Запретный лес

           Ifyouaremortal,Isummonyoutorepent--ifyouaredemons,Icommandyoutoreturntohimthatsentyou."

           Hehadagreatvoice,butinthatcompanytherewerenoearstohear.Thepipescreechedandthedancewenton.

           ThentheministerofWoodileealsowentmad.Apassionsuchashehadneverknownstiffenedeverynerveandsinew.Heflunghimselfintothethrong,intothatreekofuncleanbestialpeltsandsweatingbodies.Hereachedthealtar,seizedtheclothonit,andsweptitanditscontentstotheground.Thenhebrokeoutofthecircleandmadeforthecaperingpiper,whoseemedtohimthechiefoftheorgiasts.

           InhisflightthroughthewoodDavidhadlosthisstaff,andhadasweaponbuthistwohands."Aroyntyou,Sathanas,"hecried,snatchedthepipefromthedog-facedfigure,andshivereditonhismaskedhead.

           Withthepauseinthemusicthedancestoppedsuddenly,andinaninstantthewholeflockwereonhimlikeaweaselpack.Hesawlong-nailedclawsstretchedtowardshisface,hesawblankeyessuddenlyfireintoalustofhate.Buthehadasecond’sstartofthem,andthatsecondhegavetothepiper.Theman--forthethingwasclearlyhuman--haddealtamightybuffetathisassailant’sface,whichmissedit,andstruckthepointoftheshoulder.Davidwaswhirledround,but,beingyoungandnimble,heslippedinundertheother’sguard,andhadhishandsonthehound-mask.Themanwasverypowerful,buttheminister’skneewasinhisgroin,andhetoppledover,whileDavidtorethecoveringofwoodandskinfromhishead