Запретный лес

           Hedidnotrunwildly,butsoftlyandfurtively,keepingtothemossandthedarkerplaces,andavoidinganycracklingoftwigs,forhefeltasiftheWoodwerefullofwatchers.Atthebackofhisheadwasastingingsenseofshame--thathe,agrownmanandaministerofGod,shouldbeinsuchapitofterror.Buthisinstinctwasstrongerthanhisreason.Hefelthisheartcrowdingintohisthroat,andhislegssoweakanduncontrollablethattheyseemedtobeseparatefromhisbody.Theboughsoftheundergrowthwhippedhisface,andheknewthathischeekswerewetwithblood,thoughhefeltnopain.

           Thetreesthinnedandhesawlightahead--surelyitwastheglenwhichmarkedthedivisionbetweenpineandhazel.Hequickenedhisspeed,andthecurtainofhisfearliftedeversolittle.Heheardsoundsnow--wasitthewindwhichhehadleftonthehilltops?Therewasapipingnoteinit,somethinghighandclearandshrill--andyettheWoodhadbeensoairlessthathisbodywasdampwithsweat.Nowhewasverynearairandsanctuary.

           Hisheartseemedtostop,andhislegswaveredsothathesunkonhisknees.Forhewaslookingagainontheaccursedglade.

           Itwasnolongerempty.Thedrapedaltarwashiddenbyfigures--humanorinfernal--movingrounditinaslowdance.Beyondthiscirclesatanotherwhoplayedonsomeinstrument.Themossstilledthenoiseofmovement,andtheonlysoundwasthehigh,madpiping.

           Afilmclearedfromhiseyes,andsomethinglostcamebacktohim--manhood,conscience,courage.Awestillheldhim,butitwasbeingovermasteredbyahumanrepulsionandanger.