Chapter XXXV.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　"And to avoid the foes pursuit,With spurring put their cattle tot;And till all four were out of wind,And danger too, neer looked behind."--Hudibras.

　　As the shades of evening approached, the jurors, wit nesses, and otherattendants on the court began to disperse, and before nine oclock thevillage was quiet, and its streets nearly deserted. At that hourJudge Temple and his daughter, followed at a short distance by LouisaGrant, walked slowly down the avenue, under the slight shadows of theyoung poplars, holding the following discourse:

　　"You can best soothe his wounded spirit, my child," said Marmaduke;"but it will be dangerous to touch on the nature of his offence; thesanctity of the laws must be respected."

　　"Surely, sir," cried the impatient Elizabeth, "those laws that condemna man like the Leather-Stocking to so severe a punishment, for anoffence that even I must think very venial, cannot be perfect inthemselves."

　　"Thou talkest of what thou dost not understand, Elizabeth," returnedher father. "Society cannot exist without wholesome restraints.Those restraints cannot be inflicted without security and respect tothe persons of those who administer them; and it would sound illindeed to report that a judge had extended favor to a convictedcriminal, because he had saved the life of his child."

　　"I see--I see the difficulty of your situation, dear sir," cried thedaughter; "but, in appreciating the offence of poor Natty, I cannotseparate the minister of the law from the man."

　　"There thou talkest as a woman, child; it is not for an assault onHiram Doolittle, but for threatening the life of a constable, who wasin the performance of--"

　　"It is immaterial whether it be one or the other," interrupted MissTemple, with a logic that contained more feeling than reason; "I knowNatty to be innocent, and thinking so I must think all wrong whooppress him."

　　"His judge among the number! thy father, Elizabeth?"

　　"Nay, nay, nay; do not put such questions to me; give me mycommission, father, and let me proceed to execute it."

　　The Judge paused a moment, smiling fondly on his child, and thendropped his hand affectionately on her shoulder, as he answered:

　　"Thou hast reason, Bess, and much of it, too, but thy heart lies toonear thy head, But listen; in this pocketbook are two hundred dollars.Go to the prison--there are none in this pace to harm thee--give thisnote to the jailer, and, when thou seest Bumppo, say what thou wilt tothe poor old man; give scope to the feeling of thy warm heart; but tryto remember, Elizabeth, that the laws alone remove us from thecondition of the savages; that he has been criminal, and that hisjudge was thy father."

　　Miss Temple made no reply, but she pressed the hand that held thepocket-book to her bosom, and, taking her friend by the arm, theyissued together from the inclosure into the principal street of thevillage.

　　As they pursued their walk in silence, under the row of houses, wherethe deeper gloom of the evening effectually concealed their persons,no sound reached them, excepting the slow tread of a yoke of oxen,with the rattling of j a cart, that were moving along the street inthe same direction with themselves, The figure of the teamster wasjust discernible by the dim light, lounging by the side of his cattlewith a listless air, as if fatigued by the toil of the day. At thecorner, where the jail stood, the progress of the ladies was impeded,for a moment, by the oxen, who were turned up to the side of thebuilding, and given a lock of hay, which they had carried on theirnecks, as a reward for their patient labor, The whole of this was sonatural, and so common, that Elizabeth saw nothing to induce a secondglance at the team, until she heard the teamster speaking to hiscattle in a low voice:

　　"Mind yourself, Brindle; will you, sir! will you!" The language itselfwas so unusual to oxen, with which all who dwell in a new country arefamiliar; but there was something in the voice, also, that startledMiss Temple On turning the corner, she necessarily approached the man,and her look was enabled to detect the person of Oliver Edwards,concealed under the coarse garb of a teamster. Their eyes met at thesame instant, and, not- t withstanding the gloom, and the envelopingcloak of Elizabeth, the recognition was mutual.

　　"Miss Temple!" "Mr. Edwards!" were exclaimed simultaneously, though afeeling that seemed common to both rendered the words nearlyinaudible.

　　"Is it possible!" exclaimed Edwards, after the moment of doubt hadpassed; "do I see you so nigh the jail! but you are going to therectory: I beg pardon, Miss Grant, I believe; I did not recognize youat first."

