Chapter IV

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　"How now? whose mares dead? whats the matter?" - Falstaff

　　A large lumber sleigh, drawn by four horses, was soon seen dashingthrough the leafless bushes which fringed the road. The leaders wereof gray, and the pole-horses of a jet-black. Bells innumerable weresuspended from every part of the harness where one of the tinklingballs could be placed, while the rapid movement of the equipage, indefiance of the steep ascent, announced the desire of the driver toring them to the utmost. The first glance at this singulararrangement acquainted the Judge with the character of those in thesleigh. It contained four male figures. On one of those stools thatare used at writing desks, lashed firmly to the sides of the vehicle,was seated a little man, enveloped in a great-coat fringed with fur,in such a manner that no part of him was visible, except a face of anunvarying red color. There was an habitual upward look about the headof this gentleman, as if dissatisfied with its natural proximity tothe earth; and the expression of his countenance was that of busycare, He was the charioteer, and he guided the mettled animals alongthe precipice with a fearless eye and a steady hand, Immediatelybehind him, with his face toward the other two, was a tall figure, towhose appearance not even the duplicate overcoats which he wore, aidedby the corner of a horse-blanket, could give the appearance ofstrength. His face was protruding from beneath a woollen night cap;and, when he turned to the vehicle of Marmaduke as the sleighsapproached each other, it seemed formed by nature to cut theatmosphere with the least possible resistance. The eyes aloneappeared to create any obstacle, for from either side of his foreheadtheir light-blue, glassy balls projected. The sallow of hiscountenance was too permanent to be affected even by the intense coldof the evening. Opposite to this personage sat a solid, short, andsquare figure. No part of his form was to be discovered through hisoverdress, but a face that was illuminated by a pair of black eyesthat gave the lie to every demure feature in his countenance. A fair,jolly wig furnished a neat and rounded outline to his visage, and he,well as the other two, wore marten-skin caps. The fourth was a meek-looking, long-visaged man, without any other protection from the coldthan that which was furnished by a black surcoat, made with somelittle formality, but which was rather threadbare and rusty. He worea hat of extremely decent proportions, though frequent brushing hadquite destroyed its nap. His face was pale, and withal a littlemelancholy, or what might be termed of a studious complexion. The airhad given it, just now, a light and somewhat feverish flush, Thecharacter of his whole appearance, especially contrasted to the air ofhumor in his next companion, was that of habitual mental care. Nosooner had the two sleighs approached within speaking distance, thanthe driver of this fantastic equipage shouted aloud

　　"Draw up in the quarry--draw up, thou king of the Greeks; draw into thequarry, Agamemnon, or I shall never be able to pass you. Welcomehome, Cousin Duke-- welcome, welcome, black-eyed Bess. Thou seest,Marina duke that I have taken the field with an assorted cargo, to dothee honor. Monsieur Le Quoi has come out with only one cap; OldFritz would not stay to finish the bottle; and Mr. Grant has got toput the lastly to his sermon, yet. Even all the horses would come--by the-bye, Judge, I must sell the blacks for you immediately; theyinterfere, and the nigh one is a bad goer in double harness. I canget rid of them to--"

　　"Sell what thou wilt, Dickon," interrupted the cheerful voice of theJudge, "so that thou leavest me my daughter and my lands. And Fritz,my old friend, this is a kind compliment, indeed, for seventy to payto five-and-forty. Monsieur Le Quoi, I am your servant. Mr. Grant,"lifting his cap, "I feel indebted to your attention. Gentlemen, Imake you acquainted with my child. Yours are names with which she isvery familiar."

　　"Velcome, velcome Tchooge," said the elder of the party, with a strongGerman accent. "Miss Petsy vill owe me a kiss."

　　"And cheerfully will I pay It, my good sir," cried the soft voice ofElizabeth; which sounded, in the clear air of the hills. Like tonesof silver, amid the loud cries of Richard. "I have always a kiss formy old friend. Major Hartmann."

　　By this time the gentleman in the front seat, who had been addressedas Monsieur Le Quoi, had arisen with some difficulty, owing to theimpediment of his overcoats, and steadying himself by placing one handon the stool of the charioteer, with the other he removed his cap, andbowing politely to the Judge and profoundly to Elizabeth, he paid hiscompliments.

