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           Yourbedshallbethemoorcock’s,andyourlifeshallbelikethehunteddeer’s,andyeshallsleepwithyourhanduponyourweapons.Ay,man,yeshalltaiglemanyawearyfoot,orwegetclear!Itellyethisatthestart,forit’salifethatIkenwell.Butifyeaskwhatotherchanceyehave,Ianswer:Nane.Eithertaketotheheatherwithme,orelsehang.”

           “Andthat’sachoiceveryeasilymade,”saidI;andweshookhandsuponit.

           “Andnowlet’stakeanotherpeekatthered-coats,”saysAlan,andheledmetothenorth-easternfringeofthewood.

           Lookingoutbetweenthetrees,wecouldseeagreatsideofmountain,runningdownexceedingsteepintothewatersoftheloch.Itwasaroughpart,allhangingstone,andheather,andbigscrogsofbirchwood;andawayatthefarendtowardsBalachulish,littleweeredsoldiersweredippingupanddownoverhillandhowe,andgrowingsmallereveryminute.Therewasnocheeringnow,forIthinktheyhadotherusesforwhatbreathwasleftthem;buttheystillstucktothetrail,anddoubtlessthoughtthatwewerecloseinfrontofthem.

           Alanwatchedthem,smilingtohimself.

           “Ay,”saidhe,“they’llbegeywearybeforethey’vegottotheendofthatemploy!Andsoyouandme,David,cansitdownandeatabite,andbreatheabitlonger,andtakeadramfrommybottle.