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Chapter 26
"Areyoumuchgiventocowardice?"hebluntlyasked,bywayofobtainingasuitableunderstandingofthewholecasebeforeheventuredaprescription.
"Mypursuitsarepeaceful,andmytemper,Ihumblytrust,isgreatlygiventomercyandlove,"returnedDavid,alittlenettledatsodirectanattackonhismanhood;"buttherearenonewhocansaythatIhaveeverforgottenmyfaithintheLord,eveninthegreateststraits."
"Yourchiefestdangerwillbeatthemomentwhenthesavagesfindoutthattheyhavebeendeceived.Ifyouarenotthenknockedinthehead,yourbeinganon-composserwillprotectyou;andyou’llthenhavegoodreasontoexpecttodieinyourbed.Ifyoustay,itmustbetositdownhereintheshadow,andtakethepartofUncas,untilsuchtimesasthecunningoftheIndiansdiscoverthecheat,when,asIhavealreadysaid,yourtimeoftrialwillcome.Sochooseforyourself—tomakearushortarryhere."
"Evenso,"saidDavid,firmly;"IwillabideintheplaceoftheDelaware.Bravelyandgenerouslyhashebattledinmybehalf;andthis,andmore,willIdareinhisservice."
"Youhavespokenasaman,andlikeonewho,underwiserschooling,wouldhavebeenbroughttobetterthings.Holdyourheaddown,anddrawinyourlegs;theirformationmighttellthetruthtooearly.Keepsilentaslongasmaybe;anditwouldbewise,whenyoudospeak,tobreakoutsuddenlyinoneofyourshoutings,whichwillservetoremindtheIndiansthatyouarenotaltogetherasresponsibleasmenshouldbe.