Останній з Могікан
Chapter 17
Corareceivedhernew,andsomewhatextraordinaryprotector,courteouslyatleast;andeventhepallidfeaturesofAlicelightedagainwithsomeoftheirnativearchnessasshethankedHeywardforhiscare.Duncantookoccasiontoassurethemhehaddonethebestthatcircumstancespermitted,and,ashebelieved,quiteenoughforthesecurityoftheirfeelings;ofdangertherewasnone.HethenspokegladlyofhisintentiontorejointhemthemomenthehadledtheadvanceafewmilestowardstheHudson,andimmediatelytookhisleave.
Bythistimethesignalofdeparturehadbeengiven,andtheheadoftheEnglishcolumnwasinmotion.Thesistersstartedatthesound,andglancingtheireyesaround,theysawthewhiteuniformsoftheFrenchgrenadiers,whohadalreadytakenpossessionofthegatesofthefort.Atthatmoment,anenormouscloudseemedtopasssuddenlyabovetheirheads,andlookingupward,theydiscoveredthattheystoodbeneaththewidefoldsofthestandardofFrance.
"Letusgo,"saidCora;"thisisnolongerafitplaceforthechildrenofanEnglishofficer."
Aliceclungtothearmofhersister,andtogethertheylefttheparade,accompaniedbythemovingthrongthatsurroundedthem.
Astheypassedthegates,theFrenchofficers,whohadlearnedtheirrank,bowedoftenandlow,forbearing,however,tointrudethoseattentionswhichtheysaw,withpeculiartact,mightnotbeagreeable.
