Chapter XXIV.

by James Fenimore Cooper

　　"While from its margin, terrible to tell,Three sailors with their gallant boatswain fell." --Falconer.

　　While the fishermen were employed in making the preparations for anequitable division of the spoil, Elizabeth and her friend strolled ashort distance from the group, along the shore of the lake. Afterreaching a point to which even the brightest of the occasional gleamsof the fire did not extend, they turned, and paused a moment, incontemplation of the busy and lively party they had left, and of theobscurity which, like the gloom of oblivion, seemed to envelop therest of the creation.

　　"This is indeed a subject for the pencil!" exclaimed Elizabeth."Observe the countenance of that woodchopper, while he exults inpresenting a larger fish than common to my cousin sheriff; and see,Louisa, how hand some and considerate my dear father looks, by thelight of that fire, where he stands viewing the havoc of the game. Heseems melancholy, as if he actually thought that a day of retributionwas to follow this hour of abundance and prodigality! Would they notmake a picture, Louisa?"

　　"You know that I am ignorant of all such accomplishments, MissTemple."

　　"Call me by my Christian name," interrupted Elizabeth; "this is not aplace, neither is this a scene, for forms."

　　"Well, then, if I may venture an opinion, said Louisa timidly, "Ishould think it might indeed make a picture. The selfish earnestnessof that Kirby over his fish would contrast finely with the--the--expression of Mr. Edwards face. I hardly know what to call it; butit is--a--is-- you know what I would say, dear Elizabeth."

　　"You do me too much credit, Miss Grant," said the heiress; "I am nodiviner of thoughts, or interpreter of expressions."

　　There was certainly nothing harsh or even cold in the manner of thespeaker, but still it repressed the conversation, and they continuedto stroll still farther from the party, retaining each others arm,but observing a pro found silence. Elizabeth, perhaps conscious ofthe improper phraseology of her last speech, or perhaps excited by thenew object that met her gaze, was the first to break the awkwardcessation in the discourse, by exclaiming:

　　"Look, Louisa! we are not alone; there are fishermen lighting a fireon the other side of the lake, immediately opposite to us; it must bein front of the cabin of Leather-Stocking!"

　　Through the obscurity, which prevailed most immediately under theeastern mountain, a small and uncertain light was plainly to be seen,though, as it was occasionally lost to the eye, it seemed strugglingfor existence. They observed it to move, and sensibly to lower, as itcarried down the descent of the bank to the shore. Here, in a veryshort time, its flame gradually expanded, and grew brighter, until itbecame of the size of a mans head, when it continued to shine asteady ball of fire. Such an object, lighted as it were by magic,under the brow of the mountain, and in that retired and unfrequentedplace, gave double interest to the beauty and singularity of itsappearance. It did not at all resemble the large and unsteady lightof their own fire, being much more clear and bright, and retaining itssize and shape with perfect uniformity.

　　There are moments when the best-regulated minds are more or lesssubjected to the injurious impressions which few have escaped ininfancy; and Elizabeth smiled at her own weakness, while sheremembered the idle tales which were circulated through the village,at the expense of the Leather-Stocking. The same ideas seized hercompanion, and at the same instant, for Louisa pressed nearer to herfriend, as she said in a low voice, stealing a timid glance toward thebushes and trees that overhung the bank near them:

　　"Did you ever hear the singular ways of this Natty spoken of, MissTemple? They say that, in his youth, he was an Indian warrior; or,what is the same thing, a white man leagued with the savages; and itis thought he has been concerned in many of their inroads, in the oldwars."

　　"The thing is not at all improbable," returned Elizabeth; "he is notalone in that particular."

　　"No, surely; but is it not strange that he is so cautious with hishut? He never leaves it, without fastening it in a remarkable manner;and in several instances, when the children, or even the men of thevillage, have wished to seek a shelter there from the storms, he hasbeen known to drive them from his door with rudeness and threats.That surely is singular to this country!"

　　"It is certainly not very hospitable; but we must remember hisaversion to the customs of civilized life. You heard my father say, afew days since, how kindly he was treated by him on his first visit tohis place." Elizabeth paused, and smiled, with an expression ofpeculiar arch ness, though the darkness hid its meaning from hercompanion, as she continued: "Besides, he certainly admits the visitsof Mr. Edwards, whom we both know to be far from a savage."

