German composition

Section 44 The Indian Chief. — IV

The officer replied that⁠1 he would rather lose his own life than take away that of his deliverer. The Indian, bending⁠2 down his (S. 43, N. 9, A) head, and covering his face with both his hands, stood⁠3 some time silent. Then, looking⁠4 earnestly at his prisoner, he⁠5 said, in a voice that was at once softened by tenderness and grief: “Hast thou a father?” “My father,” said the young man, “was⁠6 alive when I left my country⁠7.” “Alas!” said⁠8 the Indian, “how wretched⁠9 must he be!” He paused⁠10 a moment, and then added: “Dost thou know that⁠11 I have been a father? I⁠12 am a father no more. I saw my son fall in⁠13 battle. He fought at my side. I saw him expire. He was covered with wounds, when he fell⁠14 dead at my feet.”

Notes

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.