Похищенный

           ThereisaprettyhighrockonthenorthwestofEarraid,which(becauseithadaflattopandoverlookedtheSound)Iwasmuchinthehabitoffrequenting;notthateverIstayedinoneplace,savewhenasleep,mymiserygivingmenorest.Indeed,Iworemyselfdownwithcontinualandaimlessgoingsandcomingsintherain.

           Assoon,however,asthesuncameout,Ilaydownonthetopofthatrocktodrymyself.ThecomfortofthesunshineisathingIcannottell.Itsetmethinkinghopefullyofmydeliverance,ofwhichIhadbeguntodespair;andIscannedtheseaandtheRosswithafreshinterest.Onthesouthofmyrock,apartoftheislandjuttedoutandhidtheopenocean,sothataboatcouldthuscomequitenearmeuponthatside,andIbenonethewiser.

           Well,allofasudden,acoblewithabrownsailandapairoffishersaboardofit,cameflyingroundthatcorneroftheisle,boundforIona.Ishoutedout,andthenfellonmykneesontherockandreachedupmyhandsandprayedtothem.Theywerenearenoughtohear—Icouldevenseethecolouroftheirhair;andtherewasnodoubtbuttheyobservedme,fortheycriedoutintheGaelictongue,andlaughed.Buttheboatneverturnedaside,andflewon,rightbeforemyeyes,forIona.

           Icouldnotbelievesuchwickedness,andranalongtheshorefromrocktorock,cryingonthempiteouslyevenaftertheywereoutofreachofmyvoice,Istillcriedandwavedtothem;andwhentheywerequitegone,Ithoughtmyheartwouldhaveburst.AllthetimeofmytroublesIweptonlytwice.