Останній з Могікан
Chapter 27
Theclamorofmanyvoicessoonannouncedthatapartyapproached,whomightbeexpectedtocommunicatesomeintelligencethatwouldexplainthemysteryofthenovelsurprise.Thecrowdwithoutgaveway,andseveralwarriorsenteredtheplace,bringingwiththemthehaplessconjurer,whohadbeenleftsolongbythescoutinduress.
NotwithstandingthismanwasheldinveryunequalestimationamongtheHurons,somebelievingimplicitlyinhispower,andothersdeeminghimanimpostor,hewasnowlistenedtobyallwiththedeepestattention.Whenhisbriefstorywasended,thefatherofthesickwomansteppedforth,and,inafewpithyexpressions,related,inhisturn,whatheknew.Thesetwonarrativesgaveaproperdirectiontothesubsequentinquiries,whichwerenowmadewiththecharacteristiccunningofsavages.
Insteadofrushinginaconfusedanddisorderlythrongtothecavern,tenofthewisestandfirmestamongthechiefswereselectedtoprosecutetheinvestigation.Asnotimewastobelost,theinstantthechoicewasmadetheindividualsappointedroseinabody,andlefttheplacewithoutspeaking.Onreachingtheentrance,theyoungermeninadvancemadewayfortheirseniors;andthewholeproceededalongthelow,darkgallery,withthefirmnessofwarriorsreadytodevotethemselvestothepublicgood,though,atthesametime,secretlydoubtingthenatureofthepowerwithwhichtheywereabouttocontend.
Theouterapartmentofthecavernwassilentandgloomy.
