Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-04-08
'but there's such thing as a boat

Dul huCli IL bhliiS DC ~ DOdb.
says Alan, "or I'm the more deceived
"Aye, and such thing as money"
says l. But for us that have neither
one nor Other, they might just as well
not have been invented"
eye think seY' said Alan.
IL do that" said |.
David" says he, "ye're a man of
small invention and less faith. But let
me set my wits upon the hone, and if
cannae beg, borrow nor yet steal boat
I'll make onew
~ think | see yer said l. "And
what's more than all that, if ye pass a
bridge it can tell no tales, but if we
pass the firth there's the boat on
the wrong side-somebody must have
brought 1.-THE countryside will all be
in a biz" -
MAN" cried Alan, ''if make boat
I'll make body to take it back again!
So deave me with no more Of your non
sense, but walk (for that's what you've
got to do) and let Alan think for ye."
All night, then, we walked through
the north side of the carse under the
high line of the Ochil mountains, and
by Alloa and Clackmannan and Culross,
all of which we avoided, and about ten
in the morning, mighty hungry and
tired, came to the little clachan Of Lime
kilns. This is place that sits near in
by the waterside and looks across the
Hope to the town of the Queensferry.
'Oh, Alan!' said |, "to think of it!
Over there, there's all that heart could
want waiting me; and the birds go
over, and the boats so overall that
please can so, but just me only! Oh.
man, but it's heartbreak!"
In Limeliilns we entered Il small
change house. which we only knew to
be a public by the wand over the door,
and bought some bread and cheese from
the good looking lass that was the serv-
ant. This we carried with us in Il
bundle, meaning to sit and eat it in a
bush of wood ON the seashore that we
saw some third part Of a mile in front.
As we went, kept looking across the
water and signing to myself; and though
1 took no heed of it. Alan had fallen
into muse. At last he stopped III the
way.
Did We take heed of the lass we
bought this Off says he, tapping on the
bread and cheese.
ITO be sure" said l, land bouny
lass she was"
"Ye thought that?" cries he. Man,
David, that's good news"
"In the name of all that's wonderful,
why SOP says l. "What good can that
do?'
We'll" said Alan, with one of his
droll looks, Il was rather in hopes it
would maybe get us that boat"
"If it We're the other way about, it
would be hker it," said |.
That's all that You ken, ye see"
Slid Alan. Il don't want the lass to fall
n love with ye, want her to be sorry
for We, David; to which end there is no
manner of neal that she should take
you for beauty. Let me see," looking
me curiously over. II wish ye were
wee bit paler; but apart from that yen
do fine for my purpose-ye have fine
hangdog, rag and latter, clappermaclaw
kind of look to ye, as if ye had stolen
the coat from a potato boyle. Come;
right about and back to the change
house for that boat of ours"
followed him, laughing.
David Balfour." said he, "ye're a
very funny gentleman by your way of
it, and this is very funny employ for
ye, no doubt. For all that, if ye have
any affection for my neck Ito say moth
ing of your OWN ye will perhaps be kind
enough to take this matter responsibly.
lam going to do bit Of play acting, the
bottom ground of which is just exactly as
serious as the gallows for the pair Of us.
So bear it, ii ye please, in mind, and con-
duct yourself according"
"Well, WE'LL" said l, ''have it as you
will"
As we got near the clachan he made
me take his arm and hang upon it like
one almost helpless with WEAKNESS, and
by the time he pushed open the change
house door he seemed to be half carry
ing me. The maid appeared surprised
(as we'll she might be) at our speedy re-
turn, but Alan had no words to spare
for her in explanation. helped me to Il
chair, called for toss of brandy with
which he fed me in little sips, and then
breaking up the bread and cheese helped
me to eat it like nursery lass, the
whole with that grave, concerned, atfec-
tionate countenance that might have i'm
posed upon u judge. 1t was small Won
der if the maid was taken with the pic
ture we presented of poor, sick, over
wrought lad and his most tender com
rade. She drew quite near and stood
leaning with her back on the next table.
whats like wrong with him?" said
she at last.