Последний из Могикан
Chapter 11
Ihaveknownmanyfondandtenderparents,butneverhaveIseenamanwhoseheartwassoftertowardshischild.Youhaveseenthegray-headinfrontofhiswarriors,Magua;butIhaveseenhiseyesswimminginwater,whenhespokeofthosechildrenwhoarenowinyourpower!"
Heywardpaused,forheknewnothowtoconstruetheremarkableexpressionthatgleamedacrosstheswarthyfeaturesoftheattentiveIndian.Atfirstitseemedasiftheremembranceofthepromisedrewardgrewvividinhismind,whilehelistenedtothesourcesofparentalfeelingwhichweretoassureitspossession;butasDuncanproceeded,theexpressionofjoybecamesofiercelymalignant,thatitwasimpossiblenottoapprehenditproceededfromsomepassionmoresinisterthanavarice.
"Go,"saidtheHuron,suppressingthealarmingexhibitioninaninstant,inadeath-likecalmnessofcountenance;"gotothedark-haireddaughter,andsay,Maguawaitstospeak.Thefatherwillrememberwhatthechildpromises."
Duncan,whointerpretedthisspeechtoexpressawishforsomeadditionalpledgethatthepromisedgiftsshouldnotbewithheld,slowlyandreluctantlyrepairedtotheplacewherethesisterswerenowrestingfromtheirfatigue,tocommunicateitspurporttoCora.
"YouunderstandthenatureofanIndian’swishes,"heconcluded,asheledhertowardstheplacewhereshewasexpected,"andmustbeprodigalofyouroffersofpowderandblankets.
