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           "Itwouldbeanunequalexchange,togiveawarrior,intheprimeofhisageandusefulness,forthebestwomanonthefrontiers.Imightconsenttogointowinter-quarters,now—atleastsixweeksaforetheleaveswillturn—onconditionyouwillreleasethemaiden."

           Maguashookhishead,andmadeanimpatientsignforthecrowdtoopen.

           "Well,then,"addedthescout,withthemusingairofamanwhohadnothalfmadeuphismind,"Iwillthrow‘Killdeer’intothebargain.Takethewordofanexperiencedhunter,thepiecehasnotitsequalatweentheprovinces."

           Maguastilldisdainedtoreply,continuinghiseffortstodispersethecrowd.

           "Perhaps,"addedthescout,losinghisdissembledcoolness,exactlyinproportionastheothermanifestedanindifferencetotheexchange,"ifIshouldconditiontoteachyouryoungmentherealvirtueofthewe’pon,itwouldsmooththelittledifferencesinourjudgments."

           LeRenardfiercelyorderedtheDelawares,whostilllingeredinanimpenetrablebeltaroundhim,inhopeshewouldlistentotheamicableproposal,toopenhispath,threatening,bytheglanceofhiseye,anotherappealtotheinfalliblejusticeoftheir"prophet."

           "Whatisorderedmustsoonerorlaterarrive,"continuedHawkeye,turningwithasadandhumbledlooktoUncas."Thevarletknowshisadvantage,andwillkeepit!Godblessyou,boy;youhavefoundfriendsamongyournaturalkinandIhopetheywillproveastrueassomeyouhavemetwhohadnoIndiancross.