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Chapter 24
Theeffectofsuchanharangue,deliveredinthenervouslanguageandwiththeemphaticmannerofaHuronorator,couldscarcelybemistaken.Maguahadsoartfullyblendedthenaturalsympathieswiththereligioussuperstitionofhisauditors,thattheirminds,alreadypreparedbycustomtosacrificeavictimtothemanesoftheircountrymen,losteveryvestigeofhumanityinawishforrevenge.Onewarriorinparticular,amanofwildandferociousmien,hadbeenconspicuousfortheattentionhehadgiventothewordsofthespeaker.Hiscountenancehadchangedwitheachpassingemotion,untilitsettledintoalookofdeadlymalice.AsMaguaendedhearose,andutteringtheyellofademon,hispolishedlittleaxewasseenglancinginthetorch-lightashewhirleditabovehishead.Themotionandthecryweretoosuddenforwordstointerrupthisbloodyintention.Itappearedasifabrightgleamshotfromhishand,whichwascrossedatthesamemomentbyadarkandpowerfulline.Theformerwasthetomahawkinitspassage;thelatterthearmthatMaguadartedforwardtodivertitsaim.Thequickandreadymotionofthechiefwasnotentirelytoolate.Thekeenweaponcutthewar-plumefromthescalping-tuftofUncas,andpassedthroughthefrailwallofthelodge,asthoughitwerehurledfromsomeformidableengine.
Duncanhadseenthethreateningaction,andspranguponhisfeet,withaheartwhichwhileitleapedintohisthroat,swelledwiththemostgenerousresolutioninbehalfofhisfriend.
