Chapter XVII

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　I guess, by all this quaint array,The burghers hold their sports to-day."--Scott.

　　The ancient amusement of shooting the Christmas turkey is one of thefew sports that the settlers of a new country seldom or never neglectto observe. It was connected with the daily practices of a people whooften laid aside the axe or the scythe to seize the rifle, as the deerglided through the forests they were felling, or the bear enteredtheir rough meadows to scent the air of a clearing, and to scan, witha look of sagacity, the progress of the invader.

　　On the present occasion, the usual amusement of the day had been alittle hastned, in order to allow a fair opportunity to Mr. Grant,whose exhibition was not less a treat to the young sportsmen than theone which engaged their present attention. The owner of the birds wasa free black, who had prepared for the occasion a collection of gamethat was admirably qualified to inflame the appetite of an epicure,and was well adapted to the means and skill of the differentcompetitors, who were of all ages. He had offered to the younger andmore humble marks men divers birds of an inferior quality, and someshooting had already taken place, much to the pecuniary advantage ofthe sable owner of the game. The order of the sports was extremelysimple, and well understood. The bird was fastened by a string to thestump of a large pine, the side of which, toward the point where themarksmen were placed, had been flattened with an axe, in order that itmight serve the purpose of a target, by which the merit of eachindividual might be ascertained. The distance between the stump andshooting-stand was one hundred measured yards; a foot more or a footless being thought an invasion of the right of one of the parties.The negro affixed his own price to every bird, and the terms of thechance; but, when these were once established, he was obliged, by thestrict principles of public justice that prevailed in the country, toadmit any adventurer who might offer.

　　The throng consisted of some twenty or thirty young men, most of whomhad rifles, and a collection of all the boys in the village. Thelittle urchins, clad in coarse but warm garments, stood gatheredaround the more distinguished marksmen, with their hands stuck undertheir waistbands, listening eagerly to the boastful stories of skillthat had been exhibited on former occasions, and were alreadyemulating in their hearts these wonderful deeds in gunnery.

　　The chief speaker was the man who had been mentioned by Natty as BillyKirby. This fellow, whose occupation, when he did labor, was that ofclearing lands, or chopping jobs, was of great stature, and carried inhis very air the index of his character. He was a noisy, boisterous,reckless lad, whose good-natured eye contradicted the bluntness andbullying tenor of his speech. For weeks he would lounge around thetaverns of the county, in a state of perfect idleness, or doing smalljobs for his liquor and his meals, and cavilling with applicants aboutthe prices of his labor; frequently preferring idleness to anabatement of a little of his independence, or a cent in his wages.But, when these embarrassing points were satisfactorily arranged, hewould shoulder his axe and his rifle, slip his arms through the strapsof his pack, and enter the woods with the tread of a Hercules. Hisfirst object was to learn his limits, round which he would pace,occasionally freshening, with a blow of his axe, the marks on theboundary trees; and then he would proceed, with an air of greatdeliberation, to the centre of his premises, and, throwing aside hissuperfluous garments, measure, with a knowing eye, one or two of thenearest trees that were towering apparently into the very clouds as hegazed upward. Commonly selecting one of the most noble for the firsttrial of his power, he would approach it with a listless air,whistling a low tune; and wielding his axe with a certain flourish,not unlike the salutes of a fencing-master, he would strike a lightblow into the bark, and measure his distance. The pause that followedwas ominous of the fall of the forest which had flourished there forcenturies. The heavy and brisk blows that he struck were soonsucceeded by the thundering report of the tree, as it came, firstcracking and threatening with the separation of its own lastligaments, then threshing and tearing with its branches the tops ofits surrounding brethren, and finally meeting the ground with a shockbut little inferior to an earthquake. From that moment the sounds ofthe axe were ceaseless, while the failing of the trees was like adistant cannonading; and the daylight broke into the depths of thewoods with the suddenness of a winter morning.

　　For days, weeks, nay months, Billy Kirby would toil with an ardor thatevinced his native spirit, and with an effect that seemed magical,until, his chopping being ended, his stentorian lungs could be heardemitting sounds, as he called to his patient oxen, which rang throughthe hills like the cries of an alarm. He had been often heard, on amild summer evening, a long mile across the vale of Templeton; whenthe echoes from the mountains would take up his cries, until they diedaway in the feeble sounds from the distant rocks that overhung thelake. His piles, or, to use the language of the country, his loggingended, with a dispatch that could only accompany his dexterity andherculean strength, the jobber would collect together his implementsof labor, light the heaps of timber, and march away under the blaze ofthe prostrate forest, like the conqueror of some city who, havingfirst prevailed over his adversary, applies the torch as the finishingblow to his conquest. For a long time Billy Kirby would then be seensauntering around the taverns, the rider of scrub races, the bully ofcock-fights, and not infrequently the hero of such sports as the onein hand.

