, the young men
advanced cautiously towards the ridge, Deerslayer in front, for he insisted on
this arrangement, lest the Delaware should be led by his feelings into some
indiscretion. It required but a moment to reach the foot of the little ascent,
and then commenced the most critical part of the enterprise. Moving with
exceeding caution, and trailing his rifle, both to keep its barrel out of view
and in readiness for service, the hunter put foot before foot, until he had got
sufficiently high to overlook the summit, his own head being alone brought into
the light. Chingachgook was at his side, and both paused to take another close
examination of the camp. In order, however, to protect themselves against any
straggler in the rear, they placed their bodies against the trunk of an oak,
standing on the side next the fire.
    The view that Deerslayer now obtained of the camp, was exactly the reverse
of that he had perceived from the water. The dim figures which he had formerly
discovered must have been on the summit of the ridge, a few feet in advance of
the spot where he was now posted. The fire was still blazing brightly, and
around it were seated on logs, thirteen warriors, which accounted for all whom
he had seen from the canoe. They were conversing, with much earnestness among
themselves, the image of the elephant passing from hand to hand. The first burst
of savage wonder had abated, and the question now under discussion, was the
probable existence, the history and habits of so extraordinary an animal. We
have not leisure to record the opinions of these rude men on a subject so
peculiar to their lives and experience, but little is hazarded in saying that
they were quite as plausible, and far more ingenious, than half the conjectures
that precede the demonstrations of science. However much they may have been at
fault as to their conclusions and inferences, it is certain that they discussed
the questions with a zealous and most undivided attention. For the time being,
all else was forgotten, and our adventurers could not have approached at a more
fortunate instant.
    The females were collected near each other, much as Deerslayer had last seen
them, nearly in a line between the place where he now stood and the fire. The
distance from the oak against which the young men leaned, and the warriors, was
about thirty yards; the women may have been half that number of yards nigher.
The latter, indeed, were so near as to make the utmost circumspection, as to
motion and noise, indispensable. Although they conversed in their low,
