 way for them both. Still,
they betrayed no intention to depart. On the other hand, they were evidently
disposed to remain bound to the place by an additional interest in the
mysterious mummeries that they, of course, expected from such a visit. From the
total inability of the scout to address the Hurons, in their own language, he
was compelled to trust the conversation entirely to David. Notwithstanding the
simplicity of the latter, he did ample justice to the instructions he had
received, more than fulfilling the strongest hopes of his teacher.
    »The Delawares are women!« he exclaimed, addressing himself to the savage
who had a slight understanding of the language, in which he spoke; »the
Yengeese, my foolish countrymen, have told them to take up the tomahawk, and
strike their fathers in the Canadas, and they have forgotten their sex. Does my
brother wish to hear le Cerf Agile ask for his petticoats, and see him weep
before the Hurons, at the stake?«
    The exclamation, hugh, delivered in a strong tone of assent, announced the
gratification the savage would receive, in witnessing such an exhibition of
weakness in an enemy so long hated and so much feared.
    »Then let him step aside, and the cunning man will blow upon the dog! Tell
it to my brothers.«
    The Huron explained the meaning of David to his fellows, who, in their turn,
listened to the project with that sort of satisfaction, that their untamed
spirits might be expected to find, in such a refinement in cruelty. They drew
back a little from the entrance, and motioned to the supposed conjuror to enter.
But the bear, instead of obeying, maintained the seat it had taken, and growled.
    »The cunning man is afraid that his breath will blow upon his brothers, and
take away their courage too,« continued David, improving the hint he received;
»they must stand further off.«
    The Hurons, who would have deemed such a misfortune the heaviest calamity
that could befall them, fell back in a body, taking a position where they were
out of ear-shot, though, at the same time, they could command a view of the
entrance to the lodge. Then, as if satisfied of their safety, the scout left his
position, and slowly entered the place. It was silent and gloomy, being tenanted
solely by the captive, and lighted by the dying embers of a fire, which had been
used for the purposes of cookery.
    Uncas occupied a distant corner, in a reclining attitude, being rigidly
bound,
