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           "Whattodowiththesedumbcreatures!"mutteredthewhiteman,onwhomthesolecontroloftheirfuturemovementsappearedtodevolve;"itwouldbetimelosttocuttheirthroats,andcastthemintotheriver;andtoleavethemhere,wouldbetotelltheMingosthattheyhavenotfartoseektofindtheirowners!"

           "Thengivethemtheirbridles,andletthemrangethewoods,"Heywardventuredtosuggest.

           "No;itwouldbebettertomisleadtheimps,andmakethembelievetheymustequalahorse’sspeedtorundowntheirchase.Ay,ay,thatwillblindtheirfire-ballsofeyes!Chingach—Hist?whatstirsthebush?"

           "Thecolt."

           "Thatcolt,atleast,mustdie,"mutteredthescout,graspingthemaneofthenimblebeast,whicheasilyeludedhishand;"Uncas,yourarrows!"

           "Hold!"exclaimedtheproprietorofthecondemnedanimal,aloud,withoutregardtothewhisperingtonesusedbytheothers;"sparethefoalofMiriam!itisthecomelyoffspringofafaithfuldam,andwouldwillinglyinjurenaught."

           "WhenmenstruggleforthesinglelifeGodhasgiventhem,"saidthescoutsternly,"eventheirownkindseemnomorethanthebeastsofthewood.Ifyouspeakagain,IshallleaveyoutothemercyoftheMaquas!Drawtoyourarrow’shead,Uncas;wehavenotimeforsecondblows."

           Thelow,mutteringsoundsofhisthreateningvoicewerestillaudible,whenthewoundedfoal,firstrearingonitshinderlegs,plungedforwardtoitsknees.