Free Deerslayer (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) by James Fenimore Cooper Page B

natur’ has. God knows, Hurry, that such poor things be defenseless enough with all their wits about ’em; but it’s a cruel fortun’ when that great protector and guide fails ’em.”
    “Harkee, Deerslayer—you know what the hunters, and trappers, and peltrymen in general be; and their best friends will not deny that they are headstrong and given to having their own way, without much bethinking ‘em of other people’s rights or feelin’s—and yet I don’t think the man is to be found, in all this region, who would harm Hetty Hutter, if he could; no, not even a redskin.”
    “Therein, fri‘nd Hurry, you do the Delawares, at least, and all their allied tribes, only justice, for a redskin looks upon a being thus struck by God’s power as especially under his care. I rejoice to hear what you say, however, I rejoice to hear it; but as the sun is beginning to turn towards the a’ternoon’s sky, had we not better strike the trail ag’in, and make forward, that we may get an opportunity of seeing these wonderful sisters?”
    Harry March giving a cheerful assent, the remnants of the meal were soon collected; then the travelers shouldered their packs, resumed their arms, and, quitting the little area of light, they again plunged into the deep shadows of the forest.

CHAPTER II
    “Thou ’rt passing from the lake’s green side,
And the hunter’s hearth away;
For the time of flowers, for the summer’s pride,
Daughter! thou canst not stay.”
    Records of Woman
     
    OUR TWO ADVENTURERS HAD not far to go. Hurry knew the direction, as soon as he had found the open spot and the spring, and he now led on with the confident step of a man assured of his object. The forest was dark, as a matter of course, but it was no longer obstructed by underbrush, and the footing was firm and dry. After proceeding near a mile, March stopped, and began to cast about him with an inquiring look, examining the different objects with care, and occasionally turning his eyes on the trunks of the fallen trees, with which the ground was well sprinkled, as is usually the case in an American wood, especially in those parts of the country where timber has not yet become valuable.
    “This must be the place, Deerslayer,” March at length observed; “here is a beech by the side of a hemlock, with three pines at hand, and yonder is a white birch with a broken top; and yet I see no rock, nor any of the branches bent down, as I told you would be the case.”
    “Broken branches are onskilful landmarks, as the least exper’enced know that branches don’t often break of themselves,” returned the other; “and they also lead to suspicion and discoveries. The Delawares never trust to broken branches, unless it is in friendly times, and on an open trail. As for the beeches, and pines, and hemlocks, why, they are to be seen on all sides of us, not only by twos and threes, but by forties, and fifties, and hundreds.”
    “Very true, Deerslayer, but you never calculate on position. Here is a beech and a hemlock—”
    “Yes, and there is another beech and a hemlock, as loving as two brothers, or, for that matter, more loving than some brothers; and yonder are others, for neither tree is a rarity in these woods. I fear me, Hurry, you are better at trapping beaver and shooting bears, than at leading on a blindish sort of a trail. Ha! there’s what you wish to find, a’ter all!”
    “Now, Deerslayer, this is one of your Delaware pretensions, for hang me if I see anything but these trees, which do seem to start up around us in a most onaccountable and perplexing manner.”
    “Look this a way, Hurry—here, in a line with the black oak—don’t you see the crooked sapling that is hooked up in the branches of the basswood, near it? Now, that sapling was once snow-ridden, and got the bend by its weight; but it never straightened itself, and fastened itself in among the basswood branches in the way you see. The hand of man did that act of kindness for