ten--" added the hunter, with a pleasing
consciousness that his previous life justified this implicit reliance
on his good faith--"it isn't often they consait any thing so good of a
pale-face; but so they did with me, and, therefore, they didn't hesitate
to speak their minds, which is just this: You see the state of things.
The lake, and all on it, they fancy, lie at their marcy. Thomas Hutter
is deceased, and, as for Hurry, they've got the idee he has been near
enough to death to-day, not to wish to take another look at him
this summer. Therefore, they account all your forces as reduced to
Chingachgook and the two young women, and, while they know the Delaware
to be of a high race, and a born warrior, they know he's now on his
first war path. As for the gals, of course they set them down much as
they do women in gin'ral."

"You mean that they despise us!" interrupted Judith, with eyes that
flashed so brightly as to be observed by all present.

"That will be seen in the end. They hold that all on the lake lies
at their marcy, and, therefore, they send by me this belt of wampum,"
showing the article in question to the Delaware, as he spoke, "with
these words. 'Tell the Sarpent, they say, that he has done well for a
beginner; he may now strike across the mountains for his own villages,
and no one shall look for his trail. If he has found a scalp, let him
take it with him, for the Huron braves have hearts, and can feel for a
young warrior who doesn't wish to go home empty-handed. If he is nimble,
he is welcome to lead out a party in pursuit. Hist, howsever, must go
back to the Hurons, for, when she left there in the night, she carried
away by mistake, that which doesn't belong to her."

"That can't be true!" said Hetty earnestly. "Hist is no such girl, but
one that gives every body his due--"

How much more she would have said in remonstrance cannot be known,
inasmuch as Hist, partly laughing and partly hiding her face in shame,
passed her own hand across the speaker's mouth in a way to check the
words.

"You don't understand Mingo messages, poor Hetty--" resumed Deerslayer,
"which seldom mean what lies exactly uppermost. Hist has brought away
with her the inclinations of a young Huron, and they want her back
again, that the poor young man may find them where he last saw them! The
Sarpent they say is too promising a young warrior not to find as many
wives as he wants, but this one he cannot have. That's their meaning,