David Balfour

  CHAPTER X

  THE RED-HEADED MAN

  It was about half-past three when I came forth on the Lang Dykes. Deanwas where I wanted to go. Since Catriona dwelled there, and the GlengyleMacgregors appeared almost certainly to be employed against me, it wasjust one of the few places I should have kept away from; and being avery young man, and beginning to be very much in love, I turned my facein that direction without pause. As a salve to my conscience and commonsense, however, I took a measure of precaution. Coming over the crown ofa bit of a rise in the road, I clapped down suddenly among the barleyand lay waiting. After a while, a man went by that looked to be aHighlandman, but I had never seen him till that hour. Presently aftercame Neil of the red head. The next to go past was a miller's cart, andafter that nothing but manifest country people. Here was enough to haveturned the most foolhardy from his purpose, but my inclination ran toostrong the other way. I argued it out that if Neil was on that road, itwas the right road to find him in, leading direct to his chief'sdaughter; as for the other Highlandman, if I was to be startled off byevery Highlandman I saw, I would scarce reach anywhere. And having quitesatisfied myself with this disingenuous debate, I made the better speedof it, and came a little after four to Mrs. Drummond-Ogilvy's.

  Both ladies were within the house; and upon my perceiving them togetherby the open door, I plucked off my hat and said, "Here was a lad comeseeking saxpence," which I thought might please the dowager.

  Catriona ran out to greet me heartily, and, to my surprise, the old ladyseemed scarce less forward than herself. I learned long afterwards thatshe had despatched a horseman by daylight to Rankeillor at theQueensferry, whom she knew to be the doer for Shaws, and had then in herpocket a letter from that good friend of mine, presenting, in the mostfavourable view, my character and prospects. But had I read it I couldscarce have seen more clear in her designs. Maybe I was _countryfeed_;at least, I was not so much so as she thought; and it was plain enough,even to my homespun wits, that she was bent to hammer up a match betweenher cousin and a beardless boy that was something of a laird in Lothian.

  "Saxpence had better take his broth with us, Catrine," says she. "Runand tell the lasses."

  And for the little while we were alone was at a good deal of pains toflatter me; always cleverly, always with the appearance of a banter,still calling me Saxpence, but with such a turn that should ratheruplift me in my own opinion. When Catriona returned the design became ifpossible more obvious, and she showed off the girl's advantages like ahorse-couper with a horse. My face flamed that she should think me soobtuse. Now I would fancy the girl was being innocently made a show of,and then I could have beaten the old carline wife with a cudgel; andnow, that perhaps these two had set their heads together to entrap me,and at that I sat and gloomed betwixt them like the very image ofill-will. At last the matchmaker had a better device, which was to leavethe pair of us alone. When my suspicions are anyway roused it issometimes a little the wrong side of easy to allay them. But though Iknew what breed she was of, and that was a breed of thieves, I couldnever look in Catriona's face and disbelieve her.

  "I must not ask?" says she, eagerly, the same moment we were left alone.

  "Ah, but to-day I can talk with a free conscience," I replied. "I amlightened of my pledge, and indeed (after what has come and gone sincemorning) I would not have renewed it were it asked."

  "Tell me," she said. "My cousin will not be so long."

  So I told her the tale of the lieutenant from the first step to the lastof it, making it as mirthful as I could, and, indeed, there was matterof mirth in that absurdity.

  "And I think you will be as little fitted for the rudas men as for thepretty ladies, after all!" says she, when I had done. "But what was yourfather that he could not learn you to draw the sword? It is mostungentle; I have not heard the match of that in anyone."

  "It is most misconvenient at least," said I; "and I think my father(honest man!) must have been wool-gathering to learn me Latin in theplace of it. But you see I do the best I can, and just stand up likeLot's wife and let them hammer at me."

  "Do you know what makes me smile?" said she. "Well, it is this. I ammade this way, that I should have been a man child. In my own thoughtsit is so I am always; and I go on telling myself about this thing thatis to befall and that. Then it comes to the place of the fighting, andit comes over me that I am only a girl at all events, and cannot hold asword or give one good blow; and then I have to twist my story roundabout, so that the fighting is to stop, and yet me have the best of it,just like you and the lieutenant; and I am the boy that makes the finespeeches all through, like Mr. David Balfour."

  "You are a bloodthirsty maid," said I.

  "Well, I know it is good to sew and spin, and to make samplers," shesaid, "but if you were to do nothing else in the great world, I thinkyou will say yourself it is a driech business; and it is not that I wantto kill, I think. Did ever you kill anyone?"

  "That I have, as it chances. Two, no less, and me still a lad thatshould be at the college," said I. "But yet, in the look-back, I take noshame for it."

  "But how did you feel, then--after it?" she asked.

  "'Deed, I sat down and grat like a bairn," said I.

  "I know that, too," she cried. "I feel where these tears should comefrom. And at any rate, I would not wish to kill, only to be CatherineDouglas that put her arm through the staples of the bolt, where it wasbroken. That is my chief hero. Would you not love to die so--for yourking?" she asked.

