Chapter 21

           "Ifyoufindamanthere,heshalldieaflea’sdeath."

           MerryWivesofWindsor.

           Thepartyhadlandedontheborderofaregionthatis,eventothisday,lessknowntotheinhabitantsoftheStates,thanthedesertsofArabia,orthesteppesofTartary.ItwasthesterileandruggeddistrictwhichseparatesthetributariesofChamplainfromthoseoftheHudson,theMohawk,andtheSt.Lawrence.Sincetheperiodofourtale,theactivespiritofthecountryhassurroundeditwithabeltofrichandthrivingsettlements,thoughnonebutthehunterorthesavageiseverknown,evennow,topenetrateitswildrecesses.

           AsHawkeyeandtheMohicanshad,however,oftentraversedthemountainsandvalleysofthisvastwilderness,theydidnothesitatetoplungeintoitsdepths,withthefreedomofmenaccustomedtoitsprivationsanddifficulties.Formanyhoursthetravellerstoiledontheirlaboriousway,guidedbyastar,orfollowingthedirectionofsomewater-course,untilthescoutcalledahalt,andholdingashortconsultationwiththeIndians,theylightedtheirfire,andmadetheusualpreparationstopasstheremainderofthenightwheretheythenwere.

           Imitatingtheexample,andemulatingtheconfidence,oftheirmoreexperiencedassociates,MunroandDuncansleptwithoutfear,ifnotwithoutuneasiness.Thedewsweresufferedtoexhale,andthesundispersedthemists,andwassheddingastrongandclearlightintheforest,whenthetravellersresumedtheirjourney.