 Chapter 14 of The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna, a descriptive tale by James Fenimore Cooper. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 14. Quote, There's a court pot, pint pot, mid pint, gill pot, half gill, nipper, kid, and the brown bull. Here's a health to the barley-mow, my brave boys. Here's a health to the barley-mow, unquote, a drinking song. Some little commotion was produced by the appearance of the new guest, during which the lawyer slunk from the room. Most of the men approached Marmaduke and shook his offered hand, hoping that the judge was well. While Major Hartman, having laid aside his hat and wig and substituted for the later a warm, peaked woolen nightcap, took his seat very quietly on one end of the satis, which was relinquished by its former occupant. His tobacco-box was next produced, and a clean pipe was handed him by the landlord. When he had succeeded in raising a smoke, the Major gave a long whiff, and turning his head toward the bar he said, In the meantime the judge had exchanged his salutations with most of the company, and taken a place by the side of the Major, and Richard had bustled himself into the most comfortable seat in the room. Mr. Lacoy was the last seated, nor did he venture to place his chair, finally, until by frequent removals he had ascertained that he could not possibly intercept a ray of heat from any individual present. Mohegan found a place on one end of one of the benches, and somewhat approximated to the bar. When these movements had subsided, the judge remarked pleasantly, Well, Betty, I find you retain your popularity through all weathers, against all rivals and among all religions. How like you, the sermon! Is it the sermon, exclaimed the landlady? I can't say that it was reasonable, but the prayers is mighty and easy. It's no smaller matter for a body in your fifty-night year to be moving so much in church. Mr. Grant seems a godly man anyway, and his garra a humble on, and a devout. Here John is a mug-a-sider laced with whiskey, an Indian world-drink-sider, though he never be a thirst. I must say, observed Hiram with due deliberation, that it was a tonguey thing, and I'd rather guess that it gave considerable satisfaction. There was one part, though, which might have been left out, or something else put in, but then I suppose that, as it was a written discourse, it is not so easily altered as where a minister preaches without notes. Boy, there's the rub, Judge, cried the landlady. How can a man stand up and be preaching his word, when all that he is saying is written down? And he is as much tied to it as ever a faving dragon was to the pickets. Well well, cried Marmaduke, waving his hand for silence. There is enough said. As Mr. Grant told us, there are different sentiments on such subjects, and in my opinion he spoke most sensibly. So Jonathan, I am told you have sold your betterments to a new settler, and have moved into the village and opened a school. Was it cash or dicker? The man who was thus addressed occupied a seat immediately behind Marmaduke, and one who was ignorant of the extent of the judge's observation might have thought that he would have escaped noticed. He was of a thin, shapeless figure, with a discontented expression of countenance, and with something extremely shiftless in his whole air, thus spoken to after turning and twisting a little by way of preparation, he made a reply. Why, part cash and part dicker. I sold out to a pump-feet man who was so thin before-handed, he was to give me ten dollars for acre for the clearing, and one dollar an acre over the first cost of the woodland, and we agreed to leave the buildings to men. So I took us a Montague, and he took us a Lumbimit, and they took Old Square Naptholy Green, and so they had a meeting, and made out of verdict of eighty dollars for the buildings. There was twelve acres of clearing, and ten dollars and eighty-eight at one, and the whole came to two hundred and eighty-six dollars and a half after paying the men. Huh, said Marmaduke. What did you give for the place? Why, besides what's coming to the judge, I gave my brother Tim a hundred dollars for his bargain, but then there's a new house on it that cost me sixty more, and I paid Moses a hundred dollars for chopping and logging, and so on, so that the whole stood me in about two hundred and sixty dollars, but then I had a great crop off on it, and as I got twenty-six dollars and a half more than it cost, I conclude I made a pretty good trade on it. Yes, but you forgot that the crop was yours without the trade, and you have turned yourself out of doors for twenty-six dollars. Oh, the judge is clean out, said the man with a look of sagacious calculation. He turned out a span of horses. That is worth a hundred and fifty dollars on any man's money, and a brand new wagon, fifty dollars in cash, and a good note for eighty more, and a side saddle that was valued at seven and a half, so there was just twelve shillings betwixt us. I wanted him to turn out a set of harness and take the cow and sap troughs. He wouldn't, but I saw through it. He thought I should have to buy the tackling before I could use the wagon and horses, but I knowed a thing or two myself. I should like to know of what uses the tackling to him. I offered him to trade again for one hundred and fifty-five, but my woman said she wanted to churn, so I took a churn for the change. And what do you mean to do with your time this winter? You must remember that time is money. I, as master, has gone down country to see his brother, who they say is going to make a die out of it, I agreed to take the school in hand till he comes back. If time doesn't get worse in the spring, I have some notion of going into trade, or maybe I may move off to the Genesee. They say they are carrying on a great stroke of business that away. If the worst comes to worst, I can but work at my trade, for I was brought up in a shoe manufacturing. It would seem that Marmaduke did not think his society of sufficient value to attempt inducing him to remain where he was, for he addressed no further discourse to the man, but turned his attention to other subjects. After a short pause, Hiram ventured a question. What news does the judge bring us from the legislature? It's not likely that Congress has done much this session, or maybe the French haven't fit any more battles lately. The French, since they have beheaded their king, have done nothing but fight, returned the judge. The character of the nation seems changed. I knew many French gentlemen during our war, and they all appear to me to be men of great humanity and goodness of heart, but these Jacobins are as bloodthirsty as bulldogs. There was one rauchembao with us down at Yorktown, cried the landlady. A mighty pretty man he was, too, and their horse was the very sane. It was there that the sergeant got hurt in the leg from the English batteries. Bao had luck to him. Oh, mon pauvre roi! The legislature have been passing laws, continued Marmaduke, that the country much required. Among others is an act prohibiting the drawing of saints at any other than proper seasons in certain of our streams and small lakes, and another to prohibit the killing of deer in the teeming months. These are laws that were loudly called for by judicious men, nor do I despair of getting an act to make the unlawful felling of timber a criminal offence. The hunter listened to this detail with breathless attention, and when the judge had ended, he laughed in open derision. You may make your laws, judge, he cried, but who will you find to watch the mountains through the long summer days, or the lakes at night? Game is game, and he who finds may kill. That has been the law in these mountains for forty years to my certain knowledge, and I think one old law is worth two new ones. None but a green would wish to kill a doe with a thawne by its side, unless his moccasins were getting old, or his leggings ragged, for the flesh is lean and coarse. But a rifle rings among the rocks along the lakeshore. Sometimes as if fifty pieces were fired at once, it would be hard to tell where the man stood who pulled the trigger. Armed with the dignity of the law, Mr. Bumpo, returned the judge gravely, a vigilant magistrate can prevent much of the evil that has hitherto prevailed, and which is already rendering game scarce. I hope to live to see the day when a man's rights in his game shall be as much respected as title to his farm. Your titles and your farms are all new together, cried Natty. But laws should be equal, and not more for one than another. I shot a deer last Wednesday was a fortnight, and it floundered through the snow banks till it got over a brush fence. I catched the lock of my rifle and the twigs in falling, and was kept back until finally the creature got off. Now I want to know who is to pay me for that deer. And a fine bucket was. If it hadn't been a fence, I should have gotten another shot onto it, and I never drawed upon anything that hadn't wings three times running in my born days. No, no, judge, it's the farmers that makes the game scarce, and not the hunters. Deer-deer is not so plainly as to the old world, pom-pom, said the Major, who had been an attentive listener amid clouds of smoke. Put de-lot is not might as for te-teer to live, but for Christians. Why, Major, I believe you're a friend to justice and to the right, though you go so often to the Grand House. But it's a hard case to a man to have his honest calling for a livelihood stopped by laws. And that, too, when, if right was done, he might hunt or fish on any day in the week or on the best flat in the patent, if he was so minded. I understand you'll, letter Stockant, returned the Major, fixing his black eyes with a peculiar look of meaning on the hunter. But you didn't used to be so prudent as to look at me so much care. Maybe there wasn't so much occasion, said the hunter, a little sockily, when he sank into silence from which he was not roused for some time. Dr. Hodge was saying something about the French, Hiram observed, when the pause in the conversation had continued a decent time. Yes, sir, returned Marmaduke. The Jacobins of France seem rushing from one act of licentiousness to another. They continue those murders, which are dignified by the name of executions. You have heard that they have added the death of their queen to the long list of their crimes. Very much tears, again, murmured Montseur-LaClois, turning himself suddenly in his chairs with a convulsive start. The province of Leven-Denais is laid waste by the troops of the Republic, and hundreds of its inhabitants, who are royalists in their sentiments, are shot at a time. Leven-Denais is a district of the southwest of France that continues yet much attached to the family of the Bourbons. Doubtless Montseur-LaClois is acquainted with it and can describe it more faithfully. Non, non, non, Montseur-La-Mille returned the Frenchman in a suppressed voice, but speaking rapidly and gesticulating with his right hand as if for mercy, while with his left he concealed his eyes. There have been many battles fought lately, continued Marmaduke, and the infuriated Republicans are too often victorious. I cannot say, however, that I am sorry that they have captured Toulon from the English, for it is a place to which they have