　　The sigh which Louisa tittered was so faint, that it was only heard byElizabeth, who replied quickly, "We are going not only to the jail,Mr. Edwards' but into it. We wish to show the Leather-Stocking thatwe do not forget his services, and that at the same time we must bejust, we are also grateful. I suppose you are on a similar errand;but let me beg that you will give us leave to precede you ten minutes.Good-night, sir; I-- I--am quite sorry, Mr. Edwards, to see you reducedto such labor; I am sure my father would--"

　　"I shall wait your pleasure, madam," interrupted the youth coldly."May I beg that you will not mention my being here?"

　　"Certainly," said Elizabeth, returning his bow by a slight inclinationof her head, and urging the tardy Louisa forward. As they entered thejailers house, however, Miss Grant found leisure to whisper:

　　"Would it not be well to offer part of your money to Oliver? half ofit will pay the fine of Bumppo; and he is so unused to hardships! I amsure my father will subscribe much of his little pittance, to placehim in a station that is more worthy of him."

　　The involuntary smile that passed over the features of Elizabeth wasblended with an expression of deep and heartfelt pity. She did notreply, however, and the appearance of the jailer soon recalled thethoughts of both to the object of their visit.

　　The rescue of the ladies, and their consequent interest in hisprisoner, together with the informal manners that prevailed in thecountry, all united to prevent any surprise on the part of the jailer,at their request for admission to Bumppo. The note of Judge Temple,however, would have silenced all objections, if he had felt them andhe led the way without hesitation to the apartment that held theprisoners. The instant the key was put into the lock, the hoarsevoice of Benjamin was heard, demanding:

　　"Yo hoy! who comes there?"

　　"Some visitors that youll be glad to see," returned the jailer."What have you done to the lock, that it wont turn"

　　"Handsomely, handsomely, master," cried the steward:"I have just drove a nail into a berth alongside of this here bolt, asa stopper, dye see, so that Master Doo-but little cant be running inand breezing up another fight atwixt us: for, to my account, therellbe but a han-yan with me soon, seeing that theyll mulct me of mySpaniards, all the same as if Id over-flogged the lubber. Throw yourship into the wind, and lay by for a small matter, will ye? and Illsoon clear a passage."

　　The sounds of hammering gave an assurance that the steward was inearnest, and in a short time the lock yielded, when the door wasopened.

　　Benjamin had evidently been anticipating the seizure of his money, forhe had made frequent demands on the favorite cask at the "BoldDragoon," during the afternoon and evening, and was now in that statewhich by marine imagery is called "half-seas-over." It was no easything to destroy the balance of the old tar by the effects of liquor,for, as he expressed it himself, "he was too low-rigged not to carrysail in all weathers;" but he was precisely in that condition which isso expressively termed "muddy." When he perceived who the visitorswere, he retreated to the side of the room where his pallet lay, and,regardless of the presence of his young mistress, seated himself on itwith an air of great sobriety, placing his back firmly against thewall.

　　"If you undertake to spoil my locks in this manner, Mr. Pump," saidthe jailer, "I shall put a stopper, as you call it, on your legs, andtie you down to your bed."

　　"What for should ye, master?" grumbled Benjamin; "Ive rode out onesquall to-day anchored by the heels, and I wants no more of them.Wheres the harm o doing all the same as yourself? Leave that theredoor free out board, and youll find no locking inboard, Ill promiseye."

　　"I must shut up for the night at nine," said the jailer, "and its nowforty-two minutes past eight." He placed the little candle on a roughpine table, and withdrew.

　　"Leather-Stocking!" said Elizabeth, when the key of the door wasturned on them again, "my good friend, Leather-Stocking! I have comeon a message of gratitude. Had you submitted to the search, worthyold man, the death of the deer would have been a trifle, and all wouldhave been well------"

　　"Submit to the sarch!" interrupted Natty, raising his face fromresting on his knees, without rising from the corner where he hadseated himself; "dye think gal, I would let such a varmint into myhut? No, no--I wouldnt have opened the door to your own sweetcountenance then. But they are welcome to search among the coals andashes now; theyll find only some such heap as is to be seen at everypot-ashery in the mountains."

　　The old man dropped his face again on one hand, and seemed to be lostin melancholy.

