Latest / Classic Adventure Books Collection / 26 - Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson

Transcript

26 - Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson · Classic Adventure Books Collection

0:00
Chapter twenty six. End of the flight we passed the fourth, the month,
0:07
as I have said, was not yet out, but it was already
0:11
far through August and beautiful warm weather, with every sign of an early and
0:15
great harvest. When I was pronounced able for my journey, our money was
0:20
now run to so low an ebb that we must think first of all on
0:24
speed. For if we came not too soon to mister Wrangeller's, or if
0:29
when we came there he should fail to help me, we must surely starve
0:34
in Allan's view. Besides, the hunt must now have greatly slackened, and
0:38
the line of the fourth and even Sterling Bridge, which is the main pass
0:43
over that river, would be watched with little interest. It's a chief principle
0:47
in military affairs, said he to go where ye are least expected. Forth
0:53
is our trouble, Ye ken to saying forth bridles the wild Highliament. Well,
0:58
if we seek to creep round about the head of that river and come
1:00
down by Kippen or Belfrum, is just precisely there that they'll be looking to
1:06
lay hands on us. But if we stave on straight to the old brig
1:08
of Sterling, I lay my sword, they let us pass unchallenged the first
1:15
night. Accordingly, we pushed to the house of a mac laren in Strathire,
1:19
a friend of Duncan's, where we slept the twenty first of the month,
1:23
And once we set forth again about the fall of night to make another
1:26
easy stage. The twenty second we lay in a heather bush on the hill
1:30
side, and um var within view of a herd of deer. The happiest
1:34
ten hours of sleep, in a fine, breathing sunshine, and on bone
1:40
dry ground that I have ever tasted. That night we struck Allan water and
1:45
followed it down, and coming to the edge of the hills, saw the
1:49
whole carse of sterling underfoot, as flat as a pancake, with a town
1:53
and castle on a hill in the midst of it, and the moon shining
1:57
on the lynks of Forth. Now said Allan, I Kenna, if you
2:01
care, but you're on your own land again. We passed the highland line
2:06
in that first hour, and now if we could but pass Yon crooked Water,
2:10
we might cast our bonnets in the air. In Allyan water near by,
2:15
where it falls into the Forth, we found a little sandy islet overgrown
2:21
with burdock butter birr and the like low plants that would just cover us if
2:24
we lay flat. Here it was we made our camp within plain view of
2:30
Stirling Castle. Whence we could hear the drums beat as some part of the
2:34
garrison paraded, and we could hear the stones going on the hooks, and
2:38
the voices, and even the words of the men talking. It behooved to
2:42
lie close and keep silent. But the sand of the little isle was sun
2:46
warm. The green plants gave a shelter for our heads. We had food
2:51
and drink in plenty, and to crown all we were within sight of safety.
2:57
As soon as the shearers quit their work in the dust began to fall,
3:00
we waded ashore and struck for the bridge of Sterling, keeping to the
3:05
fields and under the field fences. The bridge is close under the castle hill,
3:10
an old, high, narrow bridge with pinnacles along the parapet. And
3:15
you may conceive with how much interest I looked upon it, not only as
3:19
a place famous in history, but as the very doors of salvation to allan
3:23
and myself. The moon was not yet up when we came there. A
3:28
few lights shone along the front of the fortress, and lowered down a few
3:31
lighted windows in the town, but it was all mighty still, and there
3:36
seemed to be no guard upon the passage. I was for pushing straight across,
3:42
but Alan was more wary. It looks unco quiet, said he.
