Posted by Pot-stirrer on October 28, 1998 at 18:59:35:
The last of the late night customers were ejected from the tavern into the gloomy night. Among them a man unrecognized by those who had come to spend some time in the ramshakle establishment just beyond the edge of the known world. His face is coated by a grizzled stubble. His eyes are sad and slightly wild as he accosted each woman in turn, looking for someone not found, enduring their rebuffs and the muttered threats from their hard and rough comapanions.
He stumbles away from the now dark tavern and is admonished by Uncle Wiscone to "Have a care. Tonight is not a good night to be caught alone in the woods." Setting off he draws his capote together. A gust of wind blows leaves across the slippery path. A gibbous moon vainly tries to pierce the sylvan darkness.
It takes all his concentration to keep his footing on the treacherous track. Nearby an owl hoots. Chingachgook would have taken it as a sign, a warning sent to let a traveller know he'd best go straight home as fast as humanly possible, and not to stray into the stygian blackness on either side of the misty path.