SMALL | MEDIUM
"While from its margin, terrible to tell!
Three sailors with their gallant boatswain fell."
Falconer.
While the fishermen were employed in making the preparations for an equitable division of their spoils, Elizabeth and her friend strolled to a short distance from the group, along the shores of the lake. The shades of evening had been gradually gathering around the scene, during the draught of the net, and, while the objects in the vicinity of the fire were still distinct, and even vivid, the sur- rounding darkness became deeper, both by the contrast, and the advancing dominion of the night. After reaching a point, to which even the bright- est of the occasional gleams of light from the fire did not extend, the ladies turned, and paused a moment, in contemplation of the busy and lively party they had left, and of the obscurity, which, like the gloom of oblivion, seemed to envelope the rest of the creation.
"This is indeed a subject for the pencil!" ex-
claimed Elizabeth. "Observe the countenance of
that wood-chopper, while he exults in presenting
a larger fish than common to my cousin Sheriff;
and see, Louisa, how handsome and considerate my
"You know that I am ignorant of all such ac-
complishments, Miss Temple."
"Call me by my christian name," interrupted
Elizabeth; "this is not a place, neither is this a
scene, for the observance of forms."
"Well, then, if I may venture an opinion," said
Louisa, timidly, "I should think it might indeed
make a picture. The selfish earnestness of that
Kirby over his fish, would contrast finely with the
-- the -- expression of Mr. Edward's face. I hard-
ly know what to call it; but it is -- a -- is -- you
know what I would say, dear Elizabeth."
"You do me too much credit, Miss Grant,"
said the heiress; "I am no diviner of thoughts,
or interpreter of expressions."
There was certainly nothing harsh, or even
cold, in the manner of the speaker, but still it re-
pressed the conversation, for a moment, and the
maidens continued to stroll still further from their
party, retaining each other's arm, but observing a
profound silence. Elizabeth, perhaps conscious
of the improper phraseology of her last speech, or
perhaps excited by the new object that met her
wandering gaze, was the first to break the pre-
sent awkward cessation in the discourse, by ex-
claiming, in all the richness of her animated and
animating voice --
"Look, Louisa! we are not alone; there are
fishermen lighting a fire on the other side of the
lake, immediately opposite to us: it must be in
front of the cabin of the Leather-stocking!"
For some cause or other, Miss Grant had kept
Through the obscurity, which prevailed most
immediately under the eastern mountain, a small
and uncertain light was plainly to be seen, though,
as it was occasionally lost to the eye, it seemed
struggling for its existence. They observed it to
move, and sensibly to lower, as if carried, down
the descent of the bank, to the shore. Here, in a
very short time, its flame gradually expanded, and
grew brighter, until it became of the size of a man's
head, when it continued to shine, a steady and gla-
ring ball of fire.
Such an object, lighted as it were by magic,
under the brow of the mountain, and in that re-
tired and unfrequented place, gave double interest
to the beauty and singularity of its appearance.
It did not at all resemble the large and unsteady
light of their own fire, being much more clear and
bright, and retaining its size and shape with per-
fect uniformity.
There are moments when the best regulated
minds are, more or less, subjected to the injurious
impressions which few have escaped in infancy,
and Elizabeth smiled at her own weakness, while
she remembered the idle tales which were circu-
lated through the village, at the expense of the
Leather-stocking The same ideas seized her
companion, and at the same instant, for Louisa
pressed nearer to her friend, as she said, in a low
"Did you ever hear the singular ways of this
Natty spoken of, Miss Temple? They say that,
in his youth, he was an Indian Warrior, or, what
is the same thing, a white man leagued with the
savages; and it is thought he has been concerned
in many of their inroads, in the old wars."
"The thing is not at all improbable," returned
Elizabeth; "but he is not alone in that particu-
lar."
"No, surely; but is it not strange, that he is so
cautious with his hut? he never leaves it, without
fastening it in a remarkable manner; and, in se-
veral instances, when the children, or even the
men of the village have wished to seek a shelter
there from the storms, he has been known to drive
them from his door, with rudeness and threats.
That surely is singular in this country!"
"It is certainly not being very hospitable; but
we must remember his aversion to the customs of
civilized life. You heard my father say, a few
days since, how kindly he was treated by him on
his first visit to this place." Elizabeth paused,
and smiled, with an expression of peculiar arch-
ness, though the darkness hid its meaning from
her companion, as she continued: -- "Besides, he
certainly admits the visits of Mr. Edwards, whom
we both know to be far from a savage."
