Последний из Могикан
Chapter 24
Heywardwasfarfromregrettingthathismummeriesweretobeperformedononewhowasmuchtooilltotakeaninterestintheirfailureorsuccess.Theslightqualmofconsciencewhichhadbeenexcitedbytheintendeddeceptionwasinstantlyappeased,andhebegantocollecthisthoughts,inordertoenacthispartwithsuitablespirit,whenhefoundhewasabouttobeanticipatedinhisskillbyanattempttoprovethepowerofmusic.
Gamut,whohadstoodpreparedtopourforthhisspiritinsongwhenthevisitorsentered,afterdelayingamoment,drewastrainfromhispipe,andcommencedahymnthatmighthaveworkedamiracle,hadfaithinitsefficacybeenofmuchavail.Hewasallowedtoproceedtotheclose,theIndiansrespectinghisimaginaryinfirmity,andDuncantoogladofthedelaytohazardtheslightestinterruption.Asthedyingcadenceofhisstrainswasfallingontheearsofthelatter,hestartedasideathearingthemrepeatedbehindhiminavoicehalfhuman,halfsepulchral.Lookingaround,hebeheldtheshaggymonsterseatedonendinashadowofthecavern,where,whilehisrestlessbodyswungintheuneasymanneroftheanimal,itrepeated,inasortoflowgrowl,sound,ifnotwords,whichboresomeslightresemblancetothemelodyofthesinger.
TheeffectofsostrangeanechoonDavidmaybetterbeimaginedthandescribed.Hiseyesopenedasifhedoubtedtheirtruth;andhisvoicebecameinstantlymuteinexcessofwonder
