Викрадений
Chapter 14
Thenhestoodupintheboatandaddressedmealongwhile,speakingfastandwithmanywavingsofhishand.ItoldhimIhadnoGaelic;andatthishebecameveryangry,andIbegantosuspecthethoughthewastalkingEnglish.Listeningveryclose,Icaughttheword“whateffer”severaltimes;butalltherestwasGaelicandmighthavebeenGreekandHebrewforme.
“Whatever,”saidI,toshowhimIhadcaughtaword.
“Yes,yes—yes,yes,”sayshe,andthenhelookedattheothermen,asmuchastosay,“ItoldyouIspokeEnglish,”andbeganagainashardaseverintheGaelic.
ThistimeIpickedoutanotherword,“tide.”ThenIhadaflashofhope.IrememberedhewasalwayswavinghishandtowardsthemainlandoftheRoss.
“Doyoumeanwhenthetideisout—?”Icried,andcouldnotfinish.
“Yes,yes,”saidhe.“Tide.”
AtthatIturnedtailupontheirboat(wheremyadviserhadoncemorebeguntotee-heewithlaughter),leapedbackthewayIhadcome,fromonestonetoanother,andsetoffrunningacrosstheisleasIhadneverrunbefore.InabouthalfanhourIcameoutupontheshoresofthecreek;and,sureenough,itwasshrunkintoalittletrickleofwater,throughwhichIdashed,notabovemyknees,andlandedwithashoutonthemainisland.
Asea-bredboywouldnothavestayedadayonEarraid;whichisonlywhattheycallatidalislet,andexceptinthebottomoftheneaps,canbeenteredandlefttwiceineverytwenty-fourhours,eitherdry-shod,oratthemostbywading
