# ■ 4 Escape through the heather

We had no time for conversation．‘Come！’ Alan said，and started running along the side of the hill， keeping low to the ground． I followed him like a sheep． We ran and ran， faster than I had ever run before， and my heart was beat ing wildly． Sometimes， to my surprise， Alan straightened his back and showed himself to the soldiers who were chasing us．

After fifteen minutes， Alan stopped， lay flat in the heather，and turned to me．‘Now，’ he said，‘this is serious． Do what I do，if ye don't want to die’．And just as fast，but much more carefully and secretly， we went back almost the same way that we had come． At last we arrived back in the wood where I had found Alan．

We fell down in the heather， and lay without moving for a long time．My legs hurt，my head was aching，and I thought I was dead．

Alan was the first to speak．‘Well，’ he said，‘that was hot work， David．’

I said nothing． I had seen murder done． I knew that Colin Campbell had been Alan's greatest enemy， and I had found Alan hiding in the wood． Although I didn't think that he had actually shot Campbell，I felt sure that he had planned the killing．I coult not look at him．

‘Are ye still tired？’ he asked．

‘No，’ I replied， my face turned away from him，‘no， I'm not tired now．Alan，I can't stay with you，I must leave you．I liked you very much， but we're two different people，that's all．’

‘Ye must explain what ye mean by that， David，’ said Alan， looking very serious．

‘ Alan， why do you ask？ You know very well that Colin Campbell is lying dead in the road in his own blood．’

Alan was silent for a moment，‘Well， Mr Balfour of Shaws，’he said at last，‘I promise ye that I did not plan the murder， or know anything about it．’

‘Thank God for that！’ I cried， and offered him my hand．

He did not appear to see it．I don't know why ye're so worried about a dead Campbell，’ he said． ‘I know that you hate their clan， Alan， but taking a life in cold blood is a terrible thing to do．Do you know who did it？’

‘I wouldn't recognize him again，’ said Alan， shaking his head sadly，‘I'm good at forgetting，David．”

I had to laugh at that．Then I remembered something．‘But when we were running away， you showed yourself to the sol diers， to give the murderer a chance to escape！’

‘Any Highlander would do that． The best place for the lad who shot Colin Campbell is the heather，and we must all do what we can to help him keep away from the soldiers．’

I shook my head at this． These Highlanders were strange，wild people， to be sure． But Alan was ready to die for what he thought was right， and I liked him for that． I offered him my hand again， and this time he took it．

‘Now， David，’ he said，‘we must escape too． The Campbells will accuse us both of the murder．’

‘But we didn't do it！’ I cried．‘We can prove that in court！’

‘Man， I'm surprised at ye，’ said Alan．‘Do ye not know that if a Campbell is killed， the accused has to go to court in Inveraray， in the heart of Campbell country？ When the Campbell lawyers have finished with ye，ye'll be dead！’

This frightened me a little．‘ All right， Alan，’ I said，‘ I'll go with you．’

‘But remember，’ said Alan，‘it'll be a hard life． Ye'll have to sleep in the open air， and ye'll often have an empty stomach． Ye can choose-either live in the heather with me，or die at the hands of the Campbells．’

‘That's easy to decide，’ I said， and we shook hands on it．

When we looked between the trees， we could just see the redcoats of the soldiers， still moving away from us across the hills． Alan smiled， and told me that we would go first to the house of his clansman， James Stewart， and then to the Low lands． The Campbells and the English soldiers would not think of looking for us there， and Alan could find a place on a ship sailing to France．

We walked for several hours， and arrived that night at a large house in a valley．

There were lights in all the windows，and people were running in and out of the open doors． Alan whistled three times， and we were met at the door by a tall，good-looking man of about fifty， who welcomed us in Gaelic．

‘James Stewart， ’ said Alan，‘I'll ask ye to speak in English， because my friend here comes from the Lowlands，and cannot speak Gaelic．’

James spoke politely to me for a few moments， but soon he turned back to Alan，with a very worried look on his face ‘This is a terrible accident，’ he said．‘It will bring trouble to all of us！’

‘Well，man，’ said Alan，‘ye should be grateful that Colin Campbell is dead！’

‘Aye，’ replied James，‘but he was killed in Appin， remem ber that， Alan， so it's the Appin Stewarts who'll be accused．And I'm a man with a family！’

