Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 1).djvu/300

 a breed highly esteemed, and as you witness, much honoured with the burthens it is oftened destined to bear."

The Mohicans had suspended their operations about the glimmering fire to listen, and when Duncan had done, they looked at each other significantly, the father uttering the never-failing exclamation of surprise. The scout ruminated, like a man digesting his newly acquired knowledge, and once more stole a curious glance at the horses, before he continued—

"I dare to say there are even stranger sights to be seen in the settlements!" he said, at length; "natur is sadly abused by man when he once gets the mastery. But, go sideling, or go straight, Uncas had seen the movement, and their trait led us on to the broken bush. The outer branch, near the prints of one of the horses, was bent upward, as a lady breaks a flower from its stem, but all the rest were ragged and broken down, as if the strong hand of a man had been tearing them! So I concluded that the cunning varments had seen the twig bent, and had torn the rest, to