So the first part of this chapter is shown in the book, the second part (the woods) is not mentioned other than to say that the escaped to the forest and the next chapter picks up in the Delaware village from Magua's pov. The next chapter will include their welcome and as it has yet to be written, I do not know. :)
MohawkWoman, thank you for your positive feedback, enjoy chapter 16.
Bold is English, regular is Delaware, and italics are Uncas' thoughts.
The deerskin flap parted and the head of a bear poked through. It growled threateningly and prowled forward slowly. The bear would maul me perhaps, but it would not be allowed to kill. I was sport for the Hurons. I turned my face away from the beast and stared at the dancing fire. When the sun had set a boy of perhaps ten or eleven had brought wood and flame and lit the small blaze silently, then he had snuck fearful glances at me before fleeing the lodge.
The bear growled again, rougher, hoarser, higher. I blinked and slowly turned my gaze upon the shaggy animal. It rambled here and there exploring its new prison and growling often. Then I saw it, the hitch in the beast's step, the stiff way it held its head and absence of the musky smell that usually hung about a full grown bear. This was no bear but a conjurer of some kind, bent on what purpose I could not tell. I cared not, he disgraced the animal whom he impersonated. I turned away once more, relaxing against the wall with closed eyes.
From out side a strange low whistle sounded and immediately I heard a low hissing, the same hiss that Hawkeye used when trying to catch my father's attention. My eyes snapped open and I straightened my posture. The bear had ceased its noise as though as intent upon finding the source of the sound as I.
Casting looks on every side, I bent my head low, and turned it inquiringly in every direction until my keen eye rested on the shaggy monster where it had remained standing in the center of the space. Again the hissing repeated, and I, watching the mouth of the beast saw the movement of its jaw. Once more I glanced around, but this time to ascertain that we had no listeners at the eves of the lodge. Satisfied in that regard, I returned my gaze to its former resting place, and uttered, in a suppressed voice, "Hawkeye!"
"Cut his bands,"said Hawkeye to the singer, who had just then entered the hut.
The tall, ungainly man did as he was ordered, and the withes binding my raw limbs were released. As the singer did so the dried skin of the bear rattled, and Hawkeye rose to his feet and stepped out of the skins. I sprang up and stretched my tired limbs, rolling my shoulders and popping my back, Hawkeye drew a long glittering knife from his belt, and handed it to me. I uncomfortably wrapped my fingers around the knife, it was of French formation unlike the English blade I was accustomed to wield. Then I slid it into my belt, it would do in a fight.
"The Hurons are without," Hawkeye said; "let us be ready."
At the same time he laid his finger significantly on another knife, belonging, I guessed, to the second warrior that he had slain the previous night.
"We will go," I muttered loud enough for my companion to hear.
"Whither?"
"To the Tortoises; they are the children of my grandfathers."
"Ay, lad," said he in English—the language he was apt to use when abstracted of mind; "the same blood runs in your veins, I believe; but time and distance have a little changed its color. What shall we do with the Mingos at the door? They count six, and this singer is as good as nothing."
"The Hurons are boasters," I replied scornfully, remembering my encounter with the boy; "their 'totem' is a moose, and they run like snails. The Delawares are children of the tortoise, and they outstrip the deer."
"Ay, lad, there is truth in what you say; and I doubt not, on a rush, you would pass the whole nation; and, in a straight race of two miles, would be in, and get your breath again, afore a knave of them all was within hearing of the other village. But the gift of a white man lies more in his arms than in his legs. As for myself, I can brain a Huron as well as a better man; but when it comes to a race, the knaves would prove too much for me."
I had already approached the door in readiness to lead the way, now recoiled; and placed myself, once more, in the bottom of the lodge. But Hawkeye, who was too much occupied with his own thoughts to note the movement, continued speaking more to himself than to me.
"After all," he said, "it is unreasonable to keep one man in bondage to the gifts of another. So, Uncas, you had better take the leap, while I put on the skin again, and trust to cunning for want of speed."
I made no reply, but quietly folded my arms, and leaned against one of the upright posts that supported the wall of the hut. With the Delawares Cora would be provided for and unmolested. They were a just and honorable people and Cora was everything that could be admired by the women of that nation. It was my duty and honor then to protect my father's brother, my mentor and friend. It would be wrong of me to flee to the Tortoises leaving my companions to the mercy of the Mingos. Only a selfish coward, a Mingo, would do such an unmanly thing.
"Well," said Hawkeye, looking up at me, "why do you tarry? There will be time enough for me, as the knaves will give chase to you at first."
"Uncas will stay," was my calm and decided reply.
"For what?"
"To fight with his father's brother, and die with the friend of the Delawares."
