Chapter 22

           "Bot.—Areweallmet?"

           "Qui.—Pat—pat;andhere’samarvellousConvenientplaceforourrehearsal."

           MidsummerNight’sDream.

           Thereadermaybetterimagine,thanwedescribe,thesurpriseofHeyward.HislurkingIndiansweresuddenlyconvertedintofour-footedbeasts;hislakeintoabeaverpond;hiscataractintoadam,constructedbythoseindustriousandingeniousquadrupeds;andasuspectedenemyintohistriedfriend,DavidGamut,themasterofpsalmody.Thepresenceofthelattercreatedsomanyunexpectedhopesrelativetothesistersthat,withoutamoment’shesitation,theyoungmanbrokeoutofhisambush,andsprangforwardtojointhetwoprincipalactorsinthescene.

           ThemerrimentofHawkeyewasnoteasilyappeased.Withoutceremony,andwitharoughhand,hetwirledthesuppleGamutaroundonhisheel,andmorethanonceaffirmedthattheHuronshaddonethemselvesgreatcreditinthefashionofhiscostume.Thenseizingthehandoftheother,hesqueezeditwithagripethatbroughtthetearsintotheeyesoftheplacidDavid,andwishedhimjoyofhisnewcondition.

           "Youwereaboutopeningyourthroat-practysingsamongthebeavers,wereye?"hesaid."Thecunningdevilsknowhalfthetradealready,fortheybeatthetimewiththeirtails,asyouheardjustnow;andingoodtimeitwastoo,or‘Killdeer’mighthavesoundedthefirstnoteamongthem.