Викрадений

           Iwasscarcebackonmyrock(whereIwentalwaysthefirstthingafterIhadeaten)beforeIobservedaboatcomingdowntheSound,andwithherhead,asIthought,inmydirection.

           Ibeganatoncetohopeandfearexceedingly;forIthoughtthesemenmighthavethoughtbetteroftheircrueltyandbecomingbacktomyassistance.Butanotherdisappointment,suchasyesterday’s,wasmorethanIcouldbear.Iturnedmyback,accordingly,uponthesea,anddidnotlookagaintillIhadcountedmanyhundreds.Theboatwasstillheadingfortheisland.ThenexttimeIcountedthefullthousand,asslowlyasIcould,myheartbeatingsoastohurtme.Andthenitwasoutofallquestion.ShewascomingstraighttoEarraid!

           Icouldnolongerholdmyselfback,butrantotheseasideandout,fromonerocktoanother,asfarasIcouldgo.ItisamarvelIwasnotdrowned;forwhenIwasbroughttoastandatlast,mylegsshookunderme,andmymouthwassodry,Imustwetitwiththesea-waterbeforeIwasabletoshout.

           Allthistimetheboatwascomingon;andnowIwasabletoperceiveitwasthesameboatandthesametwomenasyesterday.ThisIknewbytheirhair,whichtheonehadofabrightyellowandtheotherblack.Butnowtherewasathirdmanalongwiththem,wholookedtobeofabetterclass.

           Assoonastheywerecomewithineasyspeech,theyletdowntheirsailandlayquiet.Inspiteofmysupplications,theydrewnonearerin,andwhatfrightenedmemostofall,thenewmantee-hee’dwithlaughterashetalkedandlookedatme.