Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (best black authors TXT) ๐
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- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
Read book online ยซKidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (best black authors TXT) ๐ยป. Author - Robert Louis Stevenson
I was so thinking when, upon a sudden, Mr. Rankeillor cried out, clapped his hand to his pockets, and began to laugh.
โWhy,โ he cries, โif this be not a farcical adventure! After all that I said, I have forgot my glasses!โ
At that, of course, I understood the purpose of his anecdote, and knew that if he had left his spectacles at home, it had been done on purpose, so that he might have the benefit of Alanโs help without the awkwardness of recognising him. And indeed it was well thought upon; for now (suppose things to go the very worst) how could Rankeillor swear to my friendโs identity, or how be made to bear damaging evidence against myself? For all that, he had been a long while of finding out his want, and had spoken to and recognised a good few persons as we came through the town; and I had little doubt myself that he saw reasonably well.
As soon as we were past the Hawes (where I recognised the landlord smoking his pipe in the door, and was amazed to see him look no older) Mr. Rankeillor changed the order of march, walking behind with Torrance and sending me forward in the manner of a scout. I went up the hill, whistling from time to time my Gaelic air; and at length I had the pleasure to hear it answered and to see Alan rise from behind a bush. He was somewhat dashed in spirits, having passed a long day alone skulking in the county, and made but a poor meal in an alehouse near Dundas. But at the mere sight of my clothes, he began to brighten up; and as soon as I had told him in what a forward state our matters were and the part I looked to him to play in what remained, he sprang into a new man.
โAnd that is a very good notion of yours,โ says he; โand I dare to say that you could lay your hands upon no better man to put it through than Alan Breck. It is not a thing (mark ye) that any one could do, but takes a gentleman of penetration. But it sticks in my head your lawyer-man will be somewhat wearying to see me,โ says Alan.
Accordingly I cried and waved on Mr. Rankeillor, who came up alone and was presented to my friend, Mr. Thomson.
โMr. Thomson, I am pleased to meet you,โ said he. โBut I have forgotten my glasses; and our friend, Mr. David hereโ (clapping me on the shoulder), โwill tell you that I am little better than blind, and that you must not be surprised if I pass you by to-morrow.โ
This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandmanโs vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that.
โWhy, sir,โ says he, stiffly, โI would say it mattered the less as we are met here for a particular end, to see justice done to Mr. Balfour; and by what I can see, not very likely to have much else in common. But I accept your apology, which was a very proper one to make.โ
โAnd that is more than I could look for, Mr. Thomson,โ said Rankeillor, heartily. โAnd now as you and I are the chief actors in this enterprise, I think we should come into a nice agreement; to which end, I propose that you should lend me your arm, for (what with the dusk and the want of my glasses) I am not very clear as to the path; and as for you, Mr. David, you will find Torrance a pleasant kind of body to speak with. Only let me remind you, itโs quite needless he should hear more of your adventures or those ofโahemโMr. Thomson.โ
Accordingly these two went on ahead in very close talk, and Torrance and I brought up the rear.
Night was quite come when we came in view of the house of Shaws. Ten had been gone some time; it was dark and mild, with a pleasant, rustling wind in the south-west that covered the sound of our approach; and as we drew near we saw no glimmer of light in any portion of the building. It seemed my uncle was already in bed, which was indeed the best thing for our arrangements. We made our last whispered consultations some fifty yards away; and then the lawyer and Torrance and I crept quietly up and crouched down beside the corner of the house; and as soon as we were in our places, Alan strode to the door without concealment and began to knock.
CHAPTER XXIX I COME INTO MY KINGDOM
or some time Alan volleyed upon the door, and his knocking only roused the echoes of the house and neighbourhood. At last, however, I could hear the noise of a window gently thrust up, and knew that my uncle had come to his observatory. By what light there was, he would see Alan standing, like a dark shadow, on the steps; the three witnesses were hidden quite out of his view; so that there was nothing to alarm an honest man in his own house. For all that, he studied his visitor awhile in silence, and when he spoke his voice had a quaver of misgiving.
โWhatโs this?โ says he. โThis is nae kind of time of night for decent folk; and I hae nae trokings* wiโ night-hawks. What brings ye here? I have a blunderbush.โ
* Dealings.โIs that yourselโ, Mr. Balfour?โ returned Alan, stepping back and looking up into the darkness. โHave a care of that blunderbuss; theyโre nasty things to burst.โ
โWhat brings ye here? and whae are ye?โ says my uncle, angrily.
โI have no manner of inclination to rowt out my name to the country-side,โ said Alan; โbut what brings me here is another story, being more of your affair than mine; and if yeโre sure itโs what ye would like, Iโll set it to a tune and sing it to you.โ
โAnd what isโt?โ asked my uncle.
โDavid,โ says Alan.
โWhat was that?โ cried my uncle, in a mighty changed voice.
โShall I give ye the rest of the name, then?โ said Alan.
There was a pause; and then, โIโm thinking Iโll better let ye in,โ says my uncle, doubtfully.
โI dare say that,โ said Alan; โbut the point is, Would I go? Now I will tell you what I am thinking. I am thinking that it is here upon this doorstep that we must confer upon this business; and it shall be here or nowhere at all whatever; for I would have you to understand that I am as stiffnecked as yourselโ, and a gentleman of better family.โ
This change of note disconcerted Ebenezer; he was a
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