Chapter 12

           "Clo.—Iamgone,sir,

           Andanon,sir,

           I’llbewithyouagain."

           TwelfthNight.

           TheHuronsstoodaghastatthissuddenvisitationofdeathononeoftheirband.But,astheyregardedthefatalaccuracyofanaimwhichhaddaredtoimmolateanenemyatsomuchhazardtoafriend,thenameof"LaLongueCarabine"burstsimultaneouslyfromeverylip,andwassucceededbyawildandasortofplaintivehowl.Thecrywasansweredbyaloudshoutfromalittlethicket,wheretheincautiouspartyhadpiledtheirarms;andatthenextmoment,Hawkeye,tooeagertoloadtheriflehehadregained,wasseenadvancinguponthem,brandishingtheclubbedweapon,andcuttingtheairwithwideandpowerfulsweeps.Boldandrapidaswastheprogressofthescout,itwasexceededbythatofalightandvigorousformwhich,boundingpasthim,leaped,withincredibleactivityanddaring,intotheverycentreoftheHurons,whereitstood,whirlingatomahawk,andflourishingaglitteringknife,withfearfulmenaces,infrontofCora.Quickerthanthethoughtscouldfollowtheseunexpectedandaudaciousmovements,animage,armedintheemblematicpanoplyofdeath,glidedbeforetheireyes,andassumedathreateningattitudeattheother’sside.