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Chapter 3
Inconsequenceofthisbadfashion,amanwhoistooconscientioustomisspendhisdaysamongthewomen,inlearningthenamesofblackmarks,mayneverhearofthedeedsofhisfathers,norfeelaprideinstrivingtooutdothem.Formyself,IconcludetheBumpposcouldshoot,forIhaveanaturalturnwitharifle,whichmusthavebeenhandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration,as,ourholycommandmentstellus,allgoodandevilgiftsarebestowed;thoughIshouldbelothtoanswerforotherpeopleinsuchamatter.Buteverystoryhasitstwosides;soIaskyou,Chingachgook,whatpassed,accordingtothetraditionsoftheredmen,whenourfathersfirstmet?"
Asilenceofaminutesucceeded,duringwhichtheIndiansatmute;then,fullofthedignityofhisoffice,hecommencedhisbrieftale,withasolemnitythatservedtoheightenitsappearanceoftruth.
"Listen,Hawkeye,andyourearshalldrinknolie.’Tiswhatmyfathershavesaid,andwhattheMohicanshavedone."Hehesitatedasingleinstant,andbendingacautiousglancetowardhiscompanion,hecontinued,inamannerthatwasdividedbetweeninterrogationandassertion,"Doesnotthisstreamatourfeetruntowardsthesummer,untilitswatersgrowsalt,andthecurrentflowsupward?"
"Itcan’tbedeniedthatyourtraditionstellyoutrueinboththesematters,"saidthewhiteman;"forIhavebeenthere,andhaveseenthem;though,whywater,whichissosweetintheshade,shouldbecomebitterinthesun,isanalterationforwhichIhaveneverbeenabletoaccount."