To this speech Louisa made no reply, but con-
tinued gazing on the object which had elicited her
remarks. In addition to the bright and circular
flame was now to be seen a fainter, though a
vivid light, of an equal diameter to the other at
the upper end, but which, after extending, down-
ward, for many feet, gradually tapered to a
point at its lower extremity. A dark space was
plainly visible between the two, and the new illu-
"It appears to be supernatural!" whispered
Louisa, beginning to retrace her steps towards
the party.
"It is beautiful!" exclaimed Elizabeth.
A brilliant, though waving flame was now
plainly visible, gracefully gliding over the lake,
and throwing its light on the water in such a
manner as to tinge it slightly; though, in the
air, so strong was the contrast, the darkness seem-
ed to have the distinctness of material substances,
as if the fire were embedded in a setting of ebony.
This appearance, however, gradually wore off,
and the rays from the torch struck out, and en-
lightened the atmosphere in front of it, leaving
the back-ground in a darkness that was more im-
penetrable than ever.
"Ho! Natty, is that you?" shouted the Sheriff
-- "paddle in, old boy, and I'll give you a mess
of fish that is fit to place before the Governor."
The light suddenly changed its direction, and a
long and slightly-built boat hove up out of the
gloom, while the red glare fell on the weather-
beaten features of the Leather-stocking, whose
tall person was seen erect in the frail vessel,
wielding, with all the grace of an experienced
The boat glided along the shore until it arrived
opposite to the fishing-ground, when it again
changed its direction, and moved on to the land,
with a motion so graceful, and yet so rapid, that
it seemed to possess the power of regulating its
progress by its own volition. The water in front
of the canoe was hardly ruffled by its passage, and
no sound betrayed the collision, when the light
fabric shot on the gravelly beach, for nearly half
its length, Natty receding a step or two from its
bow, in order to facilitate the landing.
"Approach, Mohegan," said Marmaduke: " ap-
proach, Leather-stocking, and load your canoe
with the bass. It would be a shame to assail the
animals with the spear, when such multitudes of
victims lie here, that will be lost as food for the
want of mouths to consume them."
"No, no, Judge," returned Natty, his tall figure
stalking over the narrow beach, and ascended
to the little grassy bottom where the fish were laid
in piles; "I eat of no man's wasty ways. I strike
my spear into the eels, or the trout, when I crave
the creaters, but I would'nt be helping to such a
"Your reasoning is mine," cried Marmaduke;
"for once, old hunter, we agree in our opinions;
and I heartily wish we could make a convert of
the Sheriff. A net of half the size of this would
supply the whole village with fish, for a week, at
one haul."
The Leather-stocking did not relish this alli-
ance in sentiment, and he shook his head doubt-
ingly, as he answered --
"No, no; we are not much of one mind, Judge,
or you'd never turn good hunting grounds into
stumpy pastures. And you fish and hunt out
of rule; but to me, the flesh is sweeter, where
the creater has some chance for its life; for
that reason, I always use a single ball, even if it
be at a bird or a squirrel; besides, it saves lead,
for, when a body knows how to shoot, one piece
of lead is enough for all, except hard-lived ani-
mals."
The Sheriff heard these opinions with great in-
dignation, and when he completed the last ar-
rangement for the division, by carrying, with his
own hands, a trout of a large size, and placing it
on four different piles in succession, as his change-
ful ideas of justice required, he gave vent to his
spleen by exclaiming --
"A very pretty confederacy, indeed! Judge
Temple, the landlord and owner of a township,
with Nathaniel Bumppo, a lawless squatter, and
professed deer-killer, in order to preserve the
Marmaduke appeared to understand that all
opposition to the will of the Sheriff would be use-
less, and he strolled from the fire, to the place
where the canoe of the hunters lay, whither the
ladies and Oliver Edwards had already preceded
him.
Curiosity induced the females to approach this
spot, but it surely was a different motive that led
the youth thither. Elizabeth examined the light
ash timbers and thin bark covering of the canoe,
in admiration of its neat but simple execution,
and with wonder that any human being could be
so daring as to trust his life in so frail a vessel.
But the youth explained to her the buoyant pro-
perties of the boat, and its perfect safety, when
under proper management, adding, in such
glowing terms, a description of the manner in
which the fish were struck with the spear, that
she changed suddenly, from an apprehension
of the danger of the excursion, to a desire
to participate in its pleasures. She even ventur-
ed a proposition to that effect to her father,
laughing, at the same time, at her own wish, and
accusing herself of acting under a woman's ca-
price.
