Section 44. The Indian Chief. IV

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

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

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

stood — silent, und stand so eine Weile schweigend da.

Say ‘Upon this (Hierauf) he looked’, etc.

he — grief, und fragte mit von Zärtlichkeit und Kummer gedämpfter Stimme.

war noch am Leben.

Heimat, f.

exclaimed.

unhappy.

zögern, i.e. to hesitate.

daß auch ich einst Vater war?

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

We use here the def. art.

nie´derfallen.