Останній з Могікан
Chapter 23
Duncanbegantobreathemorefreely,believingthattheweightofhisexaminationwaspast;andashehadalreadypreparedasimpleandprobabletaletosupporthispretendedoccupation,hishopesofultimatesuccessgrewbrighter.
Afterasilenceofafewmoments,asifadjustinghisthoughts,inordertomakeasuitableanswertothedeclarationtheirguesthadjustgiven,anotherwarriorarose,andplacedhimselfinanattitudetospeak.Whilehislipswereyetintheactofparting,alowbutfearfulsoundarosefromtheforest,andwasimmediatelysucceededbyahigh,shrillyell,thatwasdrawnout,untilitequalledthelongestandmostplaintivehowlofthewolf.ThesuddenandterribleinterruptioncausedDuncantostartfromhisseat,unconsciousofeverythingbuttheeffectproducedbysofrightfulacry.Atthesamemoment,thewarriorsglidedinabodyfromthelodge,andtheouterairwasfilledwithloudshouts,thatnearlydrownedthoseawfulsounds,whichwerestillringingbeneaththearchesofthewoods.Unabletocommandhimselfanylonger,theyouthbrokefromtheplace,andpresentlystoodinthecentreofadisorderlythrong,thatincludednearlyeverythinghavinglife,withinthelimitsoftheencampment.Men,women,andchildren;theaged,theinfirm,theactive,andthestrong,werealikeabroad;someexclaimingaloud,othersclappingtheirhandswithajoythatseemedfrantic,andallexpressingtheirsavagepleasureinsomeunexpectedevent.
