Последний из Могикан
Chapter 22
HeonlyknewthattheyhadnotengagedinthelateexpeditionagainstWilliamHenry;that,liketheHuronsthemselves,theywerealliesofMontcalm;andthattheymaintainedanamicable,thoughawatchfulintercoursewiththewarlikeandsavagepeople,whomchancehad,foratime,broughtinsuchcloseanddisagreeablecontactwiththemselves.
TheMohicansandthescoutlistenedtohisinterruptedandimperfectnarrative,withaninterestthatobviouslyincreasedasheproceeded;anditwaswhileattemptingtoexplainthepursuitsofthecommunityinwhichCorawasdetained,thatthelatterabruptlydemanded—
"Didyouseethefashionoftheirknives?WeretheyofEnglishorFrenchformation?"
"Mythoughtswerebentonnosuchvanities,butrathermingledinconsolationwiththoseofthemaidens."
"Thetimemaycomewhenyouwillnotconsidertheknifeofasavagesuchadespisablevanity,"returnedthescout,withastrongexpressionofcontemptfortheother’sdulness."Hadtheyheldtheircorn-feast—orcanyousayanythingofthetotemsofthetribe?"
"Ofcorn,wehadmanyandplentifulfeasts;forthegrain,beinginthemilk,isbothsweettothemouthandcomfortabletothestomach.Oftotem,Iknownotthemeaning;butifitappertainethinanywisetotheartofIndianmusic,itneednotbeinquiredafterattheirhands.Theyneverjointheirvoicesinpraise,anditwouldseemthattheyareamongtheprofanestoftheidolatrous."
"ThereinyoubeliethenatureofanIndian.EventheMingoadoresbutthetrueandlivingGod.
