Останній з Могікан

           "Why,Ibelieveitisnatur’togiveapreferencetoone’sownquarrelsbeforethoseofstrangers.Now,formyself,Idolovejustice;andthereforeIwillnotsayIhateaMingo,forthatmaybeunsuitabletomycolorandmyreligion,thoughIwilljustrepeat,itmayhavebeenowingtothenightthat‘Killdeer’hadnohandinthedeathofthisskulkingOneida."

           Then,asifsatisfiedwiththeforceofhisownreasons,whatevermightbetheireffectontheopinionsoftheotherdisputant,thehonestbutimplacablewoodsmanturnedfromthefire,contenttoletthecontroversyslumber.Heywardwithdrewtotherampart,toouneasyandtoolittleaccustomedtothewarfareofthewoodstoremainateaseunderthepossibilityofsuchinsidiousattacks.Notso,however,withthescoutandtheMohicans.Thoseacuteandlongpractisedsenses,whosepowerssooftenexceedthelimitsofallordinarycredulity,afterhavingdetectedthedanger,hadenabledthemtoascertainitsmagnitudeandduration.Notoneofthethreeappearedintheleasttodoubttheirperfectsecurity,aswasindicatedbythepreparationsthatweresoonmadetositincouncilovertheirfutureproceedings.

           Theconfusionofnations,andevenoftribes,towhichHawkeyealluded,existedatthatperiodinthefullestforce.