Последний из Могикан
Chapter 33
Satisfiedwiththistestimonyintheirfavor,thegirlsproceededtodepositthebodyinashell,ingeniously,andnotinelegantly,fabricatedofthebarkofthebirch;afterwhichtheylowereditintoitsdarkandfinalabode.Theceremonyofcoveringtheremains,andconcealingthemarksofthefreshearth,byleavesandothernaturalandcustomaryobjects,wasconductedwiththesamesimpleandsilentforms.Butwhenthelaborsofthekindbeingswhohadperformedthesesadandfriendlyofficesweresofarcompleted,theyhesitated,inawaytoshowthattheyknewnothowmuchfurthertheymightproceed.Itwasinthisstageoftheritesthatthescoutagainaddressedthem:—
"Myyoungwomenhavedoneenough,"hesaid;"thespiritofapale-facehasnoneedoffoodorraiment,theirgiftsbeingaccordingtotheheavenoftheircolor.Isee,"headded,glancinganeyeatDavid,whowaspreparinghisbookinamannerthatindicatedanintentiontoleadthewayinsacredsong,"thatonewhobetterknowstheChristianfashionsisabouttospeak."
Thefemalesstoodmodestlyaside,and,fromhavingbeentheprincipalactorsinthescene,theynowbecamethemeekandattentiveobserversofthatwhichfollowed.DuringthetimeDavidwasoccupiedinpouringoutthepiousfeelingsofhisspiritinthismanner,notasignofsurprise,noralookofimpatience,escapedthem.Theylistenedlikethosewhoknewthemeaningofthestrangewords,andappearedasiftheyfeltthemingledemotionsofsorrow,hope,andresignation,theywereintendedtoconvey.
