Белые люди

           Thatwaswhatthesoundsmeant;buttheyseemedfaintanddistant,thoughIknewtheywerereallyquitenear.JeanandAngusdidnotappeartohearthem.IknewthatIonlyheardthembecauseIhadbeenlistening.

           Outofthemisttheyrodeacompanyofwild-lookingmenwearinggarmentssuchasIhadneverseenbefore.Mostofthemweresavageanduncouth,andtheirclothesweredisorderedandstainedasifwithhardtravelandfight.Ididnotknow—orevenaskmyself—whytheydidnotfrightenme,buttheydidnot.SuddenlyIseemedtoknowthattheywerebravemenandhadbeendoingsomebrave,hardthing.HereandthereamongthemIcaughtsightofabrokenandstainedsword,oradirkwithonlyahiltleft.Theywereallpale,buttheirwildfaceswerejoyousandtriumphant.Isawitastheydrewnear.

           Themanwhoseemedtheirchieftainwasaleangiantwhowasdarkerbut,underhisdarkness,palerthantherest.Onhisforeheadwasaqueer,star-shapedscar.Herodeablackhorse,andbeforehimheheldclosewithhisleftarmaprettylittlegirldressedinstrange,richclothes.Thebigman’shandwaspressedagainstherbreastasheheldher;butthoughitwasalargehand,itdidnotquitecoveradark-redstainontheembroideriesofherdress.Herdresswasbrown,andshehadbrownhairandsoftbrowneyeslikealittledoe’s.ThemomentIsawherIlovedher.

           Theblackhorsestoppedbeforeme.Thewildtroopdrewupandwaitedbehind.