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Chapter 23
Helookstoseethatnoenemiesareonhistrail."
"ThecanoeofadeadwarriorwillnotfloatontheHorican,"returnedthesavage,gloomily."HisearsareopentotheDelawares,whoarenotourfriends,andtheyfillthemwithlies."
"Itcannotbe.See;hehasbidme,whoamamanthatknowstheartofhealing,togotohischildren,theredHuronsofthegreatlakes,andaskifanyaresick!"
AnothersilencesucceededthisannunciationofthecharacterDuncanhadassumed.Everyeyewassimultaneouslybentonhisperson,asiftoinquireintothetruthorfalsehoodofthedeclaration,withanintelligenceandkeennessthatcausedthesubjectoftheirscrutinytotremblefortheresult.Hewas,however,relievedagainbytheformerspeaker.
"DothecunningmenoftheCanadaspainttheirskins?"theHuroncoldlycontinued;"wehaveheardthemboastthattheirfaceswerepale."
"WhenanIndianchiefcomesamonghiswhitefathers,"returnedDuncan,withgreatsteadiness,"helaysasidehisbuffalorobe,tocarrytheshirtthatisofferedhim.Mybrothershavegivenmepaint,andIwearit."
Alowmurmurofapplauseannouncedthatthecomplimenttothetribewasfavorablyreceived.Theelderlychiefmadeagestureofcommendation,whichwasansweredbymostofhiscompanions,whoeachthrewforthahand,andutteredabriefexclamationofpleasure.