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Chapter 21
ThewholepartycrowdedtothespotwhereUncaspointedouttheimpressionofamoccasininthemoistalluvion.
"Theladwillbeanhonortohispeople,"saidHawkeye,regardingthetrailwithasmuchadmirationasanaturalistwouldexpendonthetuskofamammothortheribofamastodon;"ay,andathorninthesidesoftheHurons.YetthatisnotthefootstepofanIndian!theweightistoomuchontheheel,andthetoesaresquared,asthoughoneoftheFrenchdancershadbeenin,pigeon-winginghistribe!Runback,Uncas,andbringmethesizeofthesinger’sfoot.Youwillfindabeautifulprintofitjustoppositeyonrock,aginthehillside."
Whiletheyouthwasengagedinthiscommission,thescoutandChingachgookwereattentivelyconsideringtheimpressions.Themeasurementsagreed,andtheformerunhesitatinglypronouncedthatthefootstepwasthatofDavid,whohadoncemore,beenmadetoexchangehisshoesformoccasins.
"Icannowreadthewholeofit,asplainlyasifIhadseentheartsofLeSubtil,"headded;"thesinger,beingamanwhosegiftslaychieflyinhisthroatandfeet,wasmadetogofirst,andtheothershavetrodinhissteps,imitatingtheirformation."
"But,"criedDuncan,"Iseenosignsof—"
"Thegentleones,"interruptedthescout;"thevarlethasfoundawaytocarrythem,untilhesupposedhehadthrownanyfollowersoffthescent.Mylifeonit,weseetheirprettylittlefeetagain,beforemanyrodsgoby."
