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[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] Judith, deeply gratified by his unmeditated and characteristic compliments. It is too soon, however, to ask my answer; the Great Serpent has not yet spoken. The Serpent! Lord; I could carry back his speech without hearing a word of it! I didn t think of putting the question to him at all, I will allow; though t would be hardly right either, seeing that truth is truth, and I m bound to tell these Mingos the fact, and nothing else. So, Chingachgook, let us hearyour mind on this matter--are you inclined to strike across the hills towards your village, to give up Hist to a Huron, and to tell the chiefs at home, that if they re actyve and successful they may possibly geton the end of the Iroquois trail some two or three days after the inimy has gotoff of it? Like his betrothed, the young chief arose, that his answer might be given with due distinctness and dignity. Hist had spoken with her hands crossed upon her bosom, as if to suppress the emotions within; but the warrior stretched an arm before him, with a calm energy that aided in giving emphasis to his expressions. Wampum should be sent for wampum, he said; a message must be answered by a message. Hear what the Great Serpent of the Delawares has to say to the pretended wolves from the great lakes, that are howling through our woods. They are no wolves; they are dogs that have come to get their tails and ears cropped by the hands of the Delawares. They are good at stealing young women; bad at keeping them. Chingachgook takes his own where he finds it; he asks leave of no cur from the Canadas. If he has a tender feeling in his heart, it is no business of the Hurons. He tells it to her who most likes to know it; he will not bellow it in the forest, for the ears of those that only understand yells of terror. What passes in his lodge is not for the chiefs of his own people to know; still less for Mingo rogues-- Call em vagabonds, Sarpent, interrupted Deerslayer, unable to restrain his delight-- yes, just call em up-and-down vagabonds, which is a word easily Page 77 ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html intarpreted, and the most hateful to all their ears, it s so true. Never fear me; I ll give em your message, syllable for syllable, sneer for sneer, idee for idee, scorn for scorn--and they desarve no better at your hands.--Only call em vagabonds, once or twice, and that will set the sap mounting in em, from their lowest roots to the uppermost branches! Still less for Mingo vagabonds! resumed Chingachgook, quite willingly complying with his friend s request.-- Tell the Huron dogs to howl louder, if they wish a Delaware to find them in the woods, where they burrow like foxes, instead of hunting like warriors. When they had a Delaware maiden in their camp, there was a reason for hunting them up; now they will be forgotten, unless they make a noise. Chingachgook don t like the trouble of going to his villages for more warriors; he can strike their run-away trail: unless they hide it under ground, he will follow it to Canada, alone. He will keep Wah-ta!-Wah with him to cook his game; they two will be Delawares enough to scare all the Hurons back to their own country. That s a grand despatch, as the officers call them things! cried Deerslayer; t will set all the Huron blood in motion; most particularly that part where he tells em Hist, too, will keep on their heels, till they re fairly driven out of the country. Ah s! me; big words ar n t always big deeds, notwithstanding! The Lord send that we be able to be only one half as good as we promise to be! And now, Judith, it s your turn to speak, for them miscreants will expect an answer from each person, poor Hetty, perhaps, excepted. And why not Hetty, Deerslayer? She often speaks to the purpose; the Indians may respect her words, for they feel for people in her condition. That is true, Judith, and quick-thoughted in you. The red-skinsdo respect misfortunes of all kinds, and Hetty s, in particular. So, Hetty, if you have any thing to say, I ll carry it to the Hurons as faithfully as if it was spoken by a schoolmaster, or a missionary. The girl hesitated a moment, and then she answered in her own gentle, soft tones, as earnestly as any who had preceded her. The Hurons can t understand the difference between white people and themselves, she said, or they wouldn t ask Judith and me to go and live in their villages. God has given one country to the red men, and another to us. He meant us to live apart. Then mother always said that we should never dwell with any but Christians, if possible, andthat is a reason why we can t go. This lake is ours, and we won t leave it. Father and mother s graves are in it, and even the worst Indians love to stay near the graves of their fathers. I will come and see them again, if they wish me to, and read more out of the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] |