He gave us the news of the country;that it was alive with red-coats;that arms were being found,and poor folk brought in trouble daily;and that James and some of his servants were already clapped in prison at Fort William,under strong suspicion of complicity.It seemed it was noised on all sides that Alan Breck had fired the shot;and there was a bill issued for both him and me,with one hundred pounds reward.
This was all as bad as could be;and the little note the bouman had carried us from Mrs.Stewart was of a miserable sadness.In it she besought Alan not to let himself be captured,assuring him,if he fell in the hands of the troops,both he and James were no better than dead men.The money she had sent was all that she could beg or borrow,and she prayed heaven we could be doing with it.Lastly,she said,she enclosed us one of the bills in which we were described.
This we looked upon with great curiosity and not a little fear,partly as a man may look in a mirror,partly as he might look into the barrel of an enemy's gun to judge if it be truly aimed.
Alan was advertised as "a small,pock-marked,active man of thirty-five or thereby,dressed in a feathered hat,a French side-coat of blue with silver buttons,and lace a great deal tarnished,a red waistcoat and breeches of black,shag;"and I as "a tall strong lad of about eighteen,wearing an old blue coat,very ragged,an old Highland bonnet,a long homespun waistcoat,blue breeches;his legs bare,low-country shoes,wanting the toes;speaks like a Lowlander,and has no beard."Alan was well enough pleased to see his finery so fully remembered and set down;only when he came to the word tarnish,he looked upon his lace like one a little mortified.As for myself,I thought I cut a miserable figure in the bill;and yet was well enough pleased too,for since I had changed these rags,the description had ceased to be a danger and become a source of safety.
"Alan,"said I,"you should change your clothes.""Na,troth!"said Alan,"I have nae others.A fine sight I would be,if I went back to France in a bonnet!"This put a second reflection in my mind:that if I were to separate from Alan and his tell-tale clothes I should be safe against arrest,and might go openly about my business.Nor was this all;for suppose I was arrested when I was alone,there was little against me;but suppose I was taken in company with the reputed murderer,my case would begin to be grave.For generosity's sake I dare not speak my mind upon this head;but Ithought of it none the less.
I thought of it all the more,too,when the bouman brought out a green purse with four guineas in gold,and the best part of another in small change.True,it was more than I had.But then Alan,with less than five guineas,had to get as far as France;I,with my less than two,not beyond Queensferry;so that taking things in their proportion,Alan's society was not only a peril to my life,but a burden on my purse.
But there was no thought of the sort in the honest head of my companion.He believed he was serving,helping,and protecting me.And what could I do but hold my peace,and chafe,and take my chance of it?
"It's little enough,"said Alan,putting the purse in his pocket,"but it'll do my business.And now,John Breck,if ye will hand me over my button,this gentleman and me will be for taking the road."But the bouman,after feeling about in a hairy purse that hung in front of him in the Highland manner (though he wore otherwise the Lowland habit,with sea-trousers),began to roll his eyes strangely,and at last said,"Her nainsel will loss it,"meaning he thought he had lost it.
"What!"cried Alan,"you will lose my button,that was my father's before me?Now I will tell you what is in my mind,John Breck:it is in my mind this is the worst day's work that ever ye did since ye was born."And as Alan spoke,he set his hands on his knees and looked at the bouman with a smiling mouth,and that dancing light in his eyes that meant mischief to his enemies.
Perhaps the bouman was honest enough;perhaps he had meant to cheat and then,finding himself alone with two of us in a desert place,cast back to honesty as being safer;at least,and all at once,he seemed to find that button and handed it to Alan.
"Well,and it is a good thing for the honour of the Maccolls,"said Alan,and then to me,"Here is my button back again,and Ithank you for parting with it,which is of a piece with all your friendships to me."Then he took the warmest parting of the bouman."For,"says he,"ye have done very well by me,and set your neck at a venture,and I will always give you the name of a good man."Lastly,the bouman took himself off by one way;and Alan I(getting our chattels together)struck into another to resume our flight.
[26]A bouman is a tenant who takes stock from the landlord and shares with him the increase.