Останній з Могікан

           ButIthoughtIwouldmaketheoffer,seeingthatyouthcommonlyloveslife.Well,whatcan’tbedonebymaincourage,inwar,mustbedonebycircumvention.Putontheskin;Idoubtnotyoucanplaythebearnearlyaswellasmyself."

           WhatevermighthavebeentheprivateopinionofUncasoftheirrespectiveabilitiesinthisparticular,hisgravecountenancemanifestednoopinionofhisownsuperiority.Hesilentlyandexpeditiouslyencasedhimselfinthecoveringofthebeast,andthenawaitedsuchothermovementsashismoreagedcompanionsawfittodictate.

           "Now,friend,"saidHawkeye,addressingDavid,"anexchangeofgarmentswillbeagreatconveniencetoyou,inasmuchasyouarebutlittleaccustomedtothemake-shiftsofthewilderness.Here,takemyhuntingshirtandcap,andgivemeyourblanketandhat.Youmusttrustmewiththebookandspectacles,aswellasthetooter,too;ifweevermeetagain,inbettertimes,youshallhaveallbackagain,withmanythanksintothebargain."

           Davidpartedwiththeseveralarticlesnamedwithareadinessthatwouldhavedonegreatcredittohisliberality,hadhenotcertainlyprofited,inmanyparticulars,bytheexchange.Hawkeyewasnotlonginassuminghisborrowedgarments;andwhenhisrestlesseyeswerehidbehindtheglasses,andhisheadwassurmountedbythetriangularbeaver,astheirstatureswerenotdissimilar,hemightreadilyhavepassedforthesingerbystar-light.Assoonasthesedispositionsweremade,thescoutturnedtoDavid,andgavehimhispartinginstructions.