Chapter 32

           "Butplaguesshallspread,andfuneralfiresincrease,

           Tillthegreatking,withoutaransompaid,

           ToherownChrysasendtheblack-eyedmaid."

           Pope.

           DuringthetimeUncaswasmakingthisdispositionofhisforces,thewoodswerestill,and,withtheexceptionofthosewhohadmetincouncil,apparentlyasmuchuntenanted,aswhentheycamefreshfromthehandsoftheirAlmightyCreator.Theeyecouldrange,ineverydirection,throughthelongandshadowedvistasofthetrees;butnowherewasanyobjecttobeseenthatdidnotproperlybelongtothepeacefulandslumberingscenery.Hereandthereabirdwasheardflutteringamongthebranchesofthebeeches,andoccasionallyasquirreldroppedanut,drawingthestartledlooksoftheparty,foramoment,totheplace;buttheinstantthecasualinterruptionceased,thepassingairwasheardmurmuringabovetheirheads,alongthatverdantandundulatingsurfaceofforest,whichspreaditselfunbroken,unlessbystreamorlake,oversuchavastregionofcountry.Acrossthetractofwilderness,whichlaybetweentheDelawaresandthevillageoftheirenemies,itseemedasifthefootofmanhadnevertrodden,sobreathinganddeepwasthesilenceinwhichitlay.ButHawkeye,whosedutyledhimforemostintheadventure,knewthecharacterofthosewithwhomhewasabouttocontendtoowelltotrustthetreacherousquiet.