Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 2).djvu/79

 suddenly changing his bitter, ironical manner, to one more grave and thoughtful he continued; "and yet there might, and must be, something in that letter, which it would be well to know!"

"Our decision should be speedy," said Duncan, gladly availing himself of this change of humour to press the more important objects of their interview; "I cannot conceal from you, sir, that the camp will not be much longer tenable; and I am sorry to add, that things appear no better in the fort;—more than half our guns are bursted."

"And how should it be otherwise! some were fished from the bottom of the lake; some have been rusting in the woods since the discovery of the country; and some were never guns at all—mere privateersmen's playthings! Do you think, sir, you can have Woolwich Warren in the midst of a wilderness; three thousand miles from Great Britain!"

"Our walls are crumbling about our ears, and provisions begin to fail us," continued Heyward, without regarding this