　　"The hut can be rebuilt, and made better than before," returned MissTemple;" and it shall be my office to see it done, when yourimprisonment is ended."

　　Can ye raise the dead, child?" said Natty, in a sorrowful voice: "canye go into the place where youve laid your fathers, and mothers, andchildren, and gather together their ashes, and make the same men andwomen of them as afore? You do not know what tis to lay your head formore than forty years under the cover of the same logs, and to look atthe same things for the better part of I a mans life. You are youngyet, child, but you are one of the most precious of Gods creatures.I had hoped for ye that it might come to pass, but its all over now;this, put to that, will drive the thing quite out of his mind forever."

　　Miss Temple must have understood the meaning of the old man betterthan the other listeners; for while Louisa stood innocently by herside, commiserating the griefs of the hunter, she bent her head aside,so as to conceal her features. The action and the feeling that causedit lasted but a moment.

　　"Other logs, and better, though, can be had, and shall be found foryou, my old defender," she continued. "Your confinement will soonbe over, and, before that time arrives, I shall have a house preparedfor you, where I you may spend the close of your long and harmlesslife in ease and plenty."

　　"Ease and plenty! house!" repeated Natty, slowly. "You mean well, youmean well, and I quite mourn that it cannot be; but he has seen me asight and a laughing-stock for--"

　　"Damn your stocks," said Benjamin, flourishing his bottle with onehand, from which he had been taking hasty and repeated draughts,while he made gestures of disdain with the other: "who cares for hisbilboes? Theres a leg that been stuck up on end like a jibboom for anhour. dye see, and whats it the worse fort, ha? canst tell me,whats it the worser, ha?"

　　"I believe you forget, Mr. Pump, in whose presence you are," saidElizabeth.

　　"Forget you, Miss Lizzy?" returned the steward; "if I do, damme; youare not to be forgot, like Goody Pretty-bones, up at the big housethere. I say, old sharpshooter, she may have pretty bones, but Icant say so much for her flesh, dye see, for she looks somewhat likeanatomy with another mans jacket on. Now for the skin of her face,its all the same as a new topsail with a taut bolt-rope, being snugat the leeches, but all in a bight about the inner cloths,"

　　"Peace--I command you to be silent, sir!" said Elizabeth.

　　"Ay, ay, maam," returned the steward. "You didnt say I shouldntdrink, though."

　　"We will not speak of what is to become of others," said Miss Temple,turning again to the hunter--" but of your own fortunes, Natty. Itshall be my care to see that you pass the rest of your days in easeand plenty."

　　"Ease and plenty!" again repeated the Leather-Stocking; "what ease canthere be to an old man, who must walk a mile across the open fields,before he can find a shade to hide him from a scorching sun! or whatplenty is there where you hunt a day, and not start a buck, or seeanything bigger than a mink, or maybe a stray fox! Ah! I shall have ahard time after them very beavers, for this fine. I must go lowtoward the Pennsylvania line in search of the creatures, maybe ahundred mile; for they are not to be got here-away. No, no--yourbetterments and clearings have druv the knowing things out of thecountry, and instead of beaver-dams, which is the nater of the animal,and according to Providence, you turn back the waters over the lowgrounds with your mill-dams, as if twas in man to stay the drops fromgoing where He wills them to go--Benny, unless you stop your hand fromgoing so often to your mouth, you wont be ready to start when thetime comes.

　　"Harkee, Master Bump-ho," said the steward; "dont you fear for Ben,When the watch is called, set me of my legs and give me the bearingsand the distance of where you want me to steer, and Ill carry sailwith the best of you, I will."

　　"The time has come now," said the hunter, listening; "I hear the hornsof the oxen rubbing agin the side of the jail."

　　"Well, say the word, and then heave ahead, shipmate," said Benjamin.

　　"You wont betray us, gal?" said Natty, looking simply into the faceof Elizabeth--" you wont betray an old man, who craves to breathe theclear air of heaven? I mean no harm; and if the law says that I mustpay the hundred dollars, Ill take the season through, but it shall beforthcoming; and this good man will help me."

　　"You catch them," said Benjamin, with a sweeping gesture of his arm,"and if they get away again, call me a slink, thats all."

