anding! The Lord send that we be able
to be only one half as good as we promise to be! And now, Judith, it's
your turn to speak, for them miscreants will expect an answer from each
person, poor Hetty, perhaps, excepted."

"And why not Hetty, Deerslayer? She often speaks to the purpose;
the Indians may respect her words, for they feel for people in her
condition."

"That is true, Judith, and quick-thoughted in you. The red-skins do
respect misfortunes of all kinds, and Hetty's in particular. So, Hetty,
if you have any thing to say, I'll carry it to the Hurons as faithfully
as if it was spoken by a schoolmaster, or a missionary."

The girl hesitated a moment, and then she answered in her own gentle,
soft tones, as earnestly as any who had preceded her.

"The Hurons can't understand the difference between white people and
themselves," she said, "or they wouldn't ask Judith and me to go and
live in their villages. God has given one country to the red men and
another to us. He meant us to live apart. Then mother always said that
we should never dwell with any but Christians, if possible, and that
is a reason why we can't go. This lake is ours, and we won't leave it.
Father and mother's graves are in it, and even the worst Indians love to
stay near the graves of their fathers. I will come and see them again,
if they wish me to, and read more out of the Bible to them, but I can't
quit father's and mother's graves."

"That will do--that will do, Hetty, just as well as if you sent them
a message twice as long," interrupted the hunter. "I'll tell 'em all
you've said, and all you mean, and I'll answer for it that they'll be
easily satisfied. Now, Judith, your turn comes next, and then this part
of my ar'n'd will be tarminated for the night."

Judith manifested a reluctance to give her reply, that had awakened a
little curiosity in the messenger. Judging from her known spirit, he had
never supposed the girl would be less true her feelings and principles
than Hist, or Hetty, and yet there was a visible wavering of purpose
that rendered him slightly uneasy. Even now when directly required
to speak, she seemed to hesitate, nor did she open her lips until the
profound silence told her how anxiously her words were expected. Then,
indeed, she spoke, but it was doubtingly and with reluctance.

"Tell me, first--tell us, first, Deerslayer," she commenced, repeating
the words merely to change the emphasis--"what effect will our answer