of its
strongest defence, reason. In this respect, nearly all unsophisticated
nations resemble each other, appearing to offer spontaneously, by
a feeling creditable to human nature, that protection by their own
forbearance, which has been withheld by the inscrutable wisdom of
Providence. Wah-ta-Wah, indeed, knew that in many tribes the mentally
imbecile and the mad were held in a species of religious reverence,
receiving from these untutored inhabitants of the forest respect and
honors, instead of the contumely and neglect that it is their fortune to
meet with among the more pretending and sophisticated.

Hetty accompanied her new friend without apprehension or reluctance. It
was her wish to reach the camp, and, sustained by her motives, she felt
no more concern for the consequences than did her companion herself,
now the latter was apprised of the character of the protection that the
pale-face maiden carried with her. Still, as they proceeded slowly along
a shore that was tangled with overhanging bushes, Hetty continued the
discourse, assuming the office of interrogating which the other had
instantly dropped, as soon as she ascertained the character of the mind
to which her questions had been addressed.

"But you are not half-witted," said Hetty, "and there's no reason why
the Serpent should not marry you."

"Hist prisoner, and Mingo got big ear. No speak of Chingachgook when
they by. Promise Hist that, good Hetty."

"I know--I know--" returned Hetty, half-whispering, in her eagerness
to let the other see she understood the necessity of caution. "I
know--Deerslayer and the Serpent mean to get you away from the Iroquois,
and you wish me not to tell the secret."

"How you know?" said Hist, hastily, vexed at the moment that the other
was not even more feeble minded than was actually the case. "How you
know? Better not talk of any but fader and Hurry--Mingo understand
dat; he no understand t'udder. Promise you no talk about what you no
understand."

"But I do understand this, Hist, and so I must talk about it. Deerslayer
as good as told father all about it, in my presence, and as nobody
told me not to listen, I overheard it all, as I did Hurry and father's
discourse about the scalps."

"Very bad for pale-faces to talk about scalps, and very bad for young
woman to hear! Now you love Hist, I know, Hetty, and so, among Injins,
when love hardest never talk most."

"That's not the way among white people, who talk most