`` The man , ye should ken , was cast upon a rock in the sea , where it appears the Good People were in use to come and rest as they went through to Ireland . The name of this rock is called the Skerryvore , and it 's not far from where we suffered ship-wreck . Well , it seems the man cried so sore , if he could just see his little bairn before he died ! that at last the king of the Good People took peety upon him , and sent one flying that brought back the bairn in a poke * and laid it down beside the man where he lay sleeping . So when the man woke , there was a poke beside him and something into the inside of it that moved . Well , it seems he was one of these gentry that think aye the worst of things ; and for greater security , he stuck his dirk throughout that poke before he opened it , and there was his bairn dead . I am thinking to myself , Mr. Balfour , that you and the man are very much alike . '' * Bag . `` Do you mean you had no hand in it ? '' cried I , sitting up . `` I will tell you first of all , Mr. Balfour of Shaws , as one friend to another , '' said Alan , `` that if I were going to kill a gentleman , it would not be in my own country , to bring trouble on my clan ; and I would not go wanting sword and gun , and with a long fishing-rod upon my back . '' `` Well , '' said I , `` that 's true ! '' `` And now , '' continued Alan , taking out his dirk and laying his hand upon it in a certain manner , `` I swear upon the Holy Iron I had neither art nor part , act nor thought in it . '' `` I thank God for that ! '' cried I , and offered him my hand . He did not appear to see it . `` And here is a great deal of work about a Campbell ! '' said he . `` They are not so scarce , that I ken ! '' `` At least , '' said I , `` you can not justly blame me , for you know very well what you told me in the brig. But the temptation and the act are different , I thank God again for that .
We may all be tempted ; but to take a life in cold blood , XXXXX ! ''
* Alan Balfour Campbell Ireland Shaws Skerryvore dirk fishing-rod ship-wreck