, and some come from
the colony, and other some from the King and parliament. When the colony's laws,
or even the king's laws, run ag'in the laws of God, they get to be onlawful, and
ought not to be obeyed. I hold to a white man's respecting white laws, so long
as they do not cross the track of a law comin' from a higher authority, and for
a red man to obey his own red-skin usages, under the same privilege. But, 'tis
useless talking, as each man will think for himself, and have his say agreeable
to his thoughts. Let us keep a good look-out for your friend, Floating Tom, lest
we pass him, as he lies hidden under this bushy shore.«
    Deerslayer had not named the borders of the lake amiss. Along their whole
length the smaller trees overhung the water, with their branches often dipping
in the transparent element. The banks were steep, even from the narrow strand,
and, as vegetation invariably struggles toward the light, the effect was
precisely that at which the lover of the picturesque would have aimed, had the
ordering of this glorious setting of forest been submitted to his control. The
points, and bays, too, were sufficiently numerous to render the outline broken
and diversified. As the canoe kept close along the western side of the lake,
with a view, as Hurry had explained to his companion, of reconnoitring for
enemies before he trusted himself too openly in sight, the expectations of the
two adventurers were kept constantly on the stretch, as neither could foretel
what the next turning of a point might reveal. Their progress was swift, the
gigantic strength of Hurry enabling him to play with the light bark as if it had
been a feather, while the skill of his companion almost equalized their
usefulness, notwithstanding the disparity in natural means.
    Each time the canoe passed a point, Hurry turned a look behind him,
expecting to see the Ark anchored, or beached, in the bay. He was fated to be
disappointed, however, and they had got within a mile of the southern end of the
lake, or a distance of quite two leagues from the castle, which was now hidden
from view by half a dozen intervening projections of the land, when he suddenly
ceased paddling, as if uncertain in what direction next to steer.
    »It is possible that the old chap has dropped into the river,« said Hurry,
often looking carefully along the whole of the eastern shore, which was about a
mile