Последний из Могикан
Chapter 17
Inthemeantimethedayhaddawned,andwhenthelineoftheFrencharmywasreadytoreceiveitsgeneral,theraysofabrilliantsunwereglancingalongtheglitteringarray.Thenthatsuccess,whichwasalreadysowellknown,wasofficiallyannounced;thefavoredbandwhowereselectedtoguardthegatesofthefortweredetailed,anddefiledbeforetheirchief;thesignaloftheirapproachwasgiven,andalltheusualpreparationsforachangeofmasterswereorderedandexecuteddirectlyunderthegunsofthecontestedworks.
AverydifferentscenepresenteditselfwithinthelinesoftheAnglo-Americanarmy.Assoonasthewarningsignalwasgiven,itexhibitedallthesignsofahurriedandforceddeparture.Thesullensoldiersshoulderedtheiremptytubesandfellintotheirplaces,likemenwhosebloodhadbeenheatedbythepastcontest,andwhoonlydesiredtheopportunitytorevengeanindignitywhichwasstillwoundingtotheirpride,concealedasitwasunderalltheobservancesofmilitaryetiquette.Womenandchildrenranfromplacetoplace,somebearingthescantyremnantsoftheirbaggage,andotherssearchingintheranksforthosecountenancestheylookeduptoforprotection.
Munroappearedamonghissilenttroopsfirmbutdejected.Itwasevidentthattheunexpectedblowhadstruckdeepintohisheart,thoughhestruggledtosustainhismisfortunewiththeportofman.
Duncanwastouchedatthequietandimpressiveexhibitionofhisgrief.