　　To this speech Louisa made no reply, but continued gazing on theobject which had elicited her remarks. In addition to the bright andcircular flame, was now to be seen a fainter, though a vivid light, ofan equal diameter to the other at the upper end, but which, afterextending downward for many feet, gradually tapered to a point at itslower extremity. A dark space was plainly visible between the two,and the new illumination was placed beneath the other, the wholeforming an appearance not unlike an inverted note of admiration. Itwas soon evident that the latter was nothing but the reflection, fromthe water, of the former, and that the object, whatever it might be,was advancing across, or rather over the lake, for it seemed to beseveral feet above its surface, in a direct line with themselves. Itsmotion was amazingly rapid, the ladies having hardly discovered thatit was moving at all, before the waving light of a flame wasdiscerned, losing its regular shape, while it increased in size, as itapproached.

　　"It appears to be supernatural!" whispered Louisa, beginning toretrace her steps toward the party.

　　"It is beautiful!" exclaimed Elizabeth,

　　A brilliant though waving flame was now plainly visible, gracefullygliding over the lake, and throwing its light on the water in such amanner as to tinge it slightly though in the air, so strong was thecontrast, the darkness seemed to have the distinctness of materialsubstances, as if the fire were imbedded in a setting of ebony. Thisappearance, however, gradually wore off, and the rays from the torchstruck out, and enlightened the atmosphere in front of it, leaving thebackground in a darkness that was more impenetrable than ever.

　　"Ho! Natty, is that you?" shouted the sheriff. "Paddle in, old boy,and Ill give you a mess of fish that is fit to place before thegovernor,"

　　The light suddenly changed its direction, and a long and slightlybuilt boat hove up out of the gloom, while the red glare fell on theweather-beaten features of the Leather-Stocking, whose tall person wasseen erect in the frail vessel, wielding, with the grace of anexperienced boatman, a long fishing-spear, which he held by itscentre, first dropping one end and then the other into the water, toaid in propelling the little canoe of bark, we will not say through,but over, the water. At the farther end of the vessel a form wasfaintly seen, guiding its motions, and using a paddle with the ease ofone who felt there was no necessity for exertion. The Leather-Stocking struck his spear lightly against the short staff which upheld, on a rude grating framed of old hoops of iron, the knots of pinethat composed the fuel, and the light, which glared high, for aninstant fell on the swarthy features and dark, glancing eyes ofMohegan.

　　The boat glided along the shore until it arrived opposite the fishing-ground, when it again changed its direction and moved on to the land,with a motion so graceful, and yet so rapid, that it seemed to possessthe power of regulating its own progress. The water in front of thecanoe was hardly ruffled by its passage and no sound betrayed thecollision, when the light fabric shot on the gravelly beach for nearlyhalf its length, Natty receding a step or two from its bow, in orderto facilitate the landing.

　　"Approach, Mohegan," said Marmaduke; "approach, Leather-Stocking, andload your canoe with bass. It would be a shame to assail the animalswith the spear, when such multitudes of victims lie here, that will belost as food for the want of mouths to consume them."

　　No, no, Judge," returned Natty, his tall figure stalking over thenarrow beach, and ascending to the little grassy bottom where the fishwere laid in piles; "I eat of no mans wasty ways. I strike my spearinto the eels or the trout, when I crave the creatur; but I wouldntbe helping to such a sinful kind of fishing for the best rifle thatwas ever brought out from the old countries. If they had fur, likethe beaver, or you could tan their hides, like a buck, something mightbe said in favor of taking them by the thousand with your nets; but asGod made them for mans food, and for no other disarnable reason, Icall it sinful and wasty to catch more than can be eat."

　　"Your reasoning is mine; for once, old hunter, we agree in opinion;and I heartily wish we could make a convert of the sheriff. A net ofhalf the size of this would supply the whole village with fish for aweek at one haul."

　　The Leather-Stocking did not relish this alliance in sentiment; and heshook his head doubtingly as he answered;

　　"No, no; we are not much of one mind, Judge, or youd never turn goodhunting-grounds into stumpy pastures. And you fish and hunt out ofrule; but, to me, the flesh is sweeter where the creatur has somechance for its life; for that reason, I always use a single ball, evenif it be at a bird or a squirrel. Besides, it saves lead; for, when abody knows how to shoot, one piece of lead is enough for all, excepthard-lived animals."

