, and it already
p'ints to half past twelve. So open the wallet, lad, and let us wind up for
another six hours' run.«
    At this suggestion both set themselves about making the preparations
necessary for their usual frugal, but hearty, meal. We will profit by this pause
in the discourse to give the reader some idea of the appearance of the men, each
of whom is destined to enact no insignificant part in our legend. It would not
have been easy to find a more noble specimen of vigorous manhood, than was
offered in the person of him who called himself Hurry Harry. His real name was
Henry March, but the frontiermen having caught the practice of giving
sobriquets, from the Indians, the appellation of Hurry was far oftener applied
to him than his proper designation, and not unfrequently he was termed Hurry
Skurry, a nick-name he had obtained from a dashing, reckless, off-hand manner,
and a physical restlessness that kept him so constantly on the move, as to cause
him to be known along the whole line of scattered habitations that lay between
the province and the Canadas. The stature of Hurry Harry exceeded six feet four,
and being unusually well proportioned, his strength fully realized the idea
created by his gigantic frame. The face did no discredit to the rest of the man,
for it was both good-humoured and handsome. His air was free, and though his
manner necessarily partook of the rudeness of a border life, the grandeur that
pervaded so noble a physique prevented it from becoming altogether vulgar.
    Deerslayer, as Hurry called his companion, was a very different person in
appearance, as well as in character. In stature, he stood about six feet in his
moccasins, but his frame was comparatively light and slender, showing muscles,
however, that promised unusual agility, if not unusual strength. His face would
have had little to recommend it except youth, were it not for an expression that
seldom failed to win upon those who had leisure to examine it, and to yield to
the feeling of confidence it created. This expression was simply that of
guileless truth, sustained by an earnestness of purpose, and a sincerity of
feeling, that rendered it remarkable. At times this air of integrity seemed to
be so simple as to awaken the suspicion of a want of the usual means to
discriminate between artifice and truth, but few came in serious contact with
the man, without losing this distrust in respect for his opinions and motives.
    Both these frontiermen were still young, Hurry having reached the age of six
or eight and