Последний из Могикан
Chapter 1
ThelengthenedsheetoftheChamplainstretchedfromthefrontiersofCanada,deepwithinthebordersoftheneighboringprovinceofNewYork,forminganaturalpassageacrosshalfthedistancethattheFrenchwerecompelledtomasterinordertostriketheirenemies.Nearitssoutherntermination,itreceivedthecontributionsofanotherlake,whosewatersweresolimpidastohavebeenexclusivelyselectedbytheJesuitmissionariestoperformthetypicalpurificationofbaptism,andtoobtainforitthetitleoflake"duSaintSacrement."ThelesszealousEnglishthoughttheyconferredasufficienthonoronitsunsulliedfountains,whentheybestowedthenameoftheirreigningprince,thesecondofthehouseofHanover.Thetwounitedtorobtheuntutoredpossessorsofitswoodedsceneryoftheirnativerighttoperpetuateitsoriginalappellationof"Horican."
Windingitswayamongcountlessislands,andimbeddedinmountains,the"holylake"extendedadozenleaguesstillfarthertothesouth.Withthehighplainthatthereinterposeditselftothefurtherpassageofthewater,commencedaportageofasmanymiles,whichconductedtheadventurertothebanksoftheHudson,atapointwhere,withtheusualobstructionsoftherapids,orrifts,astheywerethentermedinthelanguageofthecountry,theriverbecamenavigabletothetide.
