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           NoperceptibleemotioncouldbediscoveredintheMohicansduringthiscriticalmoment,theirrigidfeaturesexpressingneitherhopenoralarm;butthescoutagainturnedhishead,andlaughinginhisownsilentmanner,hesaidtoHeyward—

           "Theknaveslovetohearthesoundsoftheirpieces;buttheeyeisnottobefoundamongtheMingosthatcancalculateatruerangeinadancingcanoe!Youseethedumbdevilshavetakenoffamantocharge,andbythesmallestmeasurementthatcanbeallowed,wemovethreefeettotheirtwo!"

           Duncan,whowasnotaltogetheraseasyunderthisniceestimateofdistancesashiscompanions,wasgladtofind,however,thatowingtotheirsuperiordexterity,andthediversionamongtheirenemies,theywereverysensiblyobtainingtheadvantage.TheHuronssoonfiredagain,andabulletstruckthebladeofHawkeye’spaddlewithoutinjury.

           "Thatwilldo,"saidthescout,examiningtheslightindentationwithacuriouseye;"itwouldnothavecuttheskinofaninfant,muchlessofmen,who,likeus,havebeenblownuponbytheheavensintheiranger.Now,major,ifyouwilltrytousethispieceofflattenedwood,I’lllet‘Killdeer’takeapartintheconversation."

           Heywardseizedthepaddle,andappliedhimselftotheworkwithaneagernessthatsuppliedtheplaceofskill,whileHawkeyewasengagedininspectingtheprimingofhisrifle.Thelatterthentookaswiftaim,andfired.