Chapter 14 - Page 2

best and handsomest. I've always encouraged you, chief, in that
liking, and it's proper, too, that a great and ancient race like
your'n shouldn't come to an end. If a woman of red skin and red
gifts could get to be near enough to me to wish her for a wife,
I'd s'arch for just such another, but that can never be; no, that
can never be. I'm glad Hetty has met with Hist, howsever, for
though the first is a little short of wit and understanding, the
last has enough for both. Yes, Sarpent," laughing heartily - "put
'em together, and two smarter gals isn't to be found in all York
Colony!"

"I will go to the Iroquois camp," returned the Delaware, gravely.
"No one knows Chingachgook but Wah, and a treaty for lives and
scalps should be made by a chief. Give me the strange beasts, and
let me take a canoe."

Deerslayer dropped his head and played with the end of a fish-pole
in the water, as he sat dangling his legs over the edge of the
platform, like a man who was lost in thought by the sudden occurrence
of a novel idea. Instead of directly answering the proposal of
his friend, he began to soliloquize, a circumstance however that
in no manner rendered his words more true, as he was remarkable
for saying what he thought, whether the remarks were addressed to
himself, or to any one else.

"Yes - yes -" he said - "this must be what they call love! I've
heard say that it sometimes upsets reason altogether, leaving a
young man as helpless, as to calculation and caution, as a brute
beast. To think that the Sarpent should be so lost to reason, and
cunning, and wisdom! We must sartainly manage to get Hist off,
and have 'em married as soon as we get back to the tribe, or this
war will be of no more use to the chief, than a hunt a little
oncommon extr'ornary. Yes - Yes - he'll never be the man he was,
till this matter is off his mind, and he comes to his senses like
all the rest of mankind. Sarpent, you can't be in airnest, and
therefore I shall say but little to your offer. But you're a chief,
and will soon be sent out on the war path at head of the parties,
and I'll just ask if you'd think of putting your forces into the
inimy's hands, afore the battle is fou't?"

"Wah!" ejaculated the Indian.

"Ay - Wah - I know well enough it's Wah, and altogether Wah -Ra'ally,
Sarpent, I'm consarned and mortified about you! I never heard so
weak an idee come from a chief, and he, too, one that's already
got a name for being wise, young and inexper'enced as he is. Canoe
you sha'n't have, so long as the v'ice of fri'ndship and warning
can count for any thing."

"My pale-face friend is right. A cloud came over the face of