Mahak turned to see. He was surprised that his father reacted instinctively, as if that had always been his name.Meshak had never heard it before. Otis tossed Meshak the reins. 'The boy will see them on,' he yelled to the ferryman,and as Meshak took the reins and soothed the frightened mule, his father had already leapt ashore.
It was no housemaid or potato picker, like so manyothers who had hailed him, but a gentlewoman who,though trying to look modest and inconspicuous, was unmistakably a lady. Even had her refined voice not given her away, the cut and cloth of her cloak betrayed her. Her head was lowered into a basket, which she hugged tightly to herself, and she hung back in the shadows of the trees on the riverbank, trying not to be seen or identified.
The transaction was rapid. A heavy purse of money went into Otis's pouch and he took the basket with a great show of reverence and concem,as if he would protect it with his life. Meshak heard the lady give one short, pitiful shriek of grief,quickly stifled. Otis leapt back on to the wagon and thrust the bundle into Meshak's arms. Look caring, he muttered,'till we're on the other side. "
The ferry pulled away, but the woman continued to stand.stiffly at the water's edge, watching them. Meshak felt her eyes fixed on them all the way across.She was stillstanding there when they disembarked.