Chapter 8

           "Theylingeryet,

           Avengersoftheirnativeland."

           Gray.

           Thewarningcallofthescoutwasnotutteredwithoutoccasion.Duringtheoccurrenceofthedeadlyencounterjustrelated,theroarofthefallswasunbrokenbyanyhumansoundwhatever.Itwouldseemthatinterestintheresulthadkeptthenativesontheoppositeshoresinbreathlesssuspense,whilethequickevolutionsandswiftchangesinthepositionofthecombatants,effectuallypreventedafirethatmightprovedangerousaliketofriendandenemy.Butthemomentthestrugglewasdecided,ayellaroseasfierceandsavageaswildandrevengfulpassionscouldthrowintotheair.Itwasfollowedbytheswiftflashesoftherifles,whichsenttheirleadenmessengersacrosstherockinvolleys,asthoughtheassailantswouldpourouttheirimpotentfuryontheinsensiblesceneofthefatalcontest.

           Asteady,thoughdeliberatereturnwasmadefromtherifleofChingachgook,whohadmaintainedhispostthroughoutthefraywithunmovedresolution.WhenthetriumphantshoutofUncaswasbornetohisears,thegratifiedfatherraisedhisvoiceinasingleresponsivecry,afterwhichhisbusypiecealoneprovedthathestillguardedhispasswithunwearieddiligence.Inthismannermanyminutesflewbywiththeswiftnessofthought:theriflesoftheassailantsspeaking,attimes,inrattlingvolleys,andatothers,inoccasional,scatteringshots.