a just right. Aha! exclaimed Montseur-LaClois, springing on his feet and flourishing both arms with great animation. C'est anglais! The Frenchman continued to move about the room with great alacrity for a few minutes. Repeating his exclamations to himself when overcome by the contrary nature of his emotions, he suddenly burst out of the house and was seen wading through the snow toward his little shop, waving his arms on highs as if to pluck down on her from the moon. His departure excited, but little surprise, for the villagers were used to his manner, but Major Hartman laughed outright for the first during his visit as he lifted the mug and observed. The Frenchman is not but he is good as for nothing to drink his drunk mid-joy. The Frenchman are good soldiers, said Captain Hollister. They stood by us in hand a good turn at Yorktown. Nor do I think, although I am an ignorant man about the great movements of the army, that his excellency would have been able to march against Cornwallis without their reinforcements. They spake the chote, sergeant, interrupted his wife, and I would ever have you doing the same. Its very pretty man is the French, and just when I stopped the cart the time when he was pushing in front of us to keep the ringlers in, a regiment of the gentlemen marched by, and so I dealt them out to their liking. Was it pay I got? Sure did I. And in good, solid crowns. A devil bit of continental could they muster among them all for love nor money. Oh! The Lord forgive me for swearing and spaking of such vanities. But this I will say for the French, that they pay in good silver and one glass would not go a great way with them, for again Raleigh handed it back with a drop in the cup. And that's a brisk trade, George, where the pay is good and the men not over particular. A thriving trade, Miss Hollister, said Marmaduke. What has become of Richard? He jumped up as soon as seated, and has been absent so long, I am really fearful he has frozen. No fear that, Cousin Duke, cried the gentleman himself, business will sometimes keep a man warm the coldest night that ever snapped in the mountains. Betty, your husband told me as we came out of church that your hogs were getting mangy, and so I've out and took a look at them and found it true. I stepped across the doctor and got your boy to weigh me out a pound of salts, and had been mixing it with their swill. I'll bet a saddle venison against a gray squirrel that they are better in a week. And now, Miss Hollister, I'm ready for a hissing mug of flip. Sure, I know you'd be wanting the same, said the landlady. It's a fixed and ready to the boiling. Sergeant, dear, be handing up the iron, will ye? No, the one on the fire-fire. It's black, ye will see. Ah, you've the thing now. Look, if it's not as red as a cherry. The beverage was heated, and Richard took that kind of drip-draft, which men are apt to indulge in, who think that they have just executed a clever thing, especially when they like the liquor. Oh, you have a hand-bed-y. That was for him to mix-flip, cried Richard, when he paused for breath. The very iron has a flavor in it. Here, John, drink, man, drink. I and you and Dr. Todd have done a good thing with the shoulder of that lad this very night. Duke, I made a song while you were gone one day, when I had nothing to do. So I'll sing a verse or two, though I haven't really determined the tune yet. What is life but a scene of care where each one must toil in his way, then let us be jolly, and prove that we are a set of good fellows who seem very rare, and can laugh and sing all the day, then let us be jolly, and cast away folly, for grief turns a black head to gray. There, Duke, what do you think of that? There is another verse of it all, but the last line. I haven't got a rhyme for the last line yet. Well, John, what do you think of the music as good as one of your war songs, huh? Good, said Mohegan, who had been sharing deeply in the potations of the landlady. Besides paying a proper respect to them passing mugs of the major and Marmaduke. Bravo, bravo, Richard! cried the major, whose black eyes were beginning to swim in moisture. Provismo is a good song, but nanny Pumple is better. Letter stockant, vilt sink? Say, oh, poi, vilt sink to song as about to wooze? No, no, major, returned the hunter, with a melancholy shake of the head. I have lived to see what I thought eyes could never be hold in these hills, and I have no heart left for singing. If he that has a right to be master and ruler here is forced to squinch his thirst when I dry with snow water, it ill becomes them that have lived by his bounty to be making merry, as if there was nothing in the world but sunshine and summer. When he had spoken, Leather stocking again dropped his heads on his knees, and concealed his hard and wrinkled features with his hands. The change from the excess of cold without the heat of the bar room, coupled with the depth and frequency of Richard's drafts, had already leveled whatever inequality there might have existed between him and the other guest on the score of spirits. And he now held out a pair of swimming mugs of foaming flip toward the hunter as he cried. Marry a merry Christmas to you, oh boy. Sunshine and summer? No, you are blind Leather stocking. Tis moonshine and winter. Take these spectacles and open your eyes. So let us be jolly and cast away foley for grief turns a black head to gray. Here, old John turns his quavers. What damn dull music an Indian song is, after all, Major. I wonder if they ever sing by note. While Richard was singing and talking, Mohegan was uttering dull monotonous tones, keeping time by a gentle motion of his head and body. He made use of but few words, and such as he did utter were in his native language, and consequently only understood by himself and Natty. Without heeding Richard, he continued to sing a kind of wild melancholy air that rose at times in sudden and quite elevated notes, and then fell again in the low, quavering sounds that seemed to compose the character of his music. The attention of the company was now much divided, the men in the rear having formed themselves into little groups, before they were discussing various matters. Among the principal of which were the treatment of mangy hogs and parson grunts preaching. While Dr. Todd was endeavoring to explain to Marmaduke the nature of the hurt received by the young hunter, Mohegan continued to sing while his countenance was becoming vacant. Though coupled with his thick, bushy hair, it was assuming an expression very much like brutal ferocity. His notes were gradually growing louder, and soon rose to a height that caused a general cessation in the discourse. The hunter now raised his head again and addressed the old warrior warmly in the Delaware language, which, for the benefit of our readers, we shall render freely into English. Why do you sing of your battles, Chinchgachkuk, and of the warriors you have slain, when the worst enemy of all is near you and keeps the young eagle from his rights? I have fought in as many battles as any warrior in your tribe, but cannot boast of my deeds at such a time as this. Hawkeye! said the Indian, tottering with a doubtful step from his place. I am the great snake of the Delaware's. I can track the mingos like an adder that is stealing on the whipper-wills' eggs, and strike them like the rattlesnake dead at a blow. The white man made the tomahawk of Chinchgachkuk bright as the waters of a stago, when the last sun is shining, but it is red with the blood of the maquis. And why have you slain the mingo warriors? Was it not to keep these hunting grounds and lakes to your father's children? And were they not given in solemn counsel to the fire-eater? And does not the blood of a warrior run in the veins of a young chief who should speak aloud where his voice is now too low to be heard? The appeal of the hunter seemed in some measure to recall the confused faculties of the Indian, who turned his face toward the listeners and gazed intently on the judge. He shook his head, throwing his hair back from his countenance, and exposed eyes that were glaring with an expression of wild resentment. But the man was not himself. His hands seemed to make a fruitless effort to release his tomahawk, which was confined by its handle to his belt, while his eyes gradually became vacant. Richard, at that instant, thrusting a mug before him, his features changed to the grin of idiocy, and seizing the vessel with both hands, he sank backward on the bench and drank until satiated, when he made an effort to lay aside the mug with the helplessness of total inebriity. Shed not blood exclaimed the hunter as he watched the countenance of the Indian in its moment of ferocity, but he is drunk and can do no harm. This is the way, with all the savages, give them liquor, and they make dogs of themselves. Well, well, the day will come when right will be done, and we must have patience. That he still spoke in the Delaware language, and, of course, was not understood. He had hardly concluded before Richard cried, well, old John, as soon as you sew it up, give him a birth-captain in the barn, and I'll pay for it. I am rich tonight, ten times richer than Duke, with all his hands amid military lots and funded debts and bonds and mortgages. Come, come, let us be jolly, and cast away folly for grief. Drink, King Hiram, drink. Mr. Do Nothing, drink, sir, I say. This is a Christmas Eve, which comes, you know, but once a year. Hee-hee-hee, the squire's quite musical tonight, said Hiram, whose visage began to give marvelous signs of relaxation. I rather guess we shall make a church on yet, squire. A church, Mr. Do Little? We will make a cathedral of it. Bishops, priests, deacons, wardens, vestry, inquire, organ, organist, the mid-bellows. By the Lord Harry, as Benjamin says, we will clap a steeple on the other end of it and make two churches of it. What say you, Duke? Will you pay, huh? My cousin, Judge, will pay? They'll make us such a noise, Deacon, return Marmaduke. It is impossible that I can hear what Dr. Todd is saying. I think that observance is probable the wound will fester so as to occasion danger to the limb in this cold weather. Out of nature, sir, quite out of nature, said Elanthan, attempting to expectorate, but succeeding only in throwing a light frothy substance like a flake of snow into the fire. Quite out of nature, and a wound so well-dressed, and with the ball in my pocket should fester, I suppose as the judge talks of taking the young man into his house it would be most convenient if I but one charge on it. I should think one would do, return Marmaduke, with that arch-smile that so often beamed on his face, leaving the beholder in doubt whether he most enjoyed the character of his companion or his own covert humor. The landlord had succeeded in placing the Indian on some straw in one of his outbuildings, where, covered with his own blanket, John continued for the remainder of the night. In the meantime, Major Hartman began to grow noisy and jocular. Glass succeeded glass, and mug after mug was introduced until the carousel had run deep into the night, or rather morning, when the veteran German expressed an inclination to return to the mansion-house, most of the party had already retired, but Marmaduke knew the habits of his friend too well to suggest an earlier adjournment. So soon, however, as the proposal was made, the judge eagerly availed himself of it, and the trio prepared to depart. Mrs. Hollister attended them to the door in person, cautioning her guest as to the safest manner of leaving her premises. "'Lean on, Mr. John's Major,' she said. "'He's young and will be of support to ye. Well, it's a charming sight to see ye anyway at the Bull Dragoon, and sure it's no harm in becaping a Christmas Eve with a light heart, for it's no telling when we may have sorrow come upon us. So good-night, George, and merry Christmas to ye all to-morrow morning!' The gentlemen made their doos as well as they could, and taking the middle of the road, which was a fine, wide, and well-beaten path, they did tolerably well until they reached the gate of the mansion house, but on entering the judge's domains they encountered some slight difficulties. We shall not stop to relate them, but we'll just mention that in the morning, sundry diverging paths were to be seen in the snow, and that once during their progress to the door, Marmaduke, missing his companions, was unable to trace them by one of these paths to a spot where he discovered them with nothing visible but their heads, Richard singing in a most vivacious strain, "'Come, let us be jolly, and cast away fully, for grief turns a black head to gray!' End of Chapter 14 This reading by Gary W. Sherwin of Yukon, Pennsylvania in August of 2009, Chapter 15 of The Pioneers or The Sources of the Susquehanna, a descriptive tale by James Fenimore Cooper. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Chapter 15 Quote, as he lay on that day in the day of Biscayho. Unquote, previously to the occurrences of the scene at the bold dragoon, Elizabeth had been safely reconducted to the mansion house, where she was left as its mistress, either to amuse or employ herself during the evening, as best suited her own inclinations. Most of the lights were extinguished, but as Benjamin adjusted with great care and regularity, four large candles in as many massive candlesticks of brass, in a row on the sideboard, the hall possessed a peculiar air of comfort and warmth. Contrasted with the cheerless aspect of the room she had left in the academy, remarkable had been one of the listeners to Mr. Grant and returned with her resentment, which had been not a little excited by the language of the judge, somewhat softened by reflection and the worship. She recollected the youth of Elizabeth and thought it no difficult task under present appearances to exercise that power indirectly, which hitherto she had enjoyed undisputed. The idea of being governed or being compelled to pay the deference of servitude was absolutely intolerable, and she had already determined within herself some half dozen times to make an effort that should at once bring to an issue the delicate point of her domestic condition, but as often as she met the dark proud eye of Elizabeth, who was walking up and down the apartment musing on the scenes of her youth and the change in her condition, and perhaps the events of the day, the housekeeper experienced an awe that she would not own to herself could be excited by anything mortal. It however checked her advances and for some time held her tongue tied. At length she determined to commence the discourse by entering on a subject that was apt to level all human distinctions and in which she might display her own abilities. It was quite a wordy sermon that Partian Grant gave us tonight, said remarkable, the church ministers be calmly smart sermonizers, but they write down their ideas which is a great privilege. I don't think that by nature they are as tonguey speakers for an offhand discourse as the standing order ministers. And what denomination do you distinguish as being the standing order? Inquired Miss Temple with some surprise. Why, the Presbyterians and Congregationals and Baptists too, for till now, and all stitch as don't go on their knees to prayer. By that rule then you would call those who belong to the persuasion of my father the sitting order, observed Elizabeth. I'm not sure I ever heard him spoke of by any other name than quicker so-called return remarkable, betraying a slight uneasiness. I should be the last to call them otherwise, for I never in my life used a disparaging term of the judge or any of his family. I've always said scurr by the Quakers. They're so pretty spoken clever people and it's a wonderment to me how your father come to marry into a church family, for they are as contrarian religion as can be. Once it's still and for the most part says nothing. While the church foals practice all kinds of ways so that I sometimes think it's quite musical to see them, for I went to a church meeting once before down country. You have found an excellent in the church liturgy that was here to escape me. I will thank you to inquire whether the fire in my room burns. I feel petite for my journey and will retire. Remarkable felt a wonderful inclination to tell the young mistress of the mansion that by opening a door she might see for herself. But prudence got the better of resentment and after pausing some little time as a salve to her dignity, she did as desired. The report was favorable and the young lady wishing Benjamin who was filling the stove with wood and the housekeeper each a good night withdrew. The instant the door closed on Miss Temple remarkable commenced a sort of mysterious ambiguous discourse that was neither abusive nor commendatory of the qualities of the absent personage but which seemed to be drawing nigh by regular degrees to a most dissatisfied description. The major domo made no reply but continued his occupation with great industry which being happily completed he took a look at the thermometer and then opening a drawer on the sideboard he produced a supply of stimulants that would serve to keep the warmth in his system without the aid of the enormous fire he had been building. A small stand was drawn up near the stove and the bottles and glasses necessary for convenience were quietly arranged. Two chairs were placed by the side of this comfortable situation when Benjamin for the first time appeared to observe his companion. Come! Come! he cried. Come Miss Best Remarkable bring yourself to a anchor on this chair. It's a peeler without I can tell you good woman but what cares I blow high or blow low do you see? It's all the same to Ben. The niggers are snug stowed below before a fire that would roast a box hole that thermometer stands at 55 but if there's any virtue in good maple wood I'll weather upon it before one glass as much as 10 points more so that the squire when he comes home from Betty Holster's warm room will feel as hot as a hand that has been given the rigging a lick with bad tar. Come Mistress bring up in this here chair and tell me how you like our new heiress. Why to my motion Mr. Pangolin? Bump! Bump! interrupted Benjamin. It is Christmas Eve Mr. Remarkable and so DC you had better call me Pump. It's a shorter name and I's mean to pump this here decanter till it sucks. Why you may as well call me Pump. Do you ever cry Remarkable with a laugh that seemed to unhinge every joint in her body? You're a musical creature Benjamin when the notion takes you but as I was saying I'd rather guess the times will be altered now in this house. Altered exclaimed the major domo, eyeing the bottle that was assuming the clear aspect of cut glass with astonishing rapidity. It don't matter much. Mistress Remarkable so long as I keep the keys of the lockers in my pocket. I can't say continued the housekeeper but there's good eables in drinkables enough in the house for a body's content. A little more sugar Benjamin in the glass for Squire Jones is an excellent provider but new lords new laws and shouldn't I wonder if you and I had an uncertain time in footer. Life isn't certain as the wind blows said Benjamin with a moralizing air and nothing is more variable than the wind Mistress Remarkable. Unless you happen to fall in with the trades do you see and when you may run for the matter of a month at a time with studying sales on both sides a low and a loft and with the cabin boy at the wheel. I know that life's better than certain said Remarkable compressing her features to the humor of her companion but I expect there will be great changes made in the house to rights and that you will find a young man put over your head as there is one that wants to be over mine and after being settled as long as you have Benjamin I should judge that would be hard. Promotion should go according to late the service and the major donal and if so be they had shipped a hand for my birth a place a new steward aft I shall throw up my commission in less time than you can put a pilot boat in stays. This was a common misnomer with Benjamin is a nice gentleman and as good a man to sail as heart could wish yet I shall tell the squire do you see in plain English as that's my native tongue that if so be is thinking of putting any Johnny Raw over my head while I shall resign I began forward Mr's Pettibones and worked my way aft like a man I was six months aboard a Guarnsey Lugger hauling in the slack of the lee sheet and coiling up rigging from that I went a few trips in a four and after in the same trade which after all was but a blind kind of sailing in the dark where a man learns but little accepting how to steer by the stars well then do you see I learned how the top mass should be slushed and how a top-gallant sail was to be becketed and when I did small jell-obs in the cabin such as mixing the skippers Grog to us there I got my case which you must have often seen is excellent well here's better acquaintance to us remarkable nodded a return to the compliment and took a sip of the beverage before her for provided it was well sweetened she had no objection to a small paltation now and then after this observance of courtesy between the worthy couple the dialogue proceeded you have great experiences in life Benjamin for as the scripture says they decked her down in the sea in ships see the works of the Lord I for that matter they in bricks and schooners too and at Mott's say the works of the devil the sea mistis remarkable is a great advantage to a man in the way of knowledge for he sees the fashions of nations and the shape of a country now I suppose for myself here who is but an unlaunted man to some of the fellows at the seas I suppose that taking the coast from Cape Leogh as low down is Cape finish there there isn't so much as a headline or an island that I don't know either the name of it or something more or less about it take enough woman to color the water here sugar it's a sweet tooth that fellow that you hold on upon yet Miss Pettybones but as I was saying take the whole coast along I know it as well as the way from here to the Pearl Dragoon and a devil of acquaintances the Bay of Biscay who I wish I could but hear the wind blow there it's sometimes takes two to hold one man's hair on his head scuttling through the bay is pretty much the same as traveling the roads of this country up one side of a mountain and down the other do tell exclaimed remarkable and does the sea run as high as the mountains Benjamin well I will tell but first let's taste the grog it's the right kind of stuff I must say that you keep in