campment, and were
sufficiently observant to have ascertained that Hist, also, was a sort
of captive, and, presuming on the circumstance, Hutter spoke in her
presence more openly than he might otherwise have thought it prudent to
do; inducing Hurry to be equally unguarded by his example.

"I'll not blame you, Hetty, for coming on this errand, which was well
meant if not very wisely planned," commenced the father, seating himself
by the side of his daughter and taking her hand; a sign of affection
that this rude being was accustomed to manifest to this particular
child. "But preaching, and the Bible, are not the means to turn an
Indian from his ways. Has Deerslayer sent any message; or has he any
scheme by which he thinks to get us free?"

"Ay, that's the substance of it!" put in Hurry. "If you can help us,
gal, to half a mile of freedom, or even a good start of a short quarter,
I'll answer for the rest. Perhaps the old man may want a little more,
but for one of my height and years that will meet all objections."

Hetty looked distressed, turning her eyes from one to the other, but she
had no answer to give to the question of the reckless Hurry.

"Father," she said, "neither Deerslayer nor Judith knew of my coming
until I had left the Ark. They are afraid the Iroquois will make a raft
and try to get off to the hut, and think more of defending that than of
coming to aid you."

"No--no--no--" said Hist hurriedly, though in a low voice, and with her
face bent towards the earth, in order to conceal from those whom
she knew to be watching them the fact of her speaking at all.
"No--no--no--Deerslayer different man. He no t'ink of defending 'self,
with friend in danger. Help one another, and all get to hut."

"This sounds well, old Tom," said Hurry, winking and laughing, though he
too used the precaution to speak low--"Give me a ready witted squaw
for a fri'nd, and though I'll not downright defy an Iroquois, I think I
would defy the devil."

"No talk loud," said Hist. "Some Iroquois got Yengeese tongue, and all
got Yengeese ear."

"Have we a friend in you, young woman?" enquired Hutter with an
increasing interest in the conference. "If so, you may calculate on a
solid reward, and nothing will be easier than to send you to your own
tribe, if we can once fairly get you off with us to the castle. Give us
the Ark and the canoes, and we can command the lake, spite of all the
savages in the Canadas. Nothing but artillery cou