　　"Cover thy poll, Gaul, cover thy poll," cried the driver, who was Mr.Richard Jones; "cover thy poll, or the frost will pluck out theremnant of thy locks. Had the hairs on the head of Absalom been asscarce as thine, he might have been living to this day." The jokes ofRichard never failed of exciting risibility, for he uniformly didhonor to his own wit; and he enjoyed a hearty laugh on the presentoccasion, while Mr. Le Quoi resumed his seat with a politereciprocation in his mirth. The clergyman, for such was the office ofMr. Grant, modestly, though quite affectionately, exchanged hisgreetings with the travellers also, when Richard prepared to turn theheads of his horses homeward.

　　It was in the quarry alone that he could effect this object, withoutascending to the summit of the mountain. A very considerableexcavation had been made in the side of the hill, at the point whereRichard had succeeded in stopping the sleighs, from which the stonesused for building in the village were ordinarily quarried, and inwhich he now attempted to turn his team. Passing itself was a task ofdifficulty, and frequently of danger, in that narrow road; but Richardhad to meet the additional risk of turning his four-in-hand. Theblack civilly volunteered his services to take off the leaders, andthe Judge very earnestly seconded the measure with his advice.Richard treated both proposals with great disdain.

　　"Why, and wherefore. Cousin Duke?" he exclaimed, a little angrily;"the horses are gentle as lambs. You know that I broke the leadersmyself, and the pole-horses are too near my whip to be restive. Hereis Mr. Le Quoi, now, who must know something about driving, because hehas rode out so often with me; I will leave it to Mr. Le Quoi whetherthere is any danger."

　　It was not in the nature of the Frenchman to disappoint expectationsso confidently formed; although he cat looking down the precipicewhich fronted him, as Richard turned his leaders into the quarry, witha pair of eyes that stood out like those of lobsters. The Germansmuscles were unmoved, but his quick sight scanned each movement. Mr.Grant placed his hands on the side of the sleigh, in preparation for aspring, but moral timidity deterred him from taking the leap thatbodily apprehension strongly urged him to attempt.

　　Richard, by a sudden application of the whip, succeeded in forcing theleaders into the snow-bank that covered the quarry; but the instantthat the impatient animals suffered by the crust, through which theybroke at each step, they positively refused to move an inch farther inthat direction. On the contrary, finding that the cries and blows oftheir driver were redoubled at this juncture, the leaders backed uponthe pole-horses, who in their turn backed the sleigh. Only a singlelog lay above the pile which upheld the road on the side toward thevalley, and this was now buried in the snow. The sleigh was easilybreed across so slight an impediment, and before Richard becameconscious of his danger one-half of the vehicle Was projected over aprecipice, which fell perpendicularly more than a hundred feet. TheFrenchman, who by his position had a full view of their threatenedflight, instinctively threw his body as far forward as possible, andcried

　　"Oh! mon cher Monsieur Deeck! mon Dieu! que faites vous!"

　　"Donner und blitzen, Richart!" exclaimed the veteran German, lookingover the side of the sleigh with unusual emotion, "put you will preakter sleigh and kilt ter horses!"

　　"Good Mr. Jones," said the clergyman, "be prudent, good sir--becareful,"

　　"Get up, obstinate devils!" cried Richard, catching a birds-eye viewof his situation, and in his eagerness to move forward kicking thestool on which he sat--" get up, I say--Cousin Duke, I shall have tosell the grays too; they are the worst broken horses--Mr. Le Quoi"Richard was too much agitated to regard his pronunciation, of which hewas commonly a little vain: "Monsieur La Quoi, pray get off my leg;you hold my leg so tight that it's no wonder the horses back."

　　"Merciful Providence!" exclaimed the Judge; "they will be all killed!"Elizabeth gave a piercing shriek, and the black of Agamemnons facechanged to a muddy white.

