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

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