Останній з Могікан
Chapter 2
Heretheirprogresswaslessinterrupted,andtheinstanttheguideperceivedthatthefemalescouldcommandtheirsteeds,hemovedon,atapacebetweenatrotandawalk,andataratewhichkeptthesure-footedandpeculiaranimalstheyrode,atafastyeteasyamble.Theyouthhadturnedtospeaktothedark-eyedCora,whenthedistantsoundofhorses’hoofs,clatteringovertherootsofthebrokenwayinhisrear,causedhimtocheckhischarger;and,ashiscompanionsdrewtheirreinsatthesameinstant,thewholepartycametoahalt,inordertoobtainanexplanationoftheunlooked-forinterruption.
Inafewmomentsacoltwasseengliding,likeafallow-deer,amongthestraighttrunksofthepines;and,inanotherinstant,thepersonoftheungainlymandescribedintheprecedingchapter,cameintoview,withasmuchrapidityashecouldexcitehismeagrebeasttoendurewithoutcomingtoanopenrupture.Untilnowthispersonagehadescapedtheobservationofthetravellers.Ifhepossessedthepowertoarrestanywanderingeyewhenexhibitingthegloriesofhisaltitudeonfoot,hisequestriangraceswerestillmorelikelytoattractattention.Notwithstandingaconstantapplicationofhisonearmedheeltotheflanksofthemare,themostconfirmedgaitthathecouldestablishwasaCanterburygallopwiththehindlegs,inwhichthosemoreforwardassistedfordoubtfulmoments,thoughgenerallycontenttomaintainalopingtrot.
