Запретный лес
XIII. White Magic
"Thesebundlesarebeddingandfood.Upwiththem,sir,andIwillguideCaptainKerr.Ihavealsobroughtacoveredlantern,whichwilllightusthroughthepinesbetterthanyourcandle,Mr.David.La,thisisamerryventure."
Thesenseofcompany,thepresenceofKatrineandthesoldier,thenatureoftheerrand,aboveallthepreposterousfigureofIsobel,whoseterrorsoftheWoodwerescarcelyoutweighedbyherloyaltytohermasterandhercuriosityaboutthegirl,tookfromtheoccasionforDavidallsenseofawe,andevenendoweditwithaspiceoffunandholiday.Themoodlastedtilltheyhadcrossedtheboundaryglenandenteredthepines;itenduredevenwhen,feelingtheirwayalongthefootofthelowcliffs,theylookeddownwardandsawbythelanternlightaneeriewhitestoneinadimglade.Thegirlguidedthemtoadryhollowwhereanarchofrockmadeakindofroofandwhereayardoffaspringbubbledamongthestones.Itwasshe,andnotIsobel,whomadeacouchofbranchesandfirboughsonwhichshelaidthedeerskinsandplaidsshehadbrought.Itwasshe,andnotDavid,whogathereddrysticksagainstthemorningfireandsawthatKerrhadflintandsteelandtinder.Itwasshe,too,whomadealarderofashelfintherock,whereshestoredthefood,andfixedcertainhoursofthedayforfurtherprovisioning,andenjoinedavariationofroutestopreventsuspicion.ItwasshefinallywhopresentedKerrwithapistol,shot,andpowder--belonging,itistobefeared,tooneoftheimprisonedtroopers--andwhosawhimtobedlikeanursewithachild.
