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Well, and thats true, too, said Alan; and my friend from the Lowlands here (nodding at me) gave me a good word upon that head, if I would only have listened to him. But see here, said James, returning to his former manner, if they lay me by the heels, Alan, its then that youll be needing the money. For with all that I have said and that you have said, it will look very black against the two of us; do ye mark that? Well, follow me out, and yell, Ill see that Ill have to get a paper out against ye mysel; have to offer a reward for ye; ay, will I! Its a sore thing to do between such near friends; but if I get the dirdum3 of this dreadful accident, Ill have to fend for myself, man. Do ye see that?He spoke with a pleading earnestness, taking Alan by the breast of the coat. Ay said Alan, I see that. And yell have to be clear of the country, Alanay, and clear of Scotlandyou and your friend from the Lowlands, too. For Ill have to paper your friend from the Lowlands. Ye see that, Alansay that ye see that! I thought Alan flushed a bit. This is unco hard on me that brought him here, James, said he, throwing his head back. Its like making me a traitor! Now, Alan, man! cried James. Look things in the face! Hell be papered anyway; Mungo Campbellll be sure to paper him; what matters if I paper him too? And then, Alan, I am a man that has a family. And then, after a little pause on both sides, And, Alan, itll be a jury of Campbells, said he. Theres one thing, said Alan, musingly, that naebody kens his name. Nor yet they shallnae, Alan! Theres my hand on that, cried James, for all the world as if he had really known my name and was foregoing some advantage. But just the habit he was in, and what he looked like, and his age, and the like? I couldnae well do less. I wonder at your fathers son, cried Alan, sternly. Would ye sell the lad with a gift? Would ye change his clothes and then betray him? No, no, Alan, said James. No, no: the habit he took offthe habit Mungo saw him in. But I thought he seemed crestfallen; indeed, he was clutching at every straw, and all the time, I dare say, saw the faces of his hereditary foes on the bench, and in the jury-box, and the gallows in the background. Well, sir says Alan, turning to me, what say ye to, that? Ye are here under the safeguard of my honour; and its my part to see nothing done but what shall please you. I have but one word to say, said I; for to all this dispute I am a perfect stranger. But the plain common- sense is to set the blame where it belongs, and that is on the man who fired the shot. Paper him, as ye call it, set the hunt on him; and let honest, innocent folk show their faces in safety. But at this both Alan and James cried out in horror; bidding me hold my tongue, for that was not to be thought of; and asking me what the Camerons would think? (which confirmed me, it must have been a Cameron from Mamore that did the act) and if I did not see that the lad might be caught? Ye havenae surely thought of that? said they, with such innocent earnestness, that my hands dropped at my side and I despaired of argument. Very well, then, said I, paper me, if you please, paper Alan, paper King George! Were all three innocent, and that seems to be whats wanted. But at least, sir, said I to James, recovering from my little fit of annoyance, I am Alans friend, and if I can be helpful to friends of his, I will not stumble at the risk. I thought it best to put a fair face on my consent, for I saw Alan troubled; and, besides (thinks I to myself), as soon as my back is turned, they will paper me, as they call it, whether I consent or not. But in this I |
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