The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-29

play. Gillane 10 small place on the far
side of the Ness, the folk of Dirseton go 10
their business in the inland geids, and
those OF North Berwick straight to the
sea fishing from their haven, ss that few
parts of the coast are loneligr. But
mind, as we crawled upon our l.ellies into
the multiplicity OF heights and holiows.
keeping bright eye upon all sides, and
our hearts hammering at our Sibs. there
was such a shining of the sum and sea,
such stir of the wind in the lent grass,
and such hustle of dOwn-pospIng rab-
bits and up-fying gulls. that the desert
seemed to me like place alive. No doubt
it was in all ways well chosen fer secret
embarkation. if the secret had seen kept;
and even now that it was ou1, and the
place watched. we were able to creep UNI
perceived to the front of the sand hills,
where they look down Immediately on the
beach and sea.
But here Alan came to full sop.
'.Davie," said he, ''this is little pass
age! As long as We lie here we're safe; but
I'm name sac muckie nearer to ray ship or
the coast OF France. And as soon as We
stand up and signal the brig. it's another
matter. For where will your GENTRY be,
think yep
Maybe they're no como yee." said /.
"And even if they are. there's one clear
matter in our favor. They'll be all ar.
ranged to take us, that's true. Bat they'll
east. and here We are upon their vest"
"Ay," said Alan, II wish We were in
some force, and this was a Battle, We
would bonnily have outman9uvred them.
But it is nae, Davie, and the way it is, is
wee thing less inspiring to Alan Breck.
Time flies, Alan" said I.
Il ken that" said Alan. II ken nae
thing else, as the French folk sav. But
this is dreidful case of heids or tails. o!
if | could but ken where your gentry
were!'
"Alan," said I, ''this is no like you. It's
got to be now or never"
This is no me, quo hc,"
sang Alan, with queer face. betwixt
shame and drollery.
'Neither you nor me, quo he, neither you nor
Wow ma. Johnnie man! neither you nor me-"
And then of a sudnen he stood straight
up where he was, and, with a handker-
chief flying in his right hand. marched
down upon the beach. | stood VI, myself,
but fingered behind him, scarening the
sand hills to the east. His appearance was
at first unremarke1. Scougal not expect
ing him so early, and my gentry watch
ing on the other side. Then they awoke
on board the Thistle, and it seerned thew
had all in readiness, for there was scarce a
seconds hustle on the deck before We saw
skiff put round her stern and begin to
pull lively for the coast. Almost at the
same moment Of time, and perhaps half
figure of a man appeared for blink upon
sand hill. waving with his arms; and,
though he was gone again in the same
flash. the guils in that part continued
little longer to fly wild.
Alan had not seen this, looking straight
to seward at the ship and skiff,
lit maun be as it will" said he. when
had told him. ''Weel may yon boatie row,
or my craig'll have to thole rasesng."
That part of the beach was long Snd fat
and excellent walking when the eide was
down; little cressy burn flowed over it
in one place to the sea: and the sandhills
ran along the head of it like the ramparts
of town. No eye OF ours could spy what
was passing back there in the hents, no
hurry of ours could mend the speed of the
boats coming; time stood still with us
through that uncanny period of waiting.
"There is one thing would like. to ken,'
says Alan. II would like fine TO ken these
gentry's orders. We're worth four hunner
pounds the pair of US. How if they took
the guns to US. Davie? They wouid get a
bonny shot from the top OF that lang
sandy bank"
"MoralIy impossible" said /. 1.-THE
point is they can have no guns. This
thing has been gone about toe secret;
pistols they may have, but never guns"
II believe ven be in the rigkt," SAYS
Alan. For all which I am Wearyine
good deal for yop boat"
And he snapped his fingers and whistled
to it like dog.
in, and we ourselves already hard on the
margin of the sea, so that the soft sand
rose over my shoes. There was 20 more
| to do. whatever, but to wait, to look az
much as We were able at the creeping
| nearer of the boat. and as little as we could
manage at the long. impenetrabie front of
| the sand hills, over which the gulls
| twinkled, and behind which our enemies
were doubtless marshalling.
This is fine, bright caller place to get
shot i'm says Alan, suddenly; and. man,
/ wish that had your courage"
''Alanv' l cried, "what kind of talk is
this of it2 You're just made OF courage;
| it's the character of the man. as could
prove myself if there was nobody else"
"And you would be more mistaken"
said he. "What makes the differ With me
| is just my great penetration and knowl-
| edge of affairs. But for auld, caulsl, dour,
deidly courage l am not fit to holI can
die to yourself Look at US two here upon
| the sand. Here am !, fair hotchirg to be
| off; here's you flor all that ken) in two
| minds of it whether you'll no stop. Do
| you think that l could do that, or would
| No me? Firstly, because l have nae got
| the courage and would not daur; snd sec.
ondly, because 1 am a man of So much
| penetration and would see We damned
/ first
TITS there ye're coming, is it ?" cried.
| "Ah, man Alan, you can vile your old
| wives, but You never can vile me. But
this much I'll own. If I could get on
| board with you, and your captain-man
! would set me ashore in Fife, il would be
the more making of my business. /
could walk round from there TO STIRLING
| with nobody to NEEDLE me-
| And that's precisely what my cap
tamil not do" returned Alan. Il ken;
he's queer fish. But I'll tell se what
he'll do; he'll carry We to France, and
that's near at hand, Leyden. where 10y
| your own account of it, your business
| lies"
| Remembrance of my temptation IN the
| wood made me as strong as iron.
| Il have tryst to keep, Alan" said l.
81 am trysted with your cousin Charlie: /
have passed my word"
Draw trysts that you'll can keer." said
| Alan: "Yell just mistryst aimee and for
| a with the gentry in the bentS And
| what for ?" he went on, with an extreme
threatening gravity. Just tell me- that,
my mannie Are We to be speerited away
| like Lady Granger Are they To chine
dirk in your inside and bury We in the
bents? Or Is it to be the other w&y, and
are they to bring We in with James? Are
| they folk to be trustit? Would ye stick
| you head in the mouth of Sim Fraser and
the ither Whigs2" he added, with extra
| ordinary