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  .., 2026.



Fenimore Cooper  

Pathfinder 



Chapter One  

There were four of them: two men and two women.   :     . They looked with reverent wonder at the view that opened before them.          . To better see all the details of the picture, they climbed a huge pile of trees torn out by the storm and piled on top of each other.      ,      ,       . In the solemn twilight of the dark and damp recesses of the American forest wilderness, such clearings formed by the storm are like bright oases.            ,  ,     . The pile of trees that we are now talking about was located on the top of a small hill.  ,     ,     . It was not high, but despite this, from its top a wide panorama opened up - a rare sight for a person traveling in the forests.   , ,   ,           ,   . Huge trunks, overturned by the blows of the wind, broken like straws, were so intertwined with each other with branches that their branches could well serve as a ladder and a support for the hands.  ,   , ,  ,     ,            . One large tree was torn out by the roots and It was sticking up with its butt end in the air; its roots, filled with earth, formed a sort of platform onto which the four travelers climbed.           ;  ,  ,     ,      . Two of them, a man and a woman, were Indians and belonged to the Tuscarora tribe.   ,   ,       .

Their companions were: a man whose appearance indicated that he had spent his life on the ocean - something like a simple sailor, and a young girl with a meek, modest and intelligent expression on her lively, active face.   : ,   ,        -   ,     ,     ,  .

To the west - and this was the only direction in which the distance opened up before the travelers - the gaze glided over an ocean of mighty, magnificent foliage, colored with all the shades characteristic of the forty-second degree of north latitude.                 ,  ,   ,      . Elm with a graceful weeping top, various species of maple, numerous species of American oak, broad-leaved linden intertwined their branches, forming a wide leafy carpet that was lost in the distance, at the very horizon.     ,   ,    ,     ,    ,  ,   . Here and there, among the clearings, one could see lower-growing birches, aspens with trembling leaves, various species of hazel - inhabitants of those countries where nature is not very rich; They seemed pitiful and inconspicuous among the proud, mighty trees.  ,        ,    ,       ,     ;       ,  . In places, the straight, tall trunk of a pine rose above the sea of greenery, like a huge obelisk, skillfully erected in the middle of a leafy valley.         ,   ,     . Around - an endless green distance, a gentle play of colors and shades, all the iridescent lights and shadows; the solemn tranquility of nature inspired a feeling bordering on awe...    ,     ,     ;     ,   

Uncle, said the surprised and enchanted girl to her companion, barely touching his hand to climb onto the platform, this is like the ocean that you love so much!  ,        ,     ,    ,     ,    !

- This is what ignorance and a girl's imagination mean, Magnet!        , ! (This is what the sailor often called his niece, hinting at her attractiveness. (     ,    .) Only a child can compare this handful of leaves with the Atlantic Ocean! )          ! All these treetops could be attached to Neptune's waistcoat instead of a bouquet.            .

In your words, uncle, there seems to be more of a joke than the truth.    , , ,  ,  . Look: miles stretch after miles, and only leaves and leaves are visible. :    ,      . What else would you see on the ocean?        ?

What else?   ? repeated the uncle, moving impatiently the elbow that his niece was touching; his hands, crossed on his chest, were tucked into the lapel of his red cloth waistcoat, which was the kind they wore at that time.   ,   ,   ;  ,   ,        ,    . But where, where is the foam of the waves, the blue water, the breakers, the whales, the tornadoes and the eternal rolling of the waves in this patch of forest, my dear?    ,   ,  , , ,         ,  ?

- And where are these tree tops, this solemn silence, these fragrant leaves and beautiful greenery on the ocean, uncle?       ,   ,        , ?

- Nonsense, Magnet!  , ! If you knew anything about this, you would know that green water promises death to a sailor.    -   ,   ,      .

- But the greenery of the trees is a completely different matter.        . Do you hear that sound?   ? Its the breeze breathing in the leaves.     .

- If you could listen to the breath of the northwest wind on the open sea, child, and then you would talk about the breath of the wind!      -    , ,        ! But where are the storms and hurricanes, where are the monsoons and east winds in this forest corner?      ,          ? And what fish swim under this quiet surface?        ?

The place where we are now proves that there have been storms here, uncle; and if there are no fish under these trees, then there are animals.  ,     , ,    , ;       ,   .

Well, I dont know, answered the uncle in a didactic sailors tone.  ,  ,      . We were told many stories in Albania about wild animals that we would supposedly meet, and yet we have not yet seen anything that could frighten even a seal.         ,     , , ,     ,      . I dont think that any of your land animals could compare with the shark of the southern latitudes!  ,  -         !

Look!  ! cried the niece, more captivated by the majestic beauty of the forest than by her uncles arguments.   ,     ,    . Do you see the smoke rising there, above the trees?  , ,  ,  ? Isnt there a dwelling there?    ?

