"
"Wah-ta-Wah no pale-face - got red-skin; red heart, red feelin's.
All red; no pale-face. Must carry papoose."
"Every woman is willing to carry her child," said Hetty smiling,
"and there is no harm in that. But you must love Hist, and be
gentle, and good to her; for she is gentle and good herself."
Chingachgook gravely bowed, and then he seemed to think this part
of the subject might be dismissed. Before there was time for Hetty
to resume her communications, the voice of Deerslayer was heard
calling on his friend, in the outer room. At this summons the
Serpent arose to obey, and Hetty joined her sister.
Chapter XIV.
"'A stranger animal,' cries one,
'Sure never liv'd beneath the sun;
A lizard's body lean and long,
A fish's head, a serpent's tongue,
Its foot, with triple claw disjoined;
And what a length of tail behind!'"
James Merrick, "The Chameleon," 11.21-26.
The first act of the Delaware, on rejoining his friend, was to
proceed gravely to disencumber himself of his civilized attire, and
to stand forth an Indian warrior again. The protest of Deerslayer
was met by his communicating the fact that the presence of an
Indian in the hut was known to the Iroquois, and that maintaining
the disguise would be more likely to direct suspicions to his real
object, than if he came out openly as a member of a hostile tribe.
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