hundred years. but still possessing the wisdom and authority that has sent his name down through legend and history as .iTammany."
 T am Tamenund of many days" said the venerable chief. Fixing his eyes up- on Cora he asked: Who art thou?"
 "A woman-one of the hated race--a Yangees. if thou wilt; ;but one who never harmed thee and who demands succor." replied the girl dauntlessly.
 And who art thou?" asked the chief, turning to Uncas. The young man drew himself up to bis full height and answered: T am Uncas. the son of Chingachgook, the last of the high blood of the Mohicans, a son of Uraml's the Great Turtle" And stepping on the platform where Tamenund sat with the elders, he dropped his blanket and showed, so that all could see it, a blue turtle tattooed on his breast. A mur- mur arose from the assembly. "The hour of Tamenund is nighw exclaimed the aged chief. "Uncas, the son Of IIn- cas. is found. Let the eyes of the dying eagle gaze on the rising sun."
 All who looked upon the Indian youth knew him then for the heredi- tary chief of the Turtle clan of the Delawares, the very tribe, or half tribe. among~w whom he now found himself. And the words of the venerated Tam enund confirmed 1t.
 Tamenund set the youth before the people for their chief, and Uncas was hailed with loud shouts of joy and de- votion. But Magua now stepped forth and insisted on his right to Cora. The others might be kept from him; but by Indian law she was his-a captive whom he had lodged of his own free will among the DeIawares
 "Go." was the decision. "It is the law. Take your captive with you The sun is now among the branches of the hemlock tree and your path is short and open. When he is seen above the trees there will be men on your trail."
 It was Uncas who spoke the words. and 1t was easy to see that only ra- spect for Indian law prevented him from killing the Huron in his tracks. Standing like statue, Uncas watched the sun climb up the heavens. When its beams shone above the trSetopa he
 
 tribe. started in pursuit of the Huron.
 Howard and Bumppo. with n party Of Indians assigned to them. took a dif- ferent route from that of Uncas. nick ed up Colonel Munro and the Sagamora on the way and attacked the Hurons in the rear.
 The attack of the Delawares thus be- gan on two sides The Hurons fought with desperate bravery. But the furv of the Delawares. melted to the con test by the example and spirit of Uncas and the Sagamore. his father. was greater; and at last the braves of Ma qua were forced to take refuge on a rocky height that hung over the site of their village. Into these fastpesses the Delawares pursued them. killing and sparing not.
 Amid all the tumult of the fight IJn- cas kept his eye on Magua; and when the Huron semed to be hemmed in on all sides he saw him suddenly turn and make rush into the cave on the mountainside. & Fss .s.
 Uncas pursued. Behind them pressed Hayward and Bumppo.
 The huttering of a white robe was seen at the end of dark tunnel. ""Tis Cora" exclaimed Uncas. bounding for ward like a deer. Out of an entrance to the cave on the further side of the mountain Magua rushed with his vic- tim and began to scale the precipitous side of the rugged heights. He was joined by several of his fugitive braves and his pursuers saw the party out lined on the verge of a precipice.
 They saw Cora break loose from the hold of the chief and heard her defy the Huron and dare him to kill her. Death or my lodge" said Magua. Choose"
 Bumppo and Howard did not dare to shoot for the form of the girl was between them and Magua. Mercy, Hu- ron" cried Heyward. The form of Un- cas appeared high up above them sn a ledge over the one on which Magua and his victim stood. The Mohican uttered a piercing cry. He leaped, and his form shot between the Magua and Cora. At that moment one of Magua's Indians sheathed his knife to the hilt in the bosom of Cora. Uncas stumbled and fell, and as he landed on the ledge Ma qua huriAd hIa tnmAhRvl< in thA hanis