Останній з Могікан
Chapter 28
Thewomensuspendedtheirlabors,tocatchsuchsyllablesasunguardedlyfellfromthelipsoftheconsultingwarriors.Theboysdesertedtheirsports,andwalkingfearlesslyamongtheirfathers,lookedupincuriousadmiration,astheyheardthebriefexclamationsofwondertheysofreelyexpressedatthetemerityoftheirhatedfoe.Inshort,everyoccupationwasabandonedforthetime,andallotherpursuitsseemeddiscarded,inorderthatthetribemightfreelyindulge,aftertheirownpeculiarmanner,inanopenexpressionoffeeling.
Whentheexcitementhadalittleabated,theoldmendisposedthemselvesseriouslytoconsiderthatwhichitbecamethehonorandsafetyoftheirtribetoperform,undercircumstancesofsomuchdelicacyandembarrassment.Duringallthesemovements,andinthemidstofthegeneralcommotion,Maguahadnotonlymaintainedhisseat,buttheveryattitudehehadoriginallytaken,againstthesideofthelodge,wherehecontinuedasimmovable,and,apparently,asunconcerned,asifhehadnointerestintheresult.Notasingleindicationofthefutureintentionsofhishosts,however,escapedhisvigilanteyes.Withhisconsummateknowledgeofthenatureofthepeoplewithwhomhehadtodeal,heanticipatedeverymeasureonwhichtheydecided;anditmightalmostbesaid,that,inmanyinstances,heknewtheirintentions,evenbeforetheybecameknowntothemselves.
ThecounciloftheDelawareswasshort.Whenitwasended,ageneralbustleannouncedthatitwastobeimmediatelysucceededbyasolemnandformalassemblageofthenation.
