Останній з Могікан
Chapter 2
Perhapstherapidityofthechangesfromoneofthesepacestotheothercreatedanopticalillusion,whichmightthusmagnifythepowersofthebeast;foritiscertainthatHeyward,whopossessedatrueeyeforthemeritsofahorse,wasunable,withhisutmostingenuity,todecidebywhatsortofmovementhispursuerworkedhissinuouswayonhisfootstepswithsuchperseveringhardihood.
Theindustryandmovementsoftheriderwerenotlessremarkablethanthoseoftheridden.Ateachchangeintheevolutionsofthelatter,theformerraisedhistallpersoninthestirrups;producing,inthismanner,bytheundueelongationofhislegs,suchsuddengrowthsanddiminishingsofthestature,asbaffledeveryconjecturethatmightbemadeastohisdimensions.Iftothisbeaddedthefactthat,inconsequenceoftheexparteapplicationofthespur,onesideofthemareappearedtojourneyfasterthantheother;andthattheaggrievedflankwasresolutelyindicatedbyunremittedflourishesofabushytail,wefinishthepictureofbothhorseandman.
Thefrownwhichhadgatheredaroundthehandsome,open,andmanlybrowofHeyward,graduallyrelaxed,andhislipscurledintoaslightsmile,asheregardedthestranger.Alicemadenoverypowerfulefforttocontrolhermerriment;andeventhedark,thoughtfuleyeofCoralightedwithahumorthat,itwouldseem,thehabit,ratherthanthenatureofitsmistressrepressed.
