Алая чума

           Whiletheothertwo,aidedbythedogs,assembledthegoatsandstartedthemforthetrailthroughtheforest,Edwinstayedbytheoldmanandguidedhiminthesamedirection. Whentheyreachedtheoldrightofway,Edwinstoppedsuddenlyandlookedback. Hare-LipandHoo-Hooandthedogsandthegoatspassedon. Edwinwaslookingatasmallherdofwildhorseswhichhadcomedownonthehardsand. Therewereatleasttwentyofthem,youngcoltsandyearlingsandmares,ledbyabeautifulstallionwhichstoodinthefoamattheedgeofthesurf,witharchedneckandbrightwildeyes,sniffingthesaltairfromoffthesea. 

           “Whatisit?”Granserqueried. 

           “Horses,”wastheanswer. “FirsttimeIeverseen’emonthebeach. It’sthemountainlionsgettingthickerandthickeranddriving’emdown.” 

           Thelowsunshotredshaftsoflight,fan-shaped,upfromacloud-tumbledhorizon. Andcloseathand,inthewhitewasteofshore-lashedwaters,thesea-lions,bellowingtheiroldprimevalchant,hauledupoutoftheseaontheblackrocksandfoughtandloved. 

           “Comeon,Granser,”Edwinprompted. Andoldmanandboy,skin-cladandbarbaric,turnedandwentalongtherightofwayintotheforestinthewakeofthegoats.