　　At this critical moment, the young hunter, who during the salutationsof the parties had sat in rather sullen silence, sprang from thesleigh of Marmaduke to the heads of the refractory leaders. Thehorses, which were yet suffering under the injudicious and somewhatrandom blows of Richard, were dancing up and down with that ominousmovement that threatens a sudden and uncontrollable start, stillpressing backward. The youth gave the leaders a powerful jerk, andthey plunged aside, and re-entered the road in the position in whichthey were first halted. The sleigh was whirled from its dangerousposition, and upset, with the runners outward. The German and thedivine were thrown, rather unceremoniously, into the highway, butwithout danger to their bones. Richard appeared in the air,describing the segment of a circle, of which the reins were the radii,and landed, at the distance of some fifteen feet, in that snow-bankwhich the horses had dreaded, right end uppermost. Here, as heinstinctively grasped the reins, as drowning men seize at straws, headmirably served the purpose of an anchor. The Frenchman, who was onhis legs, in the act of springing from the sleigh, took an aerialflight also, much in the attitude which boys assume when they playleap-frog, and, flying off in a tangent to the curvature of hiscourse, came into the snow-bank head foremost, w-here he remained,exhibiting two lathy legs on high, like scarecrows waving in a corn-field. Major Hartmann, whose self-possession had been admirablypreserved during the whole evolution, was the first of the party thatgained his feet and his voice.

　　"Ter deyvel, Richart!" he exclaimed in a voice half serious, half-comical, "put you unload your sleigh very hautily!"

　　It may be doubtful whether the attitude in which Mr. Grant continuedfor an instant after his overthrow was the one into which he had beenthrown, or was assumed, in humbling himself before the Power that hereverenced, in thanksgiving at his escape. When he rose from hisknees, he began to gaze about him, with anxious looks, after thewelfare of his companions, while every joint in his body trembled withnervous agitation. There was some confusion in the faculties of Mr.Jones also: but as the mist gradually cleared from before his eyes, hesaw that all was safe, and, with an air of great self-satisfaction, hecried, "Well--that was neatly saved, anyhow!-- it was a lucky thought inme to hold on to the reins, or the fiery devils would have been overthe mountain by this time. How well I recovered myself, Duke!Another moment would have been too late; but I knew just the spotwhere to touch the off-leader; that blow under his right flank, andthe sudden jerk I gave the rein, brought them round quite in rule, Imust own myself." *

　　* The spectators, from immemorial usage, have a right to laugh at thecasualties of a sleigh ride; and the Judge was no sooner certain thatno one was done than he made full use of the privilege.

　　"Thou jerk! thou recover thyself, Dickon!" he said; but for thatbrave lad yonder, thou and thy horses, or rather mine, would have beendashed to pieces--but where is Monsieur Le Quoi?"

　　"Oh! mon cher Juge! mon ami!" cried a smothered voice," praise be God,I live; vill you, Mister Agamemnon, be pleas come down ici, and helpme on my leg?"

　　The divine and the negro seized the incarcerated Gaul by his legs andextricated him from a snow-bank of three feet in depth, whence hisvoice had sounded as from the tombs. The thoughts of Mr. Le Quoi,immediately on Ms liberation, were not extremely collected; and, whenhe reached the light, he threw his eyes upward, in order to examinethe distance he had fallen. His good-humor returned, however, with aknowledge of his safety, though it was some little time before heclearly comprehended the case.

　　"What, monsieur," said Richard, who was busily assisting the black intaking off the leaders; "are you there? I thought I saw you flyingtoward the top of the mountain just now."

　　"Praise be God, I no fly down into the lake," returned the Frenchman,with a visage that was divided between pain, occasioned by a few largescratches that he had received in forcing his head through the crust,and the look of complaisance that seemed natural to his pliablefeatures.

　　"Ah! mon cher Mister Deeck, vat you do next? - dere be noting you notry."

　　"The next thing, I trust, will be to learn to drive," said the Judge,who bad busied himself in throwing the buck, together with severalother articles of baggage, from his own sleigh into the snow; "hereare seats for you all, gentlemen; the evening grows piercingly cold,and the hour approaches for the service of Mr. Grant; we will leavefriend Jones to repair the damages, with the assistance of Agamemnon,and hasten to a warm fire. Here, Dickon, are a few articles of Besstrumpery, that you can throw into your sleigh when ready; and there isalso a deer of my taking, that I will thank you to bring. Aggy!remember that there will be a visit from Santa Claus * to-night."

　　* The periodical visits of St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, as he istermed, were never forgotten among the inhabitants of New York, untilthe emigration from New England brought in the opinions and usages ofthe Puritans, like the "bon homme de Noel." he arrives at eachChristmas.

