nature. Not so with
Judith, however; and even Hetty felt more concern about the motives that
might have influenced her father and Hurry, than any fears for her own
safety.

"It cannot be, Hetty," said Judith, when a thorough search had satisfied
them both that no ark was to be found; "it cannot be that the Indians
have rafted, or swum off and surprised our friends as they slept?"

"I don't believe that Hist and Chingachgook would sleep until they had
told each other all they had to say after so long a separation--do you,
sister?"

"Perhaps not, child. There was much to keep them awake, but one Indian
may have been surprised even when not asleep, especially as his thoughts
may have been on other things. Still we should have heard a noise; for
in a night like this, an oath of Hurry Harry's would have echoed in the
eastern hills like a clap of thunder."

"Hurry is sinful and thoughtless about his words, Judith," Hetty meekly
and sorrowfully answered.

"No--no; 'tis impossible the ark could be taken and I not hear the
noise. It is not an hour since I left it, and the whole time I have been
attentive to the smallest sound. And yet, it is not easy to believe a
father would willingly abandon his children!"

"Perhaps father has thought us in our cabin asleep, Judith, and has
moved away to go home. You know we often move the ark in the night."

"This is true, Hetty, and it must be as you suppose. There is a little
more southern air than there was, and they have gone up the lake--"
Judith stopped, for, as the last word was on her tongue, the scene was
suddenly lighted, though only for a single instant, by a flash. The
crack of a rifle succeeded, and then followed the roll of the echo along
the eastern mountains. Almost at the same moment a piercing female
cry rose in the air in a prolonged shriek. The awful stillness that
succeeded was, if possible, more appalling than the fierce and sudden
interruption of the deep silence of midnight. Resolute as she was both
by nature and habit, Judith scarce breathed, while poor Hetty hid her
face and trembled.

"That was a woman's cry, Hetty," said the former solemnly, "and it was
a cry of anguish! If the ark has moved from this spot it can only have
gone north with this air, and the gun and shriek came from the point.
Can any thing have befallen Hist?"

"Let us go and see, Judith; she may want our assistance--for, besides
herself, there are none but men in the ark."

It was not