Последний из Могикан
Chapter 7
Iamnomortal,iftheriskydevilshaven’tswamdownupontheverypitch,and,asbadluckwouldhaveit,theyhavehittheheadoftheisland.Hist!man,keepclose!orthehairwillbeoffyourcrownintheturningofaknife!"
Heywardliftedhisheadfromthecover,andbeheldwhathejustlyconsideredaprodigyofrashnessandskill.Theriverhadwornawaytheedgeofthesoftrockinsuchamanner,astorenderitsfirstpitchlessabruptandperpendicularthanisusualatwaterfalls.Withnootherguidethantherippleofthestreamwhereitmettheheadoftheisland,apartyoftheirinsatiablefoeshadventuredintothecurrent,andswamdownuponthispoint,knowingthereadyaccessitwouldgive,ifsuccessful,totheirintendedvictims.AsHawkeyeceasedspeaking,fourhumanheadscouldbeseenpeeringaboveafewlogsofdrift-woodthathadlodgedonthesenakedrocks,andwhichhadprobablysuggestedtheideaofthepracticabilityofthehazardousundertaking.Atthenextmoment,afifthformwasseenfloatingoverthegreenedgeofthefall,alittlefromthelineoftheisland.Thesavagestruggledpowerfullytogainthepointofsafety,and,favoredbytheglancingwater,hewasalreadystretchingforthanarmtomeetthegraspofhiscompanions,whenheshotawayagainwiththewhirlingcurrent,appearedtoriseintotheair,withupliftedarmsandstartingeyeballs,andfell,withasullenplunge,intothatdeepandyawningabyssoverwhichhehovered.Asingle,wild,despairingshriekrosefromthecavern,andallwashushedagain,asthegrave.