I looked around me． Men with white， frightened faces were hurrying here and there， without any clear idea of what they ought to do first．

Some were hiding guns and swords， while others were burning papers． When James saw me looking sur prised， he explained，‘The soldiers'll search my house first，ye see， and I don't want them to find anything．’

We went inside， and met James's wife and children， who were crying in a corner． I felt very sorry for them， but we did not have much time to talk． Alan explained what we needed for our escape， and soon James's men brought us two swords，two pistols， some food， a cooking pot and a bottle of whisky．We needed money too， because Alan had given his gold to an other man to take to France． But James had only a little to give us．

‘Ye must find a safe place somewhere near，’ he said， ‘and send me a message． I'll find some more money for ye， and send it to ye．

But， Alan，’ and here he stopped for a moment，biting his finger worriedly，‘I'll have to accuse ye of killing that Campbell． I'll have to！If I don't， they'll accuse me！ I have to think of myself and my family！Do ye see that？’

‘Aye，’ said Alan slowly．‘I see that．’

‘And I'll have to accuse your friend from the Lowlands too．Ye see that， Alan— say that ye see that！’

Alan's face went red．‘It's hard on me， James！ I brought him here， and now my friends accuse him of murder！’

‘But just think，Alan，man！’cried James．‘The Campbells will be sure to accuse him． And I have children！’

‘Well，sir，’ said Alan， turning to me，‘what do ye say？ If ye do not agree，I won't let James do it．’

‘I cannot understand why we don't accuse the man who did kill Campbell，’ I replied sharply，‘but accuse me， Mr Stewart，if you like，accuse Alan，accuse King George！I am Alan's friend， and if I can help his friends in any way， I don't mind the danger．’

So that night we started our long journey to the Lowlands．Sometimes we walked， and sometimes we ran． But although we travelled as fast as we could，daylight began to appear before we had found a good hiding－place． We were in the rocky valley of Glencoe， with high mountains on both sides，and a river running fast through the middle． Alan was clearly worried．‘The soldiers will find us easily here，’ he said． He looked around，and saw a great rock，about seven metres high． With difficulty we both climbed to the top of it． Then I saw why he had chosen it． The top of the rock was shaped like a plate， and there was room for two or three men to lie there，hidden from people in the valley．

At last Alan smiled．‘Aye，’ he said．‘Now we have a chance． Ye can sleep for a while． I'll watch for soldiers．’

But when I woke up， several hours later， the valley was full of redcoats， and Alan was looking worried again， ‘If they go up the sides of the mountains，they'll see us，’he said．‘We'll just have to stay here and hope they don't， When it's dark，we'll try to get past them．’

That was a terrible day． We lay on the rock， baking in the sun， with no water，only whisky， to drink． We could hear the English voices of the soldiers all around us， but luckily they did not look up at our rock． In the afternoon， when the soldiers seemed sleepy after their lunch， we decided to try to escape， and we climbed very quietly down from the rock． The soldiers did not notice us as we moved carefully from rock to rock， and soon we were safely in the next valley． That evening we washed ourselves in the river， and ate cold porridge， which is a good meal for a hungry man．

We continued walking eastwards all night， over the great dark mountains． Alan was very pleased that we had left the soldiers behind， and whistled happily as he walked．

Before daylight we reached a cave that Alan had used before， and here we stayed hidden for five days． Alan went down one night to the nearest village， to the housc of one of his clansmen． He sent this man to James Stewart， to tell him where we were hiding， and after three days the clansman re turned， with a purse of money for us and a message from Mrs Stewart． We discovered that James was already in prison， ac cused of murder， although people were saying that Alan Breck had actually fired the shot． And there was a price of one hun dred pounds on my head， as well as on Alan's．

I began to think that I would be safer alone． Alan was very recognizable in his fine French clothes． It was going to be dan gerous to stay with Alan， and expensive， too． Mrs Stewart had only managed to send five pounds， and Alan had to travel as far as France． But I still had two pounds， and only needed to reach Queensferry， so I would have to give some of my money to Alan． Staying with Alan meant both danger and ex pense．

But my honest friend did not think in this way at all． He felt sure that he was helping me． So what could I do， except keep quiet， and hope that everything would be all right？

