Запретный лес
XX. The Judgment
TheycametotheedgeoftheWood,wheretheroadbenttotherightamongthepinerootstowardstheglenofWoodileeburn.
"Wedismounthere,"saidDavid,"forwecannotrideamongthetrees.Thebeastswillfindtheirwayhome."
Chasehopecriedout,andhisvoicenowwasstrangledwithterror.
"TheWud!NotheWud!Yedaurnagangthere...."Heraisedhisarmandwouldhavestruck,butDavidcaughthiswrist.Heoverbalancedhimselfandrolledtotheground,andinasecondDavidwasbesidehim.Thehorses,alarmedbythescuffle,dashedupthetrack.
Fearmadethemanviolent.HeflunghimselfonDavid,butforallhisweightfoundhimselftosseddownlikeafeather.Wasthissternfigurewiththesinewsofirontheministerwhomhehaddespised?
Thequietvoicespoke.
"YouaregrossandelderlyandIhavetheexercisedstrengthofyouth.Atnotimecouldyouhopetostrivewithme.ButthisnightthemightoftheLordisinme,andIcouldbreakyoulikeastraw....Youwillcomewithme,thoughIhavetodingyousenselessandcarryyou."
Themanscrambledtohisfeetandmadetheplaceechowithhiscriesforhelp.Noanswercame,excepttheflapofdisturbednightbirds.
"Wherewouldyehavemegang?"hewhimpered.
"IntotheWood--totheplaceyouknowof.EphraimCaird,thisnightIgiveyouthechanceofsalvation.Imayhaveerred--myeyesmayhavedeceivedme--itmaynothavebeenyouthatcaperedandpipedinadog’smasktoyonlostcrew.IfIhavebeenwrong,itwillbeprovenyonder.IfIhavebeenright,youwillbegivenachanceofrepentance.
