Останній з Могікан
Chapter 26
Thescout,whohadleftDavidatthedoor,toascertaintheywerenotobserved,thoughtitprudenttopreservehisdisguiseuntilassuredoftheirprivacy.Insteadofspeaking,therefore,heexertedhimselftoenactoneoftheanticsoftheanimalherepresented.TheyoungMohican,whoatfirstbelievedhisenemieshadsentinarealbeasttotormenthim,andtryhisnerves,detected,inthoseperformancesthattoHeywardhadappearedsoaccurate,certainblemishes,thatatoncebetrayedthecounterfeit.HadHawkeyebeenawareofthelowestimationinwhichthemoreskilfulUncasheldhisrepresentations,hewouldprobablyhaveprolongedtheentertainmentalittleinpique.Butthescornfulexpressionoftheyoungman’seyeadmittedofsomanyconstructions,thattheworthyscoutwassparedthemortificationofsuchadiscovery.Assoon,therefore,asDavidgavethepre-concertedsignal,alowhissingsoundwasheardinthelodge,inplaceofthefiercegrowlingsofthebear.
Uncashadcasthisbodybackagainstthewallofthehut,andclosedhiseyes,asifwillingtoexcludesocontemptibleanddisagreeableanobjectfromhissight.Butthemomentthenoiseoftheserpentwasheard,hearose,andcasthislooksoneachsideofhim,bendinghisheadlow,andturningitinquiringlyineverydirection,untilhiskeeneyerestedontheshaggymonster,whereitremainedriveted,asthoughfixedbythepowerofacharm.Againthesamesoundswererepeated,evidentlyproceedingfromthemouthofthebeast.