this country but then you're so close abroad the West Indies you make but small run of it by the Lord Harry woman if Gonsi only lay somewhere between Cape Hatteras and the Bite of Logan but you'd see rum cheap and to the seas they run more in uppers in the Bay of Biscay unless it may be a southwestern when they tumble about quite handsomely though it's not in the narrow sea that you are to look for a swell just go off the western islands in a western blow keeping the land on your lardbird hind with the ship's head to the south and bring to under a close reef top sail or may have a reef top sail with a four top mast stay sail and mizzen stay sail to keep her up to the sea if she will bear it and I there for the matter of two watches if you want to see mountains why good woman I've been off there in the broadishly frigate when you could see nothing but some such matter as a piece of sky may have as big as the mainsail and then again there was a hole under your lee quarter big enough to hold the whole British Navy oh for messy sake and weren't you afraid Benjamin how did you get off a feared who the devil do you think was to be frightened a little saltwater tumbling about his head as of getting off when we had enough of it and had washed our decks down pretty well we called all hands for DC the watch below was in their hammocks all the same as if they were in one of your best bedrooms and so we watched for a smooth time clapped her helm hard a while other let fall the foresail and got the tackle board and so when we got her a for it I asked you miss pretty bones if she didn't walk didn't she I'm no liar good woman when I say I saw that ship jump from the top of one sea to another just like one of these squirrels that fly jumps from tree to tree what clean out of the water exclaimed remarkable lifting her two-lank arms with her bode hands spread in astonishment it was no easy matter to get out of the water good woman for the spray flu so that you couldn't tell which was the sea or which was the cloud so we kept her for it for the matter of two glasses the first lieutenant he couldn't the ship himself and there was four quarter masters at the wheel besides the master with six forecastle men in the gun room and the relieving tackles but then she behaved herself so well oh she was a sweet ship mistress that one frigate was worth more to live in than the best house in the island if I was king of England I'd have her hauled up to Lundbridge and fit her up for a palace because why if anybody can afford to live comfortably his majesty can well but benjamin cried the listener who was in an ecstasy of astonishment at his relation of the steward's dangers what did you do do why we did our duty like hearty fellows now if the countrymen of Montsur-Laquois had been aboard her they would have just struck her ashore on some of them small islands but we run along the land until we found her dead to leeward off the mountains of Pico and damn me if I know to this day how we got there whether we jumped over the island or hauled around it but there we was and there we lay under easy sail for reaching first upon one tack and then the other so as to poke her nose out now and then to take a look to windward till the gale blowed its pipe out I wonder now exclaimed remarkable to whom most of the terms used by benjamin were perfectly unintelligible but who had got a confused idea of a raging tempest it must be an awful life that going to sea and I don't feel astonishment that you are so affronted with the thoughts of being forced to quit a comfortable home like this not that that body cares much fort and there's more houses than one to live in why when judge agreed with me to come and live with him I no more notion of stopping any time than anything I happened in just to see how the family did about a week after miss temple died thinking to be back home again night but the family was in such a distressed way that I couldn't help but stop a while and help him on I thought the situation a good one and seeing that I was an unmarried body and they were so much in want of help I tarried and a long time you left your anchors down in the same place mistress I think you must find that the ship rides easy how you talk benjamin there's no believing a word you say I must say that the judge and squire jones have both acted quite clever so long but I see now we shall have a specimen to the contrary I heard say that the judge was gone a great board and that he meant to bring his daughter home but I didn't calculate on such carrion's on to my motion benjamin she's likely to turn out a dispute ugly gal ugly echoed the major domo opening eyes that were beginning to close in a very suspicious sleepiness in wide amazement by the lord larry woman I should as soon call the calling of the britishie a clumsy frigate what the devil would you have aren't her eyes as bright as the morning and evening stars and isn't her hair as black and glistening as rigging that has just had a lick of tar doesn't she move as stately as a first rate it smooth water on a bowland my woman the figurehead of the broadishie was a fool to her and that as I've often heard the captain say was an image of a great queen it aren't queens always comely woman for who'd you think would be a king and not choose a handsome bedfellow talk decent benjamin said the housekeeper or I won't keep your company I don't gain say her being comely to look on but I maintain she's likely to show poor conduct she seems to think her too good to talk to a body from what squire jones had told me I some expected to be quite captivated by her company now to my reckon louisey current is much more pretty behaved in betsy temple she wouldn't so much as hold discourse with me when I wanted to ask her how she felt on coming home and missing her mommy perhaps she didn't understand you woman you are none of the best lingester and then miss lizzie has been exercising the king's english under a great lawn on lady and for that matter can talk the language almost as well as myself or any native born british subject you've forgot your schooling and the young mistress is a great scholar mistress cried remarkable don't make one out to be a nigger benjamin she's no mistress of mine and never will be and as to speech I hold myself as second to nobody out of new england I was born and raised in Essex County and I've heard say that the base state has proverbial from pronunciation I've often heard that of the base state said benjamin that can't say that I've ever been in it nor do I know exactly where away it is that it lays but I suppose there is a good anchorage in it and then it's no bad place for the taking of a ling but for size it can't be so much as a yaw to a sloop of war compared to the bay of bisque or may have torbay and as for language if you want to hear the dictionary overhauled like a long line in a blow you must go whopping and listen to the lonelors as they till out there lingo hope so ever I see so mighty matter that miss lizzie has been doing to you good woman so take another drop off your bruise and forgive and forget like a modest soul no indeed and I shan't do such a thing benjamin this treatment is newity to me and I won't put up with it I have a hundred and fifty dollars at use besides a bed and 20 sheep to good and I don't crave to live in a house where a body mustn't call a young woman by her given name to her face I will call her Betsy as much as I please it's a free country and no one can stop me I did intend to stop while summer but I shall quit tomorrow morning and I will walk just as I please for that matter mistress remarkable said benjamin there is none here that will contradict you for I'm of opinion that it would be as easy to stop a hurricane with a Barcelona handkerchief as to bring up your tongue when the stoppers off I say good woman do they grow many monkeys along the shore of that bay state you're a monkey yourself mr. penguin cried the enraged housekeeper or a bear a black beastly bear and they fit for a decent woman to stay with I'll never keep your company again sir if I should live 30 years with the judge stitch talk is more befitting the kitchen than keeping room of a house of one who is well to do in the world look you miss pitty patty pretty bones maybe I'm some such matter as a bear as they will find who come to grapple with me but damn me if I'm a monkey a thing that chatters without knowing a word of what it says a parrot that will hold a dialogue for what an honest man knows in a dozen languages may have in the bay state lingo may have in greek or high dutch but doesn't know what it means itself can't answer me that good woman your midshipman can sing out and pass the word when the captain gives the order but just send him a drip by himself and let him work the ship of his own head and stop my grog if you don't find all the johnny ross laughing at him stop my grog indeed said remarkable rising with great indignation and seizing a candle you're groggy now benjamin and I'll quit the room before I hear any misbecoming words from you the housekeeper retired with a manner but little less dignified as she thought than the air of the heiress muttering as she drew the door after her with a noise like the report of a musket the enoprys terms drunkard sot and peace what's that you say is drunk cried benjamin fiercely rising and making a movement to word remarkable you talk of mustering yourself with a lady you're just fit to grumble and find fault where that devil should you learn behavior and dictionary in your damn bay of state ha benjamin here fell back in his chair and soon gave vent to certain ominous sounds which resembled not a little the growling of his favorite animal the bear itself before however he was quite locked to use the language that would suit the dela cross-conhumor of captainly fine minds of the present day in the arms of morpheus he spoke aloud observing due pauses between his epithets the impressive terms of mucky parrot technique tarpott and lingisters we shall not attempt to explain his meaning nor correct his sentences and our readers must be satisfied with our informing them that they were expressed with all that coolness of contempt that a man might well be supposed to feel for a monkey nearly two hours passed in this sleep before the major domo was awakened by the noisy entrance of richard major hartman and the master of the mansion benjamin so far rallied his confused faculties as to shake the course of the two former in the respective apartments when he disappeared himself leaving the task of securing the house to him who was most interested in its safety locks and bars were but little intended to in the early days of that settlement and soon as marmaduke had given an eye to the enormous fires of his dwelling he retired with this act of prudence closes the first night of our tale end of chapter 15 this reading by gary w sherwin of uconn pennsylvania in august of 2009 chapter 16 of the pioneers or the sources of the sus squihana a descriptive tale by james fenimore cooper this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org chapter 16 quote watch aside some treason masters yet stand close unquote from much ado about nothing it was fortunate for more than one of the bacchanalians who left the bold dragoon late in the evening that the severe cold of