"
"At all events, Deerslayer, my presence here will save you for a
time. They will hardly attempt torturing you before my face!"
"Why not, Judith? Do you think they will treat a woman of the
pale faces more tenderly than they treat their own? It's true that
your sex will most likely save you from the torments, but it will
not save your liberty, and may not save your scalp. I wish you had
not come, my good Judith; it can do no good to me, while it may do
great harm to yourself."
"I can share your fate," the girl answered with generous enthusiasm.
"They shall not injure you while I stand by, if in my power to
prevent it -besides -"
"Besides, what, Judith? What means have you to stop Injin cruelties,
or to avart Injin deviltries?"
"None, perhaps, Deerslayer," answered the girl, with firmness, "but
I can suffer with my friends - die with them if necessary."
"Ah! Judith - suffer you may; but die you will not, until the
Lord's time shall come. It's little likely that one of your sex
and beauty will meet with a harder fate than to become the wife
of a chief, if, indeed your white inclinations can stoop to match
with an Injin. 'Twould have been better had you staid in the Ark,
or the castle, but what has been done, is done.
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