“That’s right,” the woman said.
“My own boy ran away two years ago, and I hope
he will have come to his senses by the time he gets
back again.”
When they were together in their room up stairs Malcolm
threw his arms round Ronald’s neck.
“Thank God, my dear boy, I have got you our
of the clutches of the law! You do not know how
I have been fretting since I heard you were caught,
and thought that if ill came to you it would be all
my fault. And now tell me how you got into this
scrape, for it has been puzzling me ever since I heard
it. Surely when I saw you last you knew nothing
about any Jacobite goings on?”
Ronald related the whole particulars of his adventure,
and said that even now he was absolutely ignorant
who was the man whom he had aided to escape.
“I know no more than you do, Ronald, but they
must have thought his capture an important one by
the fuss they made over his escape. And now,
to think that you have slipped out of their hands too!”
and Malcolm broke into a loud laugh. “I
would give a month’s earnings to see the faces
of the guard as they make their report that they have
arrived empty handed. I was right glad when I
saw you. I was afraid you might have given them
the slip on the way, and then there would have been
no saying when we might have found each other again.”
“The sailors would have lowered a boat at night
and let me make for the land,” Ronald said,
“but there was a good guard kept over me.
The door was locked and a sentry always on watch,
and I had quite given up all hope until I saw you
at Gravesend. And now, what do you intend to do?
Make our way back to Scotland?”
“No, no, lad, that would never do. There
will be a hue and cry after you, and all the northern
routes will be watched. No, I shall make a bargain
with some Dutch skipper to take us across the water,
and then we will make our way to Paris.”
“But have you got money, Malcolm?”
“I have got your purse, lad. I went to
Andrew and said that I wanted it for you, but that
he was to ask no questions, so that whatever came of
it he could say that he knew nothing. He gave
it me at once, saying only:
“’Remember, Malcolm, you have done the
boy some harm already with your teaching, see that
you do him no further harm. I guess you are bent
on some hare brained plan, but whatever it be I wish
you success.’”
The next day Malcolm went out alone, and on his return
told Ronald that there were placards on the walls
offering a reward of a hundred pounds for his apprehension.
“You don’t think the people below have
any suspicion, Malcolm?”
