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           TheinstanttheFrenchheardthepieces,itseemedasiftheplainwasalivewithmen,musketsrattlingalongitswholeextent,fromtheshoresofthelaketothefarthestboundaryofthewoods.

           "Weshalldrawtheirentirearmyuponus,andbringonageneralassault,"saidDuncan:"leadon,myfriend,foryourownlife,andours."

           Thescoutseemedwillingtocomply;but,inthehurryofthemoment,andinthechangeofposition,hehadlostthedirection.Invainheturnedeithercheektowardsthelightair;theyfeltequallycool.Inthisdilemma,Uncaslightedonthefurrowofthecannon-ball,whereithadcutthegroundinthreeadjacentant-hills.

           "Givemetherange!"saidHawkeye,bendingtocatchaglimpseofthedirection,andtheninstantlymovingonward.

           Cries,oaths,voicescallingtoeachother,andthereportsofmuskets,werenowquickandincessant,and,apparently,oneverysideofthem.Suddenly,astrongglareoflightflashedacrossthescene,thefogrolledupwardsinthickwreaths,andseveralcannonbelchedacrosstheplain,andtheroarwasthrownheavilybackfromthebellowingechoesofthemountain.

           "’Tisfromthefort!"exclaimedHawkeye,turningshortonhistracks;"andwe,likestrickenfools,wererushingtothewoods,undertheveryknivesoftheMaquas."

           Theinstanttheirmistakewasrectified,thewholepartyretracedtheerrorwiththeutmostdiligence.DuncanwillinglyrelinquishedthesupportofCoratothearmofUncas,andCoraasreadilyacceptedthewelcomeassistance.