"William Morris - The Wood Beyond the World" - читать интересную книгу автора (Morris William)

my soul? Where is my heart, and my life? Young man, I rede thee, try no such adventure; but go

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home to thy kindred if thou canst. Moreover, wouldst thou fare alone? The others shall hinder
thee.”


Said Walter: “I am the master; they shall do as I bid them: besides, they will be well pleased to
share my goods amongst them if I give them a writing to clear them of all charges which might
be brought against them.”


“My son! my son!” said the carle, “I pray thee go not to thy death!”


Walter heard him silently, but as if he were persuaded to refrain; and then the old man fell to,
and told him much concerning this Bear-folk and their customs, speaking very freely of them;
but Walter’s ears were scarce open to this talk: whereas he deemed that he should have nought to
do with those wild men; and he durst not ask again concerning the country whereto led the pass
on the northward.




CHAPTER VII

WALTER COMES TO THE SHARD

IN THE ROCK-WALL

As they were in converse thus, they heard the hunters blowing on their horns all together;
whereon the old man arose, and said: “I deem by the blowing that the hunt will be over and done,
and that they be blowing on their fellows who have gone scatter-meal about the wood. It is now
some five hours after noon, and thy men will be getting back with their venison, and will be
fainest of the victuals they have caught; therefore will I hasten on before, and get ready fire and
water and other matters for the cooking. Wilt thou come with me, young master, or abide thy
men here?”




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Walter said lightly: “I will rest and abide them here; since I cannot fail to see them hence as they
go on their ways to thine house. And it may be well that I be at hand to command them and
forbid, and put some order amongst them, for rough playmates they be, some of them, and now
all heated with the hunting and the joy of the green earth.” Thus he spoke, as if nought were
toward save supper and bed; but inwardly hope and fear were contending in him, and again his
heart beat so hard, that he deemed that the carle must surely hear it. But the old man took him but
according to his outward seeming, and nodded his head, and went away quietly toward his house.