第5章
The three who remained in the wind-row now picked their way around its tangled maze, and gained the margin of the woods.A few glances of the eye sufficed for Arrow-head; but old Cap deliberately set the smoke by a pocket-compass, before he trusted himself within the shadows of the trees.
"This steering by the nose, Magnet, may do well enough for an Indian, but your thoroughbred knows the virtue of the needle," said the uncle, as he trudged at the heels of the light-stepping Tuscarora."America would never have been discovered, take my word for it, if Columbus had been nothing but nostrils.Friend Arrowhead, didst ever see a machine like this?"The Indian turned, cast at glance at the compass, which Cap held in a way to direct his course, and gravely an-swered, "A pale-face eye.The Tuscarora see in his head.
The Salt-water (for so the Indian styled his companion)all eye now; no tongue."
"He means, uncle, that we had needs be silent, perhaps he distrusts the persons we are about to meet.""Ay, 'tis an Indian's fashion of going to quarters.You perceive he has examined the priming of his rifle, and it may be as well if I look to that of my own pistols."Without betraying alarm at these preparations, to which she had become accustomed by her long journey in the wilderness, Mabel followed with a step as elastic as that of the Indian, keeping close in the rear of her companions.
For the first half mile no other caution beyond a rigid silence was observed; but as the party drew nearer to the spot where the fire was known to be, much greater care became necessary.
The forest, as usual, had little to intercept the view below the branches but the tall straight trunks of trees.
Everything belonging to vegetation had struggled towards the light, and beneath the leafy canopy one walked, as it might be, through a vast natural vault, upheld by myriads of rustic columns.These columns or trees, however, often served to conceal the adventurer, the hunter, or the foe;and, as Arrowhead swiftly approached the spot where his practised and unerrimig senses told him the strangers ought to be, his footstep gradually became lighter, his eye more vigilant, and his person was more carefully concealed.
"See, Saltwater," said he exulting, pointing through the vista of trees; "pale-face fire!""By the Lord, the fellow is right!" muttered Cap;"there they are, sure enough, and eating their grub as quietly as if they were in the cabin of a three-decker.""Arrowhead is but half right!" whispered Mabel, "for there are two Indians and only one white man.""Pale-faces," said the Tuscarora, holding up two fingers;"red man," holding up one.
"Well," rejoined Cap, "it is hard to say which is right and which is wrong.One is entirely white, and a fine comely lad he is, with an air of respectability about him;one is a red-skin as plain as paint and nature can make him; but the third chap is half-rigged, being neither brig nor schooner.""Pale-faces," repeated Arrowhead, again raising two fingers, "red man," showing but one.
"He must be right, uncle; for his eye seems never to fail.But it is now urgent to know whether we meet as friends or foes.They may be French.""One hail will soon satisfy us on that head," returned Cap."Stand you behind the tree, Magnet, lest the knaves take it into their heads to fire a broadside without a parley, and I will soon learn what colors they sail under."The uncle had placed his two hands to his mouth to form a trumpet, and was about to give the promised hail, when a rapid movement from the hand of Arrowhead de-feated the intention by deranging the instrument.
"Red man, Mohican," said the Tuscarora; "good; pale-faces, Yengeese."
"These are heavenly tidings," murmured Mabel, who little relished the prospect of a deadly fray in that remote wilderness."Let us approach at once, dear uncle, and proclaim ourselves friends.""Good," said the Tuscarora "red man cool, and know;pale-face hurried, and fire.Let the squaw go.""What!" said Cap in astonishment; "send little Mag-net ahead as a lookout, while two lubbers, like you and me, lie-to to see what sort of a land-fall she will make!
If I do, I -- "
"It is wisest, uncle," interrupted the generous girl, "and I have no fear.No Christian, seeing a woman ap-proach alone, would fire upon her; and my presence will be a pledge of peace.Let me go forward, as Arrowhead wishes, and all will be well.We are, as yet, unseen, and the surprise of the strangers will not partake of alarm.""Good," returned Arrowhead, who did not conceal his approbation of Mabel's spirit.