　　Between him and the Leather-Stocking there had long existed a jealousrivalry on the point of skill with the rifle. Notwithstanding thelong practice of Natty, it was commonly supposed that the steadynerves and the quick eye of the wood-chopper rendered him his equal.The competition had, however, been confined hitherto to boasting, andcomparisons made from their success in various hunting excursions; butthis was the first time they had ever come in open collision. A gooddeal of higgling about the price of the choicest bird had taken placebetween Billy Kirby and its owner before Natty and his companionsrejoined the sportsmen It had, however, been settled at one shilling *a shot, which was the highest sum ever exacted, the black taking careto protect himself from losses, as much as possible, by the conditionsof the sport.

　　* Before the Revolution, each province had its own money of accountthough neither coined any but copper pieces. In New York the Spanishdollar was divided into eight shillings, each of the value of afraction more than sixpence sterling. At present the Union hasprovided a decimal system, with coins to represent it.

　　The turkey was already fastened at the "mark," hut its body wasentirely hid by the surrounding snow, nothing being visible but itsred swelling head and its long neck. If the bird was injured by anybullet that struck below the snow, it was to continue the property ofits present owner; but if a feather was touched in a visible part, theanimal became the prize of the successful adventurer.

　　These terms were loudly proclaimed by the negro, who was seated in thesnow, in a somewhat hazardous vicinity to his favorite bird, whenElizabeth and her cousin approached the noisy sportsmen. The soundsof mirth and contention sensibly lowered at this unexpected visit;but, after a moments pause, the curious interest exhibited in theface of the young lady, together with her smiling air, restored thefreedom of the morning; though it was somewhat chastened, both inlanguage and vehemence, by the presence of such a spectator.

　　"Stand out of the way there, boys!" cried the wood-chopper, who wasplacing himself at the shooting-point-- stand out of the way, youlittle rascals, or I will shoot through you. Now, Brom, take leave ofyour turkey."Stop!" cried the young hunter; "I am a candidate for a chance. Hereis my shilling, Brom; I wish a shot too."You may wish it in welcome," cried Kirby, "but if I ruffle thegobblers feathers, how are you to get it? Is money so plenty in yourdeer-skin pocket, that you pay for a chance that you may never have?"

　　"How know you, sir, how plenty money is in my pocket?" said the youthfiercely. "Here is my shilling, Brom, and I claim a right to shoot."

　　"Don't be crabbed, my boy," said the other, who was very coolly fixinghis flint. "They say you have a hole in your left shoulder yourself,so I think Brom may give you a fire for half-price. It will take akeen one to hit that bird, I can tell you, my lad, even if I give youa chance, which is what I have no mind to do."

　　"Dont be boasting, Billy Kirby," said Natty, throwing the breech ofhis rifle into the snow, and leaning on its barrel; "youll get butone shot at the creatur, for if the lad misses his aim, whichwouldnt be a wonder if he did, with his arm so stiff and sore, youllfind a good piece and an old eye coming ater you. Maybe its truethat I cant shoot as I used to could, but a hundred yards is a shortdistance for a long rifle."

　　"What, old Leather-Stocking, are you out this morning?" cried hisreckless opponent. "Well, fair plays a jewel. Ive the lead of you,old fellow; so here goes for a dry throat or a good dinner."

　　The countenance of the negro evinced not only all the interest whichhis pecuniary adventure might occasion, but also the keen excitementthat the sport produced in the others, though with a very differentwish as to the result. While the wood-chopper was slowly and steadilyraising his rifle, he bawled;

　　"Fair play, Billy Kirby--stand back--make em stand back, boys--gib anigger fair play--poss-up, - gobbler; shake a head, fool; dont you seeem taking aim?"

　　These cries, which were intended as much to distract the attention ofthe marksman as for anything else, were fruitless.

　　The nerves of the wood-chopper were not so easily shaken, and he tookhis aim with the utmost deliberation. Stillness prevailed for amoment, and he fired. The head of the turkey was seen to dash on oneside, and its wings were spread in momentary fluttering; but itsettled itself down calmly into its bed of snow, and glanced its eyesuneasily around. For a time long enough to draw a deep breath, not asound was heard. The silence was then broken by the noise of thenegro, who laughed, and shook his body with all kinds of antics,rolling over in the snow in the excess of delight.

