Останній з Могікан
Chapter 31
"Inthewoods,intheair,O,Ihear
Thewhoop,thelongyell,andthecry:
Inthewoods,O,Ihear
Theloudwhoop!
"Manitou!Manitou!Manitou!
Thouartweak—thouartstrong;Iamslow:
Manitou!Manitou!
Givemeaid."
Attheendofwhatmightbecalledeachversehemadeapause,byraisinganotelouderandlongerthancommon,thatwaspeculiarlysuitedtothesentimentjustexpressed.Thefirstclosewassolemn,andintendedtoconveytheideaofveneration;theseconddescriptive,borderingonthealarming;andthethirdwasthewellknownandterrificwar-whoop,whichburstfromthelipsoftheyoungwarrior,likeacombinationofallthefrightfulsoundsofbattle.Thelastwaslikethefirst,humbleandimploring.Threetimesdidherepeatthissong,andasoftendidheencirclethepostinhisdance.
Atthecloseofthefirstturn,agraveandhighlyesteemedchiefoftheLenapefollowedhisexample,singingwordsofhisown,however,tomusicofasimilarcharacter.Warriorafterwarriorenlistedinthedance,untilallofanyrenownandauthoritywerenumberedinitsmazes.Thespectaclenowbecamewildlyterrific;thefierce-lookingandmenacingvisagesofthechiefsreceivingadditionalpowerfromtheappallingstrainsinwhichtheymingledtheirgutturaltones.JustthenUncasstruckhistomahawkdeepintothepost,andraisedhisvoiceinashout,whichmightbetermedhisownbattle-cry.Theactannouncedthathehadassumedthechiefauthorityintheintendedexpedition.
Itwasasignalthatawakenedalltheslumberingpassionsofanation.
