of the girl. "Thankee as much as if
it was all true. Harry's sightly--yes, he's as sightly as the tallest
pine of the mountains, and the Sarpent has named him accordingly;
however, some fancy good looks, and some fancy good conduct, only. Hurry
has one advantage, and it depends on himself whether he'll have t'other
or--Hark! That's your father's voice, gal, and he speaks like a man
who's riled at something."

"God save us from any more of these horrible scenes!" exclaimed Judith,
bending her face to her knees, and endeavoring to exclude the discordant
sounds, by applying her hands to her ears. "I sometimes wish I had no
father!"

This was bitterly said, and the repinings which extorted the words were
bitterly felt. It is impossible to say what might next have escaped her
had not a gentle, low voice spoken at her elbow.

"Judith, I ought to have read a chapter to father and Hurry!" said the
innocent but terrified speaker, "and that would have kept them from
going again on such an errand. Do you call to them, Deerslayer, and
tell them I want them, and that it will be good for them both if they'll
return and hearken to my words."

"Ah's me! Poor Hetty, you little know the cravin's for gold and revenge,
if you believe they are so easily turned aside from their longin's! But
this is an uncommon business in more ways than one, Judith. I hear your
father and Hurry growling like bears, and yet no noise comes from the
mouth of the young chief. There's an ind of secrecy, and yet his
whoop, which ought to ring in the mountains, accordin' to rule in such
sarcumstances, is silent!"

"Justice may have alighted on him, and his death have saved the lives of
the innocent."

"Not it--not it--the Sarpent is not the one to suffer if that's to be
the law. Sartainly there has been no onset, and 'tis most likely that
the camp's deserted, and the men are comin' back disapp'inted. That
accounts for the growls of Hurry and the silence of the Sarpent."

Just at this instant a fall of a paddle was heard in the canoe, for
vexation made March reckless. Deerslayer felt convinced that his
conjecture was true. The sail being down, the ark had not drifted
far; and ere many minutes he heard Chingachgook, in a low, quiet tone,
directing Hutter how to steer in order to reach it. In less time than it
takes to tell the fact, the canoe touched the scow, and the adventurers
entered the latter. Neither Hutter nor Hurry spoke of what had occurred.
But t