Останній з Могікан
Chapter 25
Atthisfavorablemomentthecounterfeitconjurersdisappeared.
Hawkeye,atthesametimethathehadpresumedsofaronthenatureoftheIndiansuperstitions,wasnotignorantthattheywererathertoleratedthanreliedonbythewisestofthechiefs.Hewellknewthevalueoftimeinthepresentemergency.Whatevermightbetheextentoftheself-delusionofhisenemies,andhoweverithadtendedtoassisthisschemes,theslightestcauseofsuspicion,actingonthesubtlenatureofanIndian,wouldbelikelytoprovefatal.Takingthepath,therefore,thatwasmostlikelytoavoidobservation,heratherskirtedthanenteredthevillage.Thewarriorswerestilltobeseeninthedistance,bythefadinglightofthefires,stalkingfromlodgetolodge.Butthechildrenhadabandonedtheirsportsfortheirbedsofskins,andthequietofnightwasalreadybeginningtoprevailovertheturbulenceandexcitementofsobusyandimportantanevening.
Alicerevivedundertherenovatinginfluenceoftheopenair,andasherphysicalratherthanhermentalpowershadbeenthesubjectofweakness,shestoodinnoneedofanyexplanationofthatwhichhadoccurred.
"Nowletmemakeanefforttowalk,"shesaid,whentheyhadenteredtheforest,blushing,thoughunseen,thatshehadnotbeensoonerabletoquitthearmsofDuncan;"Iamindeedrestored."
"Nay,Alice,youareyettooweak."
Themaidenstruggledgentlytoreleaseherself,andHeywardwascompelledtopartwithhispreciousburden.
