listeners drew nigh
to a spot where the young hunter, Leather-stocking and the Indian chief were
collected in an earnest consultation. The former was urgent in his manner, and
seemed to think the subject of deep importance, while Natty appeared to listen
with more than his usual attention, to what the other was saying. Mohegan stood
a little on one side, with his head sunken on his chest, his hair falling
forward, so as to conceal most of his features, and his whole attitude
expressive of deep dejection, if not of shame.
    »Let us withdraw,« whispered Elizabeth; »we are intruders, and can have no
right to listen to the secrets of these men.«
    »No right!« returned Richard, a little impatiently, in the same tone, and
drawing her arm so forcibly through his own as to prevent her retreat; »you
forget, cousin, that it is my duty to preserve the peace of the county, and see
the laws executed. These wanderers frequently commit depredations; though I do
not think John would do any thing secretly. Poor fellow! he was quite boozy last
night, and hardly seems to be over it yet. Let us draw nigher, and hear what
they say.«
    Notwithstanding the lady's reluctance, Richard, stimulated doubtless by his
nice sense of duty, prevailed; and they were soon so near as distinctly to hear
sounds.
    »The bird must be had,« said Natty, »by fair means or foul. Heigho! I've
known the time, lad, when the wild turkeys wasn't over scarce in the country;
though you must go into the Virginy gaps, if you want them now. To be sure,
there is a different taste to a partridge, and a well-fatted turkey; though, to
my eating, beaver's tail and bear's hams makes the best of food. But then every
one has his own appetite. I gave the last farthing, all to that shilling, to the
French trader, this very morning, as I come through the town, for powder; so, as
you have nothing, we can have but one shot for it. I know that Billy Kirby is
out, and means to have a pull of the trigger at that very turkey. John has a
true eye for a single fire, and somehow, my hand shakes so, whenever I have to
do any thing extrawnary, that I often lose my aim. Now when I killed the
she-bear this fall, with her cubs, though they were