Запретный лес

           Eh,sirs,puirGibbiewasnearhisend,forIcouldnastirafoot,butaforehewantometherecam’anithersound,andassureasdeathitwaslikeahound’syawp.Atthathegangsofflikethewund,andthenextIseeno’himhewasskelpin’throughtheflowemoss,cryin’likeaneintorment,andIstotteredhametogetAmosRitchietotak’hisflintlockandstopyonawfu’skellochs.I’llneversleeptillIkenthatthelostsoulo’himisfreeo’thebody."

           "Anotherhastoldmytale."Markspokeinavoiceoutofwhichallscornhadgone,avoicepenetratinglyquietandsolemn."I,too,haveseenhimthatoncewasEphraimCaird,andIshudderattheswiftnessofthejudgment.ThereisnomanorwomaninWoodileethatdoesnotkenthathewastheleaderofthecoventhatpractisedthedevil’sartsintheWood,buthehadanameforgodliness,andhehadthemeasureoftheblindfoolsthatcallthemselvesministersofGod.--Sitstill,sir!Iwouldbelothtodrawonanunarmedman,butmysworderethishaspunishedvermin....Hehasswornfalselyagainsttheinnocent,andyestreenatKirkAllerheprevailed.ButinthenighttheLordsentforthHisvengeance--askmenothow,forIdonotknow--andthisdayheisrunningdementedonthehills,pursuedbythedogsofhisownterrors.Goandlookforhim.Youwillfindhiminabog-holeorapoolintheburn.Buryhisbodydecently,butburyitfacedownward,sothatyouspeedhimonhisroad."

           Therewassuchasilencethattheraspofastoolontheearthenfloorstruckthehearerslikeathunderclap.