he was not altogether insensible to the pleasure of proving the
superiority of his race by solving the difficulty, which he set about
doing in his own peculiar manner. "Harkee, Sarpent," he continued more
gravely, though too simply for affectation; "this is easierly explained
than an Indian brain may fancy. The sun, while he seems to keep
traveling in the heavens, never budges, but it is the 'arth that turns
round, and any one can understand, if he is placed on the side of a
mill-wheel, for instance, when it's in motion, that he must some times
see the heavens, while he is at other times under water. There's no
great secret in that; but plain natur'; the difficulty being in setting
the 'arth in motion."

"How does my brother know that the earth turns round?" demanded the
Indian. "Can he see it?"

"Well, that's been a puzzler, I will own, Delaware, for I've often
tried, but never could fairly make it out. Sometimes I've consaited that
I could; and then ag'in, I've been obliged to own it an onpossibility.
Howsever, turn it does, as all my people say, and you ought to believe
'em, since they can foretell eclipses, and other prodigies, that used
to fill the tribes with terror, according to your own traditions of such
things."

"Good. This is true; no red man will deny it. When a wheel turns, my
eyes can see it--they do not see the earth turn."

"Ay, that's what I call sense obstinacy! Seeing is believing, they say,
and what they can't see, some men won't in the least give credit to.
Neverthless, chief, that isn't quite as good reason as it mayat first
seem. You believe in the Great Spirit, I know, and yet, I conclude, it
would puzzle you to show where you see him!"

"Chingachgook can see Him everywhere--everywhere in good things-the Evil
Spirit in bad. Here, in the lake; there, in the forest; yonder, in the
clouds; in Hist, in the Son of Uncas, in Tannemund, in Deerslayer. The
Evil Spirit is in the Mingos. That I see; I do not see the earth turn
round."

"I don't wonder they call you the Sarpent, Delaware; no, I don't!
There's always a meaning in your words, and there's often a meaning in
your countenance, too! Notwithstanding, your answers doesn't quite meet
my idee. That God is observable in all nat'ral objects is allowable, but
then he is not perceptible in the way I mean. You know there is a Great
Spirit by his works, and the pale-faces know that the 'arth turns round
by its works. This is the reason of the matte