Последний из Могикан
Chapter 1
"Thisbeast,Iratherconclude,friend,isnotofhomeraising,butisfromforeignlands,orperhapsfromthelittleislanditselfoverthebluewater?"hesaid,inavoiceasremarkableforthesoftnessandsweetnessofitstones,aswashispersonforitsrareproportions:"Imayspeakofthesethings,andbenobraggart;forIhavebeendownatbothhavens;thatwhichissituateatthemouthofThames,andisnamedafterthecapitalofOldEngland,andthatwhichiscalled‘Haven,’withtheadditionoftheword‘New’;andhaveseenthesnowsandbrigantinescollectingtheirdroves,likethegatheringtotheark,beingoutwardboundtotheIslandofJamaica,forthepurposeofbarterandtrafficinfour-footedanimals;butneverbeforehaveIbeheldabeastwhichverifiedthetrueScripturewar-horselikethis:‘Hepawethinthevalley,andrejoicethinhisstrength:hegoethontomeetthearmedmen.Hesaithamongthetrumpets,Ha,ha;andhesmelleththebattleafaroff,thethunderofthecaptains,andtheshouting.’ItwouldseemthatthestockofthehorseofIsraelhasdescendedtoourowntime;woulditnot,friend?"
Receivingnoreplytothisextraordinaryappeal,whichintruth,asitwasdeliveredwiththevigoroffullandsonoroustones,meritedsomesortofnotice,hewhohadthussungforththelanguageoftheHolyBookturnedtothesilentfiguretowhomhehadunwittinglyaddressedhimself,andfoundanewandmorepowerfulsubjectofadmirationintheobjectthatencounteredhisgaze.