We started travelling again， across the mountains， and by daylight came to wild， open moors， covered with purple heather．Because anyone on the hills around us could easily see us when we stood up， we had to walk or run on our hands and feet， like animals It was another hot summer day， and my back achcd badly after a few hours． I wanted a rest and a drink of water， but when we stopped， we saw the redcoats of soldiers on one of the hills， and we had to go on．

We walked or ran all day and all night． People who talk of tiredness do not know what the word really means， I did not know who I was or where I was going， and I did not care． I thought that every step would be my last， and I hoped that death would come soon．Alan drove me onwards， and I felt that I hated him， but I was too afraid of him to stop and rest．

When daylight returned， we were stupid with tiredness，and had become careless． Suddenly， three or four wild－looking men jumped out of the heather， and took us prisoner．I was not afraid， only happy to stop running for a moment． But Alan spoke to them in Gaelic．

‘These are Cluny Macpherson's men，’ he said quietly to me．‘Ye remember him， the head of the Macpherson clan？They fought well against the English in the Forty-Five．After that， he didn't go to France， like the other clan chiefs．No，he's been hiding here ever since， and the soldiers have never managed to find him． His clansmen bring him what he needs．’

We were taken to a cave， well hidden by trees and rocks，and Cluny Macpherson himself came forward to welcome us，like a king in his palace． He seemed to live well in his cave，and he offered us an excellent meal， prepared by his cook． But I was too tired to eat， so I lay down at once and slept． In fact，although I did not know it， I was seriously ill， and could not get up for two days．

I woke up once，in a kind of fog， to find Cluny and Alan playing cards， and a second time， to hear Alan asking to borrow my money． I was too sick and sleepy to refuse， and gave him my purse．

But when I woke up again， on the third day，I felt much better， although not very strong． I noticed that Alan was looking very ashamed， and I realized at once what had hap pened．

‘David，’ he said miserably，‘I've lost all our money at cards， yours as well as mine．’

‘No，no，ye haven't lost it！cried Cluny．‘Of course I'll give your money back． It was just a game． I wouldn't keep your money． Here！’ And he pulled gold coins out of his pocket．

I did not know if it was right to accept the money or not，but we needed it， so I thanked Cluny and put the coins in my purse． But I was very angry with Alan， and as we left Cluny's cave and continued our journey， I refused to speak to him．

At first Alan tried hard to talk to me． He said that he was sorry， and that he loved me like a brother． He was worried about my health， and offered me a hand when we crossed a river or climbed a hill．But after two or three days，when he realized that I was still angry with him， he too became angry，and laughed at me when I fell， or seemed tired．

We travelled by night， through endless rain and strong winds， and slept in the wet heather by day． I was feeling more and more miserable．My illness had returned， and I was beginning to think that this terrible journey would only end in my death．‘Alan will be sorry when I die！’ I thought． How childish I was！

Alan continued to laugh at me and call me names， and by the sixth night I had had enough．I stopped and spoke angrily to him.‘Mr Stewart，’ I said， ‘why do you laugh at me？I should laugh at you！ You may have a king's name， but you're a loser！ You spend your life running away！ You're not brave enough to fight the Campbells and the English， and win！’

Alan looked sharply at me．‘David！’ he said．‘There are things that ye should never say—things that can never be for gotten！’

‘If you don't like what I say， I'm ready to fight，’ I answered stupidly． I knew that I was not strong enough to hold a sword．

‘David！’ he cried．‘Are ye crazy？ I cannot fight ye！ It would be murder！’ He pulled out his sword， and looked at me．‘No， I can't， I can't，’ he said． And he dropped his sword on the ground．

When I saw how much he loved me， I was no longer angry，only sick， and sorry．I remembered all his kindness to me，and how he had always helped me through difficult times．Now I had lost that friend for ever！ My illness seemed to get worse and worse， and I could only just stand． I wanted to say that I was sorry， but I knew it was too late for that． Suddenly I realized that a cry for help was the only way of bringing Alan back to me．

‘Alan！’ I said， my voice shaking．‘If you cannot help me，I must just die here！’I did not need to pretend．

He looked up quickly， surprised．‘Can ye walk？’

‘Not without help．Alan，if I die，will you forget what I said？In my heart，I've always been your friend，you know that．’

