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Chapter 20
"Youshowedknowledgeintheshapingofbirchenbark,Uncas,whenyouchosethisfromamongtheHuroncanoes,"saidthescout,smiling,apparentlymoreinsatisfactionattheirsuperiorityintherace,thanfromthatprospectoffinalescapewhichnowbegantoopenalittleuponthem."Theimpshaveputalltheirstrengthagainatthepaddles,andwearetostruggleforourscalpswithbitsofflattenedwood,insteadofcloudedbarrelsandtrueeyes.Alongstroke,andtogether,friends."
"Theyarepreparingforashot,"saidHeyward;"andasweareinalinewiththem,itcanscarcelyfail."
"Getyouthenintothebottomofthecanoe,"returnedthescout;"youandthecolonel;itwillbesomuchtakenfromthesizeofthemark."
Heywardsmiled,asheanswered—
"Itwouldbebutanillexampleforthehighestinranktododge,whilethewarriorswereunderfire!"
"Lord!Lord!Thatisnowawhiteman’scourage!"exclaimedthescout;"andliketoomanyofhisnotions,nottobemaintainedbyreason.DoyouthinktheSagamore,orUncas,orevenI,whoamamanwithoutacross,woulddeliberateaboutfindingacoverintheskrimmage,whenanopenbodywoulddonogood?ForwhathavetheFrenchersreareduptheirQuebec,iffightingisalwaystobedoneintheclearings?"
"Allthatyousayisverytrue,myfriend,"repliedHeyward;"still,ourcustomsmustpreventusfromdoingasyouwish."
