Последний из Могикан
Chapter 5
Arifle-bulletactsonarunninganimal,whenitbarkshim,muchthesameasoneofyourspursonahorse;thatis,itquickensmotion,andputslifeintotheflesh,insteadoftakingitaway.Butwhenitcutstheraggedhole,afteraboundortwo,thereis,commonly,astagnationoffurtherleaping,beitIndianorbeitdeer!"
"Wearefourablebodies,toonewoundedman!"
"Islifegrievoustoyou?"interruptedthescout."Yonderreddevilswoulddrawyouwithinswingofthetomahawksofhiscomrades,beforeyouwereheatedinthechase.Itwasanunthoughtfulactinamanwhohassooftensleptwiththewar-whoopringingintheair,toletoffhispiecewithinsoundofanambushment!Butthenitwasanaturaltemptation!’twasverynatural!Come,friends,letusmoveourstation,andinsuchafashion,too,aswillthrowthecunningofaMingoonawrongscent,orourscalpswillbedryinginthewindinfrontofMontcalm’smarquee,ag’inthishourto-morrow."
Thisappallingdeclaration,whichthescoututteredwiththecoolassuranceofamanwhofullycomprehended,whilehedidnotfeartofacethedanger,servedtoremindHeywardoftheimportanceofthechargewithwhichhehimselfhadbeenintrusted.
