Последний из Могикан
Chapter 24
Thelatterwasnotyetended,whenthesensationamongthemenhadentirelyabated.Eachoneinpresenceseatedhimself,asthoughashamedofhisprecipitation;butitwasmanyminutesbeforetheirmeaningeyesceasedtorolltowardstheircaptive,incuriousexaminationofawarriorwhohadsooftenprovedhisprowessonthebestandproudestoftheirnation.Uncasenjoyedhisvictory,butwascontentwithmerelyexhibitinghistriumphbyaquietsmile—anemblemofscornwhichbelongstoalltimeandeverynation.
Maguacaughttheexpression,andraisinghisarm,heshookitatthecaptive,thelightsilverornamentsattachedtohisbraceletrattlingwiththetremblingagitationofthelimb,as,inatoneofvengeance,heexclaimed,inEnglish—
"Mohican,youdie!"
"ThehealingwaterswillneverbringthedeadHuronstolife,"returnedUncas,inthemusicoftheDelawares;"thetumblingriverwashestheirbones;theirmenaresquaws;theirwomenowls.Go!calltogethertheHurondogs,thattheymaylookuponawarrior.Mynostrilsareoffended;theyscentthebloodofacoward."
Thelatterallusionstruckdeep,andtheinjuryrankled.ManyoftheHuronsunderstoodthestrangetongueinwhichthecaptivespoke,amongwhichnumberwasMagua.Thiscunningsavagebeheld,andinstantlyprofitedbyhisadvantage.Droppingthelightrobeofskinfromhisshoulder,hestretchedforthhisarm,andcommencedaburstofhisdangerousandartfuleloquence.