3:46
But for all that, we'll lie down here cannily behind a dike and make
3:51
sure. So we lay for about a quarter of an hour, whilst whispering,
3:55
whilst lying still, and hearing nothing earthly but the washing of the water
4:00
on the piers. At last there came by an old, hobbling woman with
4:04
a crutch stick, who first stopped a little close to where we lay,
4:09
and bemoaned herself and the long way she had traveled, and then set forth
4:13
again up the steep spring of the bridge. The woman was so little,
4:17
and the night still so dark, that we soon lost sight of her,
4:21
only heard the sound of her steps and her stick, and a cough that
4:26
she had by fits draw slowly farther away. She's bound to be across now,
4:32
I whispered, Nah, said Alan. Her foot still sounds boss upon
4:38
the breach, And just then who goes? Cried a voice, and we
4:44
heard the butt of a musket rattle on the stones. I must suppose the
4:47
sentry had been sleeping, so that had we tried, we might have passed
4:51
unseen. But he was awake now and the chance forfeited. This'll never do,
4:57
said Alan, This'll never never do for us, David, And without
5:01
another word, he began to crawl away through the fields, and a little
5:05
after being well out of eyeshot, got to his feet again and struck along
5:11
a road that led to the eastward. I could not conceive what he was
5:15
doing, And indeed I was so sharply cut by the disappointment that I was
5:19
little likely to be pleased with anything. A moment back, and I had
5:24
seen myself knocking at mister Wrangkawer's door to claim my inheritance, like a hero
5:29
in a ballad. And here was I back again, a wandering, hunted
5:32
blagguard on the wrong side of forth. Well said I, Well, said,
5:40
Allan, what would you have? They're none such fools as I took
5:44
em for. We have stilled the fourth to pass, Davy. We refall
5:48
the rains that fed and the hillsides that guided it. And why go east?
5:54
Said I? Oh? Just upon the chance? Said he. If
5:59
we cannot pass, sirrip will have to see what we can do for the
6:00
firth. There are fords upon the river, and none upon the firth,
6:06
said I. To be sure there are fords and a bridge for by quoth
6:12
Alan, And of what service when they are watched? Well? Said I.
6:16
But a river can be swum by them that have the skill of it,
6:21
returned he. But I've yet to hear that either you or me is
6:25
much of a hand at that exercise. And for my own part, I
6:29
swim like a stone. I'm not up to you and talking back, Allan,
6:33
I said, but I can see we're making bad worse. If it's
6:38
hard to pass the river, it stands to reason it must be worse to
6:42
pass a sea. But there's such a thing as a boat, says Allan.
6:46
Or I'm the more deceived, aye, And such a thing as money,
6:51
says I. But for us that have neither one nor other, they
6:56
might just as well not have been invented. You think so, said Allan.
7:00
I do that, said I. David, says he. You're a
7:06
man of small invention and less faith. But let me set my wits upon
7:11
the horn. And if I cannot beg borrow or yet steal a boat,
7:15
I'll make one I think I see, ye, said I. And what's
7:19
more than all of that? If you pass a bridge, it can tell
7:23
no tales. But if we pass the firth, there's the boat on the
7:27
wrong side. Somebody must have brought it the country side will all be in
7:31
a buzz man, cried Allan. If I can make a boat, I'll
7:36
make a body to take it back again. So deeve me with no more
7:41
of your nonsense, but walk, for that's what you've got to do.
7:46
And let Alan think for ye all night. Then we walked through the north
7:49
side of the cars, under the high line of the Orkill Mountains, and
7:54
by Alloa and Clachmannon and Coolras, all of which we avoided. And about
8:00
ten in the morning, mighty hungry and tired, came to the little clockin
8:03
of Lime Kilns. This is a place that sits near Inn by the water
8:09
side, and looks across the Hope to the town of the Queen's Ferry.
8:13
Smoke went up from both of these, and from other villages and farms upon
8:16
all hands. The fields were being reaped. Two ships lay anchored, and
8:22
boats were coming and going on the Hope. It was altogether a right pleasant
8:26
sight to me, and I could not take my fill of gazing at these
8:30
comfortable, green cultivated hills and the busy people, both of the field and
8:33
sea. For all that, there was mister Rankeller's house on the south shore,
8:39
where I had no doubt wealth awaited me. And here was I upon
8:43
the north glad in poor enough attire of an outlandish fashion, with three silver
8:48
shillings left to me, of all my fortune, a price set upon my
8:52
head, an outlawed man for my sole company. Oh Allen, said I
9:00
to think of it. Over there, there's all that heart could want waiting
9:03
me. And the birds go over, and the boats go over, all
9:07
dick leaves can go, but just me only, oh man, but it's
9:13
a heartbreak in limekilns. We entered a small change house which we only knew
9:18
to be a public by the wand over the door and bought some bread and
9:22
cheese from a good looking lass that was the servant. This we carried with
9:26
us in a bundle, meaning to sit and eat it in a bush of
9:30
wood on the seashore that we saw some third part of a mile in front.