- I see, I see.  , . Smoke is a sign that people live here, and that is worth a thousand trees.    ,    ,     . We must show it to Arouhed, who can pass by the port without noticing it.   ,    ,   . Where there is smoke, there is a galley. ,   ,   .

The old sailor took his hand out of his doublet, lightly touched the shoulder of the Indian standing nearby, and pointed to a puff of smoke that was rising above the foliage a mile away from them and, spreading out in almost imperceptible streams, disappeared into the air.      ,     ,  ,     ,          ,    ,   .

The Tuscarora was one of those warriors with a proud bearing, which were formerly often met with among the natives of America; although he had often been in settlements and had had the opportunity to become acquainted with the customs and even the language of the whites, he nevertheless retained the wild grandeur and calm dignity of a chief.         ,       ;                ,        . His attitude towards the sailor was friendly, but reserved, since the Indian, who had seen many officers at various military posts, could not help but notice that his companion was only a lower rank.      ,  ,   ,       ,    ,       . Indeed, the calm pride of the Tuscarora inspired such respect that Charles Cap (that was the name of the old sailor) did not allow himself any familiarity in his relations with the Indian, although their acquaintance had already continued for more than a week.   ,      ,    (   )         ,       . However, the sight of smoke struck the sailor no less than the unexpected appearance of a sail on the open sea, and for the first time he risked touching the Indian's shoulder.       ,       ,         .

The keen eye of the Tuscarora instantly noticed the smoke.      . For a moment the Indian stood, rising lightly on his toes, his nostrils flared, like a chamois scenting a new draft in the air, and his gaze fixed motionlessly in that direction, like a hound awaiting his master's shot.    ,    ,  ,  ,     ,       ,   ,    . Then he sank down, and from his chest there burst a low exclamation, a sound soft and gentle, so unlike the harsh cries of an Indian warrior.   ,       ,    ,        . Outwardly he was calm, and only his black eagle eyes peered inquisitively into the leafy distance.    ,           . Both uncle and niece knew very well that their long journey through uninhabited areas was fraught with dangers; but they could not decide whether this smoke, indicating that there were other people near them, was a good or a bad sign.      ,           ;     ,      ,   ,       .

"The Oneidas or Tuscaroras must be near, Arrowhead," said Cap.       , ,   . "Shouldn't we go to them and spend the night in their wigwam?"       ,       ?

There is no wigwam here, Arrowhead answered calmly, there are too many trees.    ,    ,    .

- But there must be Indians here?       ? Perhaps one of your old friends is here, Mr. Arrowhead?  ,  -    ,  ?

 No Tuscarora, no Oneida, no Mohawk.   ,  ,  . This is the paleface's fire.   .

- What the devil!    ! Now this, Magnet, is beyond the understanding of a sailor: we, old sea dogs, can distinguish a sailor's tobacco from a soldier's, and a river sailor's nest from a real sailor's bunk; but, it seems to me, the oldest admiral in His Majesty's fleet would not distinguish the king's smoke from the smoke of a coalman!  , ,    : ,   ,              ; ,  ,              !

The thought that there were human beings in the neighborhood, in this forest wilderness, brought life to the face and eyes of the girl standing near him. ,   ,    ,   ,        . Not knowing what to think - because they both often had occasion to wonder at the knowledge, or rather the instinct, of the Tuscarora - she said:  ,             ,  ,  ,   :

- Paleface's fire!   ! It cannot be, uncle, that he found out about this!   , ,    !

Ten days ago, my dear, I would have been more astonished by this than I am now.    ,  ,      ,  . Let me ask you, Arrowhead, why do you think this is the smoke of a paleface and not of a redskin?    , ,   ,    ,   ?

Damp wood, the warrior answered with the calmness with which a teacher explains an arithmetic problem to a dull student. A lot of dampness means a lot of smoke; a lot of water means black smoke.   ,      ,        ,      ;     .

 But, if you please, Mr. Arrowhead, the smoke is not black and there is not much of it.  ,   ,  ,       . In my opinion, it is as light and airy as that which rises from under the captains kettle when there is nothing on board to light a fire except two or three pieces of wood lying around in the hold.   ,      ,   ,   -  ,     ,   ,  - ,   .

Lots of water, replied Arrowhead, shaking his head.   ,   ,  . The Tuscarora is smart and will not make fire out of water; the paleface has many books, but he burns them all: many books - little knowledge.          ;     ,    :     .

Thats true, said Cap, who had no great reverence for science.   ,  ,   ,      . He shot that arrow into your books, Magnet!        , ! The Indian chief, in his own way, speaks sensibly.   -  . Now tell me, Arrowhead, how far do you reckon we are from that pool you call the Great Lake, and to which we have been making our way for so many days?  , ,   ,   ,   ,            ?

Tuscarora looked at the sailor with an air of calm superiority and replied:          :

 Ontario is like the sky; one sun and a great traveler will see it.     ;        .

