Останній з Могікан
Chapter 7
Withtheexceptionofthesoundsproducedbytherushingwaters,andanoccasionalbreathingoftheair,asitmurmuredpasttheminfitfulcurrents,thescenewasasstillasnightandsolitudecouldmakeit.Invainweretheeyesofeachindividualbentalongtheoppositeshores,inquestofsomesignsoflife,thatmightexplainthenatureoftheinterruptiontheyhadheard.Theiranxiousandeagerlookswerebaffledbythedeceptivelight,orrestedonlyonnakedrocks,andstraightandimmovabletrees.
"Thereisnothingtobeseenbutthegloomandquietofalovelyevening,"whisperedDuncan:"howmuchshouldweprizesuchascene,andallthisbreathingsolitude,atanyothermoment,Cora!Fancyyourselvesinsecurityandwhatnow,perhaps,increasesyourterror,maybemadeconducivetoenjoyment—"
"Listen!"interruptedAlice.
Thecautionwasunnecessary.Oncemorethesamesoundarose,asiffromthebedoftheriver,andhavingbrokenoutofthenarrowboundsofthecliffs,washeardundulatingthroughtheforest,indistantanddyingcadences.
"Cananyheregiveanametosuchacry?"demandedHawkeye,whenthelastechowaslostinthewoods;"ifso,lethimspeak;formyself,Ijudgeitnottobelongto‘arth!"
"Here,then,isonewhocanundeceiveyou,"saidDuncan;"Iknowthesoundfullwell,foroftenhaveIhearditonthefieldofbattle,andinsituationswhicharefrequentinasoldier’slife.’Tisthehorridshriekthatahorsewillgiveinhisagony;oftenerdrawnfromhiminpain,thoughsometimesinterror.
