Останній з Могікан

           Asforme,soonerorlater,Imustdie;itisthereforefortunatetherearebutfewtomakemydeath-howl.Afterall,itislikelytheimpswouldhavemanagedtomastermyscalp,soadayortwowillmakenogreatdifferenceintheeverlastingreckoningoftime.Godblessyou,"addedtheruggedwoodsman,bendinghisheadaside,andtheninstantlychangingitsdirectionagain,withawistfullooktowardstheyouth;"Ilovedbothyouandyourfather,Uncas,thoughourskinsarenotaltogetherofacolor,andourgiftsaresomewhatdifferent.TelltheSagamoreIneverlostsightofhiminmygreatesttrouble;and,asforyou,thinkofmesometimeswhenonaluckytrail;anddependonit,boy,whethertherebeoneheavenortwo,thereisapathintheotherworldbywhichhonestmenmaycometogetheragain.You’llfindtherifleintheplacewehidit;takeit,andkeepitformysake;andharkee,lad,asyournaturalgiftsdon’tdenyyoutheuseofvengeance,useitalittlefreelyontheMingos;itmayunburdengriefatmyloss,andeaseyourmind.Huron,Iacceptyouroffer;releasethewoman.Iamyourprisoner!"

           Asuppressed,butstilldistinctmurmurofapprobation,ranthroughthecrowdatthisgenerousproposition;eventhefiercestamongtheDelawarewarriorsmanifestingpleasureatthemanlinessoftheintendedsacrifice.Maguapaused,andforananxiousmoment,itmightbesaid,hedoubted;thencastinghiseyesonCora,withanexpressioninwhichferocityandadmirationwerestrangelymingled,hispurposebecamefixedforever.