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Chapter 23
Thewomanwascommencingalowandplaintivehowlatthesadandshamefulspectacle,whenthechiefputforthhishandandgentlypushedheraside.
"Reed-that-bends,"hesaid,addressingtheyoungculpritbyname,andinhisproperlanguage,"thoughtheGreatSpirithasmadeyoupleasanttotheeyes,itwouldhavebeenbetterthatyouhadnotbeenborn.Yourtongueisloudinthevillage,butinbattleitisstill.Noneofmyyoungmenstrikethetomahawkdeeperintothewar-post—noneofthemsolightlyontheYengeese.Theenemyknowtheshapeofyourback,buttheyhaveneverseenthecolorofyoureyes.Threetimeshavetheycalledonyoutocome,andasoftendidyouforgettoanswer.Yournamewillneverbementionedagaininyourtribe—itisalreadyforgotten."
Asthechiefslowlyutteredthesewords,pausingimpressivelybetweeneachsentence,theculpritraisedhisface,indeferencetotheother’srankandyears.Shame,horror,andpridestruggledinitslineaments.Hiseye,whichwascontractedwithinwardanguish,gleamedonthepersonsofthosewhosebreathwashisfame;andthelatteremotionforaninstantpredominated.Hearosetohisfeet,andbaringhisbosom,lookedsteadilyonthekeen,glitteringknife,thatwasalreadyupheldbyhisinexorablejudge.Astheweaponpassedslowlyintohisheartheevensmiled,asifinjoyathavingfounddeathlessdreadfulthanhehadanticipated,andfellheavilyonhisface,atthefeetoftherigidandunyieldingformofUncas
