Последний из Могикан
Chapter 27
Hadtherebeenonesufficientlycurioustohavewatchedthemovementsofthenewlyelectedchief,hewouldhaveseenhimseatedinacornerofhislodge,musingonthesubjectofhisfutureplans,fromthehourofhisretirementtothetimehehadappointedforthewarriorstoassembleagain.Occasionallytheairbreathedthroughthecrevicesofthehut,andthelowflamesthatflutteredabouttheembersofthefirethrewtheirwaveringlightonthepersonofthesullenrecluse.AtsuchmomentsitwouldnothavebeendifficulttohavefanciedtheduskysavagethePrinceofDarkness,broodingonhisownfanciedwrongs,andplottingevil.
Longbeforethedaydawned,however,warriorafterwarriorenteredthesolitaryhutofMagua,untiltheyhadcollectedtothenumberoftwenty.Eachborehisrifle,andalltheotheraccoutrementsofwar,thoughthepaintwasuniformlypeaceful.Theentranceofthesefierce-lookingbeingswasunnoticed;someseatingthemselvesintheshadowsoftheplace,andothersstandinglikemotionlessstatues,untilthewholeofthedesignatedbandwascollected.
ThenMaguaaroseandgavethesignaltoproceed,marchinghimselfinadvance.Theyfollowedtheirleadersingly,andinthatwell-knownorderwhichhasobtainedthedistinguishingappellationof"Indianfile."Unlikeothermenengagedinthespirit-stirringbusinessofwar,theystolefromtheircampunostentatiouslyandunobserved,resemblingabandofglidingspectres,morethanwarriorsseekingthebubblereputationbydeedsofdesperatedaring.
