The Deerslayer (Barnes & Noble Classics) - James Fenimore Cooper [258]
“My ears are open,” returned the Delaware, gravely; “the words of my brother have entered so far that they never can fall out again. They are like rings that have no end, and cannot drop. Let him speak on; the song of the wren and the voice of a friend never tire.”
“I will speak a little longer, chief, but you will excuse it for the sake of old companionship, should I now talk about myself. If the worst comes to the worst, it’s not likely there’ll be much left of me but ashes; so a grave would be useless, and a sort of vanity. On that score I’m no way partic‘lar, though it might be well enough to take a look at the remains of the pile, and should any bones or pieces be found, ’twould be more decent to gather them together and bury them than to let them lie for the wolves to gnaw at and howl over. These matters can make no great difference in the ind, but men of white blood and Christian feelin’s have rather a gift for graves.”
“It shall be done as my brother says,” returned the Indian, gravely. “If his mind is full let him empty it in the bosom of a friend.”
“Thank you, Sarpent; my mind’s easy enough; yes, it’s tolerable easy. Idees will come uppermost that I’m not apt to think about in common, it’s true; but by striving ag‘in some, and lettin’ others come out, all will be right in the long run. There’s one thing, howsever, chief, that does seem to be onreasonable, and ag’in natur‘, though the missionaries say it’s true; and bein’ of my religion and color, I feel bound to believe them. They say an Injin may torment and tortur’ the body to the heart’s content, and scalp, and cut, and tear, and burn, and consume all his inventions and diviltries, until nothin’ is left but ashes, and they shall be scattered to the four winds of heaven, yet, when the trumpet of God shall sound, all will come together ag’in, and the man will stand forth in his flesh the same creatur’ as to looks, if not to feelin’s, that he was afore he was harmed!”
“The missionaries are good men; they mean well,” returned the Delaware, courteously; “they are not great medicines. They think all they say, Deerslayer; that is no reason why warriors and orators should be all ears. When Chingachgook shall see the father of Tamenund standing in his scalp, and paint, and warlock, then will he believe the missionaries.”
“Seein’ is believin‘, of a sartainty—ah’s me! and some of us may see these things sooner than we thought. I comprehend your meanin’ about Tamenund’s father, Sarpent, and the idee’s a close idee. Tamenund is now an elderly man, say eighty, every day of it; and his father was scalped, and tormented, and burnt when the present prophet was a youngster. Yes, if one could see that come to pass, there wouldn’t be much difficulty in yieldin’ faith to all that the missionaries say. Howsever, I’m not ag’in the opinion now; for you must know, Sarpent, that the great principle of Christianity is to believe without seeing; and a man should always act up to his religion and principles, let them be what they may.”
“That is strange for a wise nation,” said the Delaware, with emphasis. “The redman looks hard, that he may see and understand.”
“Yes, that’s plauserable and is agreeable to mortal pride; but it’s not as deep as it seems. If we could understand all we see, Sarpent, there might be not only sense, but safety, in refusin’ to give faith to any one thing that we might find oncomprehensible; but when there’s so many things about which it may be said we know nothing at all, why, there’s little use and no reason in bein’ difficult touchin’ any one in partic‘lar. For my part, Delaware, all my thoughts haven’t been on the game, when outlyin’ in the hunts and scoutin’s of our youth. Many’s the hour