 leaves, and taking his deliberate and fatal aim. But,
instead of pulling the trigger, he lowered the muzzle again, and indulged
himself in a fit of his peculiar mirth. »I took the imp for a Mingo, as I'm a
miserable sinner!« he said; »but when my eye ranged along his ribs, for a place
to get the bullet in - would you think it, Uncas - I saw the musicianer's
blower! and so, after all, it is the man they call Gamut, whose death can profit
no one, and whose life, if his tongue can do any thing but sing, may be made
serviceable to our own ends. If sounds have not lost their virtue, I'll soon
have a discourse with the honest fellow, and that in a voice he'll find more
agreeable than the speech of kill-deer.«
    So saying, Hawk-eye laid aside his rifle, and crawling through the bushes,
until within hearing of David, he attempted to repeat the musical effort, which
had conducted himself, with so much safety and eclat, through the Huron
encampment. The exquisite organs of Gamut could not readily be deceived, (and,
to say the truth, it would have been difficult for any other than Hawk-eye to
produce a similar noise,) and, consequently, having once before heard the
sounds, he now knew whence they proceeded. The poor fellow appeared relieved
from a state of great embarrassment; for pursuing the direction of the voice - a
task that to him was not much less arduous, than it would have been to have gone
up in face of a battery - he soon discovered the hidden songster.
    »I wonder what the Hurons will think of that!« said the scout, laughing, as
he took his companion by the arm, and urged him towards the rear. »If the knaves
lie within ear-shot, they will say there are two non-compossurs, instead of one!
But here we are safe,« he added, pointing to Uncas and his associates. »Now give
us the history of the Mingo inventions, in natural English, and without any
ups-and-downs of voice.«
    David gazed about him, at the fierce and wild looking chiefs, in mute
wonder; but assured by the presence of faces that he knew, he soon rallied his
faculties so far, as to make an intelligent reply.
    »The heathen are abroad in goodly numbers,« said David; »and, I fear, with
evil intent. There
