Останній з Могікан
Chapter 10
Duringthisshortconference,Heyward,findingarespitefromhisgreatestfears,hadleisuretoadmirethecautiousmannerinwhichtheHuronshadmadetheirapproaches,evenafterhostilitieshadceased.
Ithasalreadybeenstated,thattheupperhalfoftheislandwasanakedrock,anddestituteofanyotherdefencesthanafewscatteredlogsofdrift-wood.Theyhadselectedthispointtomaketheirdescent,havingbornethecanoethroughthewoodaroundthecataractforthatpurpose.Placingtheirarmsinthelittlevessel,adozenmenclingingtoitssideshadtrustedthemselvestothedirectionofthecanoe,whichwascontrolledbytwoofthemostskilfulwarriors,inattitudesthatenabledthemtocommandaviewofthedangerouspassage.Favoredbythisarrangement,theytouchedtheheadoftheislandatthatpointwhichhadprovedsofataltotheirfirstadventures,butwiththeadvantagesofsuperiornumbers,andthepossessionoffire-arms.ThatsuchhadbeenthemanneroftheirdescentwasrenderedquiteapparenttoDuncan;fortheynowborethelightbarkfromtheupperendoftherock,andplaceditinthewater,nearthemouthoftheoutercavern.Assoonasthischangewasmade,theleadermadesignstotheprisonerstodescendandenter.
Asresistancewasimpossible,andremonstranceuseless,Heywardsettheexampleofsubmission,byleadingthewayintothecanoe,wherehewassoonseatedwiththesisters,andthestillwonderingDavid.
