Последний из Могикан
Chapter 20
AstheHurons,toeveryappearance,hadabandonedthepursuit,therewasnoapparentreasonforthisexcessofcaution.Itwas,however,maintainedforhours,untiltheyhadreachedabay,nighthenorthernterminationofthelake.Herethecanoewasdrivenuponthebeach,andthewholepartylanded.HawkeyeandHeywardascendedanadjacentbluff,wheretheformer,afterconsideringtheexpanseofwaterbeneathhim,pointedouttothelatterasmallblackobject,hoveringunderaheadland,atthedistanceofseveralmiles.
"Doyouseeit?"demandedthescout."Now,whatwouldyouaccountthatspot,wereyouleftalonetowhiteexperiencetofindyourwaythroughthiswilderness?"
"Butforitsdistanceanditsmagnitude,Ishouldsupposeitabird.Canitbealivingobject?"
"’Tisacanoeofgoodbirchenbark,andpaddledbyfierceandcraftyMingos.ThoughProvidencehaslenttothosewhoinhabitthewoodseyesthatwouldbeneedlesstomeninthesettlements,wherethereareinventionstoassistthesight,yetnohumanorganscanseeallthedangerswhichatthismomentcircumventus.Thesevarletspretendtobebentchieflyontheirsun-downmeal,butthemomentitisdarktheywillbeonourtrail,astrueashoundsonthescent.Wemustthrowthemoff,orourpursuitofLeRenardSubtilmaybegivenup.Theselakesareusefulattimes,especiallywhenthegametakesthewater,"continuedthescout,gazingabouthimwithacountenanceofconcern;"buttheygivenocover,exceptitbetothefishes.
