Похищенный
Chapter 14
Afteralittle,mywaywasstoppedbyacreekorinletofthesea,whichseemedtorunprettydeepintotheland;andasIhadnomeanstogetacross,Imustneedschangemydirectiontogoabouttheendofit.Itwasstilltheroughestkindofwalking;indeedthewhole,notonlyofEarraid,butoftheneighbouringpartofMull(whichtheycalltheRoss)isnothingbutajumbleofgraniterockswithheatherinamong.AtfirstthecreekkeptnarrowingasIhadlookedtosee;butpresentlytomysurpriseitbegantowidenoutagain.AtthisIscratchedmyhead,buthadstillnonotionofthetruth:untilatlastIcametoarisingground,anditburstuponmeallinamomentthatIwascastuponalittlebarrenisle,andcutoffoneverysidebythesaltseas.
Insteadofthesunrisingtodryme,itcameontorain,withathickmist;sothatmycasewaslamentable.
Istoodintherain,andshivered,andwonderedwhattodo,tillitoccurredtomethatperhapsthecreekwasfordable.BackIwenttothenarrowestpointandwadedin.Butnotthreeyardsfromshore,Iplumpedinheadoverears;andifeverIwasheardofmore,itwasratherbyGod’sgracethanmyownprudence.Iwasnowetter(forthatcouldhardlybe),butIwasallthecolderforthismishap;andhavinglostanotherhopewasthemoreunhappy.
Andnow,allatonce,theyardcameinmyhead.Whathadcarriedmethroughtheroostwouldsurelyservemetocrossthislittlequietcreekinsafety.WiththatIsetoff,undaunted,acrossthetopoftheisle,tofetchandcarryitback.
