not fear turning his back to him. As they reached the open ground, the former pointed towards Deerslayer's boat, and said, emphatically

"No mine-pale-face canoe. This red man's. No want other man's canoe-want his own." "You're wrong, red-skin; you're altogether wrong. This canoe was left in old Hutter's keeping, and is his'n, according to all law, red or white, till its owner comes to claim it. Here's the seats and the stitching of the bark to speak for themselves. No man ever know'd an Indian to turn off such work."

"Good! My brother little old-big wisdom. Indian no make him. White man's work."

"I'm glad you think so, for holding out to the contrary might have made ill-blood atween us, every one having a right to take possession of his own. I'll just shove the canoe out of reach of dispute at once, as the quickest way of settling difficulties."

While Deerslayer was speaking, he put a foot against the end of the light boat, and giving a vigorous shove he sent it out into the lake a hundred feet or more, where, taking the true current, it would necessarily float past the point, and be in no further danger of coming ashore. The savage started at this ready and decided expedient, and his companion saw that he cast a hurried and fierce glance at his own canoe, or that which contained the paddles. The change of manner, however, was but momentary, and then the Iroquois resumed his air of friendliness and a smile of satisfaction.

"Good!" he repeated, with stronger emphasis than ever. "Young head, old mind. Know how to settle quarrel. Farewell, brother. He go to house in water-musk-rat house-Indian go to camp; tell chief no find canoe."

Deerslayer was not sorry to hear this, and took the proffered hand of the Indian very willingly. The parting words were friendly; and while the red man walked calmly towards the wood, with the rifle in the hollow of his arm, without once looking back in uneasiness or distrust, the white man moved towards the remaining canoe, carrying his piece in the same pacific manner, it is true, but keeping his eyes fastened on the movements of the other. This distrust, however, seemed to be altogether uncalled for, and, as if ashamed have to entertained it, the young man averted his look, and stepped carelessly up to his boat. Here he began to push the canoe from the shore, and to make his other preparations for departing. He might have been thus employed a minute, when, happening to turn his face towards the land, his quick and certain eye told him at a glance the imminent jeopardy in which his life was placed. The black, ferocious eyes of the savage were glancing on him, like those of the crouching tiger,

through a small opening in the bushes, and the muzzle of his rifle seemed already to be opening in a line with his own body.

Then, indeed, the long practice of Deerslayer, as a hunter, did him good service. Accustomed to fire with the deer on the bound, and often when the precise position of the animal's body had in a manner to be guessed at, he used the same expedients here. To cock and poise his rifle were the acts of a single moment and a single motion: then, aiming almost without sighting, he fired into the bushes where he knew a body ought to be, in order to sustain the appalling countenance which alone was visible. There was not time to raise the piece any higher, or to take a more deliberate aim. So rapid were his movements that both parties discharged their pieces on the same instant, the concussions mingling in one report. The mountains, indeed, gave back but a single echo. Deerslayer dropped his piece, and stood with head erect, steady as one of the pines in the calm of a June morning, watching the result: while the savage gave the yell that has become historical for its appalling influence, leaped through the bushes, and came bounding across the open ground, flourishing a tomahawk. Still Deerslayer moved not, but stood with his unloaded rifle fallen against his shoulders, while, with a hunter's habits, his hands were mechanically feeling for the powder - horn and charger. When about forty feet from his enemy, the savage hurled his keen weapon; but it was with an eye so vacant, and a hand so unsteady and feeble, that the young man caught it by the handle as it was flying past him. At that instant the Indian staggered, and fell his whole length on the ground.

"I know'd it-I know'd it!" exclaimed Deerslayer, who was already preparing to force a fresh bullet into his rifle; "I know'd it must come to this as soon as I had got the range from the creatur's eyes. A man sights suddenly, and fires when his own life's in danger; yes, I know'd it would come to this. I was about the hundredth part of a second too quick for him, or it might have been bad for me! The riptyle's bullet has just grazed my side-but, say what you will, for or ag'in 'em, a red-skin is by no means as sartain with powder and ball as a white man. Their gifts don't seem to lie that-a-way. Even Chingachgook, great as he is in other matters, isn't downright deadly with the rifle."

