Останній з Могікан
Chapter 14
"Surelyitwasofflesh!"continuedthescout;"nospiritcouldhandleitsarmssosteadily!"
"Itwasofflesh;butwhetherthepoorfellowstillbelongstothisworldmaywellbedoubted,"saidHeyward,glancinghiseyesaroundhim,andmissingChingachgookfromtheirlittleband.Anothergroanmorefaintthantheformer,wassucceededbyaheavyandsullenplungeintothewater,andallwasasstillagainasifthebordersofthedrearypoolhadneverbeenawakenedfromthesilenceofcreation.Whiletheyyethesitatedinuncertainty,theformoftheIndianwasseenglidingoutofthethicket.Asthechiefrejoinedthem,withonehandheattachedthereekingscalpoftheunfortunateyoungFrenchmantohisgirdle,andwiththeotherhereplacedtheknifeandtomahawkthathaddrunkhisblood.Hethentookhiswontedstation,withtheairofamanwhobelievedhehaddoneadeedofmerit.
Thescoutdroppedoneendofhisrifletotheearth,andleaninghishandsontheother,hestoodmusinginprofoundsilence.Thenshakinghisheadinamournfulmanner,hemuttered—
"‘Twouldhavebeenacruelandanunhumanactforawhite-skin;but’tisthegiftandnatur’ofanIndian,andIsupposeitshouldnotbedenied.Icouldwish,though,ithadbefallenanaccursedMingo,ratherthanthatgayyoungboyfromtheoldcountries."
