Последний из Могикан
Chapter 17
Themanstarted;hisarmsrattledheavily,ashethrewthemforward,inthelowestandmostrespectfulsalute;andwhenhehadagainrecoveredhispiece,heturnedtowalkhispost,mutteringbetweenhisteeth—
"Ilfautêtrevigilant,envérité!jecroisquenousavonslà,uncaporalquinedortjamais!"
Theofficerproceeded,withoutaffectingtohearthewordswhichescapedthesentinelinhissurprise;nordidheagainpauseuntilhehadreachedthelowstrand,andinasomewhatdangerousvicinitytothewesternwaterbastionofthefort.Thelightofanobscuremoonwasjustsufficienttorenderobjects,thoughdim,perceptibleintheiroutlines.He,therefore,tooktheprecautiontoplacehimselfagainstthetrunkofatree,whereheleanedformanyminutes,andseemedtocontemplatethedarkandsilentmoundsoftheEnglishworksinprofoundattention.Hisgazeattherampartswasnotthatofacuriousoridlespectator;buthislookswanderedfrompointtopoint,denotinghisknowledgeofmilitaryusages,andbetrayingthathissearchwasnotunaccompaniedbydistrust.Atlengthheappearedsatisfied;andhavingcasthiseyesimpatientlyupwardstowardsthesummitoftheeasternmountain,asifanticipatingtheapproachofthemorning,hewasintheactofturningonhisfootsteps,whenalightsoundonthenearestangleofthebastioncaughthisear,andinducedhimtoremain.
Justthenafigurewasseentoapproachtheedgeoftherampart,whereitstood,apparentlycontemplatinginitsturnthedistanttentsoftheFrenchencampment.