the season was becoming rapidly less dangerous as they treaded the different mazes through the snow banks that led to their respective dwellings then driving clouds began toward mourning to fit across the heavens and the moon set behind a volume of vapor that was impelled furiously toward the north carrying with it the softer atmosphere from the distant ocean the rising sun was obscured by denser and increasing columns of clouds while the southerly wind that rushed up the valley brought the never failing symptoms of a thaw it was quite late in the morning before elizabeth observing the faint glow which appeared on the eastern mountain long after the light of the sun had struck the opposite hills ventured from the house with a view to gratify her curiosity with a glance by daylight at the surrounding objects before the tardy revelers of the christmas eve should make their appearance at the breakfast table while she was drawing the folds of her police more closely around her form to guard against a cold that was yet great though rapidly yielding in the small enclosure that opened in the rear of the house on a little thicket of low pines that were springing up where trees of a mightier growth had lately stood she was surprised at the voice of mr jones merry christmas merry christmas to you cousin best he shouted aha an early riser i see but i knew i should steal a march on you i never was in a house yet where i didn't get the first christmas greeting on every soul in it man woman and child gray and small black white and yellow but stop a minute till i can just slip on my coat you are about to look at the improvements i see which no one can explain so well as i who planned them all it will be an hour before duke and major can sleep off mrs hollister's confounded distillations and so i'll come down and go with you elizabeth turned and observed her cousin in his nightcap with his head out of his bedroom window where his zeal for pre-eminence in defiance of the weather had impelled him to thrust it she laughed and promising to wait for his company re-entered the house making her appearance again holding in her hand a packet that was secured by several large and important seals just in time to meet the gentleman come desi come he cried drawing one of her arms through his own the snow begins to give but it will bear us yet don't you snuffle pennsylvania in the very air this is a vile climate girl now at sunset last evening it was cold enough to freeze a man's zeal and then i tell you takes a thermometer near zero for me then about nine or ten it began to moderate at twelve it was quite mild and here all the rest of the night i have been so hot as not to bear a blanket on the bed hola aggy merry christmas aggy i say do you hear me you black dog there's a dollar for you and if a gentleman met up before i come back do you come out and let me know i wouldn't have duke get the start on me for the worth of your head the black caught the money from the snow and promising a due degree of watchfulness he gave the dollar a whirl of twenty feet in the air and catching it as it fell in the palm of his hand he withdrew to the kitchen to exhibit his present with a heart as light as his face was happy in its expression oh rest easy my dear coz said the young lady i took a look in at my father who is likely to sleep an hour and by using duvigilings you will secure all the honors of the season why duke is your father elizabeth but duke is a man who likes to be foremost even in trifles now as for myself i care for no such things except in the way of competition for a thing which is of no moment in itself may be made of importance in way of competition so it is with your father he loves to be first but i only struggle with him as a competitor it's all very clear sir said elizabeth you would not care a figth for distinction if there were no one in the world but yourself but as there happens to be a great many others while you must struggle with them all in the way of competition exactly so i see you are a clever girl best and one who does credit to our masters it was my plan to send you to that school for when your father first mentioned the thing i wrote a private letter for advice to a judicious friend in the city who recommended me the very school you went to duke was a little obstinate at first as usual but when he heard the truth he was obliged to send you well a truce too duke's foible sir he is my father and if you knew what he has been doing for you while you were in albany you would deal more tenderly with his character for me cried richard pausing a moment in his walk to reflect oh he got the plans for the new dutch meeting house for me i suppose but i care very little about it for a man of a certain kind of talent is seldom aided by any foreign suggestions his own brain is the best architect no such thing said elizabeth looking provokingly knowing no let me see perhaps he had my name put in the bill for the new turnpike as a director he might possibly but it is no such an appointment that i elude such an appointment repeated mr. jones who began to fidget with curiosity then it is an appointment if it is in the militia i won't take it no no it's not the militia cried elizabeth showing the packet in her hand and then drawing it back with a coquettish air it is an office of both honor and in moment honor in a moment echoed richard in painful suspense show me the paper girl say is that an office where there is anything to do you have hidden cousin dicken it is the executive office of the county at least so said my father when he gave me this packet to offer you as a christmas box surely if anything will please dicken he said it will be to fill the executive chair of the county executive chair what nonsense cried the impatient gentleman snatching the packet from her hand there is no such office in the county eh what it is i declare a commission appointing richard jones esquire sheriff of the county well this is kind in duke positively i must say duke has a warm heart and never forgets his friends sheriff hi sheriff oh it sounds well best it shall execute better duke is a judicious man after all and knows human nature thoroughly i much obliged to him continued richard using the skirt of his coat unconsciously to wipe his eyes though i would do as much for him any day and he shall see if i have an opportunity to perform any of the duties of my office on him it shall be done cousin best it shall be done i say how this cursed south wind makes one's eyes water now richard said the laughing maiden now i think you will find something to do i have often heard you complain of old that there was nothing to do in this new country while to my eyes it seemed as if everything remained to be done do echoed richard who blew his nose raised his little form to its greatest elevation and looked serious everything depends on system girl i shall sit down this afternoon and systematize the county i must have deputies you know i will divide the county into districts over which i will place my deputies and i will have one for the village which i will call my home department let me see a whole benjamin yes will make a good deputy he has been naturalized and would answer admirably if he could only ride on horseback yes mr sheriff said his companion and as he understands ropes so well he would be very expert should occasion happen for his services in another way no interrupted the other i flatter myself that no man could hang a man better than that is ah oh yes benjamin would do extremely well in such an unfortunate dilemma if he could be persuaded to attempt it but should i despair the thing i could never induce him to hang or teach him to ride on horseback i must seek another deputy well sir as you have abundant leisure for all these important affairs i beg that you will forget that you are high sheriff and devote some little of your time to gallantry where are the beauties and improvements which you were to show me where what everywhere here i've laid out some new streets and when they were open and the trees felled and they are all built up will they not make a fine town well duke is a liberal hearted fellow with all his stubbornness yes yes i must have at least four deputies besides a jailer i see no streets in the direction of our walk said elizabeth unless you call the short avenues through these pine bushes by that name surely you do not contemplate building houses very soon in that forest before us and in those swamps we must run our streets by the compass cars and disregard trees hills pond slumps or in fact anything but posterity such is the will of your father and your father you know had made you share of mr jones interrupted the lady with a tone that said very plainly to the gentleman that he was touching a forbidden subject i know it i know it cried richard and if it were in my power i'd make duke a king he's a noble hearted fellow and would make an excellent king that is if he had a good prime minister but who have we here voices in the bushes a combination about mischief i'll wager my commission let us draw near and examine a little into the manner during this dialogue as the parties had kept in motion richard and his cousin advanced some distance from the house into the open space in the rear of the village where as may be gathered from the conversation streets were planned and future dwellings contemplated but where in truth the only mark of improvement that was to be seen was a neglected clearing along the skirt of a dark forest of mighty pines over which the bushes or sprouts of the same tree had sprung up to a height that interspersed the fields of snow with little thickets of evergreen the rushing of the wind as it whistled through the tops of these mimic trees prevented the footsteps of the pair from being heard while the branches concealed their persons thus aided the listeners drew nigh to a spot where the young hunter leather stalking and the indian chief were collected in an earnest consultation the former was urgent in his manner and seemed to think the subject of deep importance while natty appeared to listen with more than his usual attention to what the other was saying mohican stood a little on one side with his head sunken on his chest his hair falling forward so as to conceal most of his features and his whole attitude expressive of deep dejection if not shame let us withdraw whispered elizabeth we are intruders and can't have no right to listen to the secrets of these men no right returned richard a little impatiently in the same tone and drawing her arm so forcefully through his own as to prevent her retreat you forget cousin that it is my duty to preserve the piece of the county and see the laws executed these wanderers frequently commit depredations though i do not think john would do anything secretly poor fellow he was quite boozy last night and hardly seems to be over it yet let us draw nigh in here what they say notwithstanding the ladies reluctance richard stimulated doubtless by his sense of duty prevailed and they were soon near as distinctly to hear sounds the bird must be had said natty by fair means or foul hi ho i've known the time lad when the wild turkeys wasn't over scarce in this country though you must go to the virginia gaps if you want them now to be sure there's a different taste to a partridge