[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

time, he threw himself into an attitude of preparation, and stood keenly
watching the sheet of placid water. Presently a dark spot appeared, and then
the duck arose to breathe, and shook its wings. While in this act, a bullet
passed directly through its breast, actually turning it over lifeless, on its
back. At the next moment, Deerslayer stood with the breech of his rifle on the
platform, as tranquil as if nothing had happened, though laughing in his own
peculiar manner.
 There s no great trial of the pieces in that! he said, as if anxious to
prevent a false impression of his own merit.  No, that proof s neither for,
nor ag in the rifles, seeing it was all quickness of hand and eye. I took the
bird at a disadvantage, or he might have got under, again, afore the bullet
reached him. But the Sarpent is too wise to mind such tricks, having long been
used to them. Do you remember the time, chief, when you thought yourself
sartain of the wild-goose, and I took him out of your very eyes, as it might
be, with a little smoke! Howsever, such things pass for nothing, atween
fri nds, and young folk will have their fun, Judith. Ay, here s just the bird
Page 105
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
we want, for it s as good for the fire, as it is for the aim, and nothing
should be lost that can be turned to just account. There, farther north,
Delaware.
The latter looked in the required direction, and he soon saw a large black
duck, floating in stately repose on the water. At that distant day, when so
few men were present to derange the harmony of the wilderness, all the smaller
lakes with which the interior of New York so abounds, were places of resort
for the migratory aquatic birds; and this sheet, like the others, had once
been much frequented by all the varieties of the duck, by the goose, the gull,
and the loon. On the appearance of Hutter, the spot was comparatively deserted
for other sheets, more retired and remote, though some of each species
continued to resort thither, as indeed they do to the present hour. At that
instant, a hundred birds were visible from the castle, sleeping on the water,
or laving their feathers in the limpid element, though no other offered so
favourable a mark as that Deerslayer had just pointed out to his friend.
Chingachgook, as usual, spared his words, and proceeded to execution. This
time his aim was more careful than before, and his success in proportion. The
bird had a wing crippled, and fluttered along the water screaming, materially
increasing its distance from its enemies.
 That bird must be put out of pain, exclaimed Deerslayer, the moment the
animal endeavoured to rise on the wing;  and this is the rifle and the eye to
do it.
The duck was still floundering along, when the fatal bullet overtook it,
severing the head from the neck, as neatly as if it had been done with an axe.
Hist had indulged in a low cry of delight, at the success of the young Indian;
but now she affected to frown and resent the greater skill of his friend. The
chief, on the contrary, uttered the usual exclamation of pleasure, and his
smile proved how much he admired, and how little he envied.
 Never mind the gal, Sarpent; never mind Hist s feelin s, which will neither
choke, nor drown, slay nor beautify, said Deerslayer, laughing.   Tis nat ral
for women to enter into their husband s victories and defeats, and you are as
good as man and wife, so far as prejudice and fri ndship go. Here is a bird
over head, that will put the pieces to the proof; I challenge you to an upward
aim, with a flying target. That s a ra al proof, and one that needs sartain
rifles, as well as sartain eyes.
The species of eagle that frequents the water, and lives on fish, was also
present, and one was hovering at a considerable height above the hut, greedily
watching for an opportunity to make a swoop; its hungry young elevating their
heads from a nest that was in sight, in the naked summit of a dead pine.
Chingachgook silently turned a new piece against this bird, and after
carefully watching his time, fired. A wider circuit than common, denoted that
the messenger had passed through the air, at no great distance from the bird,
though it missed its object. Deerslayer, whose aim was not more true than it
was quick, fired as soon as it was certain his friend had missed, and the deep
swoop that followed left it momentarily doubtful whether the eagle was hit or
not. The marksman himself, however, proclaimed his own want of success,
calling on his friend to seize another rifle, for he saw signs on the part of
the bird of an intention to quit the spot.
 I made him wink, Sarpent; I do think his feathers were ruffled, but no blood
has yet been drawn, nor is that old piece fit for so nice and quick a sight.
Quick, Delaware; you ve now a better rifle, and, Judith, bring out Killdeer,
for this is the occasion to try his merits, if he has  em! [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]