Похищенный
Chapter 12
”
“Ay”saidhe,“it’swellseenitwasaCampbelltaughtye!Itwouldbeaconvenientworldforthemandtheirsort,iftherewasnosuchathingasaladandagunbehindaheatherbush!Butthat’snothingtothepoint.Thisiswhathedid.”
“Ay”saidI,“cometothat.”
“Well,David,”saidhe,“sincehecouldnaeberidoftheloyalcommonsbyfairmeans,hesworehewouldberidofthembyfoul.Ardshielwastostarve:thatwasthethingheaimedat.Andsincethemthatfedhiminhisexilewouldnaebeboughtout—rightorwrong,hewoulddrivethemout.Thereforehesentforlawyers,andpapers,andred-coatstostandathisback.Andthekindlyfolkofthatcountrymustallpackandtramp,everyfather’ssonoutofhisfather’shouse,andoutoftheplacewherehewasbredandfed,andplayedwhenhewasacallant.Andwhoaretosucceedthem?Bare-leggitbeggars!KingGeorgeistowhistleforhisrents;hemaundowwithless;hecanspreadhisbutterthinner:whatcaresRedColin?IfhecanhurtArdshiel,hehashiswish;ifhecanpluckthemeatfrommychieftain’stable,andthebittoysoutofhischildren’shands,hewillganghamesingingtoGlenure!”
“Letmehaveaword,”saidI.“Besure,iftheytakelessrents,besureGovernmenthasafingerinthepie.It’snotthisCampbell’sfault,man—it’shisorders.AndifyekilledthisColinto-morrow,whatbetterwouldyebe?Therewouldbeanotherfactorinhisshoes,asfastasspurcandrive.
