| A brook also came brawling down the sides of the adjacent hills, and found its way into the lake on the southern side of the point. It had cut for itself a deep passage through some of the higher portions of the ground, and, in later days, when this spot has become subjected to the uses of civilization, by its windings and shaded banks, it has become no mean accessory in contributing to the beauty of the place. | Ручеек, сбегавший со склона холма, прокладывал себе путь по южному берегу мыса. |
| This brook lay west of the encampment, and its waters found their way into the great reservoir of that region on the same side, and quite near to the spot chosen for the fire. | Ручеек этот протекал немного западнее лагеря и впадал в озеро невдалеке от костра. |
| All these peculiarities, so far as circumstances allowed, had been noted by Deerslayer, and explained to his friend. | Зверобой подметил все эти топографические особенности и постарался растолковать их своему другу. |
| The reader will understand that the little rise in the ground, that lay behind the Indian encampment, greatly favoured the secret advance of the two adventurers. It prevented the light of the fire diffusing itself on the ground directly in the rear, although the land fell away towards the water, so as to leave what might be termed the left, or eastern flank of the position unprotected by this covering. We have said unprotected, though that is not properly the word, since the knoll behind the huts and the fire offered a cover for those who were now stealthily approaching, rather than any protection to the Indians. | Под прикрытием холма, расположенного позади индейского становища Зверобой и Чингачгук незаметно двигались вперед... Холм мешал свету от костра распространяться прямо над землей. Два смельчака крадучись приблжались к лагерю. |
| Deerslayer did not break through the fringe of bushes immediately abreast of the canoe, which might have brought him too suddenly within the influence of the light, since the hillock did not extend to the water; but he followed the beach northerly until he had got nearly on the opposite side of the tongue of land, which brought him under the shelter of the low acclivity, and consequently more in the shadow. | Зверобой решил, что не следует выходить из кустов, против которых стаяла пирога: этот путь слишком быстро вывел бы их на освещенное место, потому что холм не примыкал к самой воде. Для начала молодые люди двинулись вдоль берега к северу и дошли почти до основания мыса. Тут они очутились в густой тени у подножия пологого берегового склона. |
| As soon as the friends emerged from the bushes, they stopped to reconnoitre. | Выбравшись из кустов, друзья остановились, чтобы оглядеться. |
| The fire was still blazing behind the little ridge, casting its light upward into the tops of the trees, producing an effect that was more pleasing than advantageous. | За холмом все еще пылал костер, отбрасывая свет на вершины деревьев. Багровые блики, трепетавшие в листве, были очень эффектны, но наблюдателям они только мешали. |
| Still the glare had its uses; for, while the background was in obscurity, the foreground was in strong light; exposing the savages and concealing their foes. | Все же зарево от костра оказывало друзьям некоторую услугу, так как они оста" вались в тени, а дикари находились на свету. |
| Profiting by the latter circumstance, the young men advanced cautiously towards the ridge, Deerslayer in front, for he insisted on this arrangement, lest the Delaware should be led by his feelings into some indiscretion. | Пользуясь этим, молодые люди стали приближаться к вершине холма. Зверобой, по собственному настоянию, шел впереди, опасаясь, как бы делавар, обуреваемый слишком пылкими чувствами, не совершил какого-нибудь опрометчивого поступка. |
