against William Henry; that, like the
Hurons themselves, they were allies of Montcalm; and that they
maintained an amicable, though a watchful intercourse with the warlike
and savage people, whom chance had, for a time, brought in such close
and disagreeable contact with themselves.

The Mohicans and the scout listened to his interrupted and imperfect
narrative, with an interest that obviously increased as he proceeded;
and it was while attempting to explain the pursuits of the community in
which Cora was detained, that the latter abruptly demanded--

"Did you see the fashion of their knives? Were they of English or French
formation?"

"My thoughts were bent on no such vanities, but rather mingled in
consolation with those of the maidens."

"The time may come when you will not consider the knife of a savage such
a despisable vanity," returned the scout, with a strong expression of
contempt for the other's dulness. "Had they held their corn-feast--or
can you say anything of the totems of the tribe?"

"Of corn, we had many and plentiful feasts; for the grain, being in the
milk, is both sweet to the mouth and comfortable to the stomach. Of
totem, I know not the meaning; but if it appertaineth in any wise to the
art of Indian music, it need not be inquired after at their hands. They
never join their voices in praise, and it would seem that they are among
the profanest of the idolatrous."

"Therein you belie the nature of an Indian. Even the Mingo adores but
the true and living God. 'Tis a wicked fabrication of the whites, and I
say it to the shame of my color, that would make the warrior bow down
before images of his own creation. It is true, they endeavor to make
truces with the wicked one--as who would not with an enemy he cannot
conquer!--but they look up for favor and assistance to the Great and
Good Spirit only."

"It may be so," said David; "but I have seen strange and fantastic
images drawn in their paint, of which their admiration and care savored
of spiritual pride; especially one, and that, too, a foul and loathsome
object."

"Was it a sarpent?" quickly demanded the scout.

"Much the same. It was in the likeness of an abject and creeping
tortoise."

"Hugh!" exclaimed both the attentive Mohicans in a breath; while the
scout shook his head with an air of one who had made an important, but
by no means a pleasing discovery. Then the father spoke, in the language
of the Delawares, and with a calmness and