Викрадений

           “I’mthinkingyehaveratheralongtongue,”shesaidatlasttoAlan.

           “Ay”saidAlan;“butyeseeIkenthefolkIspeakto.”

           “Iwouldneverbetrayye,”saidshe,“ifyemeanthat.”

           “No,”saidhe,“ye’renotthatkind.ButI’lltellyewhatyewoulddo,yewouldhelp.”

           “Icouldnae,”saidshe,shakingherhead.“Na,Icouldnae.”

           “No,”saidhe,“butifyecould?”

           Sheansweredhimnothing.

           “Lookhere,mylass,”saidAlan,“thereareboatsintheKingdomofFife,forIsawtwo(noless)uponthebeach,asIcameinbyyourtown’send.NowifwecouldhavetheuseofaboattopassundercloudofnightintoLothian,andsomesecret,decentkindofamantobringthatboatbackagainandkeephiscounsel,therewouldbetwosoulssaved—minetoalllikelihood—histoadeadsurety.