but cowards desert
their women."

Magua muttered a few words, inaudibly, between his teeth, before he
continued, aloud:

"Can the Delawares swim, too, as well as crawl in the bushes? Where is
'Le Gros Serpent'?"

Duncan, who perceived by the use of these Canadian appellations, that
his late companions were much better known to his enemies than to
himself, answered, reluctantly: "He also is gone down with the water."

"'Le Cerf Agile' is not here?"

"I know not whom you call 'The Nimble Deer'," said Duncan gladly
profiting by any excuse to create delay.

"Uncas," returned Magua, pronouncing the Delaware name with even greater
difficulty than he spoke his English words. "'Bounding Elk' is what the
white man says, when he calls to the young Mohican."

"Here is some confusion in names between us, Le Renard," said Duncan,
hoping to provoke a discussion. "Daim is the French for deer, and cerf
for stag; elan is the true term, when one would speak of an elk."

"Yes," muttered the Indian, in his native tongue; "the pale faces are
prattling women! they have two words for each thing, while a red-skin
will make the sound of his voice speak to him." Then, changing his
language, he continued, adhering to the imperfect nomenclature of his
provincial instructors. "The deer is swift, but weak; the elk is swift,
but strong; and the son of 'Le Serpent' is 'Le Cerf Agile.' Has he
leaped the river to the woods?"

"If you mean the younger Delaware, he, too, has gone down with the
water."

As there was nothing improbable to an Indian in the manner of the
escape, Magua admitted the truth of what he had heard, with a readiness
that afforded additional evidence how little he would prize such
worthless captives. With his companions, however, the feeling was
manifestly different.

The Hurons had awaited the result of this short dialogue with
characteristic patience, and with a silence that increased until there
was a general stillness in the band. When Heyward ceased to speak, they
turned their eyes, as one man, on Magua, demanding, in this expressive
manner, an explanation of what had been said. Their interpreter pointed
to the river, and made them acquainted with the result, as much by
the action as by the few words he uttered. When the fact was generally
understood, the savages raised a frightful yell, which declared the
extent of their disappointment. Some ran furiously to the water's
edge, beating the air with frantic gestures