far parted, 
as to announce that it was the monody of the father. 
Though not an eye was turned toward him, nor the smallest 
sign of  exhibited, it was apparent, by the man- 
ner in which the multitude elevated their heads to listen, 
that they drank in the sounds with an intentness of atten- 
tion, that none but Tamenund himself had ever before com- 
manded. But they listened in vain. The strains rose just 
so loud as to become intelligible, and then grew fainter and 
more trembling, until they finally sank on the ear, as if 



THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS 433 

borne away by a passing breath of wind. The lips of the 
Sagamore closed, and he remained silent in his seat, looking 
with his riveted eye and motionless form, like some creature 
that had been turned from the Almighty hand with the 
form, but without the  of a man. The Delawares, who 
knew by these symptoms that the mind of their friend was 
not prepared for so mighty an effort of fortitude, relaxed in 
their attention ; and, with an innate delicacy, seemed to be- 
stow all their thoughts on the obsequies of the stranger 
maiden. 

A signal was given, by one of the elder chiefs, to the women, 
who crowded that part of the circle near which