Запретный лес
VIII. The Second Blast
Forweeksonendhewouldbeawayfromhome,andhewasheardofinGallowayandthewestandasfarsouthastheBorder,sothatspeculationabouthisdoingsbecameafavouritepastimeamonghisneighbours.Heneithersoldnorboughtintheparish,andhekepthisowncounsel,buthisprofessionwasclearenoughhadtherebeeneyestosee.Forhewasdealerandmiddlemanaswellasfarmer,andinadaywhenstockandproducescarcelymovedbeyondparishbounds,hesoldandboughtinoutlyingmarkets.Inadistrictofhome-keepershewasthesoletraveller.
Fewlikedhim,fortherewasalwaysanundertoneofsatireinhisspeech.Butallfearedhim,forhistemperwasonahair-trigger.Drinkmadehimquarrelsome,andthespenceatLuckyWeir’shadseensomeuglybusiness,sincewithhimblowfollowedfastonword.Threeyearsbeforehehadburiedhiswife,therewerenochildren,andhelivedatReiverslawwithanagedcousinforhousekeeper,whowashalfblindandwhollydeaf.Hisattendanceatthekirkwasfarfromexemplary;inwintertherewerethedriftsandthefullbogstodetainhim,andinsummerhewasasoftenasnotonhistravels.TheSession,whodidnotlovehim,hadtalkedofcitinghimtoappearbeforethem,butintheendtheyseemedtoshrinkfrombellingsoformidableacat.
Attheheadofthelittlepass,whichinthatcountryiscalleda"slack,"hehaltedandletDavidapproachhim.
"Aguiddaytoye,sir,"hecried."We’llletBessgetherwind,forit’salanggaitfraeCrawfordjohn.Iradeoweryestereentoseethesma’CumberlandsheepthattheLowtherherdsaretryingonyonhills.