‘ Quiet！’ cried Alan．‘ Don't talk of dying！ David， man， ye know… ’He could not go on， but put his arm around me．‘Davie， I'm a bad friend to ye．

I didn't remember that ye're just a bairn， I couldn't see that ye were dying on your feet…’He was almost crying．‘Hold on to me， Davie， and ye'll be grand．’

He helped me down into the valley to the nearest house，which luckily belonged to a clan who were friendly to the Stewarts． There I lay for several days， unable to move． Alan refused to leave me， and took the greatest care of me． Little by little I got better， with his help， and before a month had passed， we went on our way again．

This time we did not argue． We did not see any more soldiers， and our journey was easier now． We walked through the warm summer nights， ate our porridge， drank our whisky， and slept in the dry heather in the daytime．Now that we were in the Lowlands， we were almost safe， and we both felt happy and hopeful．When we crossed the Forth River by boat from Limekilns， we were only five kilometres from Queensferry， where Mr Rankeillor lived．

■ 4 在石南叢中逃生

我們連談話的時間都沒有。“來！”艾倫說道，接著沿著山邊、伏著身子跑起來。我像一隻綿羊一樣地跟著他。我們跑啊跑，我從來沒有跑這麼快過，我的心狂亂地跳著。有時，令我驚訝的是，艾倫站直了腰，故意向追我們的士兵暴露他自己。

15分鐘後，艾倫停下來，平躺在草叢裡，對我轉過身來。“且聽我講，”他說，“這很嚴重。如果你不想死的話，照我做的做。”我們又和剛才一樣快地、但更當心並更隱密地幾乎是原路折回。最後我們又抵達了我以前發現艾倫的那片樹林。

我們倒在石南叢裡，一動不動地躺了很長一段時間。我的腿疼，頭也疼，我想我要死了。

艾倫首先開了口。“晤，”他說道，“那可是一件棘手的事，戴維。”

我沒說話。我目擊了刺殺。我知道科林·坎貝爾一直是艾倫最恨的敵人而且當時我也發現艾倫躲在樹叢裡。雖然我認為他沒有親手殺死坎貝爾，但我敢肯定他預謀了刺殺。我當時無法正視他。

“你是不是還累？”他問道。

“不，”我答道，把臉從他那邊轉開。“不，我現在不累。艾倫，我不能和你待在一起，我得離開你。我曾非常喜歡你，但我們是兩個不同的人，就這些。”

“你得解釋你那話是什麼意思，戴維。”艾倫說道，表情非常嚴肅。

“艾倫，你為什麼要問？你很清楚科林·坎貝爾正躺在路上血泊裡，死了。”

艾倫沉默了一下。“好吧，鮑爾弗·肖先生，”他最後說道，“我向你保證我沒有預謀殺人，也不知道什麼。”

“謝天謝地！”我喊道，並向他伸出了我的手。

他似乎沒有看到。“我不明白你為什麼這麼關心一個死了的坎貝爾人，”他說道。

“我知道你恨他們氏族，艾倫，但是蓄意謀殺一個人是一件很可怕的事。你知道是誰幹的嗎？”

“我再也認不出他了。”艾倫說道，悲傷地搖搖頭，“我很健忘，戴維。”

對此我只能笑笑而已。接著我又想起來什麼了。“但是當我們逃路時，你把你自己暴露給士兵，就是為了給刺殺者一個逃跑的機會！”

“任何高地人都會那樣做的。槍殺了科林·坎貝爾的小夥子的最佳棲身之處就是石南叢林，而且我們應該竭盡全力幫助他從士兵那兒脫身。”

我對此搖了搖頭。這些高地人確實很怪，很野蠻。但是艾倫願意為他認為對的東西而獻身，我喜歡他那一點。我又向他伸出手去，這一次他握住了我的手。

“聽我說，戴維，”他說道，“我們也必須逃跑。坎貝爾人將指責我們倆殺了人。”

“但是我們沒有做！”我叫道，“我們能在法庭上證實那一點！”

“夥計，我對你感到驚訝。”艾倫回答道，“難道你不知道如果一個坎貝爾人被殺了，被指控的人得去坎貝爾人地域的中心因弗雷裡當堂對簿嗎？當坎貝爾的律師們和你一起結束工作時，你也就要死了！”

