Запретный лес

           SandyNicollsawhiminthegloamingmovingwithleapswhichwerebeyondamortal’spoweracrossCharlie’sMoss.Later,atthelittlelonelyale-houseofKilwauk,hewasobservedbyadrovertocrossthepeat-road,andthedrover--hisnamewasGrieve--sworetohisdyingdaythatbesidethetravellermovedacoal-blackshadow.Therewasamoonthatnight,andRobbieHogg,herdinGlenwhappen,sawthefearfultwosome--manandshadow,mananddevil--flittingacrossthebraesofCaerdrochit.Atoneinthemorningapackman,lateontheroad,sawthefigureontheEdinburghhighway,and,thoughhehadbeendrinkingandwasthereforeadoubtfulwitness,rememberedthathecouldnotbeclearwhetheritwasonemanortwo,andhadbeensoberedbytheportent....

           Atthispoint,whenallthatremainedwasanawfulimagining,itwasthecustomofahouseholdwherethetalewastoldtosingwithdrythroatsthetwenty-thirdPsalm.

           Threehoursafterthefuddledpackmanwasleftrubbinghiseyes,twomenenteredthebackroomofalittlehostelryinLeithwithinastone’sthrowoftheharbour.ThedustofmoorburnandtheAprilroadswasonthem,andoneofthetwowaslimpingandveryweary.

           Theonlyoccupantoftheroomwasamaninagreatseaman’scoatwhowaseatingahastymeal.Herosetohisfeetwithanexclamation.

           "Mark!"hecried."InthenameofGod,man..."

           "Whendoesthesloopsail?"

           "Inthenexthourwiththetide."

           "TheLordbethanked!...You’llhavethisgentlemanandmeasfellow-passengers,Patie..."

           "Wheesht,man.TheykenmeinthisplaceasJensGunnersen,askipperoutofDenmark...