Останній з Могікан
Chapter 23
Thoughastounded,atfirst,bytheuproar,Heywardwassoonenabledtofinditssolutionbythescenethatfollowed.
Thereyetlingeredsufficientlightintheheavenstoexhibitthosebrightopeningsamongthetree-tops,wheredifferentpathslefttheclearingtoenterthedepthsofthewilderness.Beneathoneofthem,alineofwarriorsissuedfromthewoods,andadvancedslowlytowardsthedwellings.Oneinfrontboreashortpole,onwhich,asitafterwardsappeared,weresuspendedseveralhumanscalps.ThestartlingsoundsthatDuncanhadheardwerewhatthewhiteshavenotinappropriatelycalledthe"death-halloo;"andeachrepetitionofthecrywasintendedtoannouncetothetribethefateofanenemy.ThusfartheknowledgeofHeywardassistedhimintheexplanation;andashenowknewthattheinterruptionwascausedbytheunlooked-forreturnofasuccessfulwar-party,everydisagreeablesensationwasquietedininwardcongratulation,fortheopportunereliefandinsignificanceitconferredonhimself.
Whenatthedistanceofafewhundredfeetfromthelodges,thenewlyarrivedwarriorshalted.Theirplaintiveandterrificcry,whichwasintendedtorepresentequallythewailingsofthedeadandthetriumphofthevictors,hadentirelyceased.Oneoftheirnumbernowcalledaloud,inwordsthatwerefarfromappalling,thoughnotmoreintelligibletothoseforwhoseearstheywereintended,thantheirexpressiveyells.Itwouldbedifficulttoconveyasuitableideaofthesavageecstasywithwhichthenewsthusimpartedwasreceived.
