Останній з Могікан

           Thesqualidandwitheredpersonofthishagmightwellhaveobtainedforherthecharacterofpossessingmorethanhumancunning.Throwingbackherlightvestment,shestretchedforthherlongskinnyarm,inderision,andusingthelanguageoftheLenape,asmoreintelligibletothesubjectofhergibes,shecommencedaloud—

           "Lookyou,Delaware!"shesaid,snappingherfingersinhisface;"yournationisaraceofwomen,andthehoeisbetterfittedtoyourhandsthanthegun.Yoursquawsarethemothersofdeer;butifabear,orawildcat,oraserpentwerebornamongyou,yewouldflee.TheHurongirlsshallmakeyoupetticoats,andwewillfindyouahusband."

           Aburstofsavagelaughtersucceededthisattack,duringwhichthesoftandmusicalmerrimentoftheyoungerfemalesstrangelychimedwiththecrackedvoiceoftheirolderandmoremalignantcompanion.Butthestrangerwassuperiortoalltheirefforts.Hisheadwasimmovable;nordidhebetraytheslightestconsciousnessthatanywerepresent,exceptwhenhishaughtyeyerolledtowardstheduskyformsofthewarriors,whostalkedinthebackground,silentandsullenobserversofthescene.

           Infuriatedattheself-commandofthecaptive,thewomanplacedherarmsakimbo;andthrowingherselfintoapostureofdefiance,shebrokeoutanew,inatorrentofwordsthatnoartofourscouldcommitsuccessfullytopaper.