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Chapter 19
“ItwouldbeapainfulthingforourfriendsifIwastohang,”saidhe.
“ItwouldbeanilldayforAppin,”saysAlan.
“It’sadaythatsticksinmythroat,”saidJames.“Oman,man,man—manAlan!youandmehavespokenliketwofools!”hecried,strikinghishanduponthewallsothatthehouserangagain.
“Well,andthat’strue,too,”saidAlan;“andmyfriendfromtheLowlandshere”(noddingatme)“gavemeagoodworduponthathead,ifIwouldonlyhavelistenedtohim.”
“Butseehere,”saidJames,returningtohisformermanner,“iftheylaymebytheheels,Alan,it’sthenthatyou’llbeneedingthemoney.ForwithallthatIhavesaidandthatyouhavesaid,itwilllookveryblackagainstthetwoofus;doyemarkthat?Well,followmeout,andye’ll,I’llseethatI’llhavetogetapaperoutagainstyemysel’;havetoofferarewardforye;ay,willI!It’sasorethingtodobetweensuchnearfriends;butifIgetthedirdumofthisdreadfulaccident,I’llhavetofendformyself,man.Doyeseethat?”
Hespokewithapleadingearnestness,takingAlanbythebreastofthecoat.
“Ay”saidAlan,“Iseethat.”
“Andye’llhavetobeclearofthecountry,Alan—ay,andclearofScotland—youandyourfriendfromtheLowlands,too.ForI’llhavetopaperyourfriendfromtheLowlands.Yeseethat,Alan—saythatyeseethat!”
IthoughtAlanflushedabit.“Thisisuncohardonmethatbroughthimhere,James,”saidhe,throwinghisheadback.