Chapter 17

           ThenextdayMr.HenderlandfoundformeamanwhohadaboatofhisownandwastocrosstheLinnheLochthatafternoonintoAppin,fishing.Himheprevailedontotakeme,forhewasoneofhisflock;andinthiswayIsavedalongday’stravelandthepriceofthetwopublicferriesImustotherwisehavepassed.

           Itwasnearnoonbeforewesetout;adarkdaywithclouds,andthesunshininguponlittlepatches.Theseawashereverydeepandstill,andhadscarceawaveuponit;sothatImustputthewatertomylipsbeforeIcouldbelieveittobetrulysalt.Themountainsoneithersidewerehigh,roughandbarren,veryblackandgloomyintheshadowoftheclouds,butallsilver-lacedwithlittlewatercourseswherethesunshoneuponthem.Itseemedahardcountry,thisofAppin,forpeopletocareasmuchaboutasAlandid.

           Therewasbutonethingtomention.Alittleafterwehadstarted,thesunshoneuponalittlemovingclumpofscarletcloseinalongthewater-sidetothenorth.Itwasmuchofthesameredassoldiers’coats;everynowandthen,too,therecamelittlesparksandlightnings,asthoughthesunhadstruckuponbrightsteel.

           Iaskedmyboatmanwhatitshouldbe,andheansweredhesupposeditwassomeoftheredsoldierscomingfromFortWilliamintoAppin,againstthepoortenantryofthecountry.Well,itwasasadsighttome;andwhetheritwasbecauseofmythoughtsofAlan,orfromsomethingpropheticinmybosom,althoughthiswasbutthesecondtimeIhadseenKingGeorge’stroops,Ihadnogoodwilltothem.