Запретный лес

           ASabbathhushfellontheglen,peopleshuttheirdoorsandsatwithinattheirprayers,andthatbestseeding-groundforplague,alivelyterror,wasamplyprepared.

           PeterPennecuikdiedineighthours.Therewasnoheartintheman,andinsicknesshiscommandofpiousphrasesfellawayfromhim,andhepassedoutoflifeinawhimperingmisery.Itwasnotanedifyingdeath-bedforonewhohadbeenanotableprofessor.ButverysoonPeterwasforgotten--forhewasanoldmanandripeforhisend--astheyoungandstrongwere,onebyone,struckdown.AmosRitchie’swife,Ailie,followed--thelesstobewonderedat,forshehadalwaysbeenfrail.ButwhenJessMorisonatChasehope-foot,dark-browed,high-coloured,andnotyettwenty,swoonedasshedrewwateratthewell,anddiedindeliriumbeforeevening,fearintheparishbecamepanic.TheyoungherdatWindyways,thetrimmestladintheglen,andthemiller’sman,wholookedasgnarledasanoakandasstrongasamill-wheel,followed.Butthetragedywasthechildren.Twoofthemwerestruckdownforeachgrown-upperson,andperishedwiththespeedofpluckedflowers....Itwasanotherkindofperilfromthatwhicholdfolkrememberedintheyear’10,fornopoxattendeditnoranyoftheusualsores.Theordinaryfirstsymptomwasablindingheadacheandahighfever;thencameaswellingofthethroatandglandsandaquickdelirium.Butinmanycasestherewasnooutwardswelling;themischiefseemedtodescendstraightwaytothelungsandproduceaseverehaemorrhage.