Catriona

my testimony was to be received and myself respected; and in that very hour, not only was Simon practising against my life by

And when I remembered James More, and the red head of Neil the son of Duncan, I thought there was perhaps a fourth in the confederacy, and what remained of Rob Roy's old desperate sept of caterans would be banded against me with the others. One thing was requisite-some s

ood fortune, turned in to follow him. As soon as I had entered the close I saw him standing in the mouth of a stair, where he made me a signal and immediately vanished. Seven storeys up, there he was a

"but we're safe here for the time being, an

with Alan?

n to say good-bye to ye, but the way that things were going, I was feared the pair of ye

that my testimony was accepted, and I was to

Stewart. "I'll n

y own," says I, "but I would l

e Glens; and, of course, it's my duty to defend my kinsman for his life. Hear how it goes with me, and I'll leave the judgment of it to yourself. The first thing they have to do is

ring in Alan till they

lastly (if there be ground to think him forth of Scotland) at the cross of Edinburgh, and the pier and shore of Leith, for sixty days. The purpose of which last provision is evident upon its face: being that outgoing ships may have time to carry news of the transaction, and the summonsing be something other than a form. Now take the case of Alan. He has no dwelling-house that ever I could hear of; I would be obliged if anyone would show me

I. "Here at the cross, and at the pi

at was on the twenty-fifth, the day that we first met. Once, and done with it. And where? Where, but at the c

an?" I cried. "

t. They think perhaps he might set up a fair defence, upon the back of which James, the m

an keenly," said I; "though, when I come to thin

ed forbye, in the military prison at Fort William; none allowed in to them, nor they to write. The witnesses, Mr. Balfour; heard ye ever the match of that? I assure ye, no old, crooked Stewart of the gang ever out-faced the law more

per that was printed since in the pamphlet "by a bystander," for b

may be so dull, or so very much the reverse, as to refuse the recommendation. I would have to make the journey back again betwixt here and Fort William. Then would follow a fresh delay till I got fresh authority, and they had disavowed the officer-mil

ar that col

o get a sight of them, that should be as free as the Lord Justice Clerk himself! See-read: For the rest, refuses to give any orders to keepers of prisons who are not accused as having done

id I, "is that the witnesses are still to

his office and the great facilities afforded the defence! But I'll begowk them there, Mr. David. I have a plan to waylay the witnesses upon the

Tynedrum, and by the connivance of a soldier officer,

would surprise me in th

ess. "This is the libel: see, there's Prestongrange's name to the list of witnesses, and I find no wo

ld likely be King

the Erskines, and yon thief of the black midnight, Simon Fraser. But could I win to get a copy! No! I wa

against the l

is in Fleming's printing house, spies a proof on the floor, picks it up, and carries it to me. Of all things, it was just this libel. Whereupon I had it set again-printed at the expense of the defence: sumpti

you would enjoy

"and why, when you tell me your evidence is

ngrange's. Of my first talk, according to promise, I said nothing, nor indeed was it necessary. All the time I was talking Stewart nodded his head like

yourself,

take you

t of Simon and the Duke. He has refused to put you on your trial, and refused to have you killed; and there is the clue to their ill words together, for Simon and the Duke can keep faith with neither friend n

nd told him of the whistle and

rock and a blagyard. I like the appearance of this red-headed Neil as little as yourself. It looks uncanny: fiegh! it smells bad. It was old Lovat that managed the Lady Grange affair; if young Lovat is to handle yours, it'll be all in the family. What's James More in pr

trong case,"

quiet until just before the trial, and spring upon them at the last of it when they'll be looking for you least.

," said I. "I saw the murd

ing you to the trial." He emptied his pockets on the floor. "Here is all that I have by me," he went on, "Take it, ye'll want it ere ye're through.

to go, then?

d seek. No, ye must fend for yourself, and God be your guiding! Five days before the trial, September the sixteen, get word

," said I. "Can

lie this night by Silvermills on purpose. If you're sure that you're not followed, Mr. Balfour-but make sure of that-lie in a good