Chapter 27

           "Ant.Ishallremember:

           WhenCaesarsaysDothis,itisperformed."

           JuliusCaesar.

           TheimpatienceofthesavageswholingeredabouttheprisonofUncas,ashasbeenseen,hadovercometheirdreadoftheconjurer’sbreath.Theystolecautiously,andwithbeatinghearts,toacrevice,throughwhichthefaintlightofthefirewasglimmering.ForseveralminutestheymistooktheformofDavidforthatoftheirprisoner;buttheveryaccidentwhichHawkeyehadforeseenoccurred.Tiredofkeepingtheextremitiesofhislongpersonsoneartogether,thesingergraduallysufferedthelowerlimbstoextendthemselves,untiloneofhismisshapenfeetactuallycameincontactwithandshovedasidetheembersofthefire.AtfirsttheHuronsbelievedtheDelawarehadbeenthusdeformedbywitchcraft.ButwhenDavid,unconsciousofbeingobserved,turnedhishead,andexposedhissimple,mildcountenance,inplaceofthehaughtylineamentsoftheirprisoner,itwouldhaveexceededthecredulityofevenanativetohavedoubtedanylonger.Theyrushedtogetherintothelodge,andlayingtheirhands,withbutlittleceremony,ontheircaptive,immediatelydetectedtheimposition.Thenarosethecryfirstheardbythefugitives.Itwassucceededbythemostfranticandangrydemonstrationsofvengeance.David,howeverfirminhisdeterminationtocovertheretreatofhisfriends,wascompelledtobelievethathisownfinalhourhadcome.