Notwithstanding the increasing warmth of the amicable contest, the most decorous Christian assembly, not even excepting those in which its reverend ministers are collected, might have learned a wholesome lesson of moderation from the forbearance and courtesy of the disputants. The words of Uncas were received with the same deep attention as those which fell from the maturer wisdom of his father; and so far from manifesting any impatience, none spoke in reply, until a few moments of silent meditation were seemingly bestowed in deliberating on what had already been said.
The language of the Mohicans was accompanied by gestures so direct and natural, that Hey ward had but little difficulty in following the thread of their argument. On the other hand the scout was obscure; because, from the lingering pride of colour, he rather affected the cold and inartificial manner which characterizes all classes of Anglo-Americans, when unexcited. By the frequency with which the Indians described the marks of a forest
