Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 2).djvu/40

 chasseurs (Heyward well knew that the other was of a regiment in the line)—j'ai ici, avec moi, les filles du commandant de la fortification. Aha! tu en as entendu parler! je les ai fait prisonnières près de l'autre fort, et je les conduit au général."

"Ma foi! mesdames; j'en suis faché pour vous," exclaimed the young soldier, touching his cap with studious politeness, and no little grace; "mais—fortune de guerre! vous trouverez notre général un brave homme, et bien poli avec les dames."

"C'est le caractere des gens de guerre," said Cora, with admirable self-possession; "A dieu, mon ami; je vous souhaiterais un devoir plus agréable, a remplir."

The soldier made a low and humble acknowledgment for her civility; and Heyward adding, "a bonne nuit, mon comarade," they moved deliberately forward; leaving the sentinel pacing along the banks of the silent pond, little suspecting an enemy of so much effrontery, and humming to himself those words which were recalled to his mind by the sight of women, and,