patient sign for the crowd to open.

"Well, then," added the scout, with the musing air of a man who had not
half made up his mind, "I will throw 'Killdeer' into the bargain. Take
the word of an experienced hunter, the piece has not its equal atween
the provinces."

Magua still disdained to reply, continuing his efforts to disperse the
crowd.

"Perhaps," added the scout, losing his dissembled coolness, exactly in
proportion as the other manifested an indifference to the exchange, "if
I should condition to teach your young men the real virtue of the
we'pon, it would smooth the little differences in our judgments."

Le Renard fiercely ordered the Delawares, who still lingered in an
impenetrable belt around him, in hopes he would listen to the amicable
proposal, to open his path, threatening, by the glance of his eye,
another appeal to the infallible justice of their "prophet."

"What is ordered must sooner or later arrive," continued Hawkeye,
turning with a sad and humbled look to Uncas. "The varlet knows his
advantage, and will keep it! God bless you, boy; you have found friends
among your natural kin and I hope they will prove as true as some you
have met who had no Indian cross. As for me, sooner or later, I must
die; it is therefore fortunate there are but few to make my death-howl.
After all, it is likely the imps would have managed to master my scalp,
so a day or two will make no great difference in the everlasting
reckoning of time. God bless you," added the rugged woodsman, bending
his head aside, and then instantly changing its direction again, with a
wistful look towards the youth; "I loved both you and your father,
Uncas, though our skins are not altogether of a color, and our gifts are
somewhat different. Tell the Sagamore I never lost sight of him in my
greatest trouble; and, as for you, think of me sometimes when on a lucky
trail; and depend on it, boy, whether there be one heaven or two, there
is a path in the other world by which honest men may come together
again. You'll find the rifle in the place we hid it; take it, and keep
it for my sake; and harkee, lad, as your natural gifts don't deny you
the use of vengeance, use it a little freely on the Mingos; it may
unburden grief at my loss, and ease your mind. Huron, I accept your
offer; release the woman. I am your prisoner!"

A suppressed, but still distinct murmur of approbation, ran through the
crowd at this generous proposition; even the fiercest