　　The sheriff heard these opinions with great indignation; and when hecompleted the last arrangement for the division, by carrying with hisown hands a trout of a large size, and placing it on four differentpiles in succession, as his vacillating ideas of justice required,gave vent to his spleen.

　　"A very pretty confederacy, indeed! Judge Temple, the landlord andowner of a township, with Nathaniel Bumppo a lawless squatter, andprofessed deer-killer, in order to preserve the game of the county!But, Duke, when I fish I fish; so, away, boys, for another haul, andwell send out wagons and carts in the morning to bring in ourprizes."

　　Marmaduke appeared to understand that all opposition to the will ofthe sheriff would he useless, and he strolled from the fire to theplace where the canoe of the hunters lay, whither the ladies andOliver Edwards had already preceded him.

　　Curiosity induced the females to approach this spot; but it was adifferent motive that led the youth thither. Elizabeth examined thelight ashen timbers and thin bark covering of the canoe, in admirationof its neat but simple execution, and with wonder that any human beingcould he so daring as to trust his life in so frail a vessel. But theyouth explained to her the buoyant properties of the boat, and itsperfect safety when under proper management; adding, in such glowingterms, a description of the manner in which the fish were struck withthe spear, that she changed suddenly, from an apprehension of thedanger of the excursion, to a desire to participate in its pleasures.She even ventured a proposition to that effect to her father, laughingat the same time at her own wish, and accusing herself of acting undera womans caprice.

　　"Say not so, Bess," returned the Judge; "I would have you above theidle fears of a silly girl. These canoes are the safest kind of boatsto those who have skill and steady nerves. I have crossed thebroadest part of the Oneida in one much smaller than this."

　　"And I the Ontary," interrupted the Leather-Stocking; " and that withsquaws in the canoe, too. But the Delaware women are used to thepaddle, and are good hands in a boat of this natur, If the young ladywould like to see an old man strike a trout for his breakfast, she iswelcome to a seat. John will say the same, seeing that he built thecanoe, which was only launched yesterday; for Im not over-curious atsuch small work as brooms, and basket-making, and other like Indiantrades."

　　Natty gave Elizabeth one of his significant laughs, with a kind nod ofthe head, when he concluded his invitation but Mohegan, with thenative grace of an Indian, approached, and taking her soft white handinto his own swarthy and wrinkled palm, said:

　　"Come, granddaughter of Miquon, and John will be glad. Trust theIndian; his head is old, though his hand is not steady. The YoungEagle will go, and see that no harm hurts his sister."

　　"Mr. Edwards," said Elizabeth, blushing slightly, "your friend Moheganhas given a promise for you. Do you redeem the pledge?"

　　"With my life, if necessary, Miss Temple," cried the youth, withfervor. " The sight is worth some little apprehension; for of realdanger there is none, I will go with you and Miss Grand, however, tosave appearances."

　　"With me!" exclaimed Louisa. "No, not with me, Mr. Edwards; nor,surely, do you mean to trust yourself in that slight canoe."

　　"But I shall; for I have no apprehensions any longer," said Elizabeth,stepping into the boat, and taking a seat where the Indian directed."Mr. Edwards, you may remain, as three do seem to be enough for suchan egg shell." "

　　"It shall hold a fourth," cried the young man, springing to her side,with a violence that nearly shook the weak fabric of the vesselasunder. "Pardon me, Miss Temple, that I do not permit thesevenerable Charons to take you to the shades unattended by yourgenius."

　　"Is it a good or evil spirit?" asked Elizabeth."Good to you."

　　"And mine," added the maiden, with an air that strangely blended piquewith satisfaction. But the motion of the canoe gave rise to newideas, and fortunately afforded a good excuse to the young man tochange the discourse.

