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Chapter 24
Awareofthenecessityofpreservingthedignityofhisimaginarycharacter,however,herepressedhisfeelings,andansweredwithsuitablemystery—
"Spiritsdiffer;someyieldtothepowerofwisdom,whileothersaretoostrong."
"Mybrotherisagreatmedicine,"saidthecunningsavage;"hewilltry?"
Agestureofassentwastheanswer.TheHuronwascontentwiththeassurance,andresuminghispipe,heawaitedthepropermomenttomove.TheimpatientHeyward,inwardlyexecratingthecoldcustomsofthesavages,whichrequiredsuchsacrificestoappearance,wasfaintoassumeanairofindifference,equaltothatmaintainedbythechief,whowas,intruth,anearrelativeoftheafflictedwoman.Theminuteslingered,andthedelayhadseemedanhourtotheadventurerinempiricism,whentheHuronlaidasidehispipe,anddrewhisrobeacrosshisbreast,asifabouttoleadthewaytothelodgeoftheinvalid.Justthen,awarriorofpowerfulframedarkenedthedoor,andstalkingsilentlyamongtheattentivegroup,heseatedhimselfononeendofthelowpileofbrushwhichsustainedDuncan.Thelattercastanimpatientlookathisneighbor,andfelthisfleshcreepwithuncontrollablehorrorwhenhefoundhimselfinactualcontactwithMagua.
ThesuddenreturnofthisartfulanddreadedchiefcausedadelayinthedepartureoftheHuron.
