The Deerslayer | Page 8

so long
beyond the sound of church bells; and I conclude old Tom sunk her as much by way of
saving pains, as by way of taking it. There was a little steel in her temper, it's true, and, as
old Hutter is pretty much flint, they struck out sparks once-and-a-while; but, on the whole,
they might be said to live amicable like. When they did kindle, the listeners got some
such insights into their past lives, as one gets into the darker parts of the woods, when a
stray gleam of sunshine finds its way down to the roots of the trees. But Judith I shall
always esteem, as it's recommend enough to one woman to be the mother of such a
creatur' as her darter, Judith Hutter!"
"Ay, Judith was the name the Delawares mentioned, though it was pronounced after a
fashion of their own. From their discourse, I do not think the girl would much please my
fancy."
"Thy fancy!" exclaimed March, taking fire equally at the indifference and at the
presumption of his companion, "what the devil have you to do with a fancy, and that, too,
consarning one like Judith? You are but a boy--a sapling, that has scarce got root. Judith
has had men among her suitors, ever since she was fifteen; which is now near five years;
and will not be apt even to cast a look upon a half-grown creatur' like you!"
"It is June, and there is not a cloud atween us and the sun, Hurry, so all this heat is not
wanted," answered the other, altogether undisturbed; "any one may have a fancy, and a
squirrel has a right to make up his mind touching a catamount."
"Ay, but it might not be wise, always, to let the catamount know it," growled March. "But
you're young and thoughtless, and I'll overlook your ignorance. Come, Deerslayer," he
added, with a good-natured laugh, after pausing a moment to reflect, "come, Deerslayer,
we are sworn friends, and will not quarrel about a light-minded, jilting jade, just because
she happens to be handsome; more especially as you have never seen her. Judith is only
for a man whose teeth show the full marks, and it's foolish to be afeard of a boy. What
did the Delawares say of the hussy? for an Indian, after all, has his notions of
woman-kind, as well as a white man."
"They said she was fair to look on, and pleasant of speech; but over-given to admirers,

and light-minded."
"They are devils incarnate! After all, what schoolmaster is a match for an Indian, in
looking into natur'! Some people think they are only good on a trail or the war-path, but I
say that they are philosophers, and understand a man as well as they understand a beaver,
and a woman as well as they understand either. Now that's Judith's character to a ribbon!
To own the truth to you, Deerslayer, I should have married the gal two years since, if it
had not been for two particular things, one of which was this very lightmindedness."
"And what may have been the other?" demanded the hunter, who continued to eat like
one that took very little interest in the subject.
"T'other was an insartainty about her having me. The hussy is handsome, and she knows
it. Boy, not a tree that is growing in these hills is straighter, or waves in the wind with an
easier bend, nor did you ever see the doe that bounded with a more nat'ral motion. If that
was all, every tongue would sound her praises; but she has such failings that I find it hard
to overlook them, and sometimes I swear I'll never visit the lake again."
"Which is the reason that you always come back? Nothing is ever made more sure by
swearing about it."
"Ah, Deerslayer, you are a novelty in these particulars; keeping as true to education as if
you had never left the settlements. With me the case is different, and I never want to
clinch an idee, that I do not feel a wish to swear about it. If you know'd all that I know
consarning Judith, you'd find a justification for a little cussing. Now, the officers
sometimes stray over to the lake, from the forts on the Mohawk, to fish and hunt, and
then the creatur' seems beside herself! You can see in the manner which she wears her
finery, and the airs she gives herself with the gallants."
"That is unseemly in a poor man's darter," returned Deerslayer gravely, "the officers are
all gentry, and can only look on such as Judith with evil intentions."
"There's the unsartainty, and the damper! I have my misgivings about a particular captain,
and Jude has no one to