　　It appeared to Elizabeth that they glided over the water by magic, soeasy and graceful was the manner in which Mohegan guided his littlebark. A slight gesture with his spear indicated the way in whichLeather-Stocking wished to go, and a profound silence was preserved bythe whole party, as the precaution necessary to the success of theirfishery. At that point of the lake the water shoaled regularly.differing in this particular altogether from those parts where themountains rose nearly in perpendicular precipices from the beach.There the largest vessels could have lain, with their yardsinterlocked with the pines; while here a scanty growth of rusheslifted their tops above the lake, gently curling the waters, as theirbending heads waved with the passing breath of the night air. It wasat the shallow points only that the bass could he found, or the netcast with success.

　　Elizabeth saw thousands of these fish swimming in shoals along theshallow and warm waters of the shore; for the flaring light of theirtorch laid bare the mysteries of the lake, as plainly as if the limpidsheet of the Otsego was but another atmosphere. Every instant sheexpected to see the impending spear of Leather-Stocking darting intothe thronging hosts that were rushing beneath her, where it would seemthat a blow could not go amiss; and where, as her father had alreadysaid, the prize that would be obtained was worthy any epicure. ButNatty had his peculiar habits, and, it would seem, his peculiar tastesalso.

　　His tall stature, and his erect posture, enabled him to see muchfarther than those who were seated in the bottom of the canoe; and heturned his head warily in every direction, frequently bending his bodyforward, and straining his vision, as if desirous of penetrating thewater that surrounded their boundary of light. At length his anxiousscrutiny was rewarded with success, and, waving his spear from theshore, he said in a cautious tone:

　　"Send her outside the bass, John; I see a laker there, that has runout of the school. Its seldom one finds such a creatur in shallowwater, where a spear can touch it."

　　Mohegan gave a wave of assent with his hand, and in the next instantthe canoe was without the " run of the bass," and in water nearlytwenty feet in depth. A few additional knots were laid on thegrating, and the light penetrated to the bottom, Elizabeth then saw afish of unusual size floating above small pieces of logs and sticks.The animal was only distinguishable, at that distance, by a slight butalmost imperceptible motion of its fins and tail. The curiosityexcited by this unusual exposure of the secrets of the lake seemed tobe mutual between the heiress of the land and the lord of thesewaters, for the " "salmon-trout" soon announced his interest byraising his head and body for a few degrees above a horizontal line,and then dropping them again into a horizontal position.

　　"Whist! whist!" said Natty, in a low voice, on hearing a slight soundmade by Elizabeth in bending over the side of the canoe in curiosity;"tis a skeary animal, and its a far stroke for a spear. My handleis hut fourteen foot, and the creator lies a good eighteen from thetop of the water: but Ill try him, for he's a ten--pounder."

　　While speaking, the Leather-Stocking was poising and directing hisweapon. Elizabeth saw the bright, polished tines, as they slowly andsilently entered the water, where the refraction pointed them manydegrees from the true direction of the fish; and she thought that theintended victim saw them also, as he seemed to increase the play ofhis tail and fins, though without moving his station. At the nextinstant the tall body of Natty bent to the waters edge, and thehandle of his spear disappeared in the lake. The long, dark streak ofthe gliding weapon, and the little bubbling vortex which followed itsrapid flight, were easily to be seen: but it was not until the handlesnot again into the air by its own reaction, and its master catchingit in his hand, threw its tines uppermost, that Elizabeth wasacquainted with the success of the blow. A fish of great size wastransfixed by the barbed steel, and was very soon shaken from itsimpaled situation into the bottom of the canoe.

　　That will do, John," said Natty, raising his prize by one of hisfingers, and exhibiting it before the torch; " I shall not strikeanother blow to-night."

　　The Indian again waved his hand, and replied with the simple andenergetic monosyllable of:

　　"Good."

　　Elizabeth was awakened from the trance created by this scene, and bygazing in that unusual manner at the bot tom of the lake, be thehoarse sounds of Benjamins voice, and the dashing of oars, as theheavier boat of the seine-drawers approached the spot where the canoelay, dragging after it the folds of the net.

　　"Haul off, haul off, Master Bumppo," cried Benjamin, "your top-lightfrightens the fish, who see the net and sheer off soundings. A fishknows as much as a horse, or, for that matter, more, seeing that itsbrought up on the water. Haul oil, Master Bumppo, haul off, I say,and give a wide berth to the seine."

