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Chapter 21
Beforefollowingtheclue,hecommunicatedhissuccesstohiscompanions;andwhilethelatterwereconsultingonthecircumstance,theyouthreappeared,leadingthetwofillies,withtheirsaddlesbroken,andthehousingssoiled,asthoughtheyhadbeenpermittedtorunatwillforseveraldays.
"Whatshouldthismean?"saidDuncan,turningpale,andglancinghiseyesaroundhim,asifhefearedthebrushandleaveswereabouttogiveupsomehorridsecret.
"Thatourmarchiscometoaquickend,andthatweareinanenemy’scountry,"returnedthescout."Hadtheknavesbeenpressed,andthegentleoneswantedhorsestokeepupwiththeparty,hemighthavetakentheirscalps;butwithoutanenemyathisheels,andwithsuchruggedbeastsasthese,hewouldnothurtahairoftheirheads.Iknowyourthoughts,andshamebeittoourcolorthatyouhavereasonforthem;buthewhothinksthatevenaMingowouldill-treatawoman,unlessitbetotomahawkher,knowsnothingofIndiannatur’,orthelawsofthewoods.No,no;IhaveheardthattheFrenchIndianshadcomeintothesehills,tohuntthemoose,andwearegettingwithinscentoftheircamp.Whyshouldtheynot?themorningandeveninggunsofTymaybeheardanydayamongthesemountains;fortheFrenchersarerunninganewlineatweentheprovincesofthekingandtheCanadas.Itistruethatthehorsesarehere,buttheHuronsaregone;letusthenhuntforthepathbywhichtheydeparted."
HawkeyeandtheMohicansnowappliedthemselvestotheirtaskingoodearnest.
