el and an unhuman act for a white-skin; but 'tis
the gift and natur' of an Indian, and I suppose it should not be denied.
I could wish, though, it had befallen an accursed Mingo, rather than
that gay young boy from the old countries."

"Enough!" said Heyward, apprehensive the unconscious sisters might
comprehend the nature of the detention, and conquering his disgust by a
train of reflections very much like that of the hunter; "'tis done; and
though better it were left undone, cannot be amended. You see, we are,
too obviously within the sentinels of the enemy; what course do you
propose to follow?"

"Yes," said Hawkeye, rousing himself again; "'tis as you say, too late
to harbor further thoughts about it. Ay, the French have gathered around
the fort in good earnest and we have a delicate needle to thread in
passing them."

"And but little time to do it in," added Heyward, glancing his eyes
upwards, toward the bank of vapor that concealed the setting moon.

"And little time to do it in!" repeated the scout. "The thing may be
done in two fashions, by the help of Providence, without which it may
not be done at all."

"Name them quickly for time presses."

"One would be to dismount the gentle ones, and let their beasts range
the plain, by sending the Mohicans in front, we might then cut a lane
through their sentries, and enter the fort over the dead bodies."

"It will not do--it will not do!" interrupted the generous Heyward;
"a soldier might force his way in this manner, but never with such a
convoy."

"'Twould be, indeed, a bloody path for such tender feet to wade in,"
returned the equally reluctant scout; "but I thought it befitting my
manhood to name it. We must, then, turn in our trail and get without the
line of their lookouts, when we will bend short to the west, and enter
the mountains; where I can hide you, so that all the devil's hounds in
Montcalm's pay would be thrown off the scent for months to come."

"Let it be done, and that instantly."

Further words were unnecessary; for Hawkeye, merely uttering the mandate
to "follow," moved along the route by which they had just entered their
present critical and even dangerous situation. Their progress, like
their late dialogue, was guarded, and without noise; for none knew at
what moment a passing patrol, or a crouching picket of the enemy, might
rise upon their path. As they held their silent way along the margin
of the pond, again Heyward and the scout st