9:35
As we went, I kept looking across the water and sighing to myself,
9:39
And though I took no heed of it. Alan had fallen into a
9:43
muse. At last, he stopped in the way, do you take heed
9:48
of the last? We bought this of says he, tapping on the bread
9:52
and cheese to be sure, said I, and a body lass she was
9:56
your thoughts. Sah, you thought that, cries he man. David.
10:01
That's good news in the name of all that's wonderful. Why so, says
10:07
I? What good can that do? Well, said Allan, with one
10:13
of his droll looks. I is rather in hopes it would maybe get us
10:16
that boat. If it were the other way about, it would be like
10:20
her, it, said I. That's all you can, you see,
10:24
said Allan. I don't want the last to fall in love with ye.
10:28
I want her to be sorry for ye, David, which end there is
10:31
no manner of need that she should take you for a beauty. Let me
10:35
see, looking me curiously over, I wish you were a wee thing paler.
10:41
But apart from that, you'll do fine for my purpose. Ye've a
10:43
fine hang dog rag and tatter clappermac claw kind of a look to ye,
10:50
as if he had stolen the coat from a potato bogle. Come right about
10:54
and back to the change house for that boat of ours. I followed him,
10:58
laughing. David Balfour said he you're a very funny gentleman by your way
11:03
of it, and this is a very funny employ for you, no doubt
11:07
for all that if you have any affection for my neck, to say nothing
11:11
of your own, you will perhaps be kind enough to take this matter responsibly.
11:16
I am going to do a bit of play acting, the bottom ground
11:20
of which is just exactly as serious as the gallows for the pair of us.
11:24
So bear it if you please in mind and conduct yourself according well well
11:31
said, I have it as you will. As we got near the Clachan,
11:37
he made me take his arm and hang upon it like one almost helpless
11:39
with weariness, and by the time he pushed open the change house to her,
11:45
he seemed to be half carrying me. The maid appeared surprised as well
11:48
she might be at our speedy return, but Alan had no words to spare
11:54
for her. An explanation, helped me to a chair, called for a
11:58
tass of brandy, with which he fed me in little SIPs, and then
12:01
breaking up the bread and cheese, helped me to eat it like a nursery
12:05
lass, the whole with that grave concerned affectionate countenance that might have imposed upon
12:11
a judge. It was small wonder if the maid were taken with the picture
12:15
we presented of a poor, sick, overwrought lad and his most tender comrade.
12:20
She drew quite near, and stood leaning with her back on the next
12:24
table. What's like wrong with him? Said she? At last Alan turned
12:30
upon her, to my great wonder, with a kind of fury. Wrong,
12:33
cries he. He's walked more hundreds of miles than he has hairs upon
12:37
his chin, and slept oftener in wet heather than dry sheets. Wrong,
12:43
quoth she, Wrong enough, I would think wrong. Indeed, he kept
12:48
grumbling to himself as he fed me like a man ill pleased. He's young
12:52
for the like of that, said the maid. Oh we're young, said
12:58
Alan, with his back to her. He would be better riding, said
13:01
she. And where could I get a horse? To him? Cried Allan,
13:07
turning on her with the same appearance of fury. Would you have me
13:09
steal? I thought this roughness would have sent her off in dudgeon, as
13:15
indeed it closed her mouth for the time. But my companion knew very well
13:20
what he was doing, And for as simple as he was in some things
13:22
of life, had a great fund of roguishness in such affairs as these.
13:28
You need na tell me, she said. At last, you're gentry,
13:33
well, said Allan, softened a little. I believe against his will by
13:39
this artless comment. And suppose we were, did ever you hear the gentriest
13:43
put money in folks pockets? She sighed at this, as if she were
13:48
herself some disinherited great lady. No, says she, that's true. Indeed
13:56
I was all this while chafing at the part I played, and sitting tongue
14:01
tied between shame and merriment. But somehow, at this I could hold in
14:05
no longer and bade Alan let me be, for I was better already.