這使我有點害怕了。“好吧，艾倫，”我說道，“我和你一起走。”

“但是記住，”艾倫說道，“生活將是艱苦的。你得睡在露天處，還得時常忍飢挨餓。你可以選擇——要麼和我一起在石南叢林中生活，要麼死在坎貝爾人手裡。”

“那很容易決定。”我說道，而且我們倆人握手言定。

當我們透過樹叢看時，只能看見士兵們穿著的紅制服還在山巒中移動，離我們漸漸遠去了。艾倫微笑著，告訴我說我們將先去他的族人詹姆斯·斯圖爾特家，然後再去低地。坎貝爾人和英格蘭士兵不會想到去那兒找我們，艾倫也能找到一條開往法國的船。

我們走了幾小時，那個晚上到達了山谷中的一座大房子。所有的窗戶都有燈光，人們從開著的門內跑進跑出。艾倫吹了三聲口哨，一個約莫五十歲、長相很好的高個兒男人在門口迎接我們，他用蓋爾語歡迎我們。

“詹姆斯·斯圖爾特，”艾倫說道，“因為我這兒這位朋友從低地來，並不會說蓋爾語，所以請你說英語。”

詹姆斯很有禮貌地和我說了一會兒，但是很快他又轉身和艾倫說話，帶著很擔憂的神色。“這是一個可怕的意外。”他說道，“它將給我們所有人帶來麻煩！”

“好吧，夥計，”艾倫說道，“你應該感激科林·坎貝爾死了才是！”

“對，”詹姆斯回答道，“但是他是在阿平被殺死的，記著那一點，艾倫，這樣將被指控的是阿平的斯圖爾特人。而且我是一個有家室的人！”

我環顧四周。臉色蒼白、面色驚恐的人們一會兒在這兒、一會兒在那兒地操忙著，不清楚他們自己應該先做什麼。一些人在藏槍和劍，而另外一些人在燒燬文件。當詹姆斯看見我面帶驚訝時，他解釋道：“你明白士兵們會首先搜查我的房子，我不想讓他們發現任何東西。”

我們走了進去，遇到了詹姆斯的在牆角大哭的妻小。我為他們感到很難受，但我們沒有多少時間來交談。艾倫解釋了我們逃跑所需的東西，不一會兒詹姆斯的人給我們拿來兩把劍、兩枝手槍、一些食物、一個做飯用的鍋和一瓶威士忌酒。我們也需要錢，65因為艾倫已經把他的金子給了另一個人以便帶到法國去。但是詹姆斯只有一點兒錢可以給我們。

“你得在附近某處找一個安全的地方，”他說道，“並給我送一個口信。我會給你再找一些錢，並送給你。但是，艾倫，”說到這兒，他停了一下，焦急地咬著手指，“我不得不指控你殺了那個坎貝爾。我得這樣！如果我不這樣，他們將指控我！我得為我自己和我家人著想！你明白嗎？”

“嗯，”艾倫慢慢地說道，“我明白那一點。”

“而且，我也得指控你這個從低地來的朋友。你明白那個，艾倫——就說你明白那個！”

艾倫的臉紅了。“這對我太殘酷了，詹姆斯！我把他帶到這兒，現在我的朋友們指控他犯了謀殺罪！”

“但是想想，艾倫，夥計！”詹姆斯叫道，“坎貝爾人一定會指控他。而且我有孩子！”

“唔，先生，”艾倫說道，向我轉過身來，“你意下如何？如果你不同意，我不會讓詹姆斯做的。”

“我不明白我們為什麼不指控那個的確殺了坎貝爾的人。”我厲聲回答道，“但是如果你喜歡，斯圖爾特先生，就指控我，指控艾倫，指控喬治國王吧！我是艾倫的朋友，而且如果我能在任何方面幫助他的朋友們，我不會在意危險的。”

於是那天晚上我們開始了去低地的漫漫征途。我們有時候步行，有時候疾馳。但是雖然我們儘快走著，在我們找到一個好的棲身之地前天已開始亮了。現在我們在岩石嶙峋的格倫科山谷裡，兩邊高山林立，中間有一條河急湍而過。艾倫顯然著急的樣子。“在這兒士兵很容易發現我們，”他說道。他看了看四周，看見了一塊大岩石，大約七米高。我們倆費勁地爬到了上面。那時我才明白了他為什麼要選擇這塊岩石。岩石的上面像一個盤子一樣，可以躺兩三個人，以躲過山谷裡的人。

