Останній з Могікан
Chapter 24
Theformerwasratherdepressed,thanremarkableforthebearingofthenatives;andthelatterwassuchaswascommonlywornbytheordinarymenofthenation.Likemostaroundhim,formorethanaminutehislooktoowasontheground;but,trustinghiseyesatlengthtostealaglanceaside,heperceivedthathewasbecominganobjectofgeneralattention.Thenhearoseandliftedhisvoiceinthegeneralsilence.
"Itwasalie,"hesaid;"Ihadnoson.Hewhowascalledbythatnameisforgotten;hisbloodwaspale;anditcamenotfromtheveinsofaHuron;thewickedChippewascheatedmysquaw.TheGreatSpirithassaid,thatthefamilyofWiss-entushshouldend;heishappywhoknowsthattheevilofhisracedieswithhimself.Ihavedone."
Thespeaker,whowasthefatheroftherecreantyoungIndian,lookedroundandabouthim,asifseekingcommendationofhisstoicismintheeyesofhisauditors.Butthesterncustomsofhispeoplehadmadetoosevereanexactionofthefeebleoldman.Theexpressionofhiseyecontradictedhisfigurativeandboastfullanguage,whileeverymuscleinhiswrinkledvisagewasworkingwithanguish.Standingasingleminutetoenjoyhisbittertriumph,heturnedaway,asifsickeningatthegazeofmen,andveilinghisfaceinhisblanket,hewalkedfromthelodgewiththenoiselessstepofanIndian,seeking,intheprivacyofhisownabode,thesympathyofonelikehimself,aged,forlorn,andchildless.
