Останній з Могікан

           "Thankyou,lad!"hecontinued,returningtheemptygourdtoUncas;"nowwewillseehowtheserampagingHuronslived,whenoutlyinginambushments.Lookatthis!Thevarletsknowthebetterpiecesofthedeer;andonewouldthinktheymightcarveandroastasaddle,equaltothebestcookintheland!Buteverythingisraw,fortheIroquoisarethoroughsavages.Uncas,takemysteel,andkindleafire;amouthfulofatenderbroilwillgivenatur’ahelpinghand,aftersolongatrail."

           Heyward,perceivingthattheirguidesnowsetabouttheirrepastinsoberearnest,assistedtheladiestoalight,andplacedhimselfattheirside,notunwillingtoenjoyafewmomentsofgratefulrest,afterthebloodyscenehehadjustgonethrough.Whiletheculinaryprocesswasinhand,curiosityinducedhimtoinquireintothecircumstanceswhichhadledtotheirtimelyandunexpectedrescue:—

           "Howisitthatweseeyousosoon,mygenerousfriend,"heasked,"andwithoutaidfromthegarrisonofEdward?"

           "Hadwegonetothebendintheriver,wemighthavebeenintimetoraketheleavesoveryourbodies,buttoolatetohavesavedyourscalps,"coollyansweredthescout."No,no;insteadofthrowingawaystrengthandopportunitybycrossingtothefort,welayby,underthebankoftheHudson,waitingtowatchthemovementsoftheHurons."

           "Youwere,then,witnessesofallthatpassed?"

           "Notofall;forIndiansightistookeentobeeasilycheated,andwekeptclose.Adifficultmatteritwas,too,tokeepthisMohicanboysnugintheambushment.