最後艾倫微笑了。“好了。”他說道，“我們現在有個機會。你可以睡一會兒。我來留神當兵的。”

但當我幾個小時後醒來時，山谷裡滿是英國士兵，艾倫看起來又著急了。“如果他們爬上山側，他們會看見我們。”他說道，“我們得待在這兒，希望他們別爬上來。天黑時，我們試著超過他們。”

那一天很難受。我們躺在岩石上，被太陽暴晒著，沒有水，只有威士忌喝。我們能聽到四周都是士兵們的英語聲，但是幸運的是他們沒有抬頭看我們所在的岩石。下午，趁士兵們用完午飯顯得睏倦時，我們決定試著逃跑，便從岩石上悄悄地爬下來。當我們小心翼翼地從一塊岩石爬上另一塊岩石時，士兵們沒有發現我們，很快我們就安全地在下一個山谷了。那天傍晚我們在河裡洗了洗，喝了冷粥。那對於一個飢餓的人來說是一頓美餐。整個晚上我們繼續向東走著，越過了高大漆黑的山脈。艾倫因我們把士兵拋到後面而很高興，而且走路時高興地吹起口哨。

天亮前我們到了艾倫過去用過的一個山洞，我們在這兒待了5天。

一天晚上艾倫下山去了最近的一個村莊裡他的一個族人家。他派這個人去詹姆斯·斯圖爾特那兒，以告訴他我們的藏身之地；3天后這個族人回來了，給我們帶來一袋錢和斯圖爾特太太捎來的口信。我們發現詹姆斯已經被捕入獄了，被指控犯有謀殺罪，儘管人們說實際是艾倫·布雷克開的槍。對艾倫和我的人頭的懸賞都為100鎊。

我開始想我單獨行動會更安全些。艾倫身穿考究的法國衣服，很容易被人認出來。和艾倫待在一起將是危險的，花銷也大。斯圖爾特太太想盡辦法也只弄來5鎊，而艾倫還得遠去法國。但我還有兩鎊，而且只需要到昆斯費裡，這樣我得把我的一些錢分給艾倫。和艾倫待在一起意味著危險和花費。

但是我的誠實的朋友壓根兒不這麼想。他確信他在幫助我。這樣我除了保持安靜、希望一切平安外還能做什麼？

我們又開始旅行了，翻山越嶺，到天亮時來到滿是紫色石南的、空曠的荒野。因為我們站起來時周圍小山上的人能夠很容易地看見我們，我們只能像動物一樣手腳並用地爬或者跑。這又是一個炎熱的夏日，幾個小時後我的背痛得厲害。我需要休息，需要喝點水；但當我們停下來時，我們看見其中的一座小山上有士兵們穿的紅制服，我們又得走下去。

整天整夜我們都在走或者跑。說累的人們其實不理解這個詞的真實含義。我不知道我是誰或我往哪兒去，我也不在乎。我想每一步都可能是我能走的最後一步，而且我希望死神能夠很快來臨。艾倫催著我往前走，我感到我恨他，但是我太害怕他，以致不敢停下來休息。

天又亮時，我們累得都遲鈍了，都變得麻本了。忽然，三四個看似粗野的人從石南叢中跳出來，把我們當俘虜抓起來。我不害怕，只高興能停止跑一會兒。但是艾倫用蓋爾語對他們說話。

“這些是克蘭尼·麥克弗森的人。”他低聲對我說，“你記得他，麥克弗森家族的頭領嗎？在1745年政變中他們英勇抗擊英格蘭軍隊。那以後，他像其他部族領袖一樣沒有去法國。對，那以後他一直躲在這兒，士兵們也從來沒有發現他。他家族的人給他提供他所需要的。”

我們被帶到一個被樹木和岩石遮掩得很好的山洞，克蘭尼·麥克弗森像一個國王在他自己的王國裡一樣上前歡迎我們。看起來他在洞穴裡過得很好，他給我們提供了一頓由他的廚師準備的佳餚。但是我太累了，吃不下，於是我立即躺下來睡覺。事實上，雖然我不知道，但是我是得了重病，兩天都不能起床。一次我醒來，如墜霧裡，發現克蘭尼和艾倫在打牌；又有一次，聽見艾倫向我借錢。我病得太厲害，又太困，不能夠拒絕，把我的錢包給了他。

