thousand rainbows, by no hand of man, though without the ordering of God's providence."
"Why, you are eloquent, Leather-stocking!" exclaimed the youth.
"Anan!" repeated Natty.
"The recollection of the sight has warmed your blood, old man. How many years is it since you saw the place?"
The hunter made no reply; but, bending his ear near to the water, he sat for a minute, holding his breath, and listening attentively, as if to some distant sound. At length he raised his head, and said—
"If I hadn't fastened the hounds with my own hands, with a fresh leash of green buck-skin, I'd take a Bible oath that I heard old Hector ringing his cry on the mountain."
"It is impossible," said Edwards, " It is not an hour since I saw him in his kennel."
By this time the attention of Mohegan was attracted to the sounds; but, notwithstanding the youth was both silent and attentive, he could hear nothing but the lowing of some cattle from the western hills. He looked at the old men, Natty sitting with his hand to his ear, like a trumpet, and Mohegan bending forward, with his arm raised to a level with his face, holding the fore finger elevated as a signal for attention, and laughed aloud at what he deemed to be their imaginary sounds.
"Laugh if you will, boy," said Leather-stocking, "the hounds be out, and are hunting a deer. No man can deceive me in such a matter. I wouldn't have had the thing happen for a beaver's skin. Not that I care for the law! but the venison is lean now, and the dumb things run the flesh off their bones for no good. Now do you hear the hounds?"