"Ay, lad," returned Hawkeye, squeezing my hand between his own strong one; "'twould have been more like a Mingo than a Mohican had you left me. But I thought I would make the offer, seeing that youth commonly loves life. Well, what can't be done by main courage, in war, must be done by circumvention. Put on the skin; I doubt not you can play the bear nearly as well as myself."
'Nearly as well'? I who had spent every hour of my life in the woods, play the bear nearly as well? If it would not have been disrespectful or if the situation had not been so dire, I would have snorted my amusement at the statement. Instead, I silently dressed myself in the skins, and awaited the signal to proceed.
As I finished fastening the last throng around my arm, Hawkeye spoke.
"Now, friend," he said, addressing the singer, "an exchange of garments will be a great convenience to you, inasmuch as you are but little accustomed to the make-shifts of the wilderness. Here, take my hunting shirt and cap, and give me your blanket and hat. You must trust me with the book and spectacles, as well as the tooter, too; if we ever meet again, in better times, you shall have all back again, with many thanks into the bargain."
The man readily handed over the articles and Hawkeye was not long in assuming his borrowed garments; and when his restless eyes were hid behind the glasses, and his head was covered by the triangular beaver, he might have passed for the singer by star-light.
"Are you much given to cowardice?" he asked in his standard blunt manner.
"My pursuits are peaceful, and my temper, I humbly trust, is greatly given to mercy and love," returned the singer, with a nettled expression; "but there are none who can say that I have ever forgotten my faith in the Lord, even in the greatest straits."
"Your chiefest danger will be at the moment when the savages find out that they have been deceived. If you are not then knocked in the head, your being a non-composer will protect you; and you'll then have good reason to expect to die in your bed. If you stay, it must be to sit down here in the shadow, and take the part of Uncas, until such times as the cunning of the Indians discover the cheat, when, as I have already said, your time of trial will come. So choose for yourself,—to make a rush or tarry here."
"Even so," said the singer firmly; "I will abide in the place of the Delaware. Bravely and generously has he battled in my behalf; and this, and more, will I dare in his service."
"You have spoken as a man, and like one who, under wiser schooling, would have been brought to better things. Hold your head down, and draw in your legs; their formation might tell the truth too early. Keep silent as long as may be; and it would be wise, when you do speak, to break out suddenly in one of your shoutings, which will serve to remind the Indians that you are not altogether as responsible as men should be. If, however, they take your scalp, as I trust and believe they will not, depend on it, Uncas and I will not forget the deed, but revenge it as becomes true warriors and trusty friends."
"Hold!" Cried he, "I am an unworthy and humble follower of One who taught not the damnable principle of revenge. Should I fall, therefore, seek no victims to my manes, but rather forgive my destroyers; and if you remember them at all, let it be in prayers for the enlightening of their minds, and for their eternal welfare."
Unable to hide my astonishment, I raised my eyebrows and stared at him. Then, remembering that this man, like many of his kind, had strange beliefs and ways, I schooled my expression to one of indifference.
"There is a principle in that," Hawkeye agreed, "different from the law of the woods; and yet it is fair and noble to reflect upon." Then, heaving a heavy sigh, he added, "It is what I would wish to practice, myself, as one without a cross of blood, though it is not always easy to deal with an Indian as you would with a fellow Christian. God bless you, friend; I do believe your scent is not greatly wrong, when the matter is duly considered, and keeping eternity before the eyes, though much depends on the natural gifts, and the force of temptation."
So saying, he shook the singer cordially by the hand; after which he immediately left the lodge. Without a backward glance I followed, rambling and powerful in my representation of the bear.
The instant Hawkeye found himself under the observation of the Hurons, he drew himself up tall in the rigid manner of the singer, threw his arm out like the singer had done so many times before, and commenced what he intended for an imitation of his psalmody.
Beneath my fur coat I winced and grimaced as I remembered the evening beside the falls. The song then had been sweet and haunting, it had swelled and overcome even the roar of the river, it had ingrained its beauty in my memory. Comparing now the hoarse and rough shouts of my friend to the gentle music of the women was cause enough for me to wish to plug my ears.
The closer we strolled to the ring of Hurons, the louder the voice of Hawkeye grew. Just as we were past, a Huron reached out and stopped the supposed singer.
"The Delaware dog!" he asked, leaning forward, and peering through the flickering light cast by their fire to catch the expression of the other's features; "is he afraid, will the Hurons hear his groans?"
If Hawkeye was compelled to answer, our escape would be a lost cause. I growled like I had heard so many she-bears growl before when I came to near her cubs. I gnashed my teeth together and the young Huron released his hold and started back, in surprise. Hawkeye broke out anew in such a burst of noise that if my life had not depended upon it I would have covered my ears and run for the woods. Among his other auditors, however, it merely gave him an additional claim respect which they gave to all whom they believed mentally impaired. The little knot of men drew back together, and we proceeded.
