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Chapter 29
TheDelawaresheldtheirbreathinexpectation;butMaguahimself,evenwhilehedistrustedtheforbearanceofhisenemy,remainedimmovableandcalm,wherehestoodwedgedinbythecrowd,asonewhogrewtothespot.
"Beatit,"repliedtheyoungDelawareattheelbowofthescout.
"Beatwhat,fool!—what!"exclaimedHawkeye,stillflourishingtheweaponangrilyabovehishead,thoughhiseyenolongersoughtthepersonofMagua.
"Ifthewhitemanisthewarriorhepretends,"saidtheagedchief,"lethimstrikenighertothemark."
Thescoutlaughedaloud—anoisethatproducedthestartlingeffectofanunnaturalsoundonHeyward;thendroppingthepieceheavilyintohisextendedlefthand,itwasdischarged,apparentlybytheshock,drivingthefragmentsofthevesselintotheair,andscatteringthemoneveryside.Almostatthesameinstant,therattlingsoundoftheriflewasheard,ashesufferedittofall,contemptuously,totheearth.
Thefirstimpressionofsostrangeascenewasengrossingadmiration.Thenalow,butincreasingmurmur,ranthroughthemultitude,andfinallyswelledintosoundsthatdenotedalivelyoppositioninthesentimentsofthespectators.Whilesomeopenlytestifiedtheirsatisfactionatsounexampleddexterity,byfarthelargerportionofthetribewereinclinedtobelievethesuccessoftheshotwastheresultofaccident.Heywardwasnotslowtoconfirmanopinionthatwassofavorabletohisownpretentions.
