child of
his adoption, Duncan still continued to urge such reasons against so
desperate an effort as presented themselves. He was aided by Alice, who
mingled her entreaties with those of Heyward that he would abandon a
resolution that promised so much danger, with so little hope of success.
Their eloquence and ingenuity were expended in vain. The scout heard
them attentively, but impatiently, and finally closed the discussion, by
answering, in a tone that instantly silenced Alice, while it told
Heyward how fruitless any further remonstrances would be,--

"I have heard," he said, "that there is a feeling in youth which binds
man to woman closer than the father is tied to the son. It may be so. I
have seldom been where women of my color dwell; but such may be the
gifts of nature in the settlements. You have risked life, and all that
is dear to you, to bring off this gentle one, and I suppose that some
such disposition is at the bottom of it all. As for me, I taught the lad
the real character of a rifle; and well has he paid me for it. I have
fou't at his side in many a bloody scrimmage; and so long as I could
hear the crack of his piece in one ear, and that of the Sagamore in the
other, I knew no enemy was on my back. Winters and summers, nights and
days, have we roved the wilderness in company, eating of the same dish,
one sleeping while the other watched; and afore it shall be said that
Uncas was taken to the torment, and I at hand--There is but a single
Ruler of us all, whatever may be the color of the skin; and Him I call
to witness, that before the Mohican boy shall perish for the want of a
friend, good faith shall depart the 'arth, and 'Killdeer' become as
harmless as the tooting we'pon of the singer!"

[Illustration: _Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons_

THE LOVERS

_Heyward and Alice took their way together towards the distant village
of the Delawares_]

Duncan released his hold on the arm of the scout, who turned, and
steadily retraced his steps towards the lodges. After pausing a moment
to gaze at his retiring form, the successful and yet sorrowful Heyward,
and Alice, took their way together towards the distant village of the
Delawares.

CHAPTER XXVI

"_Bot._--Let me play the lion too."

_Midsummer Night's Dream._

Notwithstanding the high resolution of Hawkeye, he fully comprehended
all the difficulties and dangers he was about to incur. In his return to
the camp, his acute and practis