Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 1).djvu/41

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THE MOHICANS.
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"Yon Indian is a 'runner' of our army, and, after the fashion of his people, he may be accounted a hero," returned the young officer, to whom she addressed herself----"He has volunteered to guide us to the lake, by a path but little known, sooner than if we followed the tardy movements of the column; and, by consequence, more agreeably."

"I like him not," said the lady, shuddering, partly in assumed, yet more in real terror. "You know him, Duncan, or you would not trust yourself so freely to his keeping?"

"Say, rather, Alice, that I would not trust you," returned the young man, impressively; "I do know him, or he would not have my confidence, and least of all, at this moment. He is said to be a Canadian too; and yet he served with our friends the Mohawks, who, as you know, are one of the six allied nations. He was brought amongst us, as I have heard, by some strange accident, in which your father was interested, and in which the savage was