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27 - The Last Of The Mohicans - James Cooper · Thrilling Adventures - Daily

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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty seven quote, and I shall remember when Tzar
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Speaker 1: says do this, it is performed unquote from Julius Caesar.
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Speaker 1: The impatience of the savages who lingered about the prison
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Speaker 1: of Uncas, as has been seen, had overcome their dread
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Speaker 1: of the conjurer's breath. They stole cautiously and with beating hearts,
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Speaker 1: to a crevice through which the faint light of the
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Speaker 1: fire was glimmering. For several minutes they mistook the form
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Speaker 1: of David for that of the prisoner, but the very
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Speaker 1: accident which Hawkeye had foreseen occurred. Tired of keeping the
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Speaker 1: extremities of his long persons so near together, the singer
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Speaker 1: gradually suffered the lower limbs to extend themselves, until one
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Speaker 1: of his misshapen feet actually came in contact with and
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Speaker 1: shoved aside the embers of the fire. At first, the
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Speaker 1: Huron's believed the Delaware had been thus deformed by witchcraft.
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Speaker 1: But when David, unconscious of being observed, turned his head
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Speaker 1: and exposed his simple, mild countenance in place of the
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Speaker 1: haughty lineaments of their prisoner, it would have exceeded the
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Speaker 1: credulity of even a native to have doubted any longer.
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Speaker 1: They rushed together into the lodge, and laying their hands
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Speaker 1: with but little ceremony on their captive, immediately detected the imposition.
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Speaker 1: Then arose the cry first heard by the fugitives. It
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Speaker 1: was succeeded by the most frantic and angry demonstrations of vengeance. David, however,
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Speaker 1: firm in his determination to cover the retreat of his friends,
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Speaker 1: was compelled to believe that his own final hour had come.
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Speaker 1: Deprived of his book and his pipe, he was fain
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Speaker 1: to trust to a memory that rarely failed him on
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Speaker 1: such subjects, and breaking forth in a loud and impassionate
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Speaker 1: strained he endeavored to smooth his passage into the other
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Speaker 1: world by singing the opening verse of a funeral anthem.
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Speaker 1: The Indians were seasonably reminded of his infirmity, and rushing
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Speaker 1: into the open air, they aroused the village in the
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Speaker 1: manner described a native warrior fights as he sleeps, without
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Speaker 1: the protection of anything defensive. The sounds of the alarm
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Speaker 1: were therefore hardly uttered before two hundred men were afoot
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Speaker 1: and ready for the battle or the chase, as either
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Speaker 1: might be required. The escape was soon known, and the
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Speaker 1: whole tribe crowded in a body around the council lodge,
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Speaker 1: impatiently awaiting the instruction of their chiefs. In such a
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Speaker 1: sudden demand on their wisdom, the presence of the cunning
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Speaker 1: Magua could scarcely fail of being needed. His name was mentioned,
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Speaker 1: and all looked around in wonder that he did not appear.
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Speaker 1: Messengers were then despatched to his lodge, acquiring his presence.
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Speaker 1: In the meantime, some of the swiftest and most discreet
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Speaker 1: of the young men were ordered to make the circuit
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Speaker 1: of the clearing under cover of the woods, in order
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Speaker 1: to ascertain that their suspected neighbors, the Delawares, designed no mischief.
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Speaker 1: Women and children ran to and fro, and in short
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Speaker 1: the whole encampment exhibited another scene of wild and savage confusion. Gradually, however,
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Speaker 1: these symptoms of disorder diminished, and in a few minutes
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Speaker 1: the oldest and most distinguished chiefs were assembled in the
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Speaker 1: lodge in grave consultation. The clamor of many voices soon
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Speaker 1: announced that a party approached who might be expected to
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Speaker 1: communicate some intelligence that would explain the mystery of the novel. Surprise,
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Speaker 1: the crowd without gave way and several warriors entered the place,
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Speaker 1: bringing with them the hapless conjurer, who had been left
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Speaker 1: so long by the scout in duress. Not with standing.
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Speaker 1: This man was held in very unequal estimation among the hurons,
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Speaker 1: some believing implicity in his power, and others deeming him
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Speaker 1: an impostor. He was now listened to by all with
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Speaker 1: the deepest attention. When his brief story was ended, the
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Speaker 1: father of the sick woman stepped forth and, in a
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Speaker 1: few pithy expressions, related in his turn what he knew.