　　"But what mean you?" cried thc wondering Elizabeth. " Here you muststay for thirty days; but I have the money for your fine in thispurse. Take it; pay it in the morning, and summon patience for yourmouth. I will come often to see you, with my friend; we will make upyour clothes with our own hands; indeed, indeed, you shall becomfortable."

　　"Would ye, children?" said Natty, advancing across the floor with anair of kindness, and taking the hand of Elizabeth, "would ye be sokearful of an old man, and just for shooting a beast which cost himnothing? Such things doesnt run in the blood, I believe, for you seemnot to forget a favor. Your little fingers couldnt do much on abuckskin, nor be you used to push such a thread as sinews. But if hehasnt got past hearing, he shalt hear it and know it, that he maysee, like me, there is some who know how to remember a kindness,"

　　"Tell him nothing," cried Elizabeth, earnestly; "if you love me, ifyou regard my feelings, tell him nothing. It is of yourself only Iwould talk, and for yourself only I act. I grieve, Leather-Stocking,that the law requires that you should be detained here so long; but,after all, it will be only a short month, and----"

　　"A month?" exclaimed Natty, opening his mouth with his usual laugh,"not a day, nor a night, nor an hour, gal. Judge Temple may sintence,but he cant keep without a better dungeon than this. I was takenonce by the French, and they put sixty-two of us in a block-house,nigh hand to old Frontinac; but twas easy to cut through a pine logto them that was used to timber." The hunter paused, and lookedcautiously around the room, when, laughing again, he shoved thesteward gently from his post, and removing the bedclothes, discovereda hole recently cut in the logs with a mallet and chisel. "Its onlya kick, and the outside piece is off, and then--"

　　"Off! ay, off!" cried Benjamin, rising from his stupor; "well, heresoff. Ay! ay! you catch em, and I'll hold on to them said beaver-hats,"

　　"I fear this lad will trouble me much," said Natty; "twill be a hardpull for the mountain, should they take the scent soon, and he is notin a state of mind to run."

　　"Run!" echoed the steward; "no, sheer alongside, and lets have afight of it."

　　"Peace!" ordered Elizabeth.

　　"Ay, ay, maam."

　　"You will not leave us, surely, Leather-Stocking," continued MissTemple; "I beseech you, reflect that you will be driven to the woodsentirely, and that you are fast getting old. Be patient for a littletime, when you can go abroad openly, and with honor."

　　"Is there beaver to be catched here, gal?"

　　"If not, here is money to discharge the fine, and in a month you arefree. See, here it is in gold."

　　"Gold!" said Natty, with a kind of childish curiosity; "its long sinIve seen a gold-piece. We used to get the broad joes, in the oldwar, as plenty as the bears be now. I remember there was a man inDieskaus army, that was killed, who had a dozen of the shining thingssewed up in his shirt. I didnt handle them myself, but I seen themcut out with my own eyes; they was bigger and brighter than them be."

　　"These are English guineas, and are yours," said Elizabeth; "anearnest of what shall be done for you."

　　"Me! why should you give me this treasure!" said Natty, lookingearnestly at the maiden.

　　"Why! have you not saved my life? Did you not rescue me from the jawsof the beast?" exclaimed Elizabeth, veiling her eyes, as if to hidesome hideous object from her view.

　　The hunter took the money, and continued turning it in his hand forsome time, piece by piece, talking aloud during the operation.

　　"Theres a rifle, they say, out on the Cherry Valley, that will carrya hundred rods and kill. Ive seen good guns in my day, but nonequite equal to that. A hundred rods with any sartainty is greatshooting! Well, well-- Im old, and the gun I have will answer my time.Here, child, take back your gold. But the hour has come; I hear himtalking to the cattle, and I must be going. You wont tell of us,gal--you wont tell of us, will ye?"

　　"Tell of you!" echoed Elizabeth. "But take the money, old man; takethe money, even if you go into the mountains."

　　"No, no," said Natty, shaking his head kindly; "I would not rob you sofor twenty rifles. But theres one thing you can do for me, if yewill, that no other is at hand to do.

　　"Name it--name it."

　　"Why, its only to buy a canister of powder--twill cost two silverdollars. Benny Pump has the money ready, but we darent come into thetown to get it. Nobody has it but the Frenchman. 'Tis of the best,and just suits a rifle. Will you get it for me, gal?--say, will youget it for me?"

