not, he might hope to escape that derision which the young Indian
so much dreads. Then there were the dangers of an ambush and
a surprise, to which every warrior of the woods is keenly alive,
to render his approach slow and cautious. In consequence of the
delay that proceeded from these combined causes, the two parties
had descended some fifty or sixty yards before the young savage
was again near enough to the bushes of the Pathfinder to touch them
with his hand.

Notwithstanding their critical situation, the whole party behind
the cover had their eyes fastened on the working countenance of the
young Iroquois, who was agitated by conflicting feelings. First
came the eager hope of obtaining success where some of the most
experienced of his tribe had failed, and with it a degree of
glory that had seldom fallen to the share of one of his years or a
brave on his first war-path; then followed doubts, as the drooping
leaves seemed to rise again and to revive in the currents of air;
and distrust of hidden danger lent its exciting feeling to keep
the eloquent features in play. So very slight, however, had been
the alteration produced by the heat on the bushes of which the
stems were in the water, that when the Iroquois actually laid his
hand on the leaves, he fancied that he had been deceived. As no
man ever distrusts strongly without using all convenient means of
satisfying his doubts, however, the young warrior cautiously pushed
aside the branches and advanced a step within the hiding-place,
when the forms of the concealed party met his gaze, resembling so
many breathless statues. The low exclamation, the slight start,
and the glaring eye, were hardly seen and heard, before the
arm of Chingachgook was raised, and the tomahawk of the Delaware
descended on the shaven head of his foe. The Iroquois raised his