The Deerslayer | Page 6

reached the age of six or eight
and twenty, while Deerslayer was several years his junior. Their attire needs no particular
description, though it may be well to add that it was composed in no small degree of
dressed deer-skins, and had the usual signs of belonging to those who pass their time
between the skirts of civilized society and the boundless forests. There was,
notwithstanding, some attention to smartness and the picturesque in the arrangements of
Deerslayer's dress, more particularly in the part connected with his arms and
accoutrements. His rifle was in perfect condition, the handle of his hunting-knife was
neatly carved, his powder-horn was ornamented with suitable devices lightly cut into the
material, and his shot-pouch was decorated with wampum.
On the other hand, Hurry Harry, either from constitutional recklessness, or from a secret
consciousness how little his appearance required artificial aids, wore everything in a
careless, slovenly manner, as if he felt a noble scorn for the trifling accessories of dress
and ornaments. Perhaps the peculiar effect of his fine form and great stature was
increased rather than lessened, by this unstudied and disdainful air of indifference.
"Come, Deerslayer, fall to, and prove that you have a Delaware stomach, as you say you
have had a Delaware edication," cried Hurry, setting the example by opening his mouth
to receive a slice of cold venison steak that would have made an entire meal for a
European peasant; "fall to, lad, and prove your manhood on this poor devil of a doe with
your teeth, as you've already done with your rifle."
"Nay, nay, Hurry, there's little manhood in killing a doe, and that too out of season;
though there might be some in bringing down a painter or a catamount," returned the
other, disposing himself to comply. "The Delawares have given me my name, not so
much on account of a bold heart, as on account of a quick eye, and an actyve foot. There
may not be any cowardyce in overcoming a deer, but sartain it is, there's no great valor."

"The Delawares themselves are no heroes," muttered Hurry through his teeth, the mouth
being too full to permit it to be fairly opened, "or they would never have allowed them
loping vagabonds, the Mingos, to make them women."
"That matter is not rightly understood--has never been rightly explained," said Deerslayer
earnestly, for he was as zealous a friend as his companion was dangerous as an enemy;
"the Mengwe fill the woods with their lies, and misconstruct words and treaties. I have
now lived ten years with the Delawares, and know them to be as manful as any other
nation, when the proper time to strike comes."
"Harkee, Master Deerslayer, since we are on the subject, we may as well open our minds
to each other in a man-to-man way; answer me one question; you have had so much luck
among the game as to have gotten a title, it would seem, but did you ever hit anything
human or intelligible: did you ever pull trigger on an inimy that was capable of pulling
one upon you?"
This question produced a singular collision between mortification and correct feeling, in
the bosom of the youth, that was easily to be traced in the workings of his ingenuous
countenance. The struggle was short, however; uprightness of heart soon getting the
better of false pride and frontier boastfulness.
"To own the truth, I never did," answered Deerslayer; "seeing that a fitting occasion
never offered. The Delawares have been peaceable since my sojourn with 'em, and I hold
it to be onlawful to take the life of man, except in open and generous warfare."
"What! did you never find a fellow thieving among your traps and skins, and do the law
on him with your own hands, by way of saving the magistrates trouble in the settlements,
and the rogue himself the cost of the suit!"
"I am no trapper, Hurry," returned the young man proudly: "I live by the rifle, a we'pon at
which I will not turn my back on any man of my years, atween the Hudson and the St.
Lawrence. I never offer a skin that has not a hole in its head besides them which natur'
made to see with or to breathe through."
"Ay, ay, this is all very well, in the animal way, though it makes but a poor figure
alongside of scalps and ambushes. Shooting an Indian from an ambush is acting up to his
own principles, and now we have what you call a lawful war on our hands, the sooner
you wipe that disgrace off your character, the sounder will be your sleep; if it only come
from knowing there is one inimy the less prowling in the woods. I shall