Останній з Могікан
Chapter 29
"IftheGreatSpiritgavedifferenttonguestohisredchildren,"hecontinued,inalow,still,melancholyvoice,"itwasthatallanimalsmightunderstandthem.SomeHeplacedamongthesnows,withtheircousinthebear.Someheplacednearthesettingsun,ontheroadtothehappyhunting-grounds.Someonthelandsaroundthegreatfreshwaters;buttohisgreatest,andmostbeloved,Hegavethesandsofthesaltlake.Domybrothersknowthenameofthisfavoredpeople?"
"ItwastheLenape!"exclaimedtwentyeagervoices,inabreath.
"ItwastheLenniLenape,"returnedMagua,affectingtobendhisheadinreverencetotheirformergreatness."ItwasthetribesoftheLenape!Thesunrosefromwaterthatwassalt,andsetinwaterthatwassweet,andneverhidhimselffromtheireyes.ButwhyshouldI,aHuronofthewoods,tellawisepeopletheirowntraditions?Whyremindthemoftheirinjuries;theirancientgreatness;theirdeeds;theirglory;theirhappiness—theirlosses;theirdefeats;theirmisery?Istherenotoneamongthemwhohasseenitall,andwhoknowsittobetrue?Ihavedone.Mytongueisstill,formyheartisoflead.Ilisten."
Asthevoiceofthespeakersuddenlyceased,everyfaceandalleyesturned,byacommonmovement,towardsthevenerableTamenund.Fromthemomentthathetookhisseat,untilthepresentinstant,thelipsofthepatriarchhadnotsevered,andscarcelyasignoflifehadescapedhim.
