Chapter 9

           "Begaysecurely;

           Dispel,myfair,withsmiles,thetim’rousclouds,

           Thathangonthyclearbrow."

           DeathofAgrippina.

           Thesuddenandalmostmagicalchange,fromthestirringincidentsofthecombattothestillnessthatnowreignedaroundhim,actedontheheatedimaginationofHeywardlikesomeexcitingdream.Whilealltheimagesandeventshehadwitnessedremaineddeeplyimpressedonhismemory,hefeltadifficultyinpersuadinghimselfoftheirtruth.Stillignorantofthefateofthosewhohadtrustedtotheaidoftheswiftcurrent,heatfirstlistenedintentlytoanysignal,orsoundsofalarm,whichmightannouncethegoodorevilfortuneoftheirhazardousundertaking.Hisattentionwas,however,bestowedinvain;for,withthedisappearanceofUncas,everysignoftheadventurershadbeenlost,leavinghimintotaluncertaintyoftheirfate.

           Inamomentofsuchpainfuldoubt,Duncandidnothesitatetolookabouthim,withoutconsultingthatprotectionfromtherockswhichjustbeforehadbeensonecessarytohissafety.Everyeffort,however,todetecttheleastevidenceoftheapproachoftheirhiddenenemies,wasasfruitlessastheinquiryafterhislatecompanions.Thewoodedbanksoftheriversseemedagaindesertedbyeverythingpossessinganimallife.Theuproarwhichhadsolatelyechoedthroughthevaultsoftheforestwasgone,leavingtherushofthewaterstoswellandsinkonthecurrentsoftheair,intheunmingledsweetnessofnature.