Заборонений ліс

           Ay,he’snotwentymilesacrossthehills,campin’withhisEdomitessomewhereonYarrow,aswelcomeassnawinhairst.Theladsandlassesarea’fleyedouto’thesheilin’s,fortheYerlo’Douglas--wearyfa’him!--andhisproudhorsemenaredrovin’owerfraeClydelikecrawsintheback-end.Wecannamovemannorbestial,andfolkwinnaridetheroadsexceptinapack,andtheytellmethatAmosRitchiewi’hisauldfirelockwassentfortoconvoytheministero’BoldtoKirkAller.Theweansdaurnakeekpastthedoorstane,andJohnnieDowwinnaganghisrounds,andhe’sbeenlyin’fouatLuckyWeir’sthaethreedays.There’snaewarkdoneina’Woodilee,norliketobedone--it’sadowg’slifewe’vegotten,muckleeaseandmucklehunger."

           "Buttheplacehassufferednoharm?"

           "Noyet,forbyeaweddero’RichieSmail’sthatDouglas’sdragoonsbranderedandateyestreenattheRedSwire.Butonymomentavialmaybeopened.--WhathindersMontrosetocomerauvagin’thisairt?forifit’smeatanddrinkhe’sseekingforhissodgers,WoodileeisabienbitasideyonbareYarrowhills.ForbyeCalidon’snothatfar,andtheytellmethatourauldhirplin’laird,whasuldratherbethinkin’o’hislatterend,ishighinthecommando’theungodly,andhimandyonsweirin’TamPurveswillberampin’likelionsintheirpride.Hech,sir,ourkindlyfolkareintheheto’thefurnace,inwhilktheywilleitherbebrunttoanass,orcomeoutpurifiedasfinegowd....