Kidnapped / Похищенный. Книга для чтения на английском языке

I stepped forward, came close behind him where he sat, and suddenly clapping my two hands down upon his shoulders – �Ah!’ cried I.

My uncle gave a kind of broken cry like a sheep’s bleat, flung up his arms, and tumbled to the floor like a dead man. Fear came on me that he was dead; then I got water and dashed it in his face; and with that he seemed to come a little to himself, working his mouth and fluttering his eyelids. At last he looked up and saw me, and there came into his eyes a terror that was not of this world.

�Come, come,’ said I; �sit up.’

�Are ye alive?’ he sobbed. �O man, are ye alive?’

�That am I,’ said I. �Small thanks to you!’

He had begun to seek for his breath with deep sighs. �The blue phial,’ said he – �in the aumry – the blue phial.’ His breath came slower still. I ran to the cupboard, and, sure enough, found there a blue phial of medicine, with the dose written on it on a paper, and this I administered to him with what speed I might.

�It’s the trouble,’ said he, reviving a little; �I have a trouble, Davie. It’s the heart.’

I set him on a chair and looked at him. It is true I felt some pity for a man that looked so sick, but I was full besides of righteous anger; and I numbered over before him the points on which I wanted explanation: why he lied to me at every word; why he feared that I should leave him; why he disliked it to be hinted that he and my father were twins; why he had given me money to which I was convinced I had no claim; and, last of all, why he had tried to kill me.

�I’ll tell ye the morn[24 - morn = morning],’ he said; �as sure as death I will.’

And so weak was he that I could do nothing but consent. I locked him into his room, however, and pocketed the key, and then returning to the kitchen, made up such a blaze as had not shone there for many a long year, and wrapping myself in my plaid, lay down upon the chests and fell asleep.

Chapter V

I Go to the Queensferry

Much rain fell in the night; and the next morning there blew a bitter wintry wind out of the northwest, driving scattered clouds. I made my way to the side of the burn, and had a plunge in a deep whirling pool. All aglow from my bath, I sat down once more beside the fire, which I replenished, and began gravely to consider my position.