the pathfinder-第12章
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must meet devilry as becomes our color and our callings。
Ah; I never knew good come of boasting! and here; just
as I was vaunting of our safety; comes danger to give me
the lie。〃
CHAPTER IV
Art; stryving to compare
With nature; did an arber greene dispred;
Fram'd of wanton yvie flowing fayre;
Through which the fragrant eglantines did spred。
SPENSER。
The Oswego; below the falls; is a more rapid; unequal
stream than it is above them。 There are places where the
river flows in the quiet stillness of deep water; but many
shoals and rapids occur; and at that distant day; when
everything was in its natural state; some of the passes were
not altogether without hazard。 Very little exertion was
required on the part of those who managed the canoes;
except in those places where the swiftness of the current
and the presence of the rocks required care; then; indeed;
not only vigilance; but great coolness; readiness; and
strength of arm became necessary; in order to avoid the
dangers。 Of all this the Mohican was aware; and he had
judiciously selected a spot where the river flowed tran…
quilly to intercept the canoes; in order to make his
communication without hazard to those he wished to
speak。
The Pathfinder had no sooner recognized the form of his
red friend; than; with a strong sweep of his paddle; he
threw the head of his own canoe towards the shore; mo…
tioning for Jasper to follow。 In a minute both boats were
silently drifting down the stream; within reach of the
bushes that overhung the water; all observing a profound
silence; some from alarm; and others from habitual cau…
tion。 As the travellers drew nearer the Indian; he made a
sign for them to stop; and then he and Pathfinder had
a short but earnest conference。
〃The Chief is not apt to see enemies in a dead log;〃 ob…
served the white man to his red associate; 〃why does he
tell us to stop?〃
〃Mingos are in the woods。〃
〃That we have believed these two days: does the chief
know it?〃
The Mohican quietly held up the head of a pipe formed
of stone。
〃It lay on a fresh trail that led towards the garrison;〃
… for so it was the usage of that frontier to term a mili…
tary work; whether it was occupied or not。
〃That may be the bowl of a pipe belonging to a soldier。
Many use the red…skin pipes。〃
〃See;〃 said the Big Serpent; again holding the thing he
had found up to the view of his friend。
The bowl of the pipe was of soap…stone; and was carved
with great care and with a very respectable degree of skill;
in its centre was a small Latin cross; made with an accuracy
which permitted no doubt of its meaning。
〃That does foretell devilry and wickedness;〃 said the
Pathfinder; who had all the provincial horror of the holy
symbol in question which then pervaded the country; and
which became so incorporated with its prejudices; by con…
founding men with tings; as to have left its traces strong
enough on the mroal feeling of the community to be dis…
covered even at the present hour; 〃no Indian who had
not been parvarted by the cunning priests of the Canadas
would dream of carving a thing like that on his pipe。 I'll
warrant ye; the knave prays to the image every time he
wishes to sarcumvent the innocent; and work his fearful
wickedness。 It looks fresh; too; Chingachgook?〃
〃The tobacco was burning when I found it。〃
〃That is close work; chief。 Where was the trail?〃
The Mohican pointed to a spot not a hundred yards
from that where they stood。
The matter now began to look very serious; and the two
principal guides conferred apart for several minutes; when
both ascended the bank; approached the indicated spot;
and examined the trail with the utmost care。 After this
investigation had lasted a quarter of an hour; the white
man returned alone; his red friend having disappeared in
the forest。
The ordinary expression of the countenance of the
Pathfinder was that of simplicity; integrity; and sincerity;
blended in an air of self…reliance which usually gave great
confidence to those who found themselves under his care;
but now a look of concern cast a shade over his honest
face; that struck the whole party。
〃What cheer; Master Pathfinder?〃 demanded Cap; per…
mitting a voice that was usually deep; loud; and confident
to sink into the cautious tones that better suited the dan…
gers of the wilderness。 〃Has the enemy got between us
and our port?〃
〃Anan?〃
〃Have any of these painted scaramouches anchored off
the harbor towards which we are running; with the hope
of cutting us off in entering?〃
〃It may be all as you say; friend Cap; but I am none
the wiser for your words; and in ticklish times the plainer
a man makes his English the easier he is understood。 I
know nothing of ports and anchors; but there is a direful
Mingo trail within a hundred yards of this very spot; and
as fresh as venison without salt。 If one of the fiery devils
has passed; so have a dozen; and; what is worse; they have
gone down towards the garrison; and not a soul crosses
the clearing around it that some of their piercing eyes will
not discover; when sartain bullets will follow。〃
〃Cannot this said fort deliver a broadside; and clear
everything within the sweep of its hawse?〃
〃Nay; the forts this…a…way are not like forts in the set…
tlements; and two or three light cannon are all they have
down at the mouth of the river; and then; broadsides fired
at a dozen outlying Mingoes; lying behind logs and in a
forest; would be powder spent in vain。 We have but one
course; and that is a very nice one。 We are judgmatically
placed here; both canoes being hid by the high bank and
the bushes; from all eyes; except those of any lurker di…
rectly opposite。 Here; then; we may stay without much
present fear; but how to get the bloodthirsty devils up
the stream again? Ha! I have it; I have it! if it does no
good; it can do no harm。 Do you see the wide…topped
chestnut here; Jasper; at the last turn in the river on our
own side of the stream; I mean?〃
〃That near the fallen pine?〃
〃The very same。 Take the flint and tinder…box; creep
along the bank; and light a fire at that spot; maybe the
smoke will draw them above us。 In the meanwhile; we
will drop the canoes carefully down beyond the point
below; and find another shelter。 Bushes are plenty; and
covers are easily to be had in this region; as witness the
many ambushments。〃
〃I will do it; Pathfinder;〃 said Jasper; springing to the
shore。 〃In ten minutes the fire shall be lighted。〃
〃And; Eau…douce; use plenty of damp wood this time;〃
half whispered the other; laughing heartily; in his own
peculiar manner; 〃when smoke is wanted; water helps to
thicken it。〃
The young man was soon off; making his way rapidly
towards the desired point。 A slight attempt of Mabel to
object to the risk was disregarded; and the party imme…
diately prepared to change its position; as it could be seen
from the place where Jasper intended to light his fire。
The movement did not require haste; and it was made
leisurely and with care。 The canoes were got clear of the
bushes; then suffered to drop down with the stream until
they reached the spot where the chestnut; at the foot of
which Jasper was to light the fire; was almost shut out
from view; when they stopped; and every eye was turned
in the direction of the adventurer。
〃There goes the smoke!〃 exclaimed the Pathfinder; as
a current of air whirled a little column of the vapor from
the land; allowing it to rise spirally above the bed of the
river。 〃A good flint; a small bit of steel; and plenty of
dry leaves makes a quick fire。 I hope Eau…douce will have
the wit to bethink him of the damp wood now when it
may serve us all a good turn。〃
〃Too much smoke too much cunning;〃 said Arrowhead
sententiously。
〃That is gospel truth; Tuscarora; if the Mingoes didn't
know that they are near soldiers; but soldiers commonly
think more of their dinner at a halt than of their wisdom
and danger。 No; no; let the boy pile on his logs; and
smoke them well too; it will all be laid to the stupidity of
some Scotch or Irish blunderer; who is thinking more of
his oatmeal or his potatoe