Останній з Могікан
Chapter 5
ItwasmetbyChingachgook,whoseknifepassedacrossitsthroatquickerthanthought,andthenprecipitatingthemotionsofthestrugglingvictim,hedasheditintotheriver,downwhosestreamitglidedaway,gaspingaudiblyforbreathwithitsebbinglife.Thisdeedofapparentcruelty,butofrealnecessity,felluponthespiritsofthetravellerslikeaterrificwarningoftheperilinwhichtheystood,heightenedasitwasbythecalmthoughsteadyresolutionoftheactorsinthescene.Thesistersshudderedandclungclosertoeachother,whileHeywardinstinctivelylaidhishandononeofthepistolshehadjustdrawnfromtheirholsters,asheplacedhimselfbetweenhischargeandthosedenseshadowsthatseemedtodrawanimpenetrableveilbeforethebosomoftheforest.
TheIndians,however,hesitatednotamoment,buttakingthebridles,theyledthefrightenedandreluctanthorsesintothebedoftheriver.
Atashortdistancefromtheshoretheyturned,andweresoonconcealedbytheprojectionofthebank,underthebrowofwhichtheymoved,inadirectionoppositetothecourseofthewaters.Inthemeantime,thescoutdrewacanoeofbarkfromitsplaceofconcealmentbeneathsomelowbushes,whosebrancheswerewavingwiththeeddiesofthecurrent,intowhichhesilentlymotionedforthefemalestoenter.Theycompliedwithouthesitation,thoughmanyafearfulandanxiousglancewasthrownbehindthemtowardsthethickeninggloomwhichnowlaylikeadarkbarrieralongthemarginofthestream.
