Prevod
Ime Moodua se je prek oblik Murdy's in Moodna razvilo iz imena Murderer's Creek; njegovo današnje brezizrazno ime mu je dal N. P. Willis. Na njegovem bregu je živel neki Murdock z ženo, dvema sinovoma in hčerjo; ob večerih je v njihovo kočo pogosto prihajal Naoman, bojevnik iz sosednjega plemena, ljubkoval otroke in užival gozdarjevo gostoljubje. Nekega dne je deklica v gozdu našla puščico, ovito v kačjo kožo in s krokarjevim peresom na konici; nato je deček našel sekirico, ki je na lasu visela z veje nad vrati; zatem so se v goščavi za hip zabliskale zlobne oči. Ko je prišel Naoman, je bil zadržan in mrk; spregovoril je le toliko, da je družino posvaril, naj še tisto noč pobegne. Ko je vse utihnilo, se je ogrožena družina tiho, a naglo odpravila na breg Hudsona in se vkrcala v čoln, namenjen v Fisher's Kill na drugi strani reke.
Veter je pojenjal in njihov čoln se je le mukoma premikal; ko je iz sence otoka Pollopel's Island švignil kanu, ki ga je poganjalo dvanajst mož, so ljudem v čolnu srca upadla od obupa. Žena je že hotela skočiti v vodo, a jo je Murdock potegnil nazaj; nato je polnil puško in streljal, kolikor hitro je mogel, ter pokončal šest zasledovalcev. Toda kanu so divje gnali naprej in že čez minuto so bili vsi člani družine nemočni ujetniki. Ko so njihov čoln odvlekli nazaj, so ujetnike odgnali skozi gozd na čistino, kjer so najuglednejši člani plemena sedeli na posvetu.
Poglavar je vstal, zgrabil ženo za zlate lase, izvlekel nož in zavpil: »Povej nam, kateri Indijanec vas je posvaril in izdal svoje pleme, sicer boš na lastne oči gledala, kako krvavijo tvoj mož in otroci.« Žena ni izustila niti besede, čez nekaj časa pa je Naoman vstal in rekel: »Jaz sem bil.« Nato se je ogrnil z odejo in pokleknil, da bi ga usmrtili. Sekira mu je razklala lobanjo. Opiti od pogleda na kri so se Indijanci pognali nad ujetnike in jih drugega za drugim pobili. Ujetniki se niso umikali niti prosili milosti, temveč so dočakali svoj konec s hvalnicami na ustnicah; ko je eden izmed napadalcev videl, da lahko tako sprejmejo smrt, je spustil roko in pri priči postal kristjan. Kočo so požgali, trupla vrgli v potok in še dolga leta je bilo v Murderer's Creek videti krvavi madež.
Izvirnik
Moodua is an evolution, through Murdy's and Moodna, from Murderer's Creek, its present inexpressive name having been given to it by N. P. Willis. One Murdock lived on its shore with his wife, two sons, and a daughter; and often in the evening Naoman, a warrior of a neighboring tribe, came to the cabin, caressed the children, and shared the woodman's hospitality. One day the little girl found in the forest an arrow wrapped in snake-skin and tipped with crow's feather; then the boy found a hatchet hanging by a hair from a bough above the door; then a glare of evil eyes was caught for an instant in a thicket. Naoman, when he came, was reserved and stern, finding voice only to warn the family to fly that night; so, when all was still, the threatened family made its way softly, but quickly, to the Hudson shore, and embarked for Fisher's Kill, across the river.
The wind lagged and their boat drew heavily, and when, from the shade of Pollopel's Island, a canoe swept out, propelled by twelve men, the hearts of the people in the boat sank in despair. The wife was about to leap over, but Murdock drew her back; then, loading and firing as fast as possible, he laid six of his pursuers low; but the canoe was savagely urged forward, and in another minute every member of the family was a helpless captive. When the skiff had been dragged back, the prisoners were marched through the wood to an open spot where the principal members of the tribe sat in council.
The sachem arose, twisted his hands in the woman's golden hair, bared his knife, and cried, “Tell us what Indian warned you and betrayed his tribe, or you shall see husband and children bleed before your eyes.” The woman answered never a word, but after a little Naoman arose and said, “'Twas I;” then drew his blanket about him and knelt for execution. An axe cleft his skull. Drunk with the sight of blood, the Indians rushed upon the captives and slew them, one by one. The prisoners neither shrank nor cried for mercy, but met their end with hymns upon their lips, and, seeing that they could so meet death, one member of the band let fall his arm and straight became a Christian. The cabin was burned, the bodies flung into the stream, and the stain of blood was seen for many a year in Murderer's Creek.
