aghast at the probable consequences. March shook his sledge-hammer fists
and flourished his arms as he drew near the Indian, and all expected he
would attempt to fell the Delaware to the earth; one of them, at least,
was well aware that such an experiment would be followed by immediate
bloodshed. But even Hurry was awed by the stern composure of the chief,
and he, too, knew that such a man was not to be outraged with impunity;
he therefore turned to vent his rage on Deerslayer, where he foresaw no
consequences so terrible. What might have been the result of this second
demonstration if completed, is unknown, since it was never made.

"Hurry," said a gentle, soothing voice at his elbow, "it's wicked to be
so angry, and God will not overlook it. The Iroquois treated you well,
and they didn't take your scalp, though you and father wanted to take
theirs."

The influence of mildness on passion is well known. Hetty, too, had
earned a sort of consideration, that had never before been enjoyed
by her, through the self-devotion and decision of her recent conduct.
Perhaps her established mental imbecility, by removing all distrust of
a wish to control, aided her influence. Let the cause be as questionable
as it might, the effect we sufficiently certain. Instead of throttling
his old fellow-traveler, Hurry turned to the girl and poured out a
portion of his discontent, if none of his anger, in her attentive ears.

"Tis too bad, Hetty!" he exclaimed; "as bad as a county gaol or a lack
of beaver, to get a creatur' into your very trap, then to see it get
off. As much as six first quality skins, in valie, has paddled off on
them clumsy logs, when twenty strokes of a well-turned paddle would
overtake 'em. I say in valie, for as to the boy in the way of natur', he
is only a boy, and is worth neither more nor less than one. Deerslayer,
you've been ontrue to your fri'nds in letting such a chance slip through
my fingers well as your own."

The answer was given quietly, but with a voice as steady as a fearless
nature and the consciousness of rectitude could make it. "I should
have been untrue to the right, had I done otherwise," returned the
Deerslayer, steadily; "and neither you, nor any other man has authority
to demand that much of me. The lad came on a lawful business, and the
meanest red-skin that roams the woods would be ashamed of not respecting
his ar'n'd. But he's now far beyond your reach, Master March, and
there's little use i