gal, stand a little back; these we'pons have been
long loaded," said Deerslayer, "and some accident may happen in the
discharge." "Then you shall not fire them! Give them both to the
Delaware; or it would be better to unload them without firing."

"That's ag'in usage--and some people say, ag'in manhood; though I hold
to no such silly doctrine. We must fire 'em, Judith; yes, we must fire
'em; though I foresee that neither will have any great reason to boast
of his skill."

Judith, in the main, was a girl of great personal spirit, and her habits
prevented her from feeling any of the terror that is apt to come over
her sex at the report of fire arms. She had discharged many a rifle,
and had even been known to kill a deer, under circumstances that were
favorable to the effort. She submitted therefore, falling a little back
by the side of Deerslayer, giving the Indian the front of the platform
to himself. Chingachgook raised the weapon several times, endeavored to
steady it by using both hands, changed his attitude from one that was
awkward to another still more so, and finally drew the trigger with a
sort of desperate indifference, without having, in reality, secured any
aim at all. The consequence was, that instead of hitting the knot which
had been selected for the mark, he missed the ark altogether; the bullet
skipping along the water like a stone that was thrown by hand.

"Well done--Sarpent--well done--" cried Deerslayer laughing, with his
noiseless glee, "you've hit the lake, and that's an expl'ite for some
men! I know'd it, and as much as said it, here, to Judith; for your
short we'pons don't belong to red-skin gifts. You've hit the lake, and
that's better than only hitting the air! Now, stand back and let us see
what white gifts can do with a white we'pon. A pistol isn't a rifle, but
colour is colour."

The aim of Deerslayer was both quick and steady, and the report followed
almost as soon as the weapon rose. Still the pistol hung fire, as it is
termed, and fragments of it flew in a dozen directions, some falling on
the roof of the castle, others in the Ark, and one in the water. Judith
screamed, and when the two men turned anxiously towards the girl she was
as pale as death, trembling in every limb.

"She's wounded--yes, the poor gal's wounded, Sarpent, though one
couldn't foresee it, standing where she did. We'll lead her in to a
seat, and we must do the best for her that our knowledge and skill can
afford."