The Last of the Mohicans, The Pathfinder & The Deerslayer. Джеймс Фенимор Купер

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СКАЧАТЬ by a low murmur of welcome, and encouraged him to advance by similar indications of friendship. Fortified by these assurances, the dark figure left the brow of the natural rocky terrace, where it had stood a moment, drawn in a strong outline against the blushing morning sky, and moved with dignity into the very centre of the huts. As he approached, nothing was audible but the rattling of the light silver ornaments that loaded his arms and neck, and the tinkling of the little bells that fringed his deer-skin moccasins. He made, as he advanced, many courteous signs of greeting to the men he passed, neglecting to notice the women, however, like one who deemed their favor, in the present enterprise, of no importance. When he had reached the group in which it was evident, by the haughtiness of their common mien, that the principal chiefs were collected, the stranger paused, and then the Delawares saw that the active and erect form that stood before them was that of the well-known Huron chief, Le Renard Subtil.

      His reception was grave, silent, and wary. The warriors in front stepped aside, opening the way to their most approved orator by the action; one who spoke all those languages that were cultivated among the northern aborigines.

“The wise Huron is welcome,” said the Delaware, in the language of the Maquas; “he is come to eat his ‘succotash,’²⁵ with his brothers of the lakes.”

²⁵ A dish composed of cracked corn and beans. It is much used also by the whites. By corn is meant maize.

      “He is come,” repeated Magua, bending his head with the dignity of an Eastern prince.

      The chief extended his arm, and taking the other by the wrist, they once more exchanged friendly salutations. Then the Delaware invited his guest to enter his own lodge, and share his morning meal. The invitation was accepted; and the two warriors, attended by three or four of the old men, walked calmly away, leaving the rest of the tribe devoured by a desire to understand the reasons of so unusual a visit, and yet not betraying the least impatience by sign or word.

      During the short and frugal repast that followed, the conversation was extremely circumspect, and related entirely to the events of the hunt in which Magua had so lately been engaged. It would have been impossible for the most finished breeding to wear more of the appearance of considering the visit as a matter of course, than did his hosts, notwithstanding every individual present was perfectly aware that it must be connected with some secret object, and that probably of importance to themselves. When the appetites of the whole were appeased, the squaws removed the trenchers and gourd, and the two parties began to prepare themselves for a subtle trial of their wits.

      “Is the face of my great Canada father turned again towards his Huron children?” demanded the orator of the Delawares.

      “When was it ever otherwise?” returned Magua. “He calls my people ‘most beloved.’”

      The Delaware gravely bowed his acquiescence to what he knew to be false, and continued,—

      “The tomahawks of your young men have been very red.”

      “It is so; but they are now bright and dull; for the Yengeese are dead, and the Delawares are our neighbors.”

      The other acknowledged the pacific compliment by a gesture of the hand, and remained silent. Then Magua, as if recalled to such a recollection, by the allusion to the massacre, demanded,—

      “Does my prisoner give trouble to my brothers?”

      “She is welcome.”

      “The path between the Hurons and the Delawares is short, and it is open; let her be sent to my squaws, if she gives trouble to my brother.”

      “She is welcome,” returned the chief of the latter nation, still more emphatically.

      The baffled Magua continued silent several minutes, apparently indifferent, however, to the repulse he had received in this his open effort to gain possession of Cora.

      “Do my young men leave the Delawares room on the mountains for their hunts?” he at length continued.

      “The Lenape are rulers of their own hills,” returned the other, a little haughtily.

      “It is well. Justice is the master of a redskin! Why should they brighten their tomahawks, and sharpen their knives against each other? Are not the pale-faces thicker than the swallows in the season of flowers?”

      “Good!” exclaimed two or three of his auditors at the same time.

      Magua waited a little, to permit his words to soften the feelings of the Delawares, before he added,—

      “Have there not been strange moccasins in the woods? Have not my brothers scented the feet of white men?”

      “Let my Canada father come,” returned the other evasively; “his children are ready to see him.”

      “When the great chief comes, it is to smoke with the Indians in their wigwams. The Hurons say, too, he is welcome. But the Yengeese have long arms, and legs that never tire! My young men dreamed they had seen the trail of the Yengeese nigh the village of the Delawares?”

      “They will not find the Lenape asleep.”

      “It is well. The warrior whose eye is open can see his enemy,” said Magua, once more shifting his ground, when he found himself unable to penetrate the caution of his companion. “I have brought gifts to my brother. His nation would not go on the war-path because they did not think it well; but their friends have remembered where they lived.”

      When he had thus announced his liberal intention, the crafty chief arose, and gravely spread his presents before the dazzled eyes of his hosts. They consisted principally of trinkets of little value, plundered from the slaughtered females of William Henry. In the division of the baubles the cunning Huron discovered no less art than in their selection. While he bestowed those of greater value on the two most distinguished warriors, one of whom was his host, he seasoned his offerings to their inferiors with such well-timed and apposite compliments, as left them no grounds of complaint. In short, the whole ceremony contained such a happy blending of the profitable with the flattering, that it was not difficult for the donor immediately to read the effect of a generosity so aptly mingled with praise, in the eyes of those he addressed.

      This well-judged and politic stroke on the part of Magua was not without instantaneous results. The Delawares lost their gravity in a much more cordial expression; and the host, in particular, after contemplating his own liberal share of the spoil for some moments with peculiar gratification, repeated with strong emphasis, the words,—

      “My brother is a wise chief. He is welcome!”

      “The Hurons love their friends the Delawares,” returned Magua. “Why should they not? they are colored by the same sun, and their just men will hunt in the same grounds after death. The redskins should be friends, and look with open eyes on the white men. Has not my brother scented spies in the woods?”

      The Delaware, whose name in English signified “Hard Heart,” an appellation that the French had translated into “Le Cœur-dur,” forgot the obduracy of purpose, which had probably obtained him so significant a title. His countenance grew very sensibly less stern, and now deigned to answer more directly.

      “There have been strange moccasins about my camp. They have been tracked into my lodges.”

      “Did СКАЧАТЬ