nny trade I have of it. Treason and traitors, and the
smuggling of them out and in; and the French recruiting, weary fall it!
and the smuggling through of the recruits; and their pleas--a sorrow of
their pleas! Here have I been moving one for young Ardshiel, my cousin;
claimed the estate under the marriage contract--a forfeited estate! I
told them it was nonsense; muckle they cared! And there was I cocking
behind a yadvocate that liked the business as little as myself, for it
was fair ruin to the pair of us--a black mark, _disaffected_, branded on
our hurdles like folk's names upon their kye! And what can I do? I'm a
Stewart, ye see, and must fend for my clan and family. Then no later by
than yesterday there was one of our Stewart lads carried to the Castle.
What for? I ken fine: Act of 1736: recruiting for King Lewie. And you'll
see, he'll whistle me in to be his lawyer, and there'll be another black
mark on my chara'ter! I tell you fair: if I but kennt the heid of a
Hebrew word from the hurdies of it, be damned but I would fling the
whole thing up and turn minister!"

"It's rather a hard position," said I.

"Dooms hard!" cries he. "And that's what makes me think so much of
ye--you that's no Stewart--to stick your head so deep in Stewart
business. And for what, I do not know: unless it was the sense of duty."

"I hope it will be that," said I.

"Well," says he, "it's a grand quality.--But here is my clerk back; and,
by your leave, we'll pick a bit of dinner, all the three of us. When
that's done, I'll give you the direction of a very decent man, that'll
be very fain to have you for a lodger. And I'll fill your pockets to ye,
forbye, out of your ain bag. For this business'll not be near as dear as
ye suppose--not even the ship part of it."

I made him a sign that his clerk was within hearing.

"Hoot, ye needna mind for Robbie," cries he. "A Stewart too, puir
deevil! and has smuggled out more French recruits and trafficking
Papists than what he has hairs upon his face. Why, it's Robin that
manages that branch of my affairs.--Who will we have now, Rob, for
across the water?"

"There'll be Andie Scougal, in the _Thristle_," replied Rob. "I saw
Hoseason the other day, but it seems he's wanting the ship. Then
there'll be Tam Stobo; but I'm none so sure of Tam. I've seen him
colloguing with some gey queer acquaintances; and if it was anybody
important, I would give Tam the go-by."

"The head's worth two hundred pound