kable as consarns Judith! Whey should she feel so
much unsartainty about me?--Ah---I see how it is, now; yes, I see into
the whole matter, now. You must understand, Hetty, that your sister is
oneasy lest Harry March should wake, and come blundering here into
the hands of the inimy ag'in, under some idee that, being a travelling
comrade, he ought to help me in this matter! Hurry is a blunderer, I
will allow, but I don't think he'd risk as much for my sake, as he would
for his own."

"Judith don't care for Hurry, though Hurry cares for her," replied Hetty
innocently, but quite positively.

"I've heard you say as much as that afore; yes, I've heard that from
you, afore, gal, and yet it isn't true. One don't live in a tribe, not
to see something of the way in which liking works in a woman's heart.
Though no way given to marrying myself, I've been a looker on among the
Delawares, and this is a matter in which pale-face and red-skin gifts
are all as one as the same. When the feelin' begins, the young woman
is thoughtful, and has no eyes or ears onless for the warrior that has
taken her fancy; then follows melancholy and sighing, and such sort
of actions; after which, especially if matters don't come to plain
discourse, she often flies round to back biting and fault finding,
blaming the youth for the very things she likes best in him. Some young
creatur's are forward in this way of showing their love, and I'm of
opinion Judith is one of 'em. Now, I've heard her as much as deny that
Hurry was good-looking, and the young woman who could do that, must be
far gone indeed!"

"The young woman who liked Hurry would own that he is handsome. I think
Hurry very handsome, Deerslayer, and I'm sure everybody must think so,
that has eyes. Judith don't like Harry March, and that's the reason she
finds fault with him."

"Well--well--my good little Hetty, have it your own way. If we should
talk from now till winter, each would think as at present, and there's
no use in words. I must believe that Judith is much wrapped up in Hurry,
and that, sooner or later, she'll have him; and this, too, all the more
from the manner in which she abuses him; and I dare to say, you think
just the contrary. But mind what I now tell you, gal, and pretend not
to know it," continued this being, who was so obtuse on a point on
which men are usually quick enough to make discoveries, and so acute in
matters that would baffle the observation of much the greater por