【實用書籍app】The Deerslayer|最夯免費app-綠色工廠好玩App

The Deerslayer, or The First Warpath (1841) was the last of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking tales to be written. Its 1740-1745 time period makes it the first installment chronologically and in the lifetime of the hero of the Leatherstocking tales, Natty Bumppo. The novel's setting on Otsego Lake in central, upstate New York, is the same as that of The Pioneers, the first of the Leatherstocking tales to be published (1823). The Deerslayer is considered to be the prequel to the rest of the Leatherstocking tales. Fenimore Cooper begins his work by relating the astonishing advance of civilization in New York State, which is the setting of four of his five Leatherstocking tales.

This novel introduces Natty Bumppo as "Deerslayer", a young frontiersman in early 18th-century New York. He is contrasted to other frontiersmen and settlers in the novel who have no compunctions in taking scalps in that his natural philosophy is that every living thing should follow "the gifts" of its nature—which would keep European Americans from taking scalps. Two such characters in the work who actually seek to take scalps are Henry March ("Hurry Harry") and floating Tom Hutter.

The novel begins with the explanation that it is only two centuries since the Dutch began settling in New York and ‘rescuing the region from the savage state’. This ‘tale’ is concerned with the years between 1740 and 1745 and the focus then moves to two men who have lost their way in the forest.

One is referred to as ‘the liberated forester’ (Hurry Harry) and he calls out to the other, Deerslayer (Natty Bumppo), that he is in an opening. They stop to eat and the third-person narrator intrudes to describe the men as such: ‘Each of whom is destined to enact no insignificant part in our legend.’

Hurry Harry’s real name is Henry March and is also referred to as Hurry Skurry. He is six foot four and described as ‘good-humoured and handsome’. Deerslayer differs in stature and character. He is six feet ‘in his moccasins’, but light and slender, and has integrity. Both men are young, as Hurry is 26 or 28 and Deerslayer is some years younger. The latter’s ‘arms and accoutrements’ are in good condition and well-arranged, whereas Hurry is more slovenly in his appearance.

Their conversation turns to the Delawares and how Deerslayer has lived with these Native Americans for 10 years. Hurry then asks if he has ever shot a human and Deerslayer admits he has not. He says how the Delawares have been peaceable while he has been with them and has not had to do this.

He tells Hurry that he is meeting his friend soon and they discuss who owns the area around the lake. Hurry tells him that floating Tom Hutter has a claim to it as he has lived there for 15 years. He adds that there is a rumor that Hutter used to be a companion of Kidd (the pirate) in his youth and also informs Deerslayer that he witnessed Hutter laying his dead wife Judith to rest in the lake.

Hutter has a daughter who is also called Judith, and she is aged about 20 years old. Deerslayer says the Delawares have spoken of her and he tells Hurry that he does not think she would please his fancy. Hurry replies that he thinks he is too young for her anyway.