be the best manner to spin a coin for
it."

This proposition was too highly chivalrous not to take my fancy; and,
strange as it may seem of two well-born gentlemen of to-day, we span a
half-crown (like a pair of ancient paladins) whether we were to cut each
other's throats or be sworn friends. A more romantic circumstance can
rarely have occurred; and it is one of those points in my memoirs, by
which we may see the old tales of Homer and the poets are equally true
to-day--at least, of the noble and genteel. The coin fell for peace, and
we shook hands upon our bargain. And then it was that my companion
explained to me his thought in running away from Mr. Stewart, which was
certainly worthy of his political intellect. The report of his death, he
said, was a great guard to him; Mr. Stewart having recognised him, had
become a danger; and he had taken the briefest road to that gentleman's
silence. "For," says he, "Alan Black is too vain a man to narrate any
such story of himself."

Towards afternoon we came down to the shores of that loch for which we
were heading; and there was the ship, but newly come to anchor. She was
the _Sainte-Marie-des-Anges_, out of the port of Havre-de-Grace. The
Master, after we had signalled for a boat, asked me if I knew the
captain. I told him he was a countryman of mine, of the most unblemished
integrity, but, I was afraid, a rather timorous man.

"No matter," says he. "For all that, he should certainly hear the
truth."

I asked him If he meant about the battle? for if the captain once knew
the standard was down, he would certainly put to sea again at once.

"And even then!" said he; "the arms are now of no sort of utility."

"My dear man," said I, "who thinks of the arms? But, to be sure, we must
remember our friends. They will be close upon our heels, perhaps the
Prince himself, and if the ship be gone, a great number of valuable
lives may be imperilled."

"The captain and the crew have lives also, if you come to that," says
Ballantrae.

This I declared was but a quibble, and that I would not hear of the
captain being told; and then it was that Ballantrae made me a witty
answer, for the sake of which (and also because I have been blamed
myself in this business of the _Sainte-Marie-des-Anges_) I have related
the whole conversation as it passed.

"Frank," says he, "remember our bargain. I must not object to your
holding your tongue, which I hereby even encourage you to do; but, by