Последний из Могикан
Chapter 9
Toyou,Cora,Iwillurgenowordsofidleencouragement;yourownfortitudeandundisturbedreasonwillteachyouallthatmaybecomeyoursex;butcannotwedrythetearsofthattremblingweeperonyourbosom?"
"Iamcalmer,Duncan,"saidAlice,raisingherselffromthearmsofhersister,andforcinganappearanceofcomposurethroughhertears;"muchcalmer,now.Surely,inthishiddenspotwearesafe,wearesecret,freefrominjury;wewillhopeeverythingfromthosegenerousmenwhohaveriskedsomuchalreadyinourbehalf."
"NowdoesourgentleAlicespeaklikeadaughterofMunro!"saidHeyward,pausingtopressherhandashepassedtowardstheouterentranceofthecavern."Withtwosuchexamplesofcouragebeforehim,amanwouldbeashamedtoproveotherthanahero."Hethenseatedhimselfinthecentreofthecavern,graspinghisremainingpistolwithahandconvulsivelyclenched,whilehiscontractedandfrowningeyeannouncedthesullendesperationofhispurpose."TheHurons,iftheycome,maynotgainourpositionsoeasilyastheythink,"helowlymuttered;anddroppinghisheadbackagainsttherock,heseemedtoawaittheresultinpatience,thoughhisgazewasunceasinglybentontheopenavenuetotheirplaceofretreat.
Withthelastsoundofhisvoice,adeep,along,andalmostbreathlesssilencesucceeded.Thefreshairofthemorninghadpenetratedtherecess,anditsinfluencewasgraduallyfeltonthespiritsofitsinmates.
