I'd s'arch for just such another, but that
can never be; no, that can never be. I'm glad Hetty has met with
Hist, howsever, for though the first is a little short of wit and
understanding, the last has enough for both. Yes, Sarpent," laughing
heartily--"put 'em together, and two smarter gals isn't to be found in
all York Colony!"

"I will go to the Iroquois camp," returned the Delaware, gravely. "No
one knows Chingachgook but Wah, and a treaty for lives and scalps
should be made by a chief. Give me the strange beasts, and let me take a
canoe."

Deerslayer dropped his head and played with the end of a fish-pole in
the water, as he sat dangling his legs over the edge of the platform,
like a man who was lost in thought by the sudden occurrence of a novel
idea. Instead of directly answering the proposal of his friend, he began
to soliloquize, a circumstance however that in no manner rendered
his words more true, as he was remarkable for saying what he thought,
whether the remarks were addressed to himself, or to any one else.

"Yes--yes--" he said--"this must be what they call love! I've heard
say that it sometimes upsets reason altogether, leaving a young man as
helpless, as to calculation and caution, as a brute beast. To think that
the Sarpent should be so lost to reason, and cunning, and wisdom! We
must sartainly manage to get Hist off, and have 'em married as soon
as we get back to the tribe, or this war will be of no more use to the
chief, than a hunt a little oncommon extr'ornary. Yes--Yes--he'll never
be the man he was, till this matter is off his mind, and he comes to his
senses like all the rest of mankind. Sarpent, you can't be in airnest,
and therefore I shall say but little to your offer. But you're a chief,
and will soon be sent out on the war path at head of the parties, and
I'll just ask if you'd think of putting your forces into the inimy's
hands, afore the battle is fou't?"

"Wah!" ejaculated the Indian.

"Ay--Wah--I know well enough it's Wah, and altogether Wah--Ra'ally,
Sarpent, I'm consarned and mortified about you! I never heard so weak an
idee come from a chief, and he, too, one that's already got a name for
being wise, young and inexper'enced as he is. Canoe you sha'n't have, so
long as the v'ice of fri'ndship and warning can count for any thing."

"My pale-face friend is right. A cloud came over the face of
Chingachgook, and weakness got into his mind, while his eyes were dim.
My brother has