Chapter 26

           Themonth,asIhavesaid,wasnotyetout,butitwasalreadyfarthroughAugust,andbeautifulwarmweather,witheverysignofanearlyandgreatharvest,whenIwaspronouncedableformyjourney.Ourmoneywasnowruntosolowanebbthatwemustthinkfirstofallonspeed;forifwecamenotsoontoMr.Rankeillor’s,orifwhenwecamethereheshouldfailtohelpme,wemustsurelystarve.InAlan’sview,besides,thehuntmusthavenowgreatlyslackened;andthelineoftheForthandevenStirlingBridge,whichisthemainpassoverthatriver,wouldbewatchedwithlittleinterest.

           “It’sachiefprincipleinmilitaryaffairs,”saidhe,“togowhereyeareleastexpected.Forthisourtrouble;yekenthesaying,‘ForthbridlesthewildHielandman.’Well,ifweseektocreeproundabouttheheadofthatriverandcomedownbyKippenorBalfron,it’sjustpreciselytherethatthey’llbelookingtolayhandsonus.ButifwestaveonstraighttotheauldBrigofStirling,I’lllaymyswordtheyletuspassunchallenged.”

           Thefirstnight,accordingly,wepushedtothehouseofaMaclareninStrathire,afriendofDuncan’s,wherewesleptthetwenty-firstofthemonth,andwhencewesetforthagainaboutthefallofnighttomakeanothereasystage.Thetwenty-secondwelayinaheatherbushonthehillsideinUamVar,withinviewofaherdofdeer,thehappiesttenhoursofsleepinafine,breathingsunshineandonbone-dryground,thatIhaveevertasted.