Запретный лес
XXI. The Going of the Minister
TheministerofBoldconcludedinawhirlofeloquencewithhisfavouriteinstanceofBarakthesonofAbinoam--howwithtenthousandmenofNaphtaliandZebulunhewentdownfromthemountTaborandfelluponSisera,thecaptainofthehostsofCanaan,sothatnotamanwasleft.HelikenedhimselfinallhumilitytoDeborahtheprophetess;hecalleduponthepeopleoftheLord,evenasshehadcalleduponBarak,toriseanddestroytheCanaaniteswithoutquestioningandwithoutrespite."Letussmitethechariotsandthehostwiththeedgeofthesword,forinthisdayhaththeLorddeliveredSiseraintoourhand,andletuspursueaftertheremnanteventoHaroshethoftheGentiles!"
"Haroshethofyourgrannie!"
Theminister’svoicehadstopped,and,intheprofoundhushthatfollowed,thefourwordsfellwithastartlingclearness.Theblasphemyofthemwasnotdecreasedbythetone,whichwasofmeasurelesscontempt.ThescaredeyesofthepeoplesawMarkRiddel,forwhomsoldierswerenowbeatingthecountryside,standingeasyandarrogantbeforethepulpit,andthosenearhimdrewawaytheirstoolsinpanic.Hehadnotthelookofahuntedman,andthoughhispresencehadalwayswonhimrespectinWoodileeheseemednowtohaveexpandedintosomeonemostformidableandunfamiliar.Heworethesameclothesashehadworninfieldandmarket,butheheldhimselfverydifferentlyfromthefriendlycronywhohadsatinLuckyWeir’s.Athisside,too,swungalongsword.
Mr.Proudfootlookedboldlydownonhim.
"WhoareyouthatdarestocastscornupontheWord?"heaskedinafirmvoice.
