Похищенный
Chapter 20
Andnowhereisenoughsaid;gangyoutoyoursleep,lad,andI’llwatch.”
Accordingly,Ilaydowntosleep;alittlepeatyearthhaddriftedinbetweenthetopofthetworocks,andsomebrackengrewthere,tobeabedtome;thelastthingIheardwasstillthecryingoftheeagles.
IdaresayitwouldbenineinthemorningwhenIwasroughlyawakened,andfoundAlan’shandpresseduponmymouth.
“Wheesht!”hewhispered.“Yeweresnoring.”
“Well,”saidI,surprisedathisanxiousanddarkface,“andwhynot?”
Hepeeredovertheedgeoftherock,andsignedtometodothelike.
Itwasnowhighday,cloudless,andveryhot.Thevalleywasasclearasinapicture.Abouthalfamileupthewaterwasacampofred-coats;abigfireblazedintheirmidst,atwhichsomewerecooking;andnearby,onthetopofarockaboutashighasours,therestoodasentry,withthesunsparklingonhisarms.Allthewaydownalongtheriver-sidewerepostedothersentries;hereneartogether,therewidelierscattered;someplantedlikethefirst,onplacesofcommand,someonthegroundlevelandmarchingandcounter-marching,soastomeethalf-way.Higheruptheglen,wherethegroundwasmoreopen,thechainofpostswascontinuedbyhorse-soldiers,whomwecouldseeinthedistanceridingtoandfro.Lowerdown,theinfantrycontinued;butasthestreamwassuddenlyswelledbytheconfluenceofaconsiderableburn,theyweremorewidelyset,andonlywatchedthefordsandstepping-stones.
Itookbutonelookatthem,andduckedagainintomyplace.