Now, harkee, Huron, and for once hear a few honest words from the
mouth of a plain man. I am Christian born, and them that come
of such a stock, and that listen to the words that were spoken to
their fathers and will be spoken to their children, until 'arth and
all it holds perishes, can never lend themselves to such wickedness.
Sarcumventions in war, may be, and are, lawful; but sarcumventions,
and deceit, and treachery among fri'inds are fit only for the
pale-face devils. I know that there are white men enough to give
you this wrong idee of our natur', but such be ontrue to their
blood and gifts, and ought to be, if they are not, outcasts and
vagabonds. No upright pale-face could do what you wish, and to
be as plain with you as I wish to be, in my judgment no upright
Delaware either. With a Mingo it may be different."
The Huron listened to this rebuke with obvious disgust, but he had
his ends in view, and was too wily to lose all chance of effecting
them by a precipitate avowal of resentment. Affecting to smile,
he seemed to listen eagerly, and he then pondered on what he had
heard.
"Does Hawkeye love the Muskrat?" he abruptly demanded; "Or does he
love his daughters?"
"Neither, Mingo.
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