Yes, it is true, I can call myself a great traveler; but of all my journeys this was the longest, the least instructive, and the farthest from the ocean.  ,  ,     ;         ,       . If this pool of fresh water is so close to us, Arowhead, and at the same time so large, then a pair of kind eyes should have seen it from here.         , ,       ,         .

"Look," said Arrowhead, extending his hand with calm grace, "Ontario!"  ,   ,     ,  !

Uncle, you are used to shouting land, but you are not yet used to shouting water!  ,    ,      ! Dont you see it?    ?  said the niece, laughing.  , , .

- What, Magnet, do you really think that I dont recognize my native element when its right in front of me?  , ,   ,       ,      ?

But Ontario is not your native element, dear uncle: you are related to salt water, and this is fresh water.        ,  :     ,    .

Such a difference might confuse a young sailor, but not me, old and experienced.          ,   ,   . I would recognize water even in China, my dear!      ,  !

"Ontario!"  ! repeated Arrowhead insistently, again extending his hand to the northwest.    ,     -.

For the first time since his acquaintance with the Tuscarora, Cap looked at him with a certain feeling of contempt; nevertheless, he continued to follow the direction of the chief's hand and eyes, which seemed to point to an unobscured spot in the sky, a little above the leafy plain.            -  ;   ,         , , -,   ,   ,   ,    .

"Yes, yes, that's just what I expected when I left the ocean shore to go to this freshwater pool," said Cap, shrugging his shoulders.  , , -   ,    ,      ,   ,  . "Ontario may be there, and it might as well fit in my pocket.     ,            . I think, however, that when we get there, there will be room enough for our boat to turn around.  , -,     ,       . But, Arrowhead, if there are white men near us, I should like to get within range of them so that I can hail them. , ,     ,          ,     .

Tuscarora nodded his head in assent, and the travelers stepped down from the roots of the fallen tree.      ,       . When they set foot on land, Arrowhead expressed his intention of going to the fire to find out who had lit it; and he suggested to all the others, including his wife, that they return to the boat they had left on the river nearby and await his return there.     ,      , ,   ;   ,      ,     ,    , ,     .

How is that possible, Chief?    , ? objected the old Captain.    . In a country unknown to us, it would be reckless to let the pilot go so far from the ship.              . With your permission, we do not want to break up the company.   ,     .

What does my brother want?     ? asked the Indian sternly, although it was not noticeable that he was offended by such obvious mistrust.    ,    ,      .

- Your company, Mr. Arrowhead, and nothing more.   ,  ,   . I will go with you and talk to strangers myself.          .

Tuscarora consented without objection and again ordered his patient and submissive wife, whose black and beautiful eyes always looked at him with an expression of respect, fear and love, to return to the boat. But here, thanks to the Magnet, a hitch occurred.         ,   ,            ,   ,         . Determined and possessing sufficient willpower under difficult circumstances, she was still a woman.         ,     . The thought of being abandoned by both protectors in the middle of the endless forest greatly alarmed her. ,         ,   . The girl declared that she wanted to follow her uncle.  ,     .

After a long period of inactivity in the boat, a walk will be good for me, my dear uncle, she added, and the blush again appeared on her face, which had turned pale, no matter how hard she tried to appear calm.           ,  ,   ,       ,  ,      . Among the strangers, there may be women too.   ,  ,   .

- Well then, let's go, child; the whole distance is no more than a cable's length and we will return an hour before sunset.    , , ;             .

Having received permission, the girl, whose real name was Mabel Dungam, prepared to go with them; meanwhile, June Dew - that was the name of Arouhed's wife - went to the river without question: she was accustomed to obedience, solitude and the darkness of the forests.  , ,      ,    ;              :    ,    .

The three travelers emerged from the windfall, skirted this tangled labyrinth, and finally walked along the edge of the forest in the right direction.     ,            . A few glances were enough for Arrowhead, but old Kap, before entrusting himself to the darkness of the forest thicket, consulted his pocket compass to determine which direction to go to reach the smoke.      ,   ,      ,    ,     ,   .

Guiding by instinct, Magnet, may be proper for an Indian, but it is indecent for a learned man who knows the properties of this needle, said the uncle, following the light tracks of the Tuscarora.     , ,  ,   ,    ,    ,   ,     . Believe me, America would never have been discovered if Columbus had nothing but nostrils.   ,     ,       ,  . Friend Arrowhead, have you ever seen such a machine?  ,   -  ?

The Indian looked back, glanced at the compass and answered with importance:  ,        :

 The eye of the pale face.   . Tuscarora looks with his head.    . Salt Water (that's what the Indian called his companion) is now the whole eye; has no tongue.   (    )   ;   .




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   ,     (https://www.litres.ru/book/fenimor-kuper-34067573/sledopyt-anglo-russkaia-bilingva-74460343/)  .

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