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Speaker 1: These two narratives gave a proper direction to the subsequent inquiries,
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Speaker 1: which were now made with the characteristic cunning of savages.
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Speaker 1: Instead of rushing in a confused and disorderly throng to
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Speaker 1: the cavern, ten of the wisest and firmest among the
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Speaker 1: chiefs were selected to prosecute the investigation. As no time
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Speaker 1: was to be lost the instant the choice was made,
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Speaker 1: the individuals appointed rose in a body and left the
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Speaker 1: place without speaking. On reaching the entrance, the younger men
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Speaker 1: in advance made way for their seniors, and the whole
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Speaker 1: proceed along the low, dark gallery with the firmness of
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Speaker 1: warriors ready to devote themselves to the public good, though
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Speaker 1: at the same time secretly doubting the nature of the
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Speaker 1: power with which they were about to contend. The outer
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Speaker 1: apartment of the cavern was silent and gloomy. The woman
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Speaker 1: lay in her usual place and posture, though there were
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Speaker 1: those presents who affirmed that they had seen her born
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Speaker 1: to the woods by the supposed medicine of the white men.
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Speaker 1: Such a direct and palpable contradiction of the tale related
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Speaker 1: by the father caused all eyes to be turned on him.
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Speaker 1: Chafed by the silent imputation, and inwardly troubled by so
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Speaker 1: unaccountable a circumstance, the chief advanced to the side of
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Speaker 1: the bed, and, stooping, cast an incredulous look at the features,
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Speaker 1: as if distrusting their reality. His daughter was dead. The
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Speaker 1: unerring feeling of nature for a moment prevailed, and the
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Speaker 1: old warrior hid his eyes in so Then, recovering his
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Speaker 1: self possession, he faced his companions, and, pointing toward the corpse,
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Speaker 1: he said, in the language of his people, the wife
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Speaker 1: of my young man has left us. The Great Spirit
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Speaker 1: is angry with his children. The mournful intelligence was received
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Speaker 1: in solemn silence. After a short pause. One of the
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Speaker 1: elder Indians was about to speak when a dark looking
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Speaker 1: object was seen rolling out of an adjoining apartment into
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Speaker 1: the very center of the room where they stood. Ignorant
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Speaker 1: of the nature of the beings they had to deal with,
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Speaker 1: the whole party drew back a little, and, rising on end,
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Speaker 1: exhibited the distorted, but still fierce and sullen features of Magua.
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Speaker 1: The discovery was succeeded by a general exclamation of amazement.
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Speaker 1: As soon, however, as the true situation of the was understood,
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Speaker 1: several knives appeared, and his limbs and tongue were quickly released.
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Speaker 1: The Huron arose and shook himself like a lion, quitting
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Speaker 1: his lair. Not a word escaped him, though his hand
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Speaker 1: played convulsively with the handle of his knife, while his
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Speaker 1: lowering eyes scanned the whole party as if they sought
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Speaker 1: an object suited for the first burst of his vengeance.
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Speaker 1: It was happy for Uncas and the scalt and even
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Speaker 1: David that they were all beyond the reach of his
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Speaker 1: arm at such a moment, for assuredly no refinement in
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Speaker 1: cruelty would then have deferred their deaths. In opposition to
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Speaker 1: the promptings of the fierce temper that nearly choked him.
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Speaker 1: Meeting everywhere faces that he knew as friends, the savage
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Speaker 1: grated his teeth together like rasp of iron, and swallowed
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Speaker 1: his passion for want of a victim on whom to
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Speaker 1: vent it. This exhibition of anger was noted by all present,
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Speaker 1: and from an apprehension of exasperating a temper that was
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Speaker 1: already chafed nearly to madness, several minutes were suffered to
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Speaker 1: pass before another word was uttered. When, however, suitable time
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Speaker 1: had elapsed, the oldest of the party spoke. My friend
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Speaker 1: has found an enemy, he said, is he nigh that
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Speaker 1: the Hurons might take revenge?
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Speaker 2: Let the delaway die.
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Speaker 1: Exclaimed Magua in a voice of thunder. Another longer and
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Speaker 1: expressive silence was observed, and was broken, as before, with
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Speaker 1: due precaution by the same individual. The Mohican is swift
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Speaker 1: afoot and leaps far, he said, But my young men
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Speaker 1: are on his trail. I is he gone, demanded Magua,
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Speaker 1: in tones so deep and guttural that they seemed to
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Speaker 1: proceed from his inmost chest. And spirit has been among us,
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Speaker 1: and the delaware has blinded our eyes. An evil spirit
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Speaker 1: repeated the other mockingly.
