Останній з Могікан
Chapter 27
Deprivedofhisbookandhispipe,hewasfaintotrusttoamemorythatrarelyfailedhimonsuchsubjects;andbreakingforthinaloudandimpassionedstrain,heendeavoredtosoothehispassageintotheotherworld,bysingingtheopeningverseofafuneralanthem.TheIndianswereseasonablyremindedofhisinfirmity,andrushingintotheopenair,theyarousedthevillageinthemannerdescribed.
Anativewarriorfightsashesleeps,withouttheprotectionofanythingdefensive.Thesoundsofthealarmwere,therefore,hardlyuttered,beforetwohundredmenwereafoot,andreadyforthebattleorthechase,aseithermightberequired.Theescapewassoonknown;andthewholetribecrowded,inabody,aroundthecouncil-lodge,impatientlyawaitingtheinstructionoftheirchiefs.Insuchasuddendemandontheirwisdom,thepresenceofthecunningMaguacouldscarcelyfailofbeingneeded.Hisnamewasmentioned,andalllookedroundinwonderthathedidnotappear.Messengerswerethendespatchedtohislodge,requiringhispresence.
Inthemeantime,someoftheswiftestandmostdiscreetoftheyoungmenwereorderedtomakethecircuitoftheclearing,undercoverofthewoods,inordertoascertainthattheirsuspectedneighbors,theDelawares,designednomischief.Womenandchildrenrantoandfro;andinshort,thewholeencampmentexhibitedanothersceneofwildandsavageconfusion.Gradually,however,thesesymptomsofdisorderdiminished;andinafewminutestheoldestandmostdistinguishedchiefswereassembledinthelodge,ingraveconsultation.