and a well-fatted turkey though to my eating beaver's tail and bears ham make the best food but then everyone has his own appetite i gave the last farthing all to that shilling to the french trader this very morning as i came through town for powder so as you have nothing we can have but one shot for it i know that billy carby is out and means to have a pool of the trigger at that very turkey john has a true eye for a single fire and somehow my hand shakes so when i have to do anything extraordinary that i often lose my aim now when i killed the shebear this fall with her cubs though they were so mighty ravenous i knocked them over wanted a shot and loaded while i dodged the trees in the bargain but this is a very different thing mr oliver this cried the young man with an accent that sounded as if he took a bitter pleasure in his poverty while he held a shilling up before his eyes this is all the treasure that i possess this is my rifle now indeed i have become a man of the woods and must place my soul dependence on the chase come daddy let us stake the last penny for the bird with your aim i cannot fail to be successful i would rather it be john lad my heart jumps into my mouth because you sent your mind so much out and i'm certain that i shall miss the bird these indians can shoot one time as well as another nothing ever troubles them i say john here's a shilling take my rifle and get a shot at the big turkey they put up on the stump mr oliver is over anxious for the creature and i'm sure to do nothing when i have over anxiety about it the indian turned his head gloomily and after looking keenly for a moment in profound silence at his companions he replied when john was young eyesight was not straighter than his bullet the mingo squalls cried out at the sound of his rifle the mingo warriors were made squaws when did he ever shoot twice the eagle went above the clouds when he passed the wigwam of chinganchuk his feathers were plenty with the woman but see he said racing his voice from the low mournful tones in which he had spoken to a pitch of keen excitement and stretching forth both hands they shake like a deer at the wolf's how is john old one was a mehican a squaw with 70 winters no the white man brings old age with him rum is his tomahawk why then do you use it old man exclaimed the young hunter why will one so noble night by nature aid the devices of the devil by making himself a beast beast is john a beast replied the indian slowly yes you say no lie child of the fire eater john is a beast the smokes were once few in these hills the deer would lick the hand of a white man and the birds rest on his head they were strangers to him my fathers came from the shores of the salt lake they fled before rum they came to their grandfather and they lived in peace or when they did raise the hatchet it was to strike the bray of aminko they gathered around council fire and what they said was done then john was a man but warriors and traders with light eyes followed them one brought the long knife and one brought rum they were more than the pines of the mountains and they broke up the councils and took the lands the evil spirit was in their jugs and they let him loose yes you say no lie young eagle john is a christian beast forgive me old warrior cried the youth grasking his hand i should be the last to approach you the curses of heaven light on the cupidity that has destroyed such a race remember john that i am of your family and it is now my greatest pride the muscles of mohican relaxed a little and he said more mildly you are a Delaware my son your words are not heard john cannot shoot i thought that lad had indian blood in him whispered richard by the awkward way he had to my horses last night you see cuz they never use harness but the poor fellow shall have two shots at the turkey if he wants it for i'll give him another shelling myself though perhaps i had better offer to shoot for him they have got up their christmas sports i find in the bushes yonder where you hear the laughter though it's a queer taste this chap has for turkey not but what a good eating too whole cousin richard exclaimed elizabeth clean to his arm would it be delicate to offer a shelling to that gentleman gentleman again do you think a half breed like him will refuse money no no girl he will take the shelling i and even rum too notwithstanding he moralizes so much about it but i'll give the lad a chance for his turkey for that billy carby is one of the best marksmen in the country that is if we accept the gentleman then said elizabeth who found her strength unequal to her will then sir i will speak she advanced with an air of determination in front of her cousin and entered the little circle of bushes that surrounded the trio of hunters her appearance startled the youth who at first made an unequivocal motion toward retiring but recollecting himself bowled by lifting his cap and resumed his attitude of leaning on his rifle neither natty nor mohican betrayed any emotion though the appearance of elizabeth was so entirely unexpected i find she said that the old christmas sport of shooting the turkey is yet in use among you i feel inclined to try my chance for a bird which of you will take this money and after paying my fee give me the aid of his rifle is this sport for a lady exclaimed the young hunter with an emphasis that could not well be mistaken and with a rapidity that showed he spoke without consulting anything but feeling why not sir if it be inhumane the sin is not confined to one sex only but i have my humor as well as others i ask not your assistance but turning to natty and dropping a dollar in his hand this whole veteran of the forest will not be so ungallant as to refuse one fire for a lady leather stocking dropped the money into his pouch and throwing up the end of his rifle he freshened his priming and first laughing in his usual manner he threw the piece over his shoulder and said if bill kirby don't get the bird before me and the frenchman's powder don't hang fire damp this morning you'll see as fine a turkey dead in a few minutes as ever was eaten in the judge's shanty i have no the dutch woman on the mohawk and show hurry count greatly on coming to the merry makings and so lad you shouldn't be short with the lady come let us go forward for if we wait the finest bird will be gone but i have a right before you natty and she'll try my own luck first you will excuse me miss temple i have much reason to wish that bird and may seem ungallant but i must claim my privileges claim everything that is justly your own sir return the lady we are both adventures and this is my night i trust my fortune to his hand and i lead on sir leather stocking and we will follow natty who seemed pleased with the frank address of the young and beautiest elizabeth who had so singularly interested him with such a commission returned the bright smile with which she had addressed him by his own particular mark of mirth and moved across the snow toward the spot once the sounds of boisterous mirth proceeded with the long strides of a hunter his companions followed in silence the youth casting frequent and uneasy glances toward elizabeth who was detained by a motion from richard i should think miss temple he said so soon as the others were out of hearing that if you really wished a turkey we would not have taken a stranger for the office and such one as leather stocking but i can hardly believe that you are serious for i have 50 at this moment shut up in the coops in every stage of fat so that you might choose any quality you please there are six that i am trying an experiment on by giving them brick bats with enough cousin taken interrupted the lady i do wish the bird and it is because i wish that i commissioned mister leather stocking did you ever hear of the great shot that i made of the wolf cousin elizabeth who was carrying off your father's sheep said richard drawing himself with an air of displeasure he had the sheep on his back and had the head of the wolf between on the other side i should have killed him dead as it was you killed the sheep i know it all dear cause but would have been disastrous for this high sheriff of to mingle with such sports is these surely you did not think that i intended actually to fire with my own hands said mr jones but let us follow and see the shooting there is no fear of anything unpleasant occurring to a female in this new country especially to your father's daughter and in my presence my father's daughter fears nothing sir more especially when escorted by the highest executive officer in the county she took his arm and he led her through the mazes of the bushes to the spot where most of the young men of the village were collected for the sport of shooting a christmas match and with her nanny and his companions had already preceded them end of chapter 16 this reading by gary w sherwin of uconn pennsylvania in august of 2009 chapter 17 of the pioneers or the sources of the susque hannah a descriptive tale by james fenimore cooper this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox dot org chapter 17 quote i guess by all this quaint array the burgers hold their sports today unquote by scott the ancient amusement of shooting the christmas turkey is one of the few sports that the settlers of a new country seldom or never neglect to observe it was connected with the daily practices of a people who often laid aside the axe or the sigh to seize the rifle as the deer glided through the forest they were felling or the bear entered their rough meadows to scent the air of a clearing and to scan with the look of sagacity the progress of the invader on the present occasion the usual amusement of the day had been a little hastened in order to allow a fair opportunity to mr grant whose exhibition was not less a treat to the young sportsmen than the one which engaged their present attention the owner of the birds was a free black who had prepared for the occasion a collection of game that was admirably qualified to inflame the appetite of an epicure and was well adapted to the means and skill of the different competitors who were of all ages he had offered the younger and more humble marksman divers birds of an inferior quality and some shooting had already taken place much to the puniary advantage of the sable owner of the game the order of the sports was extremely simple and well understood the bird was fastened by a string to the stump of a large pine the side of which toward the point where the marksmen were placed had been flattened with an axe in order that it might serve the purpose of a target by which the merit of each individual might be ascertained the distance between the stump and the shooting stand was 100 measured yards a foot more or a foot less being thought an invasion of the right of one of the parties the negro affixed his own priced every bird and the terms of the chance but when these were once established he was obliged by the strict principles of public justice that prevailed in the country to admit any adventurer who might offer the throng consisted of some 20 or 30 young men most of whom had rifles and a collection of boys in the village the little urchins clad in coarse but warm garments stood gathered around the more distinguished marksmen with their hands stuck under their waistbands listening