y bears a smart piece! I know
its crack, as well as a father knows the language of his child, for I
carried the gun myself until a better offered."

"What can this mean?" demanded Duncan, "we are watched, and, as it would
seem, marked for destruction."

"Yonder scattered brand can witness that no good was intended, and this
Indian will testify that no harm has been done," returned the scout,
dropping his rifle across his arm again, and following Chingachgook, who
just then reappeared within the circle of light, into the bosom of the
work. "How is it, Sagamore? Are the Mingoes upon us in earnest, or is it
only one of those reptiles who hang upon the skirts of a war-party,
to scalp the dead, go in, and make their boast among the squaws of the
valiant deeds done on the pale faces?"

Chingachgook very quietly resumed his seat; nor did he make any reply,
until after he had examined the firebrand which had been struck by
the bullet that had nearly proved fatal to himself. After which he was
content to reply, holding a single finger up to view, with the English
monosyllable:

"One."

"I thought as much," returned Hawkeye, seating himself; "and as he had
got the cover of the lake afore Uncas pulled upon him, it is more than
probable the knave will sing his lies about some great ambushment,
in which he was outlying on the trail of two Mohicans and a white
hunter--for the officers can be considered as little better than idlers
in such a scrimmage. Well, let him--let him. There are always some
honest men in every nation, though heaven knows, too, that they are
scarce among the Maquas, to look down an upstart when he brags ag'in the
face of reason. The varlet sent his lead within whistle of your ears,
Sagamore."

Chingachgook turned a calm and incurious eye toward the place where the
ball had struck, and then resumed his former attitude, with a composure
that could not be disturbed by so trifling an incident. Just then Uncas
glided into the circle, and seated himself at the fire, with the same
appearance of indifference as was maintained by his father.

Of these several moments Heyward was a deeply interested and wondering
observer. It appeared to him as though the foresters had some secret
means of intelligence, which had escaped the vigilance of his own
faculties. In place of that eager and garrulous narration with which
a white youth would have endeavored to communicate, and perhaps
exaggerate, that which had passed out