Calico Illustrated Classics: The Last of the Mohicans
The trio of riders followed the rough trail silently into the forest Suddenly the sound of hooves caused the party to draw up their reins to turn on the path A moment later the sticklike clergyman appeared through the trees He bobbed in the saddle like a cork in rough water At first the major scowled at the unwelcome guest But the clergyman looked so comical atop his bony steed that Heyward’s lips curled to a slight smile Alice giggled and even Cora smiled Do you seek us Heyward asked The stranger swept the hat from his head and began fanning himself with it Indeed he panted I will journey in your company You reached this decision on your own Heyward asked The man nodded I am David Gamut he said My gift is small I sing prayer and thanksgiving Do let him come along Alice urged 8
The major scowled but agreed I do love to sing Alice said as the scrawny mare caught up with her horse I would enjoy learning from a master The voice is a gift from God At that Gamut pulled a book from his pocket and began singing and waving one hand about At the burst of song the guide stopped and frowned He spoke quietly to Heyward who turned his horse and said A quiet ride would be safer Could you postpone your chant until we reach the fort The clergyman snapped his book shut and slipped it away in his jacket Suddenly the major saw a movement in the brush He looked toward their guide who trotted forward at a relaxed pace Surely if the guide saw no one it was only his imagination As the group passed a painted face peered from the woods behind them It watched the riders fade into the shadows ahead 9
chapter 2 The Meeting A few miles west two men rested on the banks of a fast-moving stream The older man’s face and chest were marked with streaks of black and white paint His head was closely shaved Only a single tuft of hair and a single eagle’s feather hung over his left shoulder A short military rifle lay across his bare knees The other man wore a forest green shirt with faded yellow fringe and a summer cap of skins His buckskin leggings were laced at the sides and he wore moccasins A rifle of great length leaned against a tree beside him As the younger man spoke his watchful eyes wandered Both our people came to this place and fought to stay Chingachgook he said 10
Yours came from the setting sun and mine from the red sky of morning It is not the same Hawkeye Chingachgook said Do you approve the deeds of the white man I am white Hawkeye replied My people have many ways I can’t approve What do your people say happened when our fathers met Chingachgook sat silent for a full minute before beginning his brief tale Listen and your ear shall drink no lie The Mohicans came from the place where the sun sleeps and traveled to the big river We fought the Alligewi The Maquas followed and we drove them into the woods with the bears Hawkeye nodded All this I have heard and believe But it was long before the English came The whites gave my people drink that made them foolish Chingachgook continued They drove us from the land Now Uncas is the last of the Mohicans 11
