Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 2).djvu/129

 Duncan was touched at the quiet and impressive exhibition of his grief. He had discharged his own duty, and he now pressed to the side of the old man, to know in what particular he might serve him.

"My daughters," was the brief, but expressive reply.

"Good heavens! Are not arrangements already made for their convenience?"

"To-day I am only a soldier, Major Hey ward," said the veteran. "All that you see here claim alike to be my children."

Duncan had heard enough. Without losing one of those moments which had now become so precious, he flew towards the quarters of Munro, in quest of the sisters. He found them on the threshold of the low edifice, already prepared to depart, and surrounded by a clamorous and weeping assemblage of their own sex, that had gathered about the place, with a sort of instinctive conciousnessconsciousness [sic], that it was the point most likely to be protected. Though the cheeks of Cora were pale, and her