I found the spot where he halted to make a new one, which was
only a few yards from the place where he had dropped the old one."

"That doesn't look much like a red-skin on the war path!" returned the
other, shaking his head. "An exper'enced warrior, at least, would have
burned, or buried, or sunk in the river such signs of his passage; and
your trail is, quite likely, a peaceable trail. But the moccasin may
greatly relieve my mind, if you bethought you of bringing it off. I've
come here to meet a young chief myself; and his course would be much in
the direction you've mentioned. The trail may have been his'n."

"Hurry Harry, you're well acquainted with this young man, I hope, who
has meetings with savages in a part of the country where he has
never been before?" demanded Hutter, in a tone and in a manner that
sufficiently indicated the motive of the question; these rude beings
seldom hesitating, on the score of delicacy, to betray their feelings.
"Treachery is an Indian virtue; and the whites, that live much in their
tribes, soon catch their ways and practices."

"True--true as the Gospel, old Tom; but not personable to Deerslayer,
who's a young man of truth, if he has no other ricommend. I'll answer
for his honesty, whatever I may do for his valor in battle."

"I should like to know his errand in this strange quarter of the
country."

"That is soon told, Master Hutter," said the young man, with the
composure of one who kept a clean conscience. "I think, moreover, you've
a right to ask it. The father of two such darters, who occupies a lake,
after your fashion, has just the same right to inquire into a stranger's
business in his neighborhood, as the colony would have to demand the
reason why the Frenchers put more rijiments than common along the lines.
No, no, I'll not deny your right to know why a stranger comes into your
habitation or country, in times as serious as these."

"If such is your way of thinking, friend, let me hear your story without
more words."

"'T is soon told, as I said afore; and shall be honestly told. I'm a
young man, and, as yet, have never been on a war-path; but no sooner did
the news come among the Delawares, that wampum and a hatchet were about
to be sent in to the tribe, than they wished me to go out among the
people of my own color, and get the exact state of things for 'em. This
I did, and, after delivering my talk to the chiefs, on my return, I met
an officer of the crown on the