　　Mohegan guided their little canoe to a point where the movements ofthe fishermen could be observed, without interruption to the business,and then suffered it to lie quietly on the water, looking like animaginary vessel floating in air. There appeared to be much ill-humoramong the party in the batteau, for the directions of Benjamin werenot only frequent, but issued in a voice that partook largely ofdissatisfaction.

　　"Pull larboard oar, will ye, Master Kirby?" cried the old seaman;"pull larboard best. It would puzzle the oldest admiral in theirBritish fleet to cast this here net fair, with a wake like acorkscrew. Full starboard, boy, pull starboard oar, with a will."

　　"Harkee, Mister Pump," said Kirby, ceasing to row, and speaking withsonic spirit; "I'm a man that likes civil language and decenttreatment, such as is right twixt man and man. If you want us to gohoy, say so, and hoy I'll go, for the benefit of the company; but I mnot used to being ordered about like dumb cattle."

　　"Whos dumb cattle?"" echoed Benjamin, fiercely, turning hisforbidding face to the glare of light from the canoe, and exhibitingevery feature teeming with the expression of disgust. "If you want tocome aft and cun the boat round, come and be damned, and prettysteerage youll make of it. Theres but another heave of the net inthe stern-sheets, and were clear of the thing. Give way, will ye?and shoot her ahead for a fathom or two, and if you catch me afloatagain with such a horse-marine as your self, why, rate me a ship'sjackass, thats all."

　　Probably encouraged by the prospect of a speedy termination to hislabor, the wood-chopper resumed his oar, and, under strong excitement,gave a stroke that not only cleared the boat of the net but of thesteward at the same instant. Benjamin had stood on the littleplatform that held the seine, in the stern of the boat, and theviolent whirl occasioned by the vigor of the wood-choppers armcompletely destroyed his balance. The position of the lights renderedobjects in the batteau distinguishable, both from the canoe and theshore; and the heavy fall on the water drew all eyes to the steward,as he lay struggling, for a moment, in sight.

　　A loud burst of merriment, to which the lungs of Kirby contributed nosmall part, broke out like a chorus of laughter, and ran along theeastern mountain, in echoes, until it died away in distant, mockingmirth, among the rocks and woods. The body of the steward was seenslowly to disappear, as was expected; but when the light waves, whichhad been raised by his fall, began to sink in calmness, and the waterfinally closed over his head, unbroken and still, a very differentfeeling pervaded the spectators.

　　"How fare you, Benjamin?" shouted Richard from the shore.

　　"The dumb devil cant swim a stroke!" exclaimed Kirby, rising, andbeginning to throw aside his clothes.

　　"Paddle up, Mohegan," cried young Edwards, "the light will show uswhere he lies, and I will dive for the body."

　　"Oh! save him! for Gods sake, save him!" exclaimed Elizabeth, bowingher head on the side of the canoe in horror.

　　A powerful and dexterous sweep of Mohegan's paddle sent the canoedirectly over the spot where the steward had fallen, and a loud shoutfrom the Leather-Stocking announced that he saw the body.

　　"Steady the boat while I dive," again cried Edwards.

　　"Gently, lad, gently," said Natty; " Ill spear the creatur up inhalf the time, and no risk to anybody."

　　The form of Benjamin was lying about half-way to the bottom, graspingwith both hands some broken rushes. The blood of Elizabeth curdled toher heart, as she saw the figure of a fellow-creature thus extendedunder an immense sheet of water, apparently in motion by theundulations of the dying waves, with its face and hands, viewed bythat light, and through the medium of the fluid, already colored withhues like death.

　　At the same instant, she saw the shining tines of Nattys spearapproaching the head of the sufferer, and entwinning themselves,rapidly and dexterously, in the hairs of his cue and the cape of hiscoat. The body was now raised slowly, looking ghastly and grim as itsfeatures turned upward to the light and approached the surface. Thearrival of the nostrils of Benjamin into their own atmosphere wasannounced by a breathing that would have done credit to a porpoise.For a moment, Natty held the steward suspended, with his head justabove the water, while his eyes slowly opened and stared about him, asif he thought that he had reached a new and unexplored country.

