Останній з Могікан

           Afewminuteswereconsumedindisposingofthosepresentinamannersuitabletotheirrankandinfluenceinthetribe.Anorderverysimilartothatadoptedintheprecedinginterviewwasobserved;theagedandsuperiorchiefsoccupyingtheareaofthespaciousapartment,withinthepowerfullightofaglaringtorch,whiletheirjuniorsandinferiorswerearrangedinthebackground,presentingadarkoutlineofswarthyandmarkedvisages.Intheverycentreofthelodge,immediatelyunderanopeningthatadmittedthetwinklinglightofoneortwostars,stoodUncas,calm,elevated,andcollected.Hishighandhaughtycarriagewasnotlostonhiscaptors,whooftenbenttheirlooksonhisperson,witheyeswhich,whiletheylostnoneoftheirinflexibilityofpurpose,plainlybetrayedtheiradmirationofthestranger’sdaring.

           ThecasewasdifferentwiththeindividualwhomDuncanhadobservedtostandforthwithhisfriend,previouslytothedesperatetrialofspeed;andwho,insteadofjoininginthechase,hadremained,throughoutitsturbulentuproar,likeacringingstatue,expressiveofshameanddisgrace.Thoughnotahandhadbeenextendedtogreethim,noryetaneyehadcondescendedtowatchhismovements,hehadalsoenteredthelodge,asthoughimpelledbyafatetowhosedecreeshesubmitted,seemingly,withoutastruggle.