"Say not so, Bess," returned the Judge; "I
would have you above the idle fears of a silly
girl. These canoes are the safest kind of boats,
to those who have skill and steady nerves. I
have crossed the broadest part of the Oneida in
one much smaller than this."
"And I the Ontary," interrupted the Leather-
stocking; "and that with squaws in the canoe, too.
But the Delaware women be used to the paddle,
Natty gave the heiress one of his significant
laughs, with a kind nod of his head, when he
concluded this invitation; but Mohegan, with the
native grace of an Indian, approached, and
taking her soft white hand into his own swarthy
and wrinkled palm, said --
"Come, grand-daughter of Miquon, and John
will be glad. Trust the Indian: his head is old,
though his hand is not steady. The young Eagle
will go, and see that no harm hurts his sister."
"Well, Mr. Edwards," cried Elizabeth, blush-
ing slightly, "your friend, Mohegan, you see, has
given a promise for you. Do you redeem the
pledge?"
"With my life, if necessary, Miss Temple."
cried the youth, with fervour. "The sight is
worth some little apprehension, for of real danger
there is none. I will go with you and Miss Grant,
however, to save appearances."
"With me!" exclaimed Louisa; "no, not with
me, Mr. Edwards, nor surely do you mean to trust
yourself in that slight canoe."
"But I shall, for I have no apprehensions any
longer," said Elizabeth, stepping into the boat,
and taking a seat where the Indian directed. "Mr.
Edwards, you may remain, as three do seem to
be enough for such an egg-shell."
"It shall hold a fourth," cried the young man,
springing to her side, with a violence that nearly
shook the weak fabric of the vessel asunder; --
"Is it a good or evil spirit?" asked Elizabeth.
"Good to you."
"And mine," added the maiden, with an air
that strangely blended pique with satisfaction.
But the motion of the canoe gave rise to new ideas,
and fortunately afforded a good excuse to the
young man to change the discourse.
It appeared to Elizabeth, that they glided over
the water by magic, so easy and graceful was the
manner in which Mohegan guided his little bark.
A slight gesture with his spear, indicated the way
in which the Leather-stocking wished to go, and
a profound silence was preserved by the whole
party, as a precaution necessary to the success of
their fishery. The shore, at that point of the lake,
ran gradually off, and the water shoaled regularly,
differing, in this particular, altogether, from those
parts where the mountains rose, nearly in per-
pendicular precipices, from the beach. There,
the largest vessels could have lain, with their yards
locked in the branches of the pines; while here,
a scanty growth of rushes lifted their tops above
the lake, gently curling the waters, as their bend-
ing heads slowly waved with the passing breath
of the night air. It was at the shallow points,
only, that the bass could be found, or the net cast
with success.
Elizabeth saw thousands of these fish, swim-
ming in shoals along the shallow and warm wa-
ters of the shore; for the flaring light of their
torch exposed all the mysteries of the lake, lay-
ing them open to the eye, with a slight variation
in colour, as plainly as if the limpid sheet of the
Otsego was but another atmosphere. Every in-
stant she expected to see the impending spear of
"Send her outside the bass, John; I see a
laker there, that has run out of the school. It's
sildom one finds such a creater in the shallow wa-
ters, where a spear can touch it."
Mohegan gave a wave of assent with his hand,
and in the next instant the canoe was without the
"run of the bass," and in water of nearly twenty
feet in depth. A few additional knots were laid
on the grating, and the light from the fire made to
reach the bottom. Elizabeth then saw a fish of
unusual size, floating above the small pieces of
logs and sticks that were lying on the bottom.
The animal was only distinguishable, at that dis-
tance, by a slight, but almost imperceptible mo-
tion of its fins and tail. The curiosity excited
by this unusual exposure of the secrets of the lake,
seemed to be mutual between the heiress of the
land and the lord of these waters, for the " sal-
mon-trout" soon announced his interest by raising
his head and body, for a few degrees above a
"Whist! whist!" said Natty, in a low voice, on
hearing a slight sound made by Elizabeth, in
bending over the side of the canoe, in eager cu-
riosity; "'tis a sceary animal, and it's a far stroke
for a spear. My handle is but fourteen foot, and
the creater lies at a good eighteen from the top of
the water; but I'll try him, for he's a ten-pound-
er."
