The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-22

Is it only me they're after, or the pair
of us ?"
.And what's your ain opinion, You
that's . man of so much experience
said be.
at passes me-" said I.
think this lass would keep her word to
We" he asked.
II do that" said I.
well, there's nae telling, said he.
And anyway that's over and done; he ii
be joined to the rest of them lang syne."
How many would We think there would
be of them ?" asked.
THAT depends" said Alan. 'If it was
only you, they wound likely send two
three lively. brisk young birkies, and II
they thought that / was to appear in that
employ. daresay ten or twelve, said he.
Ii was no use. / gave little crack OF
laughter.
"And think your own two eyes will
have seen me drive that number or the
double of it, nearer hand!" cries he.
at matters the less" said I, because l
am we'll rid OF them tor this time"
Nae doubt that's your opinion, said
he, but / would nae be the least sur
prised if they were numbering this wood.
Ye see. David man, they'll be Hieland
folk. There'll be some Frasers, I'm their
king, and some OF the Gregara; and |
would never deny but what both of them,
and the Gregara in special, were clever ex-
perienced persons. A man keen, little till
he's driven a spreagh of neat cattle (say)
ten miles through throng lowland coun-
try and the black soldiers maybe at his
tail. It's there that learned great part
OF my penetration. And We need nae tell
me it's better than war, which is the next
best, however, though generally rather
bauchle OF business. Now, the Gregara
have had grand practice"
mo doubt that's branch of education
that was left out with me, +" said |.
And can see the marks of it upon We
constantly" said Alan. But that's the
strange thing about you folks of the col
iege learning; ye're Ignorant, and We
cannae see t, Waes me for my Greek
and Hebrew but, man, 1 ken that I
dlnnae ken them-there's the differ Of it,
Now, here's you. You lie on your
snis wood ' snd in ye , ,s m nslo that at
ye're cuist off these Frasers and Mac
gregors. Why? Because could nae see
livelihood"
Take the worst Of il" said I. "and what
are We to do?''
Il am thinking of that same" said he.
I'VE might Irvine. 1t would nae be greatly
to my taste; and forbye that. see reasons
against 1t. First, it's now unco dark, and
it's just humanity possible We might give
them the clean slip. If we keep together,
We make but the ae line of it; if We gang
separate. We make twae of them the more
likelihood to stave in upon some OF these
gentry of yours. And then, second. if
they keep the track of us, it may come to
fecht for it yet. Davie; and then, I'll
confess would be blythe to have you
at my oxter and 1 think you would be
none the worse of having me at yours.
So. by my way of it, We should creep
cut of this wood no further gone
than just the inside of next minute, and
hold away east for Gillane, where I'm to
find my ship. It'll be like old days while
it lasts, Davie; and (come the time) we'll
have to think what you should be doing
I'm wac to leave We here wanting me"
"Hane with We, then!" says l. "Do ye
gang back where you were stopping?"
"De'il fear" said Alan; "they were
good folks to me. but think they would
be q good deal disappointed if they
saw my bonny face again. For (the way
times gol l amnae just what We could
call Walcome Guest. Which makes
me the keener for your company, Mr..
David Balfour OF the Shaws, and set We upi
Fur. leave aside twa cracks here in the
wood with Charlie Stewart, l haze scarce
SAID black or white since the day We parted
at Corstorphine.
With which he rose from his place. and
We began to move quietly eastward
through the wood.
ITO be Continued)