with the stomach, poor body! and was rael ta'en up about
the good-brother. O man, David, try and learn to have some kind of
intelligence!"

"I'll try, Alan," said I.

"And now for him of the red head," says he; "was he gaun fast or slow?"

"Betwixt and between," said I.

"No kind of a hurry about the man?" he asked.

"Never a sign of it," said I.

"Nhm!" said Alan, "it looks queer. We saw nothing of them this morning
on the Whins; he's passed us by, he doesna seem to be looking, and yet
here he is on our road! Dod, Davie, I begin to take a notion. I think
it's no' you they're seeking, I think it's me; and I think they ken fine
where they're gaun."

"They ken?" I asked.

"I think Andie Scougal's sold me--him, or his mate, wha kennt some part
of the affair--or else Chairlie'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'm thinking--and thanks to this bonny westland wind, I
believe I've still a chance of it. It's this way, Davie. I'm no' trysted
with this man Scougal till the gloaming comes. '_But_,' says he, '_if I
can get 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 time forbye. Do ye see me coming, Davie?
Thanks to Johnnie Cope and other red-coat gomerils, 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 come down to the
seaside again by Dirleton. If the ship'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 we will 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 marchings
under General Cope; for I can scarce tell what way we went. It is my
excuse that we travelled exceeding fast. Some part we ran, some trotted,
and the rest walked at a vengeance of a pace. Twice, while we were at
top speed, we ran against country-f