　　"Will I? I will bring it to you, Leather-Stocking, though I toil a dayin quest of you through the woods. But where shall I find you, andhow?"

　　"Where?" said Natty, musing a moment--" to-morrow on the Vision; on thevery top of the Vision, Ill meet you, child, just as the sun getsover our heads. See that its the fine grain; youll know it by thegloss and the price."

　　"I will do it," said Elizabeth, firmly.

　　Natty now seated himself, and placing his feet in the hole, with aslight effort he opened a passage through into the street. The ladiesheard the rustling of hay, and well understood the reason why Edwardswas in the capacity of a teamster.

　　"Come, Benny," said the hunter: "twill be no darker to-night, for themoon will rise in an hour."

　　"Stay!" exclaimed Elizabeth; "it should not be said that you escapedin the presence of the daughter of Judge Temple. Return, Leather-Stocking, and let us retire be fore you execute your plan."

　　Natty was about to reply, when the approaching footsteps of the jailerannounced the necessity of his immediate return. He had barely timeto regain his feet, and to conceal the hole with the bedclothes,across which Benjamin very opportunely fell, before the key wasturned, and the door of the apartment opened.

　　"Isnt Miss Temple ready to go?" said the civil jailer; " its theusual hour for locking up."

　　"I follow you, sir," returned Elizabeth "good-night, Leather-Stocking."

　　"Its a fine grain, gal, and I think twill carry lead further thancommon. I am getting old, and cant follow up the game with the stepI used to could,"

　　Miss Temple waved her hand for silence, and preceded Louisa and thekeeper from the apartment. The man turned the key once, and observedthat he would return and secure his prisoners, when he had lighted theladies to the street. Accordingly they parted at the door of thebuilding, when the jailer retired to his dungeons, and the ladieswalked, with throbbing hearts, toward the corner.

　　"Now the Leather-Stocking refuses the money," whispered Louisa, "itcan all be given to Mr. Edwards, and that added to--"

　　"Listen!" said Elizabeth; " I hear the rustling of the hay; they areescaping at this moment. Oh! they will be detected instantly!"

　　By this time they were at the corner, where Edwards and Natty were inthe act of drawing the almost helpless body of Benjamin through theaperture. The oxen had started back from their hay, and were standingwith their heads down the street, leaving room for the party to actin.

　　"Throw the hay into the cart," said Edwards, "or they will suspect howit has been done. Quick, that they may not see it."

　　Natty had just returned from executing this order, when the light ofthe keepers candle shone through the hole, and instantly his voicewas heard in the jail exclaiming for his prisoners.

　　"What is to be done now?" said Edwards; "this drunken fellow willcause our detection, and we have not a moment to spare."

　　"Whos drunk, ye lubber?" muttered the steward.

　　"A break-jail! a break-jail!" shouted five or six voices from within.

　　"We must leave him," said Edwards.

　　"Twouldnt be kind, lad," returned Natty; "he took half the disgraceof the stocks on himself to-day, and the creatur has feeling."

　　At this moment two or three men were heard issuing from the door ofthe "Bold Dragoon," and among them the voice of Billy Kirby.

　　"Theres no moon yet," cried the wood-chopper; "but its a clearnight. Come, whos for home? Hark! what a rumpus theyre kicking upin the jail--heres go and see what its about."

　　"We shall be lost," said Edwards, "if we dont drop this man."

　　At that instant Elizabeth moved close to him, and said rapidly, in alow voice:

　　"Lay him in the cart, and start the oxen; no one will look there."

　　"Theres a womans quickness in the thought," said the youth.

　　The proposition was no sooner made than executed. The steward wasseated on the hay, and enjoined to hold his peace and apply the goadthat was placed in his hand, while the oxen were urged on. So soon asthis arrangement was completed, Edwards and the hunter stole along thehouses for a short distance, when they disappeared through an openingthat led into the rear of the buildings.

　　The oxen were in brisk motion, and presently the cries of pursuit wereheard in the street. The ladies quickened their pace, with a wish toescape the crowd of constables and idlers that were approaching, someexecrating, and some laughing at the exploit of the prisoners. In theconfusion, the voice of Kirby was plainly distinguishable above allthe others, shouting and swearing that he would have the fugitives,threatening to bring back Natty in one pocket, and Benjamin in theother.

