past night, who was obliged to abandon it to the lake, in the deep
obscurity which then prevailed.

All these conjectures passed from Hutter to Hurry, the former appearing
disposed to regard the omen as a little sinister, while the latter
treated it with his usual reckless disdain. As for the Indian, he was of
opinion that the moccasin should be viewed as one would regard a
trail in the woods, which might, or might not, equally, prove to be
threatening. Hist, however, had something available to propose. She
declared her readiness to take a canoe, to proceed to the palisade and
bring away the moccasin, when its ornaments would show whether it came
from the Canadas or not. Both the white men were disposed to accept
this offer, but the Delaware interfered to prevent the risk. If such a
service was to be undertaken, it best became a warrior to expose himself
in its execution, and he gave his refusal to let his betrothed proceed,
much in the quiet but brief manner in which an Indian husband issues his
commands.

"Well then, Delaware, go yourself if you're so tender of your squaw,"
put in the unceremonious Hurry. "That moccasin must be had, or Floating
Tom will keep off, here, at arm's length, till the hearth cools in his
cabin. It's but a little deerskin, a'ter all, and cut this-a-way or
that-a-way, it's not a skear-crow to frighten true hunters from their
game. What say you, Sarpent, shall you or I canoe it?"

"Let red man go.--Better eyes than pale-face--know Huron trick better,
too."

"That I'll gainsay, to the hour of my death! A white man's eyes, and a
white man's nose, and for that matter his sight and ears are all better
than an Injin's when fairly tried. Time and ag'in have I put that to
the proof, and what is proved is sartain. Still I suppose the poorest
vagabond going, whether Delaware or Huron, can find his way to yonder
hut and back ag'in, and so, Sarpent, use your paddle and welcome."

Chingachgook was already in the canoe, and he dipped the implement
the other named into the water, just as Hurry's limber tongue ceased.
Wah-ta-Wah saw the departure of her warrior on this occasion with the
submissive silence of an Indian girl, but with most of the misgivings
and apprehensions of her sex. Throughout the whole of the past night,
and down to the moment, when they used the glass together in the
hut, Chingachgook had manifested as much manly tenderness towards his
betrothed as one of the most refined sentiment