such wretches?" asked Judith, when she and
Hetty had come out on the platform, and were standing at the side of
Deerslayer, watching the dull movement of the logs. "Will they not
rather keep the toy they have, and send us off some bloody proofs of
their getting the better of us in cunning, by way of boasting? I've
heard of acts as bad as this."

"No doubt, Judith; no manner of doubt, if it wasn't for Indian natur'.
But I'm no judge of a red-skin, if that two tail'd beast doesn't set
the whole tribe in some such stir as a stick raises in a beehive! Now,
there's the Sarpent; a man with narves like flint, and no more cur'osity
in every day consarns than is befitting prudence; why he was so overcome
with the sight of the creatur', carved as it is in bone, that I felt
ashamed for him! That's just their gifts, howsever, and one can't well
quarrel with a man for his gifts, when they are lawful. Chingachgook
will soon get over his weakness and remember that he's a chief, and
that he comes of a great stock, and has a renowned name to support and
uphold; but as for yonder scamps, there'll be no peace among 'em until
they think they've got possession of every thing of the natur' of that
bit of carved bone that's to be found among Thomas Hutter's stores!"

"They only know of the elephants, and can have no hopes about the other
things."

"That's true, Judith; still, covetousness is a craving feelin'! They'll
say, if the pale-faces have these cur'ous beasts with two tails, who
knows but they've got some with three, or for that matter with four!
That's what the schoolmasters call nat'ral arithmetic, and 'twill be
sartain to beset the feelin's of savages. They'll never be easy, till
the truth is known."

"Do you think, Deerslayer," inquired Hetty, in her simple and innocent
manner, "that the Iroquois won't let father and Hurry go? I read to them
several of the very best verses in the whole Bible, and you see what
they have done, already."

The hunter, as he always did, listened kindly and even affectionately to
Hetty's remarks; then he mused a moment in silence. There was something
like a flush on his cheek as he answered, after quite a minute had
passed.

"I don't know whether a white man ought to be ashamed, or not, to own he
can't read, but such is my case, Judith. You are skilful, I find, in all
such matters, while I have only studied the hand of God as it is seen in
the hills and the valleys, the mountain-tops, the streams