Останній з Могікан
Chapter 22
Hawkeye,thoughtoomuchaccustomedtoIndianartificesnottoforeseethedangeroftheexperiment,knewnotwellhowtocombatthissuddenresolution.
Perhapstherewassomethingintheproposalthatsuitedhisownhardynature,andthatsecretloveofdesperateadventure,whichhadincreasedwithhisexperience,untilhazardanddangerhadbecome,insomemeasure,necessarytotheenjoymentofhisexistence.InsteadofcontinuingtoopposetheschemeofDuncan,hishumorsuddenlyaltered,andhelenthimselftoitsexecution.
"Come,"hesaid,withagood-humoredsmile;"thebuckthatwilltaketothewatermustbeheaded,andnotfollowed.Chingachgookhasasmanydifferentpaintsastheengineerofficer’swife,whotakesdownnatur’onscrapsofpaper,makingthemountainslooklikecocksofrustyhay,andplacingtheblueskyinreachofyourhand.TheSagamorecanusethem,too.Seatyourselfonthelog;andmylifeonit,hecansoonmakeanaturalfoolofyou,andthatwelltoyourliking."
Duncancomplied;andtheMohican,whohadbeenanattentivelistenertothediscourse,readilyundertooktheoffice.Longpractisedinallthesubtleartsofhisrace,hedrew,withgreatdexterityandquickness,thefantasticshadowthatthenativeswereaccustomedtoconsiderastheevidenceofafriendlyandjoculardisposition.Everylinethatcouldpossiblybeinterpretedintoasecretinclinationforwar,wascarefullyavoided;while,ontheotherhand,hestudiedthoseconceitsthatmightbeconstruedintoamity.