  "Troth," said I, "my affection for my king, God bless the puggy face ofhim, is under more control; and I thought I saw death so near to me thisday already, that I am rather taken up with the notion of living."

  "Right," she said, "the right mind of a man! Only you must learn arms; Iwould not like to have a friend that cannot strike. But it will not havebeen with the sword that you killed these two?"

  "Indeed, no," said I, "but with a pair of pistols. And a fortunate thingit was the men were so near-hand to me, for I am about as clever withthe pistols as I am with the sword."

  So then she drew from me the story of our battle in the brig, which Ihad omitted in my first account of my affairs.

  "Yes," said she, "you are brave. And your friend, I admire and lovehim."

  "Well, and I think any one would!" said I. "He has his faults like otherfolk; but he is brave and staunch and kind, God bless him! That will bea strange day when I forget Alan." And the thought of him, and that itwas within my choice to speak with him that night, had almost overcomeme.

  "And where will my head be gone that I have not told my news!" shecried, and spoke of a letter from her father, bearing that she mightvisit him to-morrow in the castle whither he was now transferred, andthat his affairs were mending. "You do not like to hear it," said she."Will you judge my father and not know him?"

  "I am a thousand miles from judging," I replied. "And I give you my wordI do rejoice to know your heart is lightened. If my face fell at all, asI suppose it must, you will allow this is rather an ill day forcompositions, and the people in power extremely ill persons to becompounding with. I have Symon Fraser extremely heavy on my stomachstill."

  "Ah!" she cried, "you will not be evening these two; and you should bearin mind that Prestongrange and James More, my father, are of the oneblood."

  "I never heard tell of that," said I.

  "It is rather singular how little you are acquainted with," said she."One part may call themselves Grant, and one Macgregor, but they arestill of the same clan. They are all the sons of Alpin, from whom, Ithink, our country has its name."

  "What country is that?" I asked.

  "My country and yours," said she.

  "This is my day for discoveries, I think," said I, "for I always thoughtthe name of it was Scotland."

  "Scotland is the name of what you call Ireland," she replied. "But theold ancient true name of this place that we have our foot-soles on, andthat our bones are made of, will be Alban. It was Alban they called itwhen our fore
fathers will be fighting for it against Rome and Alexander;and it is called so still in your own tongue that you forget."

  "Troth," said I, "and that I never learned!" For I lacked heart to takeher up about the Macedonian.

  "But your fathers and mothers talked it, one generation with another,"said she. "And it was sung about the cradles before you or me were everdreamed of; and your name remembers it still. Ah, if you could talk thatlanguage you would find me another girl. The heart speaks in thattongue."

  I had a meal with the two ladies, all very good, served in fine oldplate, and the wine excellent, for it seems that Mrs. Ogilvy was rich.Our talk, too, was pleasant enough; but as soon as I saw the sun declinesharply and the shadows to run out long, I rose to take my leave. For mymind was now made up to say farewell to Alan; and it was needful Ishould see the trysting wood, and reconnoitre it, by daylight. Catrionacame with me as far as to the garden gate.

  "It is long till I see you now?" she asked.

  "It is beyond my judging," I replied. "It will be long, it may benever."

  "It may be so," said she. "And you are sorry?"

  I bowed my head, looking upon her.

  "So am I, at all events," said she. "I have seen you but a small time,but I put you very high. You are true, you are brave; in time I thinkyou will be more of a man yet. I will be proud to hear of that. If youshould speed worse, if it will come to fall as we are afraid--O well!think you have the one friend. Long after you are dead and me an oldwife, I will be telling the bairns about David Balfour, and my tearsrunning. I will be telling how we parted, and what I said to you, anddid to you. _God go with you and guide you, prays your little friend_:so I said--I will be telling them--and here is what I did."

  She took up my hand and kissed it. This so surprised my spirits that Icried out like one hurt. The colour came strong in her face, and shelooked at me and nodded.

  "O yes, Mr. David," said she, "that is what I think of you. The heartgoes with the lips."

  I could read in her face high spirit, and a chivalry like a bravechild's; not anything besides. She kissed my hand, as she had kissedPrince Charlie's, with a higher passion than the common kind of clay hasany sense of. Nothing before had taught me how deep I was her lover, norhow far I had yet to climb to make her think of me in such a character.Yet I could tell myself I had advanced some way, and that her heart hadbeat and her blood flowed at thoughts of me.

  After that honour she had done me I could offer no more trivialcivility. It was even hard for me to speak; a certain lifting in hervoice had knocked directly at the door of my own tears.

  "I praise God for your kindness, dear," said I. "Farewell, my littlefriend!" giving her that name which she had given to herself; with whichI bowed and left her.

