Останній з Могікан
Chapter 24
TheIndians,whobelieveinthehereditarytransmissionofvirtuesanddefectsincharacter,sufferedhimtodepartinsilence.Then,withanelevationofbreedingthatmanyinamorecultivatedstateofsocietymightprofitablyemulate,oneofthechiefsdrewtheattentionoftheyoungmenfromtheweaknesstheyhadjustwitnessed,bysaying,inacheerfulvoice,addressinghimselfincourtesytoMagua,asthenewestcomer—
"TheDelawareshavebeenlikebearsafterthehoney-pots,prowlingaroundmyvillage.ButwhohaseverfoundaHuronasleep?"
ThedarknessoftheimpendingcloudwhichprecedesaburstofthunderwasnotblackerthanthebrowofMaguaasheexclaimed—
"TheDelawaresoftheLakes!"
"Notso.Theywhowearthepetticoatsofsquaws,ontheirownriver.Oneofthemhasbeenpassingthetribe."
"Didmyyoungmentakehisscalp?"
"Hislegsweregood,thoughhisarmisbetterforthehoethanthetomahawk,"returnedtheother,pointingtotheimmovableformofUncas.
Insteadofmanifestinganywomanishcuriositytofeasthiseyeswiththesightofacaptivefromapeoplehewasknowntohavesomuchreasontohate,Maguacontinuedtosmoke,withthemeditativeairthatheusuallymaintained,whentherewasnoimmediatecallonhiscunningorhiseloquence.Althoughsecretlyamazedatthefactscommunicatedbythespeechoftheagedfather,hepermittedhimselftoasknoquestions,reservinghisinquiriesforamoresuitablemoment.
