Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-02-25

rAlseiy suspected, that we should g5T
clear" cried. "The innocent should
surely come before the guilty"
why, David" said he, 1.-The innocent
have aye chance to get assoiled in
COURT but for the lad that shot the bull
let, think the best place for him will
be the heather. Them that have nae
dipped their hands in any little diff
Guilty should be very mindful of the
case of them that have. And that is the
good Christianity. For if it was the
other way round about, and the lad
whom | couldnae just clearly see had
been in our shoes and we in his (as might
very well have been), think we would
be good deal obliged to him oursel's if
he would draw the soldiers"
When it came to this gave Alan up.
But he looked SO innocent all the time,
and was in such clear good faith in
what he said, and so ready to sacrifice
himself for what he deemed his duty,
that my mouth was closed. Mr.. Hen
derland's words came back to me-that
we ourselves might take lesson by
these wild highlanders. Well, here !
had taken mine. Alan's morals were all
tail first; but he was ready to give his
life for them, such as they were.
"Alan." said |, "Ill not say it's the
good Christianity as | understand it, but
it's good enough. And here | offer ye
my hand for the second time"
Whereupon he gave me both of his,
saying surely had east spell upon
him, for he could forgive me anything.
Then he grew very grave, and said we
had not much time to throw away, but
must both flee that country, he because
he was deserter, and the whole Of
Appin would now be searched like a
| chamber and every one obliged to give
a good account of himself, and | be-
cause was certainly involved in the
| murder.
"Oh," says |, willing to give him a
little lesson, II have no fear of the jus
tice of my country"
LAS if this was your country!" said
he, "Or as if ye would be tried here, in
a country of Stewartsr
"It's all Scotland" said |.
MAN, whites wonder at ye," said
Alan. This is a Campbell that's been
killed Well, it'll be tried in Inyerara
the Campbell's head place, with fifteen
Campbells in the jury box, and the big
gest Campbell of all (and that's the
dule) sitting cooking on the bench
Justice, David? The same justice, by
all the world, as Glenure found awhile
ago at the roadside"
This frighted me little, confess.
asked him whittier we should flee,
and as he told me ito the lowlands,"
was little better inclined to go with
him, for indeed | was growing impa-
tient to get back and have the upper
hand of my uncle. Besides, Alan made
so sure there would be no question of
ju tice in the matter that began to be
afraid he might be right. OF all deaths
| would truly like least to die by the
gallows. and the picture of that uncanny
instrument came into my head with ex-
traordinary clearness (as had once seen
it engraved az the top of a peddler's
tallad) and took away my appetite for
courts of justice
"Tll chance it, Alan" said l. I'll go
with you"
But mind YOU" said Alan, its no
small thing. Ye mann lie bare and
hard and brook many an empty belly
Your bed shall be tho moorcocks. and
your life shall be like the hunted deer's,
and We shall sleep with your hand upon
your weapon. Aye, man, ye shall taigle
many weary foot or we get clear. |
tell we this at the start, for it's a life
that ken well. But if ye ask what
other chance ye have | answer nane
Either take to the heather with me or
else hang"
And that's choice very easily
made" said |, and we shook hands upon
it.
"And now let's take another keek at
the redcoats," says Alan, and he led me
to the northeastern fringe of the wood.
Looking out between the trees we
could see great side of mountain run
ming down exceeding steep into the wa
ters of the loch. 1t was a rough part,
all hanging stone and heather and bic
scrags of brentwood: and away at the
far end toward Balachulish, little wee
red soldiers We're dipping up and down
over hill and howe, and growing smaller
every minute. There was no cheering
now, for think they had other uses for
what breath was left them, but they
still stuck to the trail and doubtless
thought that we were close in front Of
them.
Alan watched them, smiling to him.
self.
AYE" said he, they'll be gey weary
before they've got to the end of that
employl And so you and me, David,
can sit down and eat bite and breathe
a bit longer and take dram from my
| bottle. Then we'll strike for Aucharn.