While speaking, the Leather-stocking was pois-
ing and directing his weapon. Elizabeth saw the
bright, polished tines, as they slowly and silently
entered the water, where the refraction pointed
them many degrees from the true direction to the
fish; and she thought that the intended victim saw
them also, as he seemed to increase the play of
his tail and fins, though without moving his sta-
tion. At the next instant, the tall body of Natty
bent to the water's edge, and the handle of his
spear disappeared in the lake. The long, dark
streak of the gliding weapon, and the little bub-
bling vortex, which followed its rapid flight, were
easily to be seen; but it was not until the handle
shot again high into the air, by its own re-action,
and its master, catching it in his hand, threw its
tines uppermost, that Elizabeth was acquainted
with the success of the blow. A fish of great size
was transfixed by the barbed steel, and was very
soon shaken from its impaled situation into the
bottom of the canoe.
"That will do, John," said Natty, raising his
prize by one of his fingers, and exhibiting it be-
fore the torch; "enough is as good as a feast; I
shall not strike another blow to-night."
The Indian again waved his hand, and replied
with the simple and energetic monosyllable of --
"Good."
Elizabeth was awakened from the trance, crea-
ted by this scene, and by gazing in that unusual
manner at the bottom of the lake, by the hoarse
sounds of Benjamin's voice, and the dashing of
oars, as the heavier boat of the seine-drawers ap-
proached the spot where the canoe lay, dragging
after its toilsome way, the folds of the net, which
was already spreading on the water.
"Haul off, haul off Master Bumppo," cried
Benjamin; "your top-light frightens the fish,
who see the net and sheer off soundings. A fish
knows as much as a horse, or, for that matter,
more, seeing that it's brought up on the water.
Haul off, Master Bumppo, haul off, I say, and give
a wide birth to the seine."
Mohegan guided their little canoe to a point
where the movements of the fishermen could be
observed, without interruption to the business, and
then suffered it to lie quietly on the water, look-
ing like an imaginary vessel floating in the air.
There appeared to be much ill-humour among
the party in the batteau, for the directions of Ben-
jamin were not only frequent, but issued in a
voice that partook largely of the tones of dissatis-
faction.
"Pull larboard oar, will ye, Master Kirby,"
cried the old seaman; "Pull larboard, best. It
would puzzle the oldest admiral in the British
fleet to cast this here net fair, with a wake like a
corkscrew. Pull starboard, boy, pull starboard
oar, with a will."
"Harkee, Mister Pump," said Kirby, ceasing
to row, and speaking with some spirit; "I'm a
man that likes civil language and decent treat-
ment; such as is right 'twixt man and man. If
you want us to go hoy, say so, and hoy I'll go, for
the benefit of the company; but I'm not used to
being ordered about like dumb cattle."
"Who's dumb cattle!" echoed Benjamin,
fiercely, turning his forbidding face to the glare
of the light from the canoe, and exhibiting every
feature teeming with the expression of his disgust.
"If you want to come aft and cun the boat round,
come and be damned, and a pretty steerage you'll
make of it too. There's but another heave of the
net in the stern-sheets, and we're clear of the thing.
Give way, will ye? and shoot her ahead for a fa-
thom or two, and if you catch me afloat again
with such a horsemarine as yourself, why rate me
a ship's jackass, that's all."
Probably encouraged by the prospect of a
speedy termination to his labour, the wood-
chopper resumed his oar, and, under the strong
excitement of his feelings, gave a stroke with it,
that not only cleared the boat of the net, but of
the steward, at the same instant, also. Benja-
min had stood on the little platform that held
the seine, in the stern of the boat, and the vio-
lent whirl occasioned by the vigour of the wood-
chopper's arm, completely destroyed his balance.
The position of the lights rendered objects in
the batteau distinguishable, both from the canoe
and the shore; and the heavy fall on the water
drew all eyes to the steward, as he lay struggling,
for a moment, in sight.
A loud burst of merriment, to which the lungs
of Kirby contributed no small part, broke out
like a chorus of laughter, and rung along the
eastern mountain, in echoes, until it died away in
distant, mocking mirth, among the rocks and
woods. The body of the steward was seen slowly
to disappear, as was expected; but when the light
waves, which had been raised by his fall, begun
to sink in calmness, and the water finally closed
over his head, unbroken and still, a very different
feeling pervaded the spectators.
"How fare you, Benjamin?" shouted Richard
from the shore.
"The dumb devil can't swim a stroke!" ex-
claimed Kirby, rising, and beginning to throw
aside his clothes.
"Paddle up, Mohegan," cried young Edwards,
"where the light will show us how he lies, and
let me dive for the body."
"Oh! save him! for God's sake, save him!"
exclaimed Elizabeth, bowing her head on the side
of the canoe in horror.
