Останній з Могікан
Chapter 21
Acircleofafewhundredfeetincircumferencewasdrawn,andeachofthepartytookasegmentforhisportion.Theexamination,however,resultedinnodiscovery.Theimpressionsoffootstepswerenumerous,buttheyallappearedlikethoseofmenwhohadwanderedaboutthespot,withoutanydesigntoquitit.Againthescoutandhiscompanionsmadethecircuitofthehalting-place,eachslowlyfollowingtheother,untiltheyassembledinthecentreoncemore,nowiserthanwhentheystarted.
"Suchcunningisnotwithoutitsdeviltry,"exclaimedHawkeye,whenhemetthedisappointedlooksofhisassistants.
"Wemustgetdowntoit,Sagamore,beginningatthespring,andgoingoverthegroundbyinches.TheHuronshallneverbraginhistribethathehasafootwhichleavesnoprint."
Settingtheexamplehimself,thescoutengagedinthescrutinywithrenewedzeal.Notaleafwasleftunturned.Thestickswereremoved,andthestoneslifted;forIndiancunningwasknownfrequentlytoadopttheseobjectsascovers,laboringwiththeutmostpatienceandindustry,toconcealeachfootstepastheyproceeded.Stillnodiscoverywasmade.AtlengthUncas,whoseactivityhadenabledhimtoachievehisportionofthetaskthesoonest,rakedtheearthacrosstheturbidlittlerillwhichranfromthespring,anddiverteditscourseintoanotherchannel.Sosoonasitsnarrowbedbelowthedamwasdry,hestoopedoveritwithkeenandcuriouseyes.Acryofexultationimmediatelyannouncedthesuccessoftheyoungwarrior.
