CHAPTER XVIII I TALK WITH ALAN IN THE WOOD OF LETTERMORE Alan was the first to come round . He rose , went to the border of the wood , peered out a little , and then returned and sat down . `` Well , '' said he , `` yon was a hot burst , David . '' I said nothing , nor so much as lifted my face . I had seen murder done , and a great , ruddy , jovial gentleman struck out of life in a moment ; the pity of that sight was still sore within me , and yet that was but a part of my concern . Here was murder done upon the man Alan hated ; here was Alan skulking in the trees and running from the troops ; and whether his was the hand that fired or only the head that ordered , signified but little . By my way of it , my only friend in that wild country was blood-guilty in the first degree ; I held him in horror ; I could not look upon his face ; I would have rather lain alone in the rain on my cold isle , than in that warm wood beside a murderer . `` Are ye still wearied ? '' he asked again . `` No , '' said I , still with my face in the bracken ; `` no , I am not wearied now , and I can speak . You and me must twine , '' * I said . `` I liked you very well , Alan , but your ways are not mine , and they 're not God 's : and the short and the long of it is just that we must twine . '' * Part . `` I will hardly twine from ye , David , without some kind of reason for the same , '' said Alan , mighty gravely . `` If ye ken anything against my reputation , it 's the least thing that ye should do , for old acquaintance ' sake , to let me hear the name of it ; and if ye have only taken a distaste to my society , it will be proper for me to judge if I 'm insulted . '' `` Alan , '' said I , `` what is the sense of this ? Ye ken very well yon Campbell-man lies in his blood upon the road . '' He was silent for a little ; then says he , `` Did ever ye hear tell of the story of the Man and the Good People ? '' -- by which he meant the fairies . `` No , '' said I , `` nor do I want to hear it . ''
`` With your permission , Mr. Balfour , I will tell it you , whatever , '' says XXXXX .
Alan CHAPTER Campbell-man David Man XVIII border first murder story