eagerly to the boastful stories of skill that had been exhibited on former occasions and were already emulating in their hearts these wonderful deeds of gunnery this chief speaker was the man who had been mentioned by natty as billy kirby the fellow whose occupation when he did labor was that of clearing lands or chopping jobs was a great stature and carried in his very air the index of his character he was a noisy boisterous reckless lad whose good-natured eye contradicted the bluntness and bullying tenor of his speech for weeks he would lounge around the taverns of the county in a state of perfect idleness or doing small jobs for his liquor and his meals and prevailing with applicants about the prices of his labor frequently preferring idleness to an abatement of a little of his independence or a scent in his wages but when these embarrassing points were satisfactorily arranged he would shoulder his axe and rifle slip his arms through the straps of his pack and enter the woods with the tread of a hercules his first object was to learn his limits round which he would pace occasionally freshening with a blow of his axe the marks on the boundary trees and then he would proceed with an air of great deliberation to the center of his premises and throwing aside his superfluous garments measure with a knowing eye one or two of the nearest trees that were towering apparently into the very clouds as he gazed upward commonly selecting one of the most noble for the first trial of his power he would approach it with the listless air whistling a low tune and wielding his axe with a certain flourish not unlike the salutes of a fencing master he would strike a light blow into the bark and measure his distance the pause that followed was ominous of the fall of the forest which had flourished there for centuries the heavy and brisk blows that he struck were soon succeeded by the thundering report of the tree as it came first cracking and threatening with the separation of its own last ligaments then threshing and tearing with its branches the tops of its surrounding brethren and finally meeting the ground with a shock but little inferior to an earthquake from that moment the sounds of the axe were ceaseless while the failing of the trees was like a distant canonating and the daylight broke into the depths of the woods with the suddenness of winter morning for days weeks nay months bill Kirby would toil with an ardor that evinced his native spirit and with an effect that seemed magical until his chopping being ended his tentorian lungs could be heard emitting sounds as he called to his patient oxen which rang through the hills like cries of an alarm he had been often heard on a midsummer evening a long mile across the veil of Templeton when the echoes from the mountains would take up his cries until they died away in the feeble sounds from the distant rocks that overhung the lake his piles or to use the language of the country his logging ended with a dispatch that could only accompany his dexterity and herculean strength the jobber would collect together his implements of labor light the heaps of lumber and march away under the blaze of the prostrate forest like the conqueror of some city who having first prevailed over his adversary applies the torch as the finishing blow to his conquest for a long time billy Kirby would then be seen soldering around the taverns the rider of scrub races the bully of cockfights and not infrequently the hero of such sports as the one in hand between him and the leather stalking there had long existed a jealous rivalry on the point of skill with the rifle notwithstanding the long practice of natty it was commonly supposed that the steady nerves and the quick eye of the woodchopper rendered him his equal the competition had however been confined hitherto to boasting and comparisons made from their success in various hunting excursions but this was the first time they had ever come in open collision a good deal of higgling about the price of the choicest bird had taken place between billy Kirby and its owner before natty and his companions rejoined the sportsman it had however been settled at one shilling a shot which was the highest sum ever extracted footnote before the revolution each province had its own money of account though neither coin any but copper pieces in new york the spanish dollar was divided into eight shillings each of the value of a fraction more than six pence sterling at present the union has provided a decimal system with coins to represent it unquote the black taking care to protect himself from losses as much as possible by the conditions of the sport the turkey was already fastened at the mark but its body was entirely hid by the surrounding snow nothing being visible but its red swelling head and its long neck if the bird was injured by any bullet that struck below the snow it was to continue the property of its present owner but if a feather was touched in a visible part the animal became the prize of the successful adventurer these terms were loudly proclaimed by the negro who was seated in the snow in a somewhat hazardous vicinity to his favorite bird when elizabeth and her cousin approached the noisy sportsman the sounds of mirth and contention sensibly lowered at this unexpected visit but after a moment's pause the curious interest exhibited in the face of the young lady together with her smiling air restored the freedom of the mourning though it was somewhat chastened both in language and vehemence by the presence of such a spectator stand out the way there boys cried the wood chopper who is placing himself at the shooting point stand out the way you little rascals or i'll shoot you through now brahm take leave of your turkey stop cried the young hunter i am a candidate for a chance here is my shilling brahm i wish to shoot too you may wish it in welcome cried curbie but if i ruffle the gobbler's feathers how are you to get it is money so plenty in your deerskin pocket that you pay for a chance that you may never have you know sir how plenty money is in my pocket said the youth fiercely here is my shilling brahm and i claim a right to shoot don't be cried my boy said the other who was coolly fixing his flint they say you have a hole in your left shoulder yourself so i think brahm may give you a fire for half price it will take a keen one to hit that bird i can tell you my lad even if i give you a chance which is what i have no mind to do don't be boasting billy curbie said natty throwing the breach of his rifle into the snow and leaning on its barrel you'll get that one shot at the creature for if the lad misses his aim which wouldn't be a wonder if he did with his arms so stiff and sore you'll find a good piece and an old eye coming at her you maybe it's time that i can't shoot as i used to could but a hundred yards is a short distance for a long rifle what old leather stocking are you out this morning cried his reckless opponent well fair plays a jewel i've the lead of you old fellow so here goes for a dry throat or a good dinner the countenance of the negro events not only all the interests which his pecuniary adventure might occasion but also the keen excitement that the sport produced in the others though with a very different wish as to the result while the woodchopper was slowly and steadily raising his rifle he bawled fair play billy curbie stand back make him stand back boys give a nigger fair play pass up gobbler shake your head fool don't you see him taking aim these cries which were intended as much to distract the attention of the marksmen as for anything else were fruitless the nerves of the woodchopper were not so easily shaken and he took his aim with the utmost deliberation stillness prevailed for a moment and he fired the head of the turkey was seen to dash on one side and its wings were spread in momentarily fluttering but it settled itself down calmly into its bed of snow and glanced its eyes uneasily around for a time long enough to draw a deep breath not a sound was heard the silence was then broken by the noises of the negro who laughed and shook his body with all kinds of antics rolling over in the snow in the excess of delight well done gobbler he cried jumping up and affecting to embrace his bird i tell him to pass up and you see him dodge give another shill and billy and how but what is shot no the shot is mine said the young hunter you have my money already leave the mark and let me try my luck oh it's but money thrown away lad said leather stalking a turkey's head and neck is but a small mark for a new hand and a lame shoulder you'd best let me take the fire and maybe we can make some settlement with the lady about the bird the chance is mine said the young hunter clear the ground that i may take it the discussions and disputes concerning the last shot were now abating it having been determined that if the turkey's head had been anywhere but just where it was at that moment the bird must certainly have been killed there was not much excitement produced by the preparations of the youth who proceeded in a hurried manner to take his aim and wasn't the act of pulling the trigger when he was stopped by natty your hand shakes lad he said and you seem over eager bullet wounds are apt to weaken flesh and to my judgment you'll not shoot so well as in common if you fire you should shoot quick before there is time to shake off the aim fair play again shouted the negro fair play give a nigger fair play what right at that bump oh advise a young man let him shoot clear a ground the youth fired with great rapidity but no motion was made by the turkey and when the examiners for the ball returned from the mark they declared that he had missed the stump elizabeth observed the change in his countenance and could not help feeling surprised that one so evidently superior to his companions should feel a trifling loss so sensibly but her own champion was now preparing to enter the list the mirth of brawl who had been again excited though in a much smaller degree than before by the failure of the second adventurer vanished the instant natty took his stand his skin became modeled with large brown spots that fearfully sullied the luster off his native ebony while his enormous lips gradually compressed around two rows of ivory that had hitherto been shining in his visage like pearls set in jet his nostrils at all times the most conspicuous feature of his face dilated until they covered the greater part of the diameter of his countenance while his brown and bony hands unconsciously grasped the snowcross near him the excitement of the moment completely overcoming his native dread of cold while these indications of apprehension were exhibited in the sable owner of the turkey the man who gave rise to this extraordinary motion was as calm and collected as if there was not to be a single spectator of his skill i was down in the dutch settlements on the skokary said natty carefully removing the leather garb from the lock of his rifle just before the breaking out of the last war and there was a shooting match among the boys so i took a hand i think it opened a good many dutch eyes that day when i won the powder horn three bars of lead and a pound of as good powder as ever flashed in pan lord how they did swear in german they did tell me of one drunken dutchman