; you have forgotten to tell us by what
means you are here.«
    »I! - Oh! That's not very onaccountable, if I am myself, Judith. I'm out on
furlough.«
    »Furlough! - That word has a meaning among the soldiers that I understand;
but I cannot tell what it signifies when used by a prisoner.«
    »It means just the same. You're right enough; the soldiers do use it, and
just in the same way as I use it. A furlough is when a man has leave to quit a
camp, or a garrison for a sartain specified time; at the end of which he is to
come back and shoulder his musket, or submit to his torments, just as he may
happen to be a soldier, or a captyve. Being the last, I must take the chances of
a prisoner.«
    »Have the Hurons suffered you to quit them in this manner, without watch or
guard.«
    »Sartain - I woul'n't have come in any other manner, unless indeed it had
been by a bold rising, or a sarcumvention.«
    »What pledge have they that you will ever return?«
    »My word,« answered the hunter simply. »Yes, I own I gave 'em that, and big
fools would they have been to let me come without it! Why in that case, I should
n't have been obliged to go back and ondergo any deviltries their fury may
invent, but might have shouldered my rifle, and made the best of my way to the
Delaware villages. But, Lord! Judith, they know'd this, just as well as you and
I do, and would no more let me come away, without a promise to go back, than
they would let the wolves dig up the bones of their fathers!«
    »Is it possible you mean to do this act of extraordinary self-destruction
and recklessness?«
    »Anan!«
    »I ask if it can be possible that you expect to be able to put yourself
again in the power of such ruthless enemies, by keeping your word.«
    Deerslayer looked at his fair questioner for a moment, with stern
displeasure. Then the expression of his honest and guileless face suddenly
changed, lighting as by a quick illumination of thought, after which he laughed
in his ordinary manner.
    »I did n't understand you, at first, Judith; no, I did n't! You believe that
Chingachgook and Hurry Harry won't suffer it
