Останній з Могікан
Chapter 25
Thenwhatshouldluckdoinmyfavor,butleadmetotheveryspotwhereoneofthemostfamousconjurersofthetribewasdressinghimself,asIwellknew,forsomegreatbattlewithSatan—thoughwhyshouldIcallthatluck,whichitnowseemswasanespecialorderingofProvidence!Soajudgmaticalrapovertheheadstiffenedthelyingimpostorforatime,andleavinghimabitofwalnutforhissupper,topreventanuproar,andstringinghimupatweentwosapplings,Imadefreewithhisfinery,andtookthepartofthebearonmyself,inorderthattheoperationsmightproceed."
"Andadmirablydidyouenactthecharacter;theanimalitselfmighthavebeenshamedbytherepresentation."
"Lord,major,"returnedtheflatteredwoodsman,"Ishouldbebutapoorscholarforonewhohasstudiedsolonginthewilderness,didInotknowhowtosetforththemovementsandnatur’ofsuchabeast.Haditbeennowacatamount,orevenafull-sizedpanther,Iwouldhaveembellishedaperformanceforyouworthregarding.Butitisnosuchmarvellousfeattoexhibitthefeatsofsodullabeast;though,forthatmattertoo,abearmaybeoveracted.Yes,yes;itisnoteveryimitatorthatknowsnatur’maybeoutdoneeasierthansheisequalled.Butallourworkisyetbeforeus:whereisthegentleone?"
"Heavenknows;Ihaveexaminedeverylodgeinthevillage,withoutdiscoveringtheslightesttraceofherpresenceinthetribe."