who said he'd have the life of me before i got back to the lake again but if he had put his rifle to his shoulder with evil intent god would have punished him for it and even if the lord didn't and he had missed his aim i know one that would have given him as good as he sent and better too if good shooting could come into the count by this time the old hunter was ready for his business and throwing his right leg far behind him and stretching his left arm along the barrel of his piece he raised it toward the bird every eye glanced rapidly for the marksman to the mark but at the moment when each ear was expecting the report of the rifle they were disappointed by the ticking sound of the flint a snap a snap shouted the negro springing from his crouching posture like a madman before his bird a snap good as fun natty bumpo gun the snap natty bumpo miss a turkey natty bumpo hit a nigger said the indignant old hunter if you don't get out of the way brawl it's contrary to the reason of the thing boy that a snap should count for a fire when one is nothing more than a firestone striking a steel pan and the other is sudden death so get out of my way boy and let me show billy kirby how to shoot a christmas turkey give a nigger fair play cried the black who continued resolutely to maintain his post and making an appeal to the justice of his auditors which the degraded condition of his chaos so naturally suggested everybody know that snap is good as far leave it to masha jone leave it to lady sartin said the woodchopper it's the law of the game in this part of the country leather stalking if you fire again you must pay up the other shilling i believe i'll try luck once more myself so brawl here's my money and i take the next fire it is likely you know the laws of the woods better than i do billy kirby return natty you come in with the settlers with an ox goat in your hand and i come in with moccasins on my feet and with a good rifle on my shoulder so long back as a for the old war which is likely to know the best i saw no man need tell me that snapping is as good a firing when i pull the trigger leave it to masha jone said the alarm negro he know everything this appeal to the knowledge of richard was too flattering to be unheeded he therefore advanced the little from the spot wither the delicacy of elizabeth had induced her to withdraw and gave the following opinion with the gravity that the subject and his own rank demanded there seems to be a difference in opinion he said on the subject of nathaniel bumpers right to shoot at abraham freeborn's turkey without the said nathaniel paying one shilling for the privilege the fact was too evident to be denied and after pausing a moment that the audience might digest his premises richard proceeded it seems proper that i should decide this question as i am bound to preserve the peace of the country and men with deadly weapons in their hands should not be heedlessly left to contention and their own malignant passions it appears that there was no agreement either in writing or in words on the disputed point therefore we must reason from analogy which is as it were comparing one thing with another now in duels where both parties shoot is generally the rule that a snap is a fire and if such is the role where the party has a right to fire back again it seems to me unreasonable to say that a man may stand snapping at a defenseless turkey all day i therefore am of the opinion that nathaniel bumpo has lost his chance and must pay another shilling before he renews his right as this opinion came from so high a quarter and was delivered with effect it's silenced all murmurs for the whole of the spectators had begun to take sides with great warmth except from the leather stocking himself i think miss elizabeth's thoughts should be taken said natty i've known the squaws give very good counsel when the indians had been dumbfounded if she says that i ought to lose i agree to give it up then i judge you to be the loser for this time said miss temple but pay your money and renew your chance unless born will sell me the bird for a dollar i will give him the money and save the life of the poor victim this proposition was evidently but little relished by any of the listeners even the negro feeling the evil excitement of the chances in the meanwhile as billy curbie was preparing himself for another shot natty left the stand with an extremely dissatisfied manner muttering there hasn't been such a good thing as a flint sold at the foot of the lake since the indian traders used to come to the country and if a body should go into the flats along the streams and the hills to hunt for such a thing it's 10 to 1 but they will all be all covered up with the plow hi ho it seems to me that just as the game grows scarce and everybody wants the best ammunition to get a livelihood everything that's bad falls on him like a judgment but i'll change the stone for billy curbie hasn't had the eye for such a mark i know the woodchopper seemed now entirely sensible that his reputation depended on his care nor did he neglect any means to ensure success he drew up his rifle and renewed his aim again and again still appearing reluctant to fire no shout was heard from even brahm during these pretentious movements until curbie discharged the peace with the same want of success as before then indeed the shouts of the negro rang through the bushes and sounded among the trees of the neighboring forest like the outcries of a tribe of indians he laughed rolling his head first on one side and then on the other until nature seemed exhausted with mirth he danced until his legs were wearied with motion in the snow and in short he exhibited all that violence of joy that characterizes the mirth of a thoughtless negro the woodchopper had exerted all his art and felt a proportionate degree of disappointment at the failure he first examined the bird with the utmost attention and more than once suggested that he had touched its feathers but the voice of the multitude was against him for it felt disposed to the listen to the often reprieved cries of the black to give it a fair play finding it impossible to make out a title to the bird curbie turned fiercely to the black and said shut you oven you crow where is the man that can hit a turkey's head at a hundred yards i was a fool for trying you needn't make an uproar like falling pine tree about it show me the man who can do it look this away billy curbie said leather stalking and let them clear the mark and i'll show you a man who's made better shots of four now and that when he's been hard pressed by the savages and wild beast perhaps there is one of those rites come before ours leather stalking said miss temple if so we will waive our privilege if it be me that you have reference to said the young hunter i shall decline another chance my shoulder is yet weak i find elizabeth regarded his manner and thought that she could discern a tinge on his cheek that spoke of the shame of conscious poverty she said no more but suffered her own champion to make a trial although natty bumpo had certainly made hundreds of more momentous shots at his enemies or his game yet he never exerted himself more to excel he raised his peace three several times once to get his range once to calculate his distance and once because the bird alarmed by the death-like stillness turned its head quickly to examine its foes but the fourth time he fired the smoke the report and the momentary shock prevented most of the spectators from instantly knowing the result but elizabeth when she saw her champion dropped the end of his rifle in the snow and opened his mouth in one of its silent laughs and then perceived very coolly to recharge his peace knew that he had been successful the boys rushed to the mark and lifted the turkey on high lifeless and with nothing but the remnant of a head bring in the creature said leather stalking and put it at the feet of the lady i was her deputy in the matter and the bird is her property and a good deputy you have proved yourself returned elizabeth so good cousin richard that i would advise you to remember his qualities she paused and the gaiety that beamed on her face gave place to a more serious earnestness she even blushed a little as she turned to the young hunter and with the charm of a woman's manner added but it was only to see an exhibition of the far-famed skill of leather stalking that i tried my fortunes will you sir accept the bird as a small piece offering for the hurt that prevented your own success the expression with which the youth received this presentment was indescribable he appeared to yield to the blandishman of her air in opposition to a strong impulse to the contrary he bowed and raised the victim silently from her feet but continued silent elizabeth handed the black piece of silver as a renumeration for his loss which had some effect in again unbending his muscles and then expressed to her companion her readiness to return homework wait a minute cousin best cried richard there is an uncertainty about the roles of this sport that is proper i should remove if you will appoint a committee gentleman to wait on me this morning i will draw up in writing a set of regulations he stopped with some indignation for that instant a hand was laid familiarly on the shoulder of the high sheriff of a merry christmas to you cousin deacon said junge temple who had approached the party unperceived i must have a vigilant eye to my daughter sir if you are to be seized daily from these gallant fits i admire the taste with which you introduce the lady to such scenes it is her own perversity duke cried the disappointed sheriff who felt the loss of the first salutation as grievously as many a man would a much greater misfortune and i must say that she comes honestly by it i let her out to show her the improvements but away she stampered through the snow at the first sound of firearms the same as if she had been brought up in a camp instead of a first-rate boarding school i do think judge temple that such dangerous amusements should be suppressed by statute nay i doubt whether they are not already indictable in common law well sir as you are sheriff of the county it becomes your duty to examine into the matter returned the smiling marmaduke i perceive that best has executed her commission and i hope it met with a favorable reception richard glanced his eyes at the packet which he held in his hand and the slight anger produced by disappointment vanished instantly oh duke my fair cousin he said step a little on one side i have something i will say to you marmaduke complied and the sheriff led him a little distance in the bushes and continued first duke let me thank you for your friendly interest with the council and the governor without which i am confident that the greatest merit would avail but little but we are sisters children and you may use me like one of your horses ride me or drive me duke i am holy yours but in my humble opinion this young companion of leather stocking requires looking after he has a very dangerous propensity for turkey leave him to my management dicken said the judge and i will cure his appetite by indulgence it is with him that i would speak let us rejoin the sportsman end of chapter 17 this reading by gary w sherwin of uconn pennsylvania in september of 2009