Останній з Могікан
Chapter 25
"Hasmybrotherdrivenawaytheevilspirit?"demandedtheformer."Whathasheinhisarms?"
"Thychild,"returnedDuncan,gravely;"thediseasehasgoneoutofher;itisshutupintherocks.Itakethewomantoadistance,whereIwillstrengthenheragainstanyfurtherattacks.Sheshallbeinthewigwamoftheyoungmanwhenthesuncomesagain."
Whenthefatherhadtranslatedthemeaningofthestranger’swordsintotheHuronlanguage,asuppressedmurmurannouncedthesatisfactionwithwhichtheintelligencewasreceived.ThechiefhimselfwavedhishandforDuncantoproceed,sayingaloud,inafirmvoice,andwithaloftymanner—
"Go;Iamaman,andIwillentertherockandfightthewickedone."
Heywardhadgladlyobeyed,andwasalreadypastthelittlegroup,whenthesestartlingwordsarrestedhim.
"Ismybrothermad?"heexclaimed;"ishecruel!Hewillmeetthedisease,anditwillenterhim;orhewilldriveoutthedisease,anditwillchasehisdaughterintothewoods.No;letmychildrenwaitwithout,andifthespiritappearsbeathimdownwithclubs.Heiscunning,andwillburyhimselfinthemountain,whenheseeshowmanyarereadytofighthim."
Thissingularwarninghadthedesiredeffect.Insteadofenteringthecavern,thefatherandhusbanddrewtheirtomahawks,andpostedthemselvesinreadinesstodealtheirvengeanceontheimaginarytormentoroftheirsickrelative,whilethewomenandchildrenbrokebranchesfromthebushes,orseizedfragmentsoftherock,withasimilarintention.
