Последний из Могикан
Chapter 23
Afewminuteswereconsumedindisposingofthosepresentinamannersuitabletotheirrankandinfluenceinthetribe.Anorderverysimilartothatadoptedintheprecedinginterviewwasobserved;theagedandsuperiorchiefsoccupyingtheareaofthespaciousapartment,withinthepowerfullightofaglaringtorch,whiletheirjuniorsandinferiorswerearrangedinthebackground,presentingadarkoutlineofswarthyandmarkedvisages.Intheverycentreofthelodge,immediatelyunderanopeningthatadmittedthetwinklinglightofoneortwostars,stoodUncas,calm,elevated,andcollected.Hishighandhaughtycarriagewasnotlostonhiscaptors,whooftenbenttheirlooksonhisperson,witheyeswhich,whiletheylostnoneoftheirinflexibilityofpurpose,plainlybetrayedtheiradmirationofthestranger’sdaring.
ThecasewasdifferentwiththeindividualwhomDuncanhadobservedtostandforthwithhisfriend,previouslytothedesperatetrialofspeed;andwho,insteadofjoininginthechase,hadremained,throughoutitsturbulentuproar,likeacringingstatue,expressiveofshameanddisgrace.Thoughnotahandhadbeenextendedtogreethim,noryetaneyehadcondescendedtowatchhismovements,hehadalsoenteredthelodge,asthoughimpelledbyafatetowhosedecreeshesubmitted,seemingly,withoutastruggle.
