demonstration towards achieving a few stanzas of one of the
longest effusions in the little volume so often mentioned.

Heyward, however, hastily interrupted his pious purpose, by continuing
questions concerning the past and present condition of his
fellow-captives, and in a manner more methodical than had been permitted
by his feelings in the opening of their interview. David, though he
regarded his treasure with longing eyes, was constrained to answer:
especially as the venerable father took a part in the interrogatories,
with an interest too imposing to be denied. Nor did the scout fail to
throw in a pertinent inquiry, whenever a fitting occasion presented. In
this manner, though with frequent interruptions, which were filled with
certain threatening sounds from the recovered instrument, the pursuers
were put in possession of such leading circumstances as were likely to
prove useful in accomplishing their great and engrossing object--the
recovery of the sisters. The narrative of David was simple, and the
facts but few.

Magua had waited on the mountain until a safe moment to retire presented
itself, when he had descended, and taken the route along the western
side of the Horican, in the direction of the Canadas. As the subtle
Huron was familiar with the paths, and well knew there was no immediate
danger of pursuit, their progress had been moderate, and far from
fatiguing. It appeared from the unembellished statement of David, that
his own presence had been rather endured than desired; though even Magua
had not been entirely exempt from that veneration with which the Indians
regard those whom the Great Spirit has visited in their intellects. At
night, the utmost care had been taken of the captives, both to prevent
injury from the damps of the woods, and to guard against an escape. At
the spring, the horses were turned loose, as has been seen; and
notwithstanding the remoteness and length of their trail, the artifices
already named were resorted to, in order to cut off every clue to their
place of retreat. On their arrival at the encampment of his people,
Magua, in obedience to a policy seldom departed from, separated his
prisoners. Cora had been sent to a tribe that temporarily occupied an
adjacent valley, though David was too ignorant of the customs and
history of the natives to be able to declare anything satisfactory
concerning their name or character. He only knew that they had not
engaged in the late expedition