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Speaker 3: Test the spirit that has taken the live of so
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Speaker 3: many hurons, the spirit that slew my young man at
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Speaker 3: the tumbling river, that took their scalps at the healing spring,
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Speaker 3: and who has.
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Speaker 2: Now bound the arms and liver a not some kill
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Speaker 2: of whom does my friend speak of, the dog who
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Speaker 2: carries the heart and cutting off a uron under a
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Speaker 2: pale skin. La Lord care being.
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Speaker 1: The pronunciation of so terrible a name, produced the usual
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Speaker 1: effect among his auditors. But when time was given for reflection,
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Speaker 1: and the warriors remembered that the formidable and daring enemy
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Speaker 1: had even been in the bosom of their encampment, working injury,
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Speaker 1: fearful rage took the place of wonder, and all those
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Speaker 1: fierce passions with which the bus of Magua had just
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Speaker 1: been struggling were suddenly transferred to his companions. Some among
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Speaker 1: them gnashed their teeth in anger, others vetted their feelings
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Speaker 1: and yells, and some again beat the air as frantically
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Speaker 1: as if the object of their resentment were suffering under
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Speaker 1: their blows. But this sudden outbreaking of temper as quickly
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Speaker 1: subsided in the still and sullen restraint they most affected
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Speaker 1: in their moments of inaction. Maqua, who had in his
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Speaker 1: turn found leisure for reflection, now changed his manner and
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Speaker 1: assumed the air of one who knew how to think
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Speaker 1: and act with a dignity worthy of so grave a subject.
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Speaker 1: Let us go, my people, he said, they wait for us.
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Speaker 1: His companions consented in silence, and the whole of the
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Speaker 1: Savage party left the cavern and returned to the council lodge.
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Speaker 1: When they were seated, all eyes turned on Maqua, who
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Speaker 1: understood from such an indication that by common consent they
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Speaker 1: had devolved the duty of relating what had passed on him.
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Speaker 1: He arose and told his tale without duplicity or reservation.
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Speaker 1: The whole deception practiced by both Duncan and Hawkeye was
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Speaker 1: of course laid naked, and no room was found, even
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Speaker 1: for the most superstitious of the tribe any longer to
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Speaker 1: affix a doubt on the character of the occurrences. It
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Speaker 1: was but too apparent that they had been insultingly, shamefully,
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Speaker 1: disgracefully deceived. When he had ended and resumed his seat,
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Speaker 1: the collected tribe for his auditors in substance, included all
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Speaker 1: the fighting men of the party, sat regarding each other
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Speaker 1: like men, astonished equally at the audacity and the success
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Speaker 1: of their enemies. The next consideration, however, was the means,
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Speaker 1: means and opportunities for revenge. Additional pursuers were sent on
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Speaker 1: the trail of the fugitives, and then the chiefs applied
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Speaker 1: themselves in earnest to the business of consultation. Many different
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Speaker 1: expedients were proposed by the elder warriors in succession to
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Speaker 1: all of which Maqwell was a silent and respectful listener.
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Speaker 1: The subtle savage had recovered his artifice and self command,
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Speaker 1: and now proceeded toward his object with his customary caution
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Speaker 1: and skill. It was only when each one disposed to
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Speaker 1: speak had uttered his sentiments that he prepared to advance
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Speaker 1: his own opinions. They were given with additional weight from
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Speaker 1: the circumstance that some of the runners had already returned
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Speaker 1: and reported that their enemies had been trace so far
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Speaker 1: as to leave no doubt of their having sought safety
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Speaker 1: in the neighboring camp of their suspected allies. The Delawares.
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Speaker 1: With the advantage of possessing this important intelligence, the chief
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Speaker 1: worthily laid his plans before his fellows, and as might
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Speaker 1: have been anticipated from his eloquence and cunning, they were
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Speaker 1: adopted without a descending voice. They were briefly as follows,
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Speaker 1: both in opinions and in motives. It has already been
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Speaker 1: stated that, in obedience to a policy rarely departed from,
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Speaker 1: the sisters were separated so soon as they reached the
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Speaker 1: Huron village. Mahua had early discovered that in retaining the
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Speaker 1: person of Alice, he possessed the most effectual check on
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Speaker 1: Cora when they parted. Therefore, he kept the former within
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Speaker 1: reach of his hand, consigning the one he most valued
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Speaker 1: to the keeping of their allies. The arrangement was understood
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Speaker 1: to be merely temporary, and was made as much with
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Speaker 1: a view to flatter his neighbors as in obedience of
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Speaker 1: the invariable rule of Indian policy. While goaded incessantly by
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Speaker 1: these revengeful impulses, that in a savage seldom slumber, the
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Speaker 1: chief was still attentive to his more permanent personal interest.