14:09
My voice stuck in my throat, for I ever hated to take part in
14:13
lies, but my very embarrassment helped on the plot for the last, no
14:18
doubt set down my husky voice to sickness and fatigue. Has he no friends,
14:24
said she, in a tearful voice. That has he so cried Alan,
14:30
if we could but win to them friends and rich friends, beds to
14:33
lie in, food to eat, doctors to see to him, and hear
14:37
he must tramp in the doves and sleep in the heather like a beggar man.
14:41
And why that, says the Lass, my dear, said Allan.
14:48
I cannot very safely say, but I'd tell you what I'll do instead,
14:52
says he, I wiz ye a bit tune. And with that he leaned
14:56
pretty far over the table, and in a mere breath of a whistle,
15:00
with a wonderful, pretty sentiment, gave her a few bars of Charlie,
15:05
is my darling, wished, says she, and looked over her shoulder to
15:09
the door. That's it, said Alan. And him so young, cries
15:16
the Lass. He's old enough to And Alan stuck his forefinger on the back
15:20
part of his neck, meaning that I was old enough to lose my head.
15:26
It would be a black shame, she cried, flushing high. It's
15:31
what will be, though, said Allan, unless we manage the better.
15:35
At this, the last turned and ran out of that part of the house,
15:39
leaving us alone together. Alan in high good humor at the furthering of
15:43
his schemes. And I am bitter dudgeon at being called a jacobite and treated
15:48
like a child, Allen, I cried, I can stand no more of
15:52
this. You have to sit it. Then, Davy said he, for
15:56
if you upset the pot, now you may grape your own life out of
16:00
the fire. But Alan Brick is a dead man. This was so true
16:06
that I could only groan, And even my groan served Allan's purpose, for
16:10
it was overheard by the lass as she came flying in again with a dish
16:14
of white puddings and a bottle of strong ale. Poor Lamb says she,
16:19
and had no sooner set the meat before us than she touched me on the
16:22
shoulder with a little friendly touch, as much as to bid me cheer up.
16:27
Then she told us to fall too, and there would be no more
16:30
to pay. For the inn was her own, or at least her father's,
16:34
and he was gone for the day. To Pittancreef. We waited for
16:38
no second bidding, for bread and cheese is but cold comfort, and the
16:42
puddings smelt excellently well. And while we sat and ate, she took up
16:47
that same place by the next table, looking on and thinking, and frowning
16:52
to herself, and drawing the string of her apron through her hand. I'm
16:56
thinking you have a rather long tongue, she said at last to Allan.
17:02
Aye said Allan, But you see I can the folk I speak too.
17:07
I would never betray you, said she. If you mean that, no,
17:12
said he. You're not that kind. But I'd tell yo what you
17:15
would do. You would help, I couldna, said she, shaking her
17:21
head. Nah I could na, no, said he. But if you
17:26
could, she answered him nothing. Look here, my lass, said Allan.
17:33
There are boats in the Kingdom of Fife. For I saw too,
17:37
no less upon the beach as I came in by your town's end. Now,
17:41
if we could have the use of a boat to pass under cloud of
17:45
night into Lothian, and some secret, decent kind of a man to bring
17:48
that boat back again and keep his counsel, there would be two souls saved,
17:53
mine to all likelihood, his to a dead surety. If we lack
17:59
that boat, we have but three shillings left in the wide world. And
18:03
where to go, and how to do? And what other place there is
18:07
for us except the chains of a GiB it. I give you my naked
18:11
word. I cannot shall we go wanting, Lassie, are ye to lie
18:15
in your warm bed and think upon us? When the wind gallops in the
18:18
chimney and the rain turtles on the roof, are ye to each a meat
18:22
by the cheeks of a red fire. And think upon this poor sick lad
18:26
of mine, biting his finger ends on a blameere for cold and hunger,
18:32
sick or sound. He must I be moving with the death grapple at his
18:37
throat. He must I be trailing in the rain on the long roads.
