Останній з Могікан

           Ha!herewillsoonbeanendofthefiring,foryondercomesafogthatwillturndaytonight,andmakeanIndianarrowmoredangerousthanamouldedcannon.Now,ifyouareequaltothework,andwillfollow,Iwillmakeapush;forIlongtogetdownintothatcamp,ifitbeonlytoscattersomeMingodogsthatIseelurkingintheskirtsofyonderthicketofbirch."

           "Weareequal,"saidCora,firmly:"onsuchanerrandwewillfollowtoanydanger."

           Thescoutturnedtoherwithasmileofhonestandcordialapprobationasheanswered—

           "IwouldIhadathousandmen,ofbrawnylimbsandquickeyes,thatfeareddeathaslittleasyou!I’dsendthemjabberingFrenchersbackintotheirdenagain,aforetheweekwasended,howlinglikesomanyfetteredhoundsorhungrywolves.Butstir,"headded,turningfromhertotherestoftheparty,"thefogcomesrollingdownsofast,weshallhavebutjustthetimetomeetitontheplain,anduseitasacover.Remember,ifanyaccidentshouldbefallme,tokeeptheairblowingonyourleftcheeks—orrather,followtheMohicans;they’dscenttheirway,beitindayorbeitatnight."

           Hethenwavedhishandforthemtofollow,andthrewhimselfdownthesteepdeclivity,withfree,butcarefulfootsteps.Heywardassistedthesisterstodescend,andinafewminutestheywereallfardownamountainwhosesidestheyhadclimbedwithsomuchtoilandpain.