Последний из Могикан
Chapter 18
Deeplyregrettingthisweaknessonthepartofasistermuse,weshallatonceretirefromhersacredprecincts,withintheproperlimitsofourownhumblevocation.
Thethirddayfromthecaptureofthefortwasdrawingtoaclose,butthebusinessofthenarrativemuststilldetainthereaderontheshoresofthe"holylake."Whenlastseen,theenvironsoftheworkswerefilledwithviolenceanduproar.Theywerenowpossessedbystillnessanddeath.Theblood-stainedconquerorshaddeparted;andtheircamp,whichhadsolatelyrungwiththemerryrejoicingsofavictoriousarmy,layasilentanddesertedcityofhuts.Thefortresswasasmoulderingruin;charredrafters,fragmentsofexplodedartillery,andrentmason-work,coveringitsearthenmoundsinconfuseddisorder.
Afrightfulchangehadalsooccurredintheseason.Thesunhadhiditswarmthbehindanimpenetrablemassofvapor,andhundredsofhumanforms,whichhadblackenedbeneaththefierceheatsofAugust,werestiffeningintheirdeformity,beforetheblastsofaprematureNovember.Thecurlingandspotlessmists,whichhadbeenseensailingabovethehillstowardsthenorth,werenowreturninginaninterminableduskysheet,thatwasurgedalongbythefuryofatempest.ThecrowdedmirroroftheHoricanwasgone;and,initsplace,thegreenandangrywaterslashedtheshores,asifindignantlycastingbackitsimpuritiestothepollutedstrand.Stilltheclearfountainretainedaportionofitscharmedinfluence,butitreflectedonlythesombregloomthatfellfromtheimpendingheavens.
