The canoe now seemed to move by instinct, so cautious and deliberate
were all its motions. Still it continued to advance, until its
bows grated on the gravel of the beach, at the precise spot where
Hetty had landed, and whence her voice had issued, the previous
night, as the ark was passing. There was, as usual, a narrow
strand, but bushes fringed the woods, and in most places overhung
the water.

Chingachgook stepped upon the beach, and cautiously examined it for
some distance on each side of the canoe. In order to do this, he
was often obliged to wade to his knees in the lake, but no Hist
rewarded his search. When he returned, he found his friend also on
the shore. They next conferred in whispers, the Indian apprehending
that they must have mistaken the place of rendezvous. But Deerslayer
thought it was probable they had mistaken the hour. While he was
yet speaking, he grasped the arm of the Delaware, caused him to
turn his head in the direction of the lake, and pointed towards the
summits of the eastern mountains. The clouds had broken a little,
apparently behind rather than above the hills, and the evening
star was glittering among the branches of a pine. This was every
way a flattering omen, and the young men leaned on their rifles,
listening intently for the sound of approaching footsteps. Voices
they often heard, and mingled with them were the suppressed cries
of children, and the low but sweet laugh of Indian women. As the
native Americans are habitually cautious, and seldom break out in
loud conversation, the adventurers knew by these facts that they
must be very near the encampment. It was easy to perceive that
there was a fire within the woods, by the manner in which some of
the upper branches of the trees were illuminated, but it was not
possible, where they stood, to ascertain exactly how near it was to