Останній з Могікан
Chapter 32
Itwouldseemthat,whilehisownsurprisehadbeenanticipated,andhadconsequentlyfailed,theenemy,intheirturn,havingbeendeceivedinitsobjectandinhisnumbers,hadlefttoosmallaforcetoresisttheimpetuousonsetoftheyoungMohican.Thisfactwasdoublyapparent,bytherapidmannerinwhichthebattleintheforestrolledupwardstowardsthevillage,andbyaninstantfallingoffinthenumberoftheirassailants,whorushedtoassistinmaintainingthefront,and,asitnowprovedtobe,theprincipalpointofdefence.
Animatinghisfollowersbyhisvoice,andhisownexample,Hawkeyethengavethewordtobeardownupontheirfoes.Thecharge,inthatrudespeciesofwarfare,consistedmerelyinpushingfromcovertocover,nighertotheenemy;andinthismanœuvrehewasinstantlyandsuccessfullyobeyed.TheHuronswerecompelledtowithdraw,andthesceneofthecontestrapidlychangedfromthemoreopengroundonwhichithadcommenced,toaspotwheretheassailedfoundathickettorestupon.Herethestrugglewasprotracted,arduous,andseeminglyofdoubtfulissue;theDelawares,thoughnoneofthemfell,beginningtobleedfreely,inconsequenceofthedisadvantageatwhichtheywereheld.
Inthiscrisis,HawkeyefoundmeanstogetbehindthesametreeasthatwhichservedforacovertoHeyward;mostofhisowncombatantsbeingwithincall,alittleonhisright,wheretheymaintainedrapid,thoughfruitless,dischargesontheirshelteredenemies.
