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           "Ay,lad,thereistruthinwhatyousay;andIdoubtnot,onarush,youwouldpassthewholenation;and,inastraightraceoftwomiles,wouldbein,andgetyourbreathagain,aforeaknaveofthemallwaswithinhearingoftheothervillage.Butthegiftofawhitemanliesmoreinhisarmsthaninhislegs.Asformyself,IcanbrainaHuronaswellasabetterman;butwhenitcomestoarace,theknaveswouldprovetoomuchforme."

           Uncas,whohadalreadyapproachedthedoor,inreadinesstoleadtheway,nowrecoiled;andplacedhimself,oncemore,inthebottomofthelodge.ButHawkeye,whowastoomuchoccupiedwithhisownthoughtstonotethemovement,continuedspeakingmoretohimselfthantohiscompanion.

           "Afterall,"hesaid,"itisunreasonabletokeeponemaninbondagetothegiftsofanother.So,Uncas,youhadbettertaketheleap,whileIputontheskinagain,andtrusttocunningforwantofspeed."

           TheyoungMohicanmadenoreply,butquietlyfoldedhisarms,andleanedhisbodyagainstoneoftheuprightpoststhatsupportedthewallofthehut.

           "Well,"saidthescout,lookingupathim,"whydoyoutarry?Therewillbetimeenoughforme,astheknaveswillgivechasetoyouatfirst."

           "Uncaswillstay,"wasthecalmreply.

           "Forwhat?"

           "Tofightwithhisfather’sbrother,anddiewiththefriendoftheDelawares."

           "Ay,lad,"returnedHawkeye,squeezingthehandofUncasbetweenhisownironfingers;"‘twouldhavebeenmorelikeaMingothanaMohicanhadyouleftme.