　　The black grinned, conscious of the bribe that was offered him forsilence on the subject of the deer, while Richard, without in theleast waiting for the termination of his cousins speech, began hisreply:

　　"Learn to drive, sayest thou, Cousin Duke? Is there a man in thecounty who knows more of horse-flesh than myself? Who broke in thefilly, that no one else dare mount, though your coachman did pretendthat he had tamed her before I took her in hand; but anybody could seethat he lied--he was a great liar, that John--whats that, a buck?"Richard abandoned the horses, and ran to the spot where Marmaduke hadthrown the deer, "It is a buck! I am amazed! Yes, here are two holesin him, he has fired both barrels, and hit him each time, Egod! howMarmaduke will brag! he is a prodigious bragger about any small matterlike this now; well, to think that Duke has killed a buck beforeChristmas! There will be no such thing as living with him--they areboth bad shots though, mere chance--mere chance--now, I never firedtwice at a cloven foot in my life--it is hit or miss with me--dead orrun away-had it been a bear, or a wild-cat, a man might have wantedboth barrels. Here! you Aggy! how far off was the Judge when thisbuck was shot?"

　　"Oh! massa Richard, maybe a ten rod," cried the black, bending underone of the horses, with the pretence of fastening a buckle, but inreality to conceal the grin that opened a mouth from ear to ear.

　　"Ten rod!" echoed the other; "way, Aggy, the deer I Killed last winterwas at twenty--yes! if anything it was nearer thirty than twenty. Iwouldnt shoot at a deer at ten rod: besides, you may remember, Aggy,I only fired once."

　　"Yes, massa Richard, I member em! Natty Bumppo fire toder gun. Youknow, sir, all e folks say Natty kill him."

　　"The folks lie, you black devil!" exclaimed Richard in great heat. "Ihave not shot even a gray squirrel these four years, to which that oldrascal has not laid claim, or some one else [or him. This is a damnedenvious world that we live in--people are always for dividing thecredit at a thing, in order to bring down merit to their own level.Now they have a story about the Patent,* that Hiram Doolittle helpedto plan the steeple to St. Pauls; when Hiram knows that it isentirely mine; a little taken front a print of his namesake in London,I own; but essentially, as to all points of genius, my own."

　　* The grants of land, made either by the crown or the state, were butletters patent under the great seal, and the term "patent" is usuallyapplied to any district of extent thus conceded; though under thecrown, manorial rights being often granted with the soil, in theolder counties the word "manor" is frequently used. There are manymanors in New York though all political and judicial rights haveceased.

　　"I don't know where he come from," said the black, losing every markof humor in an expression of admiration, "but ebrybody say, hewounerful handsome."

　　"And well they may say so, Aggy," cried Richard, leaving the buck andwalking up to the negro with the air of a man who has new interestawakened within him, "I think I may say, without bragging, that it isthe handsomest and the most scientific country church in America. Iknow that the Connecticut settlers talk about their West Herfieldmeeting-house; but I never believe more than half what they say, theyare such unconscionable braggers. Just as you have got a thing done,if they see it likely to be successful, they are always forinterfering; and then its tea to one but they lay claim to half, oreven all of the credit. You may remember, Aggy, when I painted thesign of the bold dragoon for Captain Hollister there was that fellow,who was about town laying brick-dust on the houses, came one day andoffered to mix what I call the streaky black, for the tail and mane;and then, because it looks like horse-hair, he tells everybody thatthe sign was painted by himself and Squire Jones. If Marmaduke dontsend that fellow off the Patent, he may ornament his village with hisown hands for me," Here Richard paused a moment, and cleared histhroat by a loud hem, while the negro, who was all this time busilyengaged in preparing the sleigh, proceeded with his work in respectfulsilence. Owing to the religious scruples of the Judge, Aggy was theservant of Richard, who had his services for a time,* and who, ofcourse, commanded a legal claim to the respect of the young negro.But when any dispute between his lawful and his real master occurred,the black felt too much deference for both to express any opinion.

　　* The manumission of the slaves in New York has been gradual. Whenpublic opinion became strong in their favor, then grew up a custom ofbuying the services of a slave, for six or eight years, with acondition to liberate him at the end of the period. Then the lawprovided that all born after a certain day should be free, the malesat twenty-eight and the females at twenty-five. After this the ownerwas obliged to cause his servants to be taught to read and writebefore they reached the age of eighteen, and, finally, the few thatremained were all unconditionally liberated in 1826, or after thepublication of this tale. It was quite usual for men more or lessconnected with the Quakers, who never held slaves to adopt the firstexpedient.

