Останній з Могікан
Chapter 33
Butthesewereeventsofatimelaterthanthatwhichconcernsourtale.Desertedbyallofhiscolor,Hawkeyereturnedtothespotwherehisownsympathiesledhim,withaforcethatnoidealbondofunioncouldbestow.HewasjustintimetocatchapartinglookofthefeaturesofUncas,whomtheDelawareswerealreadyinclosinginhislastvestmentsofskins.Theypausedtopermitthelongingandlingeringgazeofthesturdywoodsman,andwhenitwasended,thebodywasenveloped,nevertobeunclosedagain.Thencameaprocessionliketheother,andthewholenationwascollectedaboutthetemporarygraveofthechief—temporary,becauseitwasproperthat,atsomefutureday,hisbonesshouldrestamongthoseofhisownpeople.
Themovement,likethefeeling,hadbeensimultaneousandgeneral.Thesamegraveexpressionofgrief,thesamerigidsilence,andthesamedeferencetotheprincipalmourner,wereobservedaroundtheplaceofintermentashavebeenalreadydescribed.Thebodywasdepositedinanattitudeofrepose,facingtherisingsun,withtheimplementsofwarandofthechaseathand,inreadinessforthefinaljourney.Anopeningwasleftintheshell,bywhichitwasprotectedfromthesoil,forthespirittocommunicatewithitsearthlytenement,whennecessary;andthewholewasconcealedfromtheinstinct,andprotectedfromtheravagesofthebeastsofprey,withaningenuitypeculiartothenatives.Themanualritesthenceased,andallpresentrevertedtothemorespiritualpartoftheceremonies.
