an incongruity that would have been detected by one
practised in the mysteries of the toilet. Head, feet, arms, hands, bust, and
drapery, were all in harmony, as female attire was then deemed attractive and
harmonious, and the end she aimed at, that of imposing on the uninstructed
senses of the savages, by causing them to believe their guest was a woman of
rank and importance, might well have succeeded with those whose habits had
taught them to discriminate between persons. Judith, in addition to her rare
native beauty, had a singular grace of person, and her mother had imparted
enough of her own deportment, to prevent any striking or offensive vulgarity of
manner; so that, sooth to say, the gorgeous dress might have been worse bestowed
in nearly every particular. Had it been displayed in a capital, a thousand might
have worn it, before one could have been found to do more credit to its gay
colours, glossy satins, and rich laces, than the beautiful creature whose person
it now aided to adorn.
    The effect of such an apparition had not been miscalculated. The instant
Judith found herself within the circle, she was, in a degree, compensated for
the fearful personal risk she ran, by the unequivocal sensation of surprise and
admiration produced by her appearance. The grim old warriors uttered their
favorite exclamation »hugh!« The younger men were still more sensibly overcome,
and even the women were not backward in letting open manifestations of pleasure
escape them. It was seldom that these untutored children of the forest had ever
seen any white female above the commonest sort, and, as to dress, never before
had so much splendor shone before their eyes. The gayest uniforms of both French
and English seemed dull compared with the lustre of the brocade, and while the
rare personal beauty of the wearer added to the effect produced by its hues, the
attire did not fail to adorn that beauty in a way which surpassed even the hopes
of its wearer. Deerslayer himself was astounded, and this quite as much by the
brilliant picture the girl presented, as at the indifference to consequences
with which she had braved the danger of the step she had taken. Under such
circumstances, all waited for the visiter to explain her object, which to most
of the spectators seemed as inexplicable as her appearance.
    »Which of these warriors is the principal chief?« demanded Judith of
Deerslayer, as soon as she found it was expected that she should open the
communications; »my errand is too important to be delivered to any of inferior
rank. First explain to the Hurons, what