Chapter 19

           "Salar.—Why,Iamsure,ifheforfeit,thouwiltnottakehisflesh;what’sthatgoodfor?"

           "Shy.—Tobaitfishwithal:ifitwillfeednothingelse,itwillfeedmyrevenge."

           MerchantofVenice.

           Theshadesofeveninghadcometoincreasethedrearinessoftheplace,whenthepartyenteredtheruinsofWilliamHenry.Thescoutandhiscompanionsimmediatelymadetheirpreparationstopassthenightthere;butwithanearnestnessandsobrietyofdemeanor,thatbetrayedhowmuchtheunusualhorrorstheyhadjustwitnessedworkedoneventheirpractisedfeelings.Afewfragmentsofrafterswererearedagainstablackenedwall;andwhenUncashadcoveredthemslightlywithbrush,thetemporaryaccommodationsweredeemedsufficient.TheyoungIndianpointedtowardshisrudehut,whenhislaborwasended;andHeyward,whounderstoodthemeaningofthesilentgesture,gentlyurgedMunrotoenter.Leavingthebereavedoldmanalonewithhissorrows,Duncanimmediatelyreturnedtotheopenair,toomuchexcitedhimselftoseekthereposehehadrecommendedtohisveteranfriend.

           WhileHawkeyeandtheIndianslightedtheirfire,andtooktheirevening’srepast,afrugalmealofdriedbear’smeat,theyoungmanpaidavisittothatcurtainofthedilapidatedfortwhichlookedoutonthesheetoftheHorican.Thewindhadfallen,andthewaveswerealreadyrollingonthesandybeachbeneathhim,inamoreregularandtemperedsuccession.