Останній з Могікан
Chapter 12
"Itmaybe—itmaybe,"saidHawkeye,whohadlistenedwithsingularattentiontothisexplanation;"thoughIamamanwhohasthefullbloodofthewhites,myjudgmentindeerandbeaverisgreaterthaninbeastsofburden.MajorEffinghamhasmanynoblechargers,butIhaveneverseenonetravelaftersuchasidelinggait."
"True;forhewouldvaluetheanimalsforverydifferentproperties.Stillisthisabreedhighlyesteemed,andasyouwitness,muchhonoredwiththeburdensitisoftendestinedtobear."
TheMohicanshadsuspendedtheiroperationsabouttheglimmeringfire,tolisten;andwhenDuncanhaddone,theylookedateachothersignificantly,thefatherutteringthenever-failingexclamationofsurprise.Thescoutruminated,likeamandigestinghisnewlyacquiredknowledge,andoncemorestoleacuriousglanceatthehorses.
"Idaretosaythereareevenstrangersightstobeseeninthesettlements!"hesaid,atlength;"natur’issadlyabusedbyman,whenheoncegetsthemastery.But,gosidelingorgostraight,Uncashadseenthemovement,andtheirtrailledusontothebrokenbush.Theouterbranch,neartheprintsofoneofthehorses,wasbentupward,asaladybreaksaflowerfromitsstem,butalltherestwereraggedandbrokendown,asifthestronghandofamanhadbeentearingthem!SoIconcludedthatthecunningvarmintshadseenthetwigbent,andhadtorntherest,tomakeusbelieveabuckhadbeenfeelingtheboughswithhisantlers.
