Заборонений ліс
XVI. The Witch Hunt
ItwasclearthataconsiderablenumberwereonChasehope’sside,forthementionofthemansehadwakenedacuriousdisquietinmanyfaces.Davidsolvedtheproblembydraggingoutfromthebackofthegranaryawoodensledgeusedfordrawingpeats.Hecovereditwithstrawandlaidthewomanonit.
"Reiverslaw!"hecried."YoutaketheoneendandI’lltaketheother."
Thefarmeradvanced,andforaseconditlookedasifhemightbepreventedbyforce.Heturnedfierceeyesonthecrowd."Ay,sir.I’lldaeyourbidding....Andifonymanliftshishandtopreventme,he’llgetasarkfu’o’brokenbanes."
Thestrangecortègemovedoutintothedarkness,withoutopposition.Itmayhavebeenthehonestfeelingofthemajoritythatletitgo;itmayhavebeenthetruculentReiverslaw,orDavidwithhiswhitefaceandtheswordbobbingathisbelt:butmostlikelyitwasthefactthatMarkRiddelwalkedbytheminister’sside.
BessieTodddiedjustbeforemorning.Isobelreceivedheroldgossipwithtearsandlamentations,laidherinthebestbed,washedandsalvedherwounds,andstrovetoreviveherwithcordials.Butthetrialhadbeentoohardforafrailwomanfardowninthevaleofyears.Davidwatchedallnightbyherbedside,andthoughattheendshebecameconscious,hermindwashopelesslyunhinged,andshebabblednonsenseandscrapsofchildishrhymes.Ifhecouldnotpraywithher,heprayedbesideher,pleadingpassionatelyforthedepartingsoul.
AsIsobelstraightenedthebodyandclosedtheeyes,sheaskedanxiouslyiftherehadbeenanyspacegivenforrepentance.
Davidshookhishead