Останній з Могікан
Chapter 6
Aspectral-lookingfigurestalkedfromoutthedarknessbehindthescout,andseizingablazingbrand,heldittowardsthefartherextremityoftheirplaceofretreat.Aliceutteredafaintshriek,andevenCorarosetoherfeet,asthisappallingobjectmovedintothelight;butasinglewordfromHeywardcalmedthem,withtheassuranceitwasonlytheirattendant,Chingachgook,who,liftinganotherblanket,discoveredthatthecavernhadtwooutlets.Then,holdingthebrand,hecrossedadeep,narrowchasmintherocks,whichranatrightangleswiththepassagetheywerein,butwhich,unlikethat,wasopentotheheavens,andenteredanothercave,answeringtothedescriptionofthefirst,ineveryessentialparticular.
"SucholdfoxesasChingachgookandmyselfarenotoftencaughtinaburrowwithonehole,"saidHawkeye,laughing;"youcaneasilyseethecunningoftheplace—therockisblacklimestone,whicheverybodyknowsissoft;itmakesnouncomfortablepillow,wherebrushandpinewoodisscarce;well,thefallwasonceafewyardsbelowus,andIdaretosaywas,initstime,asregularandashandsomeasheetofwaterasanyalongtheHudson.Butoldageisagreatinjurytogoodlooks,asthesesweetyoungladieshaveyettol’arn!Theplaceissadlychanged!Theserocksarefullofcracks,andinsomeplacestheyaresofterthanatothersome,andthewaterhasworkedoutdeephollowsforitself,untilithasfallenback,ay,somehundredfeet,breakinghereandwearingthere,untilthefallshaveneithershapenorconsistency.
