The truth may as well be said, at once; he fou't like a man of red
gifts, and I fou't like a man with gifts of my own colour. God
gave me the victory; I coul'n't fly in the face of his Providence
by forgetting my birth and natur'. White he made me, and white I
shall live and die."
"Good! Deerslayer is a pale-face, and has pale-face hands. A
Delaware will look for the scalp, and hang it on a pole, and sing
a song in his honour, when we go back to our people. The glory
belongs to the tribe; it must not be lost."
"This is easy talking, but 'twill not be as easy doing. The Mingo's
body is in the hands of his fri'nds and, no doubt, is hid in some
hole where Delaware cunning will never be able to get at the scalp."
The young man then gave his friend a succinct, but clear account,
of the event of the morning, concealing nothing of any moment, and
yet touching on every thing modestly and with a careful attention
to avoid the Indian habit of boasting. Chingachgook again expressed
his satisfaction at the honour won by his friend, and then both
arose, the hour having arrived when it became prudent to move the
Ark further from the land.
It was now quite dark, the heavens having become clouded, and
the stars hid.
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