an enemy. »The Mengwe fill the woods with their lies, and
misconstruct words and treaties. I have now lived ten years with the Delawares,
and know them to be as manful as any other nation, when the proper time to
strike comes.«
    »Harkee, Master Deerslayer, since we are on the subject, we may as well open
our minds to each other in a man to man way; answer me one question; you have
had so much luck among the game as to have gotten a title, it would seem, but
did you ever hit any thing human, or intelligible: did you ever pull trigger on
an inimy that was capable of pulling one upon you?«
    This question produced a singular collision between mortification and
correct feeling, in the bosom of the youth, that was easily to be traced in the
workings of his ingenuous countenance. The struggle was short, however,
uprightness of heart soon getting the better of false pride, and frontier
boastfulness.
    »To own the truth, I never did,« answered Deerslayer, »seeing that a fitting
occasion never offered. The Delawares have been peaceable since my sojourn with
'em, and I hold it to be onlawful to take the life of man, except in open and
ginerous warfare.«
    »What! - Did you never find a fellow thieving among your traps and skins,
and do the law on him, with your own hands, by way of saving the magistrates
trouble, in the settlements, and the rogue himself the costs of the suit?«
    »I am no trapper, Hurry,« returned the young man proudly. »I live by the
rifle, a we'pon at which I will not turn my back on any man of my years, atween
the Hudson and the St. Lawrence. I never offer a skin, that has not a hole in
its head, besides them which natur' made to see with, or to breathe through.«
    »Ay - ay - this is all very well, in the animal way, though it makes but a
poor figure along side of scalps and and-bushes. Shooting an Indian from an
and-bush is acting up to his own principles, and now we have what you call a
lawful war, on our hands, the sooner you wipe that disgrace off your character,
the sounder will be your sleep; if it only come from knowing there is one inimy
the less prowling in the woods. I shall not frequent your society long, friend
Natty, unless you look higher than four footed beasts to practyse your rifle