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Speaker 1: The follies and disloyalty committed in his youth were to
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Speaker 1: be expiated by a long and painful penance, ere he
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Speaker 1: could be restored to the full enjoyment of the confidence
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Speaker 1: of his ancient people, and without confidence there could be
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Speaker 1: no authority in an Indian tribe. In this delicate and
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Speaker 1: arduous situation, the crafty native had neglected no means of
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Speaker 1: increasing his influence, and one of the happiest of his
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Speaker 1: expedients had been the success with which he had cultivated
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Speaker 1: the favor of their powerful and dangerous neighbors. The result
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Speaker 1: of this experiment had answered all the expectations of his policy,
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Speaker 1: for the Hurons were in no degree exempt from that
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Speaker 1: governing principle nature which induces man to value his gifts
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Speaker 1: precisely in the degree that they are appreciated by others.
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Speaker 1: But while he was making this ostensible sacrifice to general considerations,
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Speaker 1: Makwall never lost sight of his individual motives. The latter
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Speaker 1: had been frustrated by the unlooked for events which had
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Speaker 1: placed all his prisoners beyond his control, and he now
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Speaker 1: found himself reduced to the necessity of suing for favors
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Speaker 1: to those whom it had so lately been his policy
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Speaker 1: to oblige. Several of the chiefs had proposed deep and
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Speaker 1: treacherous schemes to surprise the Delawares, and by gaining possession
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Speaker 1: of their camp to recover their prisoners by the same blow.
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Speaker 1: For all agreed that their honor, their interest, and the
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Speaker 1: peace and happiness of their dead countrymen imperiously required them
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Speaker 1: speedily to immolate some victims to their revenge. But planned
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Speaker 1: so dangerous to attempt, and of such doubtful issue, Maqua
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Speaker 1: found little difficulty in defeating. He exposed their risk and
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Speaker 1: fallacy with his usual skill, and it was only after
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Speaker 1: he had removed every impediment in the shape of opposing advice,
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Speaker 1: that he ventured to propose his own projects. He commenced
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Speaker 1: by flattering the self love of his auditors, a never
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Speaker 1: failing method of commanding attention. When he had enumerated the
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Speaker 1: many different occasions on which the Hurons had exhibited their
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Speaker 1: courage and prowess in the punishment of insults, he digressed
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Speaker 1: in a high enconium on the virtue of wisdom. He
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Speaker 1: painted the quality as forming the great point of difference
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Speaker 1: between the beaver and other brutes, between the brutes and men,
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Speaker 1: and finally between the Hurons in particular and the rest
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Speaker 1: of the human race. After he had sufficiently extolled the
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Speaker 1: property of discretion, he undertook to exhibit in what manner
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Speaker 1: its use was applicable to the present situation of their tribe.
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Speaker 1: On the one hand, he said, was their great pale father,
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Speaker 1: the governor of the Canadas, who had looked upon his
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Speaker 1: children with a hard eye since their tomahawks had been
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Speaker 1: so read. On the other, a people as numerous as themselves,
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Speaker 1: who spoke a different language, possessed different interest, and loved
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Speaker 1: them not, and who would be glad of any pretense
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Speaker 1: to bring them in disgrace with the great White Chief.
