f the ark's owner, in the
narrow opening among the bushes that served as a sort of moat to
his position. It would seem that Hutter, or Floating Tom, as he was
familiarly called by all the hunters who knew his habits, recognized the
canoe of Hurry, for he expressed no surprise at finding him in the
scow. On the contrary, his reception was such as to denote not only
gratification, but a pleasure, mingled with a little disappointment at
his not having made his appearance some days sooner.

"I looked for you last week," he said, in a half-grumbling,
half-welcoming manner; "and was disappointed uncommonly that you didn't
arrive. There came a runner through, to warn all the trappers and
hunters that the colony and the Canadas were again in trouble; and I
felt lonesome, up in these mountains, with three scalps to see to, and
only one pair of hands to protect them."

"That's reasonable," returned March; "and 't was feeling like a parent.
No doubt, if I had two such darters as Judith and Hetty, my exper'ence
would tell the same story, though in gin'ral I am just as well satisfied
with having the nearest neighbor fifty miles off, as when he is within
call."

"Notwithstanding, you didn't choose to come into the wilderness alone,
now you knew that the Canada savages are likely to be stirring,"
returned Hutter, giving a sort of distrustful, and at the same time
inquiring glance at Deerslayer.

"Why should I? They say a bad companion, on a journey, helps to shorten
the path; and this young man I account to be a reasonably good one.
This is Deerslayer, old Tom, a noted hunter among the Delawares, and
Christian-born, and Christian-edicated, too, like you and me. The lad is
not parfect, perhaps, but there's worse men in the country that he came
from, and it's likely he'll find some that's no better, in this part
of the world. Should we have occasion to defend our traps, and the
territory, he'll be useful in feeding us all; for he's a reg'lar dealer
in ven'son."

"Young man, you are welcome," growled Tom, thrusting a hard, bony hand
towards the youth, as a pledge of his sincerity; "in such times, a white
face is a friend's, and I count on you as a support. Children sometimes
make a stout heart feeble, and these two daughters of mine give me more
concern than all my traps, and skins, and rights in the country."

"That's nat'ral!" cried Hurry. "Yes, Deerslayer, you and I don't know it
yet by experience; but, on the whole, I consider