Chapter 24

           "Thusspokethesage:thekingswithoutdelay

           Dissolvethecouncil,andtheirchiefobey."

           Pope’sIliad.

           Asinglemomentservedtoconvincetheyouththathewasmistaken.Ahandwaslaid,withapowerfulpressure,onhisarm,andthelowvoiceofUncasmutteredinhisears—

           "TheHuronsaredogs.Thesightofacoward’sbloodcannevermakeawarriortremble.The‘GrayHead’andtheSagamorearesafe,andtherifleofHawkeyeisnotasleep.Go—Uncasandthe‘OpenHand’arenowstrangers.Itisenough."

           Heywardwouldgladlyhaveheardmore,butagentlepushfromhisfriendurgedhimtowardsthedoor,andadmonishedhimofthedangerthatmightattendthediscoveryoftheirintercourse.Slowlyandreluctantlyyieldingtothenecessity,hequittedtheplace,andmingledwiththethrongthathoverednigh.Thedyingfiresintheclearingcastadimanduncertainlightontheduskyfiguresthatweresilentlystalkingtoandfro;andoccasionallyabrightergleamthancommonglancedintothelodge,andexhibitedthefigureofUncasstillmaintainingitsuprightattitudenearthedeadbodyoftheHuron.

           Aknotofwarriorssoonenteredtheplaceagain,andreissuing,theyborethesenselessremainsintotheadjacentwoods.Afterthisterminationofthescene,Duncanwanderedamongthelodges,unquestionedandunnoticed,endeavoringtofindsometraceofherinwhosebehalfheincurredtheriskheran.Inthepresenttemperofthetribe,itwouldhavebeeneasytohavefledandrejoinedhiscompanions,hadsuchawishcrossedhismind.