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Chapter 23
"Ishouldbegrievedtothink,"continuedDuncan,speakingslowly,andusingthesimplestFrenchofwhichhewasthemaster,"tobelieve,thatnoneofthiswiseandbravenationunderstandthelanguagethatthe‘GrandMonarque’useswhenhetalkstohischildren.Hisheartwouldbeheavydidhebelievehisredwarriorspaidhimsolittlerespect!"
Alongandgravepausesucceeded,duringwhichnomovementofalimb,noranyexpressionofaneye,betrayedtheimpressionproducedbyhisremark.Duncan,whoknewthatsilencewasavirtueamonghishosts,gladlyhadrecoursetothecustom,inordertoarrangehisideas.Atlengththesamewarriorwhohadbeforeaddressedhimreplied,bydrylydemanding,inthelanguageoftheCanadas—
"WhenourGreatFatherspeakstohispeople,isitwiththetongueofaHuron?"
"Heknowsnodifferenceinhischildren,whetherthecoloroftheskinbered,orblack,orwhite,"returnedDuncan,evasively;"thoughchieflyishesatisfiedwiththebraveHurons."
"Inwhatmannerwillhespeak,"demandedthewarychief,"whentherunnerscounttohimthescalpswhichfivenightsagogrewontheheadsoftheYengeese?"
"Theywerehisenemies,"saidDuncan,shudderinginvoluntarily;"and,doubtless,hewillsay,Itisgood;myHuronsareverygallant."
"OurCanadafatherdoesnotthinkit.InsteadoflookingforwardtorewardhisIndians,hiseyesareturnedbackward.HeseesthedeadYengeese,butnoHuron.Whatcanthismean?"
"Agreatchief,likehim,hasmorethoughtsthantongues.
