Последний из Могикан
Chapter 5
Itwasevidentthattheydebatedontheproprietyofsomemeasurethatnearlyconcernedthewelfareofthetravellers.Yieldingtohispowerfulinterestinthesubject,andimpatientofadelaythatseemedfraughtwithsomuchadditionaldanger,Heywarddrewstillnighertotheduskygroup,withanintentionofmakinghisoffersofcompensationmoredefinite,whenthewhiteman,motioning,withhishand,asifheconcededthedisputedpoint,turnedaway,sayinginasortofsoliloquy,andintheEnglishtongue—
"Uncasisright!itwouldnotbetheactofmentoleavesuchharmlessthingstotheirfate,eventhoughitbreaksuptheharboringplaceforever.Ifyouwouldsavethesetenderblossomsfromthefangsoftheworstofserpents,gentleman,youhaveneithertimetolosenorresolutiontothrowaway!"
"Howcansuchawishbedoubted!haveInotalreadyoffered—"
"OfferyourprayerstoHimwhocangiveuswisdomtocircumventthecunningofthedevilswhofillthesewoods,"calmlyinterruptedthescout,"butspareyouroffersofmoney,whichneitheryoumaylivetorealize,norItoprofitby.TheseMohicansandIwilldowhatman’sthoughtscaninvent,tokeepsuchflowers,which,thoughsosweet,werenevermadeforthewilderness,fromharm,andthatwithouthopeofanyotherrecompensebutsuchasGodalwaysgivestouprightdealings.First,youmustpromisetwothings,bothinyourownnameandforyourfriends,orwithoutservingyou,weshallonlyinjureourselves!"
"Namethem."
