Мхи старой усадьбы

           Wejourneyedmanydaysthroughthewoods,tillatlengthovercomewithhungerandweariness,myfriendlaydownandbesoughtmetoleavehim;forheknewthat,ifIremained,webothmustperish;and,withbutlittlehopeofobtainingsuccor,Iheapedapillowofdryleavesbeneathhisheadandhastenedon."

           "Anddidyoureturnintimetosavehim?"askedReuben,hangingonMalvin’swordsasiftheyweretobepropheticofhisownsuccess.

           "Idid,"answeredtheother."Icameuponthecampofahuntingpartybeforesunsetofthesameday.Iguidedthemtothespotwheremycomradewasexpectingdeath;andheisnowahaleandheartymanuponhisownfarm,farwithinthefrontiers,whileIliewoundedhereinthedepthsofthewilderness."

           Thisexample,powerfulinaffectingReuben’sdecision,wasaided,unconsciouslytohimself,bythehiddenstrengthofmanyanothermotive.RogerMalvinperceivedthatthevictorywasnearlywon.

           "Now,go,myson,andHeavenprosperyou!"hesaid."Turnnotbackwithyourfriendswhenyoumeetthem,lestyourwoundsandwearinessovercomeyou;butsendhitherwardtwoorthree,thatmaybespared,tosearchforme;andbelieveme,Reuben,myheartwillbelighterwitheverystepyoutaketowardshome."Yettherewas,perhaps,achangebothinhiscountenanceandvoiceashespokethus;for,afterall,itwasaghastlyfatetobeleftexpiringinthewilderness.

           ReubenBourne,buthalfconvincedthathewasactingrightly,atlengthraisedhimselffromthegroundandpreparedhimselfforhisdeparture.