Запретный лес
X. What the Moon Saw
Aboutnineo’clockinthemulberrygloaminghereachedthecottageoftheGreenshiel.
Threefiguresgreetedhimthere.Onewastheherdoftheouterhirsel,RichieSmail;anotherwasRabPrentice,theherdofthehomehirsel,whosatontheturfdeasatthecottage-endwithhiscrutchbesidehim;thethirdwasReiverslawhimself,whowasalsoseated,smokingapipeoftobacco.
"Ye’reinbrawtime,Mr.Sempill,"saidthelast."Didyepassonyfolkontheroad?"
"Ihaveseennomansincethemorning,excepttheCalidongrievehalfanhoursyne."
"Andthat’sjustasweel.Richie,kindlethecruisie,forourjobisbetterdoneindoors."
Thefeeblelightinthehutrevealedacuriousassembly.Thetwoshepherdshadfacesofportentousgravity,andtheirtwitchingmouthsandrestlesseyeswereproofofanextremediscomfort.Reiverslawworehisusualfriezesmall-clothesandboot-hose,buthehadnocoat,thoughhehadslungonhisarmwhatmighthavebeenthatgarment.Heflungthisonthesettle."It’sowerhettowearthatmucklemaudtillthetimecomes.Wemaungettobusiness,Mr.Sempill,foryoushouldbeontheroadaforethemoonrises.We’reheretogetourplanstrauchtitootandthere’sjimp[scarcely]time.RabPrentice,ye’vebeentwicewi’metoChasehopeinthelastse’endays.Yemindthebrawredcockthewifehasgotten?"
"Fine,"saidtheshepherd.
"There’snosicanotherfowlinthecountryside?"
"ThatI’llengage."
"ThereforeifIshowyethemornapluckin’o’redfeathers,ye’lljalouseit’stheChasehopecock?"
"Ay.ButI’mnogaunintiltheWud...
