Останній з Могікан
Chapter 23
Thewholeencampment,inamoment,becameasceneofthemostviolentbustleandcommotion.Thewarriorsdrewtheirknives,andflourishingthem,theyarrangedthemselvesintwolines,formingalanethatextendedfromthewar-partytothelodges.Thesquawsseizedclubs,axes,orwhateverweaponofoffencefirstoffereditselftotheirhands,andrushedeagerlytoacttheirpartinthecruelgamethatwasathand.Eventhechildrenwouldnotbeexcluded;butboys,littleabletowieldtheinstruments,torethetomahawksfromthebeltsoftheirfathers,andstoleintotheranks,aptimitatorsofthesavagetraitsexhibitedbytheirparents.
Largepilesofbrushlayscatteredabouttheclearing,andawaryandagedsquawwasoccupiedinfiringasmanyasmightservetolightthecomingexhibition.Astheflamearose,itspowerexceededthatofthepartingday,andassistedtorenderobjectsatthesametimemoredistinctandmorehideous.Thewholesceneformedastrikingpicture,whoseframewascomposedofthedarkandtallborderofpines.Thewarriorsjustarrivedwerethemostdistantfigures.Alittleinadvancestoodtwomen,whowereapparentlyselectedfromtherest,astheprincipalactorsinwhatwastofollow.Thelightwasnotstrongenoughtorendertheirfeaturesdistinct,thoughitwasquiteevidentthattheyweregovernedbyverydifferentemotions.Whileonestooderectandfirm,preparedtomeethisfatelikeahero,theotherbowedhishead,asifpalsiedbyterrororstrickenwithshame.
