Chapter 7
"Theydonotsleep.
Onyondercliffs,agrislyband,
Iseethemsit."
Gray.
"’Twouldbeneglectingawarningthatisgivenforourgood,toliehidanylonger,"saidHawkeye,"whensuchsoundsareraisedintheforest!Thegentleonesmaykeepclose,buttheMohicansandIwillwatchupontherock,whereIsupposeamajorofthe60thwouldwishtokeepuscompany."
"Isthenourdangersopressing?"askedCora.
"Hewhomakesstrangesounds,andgivesthemoutforman’sinformation,aloneknowsourdanger.Ishouldthinkmyselfwicked,untorebellionagainsthiswill,wasItoburrowwithsuchwarningsintheair!Eventheweaksoulwhopasseshisdaysinsinging,isstirredbythecry,and,ashesays,is‘readytogoforthtothebattle.’If’twereonlyabattle,itwouldbeathingunderstoodbyusall,andeasilymanaged;butIhaveheardthatwhensuchshrieksareatweenheavenand‘arth,itbetokensanothersortofwarfare!"
"Ifallourreasonsforfear,myfriend,areconfinedtosuchasproceedfromsupernaturalcauses,wehavebutlittleoccasiontobealarmed,"continuedtheundisturbedCora;"areyoucertainthatourenemieshavenotinventedsomenewandingeniousmethodtostrikeuswithterror,thattheirconquestmaybecomemoreeasy?"
"Lady,"returnedthescout,solemnly,"Ihavelistenedtoallthesoundsofthewoodsforthirtyyears,asamanwilllisten,whoselifeanddeathdependonthequicknessofhisears.