　　In the mean while, Richard continued watching the negro as he fastenedbuckle after buckle, until, stealing a look of consciousness towardthe other, he continued: "Now, if that young man who was in yoursleigh is a real Connecticut settler, he will be telling everybody howhe saved my horses, when, if he had let them alone for half a minutelonger, I would have brought them in much better, without upsetting,with the whip amid rein--it spoils a horse to give him his heal, Ishould not wonder if I had to sell the whole team, just for that onejerk he gave them," Richard paused and hemmed; for his consciencesmote him a little for censuring a man who had just saved his life."Who is the lad, Aggy--I dont remember to have seen him before?"

　　The black recollected the hint about Santa Claus; and, while hebriefly explained how they had taken up the person in question on thetop of the mountain, he forbore to add anything concerning theaccident or the wound, only saying that he believed the youth was astranger. It was so usual for men of the first rank to take intotheir sleighs any one they found toiling through the snow, thatRichard was perfectly satisfied with this explanation. He heard Aggywith great attention, and then remarked: "Well, if the lad has notbeen spoiled by the people in Templeton he may be a modest young man,and, as he certainly meant well, I shall take some notice of him--perhaps he is land-hunting--I say, Aggy, maybe he is out hunting?"

　　"Eh! yes, massa Richard," said the black, a little confused; for, asRichard did all the flogging, he stood in great terror of his master,in the main--" Yes, sir, I blieve he be."

　　"Had he a pack and an axe?"

　　"No, sir, only he rifle."

　　"Rifle!" exclaimed Richard, observing the confusion of The negro,which now amounted to terror. "By Jove, he killed the deer! I knewthat Marmaduke couldnt kill a buck on the jump--how was it, Aggy? Tellme all about it, and Ill roast Duke quicker than he can roast hissaddle--how was it, Aggy? the lad shot the buck, and the Judge boughtit, ha! and he is taking the youth down to get the pay?"

　　The pleasure of this discovery had put Richard in such a good humor,that the negros fears in some measure vanished, and he remembered thestocking of Santa Claus. After a gulp or two, he made out to reply;

　　"You forgit a two shot, sir?"

　　"Dont lie, you black rascal!" cried Richard, stepping on the snow-bank to measure the distance from his lash to the negros back; "speaktruth, or I trounce you." While speaking, the stock was slowly risingin Richards right hand, and the lash drawing through his left, in thescientific manner with which drummers apply the cat; and Agamemnon,after turning each side of himself toward his master, and finding bothequally unwilling to remain there, fairly gave in. In a very fewwords he made his master acquainted with the truth, at the same timeearnestly conjuring Richard to protect him from the displeasure of thclodge Ill do it, boy, Ill do it," cried the other, rubbing his handswith delight; "say nothing, but leave me to manage Duke. I have agreat mind to leave the deer on the hill, and to make the fellow sendfor his own carcass; but no, I will let Marmaduke tell a few bouncesabout it before I come out upon him. Come, hurry in, Aggy, I musthelp to dress the lads wound; this Yankee* doctor knows nothing ofsurgery--I had to hold out Milligans leg for him, while he cut it off.

　　* In America the term Yankee is of local meaning. It is thought to bederived from the manner in which the Indians of New England pronouncedthe word "English," or "Yengeese." New York being originally a Dutchprovince, the term of course was not known there, and Farther southdifferent dialects among the natives themselves probably produced adifferent pronunciation Marmaduke and his cousin, being Pennsylvaniansby birth, were not Yankees in the American sense of the word.

　　Richard was now seated on the stool again, and, the black taking thehind seat, the steeds were put in motion toward home, As they dasheddown the hill on a fast trot, the driver occasionally turned his faceto Aggy, and continued speaking; for, notwithstanding their recentrupture, the most perfect cordiality was again existing between them,"This goes to prove that I turned the horses with the reins, for noman who is shot in the right shoulder can have strength enough tobring round such obstinate devils. I knew I did it from the first;but I did not want to multiply words with Marmaduke about it.--Will youbite, you villain? --hip, boys, hip! Old Natty, too, that is the bestof itDuke will say no more about my deer--and the Judgefired both barrels, and hit nothing but a poor lad who was behind apine-tree. I must help that quack to take out the buckshot for thepoor fellow." In this manner Richard descended the mountain; the bellsringing, and his tongue going, until they entered the village, whenthe whole attention of the driver was devoted to a display of hishorsemanship, to the admiration of all the gaping women and childrenwho thronged the windows to witness the arrival of their landlord andhis daughter.