Part 16 (1/2)
”I think Andie Scougal's sold me-him or his mate wha kent some part of the affair-or else Charlie's clerk callant, which would be a pity too,” says Alan; ”and if you askit me for just my inward private conviction, I think there'll be heads cracked on Gillane sands”
”Alan,” I cried, ”if you're at all right there'll be folk there and to spare It'll be small service to crack heads”
”It would aye be a satisfaction though,” says Alan ”But bide a bit; bide a bit; I'-and thanks to this bonny westland wind, I believe I've still a chance of it It's this way, Davie I' coet a bit of a wind out of the west I'll be there long or that,” he says, ”and lie-to for ye behind the Isle of Fidra Now if your gentry kens the place, they ken the ti, Davie? Thanks to Johnnie Cope and other red-coat gomerals, I should ken this country like the back of my hand; and if ye're ready for another bit run with Alan Breck, we'll can cast back inshore, and coain by Dirleton If the shi+p's there, we'll try and get on board of her If she's no there, I'll just have to get back to my weary haystack But either way of it, I think ill leave your gentry whistling on their thumbs”
”I believe there's some chance in it,” said I ”Have on with ye, Alan!”
CHAPTER XIII-GILLANE SANDS
I did not profit by Alan's pilotage as he had done by his s under General Cope; for I can scarce tell e went It isfast Soeance of a pace Twice, while ere at top speed, we ran against country-folk; but though we plumped into the first from round a corner, Alan was as ready as a loaded asped
”Na, man, I haenae seen nae horse the day,” replied the countryman
And Alan spared the ti ”ride and tie”; that our charger had escaped, and it was feared he had gone home to Linton Not only that, but he expended some breath (of which he had not very much left) to curse his own misfortune and my stupidity which was said to be its cause
”Them that cannae tell the truth,” he observed to ain, ”should be aye mindful to leave an honest, handy lee behind the, Davie, they're terrible taken up with it; but if they think they ken, they care nae e”
As we had first made inland, so our road came in the end to lie very near due north; the old Kirk of Aberlady for a landht, the top of the Berwick Law; and it was thus we struck the shore again, not far from Dirleton Fro of four sh, notable by their diversity of size and shape Fidra is the rey islet of two humps, made the more conspicuous by a piece of ruin; and I mind that (as we drew closer to it) by soh like a e in westerly winds, and there, fro
The shore in face of these islets is altogether waste Here is no dwelling of abond children running at their play Gillane is a so to their business in the inland fields, and those of North Berwick straight to the sea-fishi+ng from their haven; so that few parts of the coast are lonelier But I mind, as we crawled upon our bellies into that ht eye upon all sides, and our hearts ha of the sun and the sea, such a stir of the wind in the bent grass, and such a bustle of down-popping rabbits and up-flying gulls, that the desert seemed to me, like a place alive No doubt it was in all ell chosen for a secret embarcation, if the secret had been kept; and even now that it was out, and the place watched, ere able to creep unperceived to the front of the sandhills, where they look down immediately on the beach and sea
But here Alan came to a full stop
”Davie,” said he, ”this is a kittle passage! As long as we lie here we're safe; but I'm nane sae muckle nearer to my shi+p or the coast of France And as soon as we stand up and signal the brig, it's another entry be, think ye?”
”Maybe they're no come yet,” said I ”And even if they are, there's one clear ed to take us, that's true But they'll have arranged for our co from the east and here we are upon their west”
”Ay,” says Alan, ”I ere in some force, and this was a battle, ould have bonnily out-manuvred the less inspiring to Alan Breck I swither, Davie”
”Time flies, Alan,” said I
”I ken that,” said Alan ”I ken naething else, as the French folk say But this is a dreidful case of heids or tails O! if I could but ken where your gentry were!”
”Alan,” said I, ”this is no like you It's got to be now or never”
”This is noAlan, with a queer face betwixt shame and drollery
”Neither you nor me, quo' he, neither you nor me
Wow, na, Johnnie man! neither you nor ht up where he was, and with a handkerchief flying in his right hand, ered behind hi the sand-hills to the east His appearance was at first unreentry watching on the other side Then they awoke on board the Thistle, and it seemed they had all in readiness, for there was scarce a second's bustle on the deck beforea skiff put round her stern and begin to pull lively for the coast Almost at the same moment of tiure of awith his arulls in that part continued a little longer to fly wild
Alan had not seen this, looking straight to seaward at the shi+p and skiff
”It maun be as it will!” said he, when I had told hi'll have to thole a raxing”