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Speaker 1: Then he spoke of their necessities, of the gifts they
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Speaker 1: had a right to expect for their past services, of
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Speaker 1: their distance from their proper hunting grounds and native villages,
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Speaker 1: and of the necessity of consulting prudence more and inclination
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Speaker 1: less in so critical circumstances. When he perceived that while
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Speaker 1: the old men applauded his moderation, many of the fiercest
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Speaker 1: and most distinguished of the warriors listened to these politic
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Speaker 1: plans with lowering looks, he cunningly led them back to
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Speaker 1: the subject which they most loved. He spoke openly of
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Speaker 1: the fruits of their wisdom, which he boldly pronounced would
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Speaker 1: be a complete and final triumph over their enemies. He
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Speaker 1: even darkly hinted that their success might be extended with
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Speaker 1: proper caution, in such a manner as to include the
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Speaker 1: destruction of all whom they had reason to hate. In short,
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Speaker 1: he soap blended the warlike with the artful, the obvious
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Speaker 1: with the obscure, as to flatter the propensities of both parties,
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Speaker 1: and to leave to each subject of hope, while neither
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Speaker 1: could say it clearly comprehended his intentions. The orator or
18:53
Speaker 1: the politician, who can produce such a state of things
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Speaker 1: is commonly popular with his contemporaries. However he may be
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Speaker 1: treated by posterity. All perceived that more was meant than
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Speaker 1: was uttered, and each one believed that the hidden meaning
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Speaker 1: was precisely such as his own faculties enabled him to understand,
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Speaker 1: or his own wishes led him to anticipate. In this
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Speaker 1: happy state of things, it is not surprising that the
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Speaker 1: management of Makua prevailed. The tribe consented to act with deliberation,
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Speaker 1: and with one voice. They committed the direction of the
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Speaker 1: whole affair to the government of the chief, who had
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Speaker 1: suggested such wise and intelligible expedients. Makua had now attained
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Speaker 1: one great object of all his cunning and enterprise. The
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Speaker 1: ground he had lost in the favor of his people
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Speaker 1: was completely regained, and he found himself even placed at
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Speaker 1: the head of affairs. He was, in truth their ruar,
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Speaker 1: and so long as he could maintain his popularity, no
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Speaker 1: monarch could be more despotic, especially while the tribe continued
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Speaker 1: in a hostile territory. Throwing off therefore the appearance of consultation,
20:15
Speaker 1: he assumed the grave air of authority necessary to support
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Speaker 1: the dignity of his office. Runners were dispatched for intelligence
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Speaker 1: in different directions. Spies were ordered to approach and feel
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Speaker 1: the encampment of the Delawares. The warriors were dismissed to
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Speaker 1: their lodges with an intimation that their services would soon
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Speaker 1: be needed, and the women and children were ordered to retire,
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Speaker 1: with a warning that it was their province to be silent.
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Speaker 1: When these several arrangements were made, Magua passed through the village,
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Speaker 1: stopping here and there to pay a visit where he
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Speaker 1: thought his presence might be flattering to the individual. He
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Speaker 1: confirmed his friends in their confidence, fixed the wavering, and
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Speaker 1: gratified all. Then he sought his own lodge the wife
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Speaker 1: the Huron chief had abandoned when he was chased from
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Speaker 1: Among his people was dead children. He had none, and
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Speaker 1: he now occupied a hut without companion of any sort.
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Speaker 1: It was, in fact the dilapidated and solitary structure in
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Speaker 1: which David had been discovered, and whom he had tolerated
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Speaker 1: in his presence on those very few occasions when they
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Speaker 1: met with the contemptuous indifference of haughty superiority. Hither then,
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Speaker 1: Makwell retired when his labors of policy were ended, while
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Speaker 1: others slept. However, he neither knew or sought repose. Had
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Speaker 1: there been one sufficiently curious to have watched the movements
21:54
Speaker 1: of the newly elected chief, he would have seen him
21:57
Speaker 1: seated in a corner of his lodge, musing on the
22:01
Speaker 1: subject of his future plans, from the hour of his
22:04
Speaker 1: retirement to the time he had appointed for the warriors
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Speaker 1: to assemble again. Occasionally, the air breathed through the crevices
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Speaker 1: of the hut, and the low flame that fluttered about
22:16
Speaker 1: the members of the fire threw their wavering light on
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Speaker 1: the person of the sullen recluse. At such moments, it
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Speaker 1: would not have been difficult to have fancied the dusky savage,
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Speaker 1: the prince of Darkness, brooding on his own, fancied wrongs
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Speaker 1: and plotting evil. Long before the day dawned. However, warrior
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Speaker 1: after warrior entered the solitary hut of Magua, until they
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Speaker 1: had collected to the number of twenty. Each bore his
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Speaker 1: rifle and all the other accouterments of war. Though the
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Speaker 1: paint was uniformly peaceful, the entrance of these fierce looking
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Speaker 1: beings was unnoticed, some seating themselves in the shadows of
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Speaker 1: the place, and others standing like motionless statues, until the
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Speaker 1: whole of the designated band was collected. Then Magwell arose
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Speaker 1: and gave the signal to proceed, marching himself in advance.
