 who so bravely sought her,«
interrupted David.
    »Ay, they are happily freed from the tomahawks of these varlets! But can you
put me on the scent of Uncas?«
    »The young man is in bondage, and much I fear his death is decreed. I
greatly mourn, that one so well disposed should die in his ignorance, and I have
sought a goodly hymn -«
    »Can you lead me to him?«
    »The task will not be difficult,« returned David, hesitating; »though I
greatly fear your presence would rather increase than mitigate his unhappy
fortunes.«
    »No more words, but lead on,« returned Hawk-eye, concealing his face again,
and setting the example in his own person, by instantly quitting the lodge.
    As they proceeded, the scout ascertained that his companion found access to
Uncas, under privilege of his imaginary infirmity, aided by the favour he had
acquired with one of the guards, who, in consequence of speaking a little
English, had been selected by David as the subject of a religious conversion.
How far the Huron comprehended the intentions of his new friend, may well be
doubted; but as exclusive attention is as flattering to a savage as to a more
civilized individual, it had produced the effect we have mentioned. It is
unnecessary to repeat the shrewd manner with which the scout extracted these
particulars from the simple David, neither shall we dwell, in this place, on the
nature of the instructions he delivered, when completely master of all the
necessary facts, as the whole will be sufficiently explained to the reader in
the course of the narrative.
    The lodge in which Uncas was confined, was in the very centre of the
village, and in a situation, perhaps, more difficult than any other to approach
or leave without observation. But it was not the policy of Hawk-eye to affect
the least concealment. Presuming on his disguise, and his ability to sustain the
character he had assumed, he took the most plain and direct route to the place.
The hour, however, afforded him some little of that protection, which he
appeared so much to despise. The boys were already buried in sleep, and all the
women, and most of the warriors, had retired to their lodges for the night. Four
or five of the latter, only, lingered about the door of the prison of Uncas,
wary, but close observers of the manner of their captive.
    At the sight of Gamut, accompanied by one in the well known masquerade of
their most distinguished conjuror, they readily made
