Останній з Могікан
Chapter 29
Risingwithoutassistance,andseeminglywithoutaneffort,hedemanded,inavoicethatstartleditsauditorsbyitsfirmness—
"Whatartthou?"
"Awoman.Oneofahatedrace,ifthouwilt—aYengee.Butonewhohasneverharmedthee,andwhocannotharmthypeople,ifshewould;whoasksforsuccor."
"Tellme,mychildren,"continuedthepatriarch,hoarsely,motioningtothosearoundhim,thoughhiseyesstilldweltuponthekneelingformofCora,"wherehavetheDelawarescamped?"
"InthemountainsoftheIroquois,beyondtheclearspringsoftheHorican."
"Manyparchingsummersarecomeandgone,"continuedthesage,"sinceIdrankofthewaterofmyownrivers.ThechildrenofMinquonarethejustestwhitemen;buttheywerethirsty,andtheytookittothemselves.Dotheyfollowussofar?"
"Wefollownone;wecovetnothing,"answeredCora."Captivesagainstourwills,havewebeenbroughtamongyou;andweaskbutpermissiontodeparttoourowninpeace.ArtthounotTamenund—thefather,thejudge,Ihadalmostsaid,theprophet—ofthispeople?"
"IamTamenundofmanydays."
"’Tisnowsomesevenyearsthatoneofthypeoplewasatthemercyofawhitechiefonthebordersofthisprovince.HeclaimedtobeofthebloodofthegoodandjustTamenund.‘Go,’saidthewhiteman,‘forthyparent’ssakethouartfree.