A powerful and dexterous sweep of Mohegan's
paddle sent the canoe directly over the spot
where the steward had fallen, and a loud shout
from the Leather-stocking announced that he saw
the body.
"Then steady the boat while. I dive," again
cried Edwards.
"Gently, lad, gently," said Natty; "I'll spear
the creater up in half the time, and no risk to any
body."
The form of Benjamin was lying, about half
way to the bottom, grasping with either hand the
bottoms of some broken rushes, by whose strength
it was maintained in that position. The blood of
Elizabeth curdled to her heart, as she saw the
figure of a fellow-creature thus extended under
an immense sheet of water, apparently in motion,
by the undulations of the dying waves, with its
face and hands, viewed by that light, and through
the medium of the fluid, already coloured with
livid hues like death.
At the same instant, she saw the shining tines
of Natty's spear approaching the motionless head
of the sufferer, and entwining themselves, rapidly
and dexterously, in the hairs of his queue and the
cape of his coat. The body was now raised slow-
ly, looking ghastly and grim, as its features turned
upward to the light, and approached the surface.
As all the parties acted and spoke together,
much less time was consumed in the occurrence of
these events, than in their narration. To bring
the batteau to the end of the spear, and to raise
the form of Benjamin from its liquid element into
the boat, and for the whole party to gain the
shore, and land required but a minute. Kirby,
aided by Richard, whose anxiety induced him to
run into the water to meet his favourite assistant,
carried the motionless steward up the bank, and
seated him before the fire, where he was support-
ed, while the Sheriff proceeded to order the most
approved measures then in use, for the resuscita-
tion of the drowned.
"Run, Billy," he cried, "to the village, and
bring up the rum-hogshead that lies before the
door, in which I am making vinegar in cold wea-
ther, and he quick, boy, don't stay to empty the
vinegar; and stop at Mr. Le Quoi's, and buy a
paper of tobacco and half-a-dozen pipes; and ask
Remarkable for some salt, and one of her flannel
petticoats; and ask Dr. Todd to send his lancet,
and to come himself; and -- ha! 'duke, what
are you about? would you strangle a man, who
is full of water, by giving him rum! Help me to
open this hand, that I may pat it."
All this time Benjamin sat, with his muscles
fixed, his mouth shut, and his hands clenching the
rushes, which he had seized in the confusion of
the moment, and which, as he held fast, like a true
The bottle, applied to the steward's lips by
Marmaduke, acted like a charm. His mouth
opened instinctively; his hands dropped the
rushes, and seized the black glass; his eyes raised
from their horizontal stare, to the heavens; and
the whole man was lost, for a moment, in a new
sensation. Unhappily for the propensity of the
steward, breath was as necessary after one of these
draughts, as after his submersion, and the time at
length arrived when he was compelled to let go
of the bottle.
"Why, Benjamin!" roared the Sheriff; "you
amaze me! for a man of your experience in
drownings to act so foolishly! just now, you were
half full of water, and now you are" --
"Full of grog," interrupted the steward, his
features settling down, with amazing flexibility,
into their natural economy. "But, d'ye see,
Squire, I kept my hatches close, and it is but
little water that ever gets into my scuttle-butt. --
Harkee, Master Kirby! I've followed the salt
water for the better part of a man's life, and have
seen some navigation on the fresh; but this here
matter I will say in your favour, and that is, that
you're the awk'ardest green'un that ever straddled
Marmaduke prevented any reply, and assuming
the direction of matters, with a dignity and discre-
tion that at once silenced all opposition from his
cousin, Benjamin was despatched to the village by
land, and the net was hauled to shore, in such a
manner that the fish, for once, escaped its meshes
with impunity.
The division of the spoils was made in the or-
dinary manner, by placing one of the party with
his back to the game, who declared the owner of
each pile. Billy Kirby stretched his large frame
on the grass, by the side of the fire, as a sentinel
until morning, over the net and the fish; and the
remainder of the party embarked in the batteau,
to return to the village.
The wood-chopper was seen broiling his supper
on the coals, as they lost sight of the fire; and
when the boat approached the shore, the torch of
Mohegan's canoe was shining again under the
gloom of the eastern mountain. Its motion ceased
suddenly; a scattering of brands was exhibited
The thoughts of the heiress wandered from the
youth, who was holding a canopy of shawls over
herself and Louisa, to the hunter and the Indian
warrior; and she felt an awakening curiosity to
visit a hut, where men of such different habits and
temperament were drawn together, as if by one
common impulse.