"  Give  us  arms,"  the  young  man  haughtily  replied,
"  and  place  us  in  yonder  woods.  Our  deeds  shall  speak
for  us !  "

"  This  is  the  warrior  whose  name  has  filled  our  ears !  "
returned  the  chief,  regarding  Hey  ward  with  that  sort  of
curious  interest  which  seems  inseparable  from  man,  when
first  beholding  one  of  his  fellows  to  whom  merit  or  acci-
dent, virtue  or  crime,  has  given  notoriety.  "  What  has
brought  the  white  man  into  the  camp  of  the  Delawares?  '

"  My  necessities.  I  come  for  food,  shelter,  and
friends."

"  It  cannot  be.  The  woods  are  full  of  game.  The  head
of  a  warrior  needs  no  other  shelter  than  a  sky  without
clouds;  and  the  Delawares  are  the  enemies,  and  not  the
friends,  of  the  Yengeese.  Go!  the  mouth  has  spoken,
while  the  heart  said  nothing."

Duncan,  a  little  at  a  loss  in  what  manner  to  proceed,


The  Last  of  the  Mohicans  441

remained  silent;  but  the  scout,  who  had  listened  atten-
tively to  all  that  passed,  now  advanced  steadily  to  the
front.
