German composition

Section 44. THE INDIAN CHIEF. IV.

Reading edition

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.”

Notes in this chapter

Note 9 · A. The definite article is often used instead of the possessive adjective pronoun in cases where the possessor is clearly seen from the cont Note 1 · that — deliverer = that he would rather die than kill his deliverer. See App. §§ 28 and 30.Note 2 · The two Participles in -ing are best rendered by using the Imperfect.Note 3 · stood — silent, und stand so eine Weile schweigend da.Note 4 · Say ‘Upon this (Hierauf) he looked’, etc.Note 5 · he — grief, und fragte mit von Zärtlichkeit und Kummer gedämpfter Stimme.Note 6 · war noch am Leben.Note 7 · Heimat, f.Note 8 · exclaimed.Note 9 · unhappy.Note 10 · zögern, i.e. to hesitate.Note 11 · daß auch ich einst Vater war?Note 12 · Say ‘But now I (App. § 14) am it no more’.Note 13 · We use here the def. art.Note 14 · nie´derfallen.