But not a farthing of such money shall cross my hand. White I was
born, and white will I die; clinging to color to the last, even
though the King's majesty, his governors, and all his councils,
both at home and in the colonies, forget from what they come, and
where they hope to go, and all for a little advantage in warfare.
No, no, warrior, hand of mine shall never molest your scalp, and
so your soul may rest in peace on the p'int of making a decent
appearance when the body comes to join it, in your own land of
spirits."
Deerslayer arose as soon as he had spoken. Then he placed the body
of the dead man in a sitting posture, with its back against the
little rock, taking the necessary care to prevent it from falling
or in any way settling into an attitude that might be thought
unseemly by the sensitive, though wild notions of a savage. When
this duty was performed, the young man stood gazing at the grim
countenance of his fallen foe, in a sort of melancholy abstraction.
As was his practice, however, a habit gained by living so much
alone in the forest, he then began again to give utterance to his
thoughts and feelings aloud.
"I didn't wish your life, red-skin," he said "but you left me no
choice atween killing or being killed.
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