Заборонений ліс
XVI. The Witch Hunt
"
ThetruthpenetratedslowlytoReiverslaw’sfoggybrain,butintheendhesawit.
"God’scurseonhim,butye’remayberight.Whatareyeettlin’,sir?GiemethewordandI’llcomeinbyandwringthetruthouto’himwi’myhandsathisgutsythrapple."
"Bidewhereyouare,andletnoneleavethisplaceunlessIbidyou.IwillseeifIcangetjusticedone."
ButwhenReiverslawopenedtheheavydoortolethimenter,thefirstglancetoldDavidthathehadcometoolate.Thegreatemptyplacehadstrawpiledatoneend,andonabarrelinthecentreaflickeringlantern.Byit,onanupturnedbarrow,satthepricker,apaperinhishandandaninkhornslungroundhisneck,hisfacewearingasmirkingsatisfaction.Hehadoncebeenaschoolmaster,andatthismomenthelookedthepartagain.Behindhim,sittingonkegsorsquattedonthefloor,wereadozenmen--Chasehopeathiselbow,Mirehope,themiller,PeterPennecuik,NetherFennan--Davidsawonlyafewfacesinthedimlight.DaftGibbiebysomemeansorotherhadgainedentrance,andhadperchedhimselfinacreviceofthewall,whencehislongshoelesslegsdangledoverChasehope’shead.
Onthestrawbehindthelanternlaythewitch.Hergreyhairhadfallenroundhernakedshoulders,andthatandaraggedpetticoatseemedheronlycovering.EveninthemirkDavidcouldseethecruelconsequencesoftorture.Herfeetwereblackandswollen,andherhands,withdislocatedthumbs,weresplayedoutonthestrawasiftheywerenolongerpartsofherbody.
