Последний из Могикан
Chapter 24
NootherrestraintwasimposedontheformerthanthewatchfullooksofayoungHuron,whohadplacedhimselfathand;thoughanarmedwarriorleanedagainstthepostthatformedonesideofthenarrowdoor-way.Ineveryotherrespect,thecaptiveseemedatliberty;stillhewasexcludedfromallparticipationinthediscourse,andpossessedmuchmoreoftheairofsomefinelymouldedstatuethanamanhavinglifeandvolition.
Heywardhadtoorecentlywitnessedafrightfulinstanceofthepromptpunishmentsofthepeopleintowhosehandshehadfallen,tohazardanexposurebyanyofficiousboldness.Hewouldgreatlyhavepreferredsilenceandmeditationtospeech,whenadiscoveryofhisrealconditionmightprovesoinstantlyfatal.Unfortunatelyforthisprudentresolution,hisentertainersappearedotherwisedisposed.Hehadnotlongoccupiedtheseatwiselytakenalittleintheshade,whenanotheroftheelderwarriors,whospoketheFrenchlanguage,addressedhim:—
"MyCanadafatherdoesnotforgethischildren,"saidthechief;"Ithankhim.Anevilspiritlivesinthewifeofoneofmyyoungmen.Canthecunningstrangerfrightenhimaway?"
HeywardpossessedsomeknowledgeofthemummerypractisedamongtheIndians,inthecasesofsuchsupposedvisitations.Hesaw,ataglance,thatthecircumstancemightpossiblybeimprovedtofurtherhisownend.Itwould,therefore,havebeendifficult,justthen,tohaveutteredaproposalthatwouldhavegivenhimmoresatisfaction.