　　"Spread yourselves, men," he cried, as he passed the ladies, his heavyfeet sounding along the street like the tread of a dozen; "spreadyourselves; to the mountains; theyll be in the mountains in a quarterof an hour, and then look out for a long rifle."

　　His cries were echoed from twenty mouths, for not only the jail butthe taverns had sent forth their numbers, some earnest in the pursuit,and others joining it as in sport.

　　As Elizabeth turned in at her fathers gate she saw the wood-chopperstop at the cart, when she gave Benjamin up for lost. While they werehurrying up the walk, two figures, stealing cautiously but quicklyunder the shades of the trees, met the eyes of the ladies, and in amoment Edwards and the hunter crossed their path.

　　"Miss Temple, I may never see you again," exclaimed the youth; "let methank you for all your kindness; you do not, cannot know my motives."

　　"Fly! fly!" cried Elizabeth; "the village is alarmed. Do not be foundconversing with me at such a moment, and in these grounds."

　　"Nay, I must speak, though detection were certain,"

　　"Your retreat to the bridge is already cut off; before you can gainthe wood your pursuers will be there. If--"

　　"If what?" cried the youth. "Your advice has saved me once already; Iwill follow it to death."

　　"The street is now silent and vacant," said Elizabeth, after a pause;"cross it, and you will find my fathers boat in the lake. It wouldbe easy to land from it where you please in the hills."

　　"But Judge Temple might complain of the trespass."

　　"His daughter shall be accountable, sir."

　　The youth uttered something in a low voice, that was heard only byElizabeth, and turned to execute what she had suggested. As they wereseparating, Natty approached the females, and said:

　　"Youll remember the canister of powder, children. Them beavers mustbe had, and I and the pups be getting old; we want the best ofammunition."

　　"Come, Natty," said Edwards, impatiently.

　　"Coming, lad, coming. God bless you, young ones, both of ye, for yemean well and kindly to the old man."

　　The ladies paused until they had lost sight of the retreating figures,when they immediately entered the mansion-house.

　　While this scene was passing in the walk, Kirby had overtaken thecart, which was his own, and had been driven by Edwards, withoutasking the owner, from the place where the patient oxen usually stoodat evening, waiting the pleasure of their master.

　　"Woa--come hither, Golden," he cried; "why, how come you off the end ofthe bridge, where I left you, dummies?"

　　"Heave ahead," muttered Benjamin, giving a random blow with his lash,that alighted on the shoulder of the other.

　　"Who the devil be you?" cried Billy, turning round in surprise, butunable to distinguish, in the dark, the hard visage that was justpeering over the cart-rails.

　　"Who be I? why, Im helmsman aboard of this here craft dye see, and astraight wake Im making of it. Ay, ay! Ive got the bridge rightahead, and the bilboes dead aft: I calls that good steerage, boy.Heave ahead."

　　"Lay your lash in the right spot, Mr. Benny Pump," said the wood-chopper, "or Ill put you in the palm of my hand and box your ears.Where be you going with my team?"

　　"Team!"

　　"Ay. my cart and oxen,"

　　"Why, you must know, Master Kirby, that the Leather-Stocking and I--thats Benny Pump--you knows Ben?-- well, Benny and I--no, me and Benny;damme if I know how tis; but some of us are bound after a cargo ofbeaver-skins, dye see, so weve pressed the cart to ship them omein. I say, Master Kirby, what a lubberly oar you pull--you handle anoar, boy, pretty much as a cow would a musket, or a lady would amarling-spike."

　　Billy had discovered the state of the stewards mind, and he walkedfor some time alongside of the cart, musing with himself, when he tookthe goad from Benjamin (who fell back on the hay and was soon asleep)and drove his cattle down the street, over the bridge, and up themountain, toward a clearing in which he was to work the next day,without any other interruption than a few hasty questions from partiesof the constables.

　　Elizabeth stood for an hour at the window of her room, and saw thetorches of the pursuers gliding along the side of the mountain, andheard their shouts and alarms; but, at the end of that time, the lastparty returned, wearied and disappointed, and the village became asstill as when she issued from the gate on her mission to the jail.