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Speaker 1: They followed their leaders singly and in that well known
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Speaker 1: order which has obtained the distinguished appellation of Indian file.
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Speaker 1: Unlike other men engaged in the spirit stirring business of war,
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Speaker 1: they stole from their camp unostentatiously and unobserved, resembling a
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Speaker 1: band of gliding specters more than warriors, seeking the bubble
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Speaker 1: reputation by deeds of desperate daring. Instead of taking the
23:39
Speaker 1: path which led directly toward the camp, of the Delawares.
23:43
Speaker 1: Magua led his party for some distance down the windings
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Speaker 1: of the stream and along the little artificial lake of
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Speaker 1: the beavers. The day began to dawn as they entered
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Speaker 1: the clearing which had been formed by those sagacious and
23:55
Speaker 1: industrious animals. The Maqua, who had resumed his ancient garb,
24:00
Speaker 1: bore the outline of a fox on the dressed skin
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Speaker 1: which formed his robe. There was one chief of his
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Speaker 1: party who carried the beaver as his peculiar symbol or totem.
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Speaker 1: There would have been a species of profanity in the
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Speaker 1: omission had this man passed so powerful a community of
24:18
Speaker 1: his fancy kindred without bestowing some evidence of his regard. Accordingly,
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Speaker 1: he paused and spoke in words as kind and friendly
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Speaker 1: as if he were addressing more intelligent beings. He called
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Speaker 1: the animals his cousins, and reminded them that his protecting
24:36
Speaker 1: influence was the reason they remained unharmed while many avaricious
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Speaker 1: traders were prompting the Indians to take their lives. He
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Speaker 1: promised a continuance of his favors and admonished them to
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Speaker 1: be grateful, after which he spoke of the expedition in
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Speaker 1: which he was himself engaged and intimated, though with sufficient
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Speaker 1: delicacy and circumlocution, the expediency of bestowing on their relative
25:02
Speaker 1: a portion of that wisdom for which they were so renowned. Footnote.
25:07
Speaker 1: These harangues of the beasts were frequent among the Indians.
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Speaker 1: They often addressed their victims in this way, reproaching them
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Speaker 1: for cowardice or commending their resolution as they may happen
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Speaker 1: to exhibit fortitude, or the reverse in suffering end footnote.
25:24
Speaker 1: During the utterance of this extraordinary address, the companions of
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Speaker 1: the speaker were as grave and as attentive to his language,
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Speaker 1: as though they were all equally impressed with its propriety.
25:35
Speaker 1: Once or twice black objects were seen rising to the
25:38
Speaker 1: surface of the water, and the huron express pleasure, conceiving
25:42
Speaker 1: that his words were not bestowed in vain. Just as
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Speaker 1: he ended his address, the head of a large beaver
25:50
Speaker 1: was thrust from the door of a lodge whose earthen
25:52
Speaker 1: walls had been much injured, and which the party had believed,
25:56
Speaker 1: from its situation to be uninhabited. Such an extra extraordinary
26:00
Speaker 1: sign of confidence was received by the orator as a
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Speaker 1: highly favorable omen, and though the animal retreated a little precipitately,
26:10
Speaker 1: he was lavish on his thanks and commendations. When Makua
26:14
Speaker 1: thought sufficient time had been lost in gratifying the family
26:17
Speaker 1: affection of the warrior, he again made the signal to proceed.
26:22
Speaker 1: As the Indians moved away in a body, and with
26:25
Speaker 1: a step that would have been inaudible to the ears
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Speaker 1: of any common man, the same venerable looking beaver once
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Speaker 1: more ventured his head from its cover. Had any of
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Speaker 1: the Hurons turned to look behind them, they would have
26:38
Speaker 1: seen the animal watching their movements with an interest and
26:42
Speaker 1: sagacity that might easily have been mistaken for reason. Indeed,
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Speaker 1: so very distinct and intelligible were the devices of the
26:50
Speaker 1: quadruped that even the most experienced observer would have been
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Speaker 1: at a loss to account for its actions until the
26:59
Speaker 1: moment when the part entered the forest, when the whole
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Speaker 1: would have been explained by seeing the entire animal issue
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Speaker 1: from the lodge, uncasing by the act the grave features
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Speaker 1: of Chinchkotchkook from his mask of fur. End of chapter
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Speaker 1: twenty seven