Останній з Могікан
Chapter 3
Foramomentheappearedtobeconsciousofhavingtheworstoftheargument,then,rallyingagain,heansweredtheobjectionofhisantagonistinthebestmannerhislimitedinformationwouldallow:"Iamnoscholar,andIcarenotwhoknowsit;butjudgingfromwhatIhaveseen,atdeerchasesandsquirrelhunts,ofthesparksbelow,Ishouldthinkarifleinthehandsoftheirgrandfatherswasnotsodangerousasahickorybowandagoodflint-headmightbe,ifdrawnwithIndianjudgment,andsentbyanIndianeye."
"Youhavethestorytoldbyyourfathers,"returnedtheother,coldlywavinghishand."Whatsayyouroldmen?dotheytelltheyoungwarriors,thatthepale-facesmettheredmen,paintedforwarandarmedwiththestonehatchetandwoodengun?"
"Iamnotaprejudicedman,noronewhovauntshimselfonhisnaturalprivileges,thoughtheworstenemyIhaveonearth,andheisanIroquois,daren’tdenythatIamgenuinewhite,"thescoutreplied,surveying,withsecretsatisfaction,thefadedcolorofhisbonyandsinewyhand;"andIamwillingtoownthatmypeoplehavemanyways,ofwhich,asanhonestman,Ican’tapprove.Itisoneoftheircustomstowriteinbookswhattheyhavedoneandseen,insteadoftellingthemintheirvillages,wheretheliecanbegiventothefaceofacowardlyboaster,andthebravesoldiercancallonhiscomradestowitnessforthetruthofhiswords.