  My way was down the glen of the Leith River, towards Stockbridge andSilvermills. A path led in the foot of it, the water bickered and sangin the midst; the sunbeams overhead struck out of the west among longshadows and (as the valley turned) made like a new scene and a new worldof it at every corner. With Catriona behind and Alan before me, I waslike one lifted up. The place besides, and the hour, and the talking ofthe water, infinitely pleased me; and I lingered in my steps and lookedbefore and behind me as I went. This was the cause, under providence,that I spied a little in my rear a red head among some bushes.

  Anger sprang in my heart, and I turned straight about and walked at astiff pace to where I came from. The path lay close by the bushes whereI had remarked the head. The cover came to the wayside, and as I passedI was all strung up to meet and to resist an onfall. No such thingbefell, I went by unmeddled with; and at that fear increased upon me. Itwas still day indeed, but the place exceeding solitary. If my hauntershad let slip that fair occasion I could but judge they aimed atsomething more than David Balfour. The lives of Alan and James weighedupon my spirit with the weight of two grown bullocks.

  Catriona was yet in the garden walking by herself.

  "Catriona," said I, "you see me back again."

  "With a changed face," said she.

  "I carry two men's lives besides my own," said I. "It would be a sin anda shame not to walk carefully. I was doubtful whether I did right tocome here. I would like it ill, if it was by that means we were broughtto harm."

  "I could tell you one that would be liking it less, and will like littleenough to hear you talking at this very same time," she cried. "Whathave I done, at all events?"

  "O, you! you are not alone," I replied. "But since I went off I havebeen dogged again, and I can give you the name of him that follows me.It is Neil, son of Duncan, your man or your father's."

  "To be sure you are mistaken there," she said, with a white face. "Neilis in Edinburgh on errands from my father."

  "It is what I fear," said I, "the last of it. But for his being inEdinburgh I think I can show you another of that. For sure you have somesignal, a signal of need, such as would bring him to your help, if hewas anywhere within the reach of ears and legs?"

  "Why, how will you know that?" says she.

  "By means of a magical talisman God gave to me when I was born, and thename they call it by is Common-sense," said I. "Oblige me so far as tomake your signal, and I will show you the red head of Neil."

  No doubt but I spoke bitter and sharp. My heart was bitter. I blamedmyself and the girl and hated both of us: her for the vile crew that shewas come of, myself for my wanton folly to have stuck my head in such abyke of wasps.

  Catriona set her fingers to her lips and whistled once, with anexceeding clear, strong, mounting note, as full as a ploughman's. Awhile we stood silent; and I was about to ask her to repeat the same,when I heard the sound of some one bursting through the bushes below onthe braeside. I pointed in that direction with a smile, and presentlyNeil leaped into the garden. His eyes burned, and he had a black knife(as they call it on the Highland side) naked in his hand; but, seeing mebeside his mistress, stood like a man struck.

  "He has come to your call," said I; "judge how near he was to Edinburgh,or what was the nature of your father's errands. Ask himself. If I am tolose my life, or the lives of those that hang by me, through the meansof your clan, let me go where I have to go with my eyes open."

  She addressed him tremulously in the Gaelic. Remembering Alan's anxiouscivility in that particular, I could have laughed out loud forbitterness; here, sure, in the midst of these suspicions, was the hourshe should have stuck by English.

  Twice or thrice they spoke together, and I could make out that Neil (forall his obsequiousness) was an angry man.

  Then she turned to me. "He swears it is not," she said.

  "Catriona," said I, "do you believe the man yourself?"

  She made a gesture like wringing the hands.

  "How will I can know?" she cried.

  "But I must find some means to know," said I. "I cannot continue to godovering round in the black night with two men's lives at my girdle!Catriona, try to put yourself in my place, as I vow to God I try hard toput myself in yours. This is no kind of talk that should ever havefallen between me and you; no kind of talk; my heart is sick with it.See, keep him here till two of the morning, and I care not. Try him withthat."

  They spoke together once more in the Gaelic.

  "He says he has James More my father's errand," said she. She was whiterthan ever, and her voice faltered as she said it.

  "It is pretty plain now," said I, "and may God forgive the wicked!"

  She said never anything to that, but continued gazing at me with thesame white face.

  "This is a fine business," said I again. "Am I to fall, then, and thosetwo along with me?"

  "O, what am I to do?" she cried. "Could I go against my father's orders,and him in prison, in the danger of his life?"

  "But perhaps we go too fast," said I. "This may be a lie too. He mayhave no right orders; all may be contrived by Symon, and your fatherknowing nothing."

  She burst out weeping between the pair of us; and my heart smote mehard, for I thought this girl was in
a dreadful situation.

  "Here," said I, "keep him but the one hour; and I'll chance it, and sayGod bless you."

  She put out her hand to me. "I will be needing one good word," shesobbed.

  "The full hour, then?" said I, keeping her hand in mine. "Three lives ofit, my lass!"

  "The full hour!" she said, and cried aloud on her Redeemer to forgiveher.

  I thought it no fit place for me, and fled.

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