Page:The last of the Mohicans (1826 Volume 1).djvu/249

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THE MOHICANS.
233

hunted and fished, till the people chased him again through the woods into the arms of his enemies. The chief, who was born a Huron, was at last a warrior among the Mohawks!"

"Something like this I had heard before," said Cora, observing that he paused to suppress those passions which began to burn with too bright a flame, as he recalled the recollection of his supposed injuries.

"Was it the fault of le Renard that his head was not made of rock? Who gave him the fire-water? who made him a villain? 'Twas the pale-faces, the people of your own colour."

"And am I answerable that thoughtless and unprincipled men exist, whose shades of countenance may resemble mine?" Cora calmly demanded of the excited savage.

"No, Magua is a man, and not a fool; such as you never open their lips to the burning stream; the Great Spirit has given you wisdom."

"What then have I to do or say in the matter of your misfortunes, not to say of your errors?"