Chapter 13 - Page 2

Delaware; or it would be better to unload them without firing."

"That's ag'in usage - and some people say, ag'in manhood; though
I hold to no such silly doctrine. We must fire 'em, Judith; yes,
we must fire 'em; though I foresee that neither will have any great
reason to boast of his skill."

Judith, in the main, was a girl of great personal spirit, and her
habits prevented her from feeling any of the terror that is apt to
come over her sex at the report of fire arms. She had discharged
many a rifle, and had even been known to kill a deer, under
circumstances that were favorable to the effort. She submitted
therefore, falling a little back by the side of Deerslayer, giving
the Indian the front of the platform to himself. Chingachgook
raised the weapon several times, endeavored to steady it by using
both hands, changed his attitude from one that was awkward to
another still more so, and finally drew the trigger with a sort
of desperate indifference, without having, in reality, secured any
aim at all. The consequence was, that instead of hitting the knot
which had been selected for the mark, he missed the ark altogether;
the bullet skipping along the water like a stone that was thrown
by hand.

"Well done - Sarpent - well done -" cried Deerslayer laughing, with
his noiseless glee, "you've hit the lake, and that's an expl'ite
for some men! I know'd it, and as much as said it, here, to Judith;
for your short we'pons don't belong to red-skin gifts. You've hit
the lake, and that's better than only hitting the air! Now, stand
back and let us see what white gifts can do with a white we'pon.
A pistol isn't a rifle, but colour is colour."

The aim of Deerslayer was both quick and steady, and the report
followed almost as soon as the weapon rose. Still the pistol
hung fire, as it is termed, and fragments of it flew in a dozen
directions, some falling on the roof of the castle, others in the
Ark, and one in the water. Judith screamed, and when the two men
turned anxiously towards the girl she was as pale as death, trembling
in every limb.

"She's wounded - yes, the poor gal's wounded, Sarpent, though one
couldn't foresee it, standing where she did. We'll lead her in
to a seat, and we must do the best for her that our knowledge and
skill can afford."

Judith allowed herself to be supported to a seat, swallowed a mouthful
of the water that the Delaware offered her in a gourd, and, after
a violent fit of trembling that seemed ready to shake her fine
frame to dissolution, she burst into tears.

"The pain must be borne, poor Judith - yes, it must be borne," said
Deerslayer, soothingly, "though I am far from wishing you not to