d. Then
Deerslayer stepped from behind its own cover, and hailed him.

"This a way, red-skin; this a way, if you're looking for me," he called
out. "I'm young in war, but not so young as to stand on an open beach to
be shot down like an owl, by daylight. It rests on yourself whether it's
peace or war atween us; for my gifts are white gifts, and I'm not one
of them that thinks it valiant to slay human mortals, singly, in the
woods."

The savage was a good deal startled by this sudden discovery of the
danger he ran. He had a little knowledge of English, however, and caught
the drift of the other's meaning. He was also too well schooled to
betray alarm, but, dropping the butt of his rifle to the earth, with
an air of confidence, he made a gesture of lofty courtesy. All this was
done with the ease and self-possession of one accustomed to consider no
man his superior. In the midst of this consummate acting, however, the
volcano that raged within caused his eyes to glare, and his nostrils to
dilate, like those of some wild beast that is suddenly prevented from
taking the fatal leap.

"Two canoes," he said, in the deep guttural tones of his race, holding
up the number of fingers he mentioned, by way of preventing mistakes;
"one for you--one for me."

"No, no, Mingo, that will never do. You own neither; and neither shall
you have, as long as I can prevent it. I know it's war atween your
people and mine, but that's no reason why human mortals should slay each
other, like savage creatur's that meet in the woods; go your way, then,
and leave me to go mine. The world is large enough for us both; and when
we meet fairly in battle, why, the Lord will order the fate of each of
us."

"Good!" exclaimed the Indian; "my brother missionary--great talk; all
about Manitou."

"Not so--not so, warrior. I'm not good enough for the Moravians, and am
too good for most of the other vagabonds that preach about in the woods.
No, no; I'm only a hunter, as yet, though afore the peace is made,
'tis like enough there'll be occasion to strike a blow at some of your
people. Still, I wish it to be done in fair fight, and not in a quarrel
about the ownership of a miserable canoe."

"Good! My brother very young--but he is very wise. Little warrior--great
talker. Chief, sometimes, in council."

"I don't know this, nor do I say it, Injin," returned Deerslayer,
coloring a little at the ill-concealed sarcasm of the other's manner;
"I look forward to a