　　As all the parties acted and spoke together, much less time wasconsumed in the occurrence of these events than in their narration.To bring the batteau to the end of the spear, and to raise the form ofBenjamin into the boat, and for the whole party to regain the shore,required but a minute. Kirby, aided by Richard, whose anxiety inducedhim to run into the water to meet his favorite assistant, carried themotionless steward up the bank, and seated him before the fire, whilethe sheriff proceeded to order the most approved measures then in usefor the resuscitation of the drowned.

　　"Run, Billy," he cried, "to the village, and bring up the rum-hogsheadthat lies before the door, in which I am making vinegar, and be quick,boy, dont stay to empty the vinegar, and stop at Mr. Le Quois, andbuy a paper of tobacco and half a dozen pipes; and ask Remarkable forsome salt, and one of her flannel petticoats; and ask Dr. Todd to sendhis lancet, and to come himself; and-- ha! Duke, what are you about?would you strangle a man who is full of water, by giving him rum? Helpme to open his hand, that I may pat it."

　　All this time Benjamin sat, with his muscles fixed, his mouth shut,and his hands clinching the rushes which he had seized in theconfusion of the moment and which, as he held fast, like a trueseaman, had been the means of preventing his body from rising again tothe surface. His eyes, however, were open, and stared wildly on thegroup about the fire, while his lungs were playing like a blacksmithsbellows, as if to compensate themselves for the minute of inaction towhich they had been subjected. As he kept his lips compressed, with amost inveterate determination, the air was compelled to pass throughhis nostrils, and he rather snorted than breathed, and in such amanner that nothing but the excessive agitation of the sheriff couldat all justify his precipitous orders.

　　The bottle, applied to the stewards lips by Marmaduke, acted like acharm. His mouth opened instinctively; his hands dropped the rushes,and seized the glass; his eyes raised from their horizontal stare tothe heavens; and the whole man was lost, for a moment, in a newsensation. Unhappily for the propensity of the steward, breath was asnecessary after one of these draughts as after his submersion, and thetime at length arrived when he was compelled to let go the bottle.

　　"Why, Benjamin!" roared the sheriff; "you amaze me! for a man of yourexperience in drownings to act so foolishly! Just now, you were halffull of water, and now you are--"

　　"Full of grog," interrupted the steward, his features settling down,with amazing flexibility, into their natural economy. "But, dyesee,squire, I kept my hatches chose, and its but little water that evergets into my scuttle-butt. Harkee, Master Kirby! Ive followed thesalt-water for the better part of a mans life, and have seen somenavigation on the fresh; but this here matter I will say in yourfavor, and that is, that youre the awkardest green 'un that everstraddled a boats thwart. Them that likes you for a shipmate, maysail with you and no thanks; but dam'me if I even walk on the lakeshore in your company. For why? youd as lief drown a man as one ofthem there fish; not to throw a Christian creature so much as a ropesend when he was adrift, and no life-buoy in sight! Natty Bumppo, giveus your fist. Theres them that says youre an Indian, and a scalper,but youve served me a good turn, and you may set me down for afriend; thof it would have been more ship shape like to lower thebight of a rope or running bowline below me, than to seize an oldseaman by his head-lanyard; but I suppose you are used to taking menby the hair, and seeing you did me good instead of harm thereby, why,its the same thing, d'ye see?"

　　Marmaduke prevented any reply, and assuming the action of matters witha dignity and discretion that at once silenced all opposition from hiscousin, Benjamin was dispatched to the village by land, and the netwas hauled to shore in such a manner that the fish for once escapedits meshes with impunity.

　　The division of the spoils was made in the ordinary manner, by placingone of the party with his hack to the game, who named the owner ofeach pile. Bill Kirby stretched his large frame on the grass by theside of the fire, as sentinel until morning, over net and fish ; andthe remainder of the party embarked in the batteau, to return to thevillage.

　　The wood-chopper was seen broiling his supper on the coals as theylost sight of the fire, and when the boat approached the shore, thetorch of Mohegans canoe was shining again under the gloom of theeastern mountain. Its motion ceased suddenly; a scattering of brandswas in the air, and then all remained dark as the conjunction ofnight, forest, and mountain could render the scene.

　　The thoughts of Elizabeth wandered from the youth, who was holding acanopy of shawls over herself and Louisa, to the hunter and the Indianwarrior; and she felt an awakening curiosity to visit a hut where menof such different habits and temperament were drawn together as bycommon impulse.