Chief, sometimes, in council."
"I don't know this, nor do I say it, Injin," returned Deerslayer,
coloring a little at the ill-concealed sarcasm of the other's
manner; "I look forward to a life in the woods, and I only hope
it may be a peaceable one. All young men must go on the war-path,
when there's occasion, but war isn't needfully massacre. I've
seen enough of the last, this very night, to know that Providence
frowns on it; and I now invite you to go your own way, while I go
mine; and hope that we may part fri'nds."
"Good! My brother has two scalp - gray hair under 'other. Old
wisdom - young tongue."
Here the savage advanced with confidence, his hand extended, his
face smiling, and his whole bearing denoting amity and respect.
Deerslayer met his offered friendship in a proper spirit, and they
shook hands cordially, each endeavoring to assure the other of his
sincerity and desire to be at peace.
"All have his own," said the Indian; "my canoe, mine; your canoe,
your'n. Go look; if your'n, you keep; if mine, I keep."
"That's just, red-skin; thought you must be wrong in thinking the
canoe your property. Howsever, seein' is believin', and we'll go
down to the shore, where you may look with your own eyes; for it's
likely you'll object to trustin' altogether to mine.
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