Останній з Могікан
Chapter 9
"Now,"hewhisperedtothetremblingsisters,"nowisthemomentofuncertainty!ifourplaceofretreatescapethisscrutiny,wearestillsafe!Ineveryevent,weareassured,bywhathasfallenfromourenemies,thatourfriendshaveescaped,andintwoshorthourswemaylookforsuccorfromWebb."
Therewerenowafewminutesoffearfulstillness,duringwhichHeywardwellknewthatthesavagesconductedtheirsearchwithgreatervigilanceandmethod.Morethanoncehecoulddistinguishtheirfootsteps,astheybrushedthesassafras,causingthefadedleavestorustle,andthebranchestosnap.Atlength,thepileyieldedalittle,acorneroftheblanketfell,andafaintrayoflightgleamedintotheinnerpartofthecave.CorafoldedAlicetoherbosominagony,andDuncansprangtohisfeet.Ashoutwasatthatmomentheard,asifissuingfromthecentreoftherock,announcingthattheneighboringcavernhadatlengthbeenentered.Inaminute,thenumberandloudnessofthevoicesindicatedthatthewholepartywascollectedinandaroundthatsecretplace.
Astheinnerpassagestothetwocavesweresoclosetoeachother,Duncan,believingthatescapewasnolongerpossible,passedDavidandthesisters,toplacehimselfbetweenthelatterandthefirstonsetoftheterriblemeeting.Growndesperatebyhissituation,hedrewnightheslightbarrierwhichseparatedhimonlybyafewfeetfromhisrelentlesspursuers,andplacinghisfacetothecasualopening,heevenlookedout,withasortofdesperateindifference,ontheirmovements.
