Последний из Могикан
Chapter 27
InsteadoftakingthepathwhichleddirectlytowardsthecampoftheDelawares,Magualedhispartyforsomedistancedownthewindingsofthestream,andalongthelittleartificiallakeofthebeavers.Thedaybegantodawnastheyenteredtheclearingwhichhadbeenformedbythosesagaciousandindustriousanimals.ThoughMagua,whohadresumedhisancientgarb,boretheoutlineofafoxonthedressedskinwhichformedhisrobe,therewasonechiefofhispartywhocarriedthebeaverashispeculiarsymbol,or"totem."Therewouldhavebeenaspeciesofprofanityintheomission,hadthismanpassedsopowerfulacommunityofhisfanciedkindred,withoutbestowingsomeevidenceofhisregard.Accordingly,hepaused,andspokeinwordsaskindandfriendlyasifhewereaddressingmoreintelligentbeings.Hecalledtheanimalshiscousins,andremindedthemthathisprotectinginfluencewasthereasontheyremainedunharmed,whilesomanyavaricioustraderswerepromptingtheIndianstotaketheirlives.Hepromisedacontinuanceofhisfavors,andadmonishedthemtobegrateful.Afterwhich,hespokeoftheexpeditioninwhichhewashimselfengaged,andintimated,thoughwithsufficientdelicacyandcircumlocution,theexpediencyofbestowingontheirrelativeaportionofthatwisdomforwhichtheyweresorenowned.
Duringtheutteranceofthisextraordinaryaddress,thecompanionsofthespeakerwereasgraveandasattentivetohislanguageasthoughtheywereallequallyimpressedwithitspropriety