　　"Well done, a gobbler," be cried, jumping up and affecting to embracehis bird; "I tell em to poss-up, and you see em dodge. Gib anodershillin, Billy, and halb anoder shot."

　　"No--the shot is mine," said the young hunter; "you have my moneyalready. Leave the mark, and let me try my luck."

　　"Ah! its but money thrown away, lad," said Leather-Stocking. "Aturkeys head and neck is but a small mark for a new hand and a lameshoulder. Youd best let me take the fire, and maybe we can make somesettlement with the lady about the bird."The chance is mine," said the young hunter. "Clear the ground, that Imay take it."

　　The discussions and disputes concerning the last shot were nowabating, it having been determined that if the turkeys head had beenanywhere but just where it was at that moment, the bird must certainlyhave been killed. There was not much excitement produced by thepreparations of the youth, who proceeded in a hurried manner to takehis aim, and was in the act of pulling the trigger, when he wasstopped by Natty.

　　"Your hand shakes, lad," he said, "and you seem over eager. Bullet-wounds are apt to weaken flesh, and to my judgment youll not shoot sowell as in common. If you will fire, you should shoot quick, beforethere is time to shake off the aim."

　　"Fair play," again shouted the negro; "fair play--gib a nigger fairplay. What right a Nat Bumppo advise a young man? Let em shoot--cleara ground."

　　The youth fired with great rapidity, but no motion was made by theturkey; and, when the examiners for the ball returned from the "mark,"they declared that he had missed the stump.

　　Elizabeth observed the change in his countenance, and could not helpfeeling surprise that one so evidently superior to his companionsshould feel a trifling loss so sensibly. But her own champion was nowpreparing to enter the lists.

　　The mirth of Brom, which had been again excited, though in a muchsmaller degree than before, by the failure of the second adventurer,vanished the instant Natty took his stand. His skin became mottledwith large brown spots, that fearfully sullied the lustre of hisnative ebony, while his enormous lips gradually compressed around tworows of ivory that had hitherto been shining in his visage like pearlsset in jet. His nostrils, at all times the most conspicuous featureof his face, dilated until they covered the greater part of thediameter of his countenance; while his brown and bony handsunconsciously grasped the snow-crust near him, the excitement of themoment completely overcoming his native dread of cold.

　　While these indications of apprehension were exhibited in the sableowner of the turkey, the man who gave rise to this extraordinaryemotion was as calm and collected as if there was not to be a singlespectator of his skill.

　　"I was down in the Dutch settlements on the Schoharie," said Natty,carefully removing the leather guard from the lock of his rifle, "justbefore the breaking out of the last war, and there was a shooting-match among the boys; so I took a hand. I think I opened a good manyDutch eyes that day; for I won the powder-horn, three bars of lead,and a pound of as good powder as ever flashed in pan. Lord! how theydid swear in Jarman! They did tell me of one drunken Dutchman who saidhed have the life of me before I got back to the lake agin. But ifhe had put his rifle to his shoulder with evil intent God would havepunished him for it; and even if the Lord didnt, and he had missedhis aim, I know one that would have given him as good as he sent, andbetter too, if good shooting could come into the count."By this time the old hunter was ready for his business, and throwinghis right leg far behind him, and stretching his left arm along thebarrel of his piece, he raised it toward the bird, Every eye glancedrapidly from the marks man to the mark; but at the moment when eachear was expecting the report of the rifle, they were disappointed bythe ticking sound of the flint.

　　"A snap, a snap!" shouted the negro, springing from his crouchingposture like a madman, before his bird. A snap good as fire--NattyBumppo gun he snap--Natty Bumppo miss a turkey!"

　　Natty Bumppo hit a nigger," said the indignant old hunter, "if youdont get out of the way, Brom. Its contrary to the reason of thething, boy, that a snap should count for a fire, when one is nothingmore than a fire-stone striking a steel pan, and the other is suddendeath; so get out of my way, boy, and let me show Billy Kirby how toshoot a Christmas turkey."

　　"Gib a nigger fair play!" cried the black, who continued resolutely tomaintain his post, and making that appeal to the justice of hisauditors which the degraded condition of his caste so naturallysuggested. "Eberybody know dat snap as good as fire. Leab it toMassa Jone--leab it to lady."

