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Chapter 26
Imustsupposethesentryhadbeensleeping,sothathadwetried,wemighthavepassedunseen;buthewasawakenow,andthechanceforfeited.
“This’llneverdo,”saidAlan.“This’llnever,neverdoforus,David.”
Andwithoutanotherword,hebegantocrawlawaythroughthefields;andalittleafter,beingwelloutofeye-shot,gottohisfeetagain,andstruckalongaroadthatledtotheeastward.Icouldnotconceivewhathewasdoing;andindeedIwassosharplycutbythedisappointment,thatIwaslittlelikelytobepleasedwithanything.AmomentbackandIhadseenmyselfknockingatMr.Rankeillor’sdoortoclaimmyinheritance,likeaheroinaballad;andherewasIbackagain,awandering,huntedblackguard,onthewrongsideofForth.
“Well?”saidI.
“Well,”saidAlan,“whatwouldyehave?They’renonesuchfoolsasItookthemfor.WehavestilltheForthtopass,Davie—wearyfalltherainsthatfedandthehillsidesthatguidedit!”
“Andwhygoeast?”saidI.
“Ou,justuponthechance!”saidhe.“Ifwecannaepasstheriver,we’llhavetoseewhatwecandoforthefirth.”
“Therearefordsupontheriver,andnoneuponthefirth,”saidI.
“Tobesuretherearefords,andabridgeforbye,”quothAlan;“andofwhatservice,whentheyarewatched?”
“Well,”saidI,“butarivercanbeswum.”
“Bythemthathavetheskillofit,”returnedhe;“butIhaveyettohearthateitheryouormeismuchofahandatthatexercise;andformyownpart,Iswimlikeastone.