By this time the piece was re-loaded, and Deerslayer, after tossing the tomahawk into the canoe, advanced to his victim, and stood over him, leaning on his rifle in melancholy attention. It was the first instance in which he had seen a man fall in battle-it was the first fellow-creature against whom he had ever seriously raised his own hand. The sensations were novel; and regret, with the

of soliloquy, as the

young man went h quest of the tille rifle. The piece was found where its owner had dropped

it, and was immedi

ately put into the canoe. Laying his own rifle at its side. Deerslayer then returned, and stood over the Indian again.

..

All inmity atween you and mes at an ind, redskin," he said: "and you may set your heart at rest on the score of the scalp, or any further injury. My gifts are white, as I've told you; and I hope my conduct will be white also!

Could looks have conveyed all they meant, it is probable that Deerslayer's innocent vanity on the subject of colour would have been rebuked a little: but he comprehended the gratitude that was expressed in the eyes of the dying savage,

suping Deer-
raised the

1- Man in his arms.

alkan. to the

Here Le first Lelped him to take an attitude in which Le ould appease his

thirst: atter

which he stated himon a stone, and tok the head of his wounded adversary in his own lap,andendeavoured to soothe his anguish in the best manner he could. "It would be sinful in me to tell you your time hadn't come. warrior," he commenced, and there fore I'll not say it. You've passed the middle age already, and considerin' the sort of lives ye lead, your days have been pretty well filled. The principal thing now is to look forward to what comes next. Neither red

skin nor pale-face, on the whole, calculates sleepin' for

much on ever: but both expect to live in another world. Each has his gifts, and each will be judged by em, and I suppose you've thought these matters over enough, not to stand in need of sarmons, when the trial comes. You'll find your happy hunting grounds if you've been a just Indian; if an unjust, you'll meet your desarts in another way. I've my own ideas about these things; but you're too old and experienced to need any explanations from one as young as I."

"Good" ejaculated the Indian, whose voice retained its depth even as life ebbed away; "young head- old wisdom!"

"It's sometimes a consolation, when the ind comes, to know that them we've hormed or tried to harm, forgive us. I suppose natur seeks this relief by way of getting a pardon on 'arth; as we never can know whether He pardons, who is all in all, till judgment itself comes. It's soothing to know that any pardon at such times; and that, I conclude, is the secret. Now, as for myself, I overlook altogether your designs ag'in my life; first, because no harm came of 'em ; next, because it's your gifts, and natur', and trainin', and I ought not to have trusted you at all; and finally and chiefly because I can bear no ill-will to a dying man, whether heathen or Christian. So put your heart at ease, so far as I'm consarned; you know best what other matters ought to trouble you, or what ought to give you satisfaction, in so trying a moment."

It is probable that the Indian had some of the fearful glimpses of the unknown state of being which God, in mercy, seems at times to afford to all the human race; but they were necessarily in conformity with his habits and prejudices. Like most of his people, and like too many of our own, he thought more of dying in a way to gain applause among those he left, than to secure a better state of existence hereafter. While Deerslayer was speaking, his mind was a little bewildered, though he felt that the intention was good; and when he had done, a regret passed over his spirit that none of his own tribe were present to witness his stoicism, under extreme bodily suffering, and the firmness with which he met his end. With the high, innate courtesy that so often distinguishes the Indian warrior before he becomes corrupted by too much intercourse with the worst class of the white men, he endeavoured to express his thankfulness for the other's good intentions, and to let him understand that they were appreciated.

"Good" he repeated-for this was an English word much used by the savages-" good-young head; young heart, too. Old heart tough; no shed tear. Hear Indian when he die, and no want to lie--what he call him?"

"Deerslayer is the name I bear now, though the Delawares have said that when I get back from this war-path, I shall have a more manly title, provided I can 'arn one."

"That good name for boy-poor name for warrior. He get better quick. No fear there"-the savage had strength sufficient, under the strong excitement he felt, to raise a hand and tap the young man on his breast-"eye sartain-finger lightning -aim death-great warrior soon. No Deerslayer -Hawkeye-Hawkeye-Hawkeye. Shake hand." Deerslayer-or Hawkeye, as the youth was then first named, for in after years he bore the appellation throughout all that region-Deerslayer took the hand of the savage, whose last breath was drawn in that attitude, gazing in admiration at the

countenance of a stranger who had shown so much readiness, skill, and firmness in a scene that was equally trying and novel. When the reader remembers it is the highest gratification an Indian can receive to see his enemy betray weakness, he will be better able to appreciate the conduct which had extorted so great a concession at such a moment.

