Hist, but it would be too hazardous now to
venture to land, and he reluctantly relinquished for the night the
ruthless designs that cupidity and revenge had excited him to entertain.
In this mood Hutter took a seat in the head of the scow, where he
was quickly joined by Hurry, leaving the Serpent and Hist in quiet
possession of the other extremity of the vessel.

"Deerslayer has shown himself a boy, in going among the savages at this
hour, and letting himself fall into their hands like a deer that tumbles
into a pit," growled the old man, perceiving as usual the mote in his
neighbor's eyes, while he overlooked the beam in his own; "if he is left
to pay for his stupidity with his own flesh, he can blame no one but
himself."

"That's the way of the world, old Tom," returned Hurry. "Every man must
meet his own debts, and answer for his own sins. I'm amazed, howsever,
that a lad as skilful and watchful as Deerslayer should have been caught
in such a trap! Didn't he know any better than to go prowling about a
Huron camp at midnight, with no place to retreat to but a lake? or did
he think himself a buck, that by taking to the water could throw off the
scent and swim himself out of difficulty? I had a better opinion of the
boy's judgment, I'll own; but we must overlook a little ignorance in a
raw hand. I say, Master Hutter, do you happen to know what has become of
the gals--I see no signs of Judith, or Hetty, though I've been through
the Ark, and looked into all its living creatur's."

Hutter briefly explained the manner in which his daughters had taken to
the canoe, as it had been related by the Delaware, as well as the return
of Judith after landing her sister, and her second departure.

"This comes of a smooth tongue, Floating Tom," exclaimed Hurry, grating
his teeth in pure resentment--"This comes of a smooth tongue, and a
silly gal's inclinations, and you had best look into the matter! You and
I were both prisoners--" Hurry could recall that circumstance now--"you
and I were both prisoners and yet Judith never stirred an inch to do us
any sarvice! She is bewitched with this lank-looking Deerslayer, and he,
and she, and you, and all of us, had best look to it. I am not a man to
put up with such a wrong quietly, and I say, all the parties had best
look to it! Let's up kedge, old fellow, and move nearer to this p'int,
and see how matters are getting on."

Hutter had no objections to this movement, and the Ark was got und