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Chapter 13
Astrainofmelancholy,however,blendedwithhistriumph,renderinghisvoice,asusual,softandmusical.
Duringthewarof1776FortOswegowasheldbytheBritish.Anexpeditionhadbeensenttwohundredmilesthroughthewildernesstosurprisethefort.ItappearsthattheAmericans,onreachingthespotnamed,whichwaswithinamileortwoofthefort,firstlearnedthattheywereexpected,andingreatdangerofbeingcutoff.Theythrewawaytheirscaling-ladders,andmadearapidretreat.Theseladdershadlainunmolestedthirtyyears,inthespotwheretheyhadthusbeencast.
Inthemeantime,thesistersgladlydismounted,andpreparedtoenjoytheirhaltinthecoolnessoftheevening,andinasecuritywhichtheybelievednothingbutthebeastsoftheforestcouldinvade.
"Wouldnotourresting-placehavebeenmoreretired,myworthyfriend,"demandedthemorevigilantDuncan,perceivingthatthescouthadalreadyfinishedhisshortsurvey,"hadwechosenaspotlessknown,andonemorerarelyvisitedthanthis?"
"Fewlivewhoknowtheblock-housewaseverraised,"wastheslowandmusinganswer;"’tisnotoftenthatbooksaremade,andnarrativeswritten,ofsuchascrimmageaswasherefou’tatweentheMohicansandtheMohawks,inawaroftheirownwaging.Iwasthenayounker,andwentoutwiththeDelawares,becauseIknow’dtheywereascandalizedandwrongedrace.
