 did n't go, and no part of
your speech would be likely to come from me; so, you see, Sarpent, reason is
ag'in you, and you may as well give it up, since to hold out ag'in reason, is no
way becoming a chief of your character and repitation.«
    »My brother is not himself; he forgets that he is talking to one who has sat
at the Council Fire of his nation,« returned the other kindly. »When men speak,
they should say that which does not go in at one side of the head and out at the
other. Their words should n't be feathers, so light that a wind which does not
ruffle the water, can blow them away. He has not answered my question; when a
chief puts a question, his friend should not talk of other things.«
    »I understand you, Delaware; I understand well enough what you mean, and
truth won't allow me to say otherwise. Still it's not as easy to answer as you
seem to think, for this plain reason. You wish me to say what I would do if I
had a betrothed as you have, here, on the lake, and a fri'nd yonder in the Huron
camp, in danger of the torments. That's it, is n't it?«
    The Indian bowed his head silently, and always with unmoved gravity, though
his eye twinkled at the sight of the other's embarrassment.
    »Well, I never had a betrothed - never had the kind of feelin's toward any
young woman, that you have towards Hist, though the Lord knows my feelin's are
kind enough towards 'em all! - still my heart, as they call it, in such matters,
is n't touched, and therefore I can't say what I would do. A fri'nd pulls
strong, that I know by exper'ence, Sarpent, but, by all that I've seen and heard
consarning love, I'm led to think that a betrothed pulls stronger.«
    »True; but the betrothed of Chingachgook does not pull towards the lodges of
the Delawares; she pulls towards the camp of the Hurons.«
    »She's a noble gal, for all her little feet, and hands that an't bigger than
a child's, and a voice that is as pleasant as a mocker's; she's a noble gal, and
like the stock of her