　　"Sartain," said the wood-chopper; "its the law of the game in thispart of the country, Leather-Stocking. If you fire agin you must payup the other shilling. I blieve Ill try luck once more myself; so,Brom, heres my money, and I take the next fire."

　　"Its likely you know the laws of the woods better than I do, BillyKirby," returned Natty. "You come in with the settlers, with an ox-goad in your hand, and I come in with moccasins on my feet, and with agood rifle on my shoulders, so long back as afore the old war. Whichis likely to know the best? I say no man need tell me that snapping isas good as firing when I pull the trigger."

　　"Leab it to Massa Jone," said the alarmed negro; "he know eberyting."This appeal to the knowledge of Richard was too flattering to beunheeded. He therefore advanced a little from the spot whither thedelicacy of Elizabeth had induced her to withdraw, and gave thefollowing opinion, with the gravity that the subject and his own rankdemanded:

　　"There seems to be a difference in opinion," he said, "on the subjectof Nathaniel Bumppos right to shoot at Abraham Freeborns turkeywithout the said Nathaniel paying one shilling for the privilege." Thefact was too evident to be denied, and after pausing a moment, thatthe audience might digest his premises, Richard proceeded: "It seemsproper that I should decide this question, as I am bound to preservethe peace of the county; and men with deadly weapons in their handsshould not be heedlessly left to contention and their own malignantpassions. It appears that there was no agreement, either in writingor in words, on the disputed point; therefore we must reason fromanalogy, which is, as it were, comparing one thing with another. Now,in duels, where both parties shoot, it is generally the rule that asnap is a fire; and if such is the rule where the party has a right tofire back again, it seems to me unreasonable to say that a man maystand snapping at a defenceless turkey all day. I therefore am of theopinion that Nathaniel Bumppo has lost his chance, and must payanother shilling before he renews his right."

　　As this opinion came from so high a quarter, and was delivered witheffect, it silenced all murmurs--for the whole of the spectators hadbegun to take sides with great warmth--except from the Leather-Stocking himself.

　　"I think Miss Elizabeths thoughts should be taken," said Natty."Ive known the squaws give very good counsel when the Indians hadbeen dumfounded. If she says that I ought to lose, I agree to give itup."

　　"Then I adjudge you to be a loser for this time," said Miss Temple;"but pay your money and renew your chance; unless Brom will sell methe bird for a dollar. I will give him the money, and save the lifeof the poor victim."

　　This proposition was evidently but little relished by any of thelisteners, even the negro feeling the evil excitement of the chances.In the mean while, as Billy Kirby was preparing himself for anothershot, Natty left the stand, with an extremely dissatisfied manner,muttering:

　　"There hasnt been such a thing as a good flint sold at the foot ofthe lake since the Indian traders used to come into the country; and,if a body should go into the flats along the streams in the hills tohunt for such a thing, its ten to one but they will be all covered upwith the plough. Heigho! it seems to me that just as the game growsscarce, and a body wants the best ammunition to get a livelihood,everything thats bad falls on him like a judgment. But Ill changethe stone, for Billy Kirby hasnt the eye for such a mark, I know."

　　The wood-chopper seemed now entirely sensible that his reputationdepended on his care; nor did he neglect any means to insure success.He drew up his rifle, and renewed his aim again and again, stillappearing reluctant to fire, No sound was heard from even Brom, duringthese portentous movements, until Kirby discharged his piece, with thesame want of success as before. Then, indeed, the shouts of the negrorang through the bushes and sounded among the trees of the neighboringforest like the outcries of a tribe of Indians. He laughed, rollinghis head first on one side, then on the other, until nature seemedexhausted with mirth. He danced until his legs were wearied withmotion in the snow; and, in short, he exhibited all that violence ofjoy that characterizes the mirth of a thoughtless negro.

　　The wood-chopper had exerted all his art, and felt a proportionatedegree of disappointment at the failure. He first examined the birdwith the utmost attention, and more than once suggested that he hadtouched its feathers; but the voice of the multitude was against him,for it felt disposed to listen to the often-repeated cries of theblack to "gib a nigger fair play."

　　Finding it impossible to make out a title to the bird, Kirby turnedfiercely to the black and said:

　　"Shut your oven, you crow! Where is the man that can hit a turkeyshead at a hundred yards? I was a fool for trying. You neednt make anuproar like a falling pine-tree about it. Show me the man who can doit."

