Последний из Могикан
Chapter 17
"ButMaguaispledgednottosullytheliliesofFrance.Theenemiesofthegreatkingacrossthesaltlakearehisenemies;hisfriends,thefriendsoftheHurons."
"Friends!"repeatedtheIndian,inscorn."LethisfathergiveMaguaahand."
Montcalm,whofeltthathisinfluenceoverthewarliketribeshehadgatheredwastobemaintainedbyconcessionratherthanbypower,compliedreluctantlywiththeother’srequest.ThesavageplacedthefingeroftheFrenchcommanderonadeepscarinhisbosom,andthenexultinglydemanded—
"Doesmyfatherknowthat?"
"Whatwarriordoesnot?’tiswherealeadenbullethascut."
"Andthis?"continuedtheIndian,whohadturnedhisnakedbacktotheother,hisbodybeingwithoutitsusualcalicomantle.
"This!—mysonhasbeensadlyinjured,here;whohasdonethis?"
"MaguaslepthardintheEnglishwigwams,andthestickshavelefttheirmark,"returnedthesavage,withahollowlaugh,whichdidnotconcealthefiercetemperthatnearlychokedhim.Thenrecollectinghimself,withsuddenandnativedignity,headded,"Go;teachyouryoungmen,itispeace.LeRenardSubtilknowshowtospeaktoaHuronwarrior."
Withoutdeigningtobestowfurtherwords,ortowaitforanyanswer,thesavagecasthisrifleintothehollowofhisarm,andmovedsilentlythroughtheencampmenttowardsthewoodswherehisowntribewasknowntolie.