Похищенный
Chapter 19
Iwasthentakenoutinmyturnbyanotherofthesons,andgiventhatchangeofclothingofwhichIhadstoodsolonginneed,andapairofHighlandbroguesmadeofdeer-leather,ratherstrangeatfirst,butafteralittlepracticeveryeasytothefeet.
BythetimeIcamebackAlanmusthavetoldhisstory;foritseemedunderstoodthatIwastoflywithhim,andtheywereallbusyuponourequipment.Theygaveuseachaswordandpistols,thoughIprofessedmyinabilitytousetheformer;andwiththese,andsomeammunition,abagofoatmeal,anironpan,andabottleofrightFrenchbrandy,wewerereadyfortheheather.Money,indeed,waslacking.Ihadabouttwoguineasleft;Alan’sbelthavingbeendespatchedbyanotherhand,thattrustymessengerhadnomorethanseventeen-pencetohiswholefortune;andasforJames,itappearshehadbroughthimselfsolowwithjourneystoEdinburghandlegalexpensesonbehalfofthetenants,thathecouldonlyscrapetogetherthree-and-five-pence-halfpenny,themostofitincoppers.
“This’llnodo,”saidAlan.
“Yemustfindasafebitsomewherenearby,”saidJames,“andgetwordsenttome.Yesee,ye’llhavetogetthisbusinessprettilyoff,Alan.Thisisnotimetobestayedforaguineaortwo.They’resuretogetwindofye,suretoseekye,andbymywayofit,suretolayonyethewyteofthisday’saccident.Ifitfallsonyou,itfallsonmethatamyournearkinsmanandharbouredyewhileyewereinthecountry.Andifitcomesonme——”hepaused,andbithisfingers,withawhiteface.
