Останній з Могікан
Chapter 27
Theyweregivenwithadditionalweightfromthecircumstancethatsomeoftherunnershadalreadyreturned,andreportedthattheirenemieshadbeentracedsofarastoleavenodoubtoftheirhavingsoughtsafetyintheneighboringcampoftheirsuspectedallies,theDelawares.Withtheadvantageofpossessingthisimportantintelligence,thechiefwarilylaidhisplansbeforehisfellows,and,asmighthavebeenanticipatedfromhiseloquenceandcunning,theywereadoptedwithoutadissentingvoice.Theywere,briefly,asfollows,bothinopinionsandinmotives.
Ithasbeenalreadystatedthat,inobediencetoapolicyrarelydepartedfrom,thesisterswereseparatedsosoonastheyreachedtheHuronvillage.MaguahadearlydiscoveredthatinretainingthepersonofAlice,hepossessedthemosteffectualcheckonCora.Whentheyparted,therefore,hekepttheformerwithinreachofhishand,consigningtheonehemostvaluedtothekeepingoftheirallies.Thearrangementwasunderstoodtobemerelytemporary,andwasmadeasmuchwithaviewtoflatterhisneighborsasinobediencetotheinvariableruleofIndianpolicy.
Whilegoadedincessantlybythoserevengefulimpulsesthatinasavageseldomslumber,thechiefwasstillattentivetohismorepermanentpersonalinterests.Thefolliesanddisloyaltycommittedinhisyouthweretobeexpiatedbyalongandpainfulpenance,erehecouldberestoredtothefullenjoymentoftheconfidenceofhisancientpeople;andwithoutconfidence,therecouldbenoauthorityinanIndiantribe.