18:40
And when he gants his last on a rickle of cold stones, there will
18:44
be enough friends near him, but only me and God. At this appeal,
18:48
I could see the lass was in a great trouble of mind, being
18:52
tempted to help us, and yet in some fear she might be helping malefactors.
18:57
And so now I determined to step in myself and to allay her scruples
19:02
with a portion of the truth. Do you ever hear, said I of
19:07
mister Wrangkeyler of the fairy raincutner Rangkller, The writer said, she I dar
19:15
say that, well, said I. It's to his door that I am
19:19
bound. So you may judge by that if I am an ill doer.
19:23
And I will tell you more that though I am indeed by a dreadful error
19:29
in some peril of my life. King George has no truer friend in all
19:33
Scotland than myself. Her face cleared up mightily at this, although Allan's darkened.
19:40
That's more than I would ask, said she. Mister Wrangkeyler is a
19:45
kentman, And she bade us finish our meat yet clear of the clockin as
19:48
soon as might be, and lie close in the bit wood on the sea
19:52
beach, and you can trust me, says she, I'll find some means
19:57
to put you over. At this we waited for no more, but shook
20:02
hands with her upon the bargain, made short work of the puddings, and
20:06
set forth again from lime kilns as far as to the wood. It was
20:10
a small piece of perhaps a score of elders and hawthorns, and a few
20:14
young ashes, not thick enough to veil us from passers by upon the road
20:18
or beach. Here we must lie, however, making the best of the
20:22
brave warm weather and the good hopes we now had of a deliverance, and
20:26
planning more particularly what remained for us to do. We had but one trouble
20:32
all day, when a strolling piper came and sat in the same wood with
20:36
us. A red nosed, bleary eyed, drunken dog, with a great
20:40
bottle of whiskey in his pocket, and a long story of wrongs that had
20:44
been done him by all sorts of persons, from the Lord President of the
20:48
Court of Session, who had denied him justice, down to the Baileys of
20:52
Inverkeithing, who had given him more of it than he desired. It was
20:56
impossible but that he should conceive some suspicion of two men lying all day concealed
21:03
in a thicket, and having no business to allege. As long as he
21:07
stayed there, he kept us in hot water with prying questions. And after
21:11
he was gone, as he was a man not very likely to hold his
21:15
tongue, we were in the greater impatience to be gone ourselves. The day
21:19
came to an end with the same brightness. The night fell quiet, and
21:23
clear lights came out in houses and hamlets, and then one after another began
21:30
to be put out. But it was past eleven, and we were long
21:33
since strangely tortured with anxieties before we heard the grinding of oars upon the rowing
21:38
pins. At that we looked out and saw the Lass herself coming rowing to
21:44
us in a boat. She had trusted no one with our affairs, not
21:48
even her sweetheart, if she had one, But as soon as her father
21:52
was asleep, had left the house by a window, stolen a neighbor's boat,
21:56
and come to our assistance single handed. I was abashed how to find
22:02
expression for my thanks, But she was no less abashed at the thought of
22:06
hearing them. Begged us to lose no time and to hold our peace,
22:10
saying very properly that the heart of our matter was in haste and silence,
22:15
and so what with one thing and another. She had set us on the
22:18
Lothian shore, not far from Carradin, had shaken hands with us, and
22:22
was out again at sea and rowing for lime kilns. For there was one
22:26
word said either of her service or our gratitude. Even after she was gone,
22:33
we had nothing to say, as indeed nothing was enough for such a
22:37
kindness. Only Alan stood a great while upon the shore, shaking his head.
22:44
It is a very fine lass, he said at last, David,
22:48
it is a very fine lass. And a matter of an hour later,
22:52
as we were lying in a den on the sea shore, and I had
22:55
been already dozing, he broke out again in commendations of her care. For
23:00
my part, I could say nothing. She was so simple a creature that
23:04
my heart smote me both with remorse and fear, remorse because we had traded
23:10
upon her ignorance, and fear lest we should have any way involved her in
23:14
the dangers of our situation. End of chapter