The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-18
DAVID BALFOUR
BY ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Part 1.-The Lord Advocate.
a Sequel to "Kidnaped.")


CHAPTER IA BEGGAR on HORSEBACK.
The 18th day of August, 175l, about in
the afternoon, l, David Balfour. came
forth of the British Linen Company. a
porter attending me with bag of money
and some of the chief of these merchants
bowling me from their doors. Two days
before, and even so late as yester morning,
Z was like a beggarman by the wayside,
clad in rags. brought down to my last
shiliings. my companion a condemned
traitor, price set on my own head for
crime with the news of which the country
rang. Today ! was served heir to my posi-
ton in life, a landed laird. bank porter
by me carrying my gold, recommends
tons in my pocket and Tin the words of
the saying) the ball directly at my foot.
There were two circumstances that
served me as ballast TO so much sail. The
first was the very difficult and deadly bus
mess had still to handle; the second, the
place | was in. The tail. black city, and
the numbers and movement and noise of
so many folks made a new world for me,
after the moorland praes, the sea sands,
and the still country sides had frequented
up to then. The throng of the citizens in
particular abashed me. RankeilIar's son
was short and small in the girth; his
clothes scarce held on me; and it was
plain / was i'll qualified to strut in
the front of bank porter. 1t was plain,
if did so, / should but set folks laugh
ing, and twhat was worse in my easel set
them asking questions. So that l be-
hooved TO come by some clothes of my
own, and in the meanwhile to walk by the
porter's side, and put my hand on his arm
as though We were pair Of friends.
At merchants in the Luckenbooths I
had myself fitted out; none too fine. for |
had no idea to appear like beggar on
horseback; but comeiy and responsible, so
that servants should respect me. Thence
TO an armorer's, where ] got plain sword
TO suit with my degree in life, / felt safer
with the weapon, though flor one so ig-
norant of defensel it might be called an
added danger. The porter, who was nat
uralIy man of some experience, judged
my accoutrement to be well chosen.
Matching kenspeckle," said he, ''plain.
dacent ciaes. As for the rapier. nae doubt
il sits wi your degree; but an had been
you, would haze waired my siller better
gates than that" And proposed should
buy winferhosen from a wife in the Cow
gate-back, that was a cousin of his own,
and made them ''extraordinar endurable"
But | had other matters on nv hand
more pressing. Here ! was in this old,
black city, which was for all the world
ike rabbit warren, not only by the num-
Der of its indwellers. but the complication
of its passages and holes. 1t was. indeed.
place where no stranger had a chance to
find friend, lest it be another stranger.
Suppose him even 10 hit on the right close.
people dweit so thronged IN these tall
house, he might very well seek Il day be-
fore he CHANGED on the right door. The
ordinary course was 10 hire a lad they
ado ~ u, l.
riiot. led you where you had occasion, and
your brands being done. brought you
again where you were lodging. But these
eaddles, always being employed IN the
same sort OF services, and having
1t for obligation to be well in
formed of every house and person in the
city had grown to form brotherhood
OF spies; and ] knew from tales of Mr..
Campbell's now they communicated one
with another. what rage of curiosity they
conceived as TO their employers business,
and how they were like eyes and fingers
10 the police. . 1t would be a piece of little
wisdom. the way | was now placed, to
tack such ferret to my tails. Ihad three
visits to make, all immediately needful to
nv kinsman Mr.. Balfour of Pilrig. to
Stewart, the writer. that was Appin's
scent, and 10 William Grant, ESQ. OF
Preston Grange. lord advocate Of Scotland
Mr. Baliour = was n non-committal visit;
shd besides tfllrig being IN the country
made bold 10 finding way 10 it myself,
with the help of my two legs and Scots
tongue. But the rest were in a different
case. Not only was the visit To Appius
agent. in the midst Of the cry abou. the
Appin murder, dangerous in itself. but ii
vas highly inconsistent with the other.
was like 10 have bad enough time
OF il with my Lord Advocate Grant,
The best of ways; but tn go In
HIM hot-foot from Appin's agent was
little likely 10 mend my own affairs. and
might prove the mere ruin of friend
Alans. The whole thing. besides. gave
me look of running with the hare and
hunting with the hounds that was little
to my fancy. | determined, therefore, TO
be done n once with Mr. Stewart and the
whole iacobiticai side of my business. and
10 profit for that purpose Icy the guidance
Of the porter NJ my side. But il CHANGED
had scarce given him the address when