Останній з Могікан
Chapter 26
Theboyswerealreadyburiedinsleep,andallthewomen,andmostofthewarriors,hadretiredtotheirlodgesforthenight.FourorfiveofthelatteronlylingeredaboutthedooroftheprisonofUncas,warybutcloseobserversofthemanneroftheircaptive.
AtthesightofGamut,accompaniedbyoneinthewellknownmasqueradeoftheirmostdistinguishedconjurer,theyreadilymadewayforthemboth.Stilltheybetrayednointentiontodepart.Ontheotherhand,theywereevidentlydisposedtoremainboundtotheplacebyanadditionalinterestinthemysteriousmummeriesthattheyofcourseexpectedfromsuchavisit.
FromthetotalinabilityofthescouttoaddresstheHuronsintheirownlanguage,hewascompelledtotrusttheconversationentirelytoDavid.Notwithstandingthesimplicityofthelatter,hedidamplejusticetotheinstructionshehadreceived,morethanfulfillingthestrongesthopesofhisteacher.
"TheDelawaresarewomen!"heexclaimed,addressinghimselftothesavagewhohadaslightunderstandingofthelanguageinwhichhespoke;"theYengeese,myfoolishcountrymen,havetoldthemtotakeupthetomahawk,andstriketheirfathersintheCanadas,andtheyhaveforgottentheirsex.DoesmybrotherwishtohearLeCerfAgileaskforhispetticoats,andseehimweepbeforetheHurons,atthestake?"
Theexclamation"Hugh!"deliveredinastrongtoneofassent,announcedthegratificationthesavagewouldreceiveinwitnessingsuchanexhibitionofweaknessinanenemysolonghatedandsomuchfeared.
