Последний из Могикан
Chapter 21
"Willthisassistinexplainingthedifficulty?"saidHeyward,pointingtowardsthefragmentsofasortofhandbarrow,thathadbeenrudelyconstructedofboughs,andboundtogetherwithwithes,andwhichnowseemedcarelesslycastasideasuseless.
"’Tisexplained!"criedthedelightedHawkeye."Ifthemvarletshavepassedaminute,theyhavespenthoursinstrivingtofabricatealyingendtotheirtrail!Well,I’veknownthemtowasteadayinthesamemanner,toaslittlepurpose.Herewehavethreepairofmoccasins,andtwooflittlefeet.Itisamazingthatanymortalbeingscanjourneyonlimbssosmall!Passmethethongofbuckskin,Uncas,andletmetakethelengthofthisfoot.BytheLord,itisnolongerthanachild’sandyetthemaidensaretallandcomely.ThatProvidenceispartialinitsgifts,foritsownwisereasons,thebestandmostcontentedofusmustallow."
"Thetenderlimbsofmydaughtersareunequaltothesehardships,"saidMunro,lookingatthelightfootstepsofhischildren,withaparent’slove:"weshallfindtheirfaintingformsinthisdesert."
"Ofthatthereislittlecauseoffear,"returnedthescout,slowlyshakinghishead;"thisisafirmandstraight,thoughalightstep,andnotoverlong.See,theheelhashardlytouchedtheground;andtherethedark-hairhasmadealittlejump,fromroottoroot.No,no;myknowledgeforit,neitherofthemwasnighfainting,hereaway.Now,thesingerwasbeginningtobefoot-soreandleg-wearyasisplainbyhistrail.