"His spirit has fled !" said Deerslayer, in a suppressed, melancholy voice. "Ahs me! Well, to this we must all come, sooner or later; and he is happiest, let his skin be of what colour it may, who is best fitted to meet it. Here lies the body of, no doubt, a brave warrior, and the soul is already flying towards its heaven or hell, whether that be a happy hunting-ground, or a place scant of game; regions of glory, according to Moravian doctrine, or flames of fire! So it happens, too, as regards other matters! Here have old Hutter and Hurry Harry got themselves into a difficulty, if they haven't got themselves into torment and death, and all for a bounty that luck offers to me in what many would think a lawful and suitable manner. But not a farthing of such money shall cross my hand. White I was born, and white will I die ; clinging to colour to the last, even though the King's Majesty, his governors, and all his councils, both at home and in the colonies, forget from what they come, and where they hope to go, and all for a little advantage in warfare. No, no, warrior, hand of mine shall never molest your scalp, and so your soul may rest in peace on the p'int of making a decent appearance, when your body comes to join it in your own land of spirits."

Deerslayer arose as soon as he had spoken. Then he placed the body of the dead man in a sitting posture, with its back against the little rock, taking the necessary care to prevent it from falling or in any way settling into an attitude that might be thought unseemly by the sensitive though wild notions of a savage. When this duty was performed, the young man stood gazing at the grim countenance of his fallen foe in a sort of melancholy abstraction. As was his practice, however, a habit gained by living so much alone in the forest, he then began again to give utterance to his thoughts and feelings aloud.

"I didn't wish your life, red-skin," he said, "but you left me no choice atween killing or being killed. Each party acted according to his gifts, I suppose, and blame can light on neither. You were treacherous, according to your natur' in war, and I was a little over-sightful, as I'm apt to be in trusting others. Well, this is my first battle with a human mortal, though it's not likely to be the last. I have fou't most of the creaturs of the forest, such as bears, wolves, painters and catamounts, but this is the beginning with the red-skins. If I was Indian born, now, I might tell of this, or carry in

the scalp, and boast of the explite afore the whole tribe: or if my inimy had only been even a bear, twoud have been nat ral and proper to let everybody know what had happened; but I don't well see how I'm to let even Chingachgook into this secret, so long as it can be done only by boasting with a white tongue. And why should I wish to boast of it after all! It's slaying a human, although he was a savage; and how do I know that he was a just Indian, and that he has not been taken away suddenly to anything but happy huntinggrounds! When it's onsartain whether good or evil has been done, the wisest way is not to be boastful. Still, I should like Chingachgook to know that I haven't discredited the Delawares or my training."

Soliloquy and reflection received a startling interruption, however, by the sudden appearance of a second Indian on the lake shore, a few hundred yards from the point. This man, evidently another scout, who had probably been drawn to the place by the reports of the rifles, broke out of the forest with so little caution, that Deerslayer caught a view of his person before he himself was discovered. When the latter event did occur, as was the case a moment later, the savage gave a loud yell, which was answered by a dozen voices from different parts of the mountain-side. There was no longer any time for delay, and in another minute the bou was quitting the shore under long and steady sweeps of the paddle.

HE rector tells me I am wasting my time and my opportunities of doing good in the world. Good man, the rector. I have a great respect for him. Wonder if he is right. What do I do! As a matter of fact. nothing. I lounge through life. It is almost a pity my poor father left me so comfortably provided for. I might have had a Career might have got into Parliament, or written for the reviews. As it is, my only possible next step is marriage, and I am not so, ure that that would be a lasting preservative against amori. It is all very well for the rector to talk, but what can I do! That question ought to pose him.

Asked

In the meantime I went out with my man Joseph and a bag, to buy a few useful things to take with me as presents for the poor. Joseph what he thought would be useful. He suggested Dutch cheeses." Don't know any cheeses of that name. Besides, can't take p visions. They smell.

Strolled into the dressing-case maker's, and asked the man there if he had anything that would do for the poor. He suggested a few cheap monograms, Joseph thought something more in the portable shaving apparatus way. Was shown a very capital little contrivance of this kind, with looking glass in the lid. Handed it to Joseph. Fancy he grinned as he put it in the bag. Fut shouldn't like to be positive about it.

The man suggested pen-holders, a memorandum book, and somebody's Diary (shilling size), half-adozen nail-trimmers, and a book-mark.

Capital the very things. Had them all placed

in the bag.