Together we passed twelve lodges in a strained silence. Patience was a skill that I had honed all my life, but now with the end in sight I could but barely restrain my feet. Behind us I knew that the watchers had surrounded the lodge that had only minutes before been my prison. The least movement on the part of the singer might betray my absence, and time was necessary to insure Hawkeye's safety. Unlike me he could not outrun any but the eldest chief.
Faces showed themselves through open doors, eyes followed our progress and several times a man crossed our pat; but due to the darkness of the hour we were not interrupted.
We had cleared the village, and were now swiftly approaching the shelter of the woods, when a loud and long yell arose from the lodge we had so recently quitted. I started to my feet, shook my shaggy disguise and was about to bound away when Hawkeye whispered, "Hold!" And grasping me by the shoulder He mumbled, "let them yell again! 'Twas nothing but wonderment."
I froze, but knew that in a moment—
A burst of cries filled the air, and ran along the whole extent of the village. Before my eyes warriors poured out of their lodges and began to assemble. Without waiting to see the outcome of the gathering, I shed the skins. Together Hawkeye and I glided like the silent deer into the forest.
"Now let the devils strike our scent!" Murmured Hawkeye, tearing two rifles and their respective powder horns and pouches of shot from beneath a low, leafy bush. Then brandishing Killdeer he handed me my own weapon which had been taken from me by my captors; "Two, at least, will find it to their deaths." He finished.
Then throwing our pieces into our hands we glided forward, and were soon buried in the deep darkness of the oak, hemlock, birch, and pine forest.
For many rods we continued, running lightly, before we heard the sounds of pursuit. Suddenly it seemed that all around us were shoutings and callings as the Wyandots searched for us. "Make for the thicket where the Sagamore and the Grey Head shelter," I whispered and with a significant glance at Hawkeye I peeled off and retraced our path to the village. Through the almost pitch-black forest I sped, leaping over fallen hemlock limbs and ducking under low hanging branches.
A light to my left caused me to freeze and then cautiously swing up into the tree above me. I held my breath. Not a moment later a young warrior with a flaming brand passed below me casting glances to either side. I waited, without twitching, several minutes longer till all sound and sight of the youth had vanished. Then, and only then did I drop from the tree and resume my circumnavigating rout.
A sharp, familiar crack rent the tense night air. My head snapped up. Hawkeye. In the near distance shouts and cries erupted and then faded. Several gunshots echoed through the darkness. Then silence. Only my muted breathing and pounding heart disturbed the natural calls and chirps of the slumbering woods. I lifted a moccasined foot, but before I could set it down on the mossy dirt, I felt more than heard a sharp snap as a dry stick broke under foot. I turned slowly about, pointing the muzzle of my gun in the direction of the telltale twig. In the dim starlight filtering through the leafy expanse above me I could just make out two tall, burly and shadowy figures. My finger hovered over the trigger. The two shadows stepped forward and as they moved one of them kicked a stone. A soft metallic clang sounded and the two burly Hurons merged together becoming one large horse. Sundancer.
I lowered my weapon and held out my hand coaxingly. "Come, sister. We will find the Delaware village together."
She stepped quickly forward and nuzzled me cheek and shoulder. I felt her warm moist breath on my face and ran my hands over her silky coat. She continued her soft nickers and snuffles till I pushed her away and taking her bridle in hand I led her beside me.
As we topped a small rise, I slowed to a halt before the small thicket in which I had left the Colonel. I listened for a moment and Sundancer took the pause to yank her head away from me and to begin to nibble at the sparse tufts of grass that crowned the hill. I hissed long and loud, but I received no answering signal. With a troubled spirit I left Sundancer and crept into the darkness of the thicket. A warm puff of air and a nicker was my greeting from the Light-hair's horse, but my father and the Grey Head had vanished.
Then, from behind me I heard a heavy foot fall and my hand sprang instantly to my knife. The unfamiliar hilt fit my palm strangely, but when a hand fell on my shoulder that did not slow my smooth strike. I turned, bringing the blade to the intruders throat, then froze and slowly replaced the weapon.
"Aye, Uncas, you shall make your people proud. Your reflexes will save your life one day, though before that I will hope they won't take mine." With a heartfelt but silent laugh he clapped me on the shoulder and continued; "The Sagamore has found another hideaway and has taken himself and the Colonel off to it no doubt. Yes, and 'twould be best if we left our weapons here though I would rather I did not part with Killdeer so soon. I have a feeling I will regret leaving you, old girl." He murmured as he leaned the grooves barrel against a tree.
I followed his example reluctantly and and tying Sundancer to a branch beside her friend, we trekked the last quarter mile to our destination.
I hope that I the trees I named actually grow in the New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Delaware, area. I live on the west coast and have never been farther east than Indiana (and that was when I was little) so I could be wrong. Also anyone spots any other mistakes point them out please.