"Springer, Nancy - Book Of The Isle 2 - Silver Sun" - читать интересную книгу автора (Springer Nancy)

they bolted into the Forest with their hapless riders on
their backs. The stranger knocked the captain's sword
from his limp fingers, slashed his reins and sent his horse
careering after the others.

Alan stood watching, swaying with hunger and pain,
vaguely thinking that he should leave as well. He did not
have the strength to move a step. But the gray-eyed youth
seemed to sense his hesitation. Quietly he dismounted
from his big, gray horse and walked to face Alan. "My
name is Hal," he said, "and I will befriend you, if I may.
Will you come with me?"

Alan was absurdly glad that a choice was offered to
him, though he could not have turned away without fall-
ing. He nodded and reached out toward the other, shak-
ing with the effort. He could scarcely see. He feit a gentle
hand take hold of him, and he gulped burning liquid from
a flask. Hal wrapped him in a cloak and helped him into
the saddle of his gray steed, then mounted behind. They
sped away into the Forest

"It will not take those ruffians long to come after us,"
Hal muttered, and Alan decided he liked the sound of
that low voice.

The ride was a haze of pain for Alan. The horse was
strong and swift, and the Forest whirled by. Alan barely
noticed when they came to a rocky stretch of waste, but
he did notice when they entered the Forest again, for his
rescuer guided the horse slowly and carefully over the
ground. Then they stopped in a dense stand of cover. Be-
fore long Alan heard approaching hoofbeats. The captain
and his demoralized troop swept past. The big man had

4 THE SILVER SUN

found his sword, and his face was as red as his red roan
horse.

Hal chuckled, and Alan grinned in spite of his pain.
They moved on, more slowly now. Alan lost track of time
until at last they stopped and he felt himself lowered to
the ground.

He needed another pull from the flask before he was
able to sit up and look around. He was by a small spring
which flowed into an open forest meadow. The horse was
grazing, and Hal knelt, rummaging in the saddlebags. He
drew forth strips of bandage, a dark little jug and a rather