Останній з Могікан
Chapter 33
Excitedbythescenehehadjustwitnessed,andperhapsinfluencedbyhisownsecretemotions,themasterofsongexceededhisusualefforts.Hisfull,richvoicewasnotfoundtosufferbyacomparisonwiththesofttonesofthegirls;andhismoremodulatedstrainspossessed,atleastfortheearsofthosetowhomtheywerepeculiarlyaddressed,theadditionalpowerofintelligence.Heendedtheanthem,ashehadcommencedit,inthemidstofagraveandsolemnstillness.
When,however,theclosingcadencehadfallenontheearsofhisauditors,thesecret,timorousglancesoftheeyes,andthegeneral,andyetsubduedmovementoftheassemblage,betrayedthatsomethingwasexpectedfromthefatherofthedeceased.Munroseemedsensiblethatthetimewascomeforhimtoexertwhatis,perhaps,thegreatesteffortofwhichhumannatureiscapable.Hebaredhisgraylocks,andlookedaroundthetimidandquietthrongbywhichhewasencircledwithafirmandcollectedcountenance.Thenmotioningwithhishandforthescouttolisten,hesaid—
"Saytothesekindandgentlefemales,thataheartbrokenandfailingmanreturnsthemhisthanks.Tellthem,thattheBeingweallworship,underdifferentnames,willbemindfuloftheircharity;andthatthetimeshallnotbedistantwhenwemayassemblearoundhisthronewithoutdistinctionofsex,orrank,orcolor."
Thescoutlistenedtothetremulousvoiceinwhichtheveterandeliveredthesewords,andshookhisheadslowlywhentheywereended,asonewhodoubtedtheirefficacy.
