Останній з Могікан

           Notintheleastoffendedwiththedecidedpreferencethatthesturdywoodsmangavetoonewhomight,insomedegree,becalledthechildofhisadoption,Duncanstillcontinuedtourgesuchreasonsagainstsodesperateaneffortaspresentedthemselves.HewasaidedbyAlice,whomingledherentreatieswiththoseofHeywardthathewouldabandonaresolutionthatpromisedsomuchdanger,withsolittlehopeofsuccess.Theireloquenceandingenuitywereexpendedinvain.Thescoutheardthemattentively,butimpatiently,andfinallyclosedthediscussion,byanswering,inatonethatinstantlysilencedAlice,whileittoldHeywardhowfruitlessanyfurtherremonstranceswouldbe—

           "Ihaveheard,"hesaid,"thatthereisafeelinginyouthwhichbindsmantowomancloserthanthefatheristiedtotheson.Itmaybeso.Ihaveseldombeenwherewomenofmycolordwell;butsuchmaybethegiftsofnatureinthesettlements.Youhaveriskedlife,andallthatisdeartoyou,tobringoffthisgentleone,andIsupposethatsomesuchdispositionisatthebottomofitall.Asforme,Itaughttheladtherealcharacterofarifle;andwellhashepaidmeforit.Ihavefou’tathissideinmanyabloodyscrimmage;andsolongasIcouldhearthecrackofhispieceinoneear,andthatoftheSagamoreintheother,Iknewnoenemywasonmyback