但在第三天，當我又醒過來時，我感到好多了，雖然還不太強壯。我注意到艾倫看起來很羞愧，我馬上意識到發生了什麼。

“戴維，”他悲慘地說道，“我玩牌輸掉了我們所有的錢，你的和我的。”

“沒有，沒有，你沒有輸錢！”克蘭尼叫道。“我當然要退你錢。只是玩玩而已。我不會要你的錢。給！”他從口袋裡掏出金幣。

我不知道接受錢是對還是不對，但我們需要它，於是我謝過克蘭尼並把金幣放到我錢包裡。但是我對艾倫很生氣，我們離開克蘭尼的山洞繼續旅行時我拒絕和他說話。

最初艾倫竭力試著對我說話。他說他很抱歉，說他像兄弟一樣地愛我。他很擔心我的健康，我們過河或者爬山時他主動伸手要幫我一把。兩三天後，當他意識到我仍對他生氣時，他也變得生氣了，我跌倒或顯得疲倦時他嘲笑我。

無論強風淫雨，我們都趁著夜幕行走，到了白天便在潮溼的石南叢裡睡覺。我感到越來越難受了。我的病又復發了，我開始尋思這次可怕的旅行只會以我的死亡而告終。“當我死了，艾倫或許會傷心的！”我想。我多麼孩子氣啊！

艾倫繼續嘲諷我並謾罵我，到了第六天晚上我實在是受夠了。我停住腳，很生氣地對他說話。“斯圖爾特先生，”我說，“你為什麼嘲笑我？我應該笑話你！你有國王的姓氏，但你卻是輸家！你把所有的時間都花在東藏西逃上！你沒有勇氣來和坎貝爾人及英格蘭人戰鬥，也不會打勝仗的！”

艾倫嚴厲地看著我。“戴維！”他說道，“有很多事情你根本不應該說——有些事情說了之後是永遠不會被忘卻的！”

“如果你不喜歡我說的話，我準備決鬥，”我傻呵呵地答道。我知道我連拿劍的力氣都沒有。

“戴維！”他叫道，“你瘋了嗎？我不會與你決鬥的！那將是謀殺！”他拔出劍，看著我。“不，我不能，我不能，”他說道。他還把劍扔到地上。

當我看到他是多麼愛我時，我巳經不再生氣了，只是難受，並感到抱歉。我記得他對我的所有好處，而且他總是幫我渡過難關。現在我永遠地失去了那個朋友！我的病癒來愈重了，我只能站站而已。我想說對不起，但我知道太晚了。忽然，我意識到一聲求助是把艾倫帶回我身邊的唯一辦法。

“艾倫！”我說道，聲音顫抖著。“如果你不能幫我，我就一定死在這兒了！”我不需要偽裝。

他很快地抬起頭，驚訝的樣子。“你能走嗎？”

“沒人幫忙就不行。艾倫，如果我死了，你能忘掉我所說過的話嗎？在我內心裡，我一直是你的朋友，你知道的。”

“悄聲！”艾倫叫道，“別提死！戴維，夥計，你知道……”他說不下去了，但用胳膊摟著我。“戴維，我是你的壞朋友。我當時記不得你只是一個小孩，我不能看著你暴死……”他差不多哭了。“抓牢我，戴維，而且你會好的。”

他幫助我下了山，進了山谷，來到最近的一座房子裡。房子慶幸屬於一個對斯圖爾特人很友好的部族。在那兒，我躺了幾天，不能動彈。艾倫拒絕離開我，並極細心地照顧我。在他的幫助之下，我的身體一點點地好起來了；不到一個月，我們又上路了。

這一次我們不爭辯了。我們再沒看見士兵，我們的旅途如今容易多了。溫暖的夏夜我們行走，吃麥片粥，喝威士忌；白天則睡在乾燥的石南叢中。既然我們處於蘇格蘭低地，那就幾乎安全了，我們二人都感到高興，心裡充滿了希望。當我們乘船從萊姆基恩渡過福斯河時，我們離昆斯費裡，就是蘭基勒先生居住的那兒，只有5公里路了。