Останній з Могікан
Chapter 14
ThedirectiontakenbyHawkeyesoonbroughtthetravellerstotheleveloftheplain,nearlyoppositetoasally-portinthewesterncurtainofthefort,whichlay,itself,atthedistanceofabouthalfamilefromthepointwherehehaltedtoallowDuncantocomeupwithhischarge.Intheireagerness,andfavoredbythenatureoftheground,theyhadanticipatedthefog,whichwasrollingheavilydownthelake,anditbecamenecessarytopause,untilthemistshadwrappedthecampoftheenemyintheirfleecymantle.TheMohicansprofitedbythedelay,tostealoutofthewoods,andtomakeasurveyofsurroundingobjects.Theywerefollowedatalittledistancebythescout,withaviewtoprofitearlybytheirreport,andtoobtainsomefaintknowledgeforhimselfofthemoreimmediatelocalities.
Inaveryfewmomentshereturned,hisfacereddenedwithvexation,whilehemutteredhisdisappointmentinwordsofnoverygentleimport.
"HerehasthecunningFrenchmanbeenpostingapicketdirectlyinourpath,"hesaid;"redskinsandwhites;andweshallbeaslikelytofallintotheirmidstastopasstheminthefog!"
"Cannotwemakeacircuittoavoidthedanger,"askedHeyward,"andcomeintoourpathagainwhenitispassed?"
"Whothatoncebendsfromthelineofhismarchinafogcantellwhenorhowtoturntofinditagain!ThemistsofHoricanarenotlikethecurlsfromapeace-pipe,orthesmokewhichsettlesaboveamosquitofire."