　　"Look this a-way, Billy Kirby," said Leather-Stocking, and let themclear the mark, and Ill show you a man whos made better shots aforenow, and that when hes been hard pressed by the savages and wildbeasts,"

　　"Perhaps there is one whose rights come before ours, Leather-Stocking," said Miss Temple. "If so, we will waive our privilege."

　　"If it be me that you have reference to," said the young hunter, "Ishall decline another chance. My shoulder is yet weak, I find."

　　Elizabeth regarded his manner, and thought that she could discern atinge on his cheek that spoke the shame of conscious poverty. Shesaid no more, but suffered her own champion to make a trial. AlthoughNatty Bumppo had certainly made hundreds of more momentous shots athis enemies or his game, yet he never exerted himself more to excel.He raised his piece three several times: once to get his range; onceto calculate his distance; and once because the bird, alarmed by thedeath-like stillness, turned its head quickly to examine its foes.But the fourth time he fired. The smoke, the report, and themomentary shock prevented most of the spectators from instantlyknowing the result; but Elizabeth, when she saw her champion drop theend of his rifle in the snow and open his mouth in one of its silentlaughs, and then proceed very coolly to recharge his piece, knew thathe had been successful. The boys rushed to the mark, and lifted theturkey on high, lifeless, and with nothing but the remnant of a head."Bring in the creatur," said Leather-Stocking, "and put it at thefeet of the lady. I was her deputy in the matter, and the bird is herproperty."

　　"And a good deputy you have proved yourself," returned Elizabeth--" sogood, Cousin Richard, that I would advise you to remember hisqualities." She paused, and the gayety that beamed on her face gaveplace to a more serious earnestness. She even blushed a little as sheturned to the young hunter, and with the charm of a womans manneradded: "But it was only to see an exhibition of the far-famed skill ofLeather-Stocking, that I tried my fortunes. Will you, sir, accept thebird as a small peace offering for the hurt that prevented your ownsuccess?"

　　The expression with which the youth received this present wasindescribable, He appeared to yield to the blandishment of her air, inopposition to a strong inward impulse to the contrary. He bowed, andraised the victim silently from her feet, but continued silent.

　　Elizabeth handed the black a piece of silver as a remuneration for hisloss, which had some effect in again unbending his muscles, and thenexpressed to her companion her readiness to return homeward.

　　"Wait a minute, Cousin Bess," cried Richard; "there is an uncertaintyabout the rules of this sport that it is proper I should remove. Ifyou will appoint a committee, gentlemen, to wait on me this morning, Iwill draw up in writing a set of regulations-- He stopped, with someindignation, for at that instant a hand was laid familiarly on theshoulder of the High Sheriff of --.

　　"A merry Christmas to you, Cousin Dickon," said Judge Temple, who hadapproached the party unperceived: "I must have a vigilant eye to mydaughter, sir, if you are to be seized daily with these gallant fits.I admire the taste which would introduce a lady to such scenes!"

　　"It is her own perversity, Duke," cried the disappointed sheriff, whofelt the loss of the first salutation as grievously as many a manwould a much greater misfortune; "and I must say that she comeshonestly by it. I led her out to show her the improvements, but awayshe scampered, through the snow, at the first sound of fire-arms, thesame as if she had been brought up in a camp, instead of a first-rateboarding-school. I do think, Judge Temple, that such dangerousamusements should be suppressed, by statute; nay, I doubt whether theyare not already indict able at common law."

　　"Well, sir, as you are sheriff of the county, it becomes your duty toexamine into the matter," returned the smiling Marmaduke, "I perceivethat Bess has executed her commission, and I hope it met with afavorable reception." Richard glanced his eye at the packet which heheld in his hand, and the slight anger produced by disappointmentvanished instantly.

　　"Ah! Duke, my dear cousin," he said, "step a little on one side; Ihave something I would say to you."

　　Marmaduke complied, and the sheriff led him to a little distance inthe bushes, and continued: "First, Duke, let me thank you for yourfriendly interest with the Council and the Governor, without which Iam confident that the greatest merit would avail but little. But weare sisters children--we are sisters children, and you may use melike one of your horses; ride me or drive me, Duke, I am whollyyours. But in my humble opinion, this young companion of Leather-Stocking requires looking after. He has a very dangerous propensityfor turkey."

　　"Leave him to my management, Dickon," said the Judge, "and I will curehis appetite by indulgence. It is with him that I would speak. Letus rejoin the sportsmen."