safety. No doubt, until I had declared and cleared myself, I might

any day encounter Mungo Campbell or the sheriff's officer, and be

recognised, and dragged into the Appin murder by the heels; and, no

doubt, in case I could manage my declaration with success, I should

breathe more free for ever after. But when I looked this argument

full in the face I could see nothing to be ashamed of. As for the

rest, "Here are the two roads," I thought, "and both go to the same

place. It's unjust that James should hang if I can save him; and

it would be ridiculous in me to have talked so much and then do

nothing. It's lucky for James of the Glens that I have boasted

beforehand; and none so unlucky for myself, because now I'm

committed to do right. I have the name of a gentleman and the

means of one; it would be a poor duty that I was wanting in the

essence." And then I thought this was a Pagan spirit, and said a

prayer in to myself, asking for what courage I might lack, and that

I might go straight to my duty like a soldier to battle, and come

off again scatheless, as so many do.

This train of reasoning brought me to a more resolved complexion;

though it was far from closing up my sense of the dangers that

surrounded me, nor of how very apt I was (if I went on) to stumble

on the ladder of the gallows. It was a plain, fair morning, but

the wind in the east. The little chill of it sang in my blood, and

gave me a feeling of the autumn, and the dead leaves, and dead

folks' bodies in their graves. It seemed the devil was in it, if I

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