pathy at his departure that the gentle tones
of Hetty, as she thus called after him, sounded soothingly. He checked
the canoe, and with one sweep of his powerful arm brought it back to the
side of the Ark. This was more than Hetty, whose courage had risen with
the departure of her hero, expected, and she now shrunk timidly back at
this unexpected return.

"You're a good gal, Hetty, and I can't quit you without shaking hands,"
said March kindly. "Judith, a'ter all, isn't worth as much as you,
though she may be a trifle better looking. As to wits, if honesty and
fair dealing with a young man is a sign of sense in a young woman,
you're worth a dozen Judiths; ay, and for that matter, most young women
of my acquaintance."

"Don't say any thing against Judith, Harry," returned Hetty imploringly.
"Father's gone, and mother's gone, and nobody's left but Judith and me,
and it isn't right for sisters to speak evil, or to hear evil of each
other. Father's in the lake, and so is mother, and we should all fear
God, for we don't know when we may be in the lake, too."

"That sounds reasonable, child, as does most you say. Well, if we ever
meet ag'in, Hetty, you'll find a fri'nd in me, let your sister do what
she may. I was no great fri'nd of your mother I'll allow, for we didn't
think alike on most p'ints, but then your father, Old Tom, and I,
fitted each other as remarkably as a buckskin garment will fit any
reasonable-built man. I've always been unanimous of opinion that Old
Floating Tom Hutter, at the bottom, was a good fellow, and will maintain
that ag'in all inimies for his sake, as well as for your'n."

"Goodbye, Hurry," said Hetty, who now wanted to hasten the young man
off, as ardently as she had wished to keep him only the moment before,
though she could give no clearer account of the latter than of the
former feeling; "goodbye, Hurry; take care of yourself in the woods;
don't halt 'til you reach the garrison. I'll read a chapter in the Bible
for you before I go to bed, and think of you in my prayers."

This was touching a point on which March had no sympathies, and without
more words, he shook the girl cordially by the hand and re-entered the
canoe. In another minute the two adventurers were a hundred feet from
the Ark, and half a dozen had not elapsed before they were completely
lost to view. Hetty sighed deeply, and rejoined her sister and Hist.

For some time Deerslayer and his companion paddled ahead in silence.
It