The Pathfinder, James Fenimore Cooper [top reads .TXT] 📗

r creature at his side; but she soonturned with a look of surprise to her relative, and said hesitatingly,for both had often admired the Tuscarora's knowledge, or, we mightalmost say, instinct, --

"A pale-face's fire! Surely, uncle, he cannot know _that_?"

"Ten days since, child, I would have sworn to it; but now I hardlyknow what to believe. May I take the liberty of asking, Arrowhead,why you fancy that smoke, now, a pale-face's smoke, and not ared-skin's?"

"Wet wood," returned the warrior, with the calmness with whichthe pedagogue might point out an arithmetical demonstration to hispuzzled pupil. "Much wet -- much smoke; much water -- black smoke."

"But, begging your pardon, Master Arrowhead, the smoke is notblack, nor is there much of it. To my eye, now, it is as lightand fanciful a smoke as ever rose from a captain's tea-kettle, whennothing was left to make the fire but a few chips from the dunnage."

"Too much water," returned Arrowhead, with a slight nod of thehead; "Tuscar