Последний из Могикан
Chapter 5
Ageneralmovementamongtheirconductors,however,soonrecalledthemfromacontemplationofthewildcharmsthatnighthadassistedtolendtheplace,toapainfulsenseoftheirrealperil.
Thehorseshadbeensecuredtosomescatteredshrubsthatgrewinthefissuresoftherocks,where,standinginthewater,theywerelefttopassthenight.ThescoutdirectedHeywardandhisdisconsolatefellow-travellerstoseatthemselvesintheforwardendofthecanoe,andtookpossessionoftheotherhimself,aserectandsteadyasifhefloatedinavesselofmuchfirmermaterials.TheIndianswarilyretracedtheirstepstowardstheplacetheyhadleft,whenthescout,placinghispoleagainstarock,byapowerfulshove,senthisfrailbarkdirectlyintothecentreoftheturbulentstream.Formanyminutesthestrugglebetweenthelightbubbleinwhichtheyfloated,andtheswiftcurrent,wassevereanddoubtful.Forbiddentostirevenahand,andalmostafraidtobreathe,lesttheyshouldexposethefrailfabrictothefuryofthestream,thepassengerswatchedtheglancingwatersinfeverishsuspense.Twentytimestheythoughtthewhirlingeddiesweresweepingthemtodestruction,whenthemaster-handoftheirpilotwouldbringthebowsofthecanoetostemtherapid.Along,avigorous,and,asitappearedtothefemales,adesperateeffort,closedthestruggle.
