Останній з Могікан
Chapter 19
Chingachgooklaidhishandonthescalp,andconsidereditforamomentwithdeepattention.Thendroppingit,withdisgustdepictedinhisstrongfeatures,heejaculated—
"Oneida!"
"Oneida!"repeatedthescout,whowasfastlosinghisinterestinthescene,inanapathynearlyassimilatedtothatofhisredassociates,butwhonowadvancedwithuncommonearnestnesstoregardthebloodybadge."BytheLord,iftheOneidasareoutlyinguponthetrail,weshallbeflankedbydevilsoneverysideofus!Now,towhiteeyesthereisnodifferencebetweenthisbitofskinandthatofanyotherIndian,andyettheSagamoredeclaresitcamefromthepollofaMingo;nay,heevennamesthetribeofthepoordevilwithasmucheaseasifthescalpwastheleafofabook,andeachhairaletter.WhatrighthaveChristianwhitestoboastoftheirlearning,whenasavagecanreadalanguagethatwouldprovetoomuchforthewisestofthemall!Whatsayyou,lad;ofwhatpeoplewastheknave?"
Uncasraisedhiseyestothefaceofthescout,andanswered,inhissoftvoice—
"Oneida."
"Oneida,again!whenoneIndianmakesadeclarationitiscommonlytrue;butwhenheissupportedbyhispeople,setitdownasgospel!"
"ThepoorfellowhasmistakenusforFrench,"saidHeyward;"orhewouldnothaveattemptedthelifeofafriend."
"HemistakeaMohicaninhispaintforaHuron!Youwouldbeaslikelytomistakethewhite-coatedgrenadiersofMontcalmforthescarletjacketsofthe‘RoyalAmericans’,"returnedthescout.
