IV.

The officer replied that[1] he would rather lose his own life than take away that of his deliverer. The Indian, bending[2] down his (S. 43, N. 9, _A_) head, _and_ covering his face with both _his_ hands, stood[3] some time silent. Then, looking[4] earnestly at his prisoner, he[5] said, in a voice that was at once softened by tenderness and grief: “Hast thou a father?” “My father,” said the young man, “was[6] alive when I left my country[7].” “Alas!” said[8] the Indian, “how wretched[9] must he be!” He paused[10] a moment, and then added: “Dost thou know that[11] I have been a father? I[12] am a father no more. I saw my son fall in[13] battle. He fought at my side. I saw him expire. He was covered with wounds, when he fell[14] dead at my feet.”

[1] that — deliverer = that he would rather die than kill his deliverer. See App. §§ 28 and 30.

[2] The two Participles in -ing are best rendered by using the Imperfect.

[3] stood — silent, +und stand so eine Weile schweigend da+.

[4] Say ‘Upon this (+Hierauf+) he looked’, etc.

[5] he — grief, +und fragte mit von Zärtlichkeit und Kummer gedämpfter Stimme+.

[6] +war noch am Leben.+

[7] +Heimat+, f.

[8] exclaimed.

[9] unhappy.

[10] +zögern+, i.e. to hesitate.

[11] +daß auch ich einst Vater war?+

[12] Say ‘But now I (App. § 14) am it no more’.

[13] We use here the def. art.

[14] +nie´derfallen.+

_Section 45._

THE INDIAN CHIEF.