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           "TheimpisnotaHuron,"hesaid,"norofanyoftheCanadatribes;andyetyousee,byhisclothes,theknavehasbeenplunderingawhite.Ay,Montcalmhasrakedthewoodsforhisinroad,andawhooping,murderingsetofvarletshashegatheredtogether.Canyouseewherehehasputhisrifleorhisbow?"

           "Heappearstohavenoarms;nordoesheseemtobeviciouslyinclined.Unlesshecommunicatethealarmtohisfellows,whoasyouseearedodgingaboutthewater,wehavebutlittletofearfromhim."

           ThescoutturnedtoHeyward,andregardedhimamomentwithunconcealedamazement.Thenopeningwidehismouth,heindulgedinunrestrainedandheartfeltlaughter,thoughinthatsilentandpeculiarmannerwhichdangerhadsolongtaughthimtopractise.

           Repeatingthewords,"fellowswhoaredodgingaboutthewater!"headded,"somuchforschoolingandpassingaboyhoodinthesettlements!Theknavehaslonglegs,though,andshallnotbetrusted.DoyoukeephimunderyourriflewhileIcreepinbehind,throughthebush,andtakehimalive.Fireonnoaccount."

           Heywardhadalreadypermittedhiscompaniontoburypartofhispersoninthethicket,when,stretchingforthanarm,hearrestedhim,inordertoask—

           "IfIseeyouindanger,mayInotriskashot?"

           Hawkeyeregardedhimamoment,likeonewhoknewnothowtotakethequestion;thennoddinghishead,heanswered,stilllaughing,thoughinaudibly—

           "Fireawholeplatoon,major."

           Inthenextmomenthewasconcealedbytheleaves