So rapid were his movements that both parties discharged their
pieces at the same instant, the concussions mingling in one report.
The mountains, indeed, gave back but a single echo. Deerslayer
dropped his piece, and stood with head erect, steady as one of the
pines in the calm of a June morning, watching the result; while the
savage gave the yell that has become historical for its appalling
influence, leaped through the bushes, and came bounding across the
open ground, flourishing a tomahawk. Still Deerslayer moved not,
but stood with his unloaded rifle fallen against his shoulders,
while, with a hunter's habits, his hands were mechanically feeling
for the powder-horn and charger. When about forty feet from his
enemy, the savage hurled his keen weapon; but it was with an eye so
vacant, and a hand so unsteady and feeble, that the young man
caught it by the handle as it was flying past him. At that instant
the Indian staggered and fell his whole length on the ground.
"I know'd it ñ I know'd it!" exclaimed Deerslayer,
who was already preparing to force a fresh bullet into his rifle;
"I know'd it must come to this, as soon as I had got the range from
the creatur's eyes. A man sights suddenly, and fires quick when his
own life's in danger; yes, I know'd it would come to this. I was
about the hundredth part of a second too quick for him, or it might
have been bad for me! The riptyle's bullet has just grazed my side
ñ but say what you will for or ag'in 'em, a red-skin is by no means
as sartain with powder and ball as a white man. Their gifts don't
seem to lie that a way. Even Chingachgook, great as he is in other
matters, isn't downright deadly with the rifle."
By this time the piece was reloaded, and Deerslayer,
after tossing the tomahawk into the canoe, advanced to his victim,
and stood over him, leaning on his rifle, in melancholy attention.
It was the first instance in which he ha seen a man fall in battle
ñ it was the first fellow-creature against whom he had ever
seriously raised his own hand. The sensations were novel; and
regret, with the freshness of our better feelings, mingled with his
triumph. The Indian was not dead, though shot directly through the
body. He lay on his back motionless, but his eyes, now full of
consciousness, watched each action of his victor ñ as the fallen
bird regards the fowler ñ jealous of every movement. The man
probably expected the fatal blow which was to precede the loss of
his scalp; or perhaps he anticipated that this latter act of
cruelty would precede his death. Deerslayer read his thoughts; and
he found a melancholy satisfaction in relieving the apprehensions
of the helpless savage.
"No, no, red-skin," he said; "you've nothing more to
fear from me. I am of a Christian stock, and scalping is not of my
gifts. I'll just make sartain of your rifle, and then come back and
do you what sarvice I can. Though here I can't stay much longer, as
the crack of three rifles will be apt to bring some of your devils
down upon me."
The close of this was said in a sort of a soliloquy,
as the young man went in quest of the fallen rifle. The piece was
found where its owner had dropped it, and was immediately put into
the canoe. Laying his own rifle at its side, Deerslayer then
returned and stood over the Indian again.
"All inmity atween you and me's at an ind red-skin,"
he said; "and you may set your heart at rest on the score of the
scalp, or any further injury. My gifts are white, as I've told you;
and I hope my conduct will be white also."
Could looks have conveyed all they meant, it is
probable Deerslayer's innocent vanity on the subject of color would
have been rebuked a little; but he comprehended the gratitude that
was expressed in the eyes of the dying savage, without in the least
detecting the bitter sarcasm that struggled with the better
feeling.
"Water!" ejaculated the thirsty and unfortunate
creature; "give poor Injin water."
"Ay, water you shall have, if you drink the lake
dry. I'll just carry you down to it that you may take your fill.
This is the way, they tell me, with all wounded people ñ water is
their greatest comfort and delight."
So saying, Deerslayer raised the Indian in his arms,
and carried him to the lake. Here he first helped him to take an
attitude in which he could appease his burning thirst; after which
he seated himself on a stone, and took the head of his wounded
adversary in his own lap, and endeavored to soothe his anguish in
the best manner he could.
"It would be sinful in me to tell you your time
hadn't come, warrior," he commenced, "and therefore I'll not say
it. You've passed the middle age already, and, considerin' the sort
of lives ye lead, your days have been pretty well filled. The
principal thing now, is to look forward to what comes next. Neither
red-skin nor pale-face, on the whole, calculates much on sleepin'
forever; but both expect to live in another world. Each has his
gifts, and will be judged by 'em, and I suppose you've thought
these matters over enough not to stand in need of sarmons when the
trial comes. You'll find your happy hunting-grounds, if you've been
a just Injin; if an onjust, you'll meet your desarts in another
way. I've my own idees about these things; but you're too old and
exper'enced to need any explanations from one as young as I."
"Good!" ejaculated the Indian, whose voice retained
its depth even as life ebbed away; "young head ñ old wisdom!"
"It's sometimes a consolation, when the ind comes,
to know that them we've harmed, or tried to harm, forgive us. I
suppose natur' seeks this relief, by way of getting a pardon on
'arth; as we never can know whether He pardons, who is all in all,
till judgment itself comes. It's soothing to know that any pardon
at such times